#i am going to think about this in the shower now. magically willing the shower to fix me. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[gailynovelry]

We have a brilliant idea for rewriting the summaries that we hate. That idea is called "what if we just completely ignored the old summaries and opened up a blank document to write entirely new ones instead of struggling to rewrite the old ones for the billionth time."

[javierpena-inatacvest]

Chapter 2- Awakening

Summary: There was once a time in his life where knocking on your front door was the best part of Frankie's day. Now, the thought of having to ring your doorbell to face you makes him sick to his stomach.

Word Count: 4.1K

Pairing: Frankie Morales x f!reader (no use of y/n, reader has a name/nickname)

Warnings: (the tiniest hint of) smut (18+), illusions to masturbation (m), angst/regret, fluff, awkward adolescent yearning (I have quickly come to learn this is my favorite thing to write whoops), Frankie realizing he's caught a case of the ✨feelings ✨ and doesn't know what to do

A/N: Less than 10K word chapters?!? Posting a series on a schedule?!?! I don't even know who I am anymore?!?! AH, thank you guys for all your sweet words about this series so far. Writing this has sparked such a joy inside me, and it means so much that y'all are willing to read my silly lil story 🥺💛 This chapter is from Frankie's POV- I know the first chapter had both reader and Frankie, but as I've been writing, it seems like it fits the story better if some are both POV's and some are just one!

All The Things We Never Said Masterlist

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Frankie, Present 

“Bring these next door.” 

His mother doesn’t even ponder the idea of phrasing it as a question when she practically drops the plate of chocolate chip cookies into Frankie’s lap. 

“Ma, it’s 7:30 in the morning.” Frankie looks up at her dumbfounded. 

“And? You’ve never eaten a cookie for breakfast when you’re sad? Go now, they’re still warm.” 

There’s no way he’ll be able to head anywhere but straight out his front door, but Christ, he at least hoped he would have been able to buy himself a little time before having to face you.

“I just got back from a run. I smell like shit. Can I at least shower first, por favor?” 

“Fine,” she groans, reluctant to give in so easily, “but be quick. Don’t think I won’t turn the hot water off, mijo. I don’t want these getting cold.”

She knows her son would take an hour long shower if he could. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’s spent way too long in the bathroom, over analyzing every inch of himself before going to see you. His mom isn’t sure if she should thank you or not for her son’s dedication to hygiene. She could barely get him to shower for the first 10 years of his life, but after you moved in, a few days before the start of 6th grade, bathing had magically no longer become an issue. 

Frankie understands her threat of an ice cold shower is very real, and a very effective way to finally get him four doors down. He lets the hot water wash over his skin, turning it to a temperature that’s almost too painful to stand. He hopes that somehow, it’s hot enough to wash away all the sins he’s prayed you’d forgive him for, that the regret of every poor decision he’s been plagued by washes down the drain, disappearing never to be seen again. 

He wishes it was that easy. That a simple shower would grant him the forgiveness he’s not sure you’ll ever give him. He wouldn’t blame you if you never did. 

He forces himself to put on the first pair of shorts and t-shirt that he pulls out of his suitcase. If he doesn’t, he’ll be stuck in his room for the rest of the day trying to figure out what to wear to bring a plate of cookies to your doorstep. 

“You should apologize, you know.” It’s the first thing his mom has to say to him as he makes his way down the stairs, barely three steps into the kitchen before she’s at his throat again. 

“For bringing them dessert at 7:30 in the morning? I was planning on it.” Frankie huffs, trying to deflect the plan for the real apology he knows he should be making. 

“Dios mio, Francisco, you know what I mean. I hope you’ve thought about how you’re going to explain yourself to her. You owe that girl an apology for the hell you’ve put her through.” 

Frankie can’t blame his mother for the way she’s twisting the knife that’s stuck in his gut. He’s the one who put it there in the first place. 

“I know. I’ve thought about it, believe me.” 

They both know that’s the truth. Frankie’s spent more hours than he can count thinking about what possible combination of words he can string together that won’t make you hate him anymore than you already do. In fact, he’s spent so long thinking about it, replaying the million and one things he could say to you over and over in his head, that he’s convinced there’s nothing he could tell you that would buy him even a shred of forgiveness. 

“Fuck you, Mackenzie. Fuck you for ruining my life. It’ll be better off without you fucking in it.” 

Three years ago, he disappeared out of your life and those were the last words he left you with. He's spent three years of letting the last thing he had to say you haunt him like some sort of ugly ghost he can't forget.

At this point, there's a part of him that's not even sure he's worthy of forgiveness.

“Mom?” Frankie asks, eyes peeled to the ground, trying to keep his voice from breaking, “Am I making a huge fucking mistake coming back here?” 

“Well mijo,” She pauses, gently cradling her son’s face, lifting his chin enough to let his tired, worn eyes meet hers, “That, I cannot tell you. Some things you have to figure out on your own. I think this is one of them. But what I can tell you,” she stops again, ensuring Frankie is listening, really listening to what she has to say, “is that you have never been one to leave things unfinished. I think there are still things left to finish here for you, Francisco.”  

The slow nod of his head in her palm tells her he’s heard every word. He knows he needs to finish what he’s started. 

“You also need to finish bringing these cookies to the Andersons, sí? Don’t think I forgot.”   

“Didn’t think you would.” 

Frankie’s not sure the walk to your house has ever felt this long. Every step against the pavement makes his feet feel heavier, weighing his body down, its final attempt at keeping him from showing up at your front door. It takes every ounce of strength he has left to get him there, but he does. He won’t himself fail you again. He can’t. 

When he knocks on your door, he’s suddenly 11 years old, palms sweating and heart racing as he rings your doorbell for the first time, hoping the cool girl who moved in down the street still wants to play football with him. 

Right now, he’d give anything to be that 11 year old boy again. God, what he’d give to grab little him by the shoulders and shake all of the stupid decisions he plans on making in the years to come right out of him. He’d give anything for someone to come shake the stupid out of him now.

Seconds pass like hours as he waits for someone to answer his knock. Maybe it won’t be you who does. Maybe he’ll get lucky and it'll be your mom. Maybe your dad, who is sitting on his literal deathbed, will be blessed with some divine miracle that grants him the strength to get up and answer the door instead of you. 

“Be right there!” 

He’d recognize your voice anywhere. It’s been three years since he’s heard it. Even with all the time that’s passed, there’s not a doubt in his mind he knows it’s yours. 

Fuck, he’s missed the sound of you more than he’d ever like to admit.  

He braces himself as the lock clicks on the other side of the door. The knot in his stomach tightens as he watches it open. 

His heart wants to burst out of his chest when you finally appear on the other side. 

“F-Frankie?” 

“Hi, Mackenzie.” 

Frankie, Fall of 2002, Age 14

It’s been 3 years, and Frankie still rings your doorbell every time he’s at your front door. Both you and your parents have been more than adamant he’s welcome to let himself in, at this point, they leave the door unlocked just for him. 

As much as he wants to just slip through the front door unannounced to see you, he knows his mom would kill him if he didn’t wait to be let in and make his presence known. 

“Francisco, I do not care how often you are over there, you are a guest in their home. If they are gracious enough to let you over, the least you can do is use your manners and greet them at the door.” 

Frankie’s always been polite, but the world would stop spinning before his mother would let anyone else even have an inkling of thinking otherwise. 

Truth be told, he doesn’t mind. He’d be hard pressed to find any 14 year old who didn’t have some sort of complaint about their parents, but you never really do, and he can see why. 

They’re your parents, and he loves his mamá more than life, but the Anderson’s had taken Frankie under their wing from the moment he had crossed the threshold from their patio to their living room and never looked back. 

It didn’t take long for the three toned chime of your doorbell to become the favorite part of his daily routine. 

“Hi Frankie! Come on in, honey.” 

Mrs. Anderson has that soft kind of sweetness that would make anyone’s day brighter, the kind of gentleness that a gardener has when tending to a field of their favorite flowers. She’s the type of person that would put anyone before herself, to a fault. It’s no wonder that given the circumstances, a house that should be shrouded in sadness is one of the places that Frankie feels the happiest. 

“Thanks Mrs. Anderson. Can I put this in the freezer for Kenz? I figured she may want it when she gets home later.” Frankie gestures down to the chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzard he’s holding, trying to keep it from melting any further. 

It’s become a sacred ritual that every Friday night, you and him ride your bikes to the Dairy Queen two miles down the road. He always gets an Oreo Blizzard, you, a chocolate chip cookie dough one. On the few Friday nights you can’t spend together, it’s an unspoken agreement that a Blizzard will still end up in the other’s freezer for the next day. It’s only happened once that a cookie dough Blizzard hasn’t been found in your residence within 24 hours of the start to your weekend- the one time Frankie was out of town to visit his family, you were pleasantly surprised to find not one, but two Blizzards in your freezer on Monday night upon his return. 

 “Frank the Tank! How’s it going, buddy?” 

It’s always nice to see your dad up and around the house. His cancer has taken a lot of things from him, but his personality certainly isn’t one of them. Some bouts of chemo and treatment are worse than others, but it never ceases to keep Mr. Anderson from being the happiest man Frankie’s ever met. You always tease Frankie that he comes over to your house so often just so he can spend time with your dad. While of course it’s not 100% true that Doug Anderson is the only reason Frankie finds himself at your doorstep nearly every day, he also won’t deny the sense of comfort it brings him that your dad treats him like his own son. 

“Hi Mr. Anderson!” Frankie smiles, shoving your Blizzard in the top left corner of your freezer between the ice packs and frozen vegetables. 

“Another Blizzard for me? Always so generous, Frank. I’m convinced you might start running a Dairy Queen out of our kitchen pretty soon.” Mr. Anderson teases, giving Frankie a light punch to the shoulder. “How’d your algebra test go the other day, bud?” 

“Pretty good, I think.” Frankie shrugs, trying to play off his confidence. 

“Think you got a higher score than Kenzie?” 

“I think so. But don’t tell her that.” 

“Oh believe me, I will. Smart kid like you has gotta put her in her place every once and a while.” 

Frankie blushes. School has never been his strong suit. He’s smart in the way he could fix just about anything from the time he could barely walk, but sitting in a classroom trying to absorb information through reading, taking notes and test taking has always made him feel like an idiot. You, on the other hand, could graduate in your sleep with straight A’s. He’s not sure how you do it, but it’s enough motivation to make him want to at least try. He thanks his lucky stars that this year, math is finally starting to make sense, and he’s got the upper hand on you for now. 

“Is Kenz upstairs? I know she’s got her soccer banquet tonight, I just wanted to hang out for a little before she has to go.” 

Normally he wouldn’t mind staying longer to talk to your dad, but on days he knows he’s working on a limited time table, efficiency is of the essence. 

“Should be. If not, we have a problem on our hands.” 

Frankie scurries from the kitchen and through the living room, up the familiar and well traveled path to your bedroom door. His heart always races a little faster every time he reaches the top step to the second floor. 

Normally, it’s three long strides to cross the threshold into your bedroom before he plops himself on the edge of your bed, but as he takes a left turn at the top of the stairwell, he’s surprised to find your bedroom door is closed, and locked. 

“Kenz! It’s me! Open up!” Frankie raps his fist on the back of your door, knuckles thumping against the wood. 

“Not now, Frankie!” 

He’s taken aback by your protest, scrunching his brow at your response and the distress in your voice through the other end of the door. 

“What? Why? What’s wrong?” He asks, now a little more concerned. 

“It’s just- Ugh! It’s nothing! It’s stupid, okay! I just don’t have time for this right now!” 

You and him both know that’s not enough to get him to leave. Frankie is persistent. He’s not going anywhere until you open that door and he gets an answer as to what’s making you so upset. 

“C’mon, MacKenzie.” 

He only pulls the full name card for serious occasions, because he knows it’ll work. It’ll work every time. That’s why he can’t help but smirk at the click of your door handle unlocking, giving him permission to step inside. 

Except he can’t. 

“Kenz, get off the door and let me in!” 

“I’m not on the door! Ugh, hold on.” 

With the force Frankie was using, he nearly falls flat on his face as the barricade you’d built on your side of the door is removed, stumbling into your room and landing face first in a pile of clothes. As he looks up, he’s greeted with a sight he’s never once seen before in your room, and he has no idea what to make of it. 

“Jesus Christ, dude, what happened in here?!” 

To say a bomb had exploded in your closet would have been a polite way to put it. Every piece of clothing you owned was now a casualty on your bedroom floor, down to every last pair of shoes. You could barely stand to have a singular, stray sock on the ground, your bedroom always the near picture perfect scene of immaculately neat. So to see the disaster your room had become, Frankie knew that something had gone very, very wrong. 

“I don’t have anything to wear for tonight!” 

“Yeah you do, have you seen all the clothes on your floor? I think you have enough clothes for a small village.” 

“Francisco!” 

If she’s already pulling the full name card on him too, it must be serious. 

“Sorry! Is this because of the end of the season soccer party tonight? I thought you said you were just gonna wear like, a skirt or something?” 

Frankie’s never even contemplated the idea of you being upset over an outfit. You’d always been amicable in the wardrobe department- t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, same has him. This is uncharted territory for the both of you. 

“Yeah, but then at lunch today Katie and Morgan said all of the Seniors want to dress up, like, really nice, and now I’m freaking out because I don’t know what to wear and I don’t wanna look like an idiot Freshman who shows up in something dumb.” 

Frankie knows you’re stressed from how intensely you’re picking at the skin around your nails, leg bouncing furiously while your eyes dart around the room at the heaps of clothes stacked around the floor. 

“You’re not gonna look dumb, Kenzie. You’re the only Freshman that’s made the Varsity soccer team in like, a million years. Hard to look stupid if you’re that good.” 

It may not be much help, but it’s at least enough to bring you off the brink of tears. 

“I guess,” you pause, too stubborn to admit that he’s right, “It’s just- all the other girls on the team are so pretty. When we’re playing it doesn’t matter ‘cause we’re all sweaty and gross, but- I don’t know, I feel like I’m gonna look so awkward next to everyone.” 

But you are pretty. 

It’s the first thought that pops into Frankie’s brain. He’s not sure how it got there so fast. All of a sudden he feels a hundred degrees hotter, hoping you won’t notice the way he visibly tries to shake the thought out of his head.. 

Where did that come from? She’s your friend, Frankie. Your best friend. She’s not pretty, she’s just MacKenzie. 

“You won’t look awkward, you’re gonna be fine. I promise.” He’s relieved his response doesn’t seem to raise any suspicions, like you would have been able to read his mind and watch his thinking play out in real time. 

“If I um- If I- Never mind, this is stupid! Ugh, this is stupid.” 

You’re pacing now, arms crossed so tightly over your chest, he’s worried you’re going to squeeze your own eyes out like one of those little squishy toys you win from a claw machine. That’s if you don’t burn a hole in your carpet first. 

“What?” 

“If I-” You stammer again, scrunching your face at your own frustration, “If I try on what I think I should wear, will you tell me if it looks dumb or not?” 

You’ve asked Frankie plenty for plenty of favors in the three years you’ve known him- being the one to lead the two of you home on a bike ride in the dark, opening your pudding for you at lunch because it exploded on you once and you’re terrified it will again, catching the giant spider that makes a recurrence in the top right corner of your bedroom and throwing it out the window- He’s not sure why out of all those things, this is the most terrifying favor you’d ever asked of him. 

“Y-yeah. Okay.” 

The two of you quietly nod at each other for a moment, Frankie hoping that he’s not the only one who’s wondering why the air has all of a sudden seemed to have gotten thicker. 

“Okay. Well, um- turn around.” You point for him to take his usual spot on the edge of the bed, ensuring that his back’s to you and eyes only have the choice to roam the floor or the wall above your desk before he hears the shuffling of clothes behind him. 

It’s then that everything starts to move in slow motion, like a flip has suddenly switched in Frankie’s brain as a wave of unsolicited thoughts begin to flood his head, feeling himself drown in the panic and confusion that’s washing over him. 

What if he did turn around? You’re probably taking off your clothes right now. Are you in just your underwear? What color is it? Maybe you’re all the way naked. What would you look like? Why does he all of a sudden want to know so bad? What’s wrong with him? 

In his manic state, his eyes are darting everywhere, trying to find something to lock onto that will shake him from whatever obscene cycle of thought he’s caught himself in. He instantly regrets when he lets his gaze fall to his feet, because peeking out of the pile of clothes beneath him is the better part of a bra. 

Your bra. 

He feels so awful that he can’t stop looking at it. So guilty that he can’t help the fact he’s trying to commit every detail of it to his brain- the teal and green polka dots, the thin lace that covers the shoulder strap, the little bow that sits in between the two cups where your breasts would go. He can’t stop staring. He can’t stop thinking about  what you would look like in it. The only thing that stops him is hearing your voice from over his shoulder. And somehow, your voice only makes his chest feel tighter. 

“You promise you won’t make fun of me if I look stupid?” Your words are so soft, delicate and fragile in a way he’s never heard you use them before. However scared you are, right now, Frankie would be willing to take that feeling and triple it for himself. 

“Promise.” 

His eyes are still closed when he swings his legs over the other edge of the bed. He’s too afraid to open them. 

“You’re gonna have to open your eyes, unless you’ve suddenly obtained x-ray vision that you haven’t told me about in the last thirty seconds.” 

The way you tease him grounds him enough to give in. It doesn’t ground him enough from leaving him speechless the moment he opens his eyes. 

“Kenz… You uh, you- um-” 

He’s stumbling over his words, trying to find them fast enough to stop the disappointment that’s flooding over your face because you think he hates the way you look. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. 

“I look dumb, don’t I? It’s fine, Frankie, you can just say it.” You’re back to pacing again, storming around your room with a desperate, crazed look in your eye. “Ugh! This sucks! Why is this so hard, I just wanna-” 

“You look really pretty.” 

It stops you dead in your tracks. He can almost hear how hard you gulp, looking back at him like a deer in headlights. 

“W-what?” 

You ask it like you didn’t hear exactly what he said. He knows you did. You always do. It doesn’t stop him from trying to twist his words to help him out of the hole he’s already dug himself into. 

“Your- Your dress. It looks really nice. You should wear it.” 

He’s not sure how much time passes as the two of you finally lock eyes. Thirty seconds? Ten minutes? An hour? The way you’re looking at him right now is enough to make his world stop turning. It only makes it worse that he swears he can see your lips trying to fight the smile that’s slowly curling in the corner of your mouth. 

“MacKenzie! We need to go, sweetie! Dad and I will meet you in the car!” 

Frankie doesn’t know if it’s divine intervention or a devilish curse that your mom is calling for you from the bottom of the stairs. Whatever it is, it’s enough to snap both of you out of the strange spell that had overcome your bedroom and make Frankie feel like the only appropriate response was to race out of your house and hide in embarrassment for the next forty-eight hours. 

“I should um- I should go, too. Santi’s probably waiting for me at his house. Have fun tonight, okay?” 

“Yeah, o-okay. You have fun, too. Tell Ding Dong I say hi. See you tomorrow?” 

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.” 

Frankie’s in a trance the rest of the night. Physically, he spends the next few hours in Santi’s basement, glued to the couch while his friend yells at him that he’s not using the right combination of moves to max out his points in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3. Mentally, he’s convinced he no longer exists on the same planet as anyone else around him.

When he gets home, all he can do is stare at his ceiling. If he closes his eyes to try to fall asleep, the only thing he can see is that teal and green bra laying on your bedroom floor.

He wishes the thought of you in it didn’t make his stomach churn. He wishes it wasn’t you he was picturing when he lets his hand creep below the waistband of his sweatpants. He wishes it wasn’t your name he was muttering under his breath as he makes a mess in hand, hips stuttering into his grasp. 

He wishes it wasn’t you. 

At least that’s what he tells himself. Maybe one day, it’ll work. 

@chaotic-iguana @rhoorl @bbiophiliaa @pertinentpostmortem @angelofsmalldeath-codeine

@pedrobaby @fatima-marisa @beboldbebravethings @poodlebae @kittenlittle24

@3sriracha @jungchloee @perennialdoll247 @prettyinpunk85 @raspberrybesitos

@partyofone3413 @harriedandharassed @pedrohoe04 @theorganasolo

@endlessthxxghts @beware-my-thorns @missladym1981 @milly-louise

@jay-zzle @the-one-with-the-grey-color @persephone-girl @bitchesuntitled

@pedropascallvr @millennial-teenybopper @vee-bees-blog @itsokbbygrl

@hopplessilse @mxtokko @its-nebuleuse @mandoisapunk @msmorningstaarr

@amyispxnk @honeyedmiller @mountainsandmayhem @picketniffler @burningnerdchild

@copperhalfcent @theoraekenslover @bloodyinspirationaldemon @vee-bees-blog

@samgirl4life @pigeonmama @survivingandenduring @jolapeno @ovaryacted

@amanitacowboy @mystickittytaco @anoverwhelmingdin @greenwitchfromthewoods

@witchofthedeepwoods @ericamarie093 @readingiskeepingmegoing @whimsiwitchy @whoaitspascal87

@vickie5446 @katw474 @ravenpoe67 @inthedarkestnight @brittmb115

@harryscherrysugar @wonderpillar @sunnytuliptime @pasc4lfuzz

@javierpena-inatacvestnotifs

[bigfatbreak]

more mlp au dumps

3 am palette cleanser. tis the season

additional fun for my dorky ass twibra au... twilight's friends mimic the elements of harmony in a way that reflects the magic of their pony selves (bc I said so lmao) and it's what brings her back from the brink after principal cinch grenade tosses her little magical collector in her face and blasts her with equestrian magic

details:

Chrysalis represents generosity specifically because of how she's selfish on behalf of her friends. she's absolutely willing to dupe other people and manipulate them if she thinks it'll help out anyone in the squad, even if the fallout could be cataclysmic. This has led to a really bad reputation following her around, and though its not really unprecedented, her friends still keep her around as she means well. It's a bit hard training her out of fawning over other people to try and make them stay, but she just wants everyone well-fed and happy.

Stygian has the loyalty blessing because he's the real ride or die. He would rather physically staple himself to his friends than possibly lose them, especially since he was subject to losing a friend group in the past which left him deserted at a really bad time. Meeting Tempest around that time was the only thing that kept him going, and now he's fiercely protective of his new friend group.

Spike is laughter because I love him. puppy power

Tempest gets honesty because she's extremely blunt, even though sometimes its to the point of insulting, she genuinely just wants communication to be established at any cost. Her straightforward attitude is very effective at stopping Chryssie's schemes and keeping Stygian grounded, and she doesn't mind being an anchor for the team, especially since she used to be team captain on her volleyball team before she lost her arm. The sense of "these people need me" helps anchor her as much as it anchors them.

Sombra can be exceedingly kind, showering people in gifts and lavish trips, assisting them in whatever programs they're in, and he's more than willing to put the effort in and sacrifice things of his own if it means his friends will benefit from it - but it stops there. His kindness is wonderful only to those in his close circle, and most importantly, to Twilight.

though their dynamic sometimes isn't the healthiest, they're all recovering from friendship issues of their own - some done to them, some because of what THEY did to others - and Twilight's the precious sun they seem to rotate around, as being a shut-in only focusing on her studies has given her zero inclination to have any sort of preconceived notions of other people. For friends with a bad past they're trying to work through, its incredibly refreshing, and they would rather die than lose her.

even more additional details:

Sombra collects pretty minerals, and wears a lot of jewelry as a result. He often compares Twilight to precious stones and seems smug about dating her.

Tempest and Stygian are room mates, but they're not dating, sharing a purely platonic relationship. (Stygian is gay and Tempest is a lesbian. they're each other's beards, basically)

Chryssie lives in an apartment Sombra pays the rent to, but only under the agreement that she stop dating people just to raid their houses. It's worked so far, at least according to CCTV footage

once the magic Twilight absorbed disperses into the team, giving them magic, Spike gets dragon attributes along with being able to talk. This means sometimes he eats Sombra's fancy gemstones and there's absolutely nothing he can do about it because if he yells at his gf's dog/little brother he'll get smacked. Sombra is in hell but everyone else loves it

[butcherlarry]

Weekly Fic Recs 68

I am back from my travels and I come bearing fic recs :)

Also, today is the LAST DAY to get your prompts in for Superbat Week 2024! Here is a link to the prompt submission form:

We also have a discord!! There are many awesome people there and there is constant chatter about our beloved superhero husbands. Follow the link in this post if you are interested in joining:

You can also get updates to the event by following @superbatweek2024 tumblr blog as well :)

Now onto the fics!

Bells will ring, the sun will shine by Anonymous - Superbat, complete. Kryptonians survive and make it to Earth! There are some people (*cough cough* Amanda Waller *cough cough*) who think the Kryptonians are up to no good and ask Bruce Wayne to go check it out and meet up with one of them to gather intel. In Las Vegas. Anyway, they both end up drunk and some how married :) Shenanigans ensue.

third act twist by pomeloquat @pomeloquat - Ghostbat, Superbat, complete. A fascinating look at Bruce's past relationship with Khoa and future relationship with Clark.

Patchwork Pod by Ktkat9 @ktkat99 - Superbat, Batfam, wip. More mer Bruce! Clark is out of the hospital, hooray!!

carry me when you go forth by Anonymous - Superbat, complete. This author's note says it all: "boss makes a dollar i make a dime that's why i write superbat macro/micro pwp on company time" There is also some lovely art that @januariat created based off this fic and another fic on this list (Exponential).

I Proti Fora by Spartypants @sparkypantaloons - Batfam, complete. Jason and Bruce go on a lovely vacation to Greece :)

The Antithesis Of Magic by Ghxst_Bird @ghost-bxrd - Batfam, wip. An update to Redhood Jason adopts a child Bruce from another dimension. Lorge gremlin man taking care of smol gremlin child, I love it :D

Love and Hope Endures by littlechinesedoll @brucietales- Superbat, complete. This fic has everything that I love! It's omegaverse! It's mpreg! It's set in medieval times! It has mystery! It has the King (Clark) falling in love with a commoner (Bruce). I love it so much 💖

Little J by LilLayneeLoo - Superbat, complete. Another mpreg fic :) A very pregnant Bruce thinks he can have his child by himself, no problem. Shenanigans ensue.

The Valley of the Shadow by FabulaRasa - Superbat, complete. Bruce gets terminally sick. Clark is there to help.

guilt is a useless emotion by TheResurrectionist @frownyalfred - Batman, complete. Fic based off this post. Bruce and Hal continue their argument into the showers. Clark endures.

Don't touch my weird brother by Speechless_since_1998 @mylifeisfruk4ever - Batfam, complete. An excellent sibling fic. The only one allowed to pick on Tim is his brother, Jason. Fuck those other guys.

dead man's party by TheResurrectionist - Batfam, wip. More of the Jason sees ghosts fic!

Exponential by unbreakabledawn @unbreakabledawn - Superbat, complete. The other superbat micro/macro fic I referenced above :)

Mission: seducing Superman by Speechless_since_1998 - Superbat, wip. More of Battinson trying (and succeeding! somehow) to seduce Superman. So many shenanigans happening!

The Only Son of Themyscira by mitzvahmelting @mitzvahmelting - Superbat, complete. Clark goes to train with the Amazons after he comes back to life. Bruce deals with his emotions the best way he knows how (ignoring them).

eye in the sky by TheResurrectionist - Superbat (kinda), Batfam, wip. An update to the fic where Bruce is a prisoner of the Regime and trains other metas! Duke has finally met Clark and is not creeped out by him at all :)

Everything Will Be Just Fine by lonelynpc @lonelynpc - Batfam, wip. Goth dad Battinson being the best Goth dad he can beeeeeeee!!!!!!

willing the door open with your need by sunsh4ne - Bruce x2 (!!!!), complete. Omegaverse! Omega Batfleck somehow gets in the same universe of Alpha Battinson. Sexy times ensue :))))))))))

Exobiological Toxicology by Briarwitched - Clark & Conner, complete. After a successful mission, the League goes to an alien bar to celebrate. Clark and Conner experience the joys of being drunk for the first times in their lives. Shenanigans and family bonding ensues.

Super...Baby? by LilLayneeLoo - Superbat, complete. More mpreg fic! All of sudden, Bruce is developing the same powers as Clark. I wonder why...

prelude by TheResurrectionist - Lex Luthor, wip. Dan the Alpha my beloved. Part of the a room full of coral series. Lex goes into heat and runs into an Alpha on the property line of Lake House :)))))))

Happy reading!

[space-mermaid-writing]

The witchling and the god [Loki x Witch!Reader] Epilogue

Summary: The Avengers were looking for someone to help Loki fit in with the team. To become socially acceptable, so to speak. He had been given the choice of sitting in a cell in Asgard or serving some sort of community service probation on Midgard. The Avengers and Shield both felt that as long as Loki was on Earth, he should be under supervision. This is now your job. Why? Because you’re a witch. You’re not sure why this qualifies you, but here you are, giving it a shot. What could possibly go wrong?

Tags: Witch!Reader, Magic, Witches, slow burn, everybody lives in the tower, character development, Loki‘s redemption, Stephen Strange is a friend, Loki and Stephen are frenemies, Tony Stark is a good bro, kids love Loki, Tony has stupid nicknames for everybody, eventual smut

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Read it on AO3 | Previous

Chapter’s Note: Check out the Witchling Art tag |Beta by @zaria-04

Chapter 32: Epilogue

Rays of sunlight fall through a slit in the curtain, which is not properly closed, and pull you out of your sleep. Not yet fully awake, you feel something move next to you and turn to it. Reaching out, you touch cool skin and hum something.

A chuckle sounds next to you. "Good morning, my love."

Loki’s voice is low and your favorite thing to hear in the morning. You open one eye, finally being awake enough to do so, and come face to face with your lover.

"Morning, dear."

He wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you closer to him to steal a lazy kiss from your lips. Happy to comply, you bury your head in the crook of Loki’s neck and surrender to the sweet moment between sleep and fully awake. You are both naked and your legs are tangled together under the sheets.

Your muscles ache, especially the ones in your thighs. But it's a good kind of ache and you smile as you remember where it came from.

“We have to get up,” you murmur into Loki’s skin, not really in the mood to leave the comfort of your bed. “Or else we’re going to be late.” You feel his slender fingers under your chin, as he tilts your head so he can look at you.

“We can reschedule.” He rolls you over so that he is leaning over you. His naked torso feels cool against your hot skin. He leans down to you, but before his lips touch yours he stops. “You look ravishing and I am a starving man.”

You can't help but nibble from his lips, pulling his face fully down to you.

Loki's intentions are clear and it is a very tempting idea. It wouldn't be the first time you two would get distracted. But the matter is important enough that you are willing to be the voice of reason.

"We already postponed it last time."

Pressing another quick kiss to Loki's lips, you wriggle out of his grip and off the bed. Without bothering to pick up your yesterday's clothes from the floor, you walk naked as the day you were born towards the bathroom.

Loki's eyes follow your every move and he licks his lips.

You throw him a glance over your shoulder. "Join me in the shower." It's not a question.

A light comes into Loki's face, a sparkle that is reserved only for you, and with a wide smirk he is on his feet. "Temptress."

~~

Half an hour later you are standing in front of a house. It is cute, painted in red with white window frames – quite typical for this area in Norway.

The real estate agent greets the two of you in English, with an accent.

"It's a fifteen minute drive to the next town. They have everything you need for everyday use. For anything else you would need to go to the city that is about an hour away," the agent tells you as she leads you through the house. It's been empty for a while and needs a bit of work: some painting and minor repairs. Maybe a new kitchen, you think as you enter it.

But the house has the perfect size for a couple. And there’s quite a distance to any neighbors who would notice after a few years that you and Loki age differently.

"What do you think?" Loki asks you after the agent stepped aside for a moment to give you two some space.

"I like this more than the last one. But I still want to see the other two on the list."

One of them was located in Iceland. You agreed on a temperate climate, since Loki prefers it in the long run to the warmer areas of Earth.

"This one has a nice view," Loki agrees with you, looking out a window. The house is situated on a hill, giving a view of the town in the valley. On the south side of the property, there was enough space for a vegetable garden.

You don't have to make a decision right away, but you have a feeling this is the current favorite for both of you. Especially when the Asgardian adds, "How do you feel about brunch? There's a lovely restaurant in the town."

"Oh? Someone did his homework."

You say goodbye to the estate agent and Loki takes you to the promised brunch, which is more of a late lunch due to the time difference. The sun has already passed its zenith here.

But the both of you don't mind and take the time afterwards to explore the area until it's time for you to return to New York and get ready for the gala that will take place there in the late evening.

Pepper has organized the PR event for the Avengers. It’s the night where Loki will join the team officially.

In the media, of course, the Asgardian has already been seen alongside the heroes, but so far there has been no press conference about it. Just a few statements about his general stay on Earth.

This will change tonight.

Loki is quite popular on social media. There are numerous photos and short clips of him holding the flaming sword of 'Bloodweeper', saving the Sorcerer Supreme and fighting a demon from Hell.

Someone even looped a video of him wielding it and stabbing Mephisto. They added funny music to it and it went viral for a week.

"Midgardians are weird," was Loki's only comment on it when you showed the video to him. But he can't fool you. You know he saved it in his new phone Tony gifted him.

It will be good blackmail should he ever need a favor from Strange.

The Asgardian looks spotless as always for the event. He rocks a classic dark suit that shimmers green in the right light. A small brooch in the shape of a golden snake hangs from his lapel. No tie yet – it still lies over the back of a nearby chair, while Loki adjusts his cufflinks.

You take the tie – it's green and gold – and step up to him, placing it around his neck. With practiced movements, you form it into a classic knot.

You yourself are still in your dressing robe. Your hair and makeup are done but you haven't changed yet. With good reason, because you have a request for Loki.

"I couldn't decide on an outfit to match yours. Maybe you can help me out with your magic," you murmur against his lips, your fingers still gripping the tie so he can't move away.

As if he'd ever want to.

"With pleasure." Loki's eyes shine darkly, thinking about what exquisite things he could put you in. He slips the robe off your shoulders and kisses the exposed skin, up to your neck.

You allow it for a moment, basking in his affection before relenting. "We need to get ready or we will be late," you remind him for the second time today.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

You chuckle, but still prevent him from pulling you to the bed. Instead, you whisper in his ear what you have in store for him after the event, if he keeps his good behavior up during the gala.

"I'll get back to you on that." The Asgardian loves a good challenge. "Now step back and let me work."

He considers for a moment, his gaze wandering over your body, before casting his magic. For a moment a green shimmer curls around you, and then you are wearing a stunning and very dramatic dress. It's not a mere illusion but actual tangible matter, as you feel it when you run your fingers over the fabric.

You move in front of the mirror and take a look at yourself. It’s very much the counterpart to Loki's suit, with a plunging but tasteful neckline.

"Wow." Thrilled, you do a little spin to admire the dress from all sides. "I should let you do my wardrobe more often."

Pleased with the praise, Loki steps behind you, his hands on your waist. Your eyes meet in the mirror.

"It's an easy task if the canvas is beautiful like this. However, there's just one thing missing." He conjures a necklace with a small golden snake as a pendant, just like his brooch.

You look at him, unsure. He knows necklaces are not your type of jewelry. Nothing that is too close to your throat is. But the gaze he gives you reassures you and you trust him enough to allow him to continue.

Brushing your hair aside, he puts it on you before placing another kiss in the crook of your neck. It's so light you don't even feel it on your skin, like it's not even there.

"Now, it's perfect."

Your fingers find the pendant and you feel a touch of magic.

"It contains a little spell," the Asgardian explains.

You turn in his arms. Your gaze is soft as you place one hand against his cheek and run the other through his hair. "I love it." Truly happy about the small gift, you thank him with a kiss.

Little does Loki know that you have a gift for him yourself. It is a letter that you keep hidden in your drawer. A reply from the Queen of Asgard, whom you have invited to tea in the near future. Loki and you can't go to Asgard for a visit, but no one is stopping you all from meeting here on Earth.

You plan to tell Loki about it later tonight.

Loki breaks away from you and holds out his arm. "Shall we?"

“Do you plan on using the elevators?” you ask back.

"How boring. What do you take me for? I plan to make an entrance." Loki's grin is wide and you mirror his face, taking his arm.

"We shall."

The gala is already in full swing. Tony has provided a hall for it on one of the lower floors of the tower. There is a buffet, an open bar, and additional waiters passing champagne on their trays among the guests. In one corner, a string quartet provides unobtrusive music that blends into the conversations as a lovely background noise.

The guests consist of all the active members of the Avengers, some influential political figures and selected people from the press.

This last group of people ensures that everything feels a bit put on. People's smiles often show too many teeth to be honest. Controversial opinions are only expressed quietly.

People are aware that this is an event to present themselves to the public – even if the actual public won't read about it until the next day.

Tony is talking to the mayor. Smiling politely while listening to boring stories is like second nature to him. He wears it like some kind of PR skin.

But after some time he grabs a new drink from one of the waiters before he clasps the mayor on the shoulder and uses an excuse to leave and find Pepper.

Suddenly, the lights flicker, go out completely for a moment, while the music also falls silent, as does every single conversation.

Then suddenly Loki and you are standing in the spotlight of the room.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," the Asgardian announces. His voice carries through the room without any effort.

The light and the music both go back to normal. A few seconds pass, during which the guests are too surprised, perhaps even too startled, to react.

Then a flurry of flashbulbs from the journalists goes off. Everyone is reaching for their cameras and phones to snatch a photo. Loki enjoys the attention and smiles at them, like the prince he is raised to be. He raises his hand and gives them a short wave before leaning to you and giving you a kiss on your temple. More photos are snapped.

You don't mind, because you know that their attempts to find out more about you will be fruitless.

When he thinks it's enough, Loki leads you by his arm to the side of the hall and conjures the two of you some drinks. Tony is at your side almost instantly.

"Cute entrance." His voice was noticeably neutral, as if he himself hasn’t been known for his notorious extravagance in the past. "We should have made this a Halloween theme party to fit with the spooky flicker of the lights"

His gaze shifts over to you and he smiles. "You look stunning as always, Sabrina."

Taking your hand, he spins you around once to look at you from all sides.

You giggle, flattered by his words. "You're not bad yourself." As you stand next to Loki again, you don't miss the Asgardian's possessive arm sneaking around your waist.

But his voice is leveled when he asks, "So, what's the plan for tonight?" He knows Stark is no real threat or competition for him, but, still, he doesn't appreciate anyone touching what's his.

"We have fun, mingle with the commoners," Tony explains with a wink. "Then there's a speech where you get up on stage and after that more fun, and booze."

That sounds easy enough. Pepper and the PR team would issue a few more official statements, but you two have nothing further to do than to make a good impression tonight. And personally you are quite happy about that.

You're no longer holed up in your little cottage somewhere in the middle of nowhere, but all this public relations work isn't really your thing. It's enough for you to stand by Loki's side as his support. For him, of course, such appearances are nothing unusual. As the prince of a whole realm, he was raised for this.

Maybe he and Tony aren't so dissimilar in that regard, but you'd never dare to say that out loud.

You briefly stop listening to the conversation between the two men when you catch a glimpse of Thor. His tall figure is clearly visible over the heads of the other people, even with super soldiers and enhanced humans attending.

He waves at you and grins, presumably a comment on the entrance of Loki and you.

You reply with a shrug like, 'well, what did you expect?'. You see him laugh as he turns back to his conversation partners, and you turn back to Loki as well.

As you do so, you notice that Tony has left and the Asgardian is watching you with amusement.

"Having silent conversations now, are we?" he observes, amused.

“Only within the family.”

His eyes soften, because despite all his prior conflicts with Thor, he is still his brother, and he is glad you two get along so easily. And Loki with your siblings too. It was only last weekend when the two of you met Elizabeth and Gabriel for lunch.

For Loki, family has always been a two-sided dagger. Something that was familiar, and yet something he never dared to open up to completely.

Frigga was the only one who saw him – like really saw him – but even in her company, Loki had never fully let his walls down. And that was not because she was not his mother by birth.

With Thor, he shared a camaraderie that could only be built by fighting side by side for centuries. And yet they got along better on the battlefield than in the palace that used to be their home. Perhaps because children can only develop truly and freely when they are not overshadowed by their parents.

The stay on Midgard really did their brotherly relationship good in this respect.

In the presence of your siblings, Loki has been initially reserved, always the observer first, studying dynamics in order to react to them. But both Bell and Gabe had welcomed him into their midst with open arms – probably not least because he had helped save Gabriel’s life.

Whenever you met now, which was only moderately between your various duties, lives and the time difference between the US and Europe, a lot of quips and teasing were thrown around between you siblings, and Loki didn't hold back either.

He didn't, however, tell you about the shovel talk he had received from Gabriel the other day when you briefly left the room to help Elizabeth prepare the dessert. Your brother is still recovering, but moving fast with all the healing potions you brewed for him. Only the fading cross on his forehead testifies to what happened to him – at least outwardly. The mental scars in the form of a haunted look that sometimes takes over his eyes will last way longer. But he doesn't talk about that. Not yet.

Loki has to admit that the young man – still older than any normal Midgardian – can look rather intimidating when he puts his mind to it. Not that he can do anything really harmful against a god, but the curses Gabe threatened him with, should it come to his ears that Loki is not treating you well, would be a real inconvenience, even for Loki.

It’s fortunate that he has no such intentions.

"Would you do me the honor of a dance?" Formally, Loki holds out his hand to you and you put yours in with a smile.

"I'd love to."

He leads you to a space near the string quartet, which has been unofficially claimed as the dance floor.

It's a simple dance, swaying slowly, and it gives a sense of intimacy between the two of you, though you're sure you're still being watched by more than one pair of eyes. After all, Loki is the main attraction of the event.

"They will be furious when they find out about the cloaking spell I put on you," Loki says, as if he had been reading your thoughts.

It has been a condition of yours to accompany him to this event. While you want to support him in all his steps with the Avengers, you don't want to be in the public eye yourself – even though you know this will inevitably happen. But for now the trauma of what happens to witches who are exposed as such still roots too deep within you. You are still hunted, even in these 'modern' and 'enlightened' times.

The solution Loki offered for the problem was ridiculously simple.

"I would love to see their faces when they notice the blurry spot on every single photo you are in." Loki chuckles at the notion.

You can't help but grin as well. "Maybe they'll think I'm Bigfoot," you muse, wondering if the origin of the cryptid creature had a similar explanation after all.

Loki knits his brows. "Your feet are not that big," he states as he leads you into a swirling spin.

You don't correct him. The one time you told Thor about the Loch Ness Monster, he was about to go hunt it down to take credit for slaying a legendary beast.

You're not taking chances. After all, they are still brothers.

After another spin, you put your hand back on his shoulder and look up at him. He is still leading the dance, but his mind seems to have drifted away.

Sometimes you still have a hard time figuring out what's going on in his mind. It is much easier when the two of you are alone, but in company he involuntarily pulls up these old walls around him. You are fine with it, because you know that he will let you through regardless, that they don't apply to you. Not truly.

But every now and then he needs a little nudge in the right direction.

"What are you thinking about?" you ask him softly.

“You would look gorgeous with a crown.” With this, the Asgardian prince reveals more than he actually wanted to, but neither does he give an explanation, nor does he take his words back.

"One day at a time," you remind him, taken off guard by this sudden change of subject and somewhat flustered by the hidden meaning of it.

The smile on Loki's lips remains a mystery to you. "Indeed, my little Witchling."

You both have enough time without having to rush things. More time than you would even know. It's a secret of his own for now, but Loki knows that the day will come when he will go and find Idunn to ask her for one of the golden apples. She owes him a favor anyway.

Until then he will stay at your side, dancing the night away.

FIN

______________________

And with that we reached the end of the story and I almost got my goal: writing something that is as long as The Hobbit (~95k words)

A big thank you to everyone who joined this ride and made it to this point. To everyone who, liked, commented and reblogged it. It brought me much joy to read your reactions and thoughts to every chapter ♥

Every reader-insert story I write is deeply personal. There’s part of me in the Witchling, part of my siblings in hers. So whenever I publish a new chapter it feels a little bit like putting a small piece of myself out there.

That's it, I have no more to say. Just this: be nice to people! You never know who might be a witch.

And to the Witches: don’t play with forces you can’t fully comprehend or understand. You never know what you might provoke. Be careful.

Tag List: @lokisgoodgirl @lokixryss @itsybitchylittlewitchy @yokshi-unbeliebubble @fictional-hooman @elennair @all-envy-suyu @purplekitten30 @elisadmaggiore @nothing2113 @ceo-of-stfu @moonlightreader649 @ronipiamka @fluffybunnyu @ninjarose23 @ozymdias @huntress-artemiss @sofi786 @thedistractedagglomeration @rosaline-black @msrawog @moonlightreader649 @paetonnn @eldriidd @r4inlov3r @eleniblue @eleniblue @maeisonline @marvel-love24 @sinsandguilt @kalinaselennespeaks @ohtellmelove @eleniblue @hyojin-2579 @just-someone11 @marygoddessofmischief @fall-myriad @melavoris @baebeepeach

[noxspost]

 fallen soldiers

it was day after Ares went to meet his kids and Clarisse was still eating just crackers and drinking water but now she was eating occasionally a roll maybe a fat piece of bread maybe some dragon scale candy but that was all she ate and drank her muscles were a lot less defined and she looked a little bit more gaunt than usual her hair was oily and messy now still was.

she looked like she had not taken a shower in months she did but they were very quick and she looked like she hadn't been taken care of herself for months it'd been about four months in a day since the war happened and since the shroud was buried and burned around her neck was a vile which was filled with her lover's ashes and she had been given.

her brothers and sisters were Concerned for her safety and so Mark was the first to walk up to her when they were as the mess hall for food and they all saw what she had gotten and this makes frank looked to Sparrow who looked to mark as he went up to her "hey Clarisse are you okay you have been needing enough she will just look at him and mumble "I'm fine." there is this weird and unnatural shakiness to that tone of voice.

Sherman, Mark and Ellis didn't believe that and then Clarisse took a drink of water and they saw her eyes bags which were worse than before maybe she used some of the magic she had been given to hide the extent to which he was willing to go in her grief which made the Ares's cabin plus Frank just wanna cry so they did internally Ellis looked to her and sighed "well i think dad will want to see her." 

well when she went to the Area when she went off to train she grabbed a spear which looked an awful like the eternal spear which Zagreus and Achilles used and still use and Clarisse felt hollow and her voices of self-hate and doubt bubbled up to the surface as she went to train by hitting the dummy as she did she felt weaker more tired yet she kept pushing on even though her body screamed for her to stop.

she did it since the voices of self-doubt and hatred roared in her ears screaming she was not good enough and kept pushing her to fight more and more and soon she heard footsteps which she paid no mind because they would most likely criticize her which would be more fueled to this fire making herself better because if she cannot properly protect her lover how can she protect all of her siblings some of the Hermes kids and the Apollo kids specifically.

her training was soon stopped by dark skinned hand which was calloused and scarred this was not foxglove or sparrow this was her father Ares he stood there without a sunglass with his dark skin and his white wars striped painted on his face his peachy gray hair was swept to one side as the rest of his hair was shaven and removed, he was broad and strong for his years being a war deity.

but there was a certain softness to his face his eyes were filled with concern and worry the teeth spoke daughter of mine Why do you insist on training when you are harmed and hurting you are weak you cannot do this without properly hurting yourself and that's not good." he spoke in a low tone which made her want to screak m and she tighten her grip on the spear handle as you attempted to drive it through her father's heart but her arms are so tired that it only went down in front of him she was breathing heavily her hair was a complete mess she was sweating and soon her figure no longer the muscular big type it always was more depleted more tired and chilled weaker she was all dirty from the sand and dirt she looked like a real hot mess "why do you act like i am weak i am not i am training for when i have to Protect this camp without a single praise of my name."

she broke down her eyes filled up with tears as she sunk to the floor.

there she was standing on her knees she was crying her hands were rubbing at her face trying to stop the assault of the tears in her eyes.

she screamed she wept, and she pleaded incoherently for the pain to stop Ares snapped his fingers and the armor that was on him soon whisked away and he was now wearing his civilian clothes which was a simple t-shirt and some shorts. he had his wings which was shield from the eyes of Annabeth, Piper, Percy and will who watch the from the doorway into this space.

he sunk to the floor next to his daughter and grabbed her and brought her into his arms and the hug as she cried, and she hid his chest with her arms which was not as effective as she wished she was just there crying screaming now which echoed everywhere she was weak she hated that word weak. the voices scream for her to work and get better she had to make it up for Silena.

Ares merely let her he let her get out all of his emotions which had been bottled up inside of her and when she started to scratch herself rapidly and hard enough that she almost started to break the skin Ares grabbed her hands in both of his and said please firm quiet tone "you are safe here. there's no need to scratch yourself you're safe here and know how you're feeling I was like this when all the victims of Hercules rage happened in the Amazon camp my descendants, I was the exact same way it's O K to grave it's O K to mourn please don't harm yourself."

she was still inconsolable but he started to do comforting by talk to her about funny little stories of his childhood about the goofy things he did and how he would give gifts to Aphrodite which were mostly beautiful flowers but he just talked not going into the topic of death just talking about his experiences with grief and depression and sadness and anger and self-hatred and doubt he just talked in that same firm comforting tone.

Clarisse calm down and he asked "have you been using magic to hide this from everyone?" he didn't say it in accusatory tone just asked like a simple question she looked down at her hands which were still firmly in her father's hands and she said whispering "yes." and he asked "why."

"because I deserve it I failed at keeping people safe I failed to protect them I was mean and cruel to Percy I was as prickly as a cactus I deserve this." she showed her self-harms scars which were on her shoulders and upper chest near her collar bones.

this caused his eyes reflected this protective and maternal love and he said "no you don't you were still a kid who lived in a camp with extremely high death rates and I'm super lucky that you survived and I know that came with a cost I'm not saying to celebrate the cost as if it's some great achievement I'm just saying acknowledge it now you need to rest."

she just sighed and spoke "i am to tired but two riled up to sleep because every time I close my eyes she's there she's dying in front of my lap choking on an arrow that I shot in her chest Aries looked down at his child and said "I know I often have nightmares of the wars I faced with but just now there are people in your cabin who will comfort you and help you even though they may have the roughest exterior known mortal kind." he laugh a bit which help with her mood and soon he got up with her in his arms and he walked back to the cabin and said "i will have will look at you and i was wondering if that okay?"

"it is good just i will be wearing shorts and those will now come off." she was Serious about that and Ares spoke "of course understandable I will tell him but right now you need to take a nap and that means I'm going to make a nest on the on cabin floor and you're going to snuggle in it with star on the other boars." she nodded and she felt the pull of Hypnos and Morpheus but then the fears from Phobos she knew he was just doing his job but at least he would bring comfort that those dreams.

[luckyshotwrites]

Ch. 53 // Girls Day Out // Day Off

Contents (Warnings): How bad can a girls day be? (vore mentions, angst, vore attempt, slight teasing, some action, and as always character/monster info).

Wordcount: 4800+ (Sorry it took a while!)

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

Day 42 (Ending of the Halloween Party)

We only got a little explanation as to what happened. Someone started a fight inside the mansion. When most of our group got a hold of Alexander, he refused to give details. He simply told us not to worry and to make our way home, much like Viola and the two others helping her did to the rest of the crowd. 

Elliot and June walked me to my car. It mainly was June sticking onto me and Elliot steering our direction. 

Not that I felt I had to say anything, "I hope you two drive home safe too."

June giggled and tapped on his face, "Elliots driving! I don't have my glasses. I can't drive without them."

Oh, right. Tristan explained he only sees energy without them. It works the same with June too. 

I told them to both have a goodnight and drove off. I wish I had more time. I finally felt safe with protection. As I drove home, I made a mental check mark, another reason the morning crew seemed the way to go besides Beatrice being there.

I got home a little after one in the morning. I texted Wenna about her costume and texted Drake to thank him for the invite. I didn't do much besides be... my throat forged a grumble out of frustration. 

The thoughts at least forced me to recheck all the windows and locks on the doors. Everything's on lockdown, I thought. I made it back into my room and slipped into the shower. The touch of the cold water jolted my body. It wasn't ice cold but not warm either. It was hard, especially now, to feel anything warm and wet, even without the gooiness. 

I pushed my thoughts to the end of the party. What happened? Alexander seems involved, along with Wenna and Drake. They weren't around after it. If something happened with Drake, I'd expect Alexander to be pissed. That's his best friend.

I scrubbed thoroughly and let the wild theories scurry into my mind. I let them. I wanted a distraction.

After another ten minutes, I left the shower, got dressed, and looked back at my texts. None of them replied except Drake with a simple thumbs-up emoji. 

What are you doing out this late anyway, Wicks? I asked. Why couldn't he tell me if he's dating someone and out with them? 

I wasn't mad at him for needing time alone if that was the case, but it'd still hurt if he lied to me instead.

I sat back on my bed and sat cross-legged. I wish I was different. Would that be better? I didn't know what I'd do as a monster. My family would freak out if I told them magic and monsters are real. I can't imagine if I was one...they'd shun me. I bounced a few times back and forth and then yelled out. 

"ARGH!!" I threw myself back on the bed and covered my face. This is why I didn't want to stay home. I wanted to... I let my hands fall. "Distract myself." And I chose to go out somewhere dangerous. What am I thinking? It turned out fine, but what if it didn't? Then what? We were all rushed out after. Would I have gone home with them? 

I took a deep breath, "the bets, the days, focus on the days. It'll be over soon." I said. The empty room reflected my sentence back. I can't play the "oblivious game" with Alexander, he'd get pissed, and Lev would offer to give me "demonstrations."

I clutched my damp hair. "Do I keep trying to engage with them? What about the girls' day? It's Wednesday?"

I tossed Lev and Alexander out of my mind. "OKAY, Drake, Zilla, and Claudia. Those are the three I should talk to. Zilla might be WILLING to have a conversation with me, Claudia would be a valuable asset, but she seems all over the place..." I groaned.

"And then there's Drake. He's probably the most trustworthy out of the night crew..." Or at least he isn't out to get me. 

I closed my eyes in an attempt to sleep, though the party plague. I tried to keep a silly train going and joke about the fun I'd coming Saturday. Charletta, Wicks, and I would be back under the same roof. I could already hear the yells and trouble we'd get into. It brought me an ounce of comfort, but I couldn't quite sleep until Wicks got home. 

...

Day 44 (Nov. 2nd, Wednesday)

"HEY!" Wicks pushed me back into my room right as I was leaving it. "No, no, no, you are not wearing that, Lentils."

"What-" I tried to protest as he got behind me and pushed me forward to my closest. "I'm looking good!"

"YEAH RIGHT." Wicks said with a playful tone, "every bit of that looks good on it's own NOT together." He pointed to the closet, "now try to pick an outfit and I'll tell you yes or no."

He walked across the way to my bed and sat back on it. I had just made it, so I squinted at him for ruining it.

I looked in the mirror beside my closet. I liked my, "duck this" shirt and skirt with parachute pants combo. Plus I wore my favorite red boots.

"I want to keep my duck this shirt!" I declared pulling at the fabric to show him.

He had both of his hands on the edge of the bed. His lips wiggled with a smile. He did a fake eye roll, "ugh, fine.~"

"Thank you, Liege." I replied as I searched through my clothes. "So what else do I need to change?"

Wicks laughed, "Lentils, just find some jeans and white or black tennis shoes."

"That sounds plain."

"Better than looking like a clown, we got..." he lifted up his hand to count.

"Three days including today left." I lifted up my pink polka dot jeans.

"LENTILS, MOM TOLD YOU TO THROW THOSE AWAY!"

I hugged the jeans to my chest, "I love them, they're so pretty!"

Wicks came home Tuesday afternoon and slept pretty much the whole day. Over these past two weeks, he's been lively and that was no exception today. However, there was still something there, something I had yet to understand.

...

Zilla

She adjusted her black leather jacket before she sat down. She released a big sigh after. I should have got breakfast before I got here. Her eyes skimmed over those who joined the girls' day and the other monsters sitting in the waiting room. She smiled. There are so many lovely smells. 

Her violet beams soon traced over the redhead briefly. She took note of how she sat. Her body was slightly hunched with a closed-off reserve. She pulled back at the thought. 

So many other choices. Monsters are better. Zilla said it like a reminder, way more filling than puny humans. 

She fidgeted with her white mini-dress and the black leggings underneath. The six of them waited for their baths to be ready. Viola picked a Spa, "Relax and Sit Back." Above was the human portion of the spa, while underground, where they were, harbored the spa for monsters. It was still decorated much like above with white interior walls and granite floors to slide across. They were some of the first people here along with the others in the area so the staff were finishing up a few final touches down the halls.

"I should have gotten breakfast," Zill expressed to the group. 

Lynette flinched as expected.

Zilla continued, "You don't have to worry your sweet little head. We're not like Wendie or Lev." The staffed called back those in the waiting room. They all got out of their seats, none of the monsters were out of their cases yet. They strode down the hall to the far left, passing the elevator they used to get down. 

"They aren't very nice to you, are they?" Viola asked Lynette.

She grumbled instead of giving a complete response. 

"Yeah, Zilla's right. I only eat humans on SUPER rare occasions. I don't want to spoil myself too much." Claudia said with a cheery grin, "and your safe from Viola..." she started to chuckle pointing to Tila, "and your WAAAY too big for itty bitty, teeny tiny fairy pants." 

Tila shot her a glare. "You used an unnecessary amount of descriptors. I'm not that small." 

Your species was the smallest I'd ever seen on Yexodele. 

Claudia taunted her, "you're less than a foot tall! Ten inches at most!" She patted her head and tried to mess up her hair. Tila grabbed at her hand and they started to argue further. Tila's voice raising into more of an embarrassed and fluster shrill as it went on.

It brought a smile to Zilla's face, though her ears picked up the conversation next to her. It made her switch to it.

"Speaking of feeling peckish." Beatrice hummed, finally getting off her phone. "How about you let me eat you for the rest of this spa day, honey?" She lulled over Lynette like a vulture.

Like she'd say yes. 

Lynette teetered away. Zilla could see Beatrice's pink rose colored hue get it's bristles ready to prick her. Why should I be surprised? You've got yourself another monster bullying you. 

"I'd rather enjoy the day," Lynette replied as they entered the giant bathing room.

The floors were a smoothed crème rock with high walls and waterfalls sputtering over the tops of those walls. They led below to massive pools of clear crystal water. There were several divots of pools varying of different sizes with thick paths along the middle to allow them to walk between the levels of depth.

On either side, left or right there were hanging racks for clothing and staff on standby to help monsters with specific needs either with the water, or lack of swimming capabilities. Zilla eyed the one in back that looked the deepest with a few rock structures coming out of the middle for secure holds.

Zilla pointed out, "that pool looks big enough for all of us." She hadn't been able to really go out to places and stretch out often. "this is going to be great, Viola~." 

Zilla smiled as the others were taking off their clothes in approval. Zilla started to pull of her jacket and heard her phone ring. She pulled it from her jacket pocket.

"The bother" it said with a picture of Zane's face. Zilla moved back to the door from which they came, she put her back to the wall next to it and answered.

His voice boomed with joy before she even said a word, "ZILLA! How is my lovely sister doing!!"

She ran her hand through her barely tamed grayish-white hair, "what is it?" Her voice held nothing air.

"Heeeeey," Zane's petulant pout was audible. "I just wanted to know how your girl trip is going and who you're with?"

"The girls at work, I told you." She heard June's excited tone in the background saying 'HI!' to Zilla. They are probably at the end of their lunch.

"Right!" The curiosity of a Cheshire cat purred in his next question, "did Lynette go too?" Zilla held her answer. He sang sweetly, "Zilla~."

She nodded and looked over her group, "she's with us, yes."

A soft, amused snicker came out, "it's like she doesn't learn, does she?"

"Viola's here."

"And what if Viola leaves? Claudia wouldn't watch her, Tila could easily get distracted by another species she's never seen before, and Beatrice doesn't care for her safety," Zane said.

Zilla shut her eyes. If I was in her position. I would have left the pizzeria on day one. 

"I know not every monster would pursue her and you know not all of them will ignore her..." She heard her brother whisper, "I surely wouldn't."

...

Lynette

HOW- I felt heavily abashed. Everyone stripped without a second thought. I get why they want us to get clean before a massage, then we'll have the sauna after, but this is so...

"What's the matter, Lynette?" Viola asked.

I glanced back at the her form that stood over me, confidently. My eye level wasn't much higher than her chest. I turned away.

"Can I do it in my clothes?" I muttered.

Claudia popped up in front of me, "aw, come on! You don't wanna swim in soggy clothes!" 

I faced upward. How are they all okay with this?

Luckily, a staff member approached me and offered me a swimming suit to change into. After a little bit of uncomfortableness changing in the open, and I followed Viola to the furthest and largest pool.

She held her hand out to me, "you can swim right?"

I nodded, "I wouldn't want to go in if I couldn't." I met her hand. She pulled me into the water with her. The swim in the warm water to the top, felt a little frantic but I burst through with a gasp. I immediately did a backstroke away from the giant Zilla that laid across the water with her tail, clung to one of the rock pillars at the center.

While Claudia and Tila remained in their human cases, they looked to be "chatting" with further mockery, mostly from Claudia.

I pulled back, not too far from them on another rock. Where's Viola? I questioned. I partially put my arms on it in case I had to pull myself off. It was then when I sniffed at my skin and the flowery scent really hit me.

"Does it have soap in it?" That really didn't burn my eyes coming out.

I caught the studious, mint-green haired girls attention, "genarosi." She released Claudia's head which she had been holding under the water.

"Genarosi?"

Claudia continued to lay face down in the water, not moving. She slowly drifted away. Is she okay? I reached out toward her. Tila's response steered me away from her.

"A specific plant that feeds off bad bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as germs and dirt." She lowered her head in the water, let the water go into her eyes, then she popped back up, "it affects you the same as water, unless you are allergic to the plant. Which you'd know upon entering the water." 

That's pretty cool...and it would have been terrible if I was allergic. I heard a sweet melody from above me.

"I wonder what Lev's doing right now."

I peered up, Beatrice sat on the flat top like platform of the rock, in her monster form. Her wings continued to flutter off some of the water.

I sheepishly grinned, "that's one person I don't want to ever think about."

She rolled her eyes and looked off toward a few other patrons, "he is rude, but..." she smiled, "he's powerful, and I'd love to see that Drakin form.~" Her voice muttered quietly, "I wish he grabbed me again after my insult at the party."

Tila came in, "I'm also curious about Lev's drakin species. His mannerisms and closeness remind me of the Tazmakin, but I've seen his scales once." She shook her head, "red is such an unusual color."

"He is strange!" Claudia said splashing Tila. She Splashed back.

Beatrice sighed longingly, "he might be more willing to talk about it if I gave him an offering." Her eyes fell on me. I pushed from the rock. 

"No thanks," I said. 

"Persumptious of you," Beatrice said. "Like you'd be good enough for him." 

Please explain that to him, Beatrice. Get him to EAT real food. Or energy-charged food.

I felt too intimidated to say that aloud to her, especially with the look she gave me.

I faced Tila who was pushing Claudia's head under the depths again.

I inquired anyway, "Drakin? Like Dragon?"

Tila nodded letting Claudia up. Claudia laughed as she resurfaced.

"The humans call them dragons, yes. Most of our species possess different names compared to what humans gave us. Some monsters told to humans what to call them when some of the first monsters ended up here. And some of the names were given to us." She pressed on her chest. "Escora is what my species is called, but we are in closer relations to the species humans call fairies, so we took up that name. There are plenty of name differences from our world to yours."

"So, do all of you have different species names?"

"And real names, yes," Tila replied. "Translation errors, plus any sort of dead giveaways, are what we try to avoid."

Oh. "You're not using your real names?" That makes sense; excluding Zilla, everyone has basic names. 

Tila shook her head, "we've-" a wave knocked her off balance. It threw me back into the rock and the creature exploded up from the water. It's grayish blue tentacles sprang out from the back of its head. At least that's what I assumed, not that I stuck around to stare at the being at least twenty feet tall.

I scrambled to escape it, but one of its thick tentacles wrapped around me. 

"Hey, hey, it's me, Lynette!"

Viola's sweet, softness touched my ear. She brought me up to face her and her pale, near transparent beauty and not too much at the spiked, rugged exterior below her torso.

I had felt dizzy by the sudden whip up, so I need to catch my breath.

"It's okay, see!" She spoke so close to me that I was able to see the rows of teeth inside her mouth. And it was like her smile mocked me.

It might have been a combination of the sudden spook, the fact she held me so close, and the whiplash, but all I could do is weakly smile before I passed out.

...

Beatrice

Her hue narrowed heavily on Lynette once they got her out of the water. Everyone was finishing with their soak anyway. She flew across the water and landed gracefully on the drier land near the clothing rack. 

Viola had activated her human case again and tried to comfort Lynette. 

She's so sure of herself, isn't she? What kind of human thinks they're better than a monster? Her lip raised in a snarl. You think you're so much better and more capable, huh? 

She saw the row of individuals that were there for their massages. She noticed the male, in particular, speaking to Lynette and Tila. 

She brought her fingernails up and whispered over them. Beatrice knew waiting for it to grow back would be annoying, but she figured it'd be worth it now.

"As soon as you get the human alone, she's all yours." Her voice intertwined with her black pinky claw. She passed the guy who leaned over Lynette and pricked him in his back. The stab wasn't hard enough to notice, similar to a mosquito. She pulled back her finger quickly before the others saw. The male simply scratched his back, and then her smile widened. 

She could feel his mind, and a soft snicker left her lips. Lynette, I tried to be nice and give you such a gracious honor. Let's see how you feel about this. 

...

Lynette

It tickled at first, hurt in a bad way, and then started to hurt in a good way. I never got a massage beside the ones we tried to do to each other as kids mimicking walking on someones back. It took a little for the guy who pressed on my back to be gentle enough not to break it.

Their timer went off after an hour. I saw Tila get up from the bed next to me. I went to get up, but the male with orangish blue hair doing my back spoke out.

“Let me get out this last knot.” 

I tried not to linger on Tila as she finally got a towel around her. I remained down and agreed.

Tila and her masseuse left the room, going to the sauna. I felt his hands pull away. 

I went to get up, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw his skin tear. I scrambled off the table and my palms failed to hold my body. My face collided with the ground. It stung, specifically my nose and forehead as the rest of my body collided sideways onto the hard, cold floor.

I heard one of his palms slam onto the table. I threw myself up, to see the giant being hunched over the space. Tila and I were in the smaller space given our size. He was definitely similar to a fish, like a mix between a goliath tigerfish and catfish with a humanoid body.

I got to my feet and aimed for the thick, delicately designed wooden door. He shifted the table behind me and right before I reached the knob, his hand came around my left shoulder and torso. His other then went to my hips and waist on my right side. His slimy, cold and wet webbed fingers tightly gripped my body.

My left arm was pinned, and my right flailed as he picked me up.

"HELP!" My voice sounded more pitiful than anything when it left my throat. I could barely yell. 

I tried to push his fingers apart. His hands wouldn't budge.

The being lifted me up and opened his mouth over me. I saw his giant teeth go over my head as its tongue pressed at the back of my hair. 

It closed its mouth and placed its teeth down on my neck with enough pressure to make sure I didn't move my head.

Meanwhile, its tongue pushed and prodded underneath my head and around the sides of my face. I kept my eyes and mouth closed. Afraid to make any rash movements in fear, not that I thought it would matter.

He removed the pressure, to take in more to swallow.

I threw up my free hand to get to his lips and push them away. But instead, I grabbed something else that moved by it.

“AH-URCK!” His throat whined.

His suddenly let go. I didn't and fell out of his jaw. His body went forward with it, and I dropped what I held once I touched the ground. I cracked my eyes open scrubbing the saliva off. Then, darted for the door and crashed into it.

I threw it open, and saw he held his whisker. His face scrunched up and what followed was a loud growl. It threw itself forward and I slipped out.

I darted in the direction of people on my right, down the hall of many doors. I recognized the two, one by their bombastic jumps, and the other by her, long crazed hair.

I called out in panic, “CLAUDIA, ZILLA!"

They both turned around and watched me. I tripped over myself to get to them. I didn’t even feel comfortable calling their names. They have no reason to protect me.

I felt the being encroach, his dense slaps got closer.

Zilla tipped her head toward Claudia, I couldn't hear what she said. She then dropped her towel and ran at me with a grin. What followed Zilla's action was Claudia dropping her towel too. I didn't care why at this point.

I saw a hand whirl up from Claudia. It sprang at me and wrapped around my upper torso before the monster touched me. 

Zilla's form broke as I passed her. 

“Whoa,” Claudia threw herself back with me. We narrowly avoided the giant tail that whipped out into the wall. “I always forget Zilla’s SO big!” 

“Th-thank-you.” I said between breaths. 

Claudia smiled with innocence, “Zilla’s idea. She’s been waiting for an excuse to eat one of the employees here.” She giggled as she started to walk off with me, “we were trying to brainstorm an idea before you came along.” 

"Still, thank you..." I wiggled a little in her noodle arms-like grip, the fishy slime still covering parts of my face and hair. “Claudia, do you mind cleaning me off and putting me down.”

“Right!” She did so and dropped me. I gained my footing after stumbling a bit, “you tend to attract a lot of monsters, hmm? You should work on being less tasty.”

“That’s not that kind of stuff I want to hear after…he might have killed me.”

Claudia shook her head as she turned back to watch what happened with Zilla. I refused to look and simply listened to their scramble.

"Unlikely. At least right away, most monsters' bodies would want to recharge with you first." She looked at me with an unbothered expression, "if they wanted to, it’d be at least a couple of hours before any monster would start digesting you.” 

I held my stomach. I could feel my breakfast fighting to come up. Yet Lev and Alexander act like it's no big deal.

That thought made me think about the two. I've stayed in them for hours. Especially Alexander- I know he told me it takes concentration to digest something, but what if-

The fear started to solidify all over. 

She held her hands up, “at least that’s how it works with my body. Tiny Tila would know a lot more than me in that regard.”

I stepped back into the wall near the corner, "doesn't that bother any of you?"

"We need to eat," Claudia said. "I doubt any of them would kill you. Why would someone want to eat a human just to kill them? Unless they have some vendetta against them and need the energy." She nodded along with her statement, "other than that, especially in your case, it'd be a waste."

I swallowed back my urge to throw up. You eat food. Not people. 

"You've got a knack for getting into trouble," Zilla said, moving beside us. "It all worked out, so thanks."

My body jittered when she said that. Why do you not- My heartbeat felt heavy, like it sunk with my panic and worry. I wanted to drop down and curl into a ball. My legs were already together, and my arms were wrapped around me. 

It was then I realized she was standing next to us. STANDING.

I exclaimed to her, "DID YOU CRUSH HIM!?" I disregarded her naked body and the two towels she held. I faced her and took a step closer.

Zilla's eyes widened like she hated that I said that then her violet eyes fell back to their calmness.

She chuckled and looked away, her sharp nail traced her abdomen, "I have a seal that allows me to size-shift those eat." She started to walk around us after that. She waited for us to follow before she continued. "I can't really move around the pizzeria in my actual form. Much like me, a lot of monsters do this." She pressed at her abdomen, which held s slightly noticeable.

She passed her other towel to Claudia. They both got covered up.

I never really thought about that. They'd be too big, and I think Alexander's mentioned it before. 

My attention fell on a worker coming down the hall accompanied by two others that looked like security.

"Zilla, looks like you're in trouble!~" Claudia chirped as she walked around the corner, ushering me. When I didn't come immediately, she got my wrist.

Zilla groaned, "save me a seat."

Claudia strung me along. I want to go home and play beast crossing. That's a nice, harmless game. Wicks brought me new consoles, as he said he would, so games were back in business.  

We stopped outside the giant box. It could fit at least 100 people. 

Upon opening it up, a gust of steam washed over my face. I stumbled back; it reminded me of Lev. They were partially the reason I didn't like taking warm or hot showers anymore. 

Her extra limb came out again; it pushed me forward. "Let's go."

I didn't have a choice and moved in with the others. We were the only ones inside. 

"Where's Zilla?" Viola asked, sitting with her legs spread open. Clearly unashamed. 

"A few workers caught up to her after another monster tried to eat Lynette," Claudia said as she plopped down next to Viola on the far side. I went down on the other. "Zilla was happy. The staff, not so much."

Tila called out at me and pointed, "I was just with you. What did you say to him?"

"Nothing!" I exclaimed, "it's not like I asked him to attack me. He just snapped."

"No one would attack you without reason, honey," Beatrice said from a few seats on the bench away. She gave me the side-eye.

"Beatrice, don't be mean." Viola sighed as she patted my shoulder, "I'm glad you're alright." She looked over at me with worried eyes. "I never have this much trouble with Elise."

"Elise? Isn't that the partner you mentioned- she's human?"

Viola smiled, "right, you haven't met her yet. I've told her a bit about you. Having another human friend who knows about monsters would be nice for her." A small laugh left the muscular woman's mouth, "not that she doesn't have enough already being a giver, but one more wouldn't hurt, specifically for you."

A giver?! I still couldn't wrap my head around being okay with that. Not that my situation was too different. I don't purposefully give myself to monsters though!

"Claudia, Beatrice, you've both eaten Lynette, right? What do you think?" Tila asked before I could speak.

“Lynette?” Claudia peered over Viola at me and smiled, “she’s a weirdly funny human.” 

Tila shook her head, “isn’t she abnormal?”

I muttered, “weird..."

Claudia nodded, “yeah, you are weird; you're hanging out with the monster club.”

Tila shouted out with a little more vigor. "CLAUDIA, ENERGY-WISE." She exhaled with annoyance. “I have a theory about Lynette based on her knack for trouble." She put her hands together on her crossed legs. She sat on the top most bench. "Lynette might be a Jenkai...though my knowledge about them is surface level at best."

“Jenkai?” I had never heard that term before.

Beatrice perked up and laughed, “A Jenkai is supposed to be the highest quality delicacy with energy that makes monsters stronger. I wouldn’t consider her that highly.”

I flinched and hung my head down. Highest what? Why is it all food related?! 

“It’s a thought. Jenkai’s are rumored to be a human with more energy than normal. And it’d make sense since Lynette denied prior involvement with magic, and as far as we know, Jenkai's suddenly possess their special energy and don't keep it forever. So it would explain how she's avoided everything until this point.”

I scooted further off the bench and smiled with hope, "wait, are you saying if I am, I'll be cured sooner or later?" I said it like a disease. 

Tila shrugged, "from the little information I possess, yes. You'll most likely be a normal human after."

That means I won't have to deal with stuff like this anymore? And Alexander might want to eat me less. 

Claudia nodded enthusiastically, “sounds interesting," she then scratched her head, "how does a Jenkai happen, is it done to them?”

Tila puckered her lips like she ate something she found dissatisfying, “that’s the mystery of the fairytale...” She sighed, “We discussed it amongst my clan before, but the information was scarce. It's like most monsters have a brief idea on the subject and nothing else.” 

Viola held up a hand. Everyone fell silent, "hey, everyone," she ran her eyes over them all. "Before we go on with this, I want all of us to promise now, this won't be mentioned outside of this room." Her soft gaze fell onto me, "we don't want Lynette to be in even more danger."

You say that, Viola... I then looked at both Claudia and Beatrice. Yet why did we have to say this around the two I trust the least with anything about me.

...

Thank you for reading! :D Have a gouda day! (Nonnegotiable, if you're lactose intolerant, you're about to be in a lot of pain, sorry, not sorry. Lol).

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What I’d do for a Livable Income (Synopsis/Chapter - List)

[respitelocklyre]

Grwm post-swamp edition lmao 🤪 ⬇️

(The following update is posted in the form of a video)

[ID: A vertically-oriented video depicting a white tiefling with long-spiraling horns and silver hair. His bangs are pushed back by a headband, showing a face full of dark freckles and black marks that radiate from their eyes and fade to a gradient. They're wearing a black, silk bathrobe that's slipped off one shoulder. In front of them but mostly out of frame is a large selection of makeup and a personal mirror. Behind them is what looks to be a bedroom. Throughout the video, they are doing a makeup tutorial and showing off different products while they talk. The caption reads: "Grwm post-swamp edition lmao @FauntasticPartyTime #fyp #grwm #Strixhaven #Warlock #makeuptutorial #lgbtq #pepsihalftimeshow"]

Transcript:

Get ready with me for a celebratory dinner after I almost died in a swamp!

For those of you who don't know, I'm a freshman at a magic university. I try not to talk much about school because I know that's not why most of you follow me, but I thought I'd do a story time while I do my makeup since I've been on a bit of a hiatus from socials the past month. We just finished our first field exam in a lit-er-al swamp, so I am freshly showered and getting ready to go out with my party for a well-earned dinner.

[Cut to a makeup product being held aloft] First, I'm going in with some primer from Tasha's Cauldron- it's super moisturizing, I love it.

So, like, before I get into the story of how my exam went, I just want to address why I went on hiatus real quick. I had some personal issues with a friend group here at college and... I don't really know if I want to, or even can say too much, but it looked really bad for a while. All I'm gonna say is keep in mind that adventuring can be really dangerous, and this was, like, worst-case-scenario levels at first. Things have kind of settled down now and everyone is [they pause to make a face and gesture vaguely with their hands before shrugging]...fine. Yeah, everyone is fine now. But I'm sorry for just going MIA for a while and I know I have soooo many DMs and comments and stuff that I left unanswered. I'm trying to make my way through them, I prommie!

[Cut to a makeup product being held aloft] Concealer and Foundation are both from Marvelous Pigments in their shade Wight. It's seriously the only thing I've found that matches my skin. If they ever discontinue it, I'm gonna have to unalive myself for real.

Anyways, since things have settled we're all back in our classes and stuff now. I've been working over time to memorize the new cheer routines the squad ran through while I was gone. I'm working on class work too, I guess, but I think I might just find some nerd who's willing to help me with, um... private tutoring lessons, if you catch my drift [they wink].

Back to what I really wanna talk about, though, which is the practical exam we just had! There's this overgrown swamp outside of the school that I think the Witherbloom students use a lot- it's great for growing herbs and brewing potions and stuff, but it's soooo terrible for my hair and clothes. We get out there and I guess there's this spring of wild magic that's been messing up the ecosystem and bringing in all sorts of monsters from out of town. Our job was to basically help the professors cast a spell to close it off, and they graded us on how well we did.

[Cut to a makeup product being held aloft] For my eyes I usually just like to emphasize my natural features with some glitter or holo, so I'm going in with the color Abyssal from the Chromatic palette by Color Spray.

So we're in the swamp, we gather all the material components for the spell, and then we have to hunt down the spring itself. Luckily we didn't have to wade around in swamp water because a couple of my classmates can fly, including this cute owlin who plays on the team I cheer for [laughs, dismissive] I don't think he follows my socials, it's fine.

But when I tell you things got crazy so fast once we started up this ritual spell, oh my queen. Like, my party's already faced a lot of monsters but this was, like, a lot of monsters. There were these awful little bat-mosquito things that would stick their teeth in you and start sucking blood, it was super gross. And my friends told me there was also some kind of ghost or spirit or something that kept going inside them? Talk about invasive. Oh and not to mention the two giant scorpions, but we'll talk about those guys later.

[Continues talking while curling their eyelashes] The craziest of all was this big, blue...toad? It was like a bipedal toad with big fuck-off claws. My classmate Sersh kept screaming about how its claws can apparently turn you into one of them, too, if it hits you. Which, like, yuck. [Slightly sarcastic] What a loss to the entire world it would've been if I'd been turned into some ugly monster, y'know?

[Cut to a makeup product being held aloft] Eyeliner and mascara from Dark E.L.F., just tightlining my eyes today.

So, back to the giant scorpions- we for real would've been fucked if our friend Mire hadn't been able to charm them. But they're a druid, so this is kind of their whole thing and it worked great. Me, my other friend Willow, and Sersh got to focus on helping the teachers close the spring while the big toad guy and the scorpions had their beef. So fun to watch.

Willow's a bard, bee-tee-dubs, and you should definitely go check her shit out. She plays the cutest little pan pipes and is sooo funny and sweet. I'll drop her @ in the caption!

[Cut to a makeup product being held aloft] I'm finishing up with [making air quotations] "bronzer" in the shade Shadowfell and highlighter in the shade Lurue from Marvelous Pigments again.

I'm not gonna lie, it was looking pretty rough for a bit, but we managed to close off the portal without any of us dying! Or, like, passing out. Okay, well, that's not totally true. John- oh, the scorpions were named John and Charlotte by the way- did unfortunately die in battle, but Charlotte made it out. We gave John a little swamp burial to commemorate his sacrifice.

Once all the monsters were killed, Mettie and Puppet- that's his familiar; she's cheeky and we love her- even helped me clean up the caltrops I'd set as a trap (which totally failed, ugh, but whatever). I was gonna just leave 'em there but Mire seemed mad about it for some reason. Metal's technically biodegradable, isn't it? But Puppet liked picking them up 'cause they were shiny and she's a raven, so it was a win-win. I let her keep one.

[Cut to a makeup product being held aloft] And I'll be using a setting spray from Cleric's Formula to seal the look!

I'm excited we passed our first field exam, I can't believe how great school is going. I totally thought I'd be flunking but this shit is easy. Sure, I almost died...[counting on their fingers] four or five times? in the past few months and a bunch of my friends keep almost dying too, but otherwise I feel like we're killing it! I mean, I guess it's killing us, but you know.

Here's the finished look [pause] I gotta go, I'm late [video cuts off].

[waveridden]

@astralscrivener replied: when you have the time PLEASE go into detail on kiss her once for me

oh boy okay. this is going under a cut, less because of length and more because i have to imagine people are going to search for this book and accidentally find this post of me complaining about how i did not like it at all.

three notes before i get into it: i read and loved allison cochrun's debut so i was extra bummed about this book and am speaking from a place of disappointment; i am about to spoil the fuck out of this book; and CW for discussion of child abuse (especially emotional/financial abuse) and anxiety/panic attacks

ok first thing's first. in case anyone hasn't heard of this book, the lowdown is as follows. ellie is an artist in portland who has her dream job, and she spends one magical christmas with jack, a woman she meets and instantly connects with... only for everything to come crashing down the next morning. fast forward one year, and ellie has lost her dream job, is struggling financially, and is miserably lonely.

enter andrew, the landlord of the coffee shop she works in, with an insane proposal: he needs to marry someone to get his inheritance from his grandfather, and he's willing to pay her to marry him. so she agrees, and goes to his family christmas, only to discover that his sister is the woman from last christmas! now ellie has to choose between the stability provided by andrew or the romance and excitement provided by jack, what will she do, etc

every book has gaps between the summary and the execution. here are some that i took issue with.

ellie's mother is emotionally and financially abusive, and has been for her entire life. this is a repeated thing throughout the book. i'm not opposed to things like this coming up in romance novels but this is a really hard curveball to get hit by in the first chapter

also ellie has a really severe unmedicated anxiety disorder and so this book is full of anxiety spirals in the narration. if you've ever dealt with anxiety spirals before, you might think that this sounds miserable. you're right.

there is absolutely nothing romantic between ellie and andrew. this is not a love triangle.

point of fact, andrew is actually in love with jack's best friend and they have been secretly hooking up for years. so it's a love trapezoid. the book says this phrase repeatedly.

none of these are inherently dealbreakers for me. the following things are:

the book goes to great pains to describe ellie as demisexual. in fact there is a scene of her explaining what demisexual means to a coworker of hers, who replies "this is portland, i know what demisexual means"

however. her entire arc is that she met jack, fell in love in one day, slept with her, it fell apart, and now a year later she's still hung up on jack and they sleep together again. which is not just obnoxious instalove, it's really frustrating to me! one of the protags in this author's previous book was demisexual and it was a very compassionate and sweet relationship and most notably the demisexual character didn't fuck nonstop

also, the "betrayal" that ellie experiences is: jack is married when they meet and sleep together. jack does not disclose this. ellie finds out when, the next morning, jack's wife finds them and it turns out that they're doing an open relationship type thing (that eventually ends in divorce) and ellie runs away feeling completely mortified while jack is in the shower.

i have a lot of problems with this, mostly in the fact that the book says "well, the divorce was happening, and ellie left without saying goodbye and broke jack's heart," and in the end it's framed as though ellie is in the wrong for being pissed that she was lied to, because her "anxiety" and "impulsiveness" were bad for jack and it feeds into Ellie's Character Arc TM

eventually jack and ellie hook up, while ellie and andrew are fake engaged (and to anyone who doesn't know, ostensibly just Engaged). this is justified because jack says "well, we saw andrew kissing [best friend] so this is fine." so in general the attitude this book takes towards infidelity is... super weird?

at this point i will share the end of this book. ellie is a webcomic artist who processes her feelings via making webcomics, so she makes a webcomic about the fake engagement to work through it. she meets andrew's family, goes through problems and anguish, and plans to break up with andrew because she hooks up with jack... only for jack to discover the webcomic ellie is making about being engaged for money, ellie leaves the family in shambles, eventually manages to re-befriend andrew, and then she and jack end up together. somehow. i don't really know i have to be honest at this point i was super fucking over it

but i want to end with something i kind of hinted at: i fucking hated the main characters. jack is incredibly self-righteous for someone who's lying all the time, and during the confrontation towards the end she says some incredibly unkind stuff to ellie that she apologizes for but says "well i don't even remember saying that in the heat of the moment" which is not a good apology

and ellie is just. ugh. her whole arc is realizing that she can't let her anxiety control her life, which again means this book is riddled with anxiety spirals, but also she's just kind of... whiny? by the end it's better but it takes multiple people calling her toxic to get her to figure out why she can't do things like "make webcomics about other people's personal lives just to make herself feel better"

so as a whole i was just really frustrated and disappointed by this whole thing like. bad characters + weird premise + just like, really fucking inscrutably weird attitudes towards polyamory and infidelity and demisexuality = i am not touching this author again

also, p.s., this book includes a giant conversation about which taylor swift albums are ellie and jack's favorites and it ends with a thing about how saying jack is too butch for taylor swift is a stereotype. also the book is super weird about jack being butch. ok i'm hitting the eject button this is WAY longer than it meant to be. if you made it this far god bless

[onbearfeet]

1. Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. It's effectively invisible to me, so I can focus on the words and not the letters.

2. I started out handwriting everything. I could do it again if I had a steady supply of comfortable pens. Unfortunately, my go-to was recently discontinued and I'm looking for a replacement.

3. I write when I'm home alone or when my roommate is asleep. I've always been a late-night writer...as in, staying up until 2 am to write novels at age 13.

4. "Alright". IT IS TWO WORDS AND A FINE HILL TO DIE ON IF I HAVE TO.

5. Never edit in the same format you wrote in. Also, the steel wastebasket and WW2-surplus office chair I inherited from my grandmother are writer-magic.

6. That I'll never stop being crap at it. (Doesn't matter that lots of people say I'm not actually crap. *I* know better.)

7. Rereading something I wrote and getting so absorbed in it that I forget what I was supposed to be doing (usually cleaning).

8. Tough choice. I think I'd flip a coin, and then reinterpret a fairytale.

9. I do not believe in ghosts except for the one ghost that visited me one time. But that was my grandmother, and I'm pretty sure she's her own category of entity.

10. Hahahahaha I literally have nightmares about my old work. Not least because my first novel netted me a stalker who's still popping up to ruin my day over a decade later. (Hi, this is a pseudonym.)

11. I am pretty ruthless. But some of my darlings do ACTUALLY go to a nice farm upstate, and sometimes they wander home again later on.

12. That something I write be loved by good people for many years after I'm gone; that something I write bring me financial stability (it needn't be the same something); that I write something that leaves the world better than I found it.

13. Sex is hard. Fights are easy. I'm aware of the absurdity.

14. I lend a lot of books, but I never lend a book I'm not willing to lose. I do lose a lot of them. Sometimes they come back.

15. I don't write in or dog-ear books unless it's a proof copy I'm marking up. I don't mind other people who do, so long as they don't do it in other people's books without permission. I would read in the bath if I had a bathtub. I think reading in the shower is ill-advised. We can still be friends as long as you don't maul my books.

16. A wooden marionette dressed as a clown.

17. Two of my leads, Maggie and Gabe, have entire backstories that just won't fit (and in Maggie's case, she doesn't know because it all happened before she was two). I know how Maggie's parents met, but it's just not narratively relevant; sometimes even crappy histories like hers aren't dramatic. Gabe, meanwhile, has TONS of drama and remembers it all when he tries but almost none of it matters to the story. Oh, and I know who his aunt is, but you'll never meet her.

18. In the first chapter of the book, Maggie interrupts some fash who are harassing a woman on the street for not "respecting" them. I've gotten some pushback from the more conservative members of my writing group who think it's "unrealistic" to have random street Nazis in my world and also to have them harassing people. I take a certain bitter pride in pointing out that 1) the scene is taken pretty closely from an incident documented by the US State Department in Berlin in 1933; all I did was change the location and let Maggie kick them in the head, and 2) we literally HAVE fascist street gangs in the US now, there's one that hangs out in the next neighborhood over from me, and this story is semi-post-apocalyptic, so if anything I'm letting people off easy.

19. I began making up stories when I was 3 and writing them down when I was 5. I accidentally started a cult in high school when other people got hold of my notebooks. Then I picked up a stalker, had to burn down my life to escape him, and am now reestablishing myself under a pseudonym. I just wanna tell fun lil stories that also jab certain people and societal forces in the eye; is that so wrong?

20. The one true love. I've learned to be satisfied with the results of hard work on my writing, but I'm acespec and I'm hot garbage at anything related to sex or romance. Magical assistance would be great, thank you.

21. I've gotten depressed enough to put it aside for a while. But it always comes back.

22. Notebooks, plus a sketchbook with little bits of index card stuck to the pages with poster putty. It sounds very organized. It is not.

23. Right now, I sit in a squishy beige recliner with my crappy kids' laptop, Potato, balanced on a lap desk. My mug of tea is at my left elbow, ALMOST out of reach, because I can't be assed to move it closer or to my dominant side. I'm in my living room, with a slightly busted beige couch along the wall to my left, a scarred coffee table in front of me, and my roommate's flat-screen to my right. I face my balcony door, which is usually open with the screen shut so I can hear the little fake streak burbling and eavesdrop on my neighbors.

24. The length of my prep is roughly proportionate to the planned length of my story. I like prepping; I learn a lot from it, and then throw most of it out.

25. Gabe likes black licorice.

26. I just kind of...hear voices and feel them? It's like sitting beside someone on a loveseat, but also 1/3 of your body shares space with 1/3 of theirs. It's blurry, is what it is. I don't usually regret going in there because my own head is worse.

27. A genderswapped reinterpretation of Sherlock Holmes. The OG looms large in my childhood imagination, and even though I'm one of those people who gets called smart before we're called anything else, writing super-smart characters is hard for me. How deep into the weeds can I get before I lose the audience? Herlock (not her name) lived in that gray zone and was MISERABLE about it. All my childhood neurodivergent isolation welled up in her. It was rough.

28. I haven't actually written her down yet. She's currently called the Bear Mother. She's like a warm cup of tea sitting in a corner of my brain.

29. Things just ... happen to me. I've lived and read enough that my brain is full of random bits of knowledge and experience and they all collide sometimes. Moat often the trigger is someone asking me a question or telling me I can't do something.

30. I've read in dreams, but not written. And yes, I've used my dreams in my writing. I have a recurring nightmare that informs the aesthetic of a Very Bad Place in one of my stories. If you're reading something of mine and you see chessboard floor tiles or white walls with black wrought-iron decor, be afraid.

31. Thank you. You are Best Humans, and the bears love you, each and every one. 💜

32. All of Nation by Terry Pratchett. I won't choose.

33. I sew, draw, paint, and bake. And yes, particularly the sewing. Every outfit my characters fight in CAN be fought in.

34. You don't have to use it in every circumstance because it's not always strictly necessary, but also excuse you sir that is my emotional support punctuation.

35. Minimum paragraph length? Kiss my ass. I will have paragraphs less than one word long and the words won't even be in the dictionary.

36. Lots of things, most of them strange and all of them terrifying if you think long enough about them. But for a short list: American evangelicalism, archery, quilting, how to swear in at least 12 languages, how to perform a convincing (and quick) fake exorcism (ritual also works as a curse), Shakespeare, teddy-bear design, the history of carousel horses, and how to make friends with wolves.

37. "Some writers have issues; this one had longboxes."

38. I use what I call a socratic process, in which I ask myself a series of questions and then write down both the question and the answer. I frequently argue woth myself, which makes the results ... interesting to read.

39. The belief that someone out there needs it. There's such a thing as the right book for the right person at the right time, and the idea of having that book and not setting it free to find its person horrifies me.

40. "Bone to ash and soul to sky;/One to scatter, one to fly." -The start of the best poem I've ever written, from a book that will never be published now. I'm still glad I wrote it, though, and Peter Beagle said he liked that line.

Weird Questions for Writers (because writers are weird)

1. What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is that just the default setting?

2. If you had to give up your keyboard and write your stories exclusively by hand, could you do it? If you already write everything by hand, a) are you a wizard and b) pen or pencil?

3. What is your writing ritual and why is it cursed?

4. What’s a word that makes you go absolutely feral?

5. Do you have any writing superstitions? What are they and why are they 100% true?

6. What is your darkest fear about writing?

7. What is your deepest joy about writing?

8. If you had to write an entire story without either action or dialogue, which would you choose and how would it go?

9. Do you believe in ghosts? This isn’t about writing I just wanna know

10. Has a piece of writing ever “haunted” you? Has your own writing haunted you? What does that mean to you?

11. Do you believe in the old advice to “kill your darlings?” Are you a ruthless darling assassin? What happens to the darlings you murder? Do you have a darling graveyard? Do you grieve?

12. If a genie offered you three writing wishes, what would they be? Btw if you wish for more wishes the genie turns all your current WIPs into Lorem Ipsum, I don’t make the rules

13. What is a subject matter that is incredibly difficult for you write about? What is easy?

14. Do you lend your books to people? Are people scared to borrow books from you? Do you know exactly where all your “lost” books are and which specific friend from school you haven’t seen in twelve years still possesses them? Will you ever get them back?

15. Do you write in the margins of your books? Dog-ear your pages? Read in the bath? Why or why not? Do you judge people who do these things? Can we still be friends?

16. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark?

17. Talk to me about the minutiae of your current WIP. Tell me about the lore, the history, the detail, the things that won’t make it in the text.

18. Choose a passage from your writing. Tell me about the backstory of this moment. How you came up with it, how it changed from start to end. Spicy addition: Questioner provides the passage.

19. Tell me a story about your writing journey. When did you start? Why did you start? Were there bumps along the way? Where are you now and where are you going?

20. If a witch offered you the choice between eternal happiness with your one true love and the ability to finally finish, perfect, and publish your dearest, darlingest, most precious WIP in exactly the way you've always imagined it — which would you choose? You can’t have both sorry, life’s a bitch

21. Could you ever quit writing? Do you ever wish you could? Why or why not?

22. How organized are you with your writing? Describe to me your organization method, if it exists. What tools do you use? Notebooks? Binders? Apps? The Cloud?

23. Describe the physical environment in which you write. Be as detailed as possible. Tell me what’s around you as you work. Paint me a picture.

24. How much prep work do you put into your stories? What does that look like for you? Do you enjoy this part or do you just want to get on with it?

25. What is a weird, hyper-specific detail you know about one of your characters that is completely irrelevant to the story?

26. How do you get into your character’s head? How do you get out? Do you ever regret going in there in the first place?

27. Who is the most stressful character you’ve ever written? Why?

28. Who is the most delightful character you’ve ever written? Why?

29. Where do you draw your inspiration? What do you do when the inspiration well runs dry?

30. Talk to me about the role dreams play in your writing life. Have you ever used material from your dreams in your writing? Have you ever written in a dream? Did you remember it when you woke up?

31. Write a short love letter to your readers.

32. What is a line from a poem/novel/fanfic etc that you return to from time and time again? How did you find it? What does it mean to you?

33. Do you practice any other art besides writing? Does that art ever tie into your writing, or is it entirely separate?

34. Thoughts on the Oxford comma, Go:

35. What’s your favorite writing rule to smash into smithereens?

36. They say to Write What You Know. Setting aside for a moment the fact that this is terrible advice...what do you Know?

37. If you were to be remembered only by the words you’ve put on the page, what would future historians think of you?

38. What is something about your writing process YOU think is Really Weird? If you are comfortable, please share. If you’re not comfortable, what do you think cats say about us?

39. What keeps you writing when you feel like giving up?

40. Please share a poem with me, I need it.

[divinewill]

Capítulo Veinte: I’d Come Back for You

I woke up in the middle of the night, on the floor.

Madison didn’t seem to hear me.

I suddenly remembered struggling to convince her to use the bed, and that I’d be willing to sleep on a mat on the floor. I sighed and went back to sleep, had another nightmare, and we woke up early. Madison watched me perform my morning exercise routine, which I think interested her as an animator, and we both got dressed.

I had Madison take a shower first, and we made our way downstairs where father, who never slept for over two hours at a time, had already made breakfast. By smell alone, I knew what he was making: carne guisada tacos, refried beans, and waffles. His Tex-Mex cuisine’s quality was enough to sustain a successful restaurant.

Madison’s presence was enjoyable. I always wanted siblings, but as the only survivor of my nuclear bio-family, and adopted by parents who themselves couldn’t conceive, this wasn’t a plausible possibility. So, this was a welcomed change of pace, and I could tell that my father was enjoying our company as well.

The news confirmed that some within the GSSDO’s membership were at once human and yet starmen. With the appearance of magical girls, superheroes, kaijū, pet monsters, secret societies with ties to the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, and now human-aliens, it seemed as if fiction itself was becoming real. I pondered if the fantasies of men were precognitive, and if the lore stored in my eidetic memory from years of avid readership might have information useful in the trials and tribulations to come.

Madison asked my father, “So, you run a vtuber corporation?”

He admitted, “Primarily? Yes, but I deal with plenty of media. The real money lies in merchandizing, such as toys, figures, comics, video games, etc.”

Madison noted, “I think I saw some of your products advertised in the Winter Comic Market last year. I bought a copy of the ‘Weltuntergangsuhr’ dōjin compendium there, which I think centers on one of your talents.”

Dad confirmed, “Oh yeah, that was a remarkably enjoyable fanwork, which is why we ended up licensing it and contracting with the author to adapt it into an animated series.”

I asked, “How familiar are you with my father’s work?”

Madison admitted, “My knowledge of your father’s work is minimal. I mostly watch clippers and not the livestreams. From what I could find in guidebooks and video essays, his vtuber lore is … different from that of most other Vtuber companies.”

He explained, “Yeah, if you’re talking about the Mythopoeic style, I grew up enamored with the classic worldbuilders, like Dunsany, MacDonald, Tolkien, Lewis, Chambers, Lovecraft, Kirby, Morrison, so on and so forth. So, I intentionally sought to create my own mythic style.”

As the conversation gradually progressed, Madison asked, “So, do you go to conventions?”

I told her, “Yes. Conventions are an important part of my father’s business, but it’s not indispensable. Though conventions are also a time for me to cosplay.”

A thought crossed Madison’s mind before she asked, “Could you show me?”

I told her, “Sure, I can cosplay for you, but I can’t guarantee that you’ll recognize who I’m cosplaying as.”

After dinner, Madison and I went back to my room. I stripped down to my underwear and Madison noticed the scar on my back.

She asked me, “What’s that on your back?”

I told her, “It’s a puncture wound I got when I was seven.”

I turned and showed her the entry wound. “Here’s the other side of the scar.”

She looked dumbstruck and asked me, “What happened?”

I explained, “Oh, on my seventh birthday, I was impaled in a freak vehicular accident and almost died.”

Madison simply responded, “Oh my God. I am glad you’re alright.”

I promised, “I’ll give you the full story later, but let’s focus on why we came up here first.”

I got changed into the last costume I used. A Chinese girl, from the adaptation of a CLAMP manga which aired from 1998 to 2000 AD.

She asked me, “Who is this supposed to be?”

I confessed, “Lǐ Méilíng, if you don’t know who that is, that’s fine. Hers was a story way before our time.”

Madison asked me, “Ah, who would you like to cosplay as, then?”

I thought about it, and said, “I’ve been reading an old comic from my great-great-grandfather’s childhood. It was a magical girl story from the now defunct Disney corporation…”

I asked her, “Have you ever used cosmetics in your cosplay?”

I confessed, “No. I know nothing of the subject.”

Madison suggested. “Let’s try some makeup to prepare for your future cosplay.”

I knew nothing of makeup for two reasons. First, I had no interest in it. Second, I didn’t have a mother to teach me. So, when Madison directed me to sit in a chair and be still, I did as she directed. That’s when the girl pulled out a whole makeup kit from her bag.

Madison asked me, “Can you please close your eyes?”

I said, “Okay.” And complied with her strange request.

When she began, she asked me, “Have you tried to reconnect with your mother’s family?”

I explained to her, “So long as I keep my Christology, I will never be accepted by my mother’s family.”

She asked me, “So you must choose between blood inherited or blood shed? What an awful choice, but I take it you’ve made your decision.”

I told her, “Without a second’s pause, I choose my God over my family. I choose the principle of my principle.”

Madison asked me, “Principle of my principle, that sounds remarkably scholastic.”

I asked her, “Are you familiar with Scholasticism?”

She told me, “I’m familiar with the language, but not the actual wereldbeeld.”

Once more, the use of Dutch vocabulary where context was enough to translate the idea.

In total, preparation took 15 minutes. Foundation matching took 20 minutes. Application took 40 minutes, highlighting and contouring took 20 minutes. Setting took 10 minutes. Blush, eyeshadow, and lips took 20 minutes. Final touches (hair and accessories) took 10 minutes. During which time we discussed many things.

Madison told me, “You can open your eyes now.”

I complied, and saw that Madison was holding up a hand-held mirror for me, but in the mirror was a face unknown to me. My skin was a very light brown complexion consistent with that of Chinamen from the Hénán province. I touched my face in stunned disbelief at the image in the mirror. I simply did not recognize the face in the mirror, but the hand was clearly mine.

She told me, “I have a friend whose hobby is magic. He manipulates sense perception and heuristics to create illusions. This got me thinking, is there a way to manipulate your paternal family’s sense perception and heuristics to get them to see you as their own kin? Then, when you mentioned cosplay, it hit me.”

I turned my head and looked her in the eyes.

Madison noted, “It’s remarkable just how much you inherited from your father. Almost everything about your face, frame, and hair all come from your paternal inheritance, but your skin tone and female nature came from your maternal lineage.”

Madison told me something I have never thought of, “I noticed how much more you look like a Shi than you do… I don’t think you told me what your maternal family’s name was…”

I told her, “My mother’s maiden name was ‘Munashe’. It means ‘God is with us’, like Immanuel, but in Shona, not Hebrew.”

She thought aloud, “Munashe? What a lovely name.”

She continued, “I don’t know much about Jewish or Chinese aesthetics, but I can tell you right now that any family in Japan would be proud to have such a cutie as seen in the mirror as their daughter.”

I asked her, “What are you getting at?”

This is when she revealed an ability to access and exploit the more manipulative aspect of the female psyche to her advantage.

“I think that we might be able to use this trick to soften the hard hearts of your patrilineal family. When they see you like this: as their selfsame granddaughter rendered in their own image reflected to themselves… I think they might, even if for a moment, peer behind the superficial and see with their eyes what they have closed their heart and mind’s eye to.” She plotted.

“By changing your accidents and appearances, we will life the veil and make them to see your essence.”

For a moment, I allowed myself to entertain the idea. “This might work…”

I permitted Madison to work her cosmetic accidental transformation on my neck, arms, and legs, and I dressed in my last cosplay. A Japanese school uniform comprising a black turtleneck under a charcoal-black, long-sleeved sweater with white and red striped cuffs, and a top curved shield with wings divided by a cross atop the brachium. A sailor cape split posteriorly, like coattails, with a single red stripe. A white necktie with a diagonal red stripe across its bottom. A white, pleated skirt reaching half-way down the thighs, white ankle socks, and black Mary Janes.

It was an odd experience to see myself in the mirror. I looked no different from any other Chinese girl.

It was then that my adoptive father knocked on the door, “Bee”, my nickname, “I’m coming in.”

I responded, “Okay.”

When my adoptive father opened the door, he said, “Honey, the Queen of CANZUK is…”

He stopped mid-sentence and just stared in disbelief, but he quickly regained his composure and asked, “Is this a ploy to reconnect with your father’s family, Will?”

I was taken aback by both my father’s momentary shock, with a face almost as if he had seen a ghost, but also by how quickly he figured what was going on. Madison was elated.

My father cautioned us, “Look, I understand the desire to mend those broken relationships, but girls… Please don’t get your hopes up too high about this.”

With that, my father departed.

This took the wind out of Madison’s sails a bit, but I reassured her, “Don’t be sad. He’s just telling us to temper our expectations. He never said we couldn’t try, and he didn’t say it wouldn’t work.”

That seemed to help a bit, but she was still concerned about her plan, so I changed the subject. “What’s your religion?”

Madison asked me, “What brought this on?”

I explained, “Well, Japan and the Netherlands are both confessional states, so I was just curious.”

Madison explained, “The official religion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is the Dutch Reformed Church, and the official religions of the Empire of Japan are Shintō, Buddhism, and Confucianism, but it is a bit more complicated than that. You see, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under the zilveren koorde, provides monetary support for the not just Calvinist clergy, but also for other Protestant clergy, as well as the Roman Catholic clergy and the Jewish rabbinate, a portion of which themselves have their own Noahide projects.”

As a Catholic Jewess, the Noahide movement always struck me as disturbing, but it was something I left for another time.

Madison continued, “Japan, similarly, provides monetary support to the historical religions. Japanese law has a rather over-encompassing definition of Shintō. Any religion which once had membership within the Shintō Dōshikai or Kyōha Shintō Rengōkai, is legally a form of Shintō… So, for legal purposes, Tenrikyō, Ōmotokyō, and Konkōkyō are considered forms of Shintō. The emperor himself has directed funds to the reconstruction of Shintō shrines in foreign nations: such as funding the restoration of the formerly abandoned Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, negotiating the reconstruction of the Chōsen Shrine in Seoul, and negotiation the reconsecration of the Gaoshi Shrine in Taiwan.”

I asked her, “How on earth did he manage the last two?”

Madison explained, “He proposed the Chōsen Shrine to serve the function of museum, war memorial, tourist attraction, and temple, all under the jurisdiction of Korea. He also made good on his promise that the temple would be consecrated to Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea, as the temple’s primary deity, and to Douglas MacArthur, a Korean War hero. As for the temple in Taiwan, it was consecrated to Sun Yat-sen, the father of the nation.”

I asked her, “Didn’t India do something similar?”

Madison admitted, “I know little about Indian law.”

I asked, “Hey, Sheska! What’s the definition of ‘Hindu’ according to the Indian Constitution?”

The hither to inactive AI answered, “Hinduism, as defined by the Constitution of the Dharmic Republic of India, includes not only all Vedic and Agamic religions but also includes all forms of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. Prior to the reformation following the Indo-Pakistan War of 2035, which abrogated the Socialist constitution of the Republic of India in favor of a Dharmic republican constitution, the constitutional definition did not include Zoroastrianism under the legal definition of Hinduism.”

Madison asked, “So, as far as Indian law is concerned, Japanese Buddhists are Hindus?”

The AI answered, “Correct.”

I told her, “The Indian government also funds ISKCON missions to promote Hinduism abroad.”

Madison seemed surprised that I knew this, so I explained, “I found this out when a Hare Kṛṣṇa temple opened up at the end of the neighborhood.”

After a moment, Madison opened up, “My mother got pregnant out of wedlock, and in order for my father to marry her, he had to convert to the Dutch Reformed Church.”

I asked her, “So you’re a Calvinist?”

Madison pondered, “Officially, I am a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, but I have difficulties with some doctrines.”

I asked her, “Could you elaborate?”

Madison confessed, “I do not understand how God could create something that he hates. It seems to me that God must love all that he has created, otherwise why create it at all? Why put salt into your own eye?”

I asked her, “So, it’s the doctrine of double predestination you have an issue with?”

She confessed, “That, and… the lack of assurance that anyone has that they are among the elect. As the good book says, ‘Niet een iegelijk, die tot Mij zegt: Heere, Heere! zal ingaan in het Koninkrijk der hemelen, maar die daar doet den wil Mijns Vaders, Die in de hemelen is. Velen zullen te dien dage tot Mij zeggen: Heere, Heere! hebben wij niet in Uw Naam geprofeteerd, en in Uw Naam duivelen uitgeworpen, en in Uw Naam vele krachten gedaan? En dan zal Ik hun openlijk aanzeggen: Ik heb u nooit gekend; gaat weg van Mij, gij, die de ongerechtigheid werkt!’”

I asked, “I think I heard, ‘have we not in your name…’, so are you referring to Matthew chapter seven verses twenty-one through twenty-three?”

She confessed, “Yes. So that is where I am. I believe in God, but I am skeptical of the Calvinist doctrine because it simply does not make sense to me.”

She pondered, “Maybe the Calvinists are right, and it’s a problem with me, or maybe I was not sovereignly elected, and so I was never meant to understand. Or maybe it is not my place to understand yet, but I will. It is a source of many nightmares for me, honestly.”

After the age of secularization and the esoteric subversion of religion, science, and philosophy came a revival of traditional religions across the world. CANZUK formed as an Anglican state, with constituent countries of Calvinist and Catholic creeds. The Russian Federation reestablished the Russian Orthodox Church as the state religion. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church played a crucial role in reestablishing the Ethiopian monarchy and creating the Tewahedo Kingdom of Ethiopia. Then there was the establishment of the Republic of Assyria as a confessional state under the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East. A new successor to the Papal States emerged, with the Roman Confederation of the Church, lead by the Bishop of Rome, which comprised: the Italian Republic, Republic of Friuli, Republic of Lombardy, Republic of San Marino, Republic of Sardinia, Republic of Sicily, Republic of Tuscany, Vatican City State, Republic of Venice, and Republic of Corsica as its constituent countries. The Tengrist Republic of Türkiye replaced the Republic of Türkiye, when Tengrism replaced Islam after the apostasy of the Turkish people. Though not all these confessional states were theological, with some instead being theosophical, such as the Cao Dai Republic of Viet Nam which replaced the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

We talked a bit about theology, but then defaulted to watching the news to keep up with what I need to do, as a superhero and magical girl. Madison logged into one of her family’s accounts on my laptop and found a national alert for the citizens of Japan and the Netherlands. The Emperor and the King have spoken. Given the situation, we clicked on the video for the Japanese.

The Emperor of Japan said, “日本の皆様、この度の未曾有の災害により、多くの尊い命が失われ、さらに多くの人々が負傷しました。私たちの心は、被害に遭われたすべての方々と共にあります。この大変な時期に、多くの勇敢な人々が救援に駆けつけてくださったことに深い感謝の意を表します。”

As he spoke, he himself translated his own speech into Japanese Sign Language.

Knowing that I was fluent in both English and American Sign Language, but not Japanese nor JSL, Madison set the video to English and ASL subtitles, with the latter accomplished through the orthographic methodology of ASLwrite. A system added to Unicode in the 2030s. Even in 2075 AD, the Japanese traditionalism was strong, as evidenced by JSL still using Sutton SignWriting as its official orthography.

“To all the people of Japan, in this time of unprecedented disaster, we mourn the loss of many precious lives and stand with all those who have been injured. Our hearts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. We express our deepest gratitude to the many brave individuals who have come forward to assist in this time of need.”

“特に、名も知らぬヒーローが危険を顧みず、多くの命を救うために尽力してくださったことに心から感謝しています。彼女の勇敢な行動は、まさに天照大神様と天之御中主神様のご加護を受けたものであり、その献身と勇気は日本全国に希望をもたらしました。”

“We are especially grateful to the unknown heroine who, without regard for her own safety, dedicated herself to saving many lives. Her courageous actions are truly under the protection of Amaterasu Omikami-sama and Amenominakanushi-no-kami-sama. Her dedication and bravery have brought hope to the entire nation of Japan.”

“さらに、国際社会からの支援と協力にも感謝申し上げます。日本自衛隊やアメリカ軍を含む多くの救助隊員が、放射線やその他の危険にもかかわらず、被災地での救援活動に尽力してくださいました。これらの方々の努力により、多くの命が救われ、私たちの国は再び立ち上がる力を得ました。”

“We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the international community for their support and cooperation. Members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the American military, and many other rescue teams have risked their lives in hazardous conditions, including radiation exposure, to provide aid in the affected areas. Through their efforts, many lives have been saved, and our country has found the strength to rise again.”

“私たちは、この災害を乗り越えるために、互いに助け合い、強く、そして希望を持ち続ける必要があります。天照大神様と天之御中主神様のご加護のもと、私たちは必ずや再生し、より強い日本を築いていくことでしょう。”

“As we work to overcome this disaster, it is crucial that we continue to support one another, remain strong, and hold on to hope. Under the divine protection of Amaterasu Omikami-sama and Amenominakanushi-no-kami-sama, we will surely rebuild and create an even stronger Japan.”

“この素晴らしいヒーローおよびすべての救援隊に対し、日本国民を代表して感謝の意を表します。特に、このヒーローが日本を訪れる際には、ぜひお会いし、直接お礼を伝えたいと願っております。”

“On behalf of the people of Japan, I extend our deepest gratitude to this remarkable heroine and all the rescue teams. We earnestly hope to meet this heroine in person when she visits Japan and express our thanks directly.”

“天照大神様の光がすべての人々を照らし、天之御中主神様のご加護が皆様の上にありますように。”

“May the light of Amaterasu Omikami-sama shine upon all people and may the protection of Amenominakanushi-no-kami-sama be with everyone.”

“日本国民一同を代表し、心から感謝を込めて。”

“On behalf of all the people of Japan, with heartfelt gratitude.”

With that, the speech ended, and the emperor departed.

Flabbergasted, I asked, “The emperor wants to meet me?”

Madison told me, “That is what he said.”

I refused to entertain the idea. “As flattered as I am, I’m not interested…”

Madison asked, “Why not?”

I confessed, “There are more pressing concerns for him to deal with, such as meeting with the Supreme Commander of the GSSDO.”

Madison suggested, “That may be true, but I think you should meet with the emperor.”

I asked her, “Why is that?”

She explained, “First, I’m sure he’s as stressed as anyone else in this situation, and meeting one of the great heroes who served the nation, seemingly with no possible political motivations, might help put not only his own mind to a relative ease, and thus make more levelheaded decisions, but it might also help the people of Japan.”

I confessed, “That didn’t cross my mind.”

She continued, “I remember my father commenting that Mr. Trueman’s adoptive daughter has a photographic memory. Am I correct?”

I noted, “Your powers of observation and recollection complement you. Yes, ever since I had my near-death experience three years ago, I’ve had a photographic memory.”

Madison asked me, “You had a near-death experience before?”

I promised her, “We’ll talk about it later. It’s a bittersweet memory, but one I’m more than glad to share.”

I wanted to cover my bases, and therefore I asked, “So, do you have any more reasons for me to meet with the emperor of Japan?”

Madison pointed out, “Sakura is worried about her family. Is it possible for you to identify their faces if you saw them in the field?”

Madison explained, “As distressing as managing the dead and the dying certainly was, you might be the best shot at helping families find closure.”

I reluctantly agreed, “Alright, I’ll meet with the emperor, but I must meet Sakura first. If I can help her find her parents, alive or dead, then it would help me make up for my failure to help her when she needed it.”

I asked her, “Anything I need to know before I go to meet the emperor?”

Madison informed me, “Emperor Shinhito is a devout Shintōka. Not only has he funded apologetical work for Shintō within Japan, but he has also personally funded the restoration of abandoned overseas shrines, such as the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America and the reconsecration of the Luye Shrine in Taiwan. He also established the kikanhō, or Law of Return, which fast-tracks citizenship for Japanese descended diaspora.”

The similarity to the Isreali law of return (חוק השבות), did not escape my notice.

I asked her, “Anything I need to know about the religion?”

Madison explained, “Well, I guess you might want to know about the emperor’s two favorite deities, but that requires a little background context. The scriptures of Shintō are the Shinten, which includes the Kojiki (古事記), Nihon Shoki (日本書紀), Rikkokushi (六国史), Fudoki (風土記), Jinnō Shōtōki (神皇正統記), Kogo Shūi (古語拾遺), Kujiki (旧事紀), and Engishiki (延喜式). Amenominakanushi-no-kami is the first kami mentioned in the Kojiki as the first of the three self-generated gods of creation, or Kotoamatsukami (別天神), alongside Takamimusubi-no-kami (高御産巣日神) and Kamimusubi-no-kami (神産巣日神). According to the Kojiki, when Amenominakanushi-no-kami appears, he unfolds the Heavens and the Earth. One variant of the Nihon Shoki also mentions them, but only in that one variant.”

I confessed, “I have read the Kojiki. The parts written in Classical Chinese were easy enough to read, but I was stuck with English translations for the parts written in Old Japanese. In Basil Hall Chamberlain’s 1919 translation he relayed the name of the first kami as Deity Master-of-the-August-Center-of-Heaven, the second as Pleasant-Reed-Shoot-Prince-Elder Deity, and the third as Heavenly-Eternally-Standing-Deity.”

Madison looked a bit dumbfounded before I reminded her, “Photographic memory, remember?”

That’s when Madison dropped a bombshell on me. “Emperor Shinhito identifies the God of Abraham with the Deity Master-of-the-August-Centre-of-Heaven.”

I asked her, “Excuse me?”

Madison explained, “I do not know the specifics, but you might need to ask him yourself when you meet him. He has always loved comparative religion and mythology.”

I confessed, “I mean, it kind of makes some sense. The Rig Veda records a mythologized memory of an urmonotheistic precursor to the polytheistic religion in book 10, hymn 121. I don’t have a difficult time thinking that the Japanese scriptures might do the same…”

I asked her, “Anything else?”

Madison reminded me, “When visiting Japan, remember that the Japanese state and laws regard the emperor as an arahitogami (現人神), or a deity in human form, and an akitsumikami (現御神), or a manifestation of a deity. In the former capacity, he is legally both human and a god. In his latter capacity, as part of the divine lineage, he functions as a temporal manifestation of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, and therefore his rule is by divine right. Because he is both a god and a man, he exists in both worlds, making him a bridge between the human world and the Plane of High Heaven, Takamagahara (高天原). It is for this reason that not only do his devotees create seishi (生祠), or monuments enshrining living gods, in a practice also called seishi (生祀), or the worship of a living being as a god, but his devotees are encouraged to ‘gratefully receive the emperor’s mind and will.’ That is why the Nipponophile community refers to him as the God Emperor, harkening back to how American newspapers referred to him prior to Japan’s defeat in the second world war.”

I admitted, “Unnerve me, why don’t you?”

Madison then explained, “But this is what the imperial cultists and state believe. Most Japanese do not actually believe this, and the emperor himself does not act as if he himself does either. Though he has never seen fit to speak one way or another on the matter.”

The purpose of her warning was clear.

I contemplated what my next move would be, and since nothing of note happened in the news, I asked Madison to write something for me. Madison played a game of Skud Paisho (牌數) with my father, which she roundly lost, as well as a game of Tak with me. It turned out that while her luck was better than mine; I have a better grasp of strategy. To thread the needle of luck and strategy, I offered to teach her how to play the Royal Game of Ur tomorrow.

During dinner, we watched an independent reporter in the State of Palestine covering the story of a Palestinian Christian Metahuman uprising, emboldened by the events in Hong Kong, called the Outremer Crusader Party, promising to use telepathy to root out and irrevocably destroy the Islamic Resistance Movement and establish a Christian homeland in the Holy Land. The video being analyzed showcased a collection of young Palestinian men, with their faces covered, flanked their leader, a middle-aged man, in support. Only the speaker’s strong, bearded face was visible.

As he spoke, I translated.

“أيها الإخوة والأخوات، أبناء الأرض الفلسطينية الحبيبة،”

“Brothers and sisters, beloved people of Palestine,”

“نجتمع اليوم لنواجه الحقيقة، الحقيقة التي حاولت حماس، لعقود طويلة، إخفاءها عنكم. منذ تأسيسها في أواخر الثمانينيات، لم تكن حماس سوى مصدر دائم للمشاكل والمعاناة لشعبنا الفلسطيني. لقد وعدت بتحريركم وبناء مستقبل مشرق، لكنها بدلاً من ذلك قادتكم إلى حروب لا تنتهي وصراعات مستمرة.”

“We gather today to confront the truth—the truth that Hamas has tried for decades to hide from you. Since its founding in the late 1980s, Hamas has been nothing but a constant source of problems and suffering for our Palestinian people. It promised to liberate you and build a bright future, but instead, it has led you into endless wars and continuous conflicts.”

“نحن هنا اليوم لنلقي الضوء على الفظائع التي ارتكبتها حماس بحق الشعب الفلسطيني. حماس لم تكن يوماً حاميةً للشعب، بل كانت جلاده. استخدمتكم كدروع بشرية، وكأدوات لتحقيق أهدافها الخاصة، دون أن تولي أي اعتبار لحياتكم أو كرامتكم. حماس لا تهتم بالسلام أو الازدهار، بل تسعى فقط لتعزيز قوتها على حسابكم.”

“We are here today to shed light on the atrocities committed by Hamas against the Palestinian people. Hamas has never been a protector of the people; it has been their oppressor. It has used you as human shields, as tools to achieve its own goals, without any regard for your lives or your dignity. Hamas does not care about peace or prosperity; it only seeks to strengthen its power at your expense.”

“على مدى عقود، استغلت حماس معاناتكم، وزرعت في قلوبكم الخوف والكراهية تجاه الآخرين، محولةً الشعب الفلسطيني إلى رهائن في يدها. بدلاً من البحث عن حلول سلمية وبناء دولة مزدهرة، اختارت حماس طريق العنف والتدمير. لقد كانت الحروب التي خاضتها حماس بلا جدوى، لم تحقق سوى المزيد من الدمار والخسائر لشعبنا.”

“For decades, Hamas has exploited your suffering, planting seeds of fear and hatred in your hearts, turning the Palestinian people into hostages in its grip. Instead of seeking peaceful solutions and building a prosperous state, Hamas chose the path of violence and destruction. The wars it has waged have been futile, achieving nothing but more destruction and loss for our people.”

“كل مرة تبدأ فيها صراعًا جديدًا، كانت حماس تستخدم أطفالنا ونساءنا وشيوخنا كأدوات دعاية، لتظهر نفسها على أنها الضحية أمام العالم. ولكن الحقيقة هي أن حماس هي من تقف وراء هذه الكوارث، متجاهلة صرخات الأمهات وآلام الأطفال.”

“Every time a new conflict starts, Hamas uses our children, women, and elders as propaganda tools to portray itself as the victim to the world. But the truth is, Hamas is the one behind these disasters, ignoring the cries of mothers and the pain of children.”

“لقد آن الأوان لنكشف الغطاء عن الأكاذيب التي روجتها حماس. لقد حان الوقت لشعب فلسطين أن يعرف الحقيقة – الحقيقة التي حاولت حماس طمسها منذ تأسيسها. أنتم لم تكونوا يوماً محور اهتمامهم، بل كانوا يهتمون فقط ببقاء سيطرتهم وسيادتهم على حسابكم.”

“The time has come to uncover the lies that Hamas has propagated. It is time for the Palestinian people to know the truth—the truth that Hamas has tried to erase since its inception. You were never their priority; they have only cared about maintaining their control and dominance at your expense.”

“نحن هنا، كحزب صليبي، لنعدكم بشيء واحد: سنستخدم كل الوسائل المتاحة لنا، بما في ذلك قدرات أصحاب القوى الفائقة، لتحرير الشعب الفلسطيني من قبضة حماس. سنعمل على إزالة التأثير الضار الذي غرسته حماس في قلوبكم وعقولكم، وسنكسر جميع نظم الدعاية التي سعت لتضليلكم واستغلالكم.”

“We are here, as the Outremer Crusader Party, to promise you one thing: we will use all the means at our disposal, including the abilities of those with superpowers, to free the Palestinian people from Hamas’s grip. We will work to remove the harmful influence Hamas has planted in your hearts and minds, and we will break all the propaganda systems that have sought to mislead and exploit you.”

“نحن نؤمن بأن فلسطين تستحق أفضل من هذا. تستحقون حكومة تحمي حقوقكم وكرامتكم، حكومة تسعى لتحقيق السلام والازدهار، وليس لإشعال الحروب والنزاعات. نحن نؤمن بدولة تعزز حقوق جميع أبنائها، بغض النظر عن دينهم أو عرقهم.”

“We believe that Palestine deserves better than this. You deserve a government that protects your rights and dignity, a government that seeks peace and prosperity, not one that ignites wars and conflicts. We believe in a state that upholds the rights of all its people, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.”

“أيها الإخوة المسيحيون في كل مكان، سواء كنتم كاثوليك أو بروتستانت أو أنجليكان أو أرثوذكس شرقيين أو أرثوذكس مشرقيين، ندعوكم اليوم للوقوف معنا في هذا المسعى النبيل. إننا نحتاج إلى دعمكم وصلواتكم وتضامنكم في مواجهة هذه المعركة ضد الظلم والاضطهاد. فلسطين الأرض المقدسة، هي جزء من تراثنا الروحي والمكان الذي مشى فيه مخلصنا يسوع المسيح. دعونا نوحد جهودنا لننشر رسالة المحبة والسلام التي جاء بها المسيح، ولنعمل معاً من أجل مستقبل أفضل لشعب فلسطين.”

“To all faithful Christians around the world, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Oriental Orthodox, we call upon you today to stand with us in this noble endeavor. We need your support, your prayers, and your solidarity in this fight against injustice and oppression. Palestine, the Holy Land, is part of our spiritual heritage, the place where our Savior Jesus Christ walked. Let us unite our efforts to spread the message of love and peace that Christ brought and work together for a better future for the people of Palestine.”

He concluded his speech with a prayer.

“يا ربنا يسوع المسيح، نلتجئ إليك اليوم لنكرس فلسطين لك، لتكن هذه الأرض التي مشيت عليها مباركة بسلامك ومملوءة بحبك. نطلب منك أن تحرر شعبها من الظلم والاضطهاد، وأن تملأ قلوبهم بالحب والرحمة. أرشدنا يا رب في كل ما نقوم به، واجعلنا أدوات لسلامك في هذا العالم. آمين. شكراً لكم.”

“Lord Jesus Christ, we come before you today to consecrate Palestine to you. Let this land, which you once walked upon, be blessed with your peace and filled with your love. We ask you to liberate its people from injustice and oppression and to fill their hearts with love and mercy. Guide us, Lord, in all that we do, and make us instruments of your peace in this world. Amen.”

This troubled me. Having been born with dual Isreali and American citizenship, I always wanted my Isreali countrymen to prosper peacefully, and while I support the evangelization and conversion of both Israel and Palestine to Christian nations, I worried that this new turn of events would cause another, potentially more severe, period of destabilization for Palestine.

After dinner, I summoned the Lolita Princess at 1 km and 500 m in the air. As my alter ego fell to the Earth, I oriented myself to the boarding school in which she remained. I leaped and bounded over buildings to reach my boarding school, which was still attended by loyal staffers keeping compassionate care of the few students stranded there.

I found the window of Sakura’s room and knocked on the window. I heard her get up from her bed and walk to the window. Her cadence showed confusion, as she couldn’t see me through the closed curtains.

When she peered through the window, Sakura was in disbelief at my presence, and I told her, “I’m sorry for being late, but may I talk with you?”

Sakura, still in shock, asked me, “What do you need my help for?”

I confessed, “I’d like to help you find your parents. May I come in?”

Sakura, still dumbfounded, said, “Of course.”

I awkwardly squeezed through the window and entered the room.

Sakura asked, “I have to be dreaming.”

I assured her, “No. This isn’t a dream. I came here to ask for your help.”

Sakura asked, “With what?”

I told her, “I understand your parents are missing? I’d like to help to find them.”

Sakura asked me, “How do you plan to do that?”

I confessed, “I have a photographic memory, so I remember the face of everyone I encountered during my escapade in Japan, so I can tell you if I saw them at any point. I also plan to journey back to Japan to petition the government to let me help with reuniting the victims with their families.”

Upon this revelation, she ran to her desk, grabbed a framed photo, and handed it to me. I immediately recognized the mother as a decedent I pulled from the wreckage. I did not recognize the father. So, he was neither a person salvaged from the wreckage, nor a rescuer I encountered.

I asked her, “Do you have anything from your parents that I can smell?”

She, dumbfounded, said, “Excuse me?”

I told her, “I do not recognize the man in the photo, but I have a sense of smell more powerful than an elephant. I might track him down by scent.”

Sakura snapped out of her dissociation and immediately began searching for a piece of paper, then a pen and scribbled down an address, which she handed to me.

“This is my parent’s home address. You might find something in there!”

I thanked her, “Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.”

Before I could tell her, she pieced together the news about her mother.

“You said you didn’t recognize my father … does that mean you recognized my mother?” She asked trembling, holding back tears in her flushed face.

I broke the news, “Yes. I’m sorry.”

She understandably broke down into a hysterical fit of tears.

I kneeled to comfort her with a hug, and she clung onto my dress, incoherently lamenting in a language I could not understand.

My heart broke for her, and I wept with her as I confessed, “I’m sorry, I should have been faster.”

I prayed over and for her mother, “O Merciful and Eternal God, Who desires that all souls be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, we humbly implore Thy infinite mercy for the soul of Sakura’s mother, who has departed from this life. Though they were not united to the visible fold of thy Holy Catholic Church, in thy boundless love and compassion, look not upon their shortcomings, but upon the sincerity of their heart, and the good they strove to do in this life.”

“O Sacred Heart of Jesus, who died for all mankind, grant that in their final moments, they may have turned to Thee, even if only in their heart, and may have received the grace of perfect contrition, so that they may be purified by Thy most precious blood.”

“Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, intercede for this soul before the throne of thy Son, that they may find refuge in His Sacred Heart, and be granted the grace of eternal salvation.”

“We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

I then prayed for her father, “St. Anthony, when you prayed, your stolen book of prayers was given back to you. We ask you now to please pray for all the missing children and adults of the world. Pray for their friends, family, and loved ones in their time of suffering and sorrow. Pray that all missing people may be returned to our keeping. Or, if we must continue in our loss, pray that we may be given Christ’s comfort and peace.”

Finally I prayed for Sakura herself, “Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted, grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss. Send Your Holy Spirit to direct us, lest we make hasty or foolish decisions. Send Your Spirit to give us courage, lest through fear we recoil from living. Send Your Spirit to bring us your peace.”

I promised her, “You’re stronger than you think, Sakura. Trust me. I’m going to do what I can to find your father.”

I let her cry as needed, and she let me go on her own time. At which point, after making sure she was safe to be alone, I left. It was now time for me to test my hypothesis. Since I could retract my alter ego from as far away as Australia, could I summon her as far away as Japan?

My alter ego vanished itself, and my civilian identity experienced a flood of memories instantaneously integrated into my body and soul, but not letting myself be overwhelmed, I willed my alter ego to appear again. This time, at 35.7101°N 139.8107°E. My gambit worked, and at 12:00 JST, I found myself in free fall 500 m above the rebuilt Tokyo Sky Tree, upon which I landed.

Using the Earth’s magnetic field, which I could see and feel, I navigated with leaps and bounds to the Imperial Palace. I knew the coordinates because I had looked it up prior to my mission.

During my meeting with Sakura, my civilian identity discussed how to go about this meeting with Madison. She taught me about fifty lines and what they meant, then showed me a few basic phrases in JSL, and a few things to write on paper, detailing the proper way by which kana and kanji were to be written and signs were to be articulated, just in case they were necessary.

I landed in front of a startled a pair of security guards and recited; verbatim, what Madison told me to: an apology, and a plea to meet with the emperor, then I handed them what Madison wrote. Two men recognized me from the news and called their supervisor. After their brief conversation over the radio, I heard a voice in broken English direct me to follow the guard. Their English was adorably inept, but I knew that my attempt at Japanese would be cartoonishly worse. They at least knew more about the vocabulary and structure of my native tongue than I did theirs. They lead me into the Imperial Palace and to the waiting room, though I didn’t have to wait for long before security led me to the office of the Emperor himself.

The God Emperor of Japan looked up from his book, stood up and simply said, with stellar US English pronunciation, “Hello, Princess. I am thankful that you accepted my invitation to talk.”

[syeunko]

God's in his heaven - all's right with the world

Now that I’m back, people ask me all the time, “How does it feel to be back in Boston?”

I tell them, “It feels weird. Boston is so familiar, but a lot of things have changed too.”

This is mostly a (white) lie. I may be from Virginia, but Boston is my home. It’s just me, I’ve changed.

For example, today before church, I was sitting at Life Alive across the T station, where I could kind of see the real-time transit information display. “Gout Ctr, 5 min.” Gout center? Is that a new green line T stop? GOUT??? Only to figuratively smack my forehead far too many seconds later - Government Center. I couldn’t believe I’d taken that long to realize, a surefire sign I’d been gone two years. 

I checked the time, wondering when I should leave to get to church on time. The thought of finding someone to walk in with flitted across my mind, but I couldn’t be bothered enough to do anything about it, in the same way I didn’t care anymore about having to introduce myself and say hello to people before the sermon. I lazily wondered why I used to dread that so much, it seemed so silly now. So painfully minute in the grand scheme of things, maybe because of my time at Maple and NY, where I’d frequently talk to different people in different settings.

Yesterday, I bought a yoga mat, and guess what - I was genuinely excited about it. I wonder if something just suddenly clicks in your head when you’re older. I’ve been showering as soon as I come home (and everyday), setting aside daily time to clean my room (I love my room), journaling/praying, and moving around more. I am a chronic dish-washer-procrastinator, but for some reason whenever I put my dirty dishes in the sink, Junwon has been annoyingly popping up in my head. I then channel his deep-set aversion to delayed dish-washing and scrub-a-dub those plates clean. Easy. 

I drink less coffee because I realized it makes me anxious. I realized it made me anxious by listening to my body and paying attention to how I feel. I can discern these things because I now know what a normal, healthy routine feels like on my body. 

Did something magically click in my head, or am I freed from crippling depression? I’m inclined to lean towards the latter. Because things are still hard, but it feels different.

Aside from the first question, this question surprisingly comes up too: “Where are you going to go next?”

To be honest, I feel flattered people think I’m someone who would easily toggle between places, traipsing around as I please. 

I respond honestly, though. “I don’t know where else I’d go. I think I’ll be in Boston a while.”

Yesterday, my mom cried. She cried and cried and cried. I watched her, shocked into silence, willing myself to not cry. 

Instead, I burned and burned and burned on the inside and my heart churned and twisted. The tears went so far back in I couldn’t cry even when I wanted to later. 

Today, Grace wept for my mom. Granted, she was already crying (lol), but she cried and cried some more. 

Where else would I go? Where else can I find communitypeople like this, friends who cry for your family in your stead? 

If you ask me if I regret having gone home, my answer is still no. If it helped my mom and Logan in any capacity, it was worth it. Because "love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:7) And I bore a lot, believed and believe still, have abundant hope, and will continue to endure.

The last line of Anne of Green Gables is, “God’s in his heaven, all’s right with the world.” It’s been one of my favorite phrases ever since I read it as a kid; I found it to be so wistful and hopeful. 

I didn’t know it actually originated from the poem ‘Pippa Passes’ by Robert Browning until recently. 

There are multiple interpretations, but I like this one: “Those last two lines are often quoted to signify naïve optimism and innocence, and often with bitter irony, but in the play they come as a timely reminder of purity and righteousness in a fallen world.” In the same vein, another person wrote: “in the context of that poem, there is much that is not right in the world, but even in the midst of all that is wrong, still there are moments of beauty when all does indeed seem right.”

And that's exactly how I feel now. God’s in his heaven - all’s right with the world.

[mangostarjam]

to be fair to us both, i ALSO forgot about read mores and i use them for writing asdfkjlgkl

omg that's so cute... we're writing letters to each other... like pen pals !! i did save this to reply to for when i got on my computer bc i wanted to be able to yap freely HAHA and now it feels even more like writing a letter

it does make me feel like i'm cosplaying an adult (i am an adult) (legally anyway) when i mention my assistant lmao but it's really just the nature of my job that kinda requires me to have one! waiting for the day he can do things without me supervising and i can devote more brain space to all the things i wanna write for fun

panes con pollo looks SO DELICIOUS WHAT. omg i can't wait for you to learn it and have that in your back pocket! you're sooo lucky she's willing to teach you gah i love when people share recipes like that it's like a love language to me. i just laughed out loud at the image of you grinding up dried fig leaves and your bf like, sleepily rubbing at his eye to make sure he wasn't seeing things in the middle of the night HAHA

YEAAAAAH BUDDY okay honestly you can spell cambodian food however sounds right to you and i will most likely get it and will not be offended LMAO i don't think english letters really gel well with khmer sounds. anyway that sounds so bomb. clay pot pork belly... was it like. kaw sach chrouk? oh but with prahok... hmm... INTERESTING i wanna try that it sounds pretty good! absolutely i will share if i think of anything helpful!! ah but while i have recipes in my head, my family does a lot of freehand instinctive cooking (and i didn't grow up in the kitchen, so i've been sticking to baking (thank you, clear instructions!) until i have the freedom to experiment in my own place) [insert silly family trauma backstory here] but ooh i fucking LOVE samlor kako the pumpkin bits are my favorite! i can't believe i've found someone in the wild who loves prahok HAHA but if it was going to be anyone, it does feel like it would be you with your incredible tastebuds!!

i think we had opposite growing up experiences LOL i could not and would not shut up as a kid and now it's like... you've gotta be in my inner circle if you ever wanna hear my personal thoughts. i can do small talk and coworkers and whatnot just fine but good luck prying anything else out of me unless we are Vibing from the get go. omg though not class president!!! that's so big i'd be nervous as hell too!!

YES SHARE YOUR CANDLES!! i am currently banned from getting more candles but i recently got gifted the honeycrisp apple candle from trader joe's and i'm so basic but it smells SOOO good i'm burning it today bc i did a full bedding-sheets-blankets wash and flipped the mattress and worked out and showered and did a face mask and it's just. dreamy. okay though that nest holiday candle sounds DIVINE?? even if it's the size of a small trash can LMAO and i love that you keep it tied to the holidays!! this isn't a scent thing but now that i no longer work in retail (where holiday music would haunt me), i play n*sync's "home for christmas" album every weekend of december bc that's what i listened to as a kid and it immediately makes me feel like the holidays can be magical again.

oof okay i feel like i'm really yapping a lot right now but i love citrus scents any time of the year, apple and pear for fall, and green tea scents for spring. i'll dig out my candles sometime to give you a proper list haha but overall i don't tend to enjoy the really reaaaally floral scents (i do love jasmine though)!

also can i just say. i am about to go into your ask box to say this again but waking up to your comments and tags on my writing like. made me tear up. made me feel like i should keep sharing my writing if that means people like you will enjoy it!! with so much love in my heart (wow that sounds so corny but it's TRUE) thank you 💕

fuji!! how are you doing on this fine day lovely lady? i'm responding to our thread here bc idk what the etiquette is on reblogging long ass conversations on the same thread lmao so to be safe i'll just send u a new ask.

soupmates is so cute and i love when typos become canon jargon in friendships hehe. you've made me crave croissants again and i am wistfully thinking of how we have a rule that while we're in france, if one of us asks "what time is it?" the other is legally obligated to respond "croissant o'clock" and then we go find a boulangerie. this is how we end up eating 8 croissants/day whenever we're there.

wttcsms is on my deep dive list too!! every time i see them on my dash i'm like how does it feel to never be wrong? ack i've just been so busy that the only time i have to trawl tumblr is during my unhinged insomnia hours when i'm only half aware of what i'm keyboard vomiting lmao NO FILTER only screeching.

okay not mushrooms but this weekend i was busy running around the kitchen experimenting with my lil hoard of fig leaves! i made fig leaf syrup, fig leaf oil, and experimented with dehydrating and freezing the leaves for preservation. i also tested different ratios of toasted fig leaves and pandan in creme brulee and panna cotta so i could see how the flavors bloom in dairy in preparation for the idea i had for my cake. then i gave all the excess treats to baristas at our fave local coffee joints bc i'm not a huge sweet tooth and this was tew much dessert! after i found a ratio i thought worked, i made the cake except i'm afraid it's going to turn out hideous (it's still in its cake ring rn) but it's basically a first draft cake and i can refine it next time! you should see the notes i took on it. i always try to start with a neat plan and end up scribbling all over it with ideas and corrections.

tonight we've invited a couple of our friends over so i can do a fig leaf-inspired dinner with hamachi crudo with fig leaf oil, tomato bisque with fig leaf oil drizzle and crouton, slow roasted salmon in fig leaves (finished with a sear from our bernzomatic + searzall bc crispy salmon skin is life), and the fig leaf and strawberry cake. my friend also got cheesybf a new cocktail set for his bday so we can use the fig leaf syrup to make some nice gin cocktails or a fig leaf strawberry mocktail!

right now i'm munching on leftover crying tiger steak and nam jim jaew for lunch with jasmine rice that i steamed with some of the leftover pandan leaves for extra ~aroma. i still have a ton of leaves so i think i'm gonna make a pandan simple for my favorite matcha pandan lattes.

re: urls haha YES chopsticks are the best way to eat flaming hot cheetos and no one can change my mind. i always think of puffins when i think of my own username. those cute lil round birds. with like a lil cheese hat. i also associate you with apples now as we move into fall. but mentally my picture of you is a swirl of the colors in a kent mango, scented by mango skin by vilhelm and just a hint of kilian's apple brandy on the rocks. maybe a waft of mfk 724 and something like clean cotton or a soft white floral.

HAHAHA totally fair i just realized it was getting long maybe i should put my responses under a read more LOL

i'm responding a day (??) late (time is fake) bc i had to recover from how gorgeous your cake looked and sounded tbh. but i'm good!! my new assistant at work is picking things up quickly and has common sense which is sadly in short supply around here lmaooo

there's a vietnamese bakery in my hometown that makes the BEST croissants i've ever had in my life (though tbf i have not been to paris yet!) and they supply all the local taquerias with bolillo so they are Churning Out Breads but i cannot emphasize enough that it's like. a warehouse space. with a door on a side street and the price list handwritten and they only recently started accepting anything but cash. i love them. the croissants are huge and lightly buttery and delicious. i will now be declaring it's croissant o'clock any time we happen to drive nearby haha

wttcsms and dee my beloveds!!! on behalf of all writers though i will say no filter unhinged screaming comments/tags are GREAT to read. i hope your busyness is the good kind!! it's always lovely seeing you pop up on the dash or inbox or wherever but i hope you're having a good time here >ᴗ<

oh my goddddd your fig leaf experiments... divine. glorious. something about the description of "seeing how the flavors bloom in dairy" is just. dreamy?? you sound like a wizard creating your own magical spell book tome with your scribbles and notes and ideas (saying this in SUCH a complimentary way). crispy salmon skin IS life i just had some last night hehe i had to look up crying tiger steak and nam jim jaew but YOOO this reminds me of duk prahok... yum. and oh my god crying tiger steak is like. a summer staple for us. i never knew it had a NAME. not to over share but my family is from cambodia and i have so many recipes in my brain that i just figured were things my dad created LOL

AND I LOVE PUFFINS!!! in like second grade i did a report/presentation on puffins unprompted unsolicited to my class. i read a book about them and was obsessed i wanted everyone to learn about them (yes i am/was a nerd) (bless my teacher for letting me present lmao). and i do love apple scented things mmm. one of my favorite candles ever is autumn air from elder&co (notes of wild apple and pear and fallen oak leaves). i'm so glad it's getting cloudy and cozy season is coming bc i can light my candles without feeling too silly. do you have any favorite candles?? oh these other scents are SO GOOD. i love that!! brb going to find a way to smell these immediately

[baroquebucky]

don’t

in which bucky quickly learns that communication is key for a good relationship

word count: 1.7k

angst w a fluffy ending <33

masterlist

a/n: hehe inspired by this song !! go stream it i love it sm namjoon always has the best lyrics eek !! hope u all enjoy <3 lyrics in bold !

You looked at bucky as he walked in, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. His fist was bruised and bloodied. You sat on your shared bed, eyes heavy as you leaned against the headboard. It was the first time he’d come home in three days.

“james” you spoke, looking at your boyfriend as he ignored you. “james” you called out once more, sighing as he continued to get his clothes from the drawer and walk wordlessly into the restroom.

“bucky!” You raised your voice, he stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly. Before you could get a word out he stopped you.

“don’t talk” he stated, setting his clothes on the counter and running his hands through his hair and sighing, “not yet, i know what you’re about to say” he mumbled. Your mouth hung open in shock before you shook your head.

“bucky look at me, don’t avoid my eyes” you spoke sternly, getting up from the bed and walking in front of him. His blue eyes gazed into yours, he could see how worried you were.

“you have to talk to me bucky, it’s been three days already and you didn’t tell me anything” you told him gently, knowing how stubborn he was.

Bucky had a horrible nightmare, tears on his face as he woke up, you were shaking him awake gently and he accidentally hit you with his metal arm, making your nose bleed. A look of horror on his face as he realized what he had done, as you ran to the restroom bucky packed a bag quickly, leaving to go stay at the compound for the time being. He ignored your texts and calls, too afraid to see what you were saying to him.

It was almost 3 am and he hoped you would be asleep by the time he returned so he could get more clothes before leaving again. You weren’t.

“i can’t hurt you again, i have to go i need to leave, i have to go home” he spoke, pain evident in his eyes as he avoided your gaze.

“our home is here james” you whispered, moving to slowly take his hands in yours, “it’s us.” He flinched away when you grabbed his metal arm, taking a couple steps back.

“I have to go shower” he mumbled, grabbing his clothes and locking the restroom door, tears stinging his eyes as he turned the shower on, letting the hot water relax his stiff muscles.

You wiped away the stray tears on your face, texting sam and asking him for any advice. You held back sobs as you explained to him what had happened and how bucky had been acting.

we’ve been through so much worse, this can be the end of us, surely he’ll come around ??

Sam replied quickly, assuring you bucky just needed some time, but you should be sure he knew how you felt considering how he tended to get into his head all the time.

You thanked him quickly, telling him goodnight and assuring him you would tell him if you needed anything.

You tried to stay awake, but you were so exhausted, your eyelids heavy as you waited for bucky to get out of the shower.

Sighing you laid down, scooting closer to his side of the bed, it still smelled like him and helped you relax.

The sound of keys made your eyes jolt open, you shot up when you saw bucky heading towards the door.

“don’t leave, i need you here, please don’t” you whispered, eyes watering and your chin quivered. Bucky hesitated, he told himself he wouldn’t sleep in the same bed as you anymore, he was too scared of hurting you.

All it took was one look at you for all his resolve to fade away. You were wearing his black t shirt, your eyes were red and nose pink, your hair was messy and he knew it was tangled.

He set his bag down and closed the bedroom door, taking off his shirt and pants and slipping into bed next to you, pulling him into his arms and holding you tightly.

“bucky” you mumbled, eyes still wide open as he held you. He frowned, heart falling as you used the nickname.

“what happened to calling me james?” He asked, voice small as he spoke.

“thought since you were mad you wouldn’t want me callin you that” you replied, fiddling with his dog tags quietly. Buckys heart sank, you thought he was mad at you?

“don’t take away the name only you know doll, you’re the only one who calls me that, nothing is gonna take that away” he spoke, “you’re the only one who knows me as James, not as bucky or the winter soldier, but as myself.”

You looked at him, eyes soft as he talked, running his fingers through your hair and gently detangling it. He continued his actions as he spoke up again.

“I’m not mad at you doll, I’m mad at myself for hurting you” he confessed, panic settling in. “I thought if i stayed i would hurt you, i don’t want you hurting because of me so i left” he looked at you, waiting for you to tell him he did the right thing, that he should pack his things and go.

“i wish i could just magically fix who i am” he whispered.

“oh angel,” you breathed out, moving so you were both sitting with your backs against the headboard. “I don’t need magic, just be here james, here with me.”

“but what if i hurt you again, what if i ruin everything and you hate me” bucky looked at you, tears rolling down his cheeks and you gave him a soft smile. Your hands caressing his cheek as you wiped away his tears with your thumbs.

“don’t abandon everything over on mistake james, don’t destroy us and everything we’ve worked for just because you made one tiny mistake.” You replied, looking at him before placing your hands back in your lap.

“please james, i know it’s not over yet, we just have to try” you spoke, letting out a soft sigh. “but if you want to, if you feel it’s what’s best for you, then go.” Your voice was shaky and you held back a sob.

Buckys heart fell. You thought he wanted to break up, to leave you. He felt like shit for making you think that’s what he wanted, it was so far from the truth.

“oh doll, i don’t want to” he replied, moving to face you, taking your hands in his and holding them tightly. “I want to wake up next to you and see your smile in the mornings, i want to hold you while we sleep and when we watch movies too late and eat too much popcorn” bucky continued talking, a smile on his face a he spoke.

You laughed a little bit, sniffling softly and slipping a hand out of his to wipe your tears.

“I’m sorry for acting so stupid, I’m realizing now i went about it all wrong and I’m sorry doll” he spoke, wiping away your tears and getting up to get you some tissues. You took them and thanked him softly, blowing your nose before he started talking again.

“i should’ve talked to you and let you know how i feel, instead i jumped to all these conclusions and just assumed how you would feel and-” he sighed as he cut himself off, looking at you before talking again.

“I’m really sorry darling, i hope you can forgive me” bucky spoke softly, you took his hand in yours, squeezing softly and smiling.

“i know how hard it is for you to talk about how you feel james, but if this is going to work you need to be willing to try” your voice was gentle, “i was worried sick these last few days, you didn’t even tell me if you were okay or if you were even alive” you spoke, bucky felt guilt tugging at his heart.

“from here on out, if something is bothering you or if you’re scared or worried about something i want you to tell me, so that we can talk through it and find a way to help” you suggested, a smile on your face as he nodded quietly.

“can i say something?” Bucky mumbled and you nodded, laughing softly. “is it okay- i mean you don’t have to i just” he stopped for a second, thinking before finally putting the words together.

“i would like it if you reassured me that you still care about me, i hope that’s not too much” he blushed, rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding your eyes. You smiled at him, wrapping your arms around him and holding him tightly.

“that’s not too much lover boy, I’ll be sure to tell you more often” you replied.

Bucky relaxed at your touch, exhausting settling into his body. He yawned and you smiled at him, pulling his softly so that he would lay down.

“i love you so much” you whispered, bucky smiled at you, kissing your forehead softly.

“i love you so much more” he whispered back, his heart felt lighter knowing you weren’t upset with him, that you still loved him just as much.

You felt safer and happier now that bucky was back home with you. You reveled in the way he held you tightly against him, the way he would draw circles with his thumb on your arm to relax you.

The two of you fell asleep not long after, happier and getting more sleep than you had gotten in the last three days.

Bucky was grateful for how patient and understanding you were. He promised himself he would be better at communicating, never again would he hurt you simply because he couldn’t say what he felt.

He kept true to his promise, he was much better at talking of his emotions, even opening up to you about the content of his nightmares.

You kept true to yours, showering him in compliments almost everyday, telling him how much he meant to you and how much you loved him. You enjoyed seeing the way he would blush, his ears going red and cheeks dusted with pink.

Bucky was glad he stayed that night, you were glad he listened to you. He knows if he hadn’t then he would be miserable right now, and he would most definitely not be in the arms of the love of his life, watching your favorite show and eating way too much popcorn for 2:47 am.

[cower-before-power]

Slippery When Wet: Part 2

Summary: An untimely accident in the shower leaves you injured and in need of rescue. Lucky for you, the object of your affections is more than willing to help.

Pairing: Gojo Satoru x F!Reader

TW: swearing, nudity, implied sexual content, description of injury (nothing graphic), unintentional voyeurism? (idk i mean like voyeurism in the name of helping i’m not sure how to say it ha), lots of dick talk, prolly really bad sex jokes

Link to A03 here

PART 1 HERE

A/N: First of all, THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO READ, LIKED, REBLOGGED AND COMMENTED ON PART 1. You are all amazing, I am so glad you are enjoying this silly little venture Gojo has dragged me on. Again, thank you so much to @ghost-party for her beta skills, you da best! I hope Part 2 makes you all happy :) please enjoy, sweet potatoes!

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You shouldn’t look. Not because you don’t want to, but if you do you’ll know what is absolutely not warming your bed at night and then you’ll probably just feel worse. But, you were overwhelmingly curious. Just a quick look couldn’t hurt.

Right?

You peek through your fingers, just at his upper half. The sight makes you curse softly under your breath. Of course he’s absolutely beautiful out of clothes, did you really expect anything less?

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll get dressed,” he says, “just thought this would help you out.”

Help you out? Good grief this is going to be the star of your late night fantasies for months. Because instead of dreaming it up, you now have the real thing to recall.

“No,” you take a deep breath and drop your hands. “I’m fine.”

Are you though? He’s built to perfection, checking off all the boxes on your “Things I find physically attractive” checklist. You marvel at this long column of his throat, sweeping down into a set of collarbones that would make models die of envy. His chest is hairless (did he wax or was it just naturally that way?), miles of smooth skin and muscle that your fingers were just itching to trace.

Your eyes trail down past his stomach, briefly cataloging the very nice set of abs, before settling on what you were the most curious about.

The snort of laughter escapes your lips before you can stop it.

“Excuse me, did you just look at my dick and laugh?” He asks accusingly, crossing his arms.

“I’m sorry,” you giggle at the disgruntled expression on his face. “It’s just, I’ve always wondered if the carpet matched the drapes since I assumed you dye your hair. Guess I was wrong.”

For the first time since you’ve known him, Gojo Satoru visibly deflates.

“That’s what you’ve thought about?” His voice is full of frustrated disbelief. “My pubic hair?”

You can’t stop giggling. “You can’t blame a girl for being curious! Are you sure you shouldn’t get rid of it though? Doesn’t the white make people think they’re boning an old man?”

“The utter disrespect,” he gasps, shaking his head. “I can assure you that is the last thing on their minds when I’m working my magic.”

You wonder why you aren’t feeling more flustered. The fun and teasing atmosphere feels almost refreshing after the intense back and forth that was just occurring.

“What, you casting spells for dry weather?”

“Oh, you are evil!” He moans, then looks down at himself. “Don’t listen to her, big guy. You know what you can do.”

“For fuck’s sake, don’t talk to it,” you roll your eyes, trying not to grin. “And don’t oversell the merchandise. It’s average, at best.”

(It isn’t. It’s probably the nicest looking one you’ve ever seen. But him and his astronomical ego do not need to know that)

Gojo grabs his chest as if you’ve physically wounded him. “Ouch! Shots fired, target annihilated!”

“You’re such a drama queen,” you sigh. You wonder if he notices the quiet fondness in your voice.

He opens his mouth as if to retaliate, but then suddenly shuts it. A look comes over his face as if he’s just remembered something very interesting and important.

“Hey,” he says, and you watch his mouth spread into a smile. “You said you’d wondered if the carpet matched the drapes. That means you definitely imagined me naked at least once.”

And your blush is back.

“What of it?” You huff, cross your arms and looking away. “It’s only natural. I’ve thought of lots of people naked.”

“Do you ever imagine sleeping with me?”

The question causes you to choke on your breath.

“What-why would you ask that?”

“Inquiring minds want to know.”

You take a look at him, standing naked and unashamed in front of you. His smile is different; there’s a sultry edge to it you’ve never seen before.

“Maybe inquiring minds should stuff it,” you stick out your tongue. Immature, but he’s got you feeling all funny now.

“Well, I’ve thought about it,” he says. “I’ve thought about it quite a lot, actually.”

Your heart misses a beat in your chest.

“You have?” Your voice squeaks as you force the words out.

“Why do you sound so surprised?” He asks, tilting his head like a curious puppy.

You consider the question. You’ve got insecurities, but you know you are a decent looking person. And despite his flightiness about many things, Gojo has actually never given you the impression that he’s shallow in that way.

“I don’t know,” you say truthfully. “I guess I just never considered the possibility that you were interested in me in that way.”

He sighs. “Pumpkin, I’m not blind. You are stupidly attractive. Every time we’re out in Tokyo you’ve got a million guys and gals staring at you.”

“I just always assumed they were staring at your and your stupid blindfold,” you scrub at your cheeks with your palms, trying to rid yourself of some of the perplexing confusion you feel swirling inside you. “How come you’ve never made a move?”

“Would you have wanted me to?”

You want to shout at him, to say of course yes a thousand times yes, but you pause. You realize you’ve never given him any signals, any hint that he was more than just your often annoying friend. Sure, you blushed at his silly flirting, but so did lots of people.

You shift back through your interactions, all the missions, the late night hang outs, the strolls through the city. Nowhere can you find any instant where your ever expanding feelings might have risen to the surface. But still, would your seeming indifference deter him? He was a very self assured man, after all.

“You have confidence coming out your ass, it’s hard to believe you wouldn’t make a move anyways, just to see,” you say instead.

His whole demeanor softens. “I didn’t want to fuck anything up.”

Oh.

OH.

And you know exactly what he means. It’s why you’ve never said anything, why you forced your desires deep down into the pit of your being when in his presence.

It seems even the strongest shaman could be afraid of something.

“It’s not just about fucking, is it?” You ask, feeling your whole body start to tremble.

“It was never just about fucking,” he replies, and it’s like the universe explodes before your very eyes. “Why do you think I spend all my free time with you?”

“To annoy me?” You croak feebly. “To eat all my snacks? To enjoy torturing me by spoiling the end to every movie we watch?”

He chuckles. “Just side bonuses. Being with you is the real prize, pumpkin.”

“Oh,” you whisper, and your brain whirs like an overworked laptop. You’re having trouble processing that this is actually happening, that the man you’ve been pining after for what feels like forever is really standing there, confessing his own feelings.

Buck ass naked.

“You’ve got two options right now,” Gojo takes a step closer to you, and you shiver at the dominant aura that suddenly swirls around him. “Either I get dressed and we put today behind us, or I come over there and kiss you until you can’t remember your own name. Make your choice.”

Was there even a choice? There was only one option. A slow, warm feeling blooms in the middle of your chest and spreads outwards, dousing your whole shaking body in molten yearning. It’s not a new feeling, but the sensations are different. Because now you can give in to it.

“Kiss me,” you blurt out, breathless and giddy. “Get the fuck over here and kiss me.”

He doesn’t have to be told twice.

A flash of a savage grin, the soft thump of footsteps and then you are numb to everything but him.

He tastes like sugary coffee and chapstick, lips hard and hot against yours as he kisses you like he’ll die if he stops. He’s everywhere at once, in all your senses, drowning you in his onslaught of desirous fervour. It’s not a timid kiss of new sweethearts; it’s a passionate embrace of long overdue lovers.

Your hands run over every inch of him they can reach, mapping the ridges and valleys of his exposed skin. His own slip beneath your shirt to spread across your back, crushing you to him with a grip of iron. It’s not enough; you want them everywhere, you want him everywhere, until he’s branded onto your body. Until you no longer know where you end and he begins. Until he’s sunken himself into your very bones.

You need to breathe- you pull away with a gasp, one gossamer thread of saliva lazily trailing after you.

“Why didn’t we do that sooner?” You pant, digging your nails into his arms. He’s unwilling to keep his mouth off you, now pressing scalding kisses along your jaw.

“Blame it on mutual stupidity,” he sighs into your skin, teeth slightly grazing the spot just below your ear. “Let’s make up for lost time, eh?”

“I’m game,” you say, a soft whine leaving your lips as he works steadily on what is sure to become a bruise.

“Good,” he murmurs, swiping his tongue across the blossoming mark before leaning back to smirk at you. “Have to make you take back all your snarky comments about me and my game.”

You giggle. “Oh, so you’re saying it won’t be as dry as a desert ‘round here?”

“Well let me just check tonight’s weather report,” he laughs, grinning cheekily as he slips a hand down between your legs, brushing gently over the front of your underwear. You bite your lip, grip on his biceps tightening.

“Ladies and gentleman, we’re in for a wet night,” he says in what you assume is his best weatherman voice. “Expect a great deal of precipitation, more so than what’s already accumulated. Perhaps we’ll even see some flooding. We’re talking possibly record setting levels here.”

You snort with laughter, pushing at him slightly. “You are such an idiot. Just shut up and put your money where your mouth is.”

“Oh, I intend to put my mouth in a lot of different places,” he removes his hand, snapping the elastic band of your underwear against your hip as he goes. “I know I just got you into these, but shall I undress you now?”

“Yes please,” you nod eagerly, already wiggling out of your shirt. He quickly helps remove the offending garment, but in all the lust and excitement you’ve forgotten about your shoulder, and you moan in pain when you jostle it.

“Owwwwwwie, stupid shoulder!”

“Shhh, pumpkin,” Gojo coos gently, leaning down to pepper the area with kisses. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’m going to take such good care of you.”

You feel yourself melt at the sudden tender display, and you can’t help but run your fingers through his luscious hair as he continues to smother your bruised shoulder in affection. “You already are, Satoru.”

The first name slips out unexpectedly, but you like the way it rolls off your tongue. He seems to as well, judging by the pleased noise that rumbles from his chest.

“Well, allow me to continue then,” he purrs, and his lips leave your shoulder to capture yours in another toe curling kiss. You press yourself to him, the feel of his bare skin against yours sending a thrill shooting down your spine.

An idea suddenly pops into your head.

“I never got to finish my shower,” you break your kiss to speak, looking up at him under your lashes.

He catches on immediately, his smile once again turning primal. It makes your knees weak and your gut clench in anticipation.

“Maybe you should help me, since I’m injured and all,” you push yourself even closer to him, shivering at the feeling of his not-so-average excitement pressing against your belly.

“Hmmmm, I could do that,” he’s already got his fingers hooked in your underwear, slowly starting to push them down your hips. “But what if you slip again?”

“Well, you’ll just have to catch me then,” you wink at him. “With your dick.”

He roars with laughter, and your heart has never been more full.

“Oh, I’ll do more than just catch you, pumpkin,” he growls playfully, and before you can blink he’s rid you of your bottoms and swept you up into his arms. “I’m going to absolutely wreck you.”

You reach up to kiss him as he pounds towards the bathroom, your blood on fire and only one thought in your head.

Bless that stupid, slippery, wonderful bar of soap.

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Taglist: @satorudicks @sara-nyaa @dixonsbugaboo @fandomtrash100 @oikusa-snow @okemis @kuxredere @mylittleteddybear @the-fandoms-georgie @inaflashimagine @crapimahuman @elenapri0502 @fragments-of-aria @bollywoodghoul @wrdro @kiasnotforever @disregardedbymybias @lavihs @euniartsu @satjsstuff @lycorizzz @fushigurosimp @levisbrat1 @bxstboy-tetsu @one-leaf-grimoire @glxar (sorry i just tagged everyone who asked and commented haha, bold means I couldn’t tag you sorry!)

[theresa-nam-nam-me]

| hybrid seokjin | true love

Masterlist

Requested?: yes

Sugar glider Hybrid jin x reader

Summary → owners and their hybrids, a magical story of the two falling in love at first sight but jin knew better then anyone that this wasn't the case. Meeting you though, was nothing but a pure miracle.

Warnings: none

"Y/n!" Your friend shouted for you "yes misa?" You said trying to swallow your salad "I and jisoo are going to Italy next week" she said excitedly showing you her plane tickets. "That's great!" You smiled "and i, kind of need a favor" she dragged her words "i was wondering if you could look after jin for a few days, while I'm in Italy." You had forgotten she had that sugar glider hybrid she hadn't talk about him much "you aren't bringing him along with you?" You asked confused "uh, no i don't want him to ruin the mood, so will you please!" She begged clasping her hands together. You knew he was a hybrid but he was also a grown man, couldn't he take care of himself? "Fine" you sighed

The week passed too quickly and now you were standing outside misas door with a small suitcase in hand. "Y/n! Come in" she gestured you inside. "Good evening misa" you greeted, looking forward was rather a tall hybrid with small ears, a long tail that match the soft brown of his hair, and plump red lips. "Good evening jin" you smiled taking off your coat "good evening Miss. L/n," he said "oh please call me y/n" he smiled and nodded "ill show you to your room," misa said dragging you alongside her. "Here you go" she opened the door. The room was just a plane guest room with a bed, small tv, and a few plants.

"Well ill see you in a few days, take care!" Misa waved to you before sprinting out the door. After unpacking your things you left your room and a great creamy smell hit you. You followed it into the kitchen seeing jin make an alfredo sauce. "What is that?" You asked "oh, it's nokey" (Italian dish) "it smells amazing" you complemented making him smile "thank you, would you like some?" He asked, you nodded your head happily. Seokjin placed the bowls on the table and pulled out a seat for you. "Thank you jin" you said before sitting down.

Jin picked up his fork blowing away the steam making his cheeks puff up. "Do you like it?" He asked, tail slightly swinging behind him "yes, it's delicious" you said stuffing your face with more "I thought I'd be making dinner for you though" you commented. He could clearly cook very well without issue so you didn't see why he needed to be babysat. After dinner you decided to take a shower before bed. getting out you wrapped a towel around you, when you opened the door you were met with jins now flustered face “oj jin, can i help you?” you questioned, he shook his head “i was wondering if you would like to watch a movie” he asked “sorry jin maybe tomorrow, i'm really tired right now”

you felt bad seeing jins smile drop and silently moving out of the way “goodnight jin” you smiled making his small ears perk up again “goodnight y/n'' it took you a few minutes to adjust but you slowly started to drift off with heavy eyelids and the sounds of rain hitting the roof. you were barely coneses when you felt the other side of the bed dip. “hello” you grumbled out looking through halfly opened lids. “sorry i just don't like storms...may i stay here” you nodded not thinking much of it until you felt him cuddle into you. his head hid in your neck, you let out a soft sigh before combing your hands through his hair.

The sun shines through the window and you hid under the cover but the sudden smell of pancakes slowly pulled you out of bed leading you to the kitchen “Jin?” You called seeing him flip pancakes over the stove “good morning y/n” he greeted you “please take a seat in almost done with breakfast” you nodded seating yourself at the table watching him flip a few more pancakes before placing them on a plate and setting it in front of you. “ thank you seokjin” he smiled before digging into his plate. You whipped you mouth with a cloth before picking up your plate and washing it “would you like to watch a movie today before I go?”

“Yes, do you like Avengers?” he asked. You nodded after seokjin finished his plate he quickly washed up before sitting on the soft Couch turning on the tv. “Sit with me” he pulled you next to him as you held a bowl of popcorn. You had seen the movie plenty of times before so it was no surprise when you started drifting off to a soft nap and slowly leaning against seokjins shoulder. “Im back!” a loud voice interrupted your peaceful slumber making you flinch away from jin as if being caught doing something wrong. You quickly regained yourself standing up straight “misa! How was your trip?” you asked moving into a hug “amazing, you should have seen it, such a beautiful country!” she smiled greatly. “How was jin?” she asked looking over at him, her voice toning down from her energetic energy. “Oh, he's fine, he is a grown man after all” she only mumbled an “i guess” to your comment before changing the subject.

After a few more minutes of catching up, you packed your stuff and headed to the door “y/n” jins voice called behind you, when you turned your head jin held out his hands holding out a small box, you gentle took it from his hold “what is it?” you asked “some homemade chocolates...a thank you for visiting” he smiled “thank you jin” he nodded opening the door for you. “Goodbye jin” you waved goodbye to each other.

His smile feel as he closed behind you, he felt his heart suddenly ache as he walked deeper into the house. “Can y/n come for dinner?” Jin asked sering misa started to unpack, she just shot him a glare to leave her alone. That evening when dinner rolled around he sat in silence as misa stared at her phone paying no mind to him,you seemed to have plagued jins mind, he missed your conpany at the table and recalled the conversation you had together. He began to realize how lonely he truly was and how you weren't just in his head but filled his heart with a warm sensation.

That night he felt himself twisting and turning in bed, he was unable to sleep. The previous night cuddled up to you felt like such bliss that tonight couldn't satisfy him. He reluctantly threw his covers off and touched his feet to cold hardwood floors. He tiptoed into the living room seeing misa to occupied with what was on tv to notice him slipping by. He made his way to the door, slowly turning the nob before slipping out. He followed the smell of rosemary and soon ended up in front of a small apartment door. He honestly hadn't thought what hed do when he got to this stage but he knew it was to late to turn back now.

He slowly rose his hand knocking it against the door. “Hello” you peaked your head out from behind the door in your PJs and messy hair. “Hi y/n” jin greeted “oh seokjin, it's late is misa here?” you asked confusion. “No it's just me, I just wanted to see you and maybe stay a while,” he said awkwardly, not wanting to jump on you with the idea of mates just yet. “Uh sure,” you opened up the door making way for him. “What brings you here?” you asked closing the door “i thought we could hang out” you raised a brow looking up at the clock, “at 1 am?” he nodded his head. “We could finish our movie” he smiled hoping to lighten the mood. You nodded your head before making your way to the couch together.

-time skip (the next morning)-

The sun shined in between the curtains, you pushed your blanket of touching your feet to the cold hardwood before making your way into the kitchen. You could see jins sleeping figure on the couch, he stayed the night after falling asleep during the movie. You turned around to make breakfast. “Y/n?” seokjins mumbly voiced called out. “Good morning jin, I'm making breakfast if you'd like to take a seat” jin stood from the couch making his way to the dining room padding down his messy hair. You set his plate down in front of him and began to eat. “You never told me why you came over last night” jin nearly choked at your comment. “Oh well, you see there's this thing called a mate and-” the doorbell rang cutting off jins sentence.

You opened the door to see misa with a very unpleasant look on her face “misa you must be looking for jin-” you were loudly cut of by her yelling “so he is here!” she pushed past you “who gave you permission to leave last night?!” she screamed at him “it's really no big deal misa” you tried to rationalize. “I wanted to see y/n but you wouldn't listen!” jin yelled back slamming his hand on the table. “And this is the type of stunt you pull! You can't listen to you lucky if you ever see her again!” misa spat balling her first “You can't! Y/ns my mate!” he screamed out. There was a moment of f silence before misa gave a huff and snatched jin by the collar of his shirt in an attempt to drag him out the house. jin harshly pulled back riping his shirt. “Im staying with y/n!”he screamed pulling you in front of him.

“Please y/n will you keep me?” his eyes turned puppy looking at you. “But mias your owner not me” he sighed “but your my mate, like a soulmate!” he begged “i-i don't know jin misa can provide better-” “i don't care I want you y/n!” he said nudgeing his head into your shoulder. You looked back at misa who gave you a nasty glare but then back at jin who could break into tears at any moment “ill keep him” you said. Misas eyes widened before returning to a glare “fine!! but don't even think of coming back to get your stuff!” she yelled walking out slamming the door behind her.

Your mind was blank at what had just happened but you were brought back to reality by jin snuggling his face into your neck. “Thank you y/n this is all I've ever wanted” a sense of relief washed over you as you wrapped your arms around him, you didn't know what could become of this but you are willing to accept whatever it may be.