#i am legit this close to looking up some kind of 'how to ward off Herobrine' youtube tutorial just in case

[eats-the-stars]

when you play too much minecraft and you’ve been in the mines way too long and you start hallucinating that there’s a figure behind you in the tunnel when you turn around but you’re in a solo survival world so that’s impossible so you specifically start bringing a dog with you mining and having him sit behind you while you mine for security. and yes, I know a sitting dog can’t defend you and the danger is also not real, but it’s about the peace of mind more than anything. I turn around and there’s no figure anymore, just my boy Andesite standing guard for me.

[cucumbers-and-olives]

Soda Cans

Summary: oh my god i wish i could put something here, but legit just read it please

Category: slight angst, kinda slow burn-ish

Fandom: JATP

Paring: Luke x non-binary!reader

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings/Includes: mentions of conversion camps, hospitalization

A/N: did i write this in two days? yes and i am very proud of it

this is for @dream-a-little-bigger-x's What 90's Dreams are made Of week! I've had so much fun playing around with the boys in the 90's, so thank you!

edit: @ijustreallylovethem sent me a really good ask about how to pronounce Mx., you can find the ask here

Please don’t repost my work without my permission, in part or whole. My work can also be found on AO3 under the same username. Thank you!

“Uggh, are you fucking kidding me!” Luke said, hitting the vending machine a few times to try and get his soda.

The hospital waiting room was pretty empty, except for the members of Sunset Curve, the receptionist, and a nurse that entered the room. The silence was deafening until someone hit the vending machine with their shoe.

The can came clattering down, and they reached down to grab it.

“Here you go,” Luke recognized this person as the receptionist. “You gotta hit it on the lower left side, or else it won’t come out.” Luke took the can from their hand.

“Actually,” They put some coins in and pressed some buttons. “Now that I think about it, the soda can are the only ones that have any issues coming down.” They grabbed a candy bar from the machine.

They sat back down behind the desk and Luke returned to his friends.

“Why didn’t you ask her? About Alex, I bet she can get us in!” Bobby said.

“Yeah,” Reggie agreed. “She obviously likes you.”

“Okay, okay.”

Luke got up and walked over to the desk. “Excuse me, Miss…”

They looked up, “It’s actually Mx., I’m non-binary.” They gave a soft smile. “I’m Y/N, how can I help you and your friends?”

Luke looked behind him and saw that the other boys had followed him up to the desk. “I’m Luke. Uh, we were wondering if you could get us in to see our friend? His name is Alexander Mercer.”

They typed away at their computer, and when they saw his file, their face dropped.

“What- what is it?” Reggie asked nervously.

“I can’t let you all up to see him, his parents have put him on an involuntary psych hold. No visitors.” They looked up at the boys. “I’m sorry.” Y/N looked around, to make sure no one was around as they spoke. “If you come back tomorrow at 2 pm, I can get a phone to him. That’s all I can do, I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” Bobby said. “Let’s go get some sleep guys.”

~

Y/N knocked on the door in front of them. The pale halls of the psych ward were even bleaker than the rest of the hospital. They tried to avoid the floor when they could. But the look in those boys’ eyes had resonated inside them.

“Come in,” A boy’s voice said, and Y/N entered the room.

“Hi, are you Alexander?” They asked, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

The scrawny blonde boy in the bed sat up, his eyes full of fear. “Are you here to take me away?”

“No, no, no,” They assured, closing the door behind them after checking the hall to make sure no one was there. “Uh, your friends set me? One of them was named Luke, and there were two others?” They moved around the room, grabbing a phone out of a hidden cabinet.

“Yeah, Reggie and Bobby, they were here?” He sat up. “What’s with the phone?”

Y/N sighed and pulled a chair up. “Okay, Alexander-”

“Alex.”

“Alex, in about a half-hour, this phone is going to ring. If anyone comes in before then and sees it, you need to say that Ashley Jones left it out. Ashley’s a bitch idiot, so anyone will believe you on this floor. Don’t say anything unless you hear me on the end, okay? Does that all make sense Alex?” He nodded, and Y/N stood.

They remembered his file and turned around as they reached the door. “People don’t understand us, but I’m sure you know that. My psych hold lasted about a month, and then my parents abandoned me cause the camps cost too much, and no one likes a child that isn’t a girl or a boy. You’ll make it out.”

“Thank you.”

~

The room was full, and as the boys came into the waiting room, they didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, Y/N was sitting behind the desk, this time, with a line in front of them.

“Let’s get in line, and then Y/N can tell us what to do,” Bobby said, leading the group.

The line got shorter and shorter, people signing in and some being led out by nurses.

“Hi, please sign in and someone will come get you to see your loved one,” Y/N said, a rehearsed speech they had said many times.

“Yeah, do you know how to get a can out of the vending machine? It’s stuck.”Luke said. Panic flashed by in their eyes as they saw the boys.

“Yeah,” They wrote a note quickly. “I’ll come help in a sec.”

Luke read the note. Sign in. I’ll meet you by the vending machine with more instructions.

He nodded, and quickly signed in for all of the boys and they led them to the vending machine.

Y/N glanced over at their supervisor. “I’m just gonna go help them really quickly-”

“Y/L/N. That’s not why I’m here.” He said sternly. “The kid ‘fessed up. This is your last shift.” He left, and the door behind the desk shut.

Fuck.

~

“Here,” Y/N said softly, kicking the vending machine and freeing the can. They gave Bobby a note along with the soda. “Sorry guys.”

Bobby opened the note as they walked back to the desk. Luke saw them nervously fiddling with a pencil as people logged in and out of the visitor sign-in sheet.

“Luke,” Bobby said, passing him the note.

I wish I had done something that had worked. Someone told my supervisor and well- I got fired. Sorry guys, I wish I could have helped more. Also, Alex is getting moved tomorrow. I’m not sure where, that’s all that I know.

Y/N Y/L/N

idontevenknow@hotmail.com

XXX-XXX-XXXX

The paper was clearly stationary, and Luke looked over to them, eyes meeting for a moment.

I’m sorry, Y/N’s eyes said.

Me too, He said.

“Let’s go. If we can’t see him here, we can at least as his parents,” Reggie said, still hopeful.

~

“So that’s it? We can’t see him, and so we give up?” Luke asked, but even his seemingly hopeful question sounded sad.

After Alex’s parents had very rudely shut the door (literally and figuratively) in the boys’ faces when they asked to see him, they had ended up at the soda shop. The store sold any kind of sweet, candy, or ice cream that you could think of. But, in the back of the store, there was a huge fridge area.

In the summer, the boys would come and stick their faces in the fridge to cool down. In the wither, they would shiver as they got sodas with extra caffeine to help them power through and finish songs.

Bells ran throughout the city, ringing out 11 times, showing that it was 11 pm.

“I guess,” Reggie said, grabbing a pack of gummy bears off the shelf.

The boys silently moved to the front of the shop with their items, and as the cashier run them up, the bell in the front door and someone entered. The boys didn’t pay them much attention until they spoke.

“Hey, Uncle J, I got fired… Sorry, I didn’t see that you had customers, I’ll come back later,” Y/N tripped over their words as they turned to rush out of the shop.

“Y/N?” The boys all said, and Y/N paused, turning around and awkwardly shooting the tree some finger guns.

“Heyyy, guys.”

~

Months later, the boys had parted ways with Y/N. But every so often, the person behind the counter at the soda shop was them.

“Hey, Soda!” Luke hollered to them as he entered.

They lifted their head and smirked, “Rockstar, what can I get you?”

“Oh just,” He leaned on the counter. “A date?”

~

lol wish I was that smooth

Send me and ask to be added/removed from my tag list(s)!

Or fill out this form that also gives you a sneak peak at my upcoming fics cause any character that I have in a draft is on there.

JATP: @n0wornever @calamitykaty @screwunsaidemily @crybabyddl @badwolf00593 @dream-a-little-bigger-x

Luke: @thesweetestsinner

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[slightlymore]

Pride | Part 4

Pairing: CollegeStudent!Doyoung, Y/N, CollegeStudent!Johnny Genre: Series | Smut | Angst | Crack | Fluff Warnings: Discussion around death, loss, mental illness | Hospitals Words: 4.4K

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |  Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 |  Part 8 THE END

“They’re not picking up,” said the first man. 

“Try with the second number then,” said another one. 

It was a stuffy surrounding. It was humid, hard to breathe, his nostrils full with metal, he had to gasp. Doyoung hoped to see something less normal after dying. Maybe clouds. Or those type of paradises that looked like fairytale jungles. Definitely not two men with masks hovering over him and some other ones with guns that were using his phone. One was receiving calls from devices on their shoulder. The air was coloured with blue and red lights, making those people’s faces weirdly spectral. 

He wanted to say something. He wanted to tell that guy to stop using his stuff. 

"Don’t move okay? And don’t try to speak" one of the masked men said. Doyoung took a few seconds to understand he was talking to him. He couldn't even hum. He couldn't even move his body. He wanted to look around but they kept him down. They were tying him up. Another one got close to him with something very similar to a collar. Before he could panic though he felt like falling into a deep sleep. He just wanted to go.  "There are no other numbers on his recent calls list. We'll contact his family when-" he managed to hear before passing out yet again. 

----

You've never lost someone to death before. It was something that happened to other people. You knew it was real but it didn't feel real at the same time. You wondered what it might feel like. Sometimes, when you let your mind drift to obscure places late at night, you imagined how your life would be without certain people - those you took for granted. Then your mind imagined, for a split second, their absence, and shaking in your bed you forced those intrusive thoughts away. It was terrifying. You never thought you would have to experience something similar in real life. 

It was a gloomy day. Objectively. In your eyes, waking up in Johnny’s arms made it like the sunniest day you’ve ever seen. You made breakfast and Johnny made coffee. You kissed every second and your face was almost hurting from smiling so much. Walking around campus you saw people chatting animatedly. 

"There's weird energy going on, don't you think?" you asked Johnny. He was looking around as well. You were walking to class, holding hands, kind of excited for people to see. You imagined people joking at you or smiling. Maybe asking questions. But no one seemed to notice. 

"Hey" Johnny stopped one of his basketball mates. He was pale and looked as if hasn't been sleeping well. 

"What's going on?" Johnny asked while looking around as to explain what he was referring to. Was there a notice you both didn’t know about? A party? Some important person coming to your university for a seminar?

The guy looked at him as if he grew another head. You furrowed your eyebrows sensing something coming. 

"You haven't heard?" he said with the littlest voice. "Doyoung-” he started and you felt as when your blood sugar levels got low all of a sudden. You were afraid of what he might say afterwards. A part of you wanted to stop him, no, don’t talk, don’t tell me, please. But the guy talked. “-got hit by a car last night" he explained. 

You gasped loudly and covered your mouth. You’ve never felt your knees get so weak so fast before. If it wasn’t for Johnny holding you, you’ve might have let yourself fell on the ground. Johnny blinked a few times as if not understanding. The guy looked at you first then at Johnny. 

"I thought you were his friends," he said after a moment. Then he eyed your hands. "He even had a crush on you," he said to you. He wasn't accusing you of anything, at least not consciously, but you felt as if he stepped on your heart. You let Johnny's hand go. 

You wanted to ask. You had to. You needed to know. 

"Is he dead?" asked Johnny in your place with a monotone voice. 

The guy sighed. "No, thank God" he replied. You wanted to sigh as well but you weren't able to feel anything. 

God, oh God, oh my God. 

"But he's in the trauma ward. No one really knows what condition he's in" he added. Johnny nodded mechanically. "Now, if you excuse me" the guy whispered and just walked away. 

You didn’t talk. No, you didn’t even think. You walked to class in utmost silence. Or so you realized since you found yourself at the end of the day walking home already. You must have been to class, right? You didn't remember what happened the last few hours and you were afraid to ask, afraid that Johnny would consider you crazy. 

"Y/N," he said at a certain point. You looked at him as if seeing him for the first time in months. He was looking back at you, one hand on the wheel, the other one was holding yours. Your eyes went down and looked at your intertwined fingers as if they weren't part of your body. 

"He's not dead" Johnny added. 

You looked at the road going by quickly underneath the wheels. It had to be said. You wanted to say it. 

"He called me," you said with the littlest voice. 

Johnny shook his head. "The police called you because you were the last number on the list" he commented. 

You shook your head as well. "Yes. Because he called me before that" you explained. Your voice came out as a whine. Johnny touched your face with his palm and rubbed his thumb on your cheek. You were surprised to realize that it was wet with tears. 

"It's not your fault, Y/N" Johnny spoke again. 

You cried in silence for a while. You couldn't bear to hold Johnny's hand. God, you were having sex while Doyoung was probably agonizing on the ground. The nothingness of the shock started to wear off and all your mind could form were intrusive thoughts of Doyoung. You pressed your fingers on your eyes. 

"Do you want to go and see him?" Johnny asked after a while. 

"No" you managed to reply. "I just want to go home," you said. 

----

The sidewalk was slippery as you quickly made your way to the hospital. The sun was almost all gone leaving behind wet and cold darkness. You didn't want to go there with Johnny. The words of Doyoung's friend haunted you all day. He had a crush on you. He had a crush on you and had to assist at your breaking downs over another man, cheering you up and always being by your side. And now he could have died. He was coming to you. To make sure you were okay. He texted you and he called and you just ignored him and now there you were. Feeling like tearing your heart out of your chest because of guilt. What if he couldn't wake up? What if he couldn't walk? What if he couldn't recognize you or anybody else? 

When you got to the acceptance, the lady thought you were sick. 

"No, I'm here to see Doyoung," you said. 

"His last name?" she asked, kindly. You started to tremble. You didn't even know his last name. 

The lady smiled as if being sorry. She was about to send you away. 

"He has arrived yesterday. He got hit by a car" you explained. "He's my friend. Please" you added hurriedly before she could indicate you the door. 

The lady sighed and looked down. "Kim Dongyoung?" she asked. "I'm sorry, but no one can see him right now," she said as if talking to a child. 

"What?" you asked desperately. "Why?" you asked again. 

She shook her head. "I can't reveal personal information, I'm sorry, dear" she replied and looked at you as if kindly sending you away. 

You lingered there for a few moments, tapping your fingers on the counter, revealing your thin nerves. You were about to cry. You were about to cry in a hospital in front of a stranger. The lady's eyes pitied you. 

"I can add you on a list. We'll ask his family if you can see your boyfriend" she said with a low voice as if sharing a secret. Your first instinct was to explain that he wasn't your boyfriend but then you stopped yourself. 

"Thank you" you replied, breathless. "Thank you so much" you added. 

----

Doyoung didn't fear death. 

It was something inevitable and when you can't change something then it didn't help to dwell on it too much. It could either bring another life, an existence after this one, or nothing. It was a win-win situation. You'd have something more or nothing at all. Doyoung didn't fear the nothingness because he wouldn't exist to think about it anyways. On the contrary, it would mean no more pain, no more struggling, no desire and no longing. 

Did he want to die? No. Did he fear dying? Also no. It was whatever. He did what he had to do until it was over. 

So he didn't feel his mind shaking as he looked up at the ceiling and thought to himself: I could have died. 

Well, I think I won't be able to take my exam, he thought to himself first. Then, who is watering my plants now? 

"Hi, can you hear me?" he heard a soft voice speaking to him at his left. 

He hummed after looking at who talked. The movement of his eyes made them watery. The lady checked on him while mumbling some stuff about his condition then called another lady - a doctor. This one checked on him as well and told him he got in a car accident two days ago and that they had to put him in a clinical coma because of surgery. Yes, he could remember his name, it was Doyoung, yes, he knew he was hit by a car, no, he’s not shocked.

Doyoung was disappointed to not remember anything about those coma days but he didn’t say that. 

When they finally took his breathing thing away he felt pain for the first time. 

"God, it was terrible. Wouldn't recommend" he commented with the roughest voice ever. The ladies smiled and told him they were glad he was feeling well enough to joke around about his situation. 

"Why? Am I in a terrible situation?" he asked, aware of sounding kinda out of place, but he legit couldn’t care less. 

The doctor lady shook her head. "I was about to tell you all about your condition and what procedures we did," she said and then proceeded with her monologue. 

It wasn't bad. Doyoung was glad because even if he didn’t fear death, he still didn’t like pain and having to struggle with that stuff. Broken wrist because he fell on it, fractured leg since that’s where he got hit but nothing serious, they did surgery on that, a hell lot of bruises and cuts. "The car was going fast but managed to slow down enough to hit you around your thigh and stop as you fell instead of going over you and fracture something worse with the wheels" she explained. Doyoung nodded. She smiled. Then she talked about other stuff that went over his head such as the medication he was on, the fact that he had to wear a catheter for a while or the fact that he has to eat liquids for a little as his body recovered from the induced coma. 

"We contacted your family. The paperwork is fine. Unfortunately, they couldn't make it to visit you" she concluded with a dry smile as if being sorry to deliver that piece of new. 

"Hm," he said. Strangely, he wanted to just go back to sleep. 

"We predict you'll get discharged in two weeks. Seeing how well you feel, maybe even earlier" she ended her monologue and smiling again she left. 

Doyoung slept a lot that day, or so he felt like. When he wasn't sleeping someone came to feed him or to make him move his limbs for an hour. Little by little, he started to feel pain and the assistant told him they were reducing his painkillers. A little later two cops came to ask him questions and to inform him that the guy running him over was probably going to end up in jail or about to pay a salty fine. Some sweet money was on Doyoung’s way thanks to the great lawyer his parents hired. Doyoung sighed and thanked them. He just wanted to sleep. But then he handed him his belongings. His eyes got wide as he took the phone. 

It would be a lie to say he didn’t think about you at all. But he wanted to hide those thoughts in the same place he was hiding those regarding the trauma he just lived through. Somewhere they couldn’t touch his heart. There were a lot of texts. He ignored most of them and got to the important ones. He would have wanted to roll over in a ball and read them until his eyes got sore. 

----

When you got the text it was late at night. You waited so long that when you finally saw your screen lighten up you didn’t feel anything for a moment. I woke up today, I am fine. You sat down and you felt your shoulders shake. Your fingers held hard onto the phone, your brain telling them to reply, but your eyes were too blurry to see something. He was fine. He was fine and he texted you. I’m coming to see you tomorrow, you sent. If he had a heart rate machine attached to him, the nurses would have run to his room by now, Doyoung thought as he read your reply. 

You fought with Johnny multiple times after Doyoung’s incident. 

“I understand you’re shocked about it, Y/N” he would say. “But this is too much. You’re barely friends” he insisted. You stopped talking to him and distanced yourself now that you’ve finally got the chance to have Johnny around you every second. He had the best intentions, he would hug you, hold your hands, cook for you, kiss your forehead, cuddle. But you refused. You just wanted him to go away. You wanted to be alone. It was weird, you acknowledged it. It shouldn’t have hit you so hard. “You can be worried about him and still want my affection” Johnny once said with a low and defeated voice, and you knew that you were hurting him a lot. “It’s just-” you tried to explain, “-it feels weird now, Johnny” you finished, unsure. “This guilt,” he said through his teeth as if angry. “You didn’t hit him with the car, Y/N. And the fact that we were together when it happened doesn’t mean that it was the cause of it all” he tried to convince you. Very unsuccessfully. “I just need some time” you would reply with a tiny voice, sitting down on the couch and bringing your knees to your chest. Johnny would leave trying hard to not slam the front door. 

You were walking the white corridors the nurse was taking you through. Your feet were softly pressing on the tiles but to your ears, it sounded as loud bangs. Or maybe it was your heart beating fast inside your skull, you weren’t sure. You gulped and closed your eyes for a moment when the nurse stopped and looked over at you in front of a door. He was in a private suite and although you didn’t have energy to put into other thoughts besides Doyoung, a small part of or your brain acknowledged it and you were relieved for being able to be alone with him. You didn’t know the way you would react to seeing him. The nurse opened the door and invited you in by extending her arm a little. You looked at her, afraid to look inside the room first. “Thank you,” you said and looked at her back as she left you alone. “Are you afraid of blood or something?” you heard his voice accompanied by an airy chuckle. You finally looked into his direction and you let our the air from your lungs. He was propped up on a few pillows, his left hand bandaged, his right leg up. On his forehead, right above the eyebrow, you could see stitches. His lower lip was busted.  Doyoung smiled even more and looked at you with his head tilted to the side, like a little bird. “Come,” he said. His soft command made your legs move. You didn’t know what expression you had on or what it was saying to him. You sat down near his bed and placed your hands on your knees. You realized you hadn’t said anything yet. “Hello-” you tried to talk. Your voice came out soft and rough. You cleared your voice and tried again. “Hello” you repeated. Doyoung’s face brightened up in a laugh. You looked at the way his eyes closed, his unbandaged fingers getting up to cover his mouth and you found yourself smiling as well. “Well, that was very awkward,” he said after he finished grinning. You looked at his face for a few moments then down at his neck and chest, eyeing his broken hand then you looked at his injured leg.   “You look as if someone beat you up” you commented. “It sounds way cooler than being hit by a car for sure” he observed.  “You have to see what’s under this gown” he joked, alluding to further bruises. But you felt the corners of your lips get down. He noticed that and sighed as if almost knowing what you were about to say. Doyoung was always one step ahead of you. “Don’t say it” he looked at you. You gulped. “But I am sorry, Doyoung” you said. “It’s my fault. I should have replied to your texts or call or just-” you started but got interrupted by a sting. Doyoung flicked your forehead. You put your hands on your head with a little ouch. “Why did you do that?” you asked surprised.  “Stop” he replied. His voice was low and soft and you couldn’t talk anymore. You closed your mouth. His eyes were half-closed and although he looked tired and sleepy they were bright and awake, staring into yours. He let his head fall down a little on the pillows and grabbed a corner of your sleeve. “Tell me a story” he talked again after a little while. Your fingers brushed against his knuckles. “What story?” you asked. You were almost whispering. His face was illuminated by the last rays of the sun making him look peaceful and cosy. “Something fun,” he said. You thought about it for a second. Your hand found it’s way around Doyoung’s one. His skin was warm and soft. His long fingers tightened around yours as well, slowly. “Did I ever tell you how my brother and I got locked inside an Ikea once?” you asked smiling as Doyoung was already chuckling. His thumb kept caressing yours the whole time. 

----

“Are you sure you don’t want to go and see Doyoung?” Johnny asked you during lunch. You raised your gaze and looked at him. Then you swallowed before talking. “I went yesterday” you decided to be honest. Johnny’s fork stopped in mid-air. You sighed and prepared yourself for the fight. He put down his fork and rested his back on the chair. He didn’t talk and neither did you. His gaze was trying to burn you down though so you didn’t look back. “Do you love him?” Johnny asked suddenly.  You furrowed your eyebrows as if he insulted you. “Don’t be ridiculous,” you said. “Do you love me, then?” he asked again. You breathed in and out and pressed your fingers on your temples.  “Y/N” he sounded almost desperate. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Your mind is full of him day and night, you don’t talk to me, you don’t want to see me, you go and see him without telling me anything about it. How should I behave? Tell me” he said. “Just tell me, what would you do in my place?” he asked. You knew he was right. You knew it was unfair. But you had no excuse. You didn’t know how to comment on that. Seeing his face just made you unreasonable sad and angry at the same time. You hated it and you knew that Johnny had no fault, but you couldn’t help yourself. “Johnny, I don’t know what’s going on either,” you said in the end before getting up and walking away. 

----- Doyoung slept well for the first time since being in the hospital that night after you left. He tried hard to concentrate on what you were saying but his mind kept drifting away because of the way you looked at him, your smile, the shine in your eyes before a funny part, your fingers playing with his. When the nurse came to tell you that the visit time was over Doyoung held your hand harder as if not wanting to let go. You looked at him with such sweetness that he felt like bursting into tears. 

“I’ll come tomorrow as well” you promised and then you did something he wouldn’t have imagined even in his most racy dreams. You kissed his knuckles. It was a short little touch. Like a mother putting his child to sleep. Your lips brushed against his hand and he swore his heart stopped for a long second. He suddenly felt so powerless in all of his limbs that he let your fingers go as you got up, even if he wanted to hold onto them for longer. He didn’t think he would sleep well after that. He couldn’t sleep the whole night after you pushed yourself onto his body and hungrily kissed his lips just a while ago, but this time it was different. It was so different that he felt sick. Maybe he had an infection. Maybe he was coming down with a fever. Maybe he should tell the nurse about it. But then he realized what was happening and he had to hide his face with his palm in embarrassment. God, he was so in love with you. 

He fell asleep soon after as if being finally home, with his lips lingering on his knuckles. 

----

You didn’t go to class that day, trying to avoid Johnny as much as possible. You didn’t know what was happening with you both and you knew you were treating him badly for no reason. Strangely though, instead of feeling guilty, you felt at ease after a long period of time. As if starving for a long time and finally having a meal. As if sleep-deprived and finally being able to sleep. As if being at war and now finally going home in peace. You felt quiet inside. You felt so quiet as never before and Johnny troubled that still pond that was your heart with his little rocks. When you stepped into the room, Doyoung was looking out the window so you stared at the back of his head for a little before clearing your throat. He turned his head into your direction and his bright smile felt like drinking in a litre of fresh air. He has been smiling more in the two days of being in the hospital than in the whole time you’ve known him. “You’re in a very good mood” you commented walking over him and sitting down. “Because you’re here,” he said. It didn’t mean much but his eyes accompanied that with so much meaning that your heart started to beat very fast all of a sudden. This is the time when people in movies kiss, you thought. Doyoung’s lips curved up again and you were afraid he understood what you were thinking. “How’s Johnny?” he asked, instead of grabbing your arm and getting you close. Of course. Johnny still lingered between you. Doyoung still thought you were in love with him. “He’s fine” you replied, uninterested. Doyoung raised his eyebrow a little. “Did you guys talk?” he went on. You crossed your arms on your chest as if wanting to hug yourself. You didn’t want to talk about him. Or think about him. Not in general and definitely not with Doyoung. He was the reason Doyoung was in the hospital in the first place. You knew it was unfair to blame him, but if it wasn’t for him Doyoung wouldn't have been worried about you and he wouldn’t have come outside that night. Because of him and because of you. You didn’t want him to know what happened between you and Johnny. God, you could see the way Doyoung looked at you. He would kiss you. He would actually grab you and kiss you, and worship you, and love you as no one did before. You knew it. You’ve known it all along. When he took care of you and when you tried to use him to your own advantage. If he wouldn’t have stopped you first, you would have stopped yourself, seeing his eyes, as if wanting to drink you all up. He didn’t have to know. You didn’t want to lie but you couldn’t just tell him that you and Johnny slept together and considered yourself a couple. Maybe for Johnny you still were, but at that moment, standing in front of Doyoung, you understood that it wasn’t the case for you anymore. “We talked” you answered. He looked at you again, not understanding. You wanted to let him think that Johnny confirmed that he didn’t have any feelings for you and to just drop the conversation. “So? What’s the outcome?” he asked, again. You opened your mouth as to talk but you got interrupted by someone. Doyoung’s eyes darted to the door a second before Johnny could talk. “We’re dating now,” he said. “She’s my girlfriend”. Doyoung looked back at you. 

His eyes looked like a glassy night sky shattered to pieces. 

[lolibat]

Bits of Uraichi event I never actually got to finish

Cuz it takes me like five years to legit finish anything... u.u. Dedicated to @cywscross because it’s her fault I ship Uraichi

Day 1: Time loop/dimension travel/time travel/cannon divergence

It's been years since Karakura Town looked so peaceful... so unravaged by war. Ichigo traces the paths and alleys with his eyes, lost in his own memories. A black cat trots over to him and smells his hand curiously. He opens his palms wide, and nods regally. The cat's tail twitched in greeting, and it trotted off.

Well, he figured that someone will find him, sooner or later, Ichigo mused. It has been three years since the end of the Quincy War, and for once things seemed to settle down. Shinigami, humans, arrancars alike mourned their losses and moved on with their lives.

All, except Ichigo. He had a thing with Inoue for a while- they bonded over the war- but it was never quite meant to last. He has known of her crush since their high school days; he's not stupid. Time and a couple of wars isn't going to change his feelings- or the lack thereof. To her credit, she wasn't as heartbroken as Ichigo imagined, when he called it quits with her. They gave the relationship an honest effort, and it didn't work out. There wasn't much else to say about it.

In the dark corners of his mind, Zangetsu reminded him that the one he's looking for isn't Inoue. Has never been Inoue to begin with. Ichigo agrees, because he's learned long ago to be honest with himself. Those first few months after the war, he waited outside the Shoten, for that one day when Urahara would make his way back to Karakura Town, late and probably with some lame excuse. He waited, day after day. The Shoten remained closed.

The day after his breakup with Inoue, he opened the Shoten door for the first time; he was surprised that he didn't get zapped to next week by whatever kidou barriers Tessai has up, but he won't look a gift horse in the mouth. The inside was dusty, as he expected; it was as if the store waited on baited breath for its owner to come back. Ichigo dusted off the nearest shelf and grimaced. I've got a lot of work to do, he thinks to himself.

He doesn't know why he's cleaning the Shoten from top to bottom; he doesn't have anything better to do, he supposes. Yuzu and Karin understands; they didn't know Urahara for as long as Ichigo had, but they understand that need to mourn, and everyone has their own way. They leave him alone; Ichigo's grateful for it.

Somewhere in the trash pile that is Urahara's stack of rejected invention designs, is a particularly odd looking Senkaimon. To be honest, the teen almost tossed the design away, but the old shopkeeper's chickenscratch handwriting caught his eye. "Dimension travel", Ichigo squinted. The words were written next to a bunch of cubed linked together with squiggly lines. Ichigo set that particular design aside.

It took him a little over two years to finish the design, and even then he was half sure that it would blow up in his face. Ruefully, he thinks that Urahara would have finished it in two days if he really put his mind to it. But nonetheless; Ichigo's no genius- it's half a miracle that the invention worked at all. Standing in front of the Senkaimon, Ichigo took a fortifying breath and stepped through. --

The first thing he needs to do, Ichigo thinks, is get help. All he has right now is knowledge of a possible future that hasn't happened yet, and that knowledge won't do anyone any good in his hands alone. What he needs, is a schemer. And a schemer he'll get.

"Yo, Geta boushi", Ichigo waved towards the green and white stripped hat making its way up the roof. He could feel a warm curl of relief-oh-thank-god at seeing that ridiculous getup again. They hadn't even managed to bring back that much from the Soul King's palace, Ichigo thinks bitterly.

"My, my," with a well practiced gesture, the paper fan snapped open. A pair of assessing grey eyes peered from under the brim of the bucket hat. Well used to the shopkeeper's particular brand of paranoia, Ichigo stayed still, curious about the kind of conclusions Urahara will come to.

Exactly one minute and twenty seconds later- "Dimension travel or time travel?" Urahara asks.

Ichigo snorts. Of course he would figure it out- he's freaking Urahara. If someone could, it would be him. "Dimension," he replies.

"I would presume the other me sent you back?" the shopkeeper asks, a spark of intrigue carefully hidden. But Ichigo knows- can tell by the way his eyes moved- that Urahara was indeed, curious.

"Well, it's certainly your fault," Ichigo agreed. He wasn't about to tell the current incarnation that the future him didn't make the war- at least he won't tell the guy now. He would, but all he needs is a chance- he knows that Urahara is unlikely to dissect him up into little bits, not before he gets every ounce of information out of him- but what he really needs is that relationship they once had... the one built on trust. He needs that trust if he is to save the world, this time around.

Instead, Ichigo tossed him a crumpled up ball of paper- the hastily sketched and discarded design that once laid in the trash pile of a forgotten lab.

The current version tilted his head and caught the paper ball easily. A skip- a beat- and then he folded the paper neatly into quadrants. "It seems that you have travelled a long way- perhaps you would care for some tea and sweets?"

Ichigo let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding. And the chance has been given.

================

Day 2: (Different) First Meetings, established relationship

At first, he wasn't sure what to make of the stranger perched on his roof. Very few people bother him these days- with the Vizards safe in seclusion, Isshin living happily with his wife and newborn son, the Soutaicho turning a blind eye to his activities in the Transient World... there wasn't much excitement these days.

Of course, he has the company of his nightmares to keep him on his toes (a reminder that the future is never certain, that his mistakes can and will come to haunt him).

Thus, it was with a fair bit of surprise that he feels a miniature sun bypass his wards and land on his candystore's roof. How odd; it is enough to draw him out of his labs. He bumps into Tessai and Yoruichi near the store entrance. Presumably, they also felt the disturbance.

"I'll go and take a look," Yoruichi volunteered. It's never not unnerving to hear her cat form speak, for all feline vocal cords were never meant for human language.

He dipped his head in thanks, and the black cat slipped out of the store soundlessly. He didn't have to wait long; within minutes, Yoruichi was back. Seamlessly, she transformed back.

"It's a teenager with bright orange hair in shinigami garb, armed with a zanpakuto, non hostile" She frowned for a second more, "whoever he is, he looks Shiba. He knows who I am," she adds. =================

[yutaya]

Iron Fist Rewatch 1x02: Shadow Hawk Takes Flight

These doctors seem very nonchalant about how close this dude just got to murdering Danny with a fork. No reassurance or apology - just pour drugs down his throat so they can hose him down. What a picture of The System.

Negative stereotype that has roots in truth - there ARE places like this and worse, but it's true that we very rarely see the good kind of facility represented in TV too. Sucks for them to always be portrayed as the bad guy, and probably harmful too if people really could benefit from them but are wary.

"Let's say [he IS Danny]. That would mean he somehow, miraculously, [1] survived a plane crash, [2] in the Himalayas, and that [3] for some unknown reason he waited fifteen years to come back, with [4] no shoes and a tendency toward violence." - Ward, reciting all the reasons he's been repeating to himself ever since the parking lot not to start thinking this might be Danny, frog and freezer stories or no.

"We're doing the right thing. We could have just had him arrested." Why DIDN'T you have him arrested, Ward? Oh right, HAROLD. ugh.

AU where Danny gets arrested instead. Unfortunately I THINK none of the other Defenders timelines work out so this would be a good time for them to meet him early, though... 🤔

Again with this bird. I completely forgot about this symbol theme.

Danny: "I was meditating." Doctor: "Oh!" Danny: "Yeah, I was trying to focus my chi so I could get out of here." Doctor: "Oh..."

Doctor's like: Oh, wow, this is an interesting level of specificity for a made up story...

I forgot how much I like this doctor. He's legit trying to help. I forget what happened to him...

Colleen is putting so much effort into insulting her students LOL. Also: Darryl's shoes are too big. Bc Colleen runs a struggling dojo in an underprivileged part of city as a safe haven for these kids and to help "teach them how to perform in the real world"

Parts of this conversation that will weigh on Colleen: "You saw me being attacked; you KNOW there's something weird going on." "One of the richest families in New York have a problem with you." "No, I don't have anyone else I can ask for help: you're the only one."

Ward: Ok, good, I'm hearing reasons why this guy can't be telling the truth and therefore cannot be Danny. That's good. I still feel kind of off though... but that's probably just the thing where Harold put cameras in the hospital. Yeah.

Poor Kyle.

Ward: "We can lobotomize him!" Me: "asdfghjkl WARD."

This shot of Harold's "smile" when he tells Ward  "You ARE one of my guys! One of my most trusted guys!" is SO CREEPY

You can see Colleen FREEZE when Ward introduces himself. Harold and Ward shooting themselves in the foot with this: they're lending credence to Danny's story from the phone convo.

Ward, one of the richest people in the city: "Lie to the authorities about that homeless dude being violent for my own personal benefit. Here's a blatant bribe."

Harold yelling at the spy footage like he's throwing popcorn at a movie.

POOR KYLE.

This is deeply uncomfortable for me on a personal level.

Joy: Hmmmmm. What possible reason... could "Danny's" doctor have... for asking that very specific question.... unless.........?

Ok but "tiny Danny wanted to be an acrobat and was always jumping around on things" makes it SO MUCH EASIER for canon-divergent AUs where Danny isn't in the plane crash to still include ninja warrior Danny I-

Harold, a known dead man, looming ominously in the shadows of Danny's mental hospital room: "Here's a message about how you have to come find me and help me. It's not very subtle so you'll probably get it." Danny: "Oh shit, maybe I am crazy...?"

Danny: "I was a warrior. Only in the middle of a fight did I fully come alive. The harder someone hit me, the more everything came into focus." Harold: "Hm. Note taken." Me: *crying emoji*

Show: "oooh, ominous, Harold's under the Hand's thumb. Maybe there's more to him, maybe he's sympathetic...?" Fans: "lol, nice try. We all clocked that creep-o the moment we saw him."

I've talked about Colleen's first impressions of the Meachums in general and Ward in specific before but. Dude. Dude.

Danny, thinking that his very last tentative hope (Colleen) has fallen through, receives a communication from Joy. ;____;

Had. Had Joy already opened the bag of m&ms. It was sealed when she pulled it out of her desk drawer so wh- OH. The hospital opened Danny's mail, including the candy bag, to inspect it before giving it to him. Hahaha *sob*

If Colleen hadn't come to see Danny here, their paths might have diverged. As far as he's concerned, Colleen has made it clear that she's not going to help him and that they're just two strangers in a big city. Turning the corner and seeing her come to visit him boosts that flame of hope that Joy's package rekindled even further. He thought he had no one, and now the amount of people he has is growing.

Ok but, in an AU where Colleen doesn't go see Danny / Danny doesn't know Colleen came to see him, that isn't necessarily the end of their relationship. On Colleen's side, she's still suspicious of this entire Meachum mess - it RADIATES corruption and Colleen is very much entrenched in the downworld of NYC, where the rich powerful elite hurt the most. Plus, Danny doesn't give up on people easily and honestly, he kind of sucks at taking a hint - if he went off to some Rand business with the in with Joy, he would still end up in all the Harold mess, and probably at some point be on the run (maybe with another person - oooh, would love to see that AU - Joy or Ward or both in tow with Danny on the streets, fleeing trouble, Danny saying "I know a place") and showing up at Colleen's door, like "I know you don't want any part of this, and I don't mean to bring trouble to your door, but there's nowhere else to go," and Colleen being like "get in, quick," with her windows already half shuttered and supplies on the table because she was already investigating herself - (it could turn into a whole thing, with Colleen having connections that she thinks she can trust to help them against the big bad Harold/Meachum conspiracy, but then it's the Hand, and-!)

Danny: "The Meachum family might think I'm a threat to them." Colleen: "And why would they think that?" Danny: "Because I'm Danny Rand and I own more than half the company." Me: "And also because you stalked Joy, broke into her house and their offices, terrified and almost killed Ward???"

But anyway this is only gonna fuel Colleen's narrative that this is all greedy corporate machinations and bloody rich people politics. (Literally bloody. Literally murder people in a "problem solving" way kind of bloody.)

GODDDD Colleen is so hot in this scene when she walks into Joy's office with her pushed up sleeves on her chinese bomber jacket and her shirt tucked into her rolled up pants and - her hands in her pockets and that black bracelet and the belt - !

This argument between Joy and Ward is so emotionally charged - Ward's now in a desperate position because Joy has no way of knowing that she has just become an obstacle to something that he can't allow to happen - because Harold can not allow it to happen, and he's pulling Ward's strings, and then - ! "What are you so afraid of, Ward?" It's Harold, he's afraid of Harold. "You should be more like Dad." Ugh. ugh! Shot through the heart! "Grow some balls." I'm crying. They've both learned such terrible things from their father.

GDI DANNY the doctor BELIEVED you and then you had to go start talking about alternate planes of existence and the Iron Fist UGH he thinks you're just trying to cope with the trauma I - UGH.

This doctor is honestly trying to help but he's confirming all of Danny's fears from what Simon told him about how this place operates.

Ward regularly has to come up with ways to convince an entire board to do weird things that Harold asks - like purchase some random warehouses in Brooklyn - without even knowing why

Ward: "'Danny' is a threat to us, to our family, to our business, and the smartest solution - the one YOU taught me - is to get rid of the problem as expediently as possible!" Harold: "No, protect him." Ward: "WHY?! I am asking you why. Explain it to me! Because from where I'm standing, protecting him is dangerous, and getting rid of him is safe!" Harold: "Because I said so, that's why. Now heel." Honestly, of COURSE Ward takes this into his own hands.

Ah, yes, our first glimpse at Ward's drug addiction.

What is their plan????? Just beat him to death!? Can't make it quick - why?? Are they trying to make it look like a simple altercation between inmates???

"Ward Meachum sends his regards." God, that's so heartbreaking. The idea that not only does Ward believe Danny is an imposter and a threat, enough to try to kill him and then to send him to a mental institution - but that once he's there, out of harm's way, if he IS a mentally unstable imposter - OR once proof is starting to trickle to the Meachums (in colorful chocolate form) that he actually IS their old friend Danny - that Big Brother Ward would go out of his way to strike a deal with some "low life mental hospital thugs" to beat Danny to death?? This moment, to Danny, must feel like a bigger betrayal to Danny by Ward than anything else so far.

Danny, on all fours, looks up at the full moon outside the window, at the hawk silhouette streaking across it, and smiles. Hawk as Danny's spirit guide AU cont., but ALSO: WEREWOLF AU WEREWOLF AU WEREWOLF AU

Danny. Danny. Please run. Busting a huge hole in the wall made a very loud noise, please stop just standing there and giving people time to catch up.

[jaxl-road]

Scar Tissue chapter 6

Slumber parties and makeovers. Not what Slash was expecting at this point in his life, but he wasn’t going to complain.

Pairings: Slash/Duff, side Axl/Izzy

Warnings: ((not in this chapter)) Implied/discussed past abuse (non-explicit)

~~~~~~~~

It was unusual for Slash to have trouble sleeping.

Other than sometimes waking up in the middle of the night when he needed to use the restroom or something, for the most part Slash had no issue falling asleep and staying asleep. The drugs and alcohol probably helped that along a bit, too. But tonight, he found himself staring at the ceiling, eyes stubbornly open and body as awake as it was when he first fell into bed hours ago.

Guns N’ Roses had their show with Motley Crue tomorrow night. They were all stoked to be performing again- they didn’t normally have such a long break between shows, so it felt good to start getting back into the routine. Axl had even kept his word and run a few more gigs by them before getting them booked, so they had the next few weeks planned. And they all agreed, opening for Motley was a good way to kick off their next wind.

Duff sorted through the clothes he and Slash had stolen, piecing together potential outfits for each member, “Just wait until I do your makeup,” he had grinned, “that’s what’s really gonna make it.” They all laughed when Axl got Izzy to help him write ‘GLAM SUCKS’ in liquid paper on one of his pairs of leather pants, and Duff agreed it was perfect. The five boys passed around bottles of nightrain, talking about anything and everything and nothing before finally retreating to their respective rooms.

Which brought Slash to his present predicament. He groaned in frustration, pulling his pillow over his head. He wasn’t sure what his problem was- he was excited for the show, sure, but not too excited to sleep. Maybe he hadn’t drank enough that night. If nothing else, maybe drinking more would help him just pass out. Nodding his head to himself, he pushed his pillow away, sighing as he sat up.

But just as he was getting ready to roll out of bed, a soft whimper reached his ears. He paused, listening in the dark. For a moment he thought maybe he had imagined it, but then it happened again- a strained whine and a rustle of blankets.

Leaning forward, Slash’s eyes adjusted in the dark until he could make out Duff’s mattress in the corner. His pile of blankets and clothes that usually surrounded him had been shoved away onto the floor, and his tall body seemed to curl into itself.

Slash couldn’t resist standing and creeping a little closer, frowning as Duff whimpered again. As he stood next to the mattress, the bassist turned onto his side, facing Slash and allowing him to see the pained expression on his face. He could see his eyes darting behind his eyelids, his brows furrowed as he muttered. Slash couldn’t make out the words, but he sounded… scared.

Dropping down to kneel beside him, Slash reached out to gently shake the other man’s shoulder, “Hey, Duff,” he whispered, “Wake up.” The bassist flinched away from him, a wounded noise coming from deep in his throat that made Slash’s heart clench. “Duff,” he said more forcefully this time, “Hey, man, wake up!”

As he gripped his shoulder tighter, Duff’s eyes suddenly shot open, and he jolted upright with a shriek. Slash yelped in surprise, falling back onto his ass as Duff pressed his body against the wall, blinked at him in half-awake confusion.

For a long moment the two musicians simply stared at each other. Finally, Duff seemed to clear the haze of sleep, “Slash? I…” his eyes widened as he seemed to realize what had happened, “Fuck, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“Hey, no, dude, it’s fine,” Slash held his hands up, “I just…” he hesitated, sitting up straighter to face Duff, “You looked like you were having a bad dream.”

Duff’s eyes held a mixture of guilt and nervousness, “I’m sorry,” he says sincerely, “Did I wake you up?”

“Nah,” Slash sighed, waving him off, “I couldn’t sleep.” He looked over at Duff, taking in his slightly shaky hands and downcast eyes, "Are you alright?" The bassist nodded silently, and Slash didn't really believe him. He thought about how often he found Duff up in the middle of the night, and how they all assumed he was just an 'early riser', and he blurted out without really thinking, “Do you have nightmares a lot?”

“Um…” Duff ran a hand through his hair, his face flushing with embarrassment, “I mean, not like, every night, but… yeah, a lot I guess.”

Slash frowned, “That sucks, dude.”

Shrugging, Duff fiddled with the hem of his shirt, “It’s whatever, I’m used to it. I usually just grab a few drinks until I pass out again,” he grinned wryly.

That certainly was in character for Duff, Slash thought as he nodded. But something was still bothering him, and, well, in for a penny, “And you hang out with Axl, right?” Duff snapped his head up, mouth parting slightly in surprise. When he couldn’t seem to find a response, Slash shrugged and explained, “I saw you guys talking a couple times,” he felt his face heat up as he realized how creepy that made him sound and scrambled to elaborate, “Just, like, when I got up to take a piss, y’know?”

There is a moment of silence, but then Duff nods, “Yeah, sometimes we… run into each other…” he pauses, before quietly admitting, “Axl has nightmares too.”

Slash suddenly feels stupid for being jealous. “Oh,” he says softly.

Duff shrugged again, “Really, it’s fine. I’m sorry again for bugging you. You can go back to bed, I’m fine.”

Thinking carefully, Slash weighs his options. He knows what he wants to do, but it’s risky, with equal chances of working out amazingly or going up in flames. But in all honesty, he feels like maybe he and Duff have reached a point where a bit of risk is okay- if he fucks up spectacularly, he thinks Duff will forgive him.

So, steeling himself, Slash smirked, “Hey, scooch over.”

“I-... what?” Duff blinked in confusion.

“Yeah, come on, make room,” he waved gently, grinning mischievously, “We’re having a slumber party.”

Duff let out a bark of laughter in surprise and, to Slash’s glee, shifted over to make space on the mattress, “We already share a room, isn’t every night kind of a slumber party?”

“That’s like, amateur shit. We need some legit sleepover tonight,” he crawled up next to Duff and started pulling the blankets and clothes off the floor to pile mostly on top of the bassist, “Trust me, when Steven or I have bad trips, you just gotta get back into your middle school bullshit and invade each others’ personal space. If it’s really bad we can play truth or dare,” he wiggled his eyebrows and Duff burst out laughing.

God, Slash fell a little more every time the blonde laughed, “Well, I can’t really argue with that logic, can I.”

“Nope. My argument is air tight.”

Chuckling, Duff fell back onto the bed. Slash took the opportunity to shove more of the bassist’s blankets on top of him, practically burying the other man as he laughed, “Hey! You’re gonna suffocate me!”

“I want you to be cozy!” Slash snickered as Duff shoved his arms away.

“Go the fuck to sleep, you ass,” Duff laughed softly, turning his head to face away from the guitarist as he settled down to lay beside him.

Despite having spent the last few hours attempting to do just that, Slash found that sleep was the last thing he wanted now, “You first,” he joked, “I have to stay awake to ward off bad dreams,” he explained.

Turning to look at him again, Duff raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think that’s how that works.”

“Well not with that attitude!”

Snorting, Duff rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he turned away again. Slash felt like a creep, but he couldn’t help but stare. He shoved his hands under his armpits to restrain himself from reaching out and stroking the bassist’s skin or petting his hair or just wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close. Maybe it wasn’t how it worked, but he wanted to protect Duff from whatever was going on in his head, wanted to shield him from whatever chased him in his sleep.

“...Hey, Slash?”

Jumping a bit in surprise, Slash felt a blush spread across his face. Duff hadn’t turned around, but he still felt as though he had been caught in his staring, “Uh, yeah?”

There was a long stretch of silence. He was opening his mouth to ask what was wrong when Duff sighed, his voice small when he spoke, “...Nothing. Nevermind.”

Frowning, Slash pushed himself up onto his elbows, “Are you sure? You can-”

“What do you call a sleepwalking nun?” Duff blurted out, snapping his head to look up at him.

Blinking at the interruption, Slash felt the corners of his mouth twitching against his will, “Do not-”

“A roamin’ Catholic.”

“Oh my God,” Slash tried to groan even as he laughed. Snatching the pillow from under Duff’s head, he smacked the bassist with it lightly, “You see what you’ve done? You’ve triggered the pillow fight portion of the slumber party! I hope you’re happy!”

Duff laughed as he effortlessly stole the pillow back, holding it tight to his chest as Slash struggled to tug it back, “What can I say? I am committed to this sleepover bullshit!”

“I’ve created a monster,” Slash moaned dramatically, falling onto his back as Duff snickered.

Eventually the two musicians settled, and even though Duff still wouldn’t face him, he allowed their arms to stay pressed together. Slash doesn’t know how long they lay there together, awake and quiet in the dark, but he finds himself soothed by the bassist’s warmth next to him and starts to drift off before he knows it.

He hopes he has the same effect on Duff.

~~~~~~~~~

“Oh my God, how does Motley Crue do this every fucking day?”

“Quit your bitching, I’m the one doing all the work,” Duff huffed.

“I can tell you right now I’m gonna sweat most of this shit off,” Steven whined.

Duff wordlessly held up a bottle of setting spray, “You’re not getting rid of my hard work that easily,” he smirked, “now close your eyes and shut up or I’m gonna spray this directly on your tongue.”

Steven grumbled, but obeyed, allowing Duff to finish. Behind them, Slash snickered as he watched. He didn’t exactly blame Steven- he couldn’t see any of them committing to the glam thing on a regular basis- but it was still fun to watch the bassist transform them.

Izzy and Axl had gone first. The rhythm guitarist had black jeans with safety pins running down the front, a sheer lace top, unbuttoned but tied together at the bottom, several fake pearl necklaces around his neck, and a black cap on his head. Duff had decided to keep his makeup minimal, sticking just to eyeliner and mascara. The look wasn’t particularly over the top, but it suited him, and Slash, Duff, and Steven pointedly ignored the way Axl bit his lip as he looked him up and down.

Meanwhile, the singer had a fairly simple outfit- his black leather pants with “GLAM SUCKS” on one leg, and a cut up white graphic tee- but Duff had gone wilder with his hair and makeup. The red locks were teased up several inches around his head, and he had dark eyeshadow along with eyeliner and mascara. The look was finished with a light sheen of lipgloss.

This time, Duff couldn’t afford to ignore the way Izzy was looking at Axl. “Hey, if you assholes mess up your makeup before the show, I swear to God I will pour fucking marinara sauce on your bed!”

Izzy blinked, “That’s oddly specific.”

“I can get it in mass quantities from work. Don’t test me.”

Steven fidgeted in his seat, “I have never wanted to touch my face as badly as I do right now.”

“Do NOT touch your face!”

“I know, I know!” The drummer also had a full face of makeup, blue and purple eyeshadow contrasting with the dark mascara. His hair was teased, though not as drastically as Axl’s, and his outfit consisted of a tight black tank top with a shimmery silver scarf around his neck and silver bangles on both arms.

Duff sighed, “Go do sound check or something to distract yourself.”

Nodding, Steven jumped up to exit the cramped dressing room at the back of the club. Axl and Izzy shared a quick look before following after him.

“We’ll go with you,” Axl smirked, “In case you punch Vince again.”

“I’m not going to punch Vince!”

“Let me dream, okay?”

And just like that, the door closed behind them and Slash and Duff were left alone, the guitarist the last one to get his makeup done.

Smiling shyly, Duff jerked his chin at the stool in front of him, “Come on, your turn.”

Slash swallowed thickly. Getting dressed had been the easy part. He had his usual leather pants, but with three decorative belts winding around them. A plain white t-shirt contrasted with the stark lines of black suspenders, a few long gold and red necklaces laying against his chest. A single fishnet glove on his left arm went up to his bicep, and a derby bowler hat rested on top of his mass of hair.

But he had opted to go last as far as getting his makeup done in the desperate hope that he could brace himself. He didn’t have a problem with makeup or anything- he wore eyeliner from time to time like the rest of the guys- but he found himself oddly intimidated by the process.

Or, it wasn’t that odd, he supposed. Slash was used to hiding behind his hair most of the time, never quite comfortable looking directly into people’s eyes, and especially with Duff he usually found himself ducking his head to try to hide any evidence of his infatuation. But now, as he sat on the stool, he was forced to sit still as Duff tilted his chin up and swept his curls out of his face.

“Alright, close your eyes.”

His eyes snapped shut happily. He didn’t think he could handle staring at Duff’s face so close to his own. The blonde had done his own makeup before the rest of them, purple eyeshadow and black eyeliner and mascara making his eyes impossibly brighter and pink gloss making his lips even more distracting than usual. His hair was backcombed and wild around his head.

A brush lightly swept across his eyelids, and Duff held his chin gently in one gloved hand to keep him still as he worked. It didn’t take very long, the brush soon being replaced with an eyeliner pencil, followed by a mascara wand.

“Okay, you can open now.”

After a moment of hesitation, Slash blinked his eyes open, and he still wasn’t fully prepared to see Duff so close. He couldn’t help but glance down at his outfit again. The bassist had ripped black jeans with two studded belts around his hips, a white button up shirt with a bow tied around the collar and a fitted black vest accentuating his waist and stomach. Black leather fingerless gloves covered his hands, and rows of silver bracelets jingled lightly as he reached out to grab a tube of lipstick.

“Almost done, promise,” Duff assured him.

Slash grinned, “No worries, man. Do your thing,” his voice sounded stronger than he felt as Duff took his chin in his hand again.

He was so busy kicking himself for the blush he was certain was raging on his face, it took him a moment to realize that Duff’s cheeks were bright pink in front of him. And sure, the bassist was carefully applying dark red lipstick, but Slash is certain he hadn’t stared this intently at any of the others’ lips.

Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe Slash was about to do something incredibly stupid. But when Duff pulled his hand away, still looking at the guitarist’s lips, Slash didn’t think there was anything in the world that could convince him not to surge forward and kiss him.

Duff made a muffled noise of surprise, and Slash was prepared to ditch the show, dig a hole, and crawl into it. But then, before he could pull away again, the bassist sighed against his mouth. And he started kissing back.

Pressing forward even more, Slash felt like his blood was singing, everything in him jittery with joy, feeling higher than dope had ever gotten him. He was practically on Duff’s lap, rested his hands on the sides of his neck while the other man wound his arms around his waist, one hand resting on the small of his back, and Slash could happily die right here.

Then there was a knock on the door.

Both of them leapt away from each other as if they had been electrocuted, Slash nearly falling off the back of the stool. A moment later, Izzy opened the door nonchalantly.

“Hey, we’re on in ten.”

Slash nodded frantically, “Yeah, of course, cool, we’ll be right there.”

“Cool,” Izzy started to leave, but just as the door was closing, he paused, “Oh, and Duff?”

The bassist straightened his back like a student at attention as he squeaked out, “Yeah?”

Staring at each other for a long moment, Izzy finally smirked slowly, “You got a little something,” he gestured at the side of his lips.

Duff immediately slapped a hand over his mouth, face red as a strangled noise of embarrassment escaped his throat. Izzy laughed good-naturedly, throwing them a quick thumbs up before closing the door behind him.

Turning to Slash, Duff let his hand fall away, and Slash couldn’t help but giggle at the dark red lipstick smeared across his lips.

Glancing in the mirror, Duff’s face got impossibly redder, lifting his hands to cover his face, “Oh my God.”

“Well,” Slash drawled, reaching out to take both of Duff’s hands in his own and pulling them away, “Since you’re gonna have to fix your makeup anyway…”

The kiss was short this time. It would have been longer, but neither could stop smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(more or less the looks I had in mind)

[thefudge]

scattered thoughts on sanditon so far 

this is a fun romp from andrew davies and there’s a lot to like and be invested in

but i do have some observations/ gripes

obviously davies is going for a modern/sexed up adaptation of austen and i have mixed thoughts on that, cuz there’s a lot of interesting stuff you can do with that, but you can also botch it up big time (i’m glad he didn’t do this to p&p back in 1995...i wonder what that adaptation would’ve looked like today. probably full monty darcy, lol). so i think some elements verge on the ridiculous, for instance having almost every dude in this show strip naked in front of a crowded beach several times in a row. ditto for theo james. i don’t mind the view (hehe) but i think it’s inserted awkwardly at times. like okay, we get it, it’s a beach resort and we’re trying to make austen edgy in 2019.... just maybe indulge a little less and literally keep it in your pants. 

this being a more modern adaptation i don’t mind hair and make-up anachronisms, but i DO mind the fact that rose williams sports this really weird shade of fuchsia lipstick in almost every single scene. stop iiiit

speaking of which, rose williams is a cutie and i loved her on reign, but i don’t understand what she’s doing with her face in this series. don’t get me wrong, she does a good job of making charlotte very likable, but the only way she can express...anything, really, is by making these confused faces, like a child practicing frowning in the mirror. it’s...really awkward. and she does this all the time, whether she’s happy or sulky or nervous, she just always looks like she’s trying to figure out the fibonacci sequence.  i mean it’s hilarious when u have theo james going all gruff to her about his feelings and rose williams is that gif of the blond lady doing math in her head. her acting is pretty good otherwise, but those faceeeees.

esther denham is my goddamn FAVE, gosh i love a Disappointed Queen and i’m glad she’s getting away from that boring skeevy brother. for once the incestuous siblings didn’t do it for me at all (which is pretty much the point lol). there’s nary a dude more uninteresting than edward whatshisface, my gaaaawd (also, davies trying to ramp up the sexiness with those scenes of edward brushing her hair or doing her stays...lol, sir, this rly isn’t your strength i’m sorry)

but i have to say that i thought esther and clara would be a thing. because my gosh, the chemistry during their scenes! the way they’d glide past each other with utmost contempt, while being disquieted by each other @___@. i mean it’s an austen adaptation, so i guess they’d never go there but!!! i need fic (would’ve made clara more bearable at least. i appreciate her character objectively cuz she’s an interesting pseudo-antagonist and you don’t get many of those, but blerghh. she was insufferable)

i was kinda (actually very) disappointed that the relationship between sidney and his ward, georgiana, wasn’t really developed. like there’s one more episode to go (as far as i know?) and they’ve barely scratched the surface with them. i mean he’s halfway decent to her now.... but ehh. i feel like this was a missed opportunity. after all, this was austen’s unfinished novel, so andrew davies & co could have added more material between these two. this, to me, should have been the real heart of the series. 

i like otis as a character, but georgiana/otis was zzzzzz. i suppose that they’ll end up together? zzzzzzzzzz (i frankly ship her way more with arthur! she finds him infuriating! he’s a sweetheart! the shenanigans!)

that German doctor is the real MVP, i feel like he should be sanditon’s no. 1 bachelor. i mean the shower rod??? providing pleasure to all the ladies in town, what a hero 

the soundtrack is rly rad! and the cinematography

i love how the show captures austen’s growing interest in the industrialized modern world which was emerging in the twilight years of the regency and i feel like maybe the show should’ve invested more time in that modern aesthetic (steampunk!) rather the awkward sexual shenanigans 

so....i can’t delay the inevitable anymore, can i? sigghh okay here i go

sidney/charlotte...annoys me. 

HEAR ME OUT.

 u know that i love LOVE “enemies to lovers” and hate/love stories, i LIVE FOR THIS SHIT. 

and i was ready to gorge on this dynamic because it looked delish 

 but i felt like michael bluth finding the dead pigeon in the paper bag. 

from what i can gather, sidney is supposed to be a mixture of darcy and capt wentworth, “haughty” and proud, with a history of romantic disappointment, a brooding sexy hero with a heart of gold. but to me this dude just comes off as weird. 

there’s legit no reason for him to be THIS mean to this young girl he just met. he is not just an asshole, he is ridiculously over the top about it, to the point where he makes a fool of himself. i am FINE with a man telling a woman off, believe me, but it has to have some kind of motivation, some kind of reasoning behind it. here, it just feels like the plot needs him to be utterly shitty to charlotte so that “sparks will fly”. that first ep convo on the balcony??? wtf???? it was genuinely bizarre. i got weird incel vibes. and every time he lashes out at charlotte (at least in the first 4 episodes) it’s fucking silly, because it’s not like he lashes out because she’s scratching the surface of his innermost painful memories. no!!! many of their arguments revolve around basic things that he could easily clarify!!! which he does eventually, so like whyyyyyyyyyy. charlotte keeps telling him he’s being vague for no good reason and he still does it. it doesn’t make sense he’d be this guarded and outspoken at the same time. like, fine, keep that shit to yourself, don’t tell ppl, but don’t also get pissed at them when they don’t guess your mind. again, i love an antagonist dynamic when it’s done right, but here many times it’s just pointless bullying, it’s not sexy or fun or challenging. the writers keep making charlotte apologize to him about how “wrong” she got him and how he makes her doubt her judgement but it sounds fake to me. like a) this dude went out of his way to be a total assface to you from day one, b) none of that bullying was him trying to coax you into having a more complicated view of the world. when darcy rebukes elizabeth, he is hinting at her limited point of view. he’s not blatantly negging her or calling her stupid as this dude does. AND U KNO WHAT.

i’d be absolutely fine with him calling her stupid IF IT MADE SENSE WITHIN THE STORY 

like if charlotte had truly done smth stupid during the first episode, sure, fine, it’s somewhat warranted 

but for him to decide she’s an idiot for no other reason than her making some honestly super nice remarks about his brothers when he asked for her opinion is THE HEIGHT OF NONSENSE 

it’s even more nonsense when 2 episodes later he decides maybe she’s not that dumb after all FUCK U MR. EDGELORD

and it makes me pity charlotte cuz she’ll probably marry this dude and have to deal with him in his old age when he’ll be even more insufferable. 

and i totally get the appeal. i do! i mean their scenes are manufactured to make you want more of them, i see the chemistry, it’s there (and we’re already at a point in the series where he’s trying to make amends) but at the same time i’m put off by this dude’s intensity, cuz it’s not the hot kind of intensity...it’s more like he’s a giant dumb baby who breaks things. meh. theo james is very pretty tho, and he is doing the most with his character (that voice def helps!). but i wish this antagonistic relationship had been written better, because it could’ve been glorious

this is why i think sidney/georgiana should’ve been so much more present. just like darcy has his georgiana we need the humanizing element, we need to see more variety from this dude than just “guy who clearly needs anger management classes”. 

i’m pretty sure i’m in the minority or possibly one of two ppl not won over by this romance, and i can’t lie and say i don’t root for them. too much of this show is predicated on their clashes for them not to work it out and get together, but boyyyy do i wish they’d done it a bit better

i almost feel like a reylo anti lol, but at least kylo ren doesn’t neg rey every single time they talk 

also, i go back to rose williams’ faces because they just rly enhance how clumsy this dynamic is. theo james is doing byronic asshole 2.0 and charlotte looks at him like he’s developed a smell lmao. i mean the scene where she catches him naked? she turns around and FROWNS in this rly bizarre way, almost like she noticed a growth on his dick lmao it’s that bad 

anyway i totally get the appeal, but i also know what i want from this kind of dynamic and...this ain’t quite it 

honestly i think i prefer charlotte/cute architect guy whose name i don’t remember right now! 

that being said, my fave moments of this show are the most austen-esque, where ppl don’t take themselves so seriously. i mean the adventures of the perennially-ailing parker siblings (arthur & diana)? deeeelightful. the pineapple scene? glorious

also it makes me sad that sanditon was left unfinished because to see austen tackling georgiana’s character in depth would have been so, so interesting 

in conclusion, the show’s a lot of fun but also frustrating in many ways

i hope davies doesn’t set his eyes on re-adapting p&p or other austen classics because ermmm i know i’m trash but i am kind of tired of these sexed-up “look how scandalous we are behind closed doors” adaptations. you can make the regency era feel modern and relatable without “shocking hand job in the estate park” pls and thank u. sure, the regency era was the inheritor of the sexually relaxed 18th-century, but it wasn’t that relaxed yall. ppl still kept their wits and bonnets about them.

still, i’m glad this show exists and that it tries to take risks, i just wish it took different kinds of risks, if that makes sense. like i am SO bummed i didn’t get into sidney/charlotte, u have no idea 

[brownskinsugarplum76]

Eye of the Storm, Ch. 1

So, I'm going to take the plunge into something multichapter. I'm not sure where it will end up, and I'm not sure how long it will be, but I'll keep going as long as I can (but no regular publishing schedule). It's going to be AU-ish, with Robert single, but with as much as of the legit Zeppelin timeline in place as possible. It's starting in 1976, after his car accident, right before the release of Presence. And it brings back Maggie, of San Diego beach fic fame. 😁

Thank you, as always, to @firethatgrewsolow for your expert advice, guidance, and review. Thank you also to @starchild0985 for your encouragement for me to just do it. And thanks to @callmethehunter for the Maggie character idea to begin with.

No smut in at least the first 2 parts, but we'll get there.

Thank you. Please send positive vibes--I am a bit nervous about my ability to pull off a bigger story. ❤️❤️❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robert was enjoying himself at one of his favorite places besides the stage: the soccer field. He smiled as he watched the LA Aztecs thwart another Dallas Tornado goal attempt at 80 minutes into the match. He had to admit it wasn't as exciting as being at a Wolverhampton game, but it would do. Few people in America got feverishly passionate about soccer like his countrymen and women. This was especially so in LA, the playground of starlets and rock stars, most of whom thrived on nocturnal indulgences rather than daylight spectating.

He swept his hair out of his face for the umpteenth time. The wind meant that Old Man Winter, as gentle as he was in The Golden State, was not ready to retreat. Robert was glad he'd brought his leather jacket with him from Benji's car; his black, long-sleeved tee wasn't enough to ward off the coolness of the air. He had to laugh at the thought that the weather could be considered chilly, having survived much worse winters across the pond.

It was a few weeks shy of spring, a few weeks before he'd be thrust back into the spotlight with the release of the seventh album. He was proud that the band was still standing. During their forced hiatus there had been an influx of raw, hungry, minimalist groups openly mocking bands that reveled in grandiose musical ideas on grandiose stages, and Zeppelin was not immune to these kinds of attacks. But being in the studio a few months prior in front of a microphone felt like home, even if he was still on the mend.

Just like his pride in the band's resilience, he was thankful to be on his feet unaided, a couple months removed from the confines of a wheelchair or leg brace. He was also extremely thankful that his fall in the studio, during a moment of excitement, didn't cause another injury and another setback. He wouldn't have wanted to let the band or himself down in that way.

He shifted his attention back to the game. He refused to sit while soaking in the sun and the sport, the camaraderie with his friends, and the feeling of being alive and well. He also was enjoying being off duty, as Robert Anthony, rather than the Golden God. He would enjoy that feeling while it lasted; it never lasted long.

He had been scanning the crowd periodically as, in addition to the game, he was looking to score a lineup for a passionate match in his bedroom. It seemed a bust, because the few women present were tightly clinging to their significant others. But then he saw a familiar face, and he couldn't help but smile.

Maggie.

He hadn't seen her in about a year, though she lived a road trip away. And now he realized that had been a mistake. With too much on his mind after his accident, instead of reconnecting, he felt it safer to conjure up the memory of her body on their first night together. He remembered fondly how she lay underneath him in San Diego, slightly dusted with sand, as the world spun in a haze of tequila and the ocean waves rolled incessantly a few yards behind them. He also frequently thought of seeing her the following year at Kezar. Bonzo joked that she was the second bird who felt the clutch of his hand that day. It was an apt description, because Robert couldn't keep his hands off of her. After that reunion, he stole as much time as he could to visit her in San Diego or spirit her away to LA, whenever the band was camped in its American home base. Their relationship was free-flowing and undefined, but fueled with enough passion for it to bloom whenever they got together. He hoped they could pick right back up.

He watched her approach the stands, alone, and he took that as a positive sign. “Maggie, love!” he exclaimed. He raised a hand and waved; his cuff bracelet was almost in danger of flying off in his excitement. The gesture bordered on absurdity, as if she wouldn't be able identify a tall, otherworldly attractive man, one with whom she'd had many happy memories, who also just happened to be a household name. He grimaced at his overeagerness. But if his convalescence in Malibu told him anything, it was that cabin fever was possible in paradise. He wasn't quite ready to engage in tour life, but he was ready to be the prowling, pouncing lion again, not the broken man who was the receiver of TLC, even though the women were very lovely and very willing. He craved a fun fling, or more, with the right woman. The sight of Maggie gave him hope that he would get his wish.

She looked his way. Her mouth went wide, but her face soon settled on delight.

“Robert!” she squealed when she reached him. “What are the odds? How are you?” She threw her arms around his neck.

His spirited bear hug lifted her petite body from the ground before he initiated a kiss, one that successfully conveyed how much he missed her.

“Much better,” he said, putting her down and smiling some more.

“That's right, your accident! You're lucky to be alive!”

“I'm also lucky to be walking without a limp or anything… Some of the specialists had their doubts, but I never gave up.”

“That sounds like you. You look great,” she said, appreciating every inch of him from his hair, which was bigger than usual due to the vicious wind, to the red Converse sneakers on his feet.

“So do you.” He realized nothing had changed: her dark, wavy hair still grew past her shoulders, her smile still warmed his heart, and her curves, swathed in jeans and a thin sweater under an open peacoat, still called to his primal core.

He brushed her wind-blown hair out of her eyes. It was a futile gesture, because there was no shortage of wind. But when his hand came to rest on her cheek, it did accomplish what Robert ultimately wanted: a tender connection.

Maggie closed her eyes to savor the feel of his large hand. Robert beamed at the thought of how much she seemed to have missed it.

She greeted Benji, whom she had met at Kezar Stadium, and introduced herself to the rest of Robert's friends.

“Can I get you something? A hot dog? A beer?” Robert asked Maggie.

“I'm OK, thanks.” She turned to watch the play on the field.

“No worries. If you have time, maybe we can stop somewhere after the game?”

“I'd like that.”

Robert picked up his beer and took a sip. “So, what brings you up here, love?”

“I actually live in LA now. The band, we were signed, and we released our first album last month. We've been doing a bunch of LA gigs and are gearing up for a short tour in the summer. And we're going to open for Santana on a couple of dates this fall!”

“How wonderful! The time of year will be perfect for your tour. No risk of an icy car crash death, as when we first hit America…”

“I'm definitely glad for that! And you'll have to tell me that story another time. How frightening! So, I think I've read that you all have a new album coming out soon?” Maggie asked.

“In a few weeks’ time.” Robert sighed.

“Not excited?”

“I'm glad we recorded again, and it was really amazing that the album came together so quickly, but I have been enjoying the slow pace of our time off. I've missed the stage, but the circus that forms up around us, night after night? It's been good to have some distance from that, you know?” He watched LA race down the field and score a goal. He pumped his fist in the air and cheered.

“Lifelong soccer fan? Here by yourself?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I am,” Maggie said. My father got us kids interested in soccer, and we all played in the neighborhood. My one brother was supposed to be here with me today, but he's a bit under the weather.”

“Rough and tumble tomboy past, then?” Robert took another sip of beer.

“I did have more boy friends than girl friends growing up. It led to lots of crazy adventures, but it also gave me the confidence to lead the band and deal with trashy men in the industry...”

“I bet you've come across tons of them already.”

“Tons,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

“Well, if I know you, you've reduced them to damn near tears at the end, yeah? I know you don't take shit from anyone.”

“Thankfully we have a manager now, so I can step out of that role, but yes, I have fought for what we deserve.” She grinned proudly. “My band is my life and my family. I can't keep quiet when things seem to be going wrong for us.”

“That's my girl!” Robert leaned in closer to Maggie. “I also remember that you're a lady who knows what she wants and doesn't stop until she's satisfied,” he whispered in her ear before nipping her earlobe. A hungry smile spread across his face as he contemplated her fiery spirit.

“And that has not changed,” she said, turning and looking into his eyes.

She placed a hand on his chest as he tilted her face and kissed her slowly.

Robert marveled at his eagerness to consider leaving the match early, to spend some alone time with Maggie. This was new behavior, and it spoke volumes about the importance he had placed on her.

With only a handful of regulation minutes left, and LA comfortably ahead, he decided to break with tradition. For her.

“I think we know how this is going to go…” He put on his sunglasses and zipped up his jacket.

“The game, or our time together?” Maggie asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Ah!” Robert ran a hand through his hair. “I meant the game,” he said with a chuckle. “But--”

“--I'm teasing you. I'm sure both of your thoughts are spot-on. In fact, I'm counting on it.”

“One catch, though, Maggie dear: you'd need to drive, as I'm still at the mercy of Mr. Lefevre, here, for getting around. LA traffic is too much work too soon for my delicate bones, I'm afraid.”

“At my mercy… I like the sound of that, even if you left out the detail of me being your chauffeur…”

“You'll forgive an invalid lad and be gentle, won't you, love?” His sweet gaze became more seductive the longer their eyes connected.

She sighed, remembering how Robert could charm his way out of anything, and how willing she had been to let him do it. “Sure, if that's what you really want…”

“For now, anyway,” Robert countered.

With a warm smile, Maggie linked her arm with Robert's. The two of them said goodbye to his friends and headed to Maggie's car.

[aurora-borealis514]

Oasis Springs PD

First thing in the morning Judith stormed down to the police station to try and clear her name. So many thoughts ran through her head. (What if they don’t believe me?)

Walking up the steps she passed a few officers who paid her no mind. She kept her head down and her eyes forward as she proceeded through the front doors. A tall, slim woman greeted her with a smile. Without even exchanging words they knew why she was there. Leading her down into the interrogation room she opened the door and behind it was a small room, with a table that had two metal chairs, a lamp which was facing in one direction (towards the person being interrogated.) The woman waved her into the room and closed the door behind her.

Before sitting Judith walked around the room, she looked through the books running her finger along the bindings as she read what they said. Looking up she noticed her reflection in the mirror. Instantly she started to play with her hair, and pick at her teeth. The officers on the other side tried not to laugh. Making a face Judith proceeded over to the table and sat quietly with her arms folded. 3 officers then entered the room.

“Miss. Ward, thank you for coming down to speak with us.” The officer said with a smile.

The other two officers just stood behind him in silence.

“Yes, well it was no problem at all.” she replied uneasily looking at the two officers behind him.

“Are they really necessary?” she asked rolling her eyes.

“They are just hear as witnesses to your statement Miss. Ward.” The officer reassured.

Feeling a little better about the situation Judith continued. “I saw the news and just had to come down to inform you on what happened when I last spoke to Andrew.” She sighed heavily leaning her chin on her hand.

“Of course! So why don’t you go ahead and tell me everything that happened when you two last spoke.” he smiled pulling out a pen and notepad.

“Well...” 

Judith began to explain everything that had happened when her and her lawyer last spoke, leaving out some very important detail about what happened in the office in the process.

“He seemed fine when we said good bye. He walked his Daughter and I out to our cars, and we drove away.”

She paused. “So in all reality you should be calling in his daughter for questioning.” 

Suddenly the officer with the mustache spoke up. 

“You’re story seems to be pretty legit to me ma’am.” he folded his arms.

Turning to look at him. “Why would I lie? I have nothing to hide.” She responded slighting raising an eyebrow before flashing a smile.

The officer who was sitting then spoke again.

“Miss. Ward...”

“Please call me Judith.” she smiled.

The officer laughed. “Ok Judith, can you tell me how his Daughter was before you left?”

“Well, she seemed kind of upset.” Judith replied.

“Upset how?” he asked.

“I’m not quite sure to be honest with you, I know she looked troubled when I came into the office.” Judith said looking down at the table, her happy go lucky attitude changing into sadness. “As I was finishing up my meeting with Mr. Carney she came in barging in with a strange look on her face.”

“Ok Judith, Now it is important that you explain every detail, this is a serious investigation do you understand?” he responded.

Judith shifted in her chair. 

“That is everything officer.” she smirked. 

“Alright Judith, well with your statement out of the way we can now cancel you out as a suspect.” he smiled as the other two officers turned to exit the room.

Judith leaned back and made a face.

“What? Is there something wrong?” he asked

“Well, yes. For my birthday the Goth family purchased me tickets for a vacation, which my staff and I were planning on leaving this afternoon.” she said holding her head down.

“Well that seems great.” the officer replied looking at her stacking his papers on the table in front of him.

“Well, yes, but with all of this going on I am not sure if I should, I don’t want people to think I had anything to do with this and I was fleeing or something.” she tried forcing out tears which one little tear managed to squeeze out and slide down her cheek.

“Oh don’t worry about that, We will take care of all the press for you while you are gone.” He smiled. 

Judith sat up and clasped her hands together and gently placed her chin on top. “You know..” she started to say completely changing the subject.

“We may have a role open for an officer in the new upcoming film. You would be perfect for the part.” she smiled flirtatiously.

Leaning back in his chair he crossed his arms and laughed. “Judith, I appreciate that very much, but I am no actor.”

“Well it’s just something to keep in the back of your mind.” She smiled as the two both stood up from the table.

“Alright Judith, you are all set. I will put this in your file, and oh enjoy your vacation. Where are you guys headed?” He said shaking her hand as the two turned towards the door.

“Italy.” She smiled as the two walked out and the officer flicks off the lights.

[siriuslycollins-blog]

New Girl (Joker’s Daughter OC x OC)

Vanessa Anderson was new to the city of Gotham after moving from her hometown of New Orleans. She was twenty one years old and starting her graduate studies at Gotham Community College and moving away from home, despite the protest from her parents, but they couldn't deny their only child of experiencing the world for herself. Vanessa wouldn’t be completely alone in Gotham; she had a cousin who needed a roommate, so she would be splitting bills and rent with someone. Her cousin Alicia told her that the first month would be free, this way Vanessa would be able to save the little money she had for school and the upkeep of her car. Once she had been situated in Gotham for over a week, she started looking for a job.

After days of going through the classified ads, she found one that was flexible with her school schedule. It was a strip club called The Smile and Grin, and it was in one of the shadier parts of town, but the pay was good, fifty dollars an hour to sing Friday through Sunday; Vanessa called the number and a man named Jonny Frost answered. “Hello? The Smile and Grin, how can I help you?” Vanessa took a deep breath before answering.

“Hi, my name is Vanessa Anderson and I’m calling about the open spot for a singer needed. Is there a good day for me to come in for an interview?” There was the rustling of papers on the other end before Jonny Frost answered her. “Tonight. Nine p.m. Be prepared to sing and a copy of your resume.” He hung up immediately and she looked at her alarm clock; she had three hours to prepare herself. It was short notice, but she needed a job, and fast, the fall semester started in a month and she needed the money for her books.

Vanessa made an impromptu resume of her accomplishments, copying and pasting pictures of herself from various New Orleans media. She wrote and produced her own music, and was captain of both her high school and college dance teams; Jonny Frost would have to be certifiably insane not to hire her. By the time she was finished, it was six thirty, so she decided to eat something before getting ready. When she got of the shower, she saw that Alicia was home from work, sitting on the couch and eating chips and salsa. “Where you goin’ out so late? You got a date or somethin’?” Alicia asked, scooping some salsa onto a chip.

“Ugh, I wish but no. Job interview at this club called The Smile and Grin.” Alicia looked up from the tv to her cousin in surprise. “Vanessa, no, you can’t go there! That place is bad news, cancel!” Vanessa ignored her as she brushed her hair up into a ponytail and slid on her sandals. “Alicia, I can’t, I really need the money and the pay is so good. It’s just an interview, I may not even get the job.”

Vanessa didn’t give her cousin time to argue as she grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door.

Vanessa got to the club half an hour early and parked on the curb as close to the front doors as possible. There were a few cars in the parking lot, probably employees; in front of the doors was a man in a suit who was built like professional wrestler and he looked her up and down as she approached. “Do you have an appointment?” he asked in a deep voice. “Uh, kind of. My name is Vanessa and I have a job interview with Jonny Frost.” The man whipped out his phone and dialed a number; it was a few seconds before he spoke.

“I have a woman named Vanessa here. Something about a job interview.” He mouthed about wanting to see some identification so she pulled out her driver’s license and handed it to him; he looked over it twice before giving it back. “She’s on her way,” he said before hanging up. “You’re good to go. Welcome to Gotham.” She gave him a small smile before heading in; inside, there were people setting up stripper poles and cages and bartenders cleaning glasses.

She wasn’t quite sure where to go so Vanessa kept walking on until someone called out to her. “You there. Are you Vanessa Anderson?” Vanessa turned around and was met with a man in a suit with a blue tie, he was all business as the two other men stood behind him. Clearly he was the leader. “Yes sir, we spoke a few hours ago on the phone.”

“Come with me. The owner, Mr. J should be here by now.” This confused her, she thought Jonny was the owner. “Wait, I thought you were the owner. Is this not your club?” Jonny glanced at her as he led her down the hallway. “No, it’s not. I work for Mr. J.” 

Finally they came to an unmarked door and Jonny Frost knocked three times. An irritated voice from the other side yelled, “What?!” Frost motioned for her to stay there as he calmed down his boss; “Well, send her in! I don’t have all night!” Vanessa took that as her cue to go in. When she entered the room she was met with two of the whitest people she ever saw, one man and one woman, and they were both covered in tattoos.

The man had green hair and a red mouth; he also had no eyebrows and a tattoo near his right eye and a tattoo that said ‘damaged’ on his forehead. The woman on the other hand had blonde hair that was dipped blue and pink, she had tattoos of red and blue diamonds on her forearms and ones that resembled playing cards. Vanessa realized that this had to be Mr. J. “So you must be Vanessa! I believe you are here for the vacant spot?” 

Mr. J had a gravelly voice that made the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. “Yes sir, I am.” He gestured to the chair across from his desk and she handed him the folder that had her resume in it; Mr. J leaned back in his leather chair as he read over it, raising his hairless eyebrows and clicking his tongue as he flipped through the pages. “Very impressive. What made you apply for this job.?” “You see, I just moved here a week ago from New Orleans and I’m starting my graduate studies at Gotham Community College next month and I’m a bit tight on money at the moment.” 

Mr. J nodded as she told him this, his blue eyes never leaving her face. He flipped back the pages and scanned them for a minute. “You say you write and produce your own music. Do you have anything for me to listen to?” Vanessa unhooked her flash drive from her keyring and he rolled his chair back to give her room to plug it in his computer; within seconds, she was scoring through her music file to find the perfect song. Vanessa picked the most recent song, a song called The Glow  For the next two minutes and fifty seven seconds, she listened to her own voice fill the small room.

When it was over, he stood up and peered down at her. “Don’t you want to hear more? To make sure I’m legit?” He laughed at her, showing off his silver grills and causing the woman to laugh with him. “Isn’t she funny Harls? No need dear Vanessa. You start tomorrow, ten o’clock sharp. And wear something pretty.” She was dismissed and Frost led her to the front; when they got to the front doors, he gave her the run-down.

“You do whatever Mr. J tells you, and that goes for his wife Harley. Always show up an hour early, he hates tardiness, and he always wants his singers in something flashy, always well put together. No drinking on the clock, and if any of the patrons bother you, tell a guard.Got that?” She nodded to show she understood. “Good, then I’ll see you tomorrow, nine sharp.” On the way home, Vanessa couldn’t help but think how lucky she was.

She got into her graduate program, now has a job with a very good pay, and lived in a nice apartment with her cousin. Mr. J seemed like a good person. A little off kilter but nice enough; sure The Smile and Grin was in the hood but she used to work in the Ninth Ward, and nothing bad had happened to her. Alicia was probably just being paranoid. And even if her boss was into some shady shit, that was none of her business.

Vanessa would just collect her bag and mind her business, but unfortunately, she would be more tied into her boss’ life than she could ever imagine.

first part is here! let me know your thoughts!

tags: @branded-with-a-j @suckerforsmilex @actualityhurts

[dramaqueeenamby]

The Call (T’Challa x Reader)

THIS FIC CONTAINS A SHIT TON OF INFINITY WAR SPOILERS! 

PLEASE DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU’VE SEEN THE MOVIE!!!!

This is angsty, like really angsty, as is Infinity War (I’ve legit been crying on and off all day). 

The title is adapted from the song “The Call” by Regina Spektor.

Words: 4415

“I just do not see why they have to come here.”

Y/N looked up and smiled softly. “Yes, you do.”

Shuri sighed. “Well, yes, but that does not mean I like or agree with it!” A beat. “Colonizers always find themselves in trouble and require us to clean up their mess.”

The queen sighed as her two-year-old daughter sat between her legs, playing with her white locs, making nonsensical sounds. “This is not your average dilemma, my sister.” Shuri remained quiet so she continued. “This Thanos….if he is truly as powerful as they say, and I see no reason for Captain Rogers to lie, then I truly do not see how we can not get involved.”

“Yes, he wants to wipe out half the planet, but do we know exactly which side because Wakanda has outstanding defenses-“

“Shuri!”

“Kidding.” T’Challa’s sister raised her hands in a defensive manner. “Somewhat…”

“My queen,” The two women looked up to see one of the Doras standing at the door. “They have arrived.”

Y/N shook her head and kissed her daughters forehead. “You stay with auntie Shuri, okay?”

The toddler looked up and pouted. “Stay.” Nanali made a sound of protest as she buried herself in her mother’s chest.

Shuri crawled over to try and get her niece’s attention. “Nana…if you come with me, we can sneak into the kitchen and have cookies.”

The mention of sweets was all it took for the perceptive child to detach herself from her mother and latch onto her auntie. Shuri smiled in triumph.

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Do not spoil her dinner for her, sister.” Shuri ignored her as she preceded to distract the child with talks of what wonderful dessert awaited them in the palace kitchen.

The queen shook her head as she allowed the guards to escort her to The Avengers.

When she arrived, she saw the man whose name escaped her but she knew doubled as the hulk…bowing to her husband.

“What are you doing?” She flashed him a strange expression.

“Please tell me she’s the tour guide.” She heard the African-American with some sort of technological wings attached to his back mutter to no one in particular.

She cracked a smile. “Not exactly.”

“Falcon.” He too smiled. “And you are?” Unfortunately, he decided to try and approach her, only for the Doras to quickly point their Vibranium staffs in his direction.

“The queen of Wakanda,” T’Challa spoke with an edge to his voice as he motioned for her to join him at his side; she obliged. “And my wife.” She bit the inside of her cheek as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his side.

“Well, this is awkward.” The “Falcon” murmured as he scratched the back of his neck. “My apologies, your highness.”

“It is quite alright.” She assured as her eyes fell to the “Hulk” as he was still crouching down in the strangest of bows. “We don’t do that here.”

The other African-American man laughed slightly as Hulk finally stood up, his face red with embarrassment.

“Steve.” Y/N smiled at the captain and pulled away from T’Challa to hug him.

“It’s good to see you again, Y/N.”

“Wait. You two know each other?” Falcon spoke up as they pulled apart and she returned to her rightful spot beside her husband.

“Of course, he was at our wedding.” She informed with an amused smile.

Falcon’s eyes widened in shock. “You went to Wakanda and didn't bring me along?”

“You were not invited,” T’Challa stated calmly.

“So, Thanos, kind of on his way to wipe out half the planet?” The older African American man interjected. “Priorities people.”

She rolled her eyes as they started to head into the palace, White Wolf joining them as T’Challa discussed the course of action.

The group was with Shuri, the brilliant scientist, who was explaining that she could fix Vision, but she needed time.

“As long as you can give me.”

They were now discussing the possibility of the white woman, Wanda as they called her, destroying the stone as soon as it was separated from Vision when Y/N felt it.

She stepped away from T’Challa, her head snapping to the side as she tried to tune into her senses.

“What is it?” He questioned in their native language Xhosa.

She closed her eyes and focused on the elements, the earth, that which she controlled as a goddess of weather. When they opened, she gave her husband a solemn expression.

“They are here.”

Almost immediately, the Falcon informed them from his guarding outside that there was a large impact heading their way.

Of course, the one heading for the palace was destroyed upon impact because of the Vibranium protection around the perimeter.

The group moved to the window to see other large alien ships crashing into the distance, smoke, and fire emanating from the impact.

T’Challa started sending out orders.

“Evacuate the city, engage all defenses, and get this man a shield.” He pointed at Captain Rogers when the doors came open with a loud swish and two of the Doras, as well as three of the palace guards, came in right behind a certain princess.

Y/N stepped forward to see her and T’Challa’s daughter with her eyes whited over and a mischievous expression on her innocent face. “Nanali.” She swooped down to pick up her daughter and lightly scolded her. “No.”

“My apologies, your highness.” One of the Doras spoke with uncertainty. “She kept-“

“There is no cause for explanation. I already know.” Y/N interrupted before dismissing them and turning back to the group of strangers with wide eyes and confused looks. “Our daughter. Princess Nanali.”

“Our rambunctious daughter,” T’Challa commented with a lightness to his voice, any and all resolve he had disappearing when she reached her short arms out to him.

“Baba!”

T’Challa easily took her away from his wife, chuckling as his daughter started to pull on his beard.

“You have your orders.” Y/N spoke up, taking on a leadership role. “We head out in 30 minutes.”

“We?” Black Widow chimed. “Are you joining us?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Y/N looked at her husband, her eyes pleading with him to explain why he apparently thought she would not join them, join him on the battlefield.

“Excuse us.” He spoke and motioned for her to follow him outside the room which she did and almost immediately started to question him.

“I am not staying here while you all are out there risking your lives to save the world.” She made clear as they walked down the hall, Nanali now laying her head against T’Challa’s chest, trying to fall asleep.

That came as no surprise. In his arms was where she was at the most peace.

“I need you here to protect those contained within the field.” He stressed and looked down at the sleeping child in his arms. “Especially her.”

“There is no safer place as of this moment than the confines of that perimeter, T’Challa. “She and everyone else will be safe. You know that.”

“For the first time since the beginning of Wakanda, an enemy broke through our borders.” He kept his voice low as to avoid any of the guards they passed to zone in on their conversation. “What I know and what I would like to believe are two very different things, sthandwa sam.” He sighed and lightly kissed the top of a sleeping Nanali’s head.

“All the more reason for me to join you, to help ward off this enemy.” She continued to try to drive in her point as they reached their daughter’s room. “We are stronger together, my love. Not apart.”

She watched him carefully place Nanali in her bed, the toddler sound asleep with an ounce of worry plaguing her slumber.

“You are missing the point, Y/N.” He said quietly, his hands firmly the rails of the crib. “In the event that…that we are nor successful, Wakanda needs someone to guide them.” He finally turned around to face her. “They need their queen.”

She stared up at him in horror. “What are you saying?”

“I am saying that we need to be realistic. This is an enemy unlike any we have ever faced-“

She knew exactly what he was saying, and it broke her heart. He wasn’t saying that he expected to die in battle, but that he was prepared if it did happen.

But she wasn’t.

“Stop.” She cut him off and moved so that she was directly in front of him, her hands going to hold his face. “ We will win. Wakanda hails the greatest warriors the world has never and will never see the likes of. You, my love,” her voice started to crack, a sign that she was readying to cry. “As both warrior and king are a formidable force and no threat from here or anywhere else in the universe can strip that from you.” He brought his hands to her waist and pulled her against him. “You will lead them all into a victorious battle and I will be right by your side because it is as you said…..” Her eyes fell over to their child. T’Challa did the same. “We don’t just fight for one life. We fight for all. We fight so that our daughter will have a future, will have a tomorrow.” A beat. “So that we have each other.”

He said nothing and only wrapped his arms around her, her cheek pressed against his firm chest.

“If things start to look as though they are not in our favor-“

“T’Challa-“

“Y/N.” He raised his voice and held her chin in his hand. “I want you to leave.”

“I won’t abandon them.” She whispered as a tear fell down her cheek. “I won’t abandon you.”

Sadness filled her husband’s eyes as he solemnly delivered his next statement.

“You might not have a choice….”

*  * * *  * *

The ships were even larger in person, monolithic and slightly intimidating.

Y/N fisted her hand as she saw two of Thanos followers walk toward the Vibranium shield that separated them from those that sought destruction.

Still, T’Challa being his diplomatic self, thought that they should give the Black Order one last chance to retreat.

She, him, Captain Rogers, and Black Widow approached the aliens.

“Where’s your other friend?” Natasha smirked as Y/N recalled the assassin mentioning that they’d potentially mortally wounded one of Thanos henchmen.

“You will pay for his life with yours.” The female spoke icily. “Thanos will have that stone.”

“That’s not gonna happen.” Captain Rogers breathed darkly.

“You are in Wakanda now.” T’Challa finally spoke, his voice both regal and predatory. “Thanos will have nothing but dust and blood.”

“We...have blood to spare.”

Y/N grew incensed at Proxima’s implication that they were no match for her army.

“This is your last warning.” Y/N growled, her eyes whiting over as she raised her hand to reveal the electricity crackling. “Leave. Now.”

In response, Proxima Midnight lifted the weapon in her hand as the ships began to open, revealing her alien army.

The four made their way back to the rest of their army, but she and T’Challa stayed ahead of everyone, never taking their eyes off the enemy.

“It is not too late for you to leave….” He murmured, his voice holding onto unwarranted hope that she would in fact leave for the safety of the palace.

She looked up at him and then down to grab his hand before turning her gaze back to the other side of the dome.

“Yibambe!” She shouted the war chant, their army repeating the term. “Yibambe!”

Again, she met her husband’s eyes that were filled with admiration and love before they turned hard again.

He squeezed her hand and took over. “Yibambe!”

That went on for a few more minutes before they reunited with the rest of the group.

In horror, they watched Thanos army come charging against the Vibranium perimeter.

“They’re killing themselves,” Okoye whispered.

There were some that effectively made it through. Y/N stepped forward to issue an attack but T’Challa stopped her and barked out an order.

The border tribe and White Wolf started shooting as Falcon and War Machine flew in with their guns firing at will.

Y/N noticed that they were starting to go to the sides, heading for the back of them, where they were most exposed.

“They are trying to attack us from behind and if they get through to us, then they can also get through to Vision.” She reminded him, as he caught her eyes, both of them immediately thinking of their daughter.

“How do we stop that?” Okoye asked, forcing T’Challa to look at her.

He paused and clenched his jaw before directing Shuri to open a portion of the perimeter on his mark.

He called for the front to ready for impact and stepped forward, Y/N right beside him. They shared one last look where she nodded to signal that they were ready.

“Be careful, my love.” She whispered and then added on. “Promise me.”

He glanced at her and gave a brief nod. “You have my word, sthandwa sam.”

She said nothing else and returned her focus to the issue at hand.

There was a slight pause and then, “Wakanda Forever!”

Instantaneously, the two sides went charging at each other, T’Challa and Captain running ahead of everyone. Just at the last minute, the Black Panther ordered for the barrier to open, leaving nothing between the killers and the Avengers.

Y/N flew through the opening and high into the sky, her hands raised as she summoned thunder, dark clouds rolling in as chains of lightning struck down the aliens.

She looked down to see where her husband and the Captain were before creating a storm of tornadoes that swept through the army.

She had just taken out another squadron when a piece of the ship came flying through the air, striking her down to the ground.

“Y/N!”

T’Challa yelled through their connected intercoms.

“I am fine.” She groaned, standing up and continuing her assault of lightning just from the battlefield instead of the sky. “Just pissed.”

She walked through and engaged in hand to hand combat with the monsters, taking down a good chunk when someone came and kicked her halfway across the field.

She immediately got up and saw Proxima charging for her. “Really pissed.”

Proxima shouted and attempted to pounce on the queen only for her to deflect the attack with lightning. Of course, that only incensed Proxima who started heading for her again, this time with more speed and fury.

She was too fast for Y/N to strike so they instead started to spar as Proxima attempted to stab her using the large staff in her hand.

Y/N was proficient in fighting so the two kept trying to one-up each other only for each to fall short. Somehow, Proxima managed to kick Y/N in her knee area which caused her to stumble as she used her strength to throw the queen a food distance away.

She then directed the staff in her direction, sending out some type of energy beam. Y/N quickly stood to her feet and deflected the attack with her own powers, the two horizontal streams of energy battling for dominance.

“Give it up, mutant!” Proxima hissed, exerting as much energy as she could into her blast.

Y/N ignored the fact that she was starting to feel drained, a sign that she was overexerting her powers and also increased the intensity of her blast. “Get out, bitch!” With a loud shout, she forced herself to summon another bolt of electricity from the sky which forced Proxima to lose her focus and flying off across into battle.

Y/N dropped to her knees and squinted her eyes. Never had she felt so….drained.

“Where are you?” T’Challa suddenly demanded in her earpiece, causing her to release a quiet profanity.

It was as though he could sense when something was wrong with her.

“I’m-“ She was cut off my something sharp and dull colliding with her head. She reached to feel where she’d been struck and saw red.

Blood.

Looking up, she saw Proxima standing over her.

“He’ll die alone.” The female seethed, and Y/N immediately wondered if T’Challa had asked about her whereabouts because he was in his own perilous situation. “As will you.”

“She’s not alone.” She craned her neck to see Widow and Okoye on either side of her, both immediately going for the woman.

The three of them were at it, blow for blow, hit for hit, while Y/N tried to give herself a moment to recover so that she could join in on the fight.

All of a sudden, Okoye and Natalie had the lead and the next, they were both on the ground, Proxima standing over Okoye, ready to impale her with her staff.

“No!” Y/N shouted, adrenaline pumping through her body as she used her powers to cipher a gust of wind, pulling the spear out of Proxima’s hand and into her own. The alien woman turned around to pounce on her, but Y/N lit the spear up with electricity and flew to meet Proxima, effectively running the stick through her.

Y/N watched her mouth drop open, a growl stuck in the back of her throat as the queen twisted the spear and yanked it out, watching Proxima fell to the ground.

“Fools.” She breathed in between gasps as her eyes fell off on the palace in the far distance. “It’s…time.”

Y/N frowned at the woman’s dying words. “Wh-“ Her heart sank.

Nanali

Gone was any fatigue as she shot up into the sky and started flying toward the palace. She didn’t even stop when she reached the vicinity, swishing through the halls until she reached her daughter’s room.

“Nanali!” She released a breath of relief when she saw her daughter was on the floor, playing with her toys, a group of Doras seated around the room.

“My queen,” Aneka spoke with confusion. “What is-look out!”

Y/N instinctively spun around and extended her hands, sending out a blast of electricity to her would be attacker.

She sent a burst of wind to shut her daughter’s bedroom door (before instructing the guards not to leave Nanali) and looked down the hall to see a pale looking creature, of the same height as Proxima.

She realized that he must have another one of Thano’s followers.

“Stay away from my daughter.” She hissed, charging toward him as she started to engage the alien in combat. She was drained but the idea of that thing laying a finger on her child incensed her.

He was good though, almost too good, and she realized quickly that she needed a new plan.

She went to try to grab his spear from him when she saw the brief look of fear come across his face.

Ding.

Y/N extended her hand and channeled her focus to bring a strong burst of wind into the hall and pulled the staff into her hand and redirected it into the hands of some of the guards and Doras who were finally making their way to aid the queen.

“Destroy it!” She shouted in Xhosa as one of the guards took his vibranium staff and smashed the spear into pieces.

“No!” She heard the monster yell in anger before sharp pain shot through her abdomen. Y/N looked down to see the same staff that destroyed his spear was jugged into her stomach.

Pained gasps left her mouth as breathing became difficult and she screamed loudly when he yanked it out and her body fell to the floor.

The guards and Doras split into two, half chasing after the monster who started to run down the hall and the other half coming to her aid.

“Hold on, your highness!”

She heard the voices around her and felt herself being lifted into the air by someone.

Her daughter was safe. Nanali would be okay, but her daughter was not the only one that she was worried about.

“T’Challa….”

*  * * *  * *

She awoke to a cold sweat and with a loud gasp. Her head snapped around as she realized she was in Shuri’s lab, laid out on top of one of the healing beds.

“Praise be to Bast.”

It was Okoye, but there was something…off about her.

Y/N went to sit up but did so too fast and fell back on the bed.

“Not so fast, I healed your entrance would, but you seriously overexerted your powers so there is no telling when you will fully recover.” Shuri came over and informed only for Y/N to look over at her sister to see her face was wet.

Wet with tears.

“Nanali…” Y/N trailed off.

“Is safe,” Okoye confirmed with a slow nod. “Sleeping, at the moment.”

“Did we win?” Y/N questioned, slowly sitting up as to not throw her balance off. “How long have I been out?”

“Only for an hour,” Shuri answered quietly. “And…no…”

The queen’s stomach clenched. “We lost?” A beat. “Thanos got to vision?” She shook her head and managed to swing her legs over the table. “Where is T’Challa? We must start devising another plan, and…how many did we lose?”

Shuri sniffled loudly and Y/N snapped her head to look at the teenager. “Sister? What is wrong?”

Shuri, however, could not answer as she dropped her head to her chest and started to cry.

Y/N forced herself to stand up as she pulled her little sister into a warm embrace, the scientist crying even harder now that she was in her arms.

“Okoye…who did we lose?” Y/N looked over at the general who was fighting back her own tears. “Okoye.” She said more firmly.

“Thanos…..he has all of the infinity stones.” Okoye managed to get out through her voice indicated that she was set to start sobbing just as bad as Shuri was. “He….we could not stop him.” A beat. “And I tried….to save him-“

“Thanos?” Y/N interrupted with a confused expression as Shuri pulled away from her and mumbled that she wanted to be alone before running off. The queen wanted to go after her, but she needed answers first. “You tried to save Thanos?”

“No. Not him. Never.”

“Then I do not understand, who did you….” She trailed off as she realized the person who would most definitely be there as soon as he found out she’d been hurt was missing. “Where is T’Challa, Okoye?”

The general’s lip quivered as she raised her chin and attempted to speak but nothing came out. “I-“

“Where is my husband?” Y/N repeated a little more loudly as she started to approach the leader of the Dora Milaje.

“Answer me!”

“He’s…he’s gone, my queen.” Her voice broke at the end as a lone tear fell down her face.

Y/N froze in her spot, her mind stuck on the word ‘gone’ before she started to laugh lightly.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Okoye.” She shook her head. “T’Challa…he….he’s fine. Take me to him.”

“I am so sorry. I should have done something, but it happened so fast. He disappeared before my very eyes.” The general confessed with anguish.

“Disappeared?” Y/N jolted backward. “So he is missing then? Well, then we simply have to find him.” She went to walk past Okoye who grabbed her arm and also started to shake her head.

“You do not understand.” She took a shaky breath. “Thanos got what he needed to complete his mission.” Terror filled the general’s eyes. “White Wolf almost everyone who went out there to fight as well as half of Wakanda…they are all gone….including the king.”

Y/N pulled her arm back with a quickness.

“No….”

“I have failed you, your highness.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Y/N felt herself growing angry. “I am growing tired of these games. Go get T’Challa, now.”

“I can’t.” Okoye cleared her throat but the tears continued to fall down her face.

“Then I shall get him myself.” Y/N hissed and went to open up the door so that she could walk down the door. “T’Challa!” She had to hold onto the wall as she was still somewhat out of it. “T’Challa!”

“My queen….“ Okoye was behind her, watching with a broken spirit as the recent widow searched for someone she would not find.

“Love!” She called for him but with each echo that she received, the more she started to believe that Okoye was telling the truth. “T’Challa!” That last shout for him seemed to break something in her, the queen falling to her knees as she started to hyperventilate. “Please come back.” She pleaded as she placed her palms on the ground and shut her eyes. “Oh, Bast.”

Okoye, feeling a sudden wave of sympathy come over her, crouched down and placed her arms around Y/N.

“How could you just leave me!” She shouted as Okoye tried to comfort her. “You bastard! You promised me that you’d be careful!” Y/N was full on bawling at that point, moaning loudly as her pain became too much. “He promised me, Okoye. He promised…”

At that moment, Shuri walked back in the room, a restless Nanali struggling to get out of her grasp as soon as she saw her mother. Shuri obliged and let the child down, watching as she made her way over to her mother.

Out of respect, Okoye retracted to give the mother and daughter a moment.

Nanali reached out and tried to pull Y/N’s hands from her face before squeezing into her so that she was pressed against her chest, sitting on her legs.

“Why you cry, mommy?” The toddler asked with all of the innocence in the world.

Y/N was unable to form a coherent response, simply holding her daughter, the precious child that she and the love of her life created, into her while pushing her face into the top of Nanali’s head.

“Where’s Baba?”

A kaleidoscope of thunder boomed outside at the same time the toddler asked the question.

“Baba make mommy happy!” Nanali pushed her mother away and crawled off her. “I get him, mommy!” Her short legs carried her away from Y/N and Okoye who’d been watching the whole thing with a broken heart. “Baba!”

And at that moment, hearing her daughter call for her father, Y/N’s husband, the love of both their lives, Y/N truly wished that Shuri hadn’t saved her.

For how was she to tell her two-year-old daughter that her father….was gone?

[sterek]

lols legit i just love me my fluff and mutual pining and just all types of that wonderfulness, even with light angst tbh and i love me my HS Aus or college Aus or Human Aus or anything inbetween lmfao XD Ur brilliant and hope this isn't too much of a bother =D

Sorry it took so long, I got distracted! Here are some recs :) [Sorry if I don’t have a lot of light or human fics, most of my bookmarks are heavy werewolf angst oops. I went through half my bookmarks and this is already too long lol enjy!]

I’ve Been Everywhere With You by Leslie_Knope [61k, E]

“Dude, you should totally come with me.”

“What? Like on the road trip?“

“No, come with me. To Austin. Get out of Beacon Hills.”

Derek paused. “What?” he asked again.

He’s Not Mine by Sunnee [68k, E]

Derek comes home to find an abandoned werebaby on his front porch and Stiles volunteers to help him out. Surprisingly, that is just the beginning of his problems.

302, I Love You by paintedrecs [4k, T]

It was a beautiful summer morning—mid-70s with a light breeze, ideal weather for soaking up the sun without fear of overheating. If anyone asked, that was why Stiles was sitting on his balcony with a book he hadn’t touched in the last half hour and a mug of coffee he’d been absently sipping from, his gaze fixed on the parking lot several stories below.

Coincidentally, one of his neighbors—Hot Dude From 302, not that it was relevant—had chosen the same morning to wash his stupidly flashy Camaro.

Shyft by paintedrecs [6k, T]

Derek finally gave the driver more than a passing glance.

He was roughly Derek’s age and surprisingly handsome, despite the ugly plaid shirt he’d rolled up past his elbows. He had broad shoulders, honey-dark hair, a line of moles trailing enticingly along his cheek, and thick eyelashes framing dark eyes that glittered with humor. And he was laughing at Derek.

***

At the end of a long work day, all Derek wanted was to get home as quickly as possible. When his scheduled ride showed up—distractingly good-looking, driving a beat-up Jeep, and full of interesting conversation—Derek felt like his evening might turn out a whole lot better than he’d expected. Until his trust issues flared back to life, telling him "Stiles” wasn’t everything that he’d seemed.

Lovebitten by LunaCanisLupus_22 [10k, M]

The one where Derek gets bitten by a lovebug and Stiles is the first person he lays eyes on. Hilarity ensues.

Bricks by paintedrecs [8k, T]

“Mornin’, love,“ Derek says, and Stiles freezes in his arms. They haven’t exchanged official I love you’s yet, and Derek seems determined to derail Stiles’s plans to say it first. With fireworks. Or bubble baths. Something epic.

The point is, Derek barely even seems to realize he’s doing it, and it’s driving Stiles crazy.

Or: My first time writing a 5 + 1 fic.

remember my love by bleep0bleep [23k, T]

Stiles wakes up and suddenly the war is over, he’s no longer a penniless mage, and living in an exquisite manor married to the man he’s been in love with for far too long.

“It’ll be fine,” Stiles says gallantly. “I am certain I will just fall in love with my husband all over again, and I will find plenty of joy doing that.” He winks at Derek for good measure.Derek blinks.

ritten in the Stars by Quixoticity [26k, M]

Derek Hale is a lucky guy. He’s got a great family, good friends, and a fulfilling job as a tattoo artist.

He’s also one of the twenty-five per cent of the population born with a soul mark.

He likes his life, but he’s waiting for his soul-match. The odds of meeting them aren’t great but hey, Derek’s a lucky guy. He has faith.

He can’t believe how good his luck really is when one day his soul-match wanders right into his studio, all long limbs and copper eyes. There’s just one problem: Stiles is there to get his soul mark covered up. Permanently.

No Homo by RemainNameless [84k, E]

Stiles’ sophomore year starts something like this:3 FourLokos+ 1 peer-pressuring cat- 1 best bro to end all best bros= 1 Craigslist ad headline that reads "str8 dude - m4m - strictly platonic”.Derek is the fool who replies.

Cross our bridges when we come to them by RemainNameless [103k, M]

The five times Derek called the Sheriff “Dad” on accident and the first time he did it on purpose.

Our Hearts Are Tigers by skoosiepants [7k, T]

This is what Stiles figures out after a week of harboring Isaac: he’s kind of a dick, for a ten-year-old.

Turn a Little Faster by skoosiepants [3k, T]

He shifts back and forth on his feet and tries to psych himself up. He can do this. He’s a badass werewolf, he can totally tell Stiles that they accidentally got werewolf married because—because Stiles was thinking about him, and happened to give him a token of his, uh, affection under the silvery light of the last full moon. Platonic affection, Derek thinks sourly, so he doesn’t get why his wolf feels all warm and fuzzy and bonded all of a sudden.

Honestly, it’s like—why aren’t people accidentally getting werewolf married all the time, if it happens this easily?

Filter Out the Starlight by skoosiepants [12k, T]

“Why are you not more curious about me?” Stiles says when Derek’s got the door half open, sun spilling over the dark wood, dust motes spinning about his legs. Stiles is wearing fabric that hasn’t been invented yet, he’s clutching a smart phone to his chest, and he appeared out of nowhere, like an angel.

Softly, Derek says, “We all have our secrets,” and closes the door.

Or-

A heartbroken Stiles accidentally travels back in time to find his one true love. A harlequin-ish Christmas romance.

Under Yellow Moons by skoosiepants [17k, T]

They stare at each other, half-grinning, and Derek knows it’s definitely the absolute wrong time for this, but he wants. He wants to grin at Stiles over dinner every day for the rest of his life, baffled over yams and Moon Pie Day, and, god, crap, goddamn, when the fuck did he have time to fall in love?

Or

The life and times of Deputy Stiles and Supernatural Foster Dad Derek Hale

Lord knows it would be the first time by uraneia [12k, E]

Stiles is home from Berkeley for the summer, but only because he promised the pack. He’d rather not see Derek, because whatever the thing was that they were doing, they’re not doing it anymore, and it sucks.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a choice. The betas tried a magical remedy for Derek’s melancholy, and now Stiles has a three-year-old who looks like Derek. Stiles doesn’t know how to deal with that, and he definitely doesn’t know how to tell the betas he and Derek were secret fuck buddies for a year and a half.

You Smell Like Mine by bleep0bleep [13k, E]

People talk about the alpha instinct, an alpha’s head being swayed by a nice-smelling omega, or the desire to drop everything and show off. Derek’s never felt any of that. He’s just not that kind of alpha.

Then he meets Stiles.

The Prince and His Painter by Dexterous_Sinistrous [8k, G]

Stiles was always a sick child. He was never supposed to live beyond his infancy—shocking many when he reaches adulthood. With his inevitable death looming over his country, Stiles chooses to accept a successor through marriage. His advisors commission a painter to capture the prince’s likeness in order to advertise him to potential candidates. Only, Derek Hale isn’t like most painters—or humans, for that matter.

Certain Kind of Fool by saraubs [36k, M]

Derek, who has been dragged against his will to the same resort his family visits every summer, is determined to spend the next two and a half months sequestered in his room. His only friend, his sister Laura, is preoccupied with her newly-bonded mate, and doesn’t seem to care about anything but making him happy.

When Derek meets Stiles Stilinski, a sharp-tongued waiter, he thinks that this summer might not be a complete waste of time. There are only two problems: First, Stiles is human. Second, he doesn’t believe in mates.

Painful Maneuvers by saraubs [11k, T]

Still, whether or not the nurses want to hear it, Derek has some serious issues with the way Stiles skates around the ward, upending instruments and scattering papers and chewing on pens. His scrubs never fit right and are always riding up to show patches of smooth, pale skin and his hair is frankly pornographic. It’s just so…unprofessional.

Stiles is a hyperactive Obstetrician. Derek is a grumpy Midwife. It’s true love (and babies!).

little spoon by bibliosexual [6k, T]

To save money while attending college in NYC, Stiles and Derek decide to rent one tiny apartment together. With one bed.

you know you’re on my mind by bibliosexual [16k, T]

If there’s one thing Derek’s learned in life, it’s that crushing on someone who lives on an entire other fucking continent is probably a bad idea.

Put Down in Words by paintedrecs [203k, M]

“Oh,” Stiles said, his voice coming out low and breathy, “fuck me.”

“I don’t think that’s on the syllabus, but we can check to see if there’s a spot open in any of his classes,” Scott said, grinning.

“This isn’t an actual professor, though,” Stiles insisted, unable to resist brushing his thumb over the sharp line of the man’s bearded jaw. He was laughing at something off-camera, the shot taken in three-quarters view, his coat collar casually rumpled and opened to reveal a sliver of a simple grey t-shirt. The whole thing was deliberately calculated to lend him a more accessible feel, and god help him, Stiles was falling for it.

*

When Stiles signed up for Dr. Hale’s intro to history class, he had two goals: knock out the credits his advisor was bugging him to complete before he graduated, and spend a few hours a week daydreaming about his sexy professor’s salt and pepper beard.

Derek, a few months away from turning forty and not sure when his life had started feeling so damn lonely, had never encountered someone like Stiles before. Bright-eyed, sharp-tongued, determined to throw Derek’s carefully cultivated world into disarray…and absolutely the last person Derek should be falling in love with.

Somewhere Else, Someone Else by megxmas [19k, T]

They’re sitting in the car, and Stiles’ dad is poring over the scans, gesturing violently at the air. ‘I just don’t understand!’ he says. ‘There’s never been anything out of the ordinary on any of your tests, and yet you always have seizures! How come nothing ever comes up?’

Stiles shrugs, has heard his dad complain about this a dozen times before. Stiles is pretty sure that he and Derek are some kind of magical soulmates and this is the way the world has decided to connect them, but somehow, he doesn’t think that’ll fly as an explanation.

Cupboard Love by mklutz [32k, G]

He’s carefully balancing the sandwiches and the two biggest tupperware containers he could find that both had functioning lids when the front door opens and he almost drops everything right there in front of the stupid fountain.

If that’s Derek Hale, he’s definitely not a mountain man.

The Epic Love Story of Wolf and Twister by KeriArentikai [11k, E]

Stiles has a tiny adorable hyper puppy. Derek has an awesome huge Malamute mix. They both go to the dog park a lot.

So, obviously, Sterek ensues.

One life stand by Vendelin [84k, E]

Stiles is used to selling himself to make ends meet. But it’s getting harder to keep those ends meeting, and there’s only so much of Stiles to go around. Until a too-fancy car shows up in his neighborhood, and he meets Derek Hale.

All Derek wants is Stiles’s time, someone to stay on his arm for events and smile for the cameras. It’s the easiest job Stiles has ever had, the best-paying one he’s ever had, and he’s more than happy to sign up.

Derek is everything and nothing Stiles expects him to be, with his tailored suits, sharp mind and his quiet way of caring. But it’s just a job and Stiles never meant to fall in love.

only fools rush in by decideophobia [13k, T]

Is it an imaginary date?

No. I met him in a coffee shop.

When?

This morning. It was love on first sight.

Millstone by eleanor_lavish [31k, E]

Derek waits until the door is shut behind him before he turns around. He holds out his hand, plants his ‘if you’re not weird about it, I won’t be’ smile on his face and says, “Nice to meet you, Stiles. I’m Michael. What kind of a good time are you looking for tonight?”

In Other Words, Baby, Kiss Me by primroseshows [61k, E]

Stiles has simple goals in life. To successfully complete his secret radar project without getting fired, to get a cottage on the Moon, and to untangle his mess of feelings for Moon Station 3 deputy, Derek Hale. Heck, he’ll even settle for two of the three.

i have always been the storm by stilinskisparkles [25k, E]

“You’re all headed out to Oklahoma in a week.”

Derek snaps his head up, stares at him in horror, “No, boss.”

“Yes,” Finstock insists in a steely voice. “The NSSL have been on at us for a year about some decent exposure, and I think you’re just the team to do it.”

“I haven’t done weather since college,” Derek protests.

Boyd snorts again, presumably because he’s thinking back to the time when Derek and the weather last collided and he…. well, did the guy into the weather for a brief, wonderful, terribly foolish time. But, Boyd needs to shut up before Derek punches him on the nose.

Abominable by Revenant [20k, T]

Where Derek buys a secluded cabin halfway up a mountain, meets a yeti and falls in love with Stiles, but not necessarily in that order.

The Cintron Hall Situation by dragon_temeraire [3k, T]

Stiles is freezing and miserable in his dorm, so he decides to knock on his hot neighbor Derek’s door for help.

nothing ever promised tomorrow today by preromantics [11k, T]

Grocery shopping, waking up, lasagna, and parallel universes. / When Stiles jumps the last two stairs and turns into the kitchen he’s got his mouth halfway open around “Morning, Mom,” before his dad folds down his paper at the kitchen table to look at him.

In a Straight Line Down by standinginanicedress [40k, T]

“So you want to go to Prom with me just so you can get a plastic crown and a fifty dollar gift card to Outback Steakhouse.”

Stiles sets his jaw. He wants to go to prom with Derek because he wants to go to prom with Derek. But, of course, he’s stubborn and prideful and can’t admit to Derek how it’s barely been twelve hours since they officially broke up and he’s already barely handling it as it is, so he just raises his chin in the air and says, “yes.”

Our Puddle is Deceptively Deep by calrissian18 [10k, E]

They start out in a literal tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

In This World or the Next by Lissadiane [20k, T]

Derek wakes up to the smell of frying bacon and brewing coffee on an ordinary morning in his ordinary life, but he can’t help but shake the feeling that he’s forgotten something important. It probably has to do with the three wishes he’d been granted by the fae after saving the life of their fairy prince, and possibly also the sheriff’s missing son.

In which Derek Hale learns that sometimes being given what we want more than anything else has disastrous consequences.

The Socioeconomic Repercussions of Mutually Assured Destruction by alocalband [15k, E]

"The trouble with having the kind of brain that likes to write essays on male circumcision for an Economics class, is that it also likes to turn PowerPoint presentations for Biology into odes on the perfection of notorious bad boy Derek Hale’s backside.”

Five Times Derek and Stiles Kissed For Practice (And One Time They Didn’t) by mikkimouse [5k, T]

In which Derek and Stiles grow up together and practice kissing, roughly in that order.

Little Promises by crossroadswrite [2k, G]

Derek doesn’t really know what happened. He just knows there was a lady and she was pretty but she was also really mean and she was trying to hurt his friends.

“Holy fuck,” Erica mutters and is harshly shushed by Isaac.

“Don’t swear in front of the kid.”

“It’s not a kid,” Erica counters. “It’s just-“

“Derek?”

King of the Road by Stoney [30k, E]

Derek sees the guy–all long lines, furtive glances, hungry–leaning against the diner out in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, Derek’s hungry, too.

tide pulls from the moon by paintedrecs [45k, M]

hen Derek left Beacon Hills, finally ripping the tether free and remembering how to breathe, how to live again, it was Stiles who came after him. Stiles, who showed up at his door with blazing eyes, looking like he wanted to punch him in the face, but wrapping his arms around him instead, making him grunt in surprise at the raw strength of his embrace.

“You asshole,” Stiles said, slapping him heartily on the back as he extricated himself, his voice rough under his bright smile. “You couldn’t have made yourself harder to find, could you?”

The Summer of Snow Cones and Not-Dates by clarkoholic, skywardsmiles [38k, M]

Summer is really boring. Like, mind-numbingly boring. Except for the part where Stiles can’t figure out if Derek’s his boyfriend, or why every werewolf in town keeps approaching him in the bathroom.

Teenage Dream by matildajones [58k, M]

“I’m married. I’m married to Derek Hale,” Stiles says. Everything seems to hit him at once. He pushes aside the fact there’s a celebrity sitting right next to him, and then thinks of why the fuck he can’t remember him, why he doesn’t know who he’s married to, and how much time he must have lost.–After an accident, Stiles wakes up to what can only be a dream. He has money, he has fame, he has award winning actor Derek Hale as his husband. It quickly seems more and more like a nightmare because Stiles doesn’t remember getting any of it - and it’s hard to accept the reality that Derek can still love him.

You look like my next mistake by Vendelin [15k, T]

“So, are you dating someone new? Someone who doesn’t mind that you’re frigid?” Kate cocks her head to the side, smiling as though she just asked him about where he bought his shoes.

His entire body sighs in defeat as his shoulders grow square. Just as he opens his mouth, someone comes up to stand beside him, snaking an arm around his shoulders. When he glances to his side, expecting to see Isaac, his brain seems to malfunction. Because it isn’t Isaac. It’s Stiles Stilinski, the lacrosse talent of the year, a senior who Derek has seen multiple times from far away, but never ever talked to.

In which Derek is a nerd jock, and Stiles is a frat guy, and Derek falls for him even though he knows he shouldn’t.

A Problematic Loyalty by alocalband [4k, T]

The problem isn’t that Stiles is stubborn. The problem is that people keep hitting on him.

Not Quite Lost (Not Quite Found) by alocalband [25k, E]

A year after the nogitsune is defeated, Derek is living a quiet life in the mountains above a small town in Colorado.

Then Stiles shows up.

‘Till You Make It by standinginanicedress [46k, M]

“I’m saying – let’s fake it.”

Derek blinks at him. Hard. Stiles never knew that someone could physically make a blink look hard, but there Derek goes, slamming his lids together like he’s fucking exercising them. “Fake it.”

“Pretend, dumbass,” he backhands Derek lightly on his upper arm. “Pretend like we’re doing as well as our parents want us to and then they’ll be off our backs, right?”

“We don’t have to pretend anything, Stiles,” Derek says evenly, in a tone that suggests he’d much rather be yelling. “We’re literally soulmates.”

“That’s the beauty of it! It’s going to be so fucking easy. I can’t believe we never thought of this before,” he runs his hands through his hair and shakes his head in amazement, grinning from ear to ear. “Holy shit. I can’t believe I just solved all our problems for us, man.”

Kindred Spirits by Stoney [104k, E]

Stiles is the adopted son of the Sheriff, brought to Beacon Hills to hopefully stay for good. A family, a best friend, school, Jackson as Josie Pye (because who else could he be?) and the mystery of a dark haired, green-eyed boy which leads Stiles to discovering a secret within himself.

we’re catching bullets in our teeth (it’s hard to do but they’re so sweet) by prettyasadiagram [12k, M]

Stiles says he’s a Web Developer. Derek says he an Internal Auditor.

They’re both liars, but you can’t exactly tell your significant other that you kill people for a living, now can you?

Insane Chemistry (with Derek Hale) by theroguesgambit [13k, M]

Derek is the popular, varsity jock, prom king of the school, and Stiles is not going to be the cliche that ends up falling for him. (It’s not a cliche if no one else knows about it, right?)

Strut on a Line, its Discord and Rhyme by xiaq [61k, T]

“Carry me,” Stiles says.

“No.”

“But I’m injured.”

“You have a rash,” Derek says. “On your arm. Your feet work just fine.”

“Please?”

“No. You weigh almost as much as I do. And you ate a pound of chicken at lunch.”

"Well, yeah, but I pooped like an hour ago, so.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Don’t play, you love me.”

I do, Derek thinks, relatively horrified. I really do.

But Then What… by Stoney [24k, E]

Senior year is almost over, and all Stiles needs to do is keep his head down to survive. A teacher calls in a favor, leaving him stuck tutoring Derek Hale, one of the most popular jocks in school and a member of a group of douchecanoes who have bullied Stiles for years. He’s someone Stiles totally hates. Totally. Like, doesn’t like him even a little bit. DEFINITELY isn’t attracted to him.

Except that is a total lie. Fuck his life, seriously.

The Great Pretender by talktowater [45k, E]

Stiles is the new kid at Beacon Hills High, class of 1958 and he’s trying to make an impression. Derek can’t figure out why this kid is so set on making such a bad one.

Here’s to the Static by matildajones [80k, T]

Stiles spends most of his college break in a coffee house where he stares after Derek Hale. For some reason, Stiles is unaware of the fact he’s quite the musician, and Derek amuses himself at Stiles’ obliviousness.

Cross a Canyon (with a broken limb) by theroguesgambit [18k, T

“You never graduated,” Stiles says, just to say it. To test it out in the open air. That’s… huh.

–

Stiles spends his senior year battling troll-gremlins, taking on an unexpected tutoring job, and definitely not falling for a certain sourwolf (even though everyone else seems to think he is).

The Rest Is Unwritten by mikkimouse [6k, T]

Once upon a time, the werewolf king and queen invited five fairies to the christening of their only son. The fairies bestowed the boy with gifts—beauty, grace, wit, and the most adorable teeth in all the land.

But before the fifth fairy could give her gift, a wicked fairy from the other Court arrived and cast a terrible curse on the baby prince. He would have a life full of tragedies, she declared, and die young, of a broken heart.

The king and queen were beside themselves with grief. It was very old, powerful magic, so there was little they could do to break it. However, the fifth fairy had yet to give her gift. The curse could not be broken, she told them, but it could be altered.

She bestowed upon the prince the gift of perseverance, so that he would never lose his will to live, even in the face of countless tragedies. And when he found the one who would stand by his side and face those tragedies with him without fail, that is when the curse would be broken. Because the fairy knew there was nothing in all the world more powerful than true love. Not even a wicked fairy’s curse.

Laying Groundwork by LunaCanisLupus_22 [10k, E]

His expression isn’t much to go by but the entire clubs howling gets louder at his appearance and Stiles literally pops a boner watching the guy’s big hands wrestle with the microphone stand.

Or the one where Scott and Stiles go clubbing and there’s this broody Bouncer out to get Stiles-

Or get into his pants. Thank God it’s the latter.

By a Law Divine by mirrorkill [23k, M]

Okay, so, kissing Stiles. That’s a weird thing that Derek’s doing now. He has no idea where it’s even coming from, especially considering bickering and fighting is their usual state of existence.And then he does find out where it’s coming from: A curse that’s making everyone in town kiss someone they have mutual feelings for. …yeah, Derek’s not even sure why he’s surprised by that.

Friends of Early Theory by Nanoochka [23k, E]

In which Derek is a gruff, struggling executive for his family’s sprawling, wealthy company in New York, and Stiles is his quirky, offbeat intern who brings him cold coffee each morning and wears stupid T-shirts to work and generally succeeds at being a thousand times more charming than Derek could ever hope to be. To the outside observer, their relationship is combative but fond, although in private Stiles and Derek have a great deal more secrets, anger, and painful history between them than Derek is prepared to acknowledge or reveal. In retrospect, that might be half of the problem.

The Way to My Heart (French Insults) by KuriKuri [10k, T]

Letting out a long sigh, Derek turns away and braces himself for the next hellish filming segment. After all, apparently he’s going to have to smile while greeting twenty-five contestants. Shit, what if they try to hug him? Or, god forbid, kiss –

He doesn’t get any further with that thought, because a limo pulls into the driveway. He braces himself for the worst. The worst, who… actually doesn’t look that horrifying.

“I’ve been dying to meet you!” she exclaims as she catches sight of him.

Then, she flings herself at him and ensnares him in a bone-crushing hug.

Scratch that – she’s completely horrifying. And Derek’s pretty sure he can hear errand boy what’s-his-face laughing in the distance.

(Or: In which Derek gets roped into being the 'eligible bachelor’ on a dating show and instead falls for one of the show’s interns.)

How I Met My Werebunny by Moku [19k, T]

“This is going to end in tears,” Scott told Derek while he watched the man easily lifting Stiles’ desk up with one hand and driving nails into the ceiling with the thumb of the other. “Probably mine.”

Or:

When a Stiles and a Failwolf love each other very much, they’ll engage in a prank war. Basically, it’s a mating ritual for dorks in love.

Wild Tonic by officerstilinskihale [11k, M]

Stiles nodded and smiled again, his teeth flashing brightly and he signed something again, before looking frustrated with himself.

“You’re welcome,” Derek told him, feeling a wave of relief when Stiles’ face brightened. That would’ve been awkward if Stiles hadn’t been trying to say thank you.

“I had a really good time, so yeah. I’m glad you came with me,” he said, feeling his face grow hot. Derek wasn’t usually like this. He wasn’t confident. Sure, he had the looks and he could flirt shamelessly when he got hit on, but he always got shy around the people he genuinely liked, not that there was too many of those.

But Stiles didn’t let him dwell on that. He gripped Derek’s arm, grinned cheekily and pointed at himself before lifting two fingers. It took a while for Derek to get it but when he did, he couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across his face.

Me too.

Practice Makes Perfect by blacktofade [21k, E]

In his sophomore year, Stiles gets dragged to lacrosse tryouts by Scott and ends up practising alongside the senior captain, Derek Hale. Stiles just wants to live long enough to become a junior.

Feline Persuasion by rensahannou (asmalltigercat) [15k, T]

Derek doesn’t need to worry about the cat living under the porch at his family’s old house, it’s just—Derek’s just used to worrying about things.

Hot Single Dad Derek Hale by WhoNatural [13k, E]

Wherein Derek is a Hot Single Dad, possibly with a little case of martyrdom, and Stiles is the newest client at his publishing house who really just wants to make him happy. Preferably while they’re both naked.

He doesn’t get to talk to Stiles a whole lot - and it’s fine, it’s professional and polite, but there is a little something that lights up in him when he thinks about him, sees him. Derek’s life has been mostly about preschool and Big Hero 6 and extra-curricular activities for so long now that it’s a shock to the system when he finds himself pre-occupied with something so… adult.And there are many, many adult things on his mind where Stiles is concerned.

I Call You Names Because I Love You by Rawren (Zimothy) [13k, M]

Years of touring with Stiles would never have prepared Derek for the day his beloved techie fell in love with someone else.

Maybe Someday (I’ll Be Home For Next Year) by ofherlionheart [16k, T]

AKA, the Grandma Stilinski fic. Derek Hale meets a Mabel Stilinski while living in New York. He learns that she has a grandson. There are miscommunications, scarves, stealth-matchmaking plans, and cookies. Many, many cookies.

my wings a hurricane by kellifer_fic [20k, T]

Stiles had been like any other kid growing up in the era of dragons. He’d watched the cartoons, the news stories, had the lunch box. When his screening at Beacon Hills High had come up negative, he’d been disappointed but unsurprised. His positive results were returned three years too late for it to be in any way convenient or cool.Or, the one where they ride dragons.

Thrill (like white-hot wire) by raisesomehale [4k, M]

Stiles made the decision that Derek was his new best friend (and that he’ll one day marry him) the day he shared his dinosaur chicken nuggets with him.

The Newlywed Game by Captain_Loki [19k, M]

Stiles is (still) single when the pack’s getaway to the Caribbean comes by (oh misplaced optimism); lucky for him Derek is committed to being uncommitted and even after all these years is still powerless against Stiles’ unique forms of persuasion.

Cue a romantic getaway for two: sun, sand, and sarcasm abound…and the two roped into competing in the Resort’s version of the Newlywed game. Only it’s completely obvious it’s going to end in disaster. Probably homicide.

Most probably homicide.

Plot twist: It doesn’t.

[Sleep]Walking After You by relenafanel [59k, M]

Derek is a sleepwalker who keeps wandering into his downstairs neighbour’s bedroom.

Stiles is pretty sure the hot guy from the park is going to kill him in his sleep. He knows he shouldn’t have been so obvious about objectifying the guy’s really fine ass.

Too bad it turns out Derek is easier to get along with when he’s sleeping.

[wonderfulworldofwinchester]

It Takes A Moose

Sam x Reader 

Request by @pjofangirl18: Hi, I love your stories, and I was wondering if I could request a Sam fic where the reader is kinda tall (like 5’9”) and she’s super insecure about it so he makes her feel better and all of the fluff 😱😍 thanks!    

Word Count: 2016

Warnings:Language. Feelings of insecurity/self worth issues in regards to height. 

A/N: Thanks for being so patient. I know that this has sat on my to do list for a while. This one was easy to write, because being a tall girl, I have all my life dealt with insecurity. I have always been built like my dad - tall, broad shoulders, and no hips. I hope you like it :) 

*Unedited- please excuse any spelling/grammar/autocorrect fails. *

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You stare down at the shredded jeans in your hands. Yep, it’s that time again. Time to go try to find some jeans that fit at least reasonably well. It’s never an easy feat, especially with live on the road. Even when you do find a brand you can count on, you can’t count on ever store having them. In fact more often than not, it ends up being a brand that like four stores carry, and they’re only available in select branches of that company.

This store is nothing different than the many you’ve walced through over the year. Full of all kinds of crap you don’t need, and too many perky sale associated trying to get you to buy said crap. The wall lined with demon is finally in view, and you begin looking for your correct size. “Ah ha.” You say pulling out a pair of faded blue jeans. Perfect. You survey the tags looking for any indication of the length. Short. “Dammit.” You put the pair back and immediately go searching for another pair your size with a long inseam. Short. Short. Regular. Short. Regular. Yep. No longs. “oh for fucks sake!”

You settle on a pair of regulars, hoping that they would do the trick and not look like high waters on you. After all, you needed a pair of pants and fast. Dean’s  dead set on hitting the road in just a couple hours. There’s not really a whole lot of time to go traipsing around looking for a needle in a hay stack.  

The girl at the counter is a short, petite little thing, with a chipper attitude. The kind of sunshiney personality that was a little too much, and you almost wanna punch ‘em, yea that’s her. She picks up the jeans from the counter to scan them before really looking at you. The moment her eyes traveled up to meet yours the words fell out of her mouth, “Wow. You’re like super tall.”

All you can muster is flat tone, and a curt smile, “Thanks, I hadn’t noticed.”

Just as you suspected, the jeans were a little short. Not anything too bad, but enough where it would probably drive you insane. With a huff of frustration, you bend down and roll them up a little to make them look like sufffed capris instead of looking like a twelve year old boy who was outgrowing his clothes.

The boys finish packing everything up, and you all it the road to a new town, and a new case. The drive is pretty uneventful, sam gives updates the case, dean blares his music. You sit in the back, headphones in, and escape the world for a while.

This case is one that’s a little more uppity than others. It’s going to require a little finisse to pull it off. See the curse object that’s been killing people, yea it’s now locked in a vault waiting to be auctioned off to anyone with the money to buy it. The man who possessed said object, is hosting a high class gala, auctioning off several other high dollar items, all locked away in individual vaults, in separate rooms, which he only knows the locations of until they are present at the time of auction. Paranoid bastard.

All of this of course means we have to go under over, which mean dressing up, and being high class, neither of which All of this of course means we have to go under over, which mean dressing up, and being high class, neither of which could be considered strong suits in your life. Awesome.

“Woah, woah, woah. How come I have to be the distraction?” You say crossing your arms.

Dean chuckles, “Nothing personal sweetheart, I’d do it, I just don’t the Mathers swings that way.

You roll your eyes. Dammit, you know he’s right. You’re the only one who can pull this off.

You put the finishing touches on your make up and step out of the bathroom to see if the boys are ready yet. They both look sharp. Holy shit look at Sam. Good god, if he looked good in flannel, he looked damn fine in that tux.

Dean snaps you out of your daze, “Here, picked you up something to wear.”

The dress he’s holding is sexy as hell, but ther’s no way you could wear it. It was a black cocktail dress with a sweetheart neck line, and lace detailing. “Dean, I can’t wear that.”

“What? Why?”

You sigh, placing a hand on your hip. “It’s way too short.”

“It’s supposed to be short.”

“No, it would be just a short dress on someone shorter than me. With my height, that will be like a shirt.”

Sam steps in, “Y/N. At least try it on. You never know.”

You snatch the dress from Dean’s hand, grumbling as you make your way to the bathroom.  Once the door is shut, and you remove your robe, you let out a big sigh, and get ready to pull the dress on. Oh the fabric is lovely. Please fit. Please fit, you plead with the dress. One final tug on the zipper, and it’s on. You pull on the hem of the dress, adjusting it so that it lays the way it was made to, and look up at the mirror. “Holy Shit!”

You fling the door open and ste out into the room. Both boys can barely keep their jaws off the floor. “I take it, the dress fits.” Dean says sarcastically.

Sam swallows, “You look amazing, Y/N.”

You can’t help but to find yourself blushing at his statement. “Thanks.”

He offers you a smile as Dean bends down and grabs something else out of the bag. “And this will complete the outfit.” He says holding up a pair of sleek black stiletto heels.

“Okay, I am not wearing those.” You interject.

“Y/N, come on, this has to look legit.” Dean pleads, “Every woman in that place is going to be in heels. You’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”

Rolling your eyes, and calling him a few choice names, you reluctantly put on the damn stilts they call shoes. Yea and being a foot taller than every other woman in there won’t make me stick out.

As you stand up, it becomes painfully clear, just how tall you are now. You were now eye level with Dean, and were only a couple inches shorter than Sam. Luckily the latter was going to be your date tonight, so at least you’d still technically be shorter than your date.

The moment your foot hit the smooth marble floor of the extravagent, ornately decorated mansion, your mind is flooded with the insecurity you often feel when it comes to your height. Dean was right, all the women had on sky high stilettos, but you were also right, you stand taller than all of them that you pass by.

Sam seems to pick up on the change in your demeanor, but chooses not to make it a thing, to which you a are grateful. All you want is to grab this thing and get the hell out of Dodge. The problem, in order to do that, you had to go and try to flirt with Mathers long enough for Sam to figure out what room the cursed object was in, and recover it.

Everything in you screamed at the thought of trying to outdo these other women, and the closer you got to him, Mathers only ampliphied those screams. He was a gracious host, and even talked with you for a moment, but his interactions were nothing like those he was having with the other women around you. Yep, seems about right, once again your height has warded off a man.

Out of nowhere Sam rushes by, grabbing you by the arm, and makes a beeline for the door. “Time to go.”

Trying to regain your balance and keep up with Sam in these heels is proving to be quite the challenge. “What about the thing?”

“I got it, but uh, let’s just say the guards upstairs didn’t take so kindly to me collecting it.”

Dean’s right on time, pulling up, just as you stepped down off the last step outside. Your doors are barely closed when Dean peels out of the drive, tires squealing. Sam carefully places the object down into the curse box and locks it. Job done.

Dean left to go to a bar, and when Sam emerges from the bathroom to find you laying back on the foot of the bed, feet dangling off the end, and your arm slung over your face. You ca’t see him, but you can tell he wants to say something, but is holding it back. He paces the room, gathering stuff up, and just trying to be busy.

“What Sam?”

“Nothing.” He continues his collecting, but stops shortly after, letting out a sigh. “I just…. Why do you put yourself down about your height?” You slowly sit up, still not willing to look him in the eye. “Don’t think I don’t pick up on all the little digs you make about it, and the way your demeanor changed like that” He snaps his finger, “as we walked in tonight.”

“It…. I don’t know. It’s just been that way my whole life. Everything had been a challenge when it came to my height. FInding clothes is hard, having to deal with perky little sales associates that like to make comments like, ‘wow you’re tall.’ And you can forget about finding a man. I mean, they all seem to think there’s something wrong with a woman my height.”

He sighs, moves to the space in front of you, and squats down. “I wish I could tell you that dealing with the same old comments about height gets better, or that finding clothes will be easier, but I just can’t do that. What I can say is that not every man feels that way.”

“You can’t say that Sam. I saw it on all the faces there tonight. I just-”

The feeling of his warm hands coming to rest gently on your thighs, stopped you dead in your tracks and caused you to finally look him in the eye. “Y/N. I can say that, because I’m living proof of that. Do you really not see how I look at you?”

“Huh?”

He lets out a breathy laugh, “I mean, do you not pick up on all my little attempts at compliments, how every now and then you catch me looking at you for no reason, or how I always manage to need something right by you, so I have to brush against you to get it?”

“I guess I just never thought it could mean anything, so I didn’t really think anything of it.” Your eyebrows furrow as you process what he has just told you. “Wait. So you like me?”

“Yes.” He chuckles at your confusion. “Y/N, I really do like you. All those other guys don’t know what they’re missing.” He says as his hands slide down your calves, and begin undoing the buckles on your shoes. Once each shoe is gone, his fingers gently smooth the tension built up from the pressure the shoes put on your feet. A  grin plays at the corner of his lips. “Besides..” he bends forward and presses a kiss to your right shin. “Your height only means I have more of you to love.” He continues kissing up both your legs, “God I love these long legs.”

He stands up, pulling you to your feet. “Oh and I don’t have to hurt my neck when I do this.” And he bends slightly, connecting his lips to yours in a sweet and loving kiss.

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The Sammy Boy:  @ahdysj22

[bpdsafespace]

okay just gotta rant right quick

so once upon a time 7 years ago (i was 16, i’m 23 now) my first boyfriend broke up with me because he needed space and what-not you know the usual line they give you when they want somebody, just not you and he was sleeping with this girl like two weeks later (mind you, we were dating for 6 months and i didn’t sleep with him because he was my first boyfriend and i was like terrified and stuff, wouldn’t even give him a blowjob which is probably why he liked her better but :) don’t even wanna get into that) and this girl wasn’t really friends with me but she was the kinda girl who said i love you to everyone so she was always like I LOVE YOU to me and i’m like haha okay this girl is wild. meanwhile i found out she was sleeping with my ex-boyfriend and i was like wow fuck you but whatever, i was more mad at him. months passed and i ended up being best friends with this girl… how you ask? well, her and my ex broke up and i was like LET’S BEFRIEND THE GIRL HAHA SCREW YOU JOE (my ex) and anyways yeah we were bffs and everything was great and i loved her a lot, she ended up being cool and we’d rag on my ex all the time and it was a great friendship.

fast forward about six months later and i started dating this new guy and this girl’s starting to sleep around and i’m like ah none of my biddnezz w/e girlfriend you do you but she ends up hooking up with this guy who has no interest in being in relationships (i ran into him recently and his number is SEVENTY EIGHT NOW. SEVENTY EIGHT) and i specifically remember an instance where she had a party at her house and everyone was drinking and she made everyone leave DRUNK because she decided she wanted to drive to see him instead of host her party people were counting on her to host. so i’m starting to see the warning signs again that this girl is wild like she’s just an unreliable person and i’m not mad at her for the joe thing but like i know that’s the kinda person she is. so soon after this girl tells me that my boyfriend was flirting with her, now of course i’m like ahhh there’s my girl, always thinks every guy is obsessed with her. maybe i was being a bad friend but i mean, everyone knew she was like that and it’s not like my boyfriend tried to hook up with her… so alright. anyways. my boyfriend HATED her for telling me anything, called her a liar and shit, and i was like okay buddy calm down it’s not a big deal you’re just a flirty person, i’m not mad and i still like her. then some crazy shit started happening like she started cutting herself because of that boy who slept with everyone and she sent a mass text to all of us that she was killing herself and shut her phone off. obviously (or not obviously at the time for me because i never knew it was a thing) the girl has bpd. and even though it was totally attention-seeking behavior, i was like this girl needs attention. so i drove to her house and she was literally just sitting in her room. like no blood, no screaming, no anything. so i’m like. alright. idk what to do. she wouldn’t even speak to me or appreciate the fact that i showed up. my boyfriend ended up swaying me that she wasn’t worth me being friends with and now, five years later dealing with bpd hardcore i’m realizing that that was wrong of me to leave her like that. i realize that. but i also realize that sometimes you have to do what’s best for yourself and she wasn’t good for me. i couldn’t trust her and who wants to have a friend they can’t trust? everything was always about her and she always chose boys over me. and i still thought she told me my boyfriend was flirting with her just to make me upset. add in the fact that she sent her sex buddy some kind of naked video and told him he could show my boyfriend, it just ended up being a mess. so my boyfriend and i broke up and a couple months later i hang out with her again and she tells me SHE SLEPT WITH JOE. and i’m like lmfao that’s wild ok and i’m not mad about it but later i realize wow that’s kinda shitty ok because she always told me she never cared about joe but it was OBVIOUS that i did. but none of my business i guess, ya know, like i guess i don’t have a reason to be mad. even though i kinda do idk whatever. i had a falling out with her again and i don’t even remember why but i don’t think it was bitter.

so i ended up DATING joe again cause i’m a fuckin idiot but HE’S MY FIRST LOVE~~ I LOOVEEE HIM~~ i’m dumb. v dumb. anyways i date him for a good two years and then he ends up cheating on me 3 times with his best friend’s sister and she TELLS ME and i’m like no way you’re a liar and i knock tequila out of her hand all over the floor and my boyfriend is legit CRYING and i’m like fuck her and the next morning, i clean it up because i feel so bad and her brother lets me do it as if i was acting crazy and it’s because HE KNEW THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS TRUE!! and anyways that was fucking wild but i push it to the back of my mind and continue to date him for six months later until he cheats on me AGAIN and then breaks up with me because he “needs space” and “is so stressed out” and literally bitches at me for telling him i can’t be here for him right now because my friend’s grandfather just died and i have to be there for her, like basically uses that as an excuse to break up with me because “i don’t care about his problems” and “he needs to be alone to figure it out” and wowee the whole deal was wild, i felt like i was in a movie!! because i found out he was dating someone else like two days later! like? i’m getting soooo pissed right now just thinking about it and yet this is still the guy i’m hooking up with and loving to this day!! I’M STUPID!! anyways

i end up at michelle’s house (my friend not-friend whatever she is who dated joe after me when i was 16) like six months after this happens because a couple of my friends are friends with her still and i thought it’d be awkward but it actually wasn’t like i told her the stuff my ex did and wow writing this i’m realizing the only shit we had in common was my ex!! like lmao i just liked shit-talking my ex with her! so we become friends again but not really friends like i’d see her/hang out with her once in a while. this was a year and a half ago. so everything was fine between us like we were cool but i knew for certain that i wasn’t going to get close to her again and i thought i had a good reason for it. didn’t i? or am i just overreacting? like sometimes when you have history like that with people you can never get that trust back in a friendship and like.. is it wrong for me to not trust her..? or? idk i always had this super paranoid feeling in the back of my head that she was going to hook up with joe again and then she told me that she hung out with him and he “was trying to hook up with her” and i asked joe about it and he’s like haha! that’s funny!! because i thought SHE WAS TRYING TO HOOK UP WITH ME!! so i’m like omfg this is so much fucking drama man what is going on

so fast forward to this new year’s. i end up hanging out with a few of my friends and michelle. everything is cool until we get back to one of my friend’s houses and michelle starts yelling at me about joe. like straight-up. first she’s telling me i deserve better and stuff. and i’m confused because like yeah i’m on and off hooking up with joe but 1. we’re not getting back together and 2. how do you know that? then she goes as far as to be like “JOE WILL NEVER CHOOSE YOU. HE WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE ME OVER YOU.” so i’m drunk and i run out of the room crying because wow that was so mean? and i’m sorry but joe will never choose you over me lmfao like i know he did when i was 16 but you were just a fuckbuddy. like i’m sorry. but joe and i have YEARS of history together. so whatever that was just a really mean thing to say and it confirmed to me that she thinks every boy is obsessed with her and is constantly trying to get in the way of my relationships. so the next day she texts me and apologizes and i forgive her immediately because i’m like okay yeah i get it, she was trying to look out for me. but then i think about it later and i’m like wait… i’m actually mad. so i tweet: “Someone: *treats me badly* Me: *forgives them immediately* Me 2 weeks later, eyes snapping open at 3 am: you know what?? I’m mad at you.” and apparently she’s mad that i tweet that and idgaf if she knows it’s about her because i’m actually making fun of myself for being like this, not her.

so i see her in the bar again last weekend and i’m like to my friends, “DON’T LET US FIGHT.” and they’re like ok but whattaya know, we end up in a fight again. and she brings up THE BRAN (my other bf) SITUATION, basically claims it’s my fault she ended up in a psych ward because of it (uh, no, you were cutting yourself and stuff because of that boy you were having sex with, not because of me bye). so i apologize but apparently my apology wasn’t good enough like i was rolling my eyes or something which i don’t remember doing but I WAS DRUNK. and she doesn’t apologize AT ALL when i go “so you slept with joe to get back at me” - instead she’s like “YOU’RE MAD AT ME OVER OLD STUFF” and i’m like ?? i’m not mad at you over that stuff?? i just know i can’t trust you because of it. that’s different. and you’re the one bringing up old stuff?? like. then on top of that, i tell everyone i’m obsessed w one of my friend’s coworkers that is about to meet up with us and immediately after meeting him, she tells my friend she’s going to fuck him. so i’m like… SERIOUSLY? THIS GIRL IS AT IT AGAIN IS THIS FUCKING SERIOUS

so i tell joe. and he’s like dude you gotta call her out for that shit. so i’m like alright I WILL. so i text her. and she gets all defensive like i didn’t know you liked him and blah blah and again continues to tell me i have a secret hatred for her and that i’m so petty and ridiculous for not just bringing it to the surface. and i’m like wtf i don’t have a secret hatred for you (in my head i’m like: i just don’t trust you… and you’re rude as fuck to me when you’re drunk). then eventually she stops answering me and i’m left like… okay wow great cool, now i feel like shit because every time i stand up for myself i feel like shit!! because people always have a justification for everything they do and they come back at me with stuff i do and it’s just kinda like :) maybe i do deserve all of the ways they treat me :) but like… i didn’t deserve new years. and now i feel bad too because maybe i do have a “secret hatred” for her, like is that what she calls not trusting her? and i only threw the joe thing in her face because she threw the bran thing in my face? so? like? idk now i feel like i’m a horrible person and a liar because i told her i wasn’t mad and now, again, i’m left… mad. and i can’t say anything else because at the end of the day i don’t even want to speak to her anymore because we never see eye to eye and our best friend days have been over for four years now and i don’t need someone like her in my life. but it would be nice to go to the bar with my friends and see her and be civil with her. idk why she always gotta start a fight. now everything is awkward and this happened almost a week ago and i still think about it constantly and i don’t know what to do like should i apologize now i feel so bad and i hate when people don’t like me

[dracimexidae]

@lives-ruined-and-bloodshed replied to your post “@lives-ruined-and-bloodshed replied to your...”

I definitely wanted to see that reply, especially since we have so many similar thoughts about philinda lol but yeah, the end of S1 was rough on my love for Coulson. It's funny that I was angrier about how he only believed that she wasn't a Nazi and was an "ally" when he saw she was about to be executed that when he was a dick about TAHITI. IA about how confusing it was and Garrett was also a friend but I thought they were closer, that he knew her better.

Hellooooo!!! Here I am at last!

I don't really know, I've arrived to the point I assume that actually after Bahrain Melinda, along with everything and everyone else, got away from Phil as well and they barely kept in touch until Phil "recruited" her again, so they weren't close anymore, but then, why would he then choose her for his mission as his "right hand"? I would think such a decision implies that, apart from his obvious knowledge of her skills (even if they were probably a bit rusty since she's been away from the field from quite some time... at least, that's what he might think, but I'm pretty sure she has demonstrated to all of us from day 1 that she barely needed some warm up to start kicking ass like her usual 😀), he trusts her enough to convince him that he wants her by his side, also because this mission is no joke for him, it's rather important and he's aware of that responsibility... Yeah, I'd be curious to know how close Phil and Garrett have been in the past as well, because from the way I remember their interactions it seems they have known each other quite well, and yet... Goodness, for being such an acute reader of people, with Garrett (and Ward) Phil has been pretty blind - I mean, I totally fell for it the first time I watched it (I wouldn't last an hour living their life, honestly), but I'm not a trained and capable spy... It happens to the best as well, what can you do! 😌

I get why he was so mad about TAHITI and if only May had been able to fight back I wouldn't be as mad at him but he was so awful and she just took it, that's why I wanted to hit him. So much. Like you I have to believe that they did talk and he apologized in that motel room even if AoS didn't think it was important enough to show.

To think that Melinda likely let him throw his anger and frustration at her without fighting back (and we know she can and would do it if she wanted) because she felt so guilty about it, even if, from what she knew about her mission, she couldn't do much else that what she was told to... I can't imagine what must have passed through her mind, having this feeling about her that she deserves to punish herself, for Bahrain, for Phil (maybe even for his death, for her not being there to protect him), for Andrew, for the bus kids, for everything awful that happened to them that she couldn't fight or prevent... I really shouldn't think about that... 😖

Yeah, him asking her to kill her was so cruel and when she told him about it, he shuts her down. I love her SM. I thought the Theta Protocol was such a dumb way to have conflict between them that I try to ignore it, there are things that only the director can know but this huge thing? Fury, Maria, Koenig and a bunch of people knew but not his second? Makes little sense and when he told Maria he still lied to May because she wouldn't do what he wanted...

Yes, keeping her in the dark about Theta Protocol and consulting with Andrew was rather a poor decision and I'm not sure it worked that well in terms of creating tension between them, at least a conflict that makes sense! 😒

Wanted to hit him again lol but then we had that talk in the hangar that I loved it so much so I guess it might have been worth it. I spent most of S3 wanting to punch Coulson in the throat lol he was such a lousy friend, I legit lol when he said May didn't want his support and started to flirt with Rosalind, literally four feet from Lash and right after his BFF had one of the worse days of her life he went to get lucky.

Thankfully we had that brief moment (that I admit I had forgotten, ops...) between them when they are discussing that picture of Hive recorded and Phil finally aknowledges the situation and offers his sympathy for Andrew’s death, letting Melinda know he’s available if she wants to talk about it... At fucking last, I’d say!!! There, was that so hard to do, writers? Couldn’t you have staged it earlier and frankly, a bit better than a rushed conversation because of course when they’re not interested in delving into a scene (or a relationship) there’s always the convenient excuse of “there’s no time to talk about anything because we have a mission going on” (5x18???? Melinda cutting off a flustered Phil, adorably - but also frustratingly, may I add 🤦 - fumbling through words to reply to Melinda’s declaration??? Just saying...)

I hated that May was going through this horrible thing and Coulson was all "she'll come to me when she needs me" really? May? Then Rosalind got fridged in an infuriating way and he goes nuts and I like him even less and then 3B. Damn, I guess I mostly disliked him in that whole season, like you I have a version of him in my head that I like much more then what we got on screen.

Is it too harsh if I say that I felt like Rosalind in the end was a pawn used mainly to start the male protagonist's journey of man pain and revenge? I don't know, her death seemed rather unneccessary in my opinion, and a waste of what was actually an interesting character, even without it being linked so closely to Coulson... Even the whole showdown between Phil and Ward, which I guess would have happened eventually - would have been far more exciting under different circumstances and with different motives behind it than serving later on to show Coulson's remorse for killing Ward (and inadvertedly contributing on creating Lash) mostly for personal and selfish (even if all right, I'll admit that in that moment watching that piece of scum die was quite satisfying... ah ehm, moving on) reasons... That might have given another nuance at the character, but his humanity and how it sometimes clashes with his role in the agency and the responsiblity towards the world’s safety was never under question - that actually is what compelled me to him and this team from the first episodes, more than any superhero(/ine) would ever do for me, because according to me it’s more difficult to deal with all that have been facing without any kind of superpower or special ability (even if with this I don’t want to dismiss or downplay the struggles that powered people go through to save the day, but well... powers help a bit and it’s a plus ordinary people don’t have, but all those human agents are still there working their ass off to do the same that superheroes do with what they have... of the few things that I’d save from s5 there is that quote from Phil: “I’ve lived a life surrounded by heroes, none bigger than all of you” - I like to think that in a way he refers also to this aspect... even if in the team there are also Daisy and Yoyo, but they’re still not gods, like Thor, for example)... Well, anyway, in general I don't really like how Rosalind was used in all this: it seems to me that she was inserted in the show only for the sake of advancing Coulson's story in the end, no matter the role and agenda she has been given, which in the end I’m not sure how much relevance they have ever had... I think Rosalind deserved much better!!

I also wonder what happened for the writers to go from a 3 in s3 to an 11 in s4. Even a shipper like me went a bit like, wait what, when they were just "in love." So I can't blame anyone who wasn't a shipper if they were a bit confused but ofc I loved and needed all of that, I sort of went, really to Coulson's "she means everything to me" declaration but May deserved nothing less so I went with it... but it's funny that I still think that all that S4 Philinda would work much better after S1 or S2 than S3 when like I said before they barely looked like friends for so much of the season. It is ironic that May is so much more expressive in words and actions of her love for Coulson than the guy who supposedly never shut up and is so caring and open.

And still, the LMD was more successful in openly flirting with Phil and nudge him to finally make a move and, despite me loving this story arc, I have to admit it makes me want to tear my hair because we could have had it aaaaaaaaaaalll, but with the real Melinda (I’m still not over their kiss in the library, despite being shared with the LMD - I actually find it hotter than their real kiss, even if the s5 kiss is still pretty epic, but there is something so intimate and sensual about the libray kiss - maybe the library also helps, I mean, it would work for me 😜- that makes me swoon every time I watch it)!! I love May and her "quiet" way of loving and caring about people, but unfortunately for her the dumbass she fell in love with probably needed a little encouragment to make things happen at last! To think that the LMD's behaviour probably showed a glimpse of how May was in the past, as we have seen, for example, from the Russia flashback, more talkative and mischievous, more open in showing her emotions and opinions through her face and body language... I mean, it's still rather subtle, but I think I saw a little difference on how Ming was acting as a LMD compared to the real May, even if Melinda in that moment was already opening up more already, before she got kidnapped... Is it possible?

S5 Philinda pissed me off, it's not even his death, I've lost so many favorite characters, but if they knew he would die in the end, couldn't they at least give us much more than what we got, and really, not even one ILY from him, I know he does but words are nice too especially when May spent most of the show showing and telling us just how much she loves him and I spent the whole show waiting for him to show that he loved her just as much as she loved him.

Yes, and I also think that May would appreciate him saying it out loud, because I'm sure she knows at this point he loves her and that he generally is keen on speaking his mind when he wants to, but he still struggles to let her know he reciprocates her feelings through words, and she might interpret that as a sign that he doesn't feel the same way as her after all...LOL, I know, absurd, but still she deserves all the reassurance she can get, verbal and not, especially because she seems the kind of person that, if sensing that she is unwanted or an incovenience for those around her, is likely to distance herself to avoid being a burden to others... 😭

I COMPLETELY get the "S6 what's that" attitude lol there were things I enjoyed but mostly I just felt sad that May was the season's punching bag as always and got tired of the endless "gotcha" from the writers. Pretty much my only desire for S7 is May alive and somewhat happy and at peace, it shouldn't be too much to ask but it's AoS and after S5 and S6 I feel even something like that may be too optimistic.

I have so little expectations about s7 at this point, and I don’t even know what I would actually want from it... I mean, I KNOW what I would want in general but that ship sailed long ago; I’m trying to figure out what would be the best scenario considering canon (and I’m realizing it gets harder to accept canon with time... shouldn’t be the other way around, to be easier to accept it? I don’t know, I suppose it’s because I’m still not resigned at how badly they treated Melinda, and I doubt that the series ending will soften any blow that has been or will be thrown at me... Right now I’m having flashbacks about BBC Robin Hood - I don't know if you've ever heard of it -when they killed off Marian, and I think in a way a similar situation is repeating for me - that show, which I adored, was never the same again after that, since I was invested in the love story between Robin and Marian, and not even the final crumble they gave me - with Robin dying and showing that he reunited with Marian again in the afterlife - helped softening the punch in the gut I received from the writers’ poor choices - again, poor according to me, obviously, because I didn't get what I wanted, but allow me to be petty 😣... Wow, this was a long parenthesis, let's close it, shall we 🤣) but I’m finding myself lost, so I guess I’ll just stop wasting energies for that and see what happens and react consequently!

[datingadviceonreddit]

Hi all, first post here, probably my 18th time writing this, and probably the wrong subreddit but oh well here it goes!So here's the deal reddit, I've been single for close to 4 years now, I've been trying to get back into dating with next to no success, the constant rejection is starting to get to me real bad, I'm super frustrated that I can't pick up on these signals that seem obvious to everyone else except for me, the loneliness is starting to eat away at me from the inside as I see my friends settle into serious relationship, the feeling of being un-dateable grows as people ask "You're an attractive/funny/easy to talk to/human person, why are you still single?". Not to mention the constant "lower your standards" (check) "just put yourself out there more" (that's another check) "just keep going the right person is out there some where" (well if you could point me in her direction that would be fantastic). I'm getting scared because its getting harder and harder to date. Everyone is working crazy hours, taken, or too far away, none of these things make dating easy. It's just getting to be a bit much and I'm starting to believe that maybe, just maybe I'm meant to be that guy who owns like 80 dogs because dogs don't reject you or send mixed signals. I don't want to be that guy, one or two dogs will do thankyouverymuch. I also don't want to be that guy who gets into a relationship with someone he doesn't like just to be in a relationship because I've been the recipient of that before and its not a fair or nice thing to do. So my question to you guys is how do I learn to see romantic advances, how am I as a guy supposed to flirt without coming off like a pig, and how do I deal with the rejection. I used to be really good at the last one but it's becoming harder with each subsequent rejection especially when I'm supposedly doing everything right (good hygiene, dressing well etc.) I guess I'm just feeling like there's something seriously wrong with me that drives people away that I don't know about.Oh this maaaaay be important, my last girlfriend managed to be so god damn evil and abusive that I came out of that relationship with PTSD and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder for those who don't know). So if things weren't difficult enough already you can throw that on the pile too.​​If you care enough to read more about me here are some stories/rants enjoy:So I'm completely and utterly oblivious when someone is interested in me, I'm also really good at seeing signs that someone is into me when they aren't and it's all just a total disaster. If you were to take the obliviousness, misreading people and put it in a blender with the fact that I haven't dated in 4 years and and all my recent attempts to date ending with total rejection you would have a me smoothie. It's a pretty sad smoothie tbh.I have had relationships before as previously stated, and according to my friends, with girls that were wayyy out of my league. However all of those relationships started because the girl said something along the lines of "OH MY FUCKING GOD YOU ARE SO DENSE, I LIKE YOU, DO YOU LIKE ME? IF SO PLEASE TAKE ME ON A DATE ALREADY." A common trend among all of them when I eventually asked why they didn't think I liked them can be nicely summed up in a sentence "I didn't think you were into me, you were just so nice but never flirty."My last relationship was a trainwreck, I had a manipulative, (probably) cheating, abusive ex who I had thought I was going to marry. It was a great time. Totally threw my life off track, sent me into a mental ward, gave me a couple of super fun diagnoses (PTSD GAD etc. etc.), and a couple of dropped college semesters. 4 years later I am finally getting everything back together. Except for dating.So some dating stories, I recently went on a date with this girl (21) who literally described me as her "dream boyfriend", but she also said that she wasn't looking for a serious or a casual relationship so that was super confusing to begin with. Turns out that she wanted me to make a move but like, what? You said you didn't want any kind of relationship. What am I supposed to do with that?!?! Then another girl (18) who seemed super into me, like telling her parents about me, name included into me. Literally "Oh yeah I'm hanging out with u/IsolationOnceAgain we totally forgot what time it was." I know that I wouldn't tell my parents about someone I don't care about romantically. However, when I asked her on a legit date, she didn't even give me an answer, she kept trying to change the subject and then ghosted me. Oddly enough she has been trying to talk to me again today, we'll see where it goes, will update if anything interesting happens, I don't expect anything though.Oh here's a fun story about me being oblivious for those who enjoy some good ol' fashioned schadenfreude.In college I had to stay at a friend of a friends dorm for a week because my dorm needed renovations or something. So first night we're going to sleep (two beds in one room) and she (the friend of a friend) just starts getting naked so of course, like the good boy momma raised me to be, I turned around to give her some privacy. She then said "Oh you can watch" and I said that "Oh its okay, I'll be fine." She came on to me multiple times after that, including but not limited to "accidentally" breaking the shower in her dorm so she had to use mine and then walking around in a teeny tiny towel for upwards of 30 minutes asking me for help with things that she didn't need help with. But nooooooo I just thought she was clumsy and needed help. Of course I only realized that this girl was into after she finished her semester abroad and went home. Oh yeah, she was also like exactly my type and super attractive. When I found out I wanted to die. Like a lot.Another girl thought that taking off her sweater in my room was an obvious sign she was into me (that one still makes no sense to me if you take off a sweater obviously its too warm where you are not some "check it out I'm willing to get undressed in front of you", jesus people wtf.)so yeah if anyone has any suggestions, advice, or whatever that would be great. via /r/dating_advice