#i did plenty when i was younger and it felt awful

[sanjarka]

being angry at katniss's mom for abandoning katniss at the end of mockingjay is certainly justified but judging that choice as if it was made from cruelty is not. there are healthier ways to protect katniss from herself sure but she is honestly not there yet. how can she be? what resources does she have to be healthier in a completely broken system? when did she ever have them? and saying that your mental illness explains but doesn't excuse your behavior sound does sound logical but it's not always fair or the reality of the situation.

would you blame a person for dying from a preventable disease if there was no doctor or a medic to heal them? cause that's exactly what happened to katniss mother. twice. you may think of her as selfish and cowardice and she is in a way, considering her actions at the end of mockingjay. but she is not cruel nor abusive. she was not in the right mind to take care of her daughter. she just wasn't. you being a parent, you being a mother doesn't stop you from being a person. it is possible to not be able to take care of your kid even if you want to. that there are things you can't just snap out of. what parents need, even today, is a village, a community and a helping hand. and katniss's mom never had those things.

this doesn't mean that she dealt with everything perfectly and that she couldn't have explained her pain better to katniss. we don't exactly know what happened. what we do know is that she just didn't want to disappoint katniss again. to open that wound for her. and maybe that wouldn't have happen, and maybe katniss wanted her mom any way she could've gotten her. but her mom didn't want to risk it and that was her choice. katniss doesn't have to like it, or forgive it and neither do you. that's not up for debate. yes, i personally don't think their relationship ends here, but, again, that's just my opinion.

what i doubt katniss's mother biggest flaw is, is her inability to come to terms with the amount of trauma she caused katniss. the amount of shame she carries which she lets stop her from trying too hard to gain katniss trust again. she is not a perfect victim but she is one anyway. you find ability to forgive katniss for her misgivings (which largely happen as a result of her lack of self worth) but you won't for her mom? do you think that katniss wouldn't have fallen in the catatonic state she was in after prim's death if she had kids or people to take care of? that she would've fought against it? really? cause while peeta was gone she was willing to let go of everyone else if she knew he was dead. she told us that herself. the point is that that there are illnesses you can't fight against. that you not having control of yourself doesn't mean you don't care about the people you have left. that if you loved them more you wouldn't be sick. it doesn't work like that. and it's truly mean to pretend it does.

but other people loose husbands, hazelle lost her husband and she made it work. she snapped out of it. well is she was able to snap out of it, it means she never had what katniss's mother did in the first place. i'm sure nobody in d12 is in a completely good place mentally but people are different and you don't get to choose if and how you will get sick. and no, katniss's mom couldn't ask for help from friends cause i'm pretty sure she didn't have any. when she lost her husband she lost everything. if there were friends ready to help her then those would've been friends who would've checked up on her but nobody did. if peeta hadn't given katniss that bread they would've died. when katniss said nobody helped she means it. when katniss is surprised that people care about her after she volunteered for prim, the shock comes from a very real place. because nobody helped them! and no she wouldn't have send them in to a group home that katniss states is full of starved abused children.

and actually, she wasn't going to make any decisions because she was catatonic. meaning not present. meaning not in reality. meaning not neglecting her kids but herself first. and if you can not take care of yourself then no, you can not take care of a child. and you never know if that is going to be you. nobody thinks that. until it happens. we need institution that help people when they struggle, not abuse them or take their kids from them. this is something that people don't have even today let alone in a land like panem. whatever is that you feel towards katniss's mom don't judge her for something she literally can not control or think her bad choices come from cruelty and not fear.

[jarofstyles]

Merlot

Hello my lovely ducklings. I promised a good age gap DILF sorta thing and I’m here to hand ‘em over. He’s getting some silver at the temples and she’s loving every second of it. Let me know what you think 🍷

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WC- 8k

Warnings- age gap, dilfrry, smut, oral (m + f receiving) unprotected sex (please wrap it up irl), exhibitionism, daddy kink if you squint, and all the fun stuff.

“I hate to ask this cliche question, and it absolutely pains me to ask in such an uncouth way- but do you come here often?” Peeking over the rim of the glass, amber liquid brushed his top lip and the ice cubs clanked as the smoky liquor hit his tongue.

God knew what he was doing- the girl in front of him looked too young for him, but she had struck up the conversation first. Commenting on his silver lion’s head ring and asking where he’d gotten it, wide eyed and eager as she looked up at him with that pretty pout and mascara coated lashes. Perhaps it was the crippling loneliness of divorce, maybe it was the hint of a buzz of his second drink, or even a hint of desperation that had him continuing the conversation with the younger woman as she took the bar stool in front of him- but she seemed receptive. Leaning into the conversation and keeping eye contact, she played into him.

"Cliches can be cute sometimes." She laughed as she placed her own glass down, now empty. "I don't, no. I'm not one for the whole going out thing. Not anymore. I was in uni, but I think as soon as you graduate they take away your tolerance card." Rolling her eyes playfully she felt a lick of satisfaction in getting a chuckle out of him. "And what about you? Do you like to come to bars with overpriced drinks to talk to random people who decide to invade your bubble to ask where your pretty jewelry is from?"

"Well, I can't say I make a habit of it, but sometimes a man needs to escape the responsibilities of reality- and as much as I adore my pets, I think they’re tiring of hearing my voice.” He shook his head as he flexed his fingers, looking back down at the conversation starter. Pretty eyes met his own. It had been so long since he felt flustered but she had done a pretty good job at making him feel a little off kilter in the best way. A break from the mundane.

“I’ll have to agree with you on them revoking your tolerance once you exit uni. Though I will say it’s a blessing in disguise. I wasn’t terribly into partying in my last year, considering I’d started getting awful hangovers. Almost like s’bad for you, or something.” He teased, leaning against the bar top. It was clear that they’d shifted closer to each other through their conversation and he tried to not get his hopes up, but he sort of did feel like she was giving him… those sort of eyes. “I don’t want to keep you from your friends, though.”

“You’re not.” She said simply, looking up at him. Usually, facial hair wasn’t something she considered much at all. Not many around her wore it, but she had to say the longer she looked at him, the more she liked it. It was just… masculine. Rugged, in a way, but he kept it groomed. This man was interesting all around, with pretty rings and a deep raspy voice, seafoam eyes and a little tiny gray streak starting near his temple. God, that was hot. “I’m plenty happy talking to you.”

His heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him, those eyes sparkling with something he hoped was interest, but at the very least looked like genuine intrigue. Nothing about their encounter led to her feeling otherwise. It was a nice change, feeling the ease of a conversation flow even if he stumbled on words when he accidentally looked down at her lips.

Fuck it.

He reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "I’m glad t’hear that. You're very easy to talk to." he said, his voice low and warm. The risk was there, initiating a bit of touch, but he had fo test to waters. See where this was headed. Was she looking for a safe haven? A reliable guy who didn’t look like a creep (hopefully), someone to buy her drinks as she pitied the older man at the bar, or… was this headed the direction the heat in his belly desperately wanted.

“Am I?” Her head tilted slightly, smile slightly shy but making no effort to move from where his fingers hovered slightly. “I do get told I have problems knowing when to shut up and let things be quiet, so I suppose that tracks. It can be nice in conversations.” Especially when he had seemed slightly apprehensive of her at first and now warmed up. “You’ve got a nice voice. It’s nice to talk to you.”

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to keep talking, then." He said softly, his voice growing even warmer as he leaned in closer, his eyes flicking back down to her lips briefly before returning to her eyes.

“I agree.”

Y/N could be considered bold at times, but she liked that he was showing some effort- some interest. It was give and take, push and pull, a fun little game as she was given a perfect chance when someone else approached the bar top from behind Harry. “Oop- come ‘ere.’ She laughed, gently tugging him in as her ankle hooked around the back of his knee to tug him into her. “Someone’s tryn’ to make an order.”

Now he was closer than she had anticipated, stood between her thighs as she sat on the barstool with her leg wrapped around his. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to get in your space.” The girl could feel his body heat. Fuck, he smelled so good. None of that… the familiar cheap colognes and aftershaves she was used to, not was it overpowering. Harry smelled expensive and spicy with some sort of leathery vanilla and she had to wonder what it was. "You smell really good..."

"No, no, it's fine..." He said softly, his voice trailing off as he looked down at her, their faces inches apart. He didn't move away, instead, he leaned in even closer, his hand resting on her knee. “Thank you.” The heat felt a little overwhelming in his cheeks. Pathetic to be a grown man blushing over such a simple compliment but he was so close to her now, body head radiating off of her and she smelled equally as good. “Um, so do you.”

He breathed in deeply, taking in her scent. It was a unique blend of floral notes, with a hint of citrus and a sweet, vanilla-like undertone. It was feminine, youthful, and intoxicating. Sweet and fresh. It didn’t choke him in floral and musk like the women who had been after him since his signature had barely dried on his divorce papers, but something that he vaguely remembered from his own days around her age. Perhaps that was a sign he should back off, but he couldn’t. He felt himself getting lost in the scent, his head spinning slightly as he continued to breathe her in.

His hand on her knee nearly burned but she relished in the feeling, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she smiled slightly at him. It was her first time attempting something like this. Older men were always a thing for her, a desire, but never one she felt bold enough to go for. Now, though, she wondered why she had waited. The feeling in her stomach and the delicate way she felt under his touch was something that had her nearly giddy.

“I like the mustache.” She pointed to it. “It’s a mature look. In a good way.” Of course she didn’t want to offend him, make him feel like she was calling him old. “Guys I’m around usually can’t pull it off. But you do.” Braving a touch, she let her fingers run over his jaw and felt a slight bit of scruff. “Are y’gonna go for a full beard? Or no?”

"Maybe..." Harry murmured, leaning into her touch. "Depends on how well it's received..." The joke was cracked softly, his eyes fluttering closed briefly as she touched his face. He let his hand slide a little higher up on her thigh, squeezing gently. "Thank you for the compliment though. Was hoping it wouldn’t be a bad thing cause I noticed y’looking at it.”

“Mm, I was. It’s nice.” Sexy. Her eyes felt heavy as she watched his lips curl in a slight smile. “ I’m assuming that there’s no missus at home?” She asked lightly. “You don’t seem like a cheater, Harry.” It was a tease, but he didn’t wear a ring on his ring finger. Usually she never gave men the benefit of the doubt but selfishly, she wanted to be right so she wouldn’t feel guilty about imagining her inner thighs raw from beard burn later tonight.

"No missus." He confirmed, his thumb rubbing small circles on her thigh as he opened his eyes to look at her. "Just me, and the office. I've been too busy to think about dating, let alone finding someone serious." He admitted honestly, his gaze lingering on her face. "I mean, I was married. Briefly." He said, his expression growing slightly somber. "But that's over now. It didn't work out." He shrugged, trying to downplay it, even though the divorce had been messy and painful. "What about you? Boyfriend at home?"

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” She frowned. It wasn’t something she’d pry on because she could see it bothered him a bit, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t curious. Nor that she didn’t feel bad. “I’m single, thank god. My last boyfriend was a complete prick.” Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Cheated on me a few times on a boys holiday. Was stupid enough to post with other girls and think people wouldn’t send it to me just because he hid stories from me. but it was a relief, anyways.” It sounded cold, callous maybe, but it was the truth. “It’s just me now as I figure out what to do.”’

"He sounds like an idiot." He grumbled, his hand tightening lightly on her thigh. "You're too good for that." He paused, his eyes flicking over her features. "What do you mean, figure out what to do? Like, with life?"

“Yeah. Career wise mostly. I think I want to do writing but it’s been hard to tell lately. I do that part time and then work at a cafe as a waitress and pick up shifts when I need the money. I’m tired all the time so it’s taking me longer to simply sit down and figure out 100% what I want to do but, that’s life.” She shrugged. “So I get suckered into going out to bars with my coworkers and getting a buzz so I go up to a handsome man and demand to know where his ring is from, so it suppose it isn’t all bad.”

"Writing, huh?" There was intrigue in his voice as he took in her answer. The compliment wasn’t lost on him, and it fueled that bolder part of him that wanted to break out. "Like, books, or journalism? I happen to be in publishing, so if that’s something you’d like to walk about we can…." He trailed off, his thumb continuing to rub soothing patterns on her thigh. "It’s not the easiest thing to break into but you’ve got a lot going for you. I’d be willing to help you if you feel ready.” . That was a genuine offer, regardless if he got laid… but he still felt that the way she was looking at him had an undertone

"You should come by my office sometime, if you want." He offered, his voice low. "I mean, if you're interested in publishing. We could... talk shop. Or something." He added, his hand slowly creeping higher up her thigh as he spoke.

“Or something?” She grinned widely. “Are you making a pass at me, handsome stranger Harry?” Her fingers stroked down his jaw towards his neck, messing with the collar of his shirt.

"I mean, m’being serious about helping you but… Maybe a bit of flirting is happening." He whispered, tilting his head to the side to give her better access. "I mean, you did ask where my ring was..." He pointed out softly, his hand now resting high up on her thigh, fingers spread wide, said ring gleaming in the low light. "And I haven't exactly been getting much action since the divorce..."

Eyes fell down to his hand and back up to his face, ever so slightly spreading her legs more to allow him to step closer between them. The heel of her shoe gently ran over his calf, biting lightly on her lower lip as she tried to keep the smile off her face. “And is that the only thing you want from me?”

Harry's breath hitched as she spread her legs, his heart racing at the subtle gesture. His hand tightened ever so slightly on her thigh, his fingers digging in just a bit as he leaned in closer. "No," He admitted quietly, his voice husky. "But it's a good start."

“Tell me.” She slipped her hand down to let them curl into the fabric of his shirt. “I’ve never been with an older man before, Harry. Are you all just as shitty as the younger ones? Or are you better?”

Harry's eyes darkened as she slipped her hand under his shirt, the rough pad of her fingers against his skin making him shiver. "I'm better." He said confidently, his voice deep and rumbling. "I know what I want, and I know how to treat a woman."

The man’s hand tightened on her flesh as she let out a breathy sigh, his eyes never leaving hers. "With respect," He said simply. "With kindness and attention. I open doors, I pull out chairs, I make sure they're comfortable and cared for. And in bed…" There was a pause, a slight smirk on his face as he averted his gaze for a single moment.

“In bed?” She echoed, looking up at him expectantly. “Don’t keep me on edge here. I’m dying to know.”

Harry smirked at her, his hand moving higher up her thigh, stopping right at the hem of her panties. His knuckles could feel how humid she was, no denying she was wet. It was hard to keep focused, but he had to. "Well, Y/N… I make sure they're satisfied," He said, his voice low and sultry. "I take my time, I pay attention to their body, I explore and learn what makes them tick."

“So you won’t just cum and roll over and fall asleep?” She hummed, her other hand running under his blazer and over his back. “Because I’m real tired of giving it my all and barely getting a subpar orgasm out of it. It’s why I was trying to be celibate for a while…”

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Not on my watch," He said, his thumb brushing against her panties. "I'll make sure you're thoroughly satisfied, multiple times if needed. I'll hold you close, kiss you, tell you how beautiful you are, while I make love to you."

“Ooo… he makes love..” She cooed, giggling lightly before leaning into whisper the next words to him. Was this an older man thing? Or a literature person sort of thing? Waxing poetically about the things he could provide, it all sounded amazing. But she had to know. “But can you fuck? Can you make me feel it for days, bruise my ass, get me so wet I ruin your sheets?”

Harry groaned quietly her words, his thumb pressing against her panties, feeling how soaked they were. "Fuck, yes." He growled under his breath, his other hand reaching up to cup her cheek. "I can be rough, I can be gentle, I can do whatever the hell you want. All y’have to do is ask."

Y/N let out a shuddering breath as his thumb brushed over her clit through her panties, looking to the side as she attempted to see if anyone was paying attention- but considering how crowded it was tonight, no one was paying them much mind. “So you’ll take me back to your place and make me cum? That’s what I want.”

Harry nodded, his thumb rubbing against her. "Yeah, sweetheart, I'll take you back to my place and make you cum so hard you'll see stars. And then I'll keep going, as long as you want, until you can't take it anymore."

“God.” The girl’s head rolled toward and thumped on his shoulder, feeling him chuckle as he rolled his thumb over her swollen clit. The lacy scrap of material she considered panties did little to hide how slick she was, the older man having plenty of fun playing with her as she turned her head and nipped her teeth into his throat.

Harry let out a low hiss at the sharp little bite, his hand still pressing against her clit through her panties. He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out his phone, quickly typing out a text message before putting it back in his pocket.

“W-What are you doing?” She murmured, slowly pressing her lips to his skin and staining it with her lipstick. He was casual about playing with her, acting like stroking her clit was second nature as his other hand adjusted the straps of her dress back up from where they’d begun to droop.

Harry smirked as she inquired, his thumb still making small circles against her clit. He leaned in closer to her ear and whispered, "I'm sending a message to my housekeeper, to make sure the bed is prepared for when we get back to my place."

“God, M’gonna suck your dick so good.” She sighed, a tipsy giggle leaving her throat. “It’s big. I knew it was when I came over here but… shit, I’m gonna feel it for days.”

Harry grinned as she grumbled against his neck, his hand leaving her panties to grip her hip possessively. "You're going to love it, baby. I'm going to stretch your little mouth wide, and you're going to take every inch like a good girl." He crooned low in his throat. “But you need to get that pretty ass up and come t’the car with me. My driver is here.”

——-

Y/N let out a squeal of delight as Harry tossed her into his bed. His Californian King with a canopy, four postered, hand craved fucking bed frame, his shirt unbuttoned, belt undone and jacket on the floor. Her dress was over her hips and she wasn’t sure exactly how they’d gotten here, but what she was sure of was the fact that she really did like kissing him. “Kiss me.” She demanded, grabbing his scruffy face as he crawled up the bed and hovered over top of her.

Harry chuckled at her demanding tone, his mustache brushing against her lips as he obliged her request. He kissed her deeply, his hand wrapping around her jaw to pull her close. As they made out, he let go only momentarily to reach down and grab her dress, yanking it up over her head and tossing it carelessly aside.

That left her in just the pathetic excuse of lace panties, as she had forgone the bra for the sake of the dress, and there was no complaints on his end. Her hand pushed at the shoulder of his shirt, trying to get it off of him. “Want you closer.” She mumbled, leaning into him with a mewl as he pulled back to do as she asked. It was erotic and hot and she was surprised by the amount of tattoos he had, but god, did she want to see more of him.

Harry grinned, feeling her warm hands pushing at his shirt. He lifted his arms, allowing her to pull it off of him. His tattoos were extensive, covering most of his arms, chest, and back. Inquisitive hands ran over her sides, marveling at her form compared to his own build.

The man bent down and started to place kisses along her collarbone and up her neck. His rough hands squeezed her sides gently, thumbs brushing along her ribs. He continued to kiss and nibble at her neck, his facial hair tickling her sensitive skin. He whispered, "Wrap your legs around my waist, baby."

She did as asked, eyes fluttering shut as she could feel him through his trousers. Of course, she’d been right. The man’s cock was big like she had expected, and it was thick. Throbbing against her through the fabric, her mouth watered slightly as she rubbed herself against him, fingers finding his hair as he made his way down her throat. “Fuck, it’s been so long.” The slight scratching of the facial hair only made her feel more sensitive, like she was on a live wire. It was decided that she definitely liked it now.

Harry groaned at her words, the sound coming out more like a rumble from his chest. He continued to kiss and nip at her throat as she ground herself against him. His hands squeezed and gripped her ass, encouraging her movements. "God, you feel so damn good, and m’not even inside you yet."

Harry paused for a moment, looking up at her with a heated gaze. "You're so precious, so sweet... I've never been with anyone like you before." His voice was gruff, filled with desire. He ran his hands up her sides, marveling at her smooth skin. The curves, the indents, all of it was new and exciting.

“No?” She asked softly. “I’ve never been with an older man either. Kinda like it.” There was no hesitation in admitting it. “Was your ex wife not good to you, Harry?”

Harry's expression darkened briefly at the mention of his ex-wife. "She wasn't... attentive. And she certainly never looked at me the way you are now." He buried his face in her neck once more, kissing and nuzzling her skin.

“No?” It was astounding. “I don’t know how. If I had a man like you…” She let out a breathy laugh. “You’d have to pry me off of you. you are so attractive, so sweet… Can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be all over you, all the time.” It wasn’t something she could really understand. She barely knew the guy but she liked what she saw, and she liked it a lot.

Harry's heart swelled with pride at her words. He felt his ego growing a bit, having this beautiful young woman fawn over him. "I think she was always more interested in the status and prestige that came with being married to me, rather than actually being in love with me." It wasn’t something he liked to think about but in this instance he felt okay with it. If it hadn't ended, he wouldn’t end up here.

His lips continued to kiss and caress Y/N, his hands roaming over her curves almost in awe of what he had his hands on. It wasn’t what he had expected. People watching at the bar was his goal, really. He had one night stands a few times but he didn’t necessarily want this to be a one time sorta of thing. Not when she smelled this good and her lips tasted like cherry wine. He wanted to know what books she liked just as much as he wanted to know how she looked when she came. "But now I have you in my bed, and you're looking at me like I'm the most desirable man you've ever seen, so I think m’doing okay." He crooned, nipping at her neck.

“Because you are.” The girl purred. “All man and power in the best way. Not socially, but in what you are. You exude it.” Her cunt rubbed against him, making her eyes lull. “I knew you’d have a big dick. Knew it just walking up, how you stood. I wanted it inside of me.”

Harry let out a low chuckle, his voice a deep rumble. "Is that right? You wanted me inside you from the moment you saw me?" His hands gripped her backside firmly, spreading her cheeks as she ground against him. "Well, you're going to get it, baby."

“Mmm… I want it now.”

Y/N nearly whimpered as he pulled away but quickly shut up as she watched him stand up, hands working the button of his trousers. It took her seconds to lift up and get on her knees in front of him, shooing his hands away to take over. it had been months since she’d given head and while she wasn’t a normal lover of it, she had been dying to get her hands on him.

Harry watched with heavy-lidded eyes as she pushed his hands away and undid his pants herself. He bit his lower lip as she slowly revealed what she'd been craving. "You don't have to do that, baby." He said hoarsely, knowing full well that he wanted her to- but he wouldn’t make her. It would be more than okay if he focused on her. He got off on giving, and that’s what he focused on.

“Need to.” She gave him a look as she slowly tugged the zipper down, guiding his trousers down before palming him over his briefs. “Fuck, I’m gonna be full of this.”

Harry let out a low moan at her grip and the words that followed. The image of her full and well used was enough to send any red-blooded man to their knees, but he just stood there in front of her, letting her take control, letting her give him pleasure. He watched as she pulled his boxers down, freeing his length. His hands moved to cup the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair. He could see the lust in her gaze, and he couldn’t help but sigh again at the sight of her.

His thick, veined shaft jutted out proudly from a trimmed thatch of dark hair. The head was a dark, angry red and already glistening with precome. The older man let out a sharp breath as she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, slowly starting to stroke him. He watched intently as she gripped his cock, sliding it over the sensitive length, causing it to pulse in her grip.

A shiver of pleasure ran down her spine as she watched his control come undone. Her eyes were locked onto him, watching his cock pulse and throb in her hand. She could feel it grow harder with each stroke, leaning herself down and sticking out her tongue for a taste.

The sensation of her tapping tongue against the tip of his cock made him shudder, watching the precum string from his slit to the pad of her pink tongue. He looked down at her, seeing the hot promise in her eyes- this was going to be good and he knew it. She slowly began to slide the head of his cock back and forth between her lips, teasing it with her tongue.

Y/N wasn’t one to call any cock pretty, but she would dare to say it for him. Harry’s cock was appealing in the way most others hadn’t been. Maybe part of it was her overwhelming attraction to him in general, but she felt even more eager to make him feel good than she had with anyone else in the past. “I want to take it in my throat. I can do it, I promise. Jus’ need your help.” Her plea was finished with a kiss to the tip before opening her mouth, looking up at him to let him take over.

He guided her head forward gently, encouraging her to take more of him into her mouth. "Relax your jaw, baby, you can take it." He coaxed softly, his voice laced with desire. As Y/N did as he asked, Harry felt his cock slide deeper into her warm, wet mouth. Her lips stretched around his girth, pushing in slowly before he felt the tip of his cock hitting the back of her throat. He could feel her nose pressing against his pubic bone as she struggled to take him all in. “Shh, sweetheart. Just gotta get it wet for me, show me what you can do.”

He held her head steady, his hands gently gripping her hair as he started to slowly thrust his hips. The sound of his thick cock sliding in and out of her mouth filled the room, along with the occasional gagging noise as she struggled to accommodate his size.

"You're doing so well, baby," Harry praised, his voice low and gravelly. "Look at you, takin’ it like a good girl. You're gonna make me come so hard today, aren’t you, sweetheart? Just like that, that's it- relax that throat for me..."

As Harry continued to talk to her, his sweet words and praise, Y/N's eyes began to water from the effort of taking him so deep. She gagged a few times, her hands coming up to his thighs for support, but she refused to pull away for longer than a few seconds to catch her breath.

Her cheeks hollowed and her jaw ached, but she was determined to take him all in. Harry's hands moved to the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her closer, fucking her mouth with more urgency. "That's it, baby. You're making me so hard... S’been so long... Been ages since anyone’s made me feel like this..." Harry's voice trailed off into a low moan as Y/N finally managed to take him all in, her nose pressing against his lower abdomen. “Tha’s it, right there- fucks sake.”

Harry's hips began to thrust involuntarily, fucking her mouth with shallow pumps as he held the back of her head, still buried deep in her throat. He released the grip, trying to urge her off- but she didn’t want to. "Fuck... you’ve got t’pull off, sweetheart..." he groaned, his breathing heavy and erratic. “Need t’fuck you.” Y/N whimpered around his thickness, her eyes watering as she shook her head slightly, indicating that she wasn't ready to give up yet. She wanted to taste him, to drink him down like he had with her. Harry's grip tightened in her hair, his voice strained.

"Babe...you've gotta-you've got to... please," Harry begged, his voice cracking as she continued to suck him off, her head bobbing and nose brushing his thatch of hair, making his eyes clench shut. "If you don't stop now, M’gonna, fuck...I'm gonna cum in your mouth..."

Y/N whimpered, her hands gripping his thighs tightly as she continued to suck him enthusiastically, eager to taste him. Harry's breathing became rapid and shallow, his fingers tightening in her hair as he struggled to hold back. "Y/N, last chance...I'm-"

The girl moaned as she felt him stiffen, his hips bucking forward as he finally gave in and let go, filling her mouth with his warm release. Watching his face fall in ecstasy, it was going to be worth the soreness tomorrow. She struggled to swallow it all, some of it dripping out of her mouth and down her chin. Harry's knuckles were white from gripping her hair so tightly, his body trembling as he came deep in her mouth. The sight of her swallowing him down was almost too much for him to handle, and he had to close his eyes and focus on not passing out. It truly had been a long fucking time.

As Harry finished cumming, Y/N eagerly cleaned his sensitive prick with her tongue, licking and sucking until he was completely clean. She ran her tongue along the veins and underneath the head, making him shudder and pull back. "Too sensitive...God, you're so good at that." he praised breathlessly. There was slight disbelief in there too, a slight tingling in his thighs as he looked at her as she pressed sloppy kisses to his hip bone. Mascara smeared under her eyes and lipstick a faded smeared mess, he wondered how he had gotten this lucky.

Harry needed a moment to catch his breath, his heart still racing from the intense orgasm. He looked down at Y/N, her messy appearance only making her more adorable to him. "You know what would be perfect right now?" he asked, his voice still shaking slightly.

“What?” Her voice croaked, feeling his thumb brushed away some of the tears on her cheek that had fallen from the gagging.

"Letting me get a taste of that pussy I've been fantasizing about." Harry suggested, his eyes still lingering on her messy and sated appearance as he pulled her up and pushed her to lay back down on the bed. “S’my turn now. Spread those perfect legs and let me see that cunt.”

Y/N obediently spread her legs wide, letting Harry see her dripping wet pussy. He let out a low groan at the sight as he got on his knees, his thumbs spreading her lips apart to reveal her slick folds. He buried his face between her thighs, inhaling her scent deeply before diving in and licking her from asshole to clit. There was no wasting any time or pretending to be shy about a single thing.

A started squeak left her mouth as her head popped up, hands gripping his head as he dove right in with little hesitation. Harry hadn’t seemed like the type to have any reservations in taking what he wanted, and it was being proven by how his tongue slid over her most sensitive parts.

He continued to eat her out with reckless abandon, his tongue fucking her pussy as if it belonged to him. Her breathing was heavy as he sucked on her clit, nibbling at it gently before returning to lap at her folds. His hands gripped her ass, spreading her cheeks wide to give himself better access to her tight hole. He wanted to have it all. “S’this okay, baby?”

“Uh-huh.” Y/N hadn’t really had anyone touch her there before but she couldn’t say she hadn’t been curious and self explored. It was always something she wanted to play around with and it felt exciting, handing herself over to the man like that.

Harry grinned mischievously against her wet flesh, his hands spreading her wider as he buried his face deeper. He pushed his thumb against her hole, slowly sliding it inside as he continued to lap at her cunt. “You taste so good, sweetheart...” he murmured, his voice muffled by her flesh.

He added a second finger to her ass, scissoring them apart slowly as he tongue fucked her pussy. Y/N's legs started to shake as the dual stimulation became too much. She gripped his hair tightly, her back arching off the bed as she let out a high pitched whine. "Ah!"

Y/N's fingers tightened painfully in Harry's hair, her knuckles turning pale as she tried to stay grounded while the pleasure consumed her. His tongue was spearing into her soaking wet hole over and over, curling up to rub against that spot inside her that made her see stars. And his fingers… god, those hands.

His fingers were stretching her asshole, pushing past the initial resistance and sinking deep into her tight heat. He scissored them further apart, popping her open wider as he fingered her ass. Y/N's legs shook violently, her whole body trembling as she felt herself on the verge of a massive orgasm.

"Harry...it's...too- please..." She babbled, unable to form a full sentence as he continued to stuff her holes. It had never been like this before, no one had even come close. He ignored her pleas, instead burying his face deeper and pumping his fingers faster. She felt so stuffed, so full, the pressure mounting inside her unbearably.

He felt her whole body stiffen, her pussy fluttering on his tongue as she cried out. She gushed against his mouth as she came, the feeling so intense and overwhelming that the waves of pleasure forced her to collapse against him.

Harry worked her through it as she trembled and whimpered with pleasure, his fingers still buried in her ass and his tongue still buried in her pussy. He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that he'd reduced this beautiful young woman to a whimpering, shaking mess. It was not only an ego boost from what had been lacking for a while now, but he liked seeing how she reacted to him. He alone had done it.

Harry slowly lifted his head, wiping her from his face as he grinned wickedly at Y/N. "You taste even better when you're coming apart for me, sweetheart." He brought his fingers to his mouth, sucking them clean while maintaining eye contact with her. "And you’re tight everywhere, hm?”

Y/N stared at Harry, her eyes glazed over and pupils dilated from the intense high she was still riding down from. Her mouth was slightly parted, breath hitching as she watched him clean her off his hands. A soft blush spread across her cheeks, embarrassed yet turned on by his bold actions.

"H-Harry...that was...I've never...I mean...no one's ever..." She stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence even still.

He chuckled darkly, enjoying how flustered she was. "No one's ever played with your pretty little hole before?"

“No.” Her face felt hot as he grinned up at her. He seemed more than pleased and it made her feel good to know he was happy but still, she had the slight embarrassment that only came with the territory.

"Well, consider that box checked then." He said smugly, crawling back up her body to kiss her passionately. She could taste herself on his lips and tongue, the musky flavor a testament to what he'd just done to her.

He grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head as he continued to ravage her mouth. She mewled into the kiss, arching up against him as she felt his hard length pressing into her stomach. "Does my pretty girl want more?"

“Mhm.” She nipped his lip. “Want you inside of me.” Was she still sensitive from her orgasm? yes. But she had been desperate to get him inside of her since she’d first spoken to him. “Do you- are you clean?”

He pulled back slightly, his breath hot against her cheek. "I'm always clean, sweetheart. I get checked regularly and I'm very particular about who I share my dick with." He gave her wrists a gentle squeeze before releasing them, reaching over to his pants to his back pocket to grab his wallet.

“I-“ Her hand reached for his wrist. “I don’t wanna use one.” The words laid in the humid air for a moment. It was risky, sure, as any sort of unprotected anything was, but she didn’t want anything in between them. “I want t’feel you inside of me…”

He groaned at her words, his eyes darkening with desire. "Christ, doll. You're gonna be the death of me." Leaning down to kiss her again, his tongue traced over her bottom lip before slipping inside her mouth. He took his time, savoring every inch of her. His lips found the sensitive spot behind her ear, causing her to shiver in anticipation. His hands made their way under her hair, feeling the warmth of her skin.

“Can I push in, baby?” He asked with a low tone, his lips tracing her collarbone. At her nod, he wasted little time. Poor thing hadn’t been fucked right before, and he would happily give her a proper experience. Reaching down between them, he positioned himself at her entrance. With one slow thrust, he entered her fully, feeling the warmth and tightness of her around him. His eyes rolled back in pleasure, as he buried the tip inside of her. “Fuck, thank you.”

He groaned as he pushed into her, feeling the way her body welcomed him. He paused for a moment, giving her time to adjust and letting himself feel the depth of her wet heat around him. His hands reached up to cup her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples.

Being with a younger woman was different for him, but maybe it was just her- he realized as he moved inside of her. It was like being with a whole new sense of being, one who was full of energy and life. Everything about her was so fresh and vibrant, from her tight little pussy to her perfect tits and gorgeous face.

He continued to thrust into her, feeling the way her walls tightened around him. His hands moved down from her breasts, over her soft stomach and to her hips, exploring whenever he could.

His movements were slower, each thrust deliberate and measured. He wanted to savor the feel of her, the way her body yielded to his. He was drawn to watch her face, loving the way her eyes fluttered shut and her mouth fell open as he filled her. "Look at me," he murmured. She opened her eyes, looking at him with a dazed expression. "Good girl, like t’see those pretty eyes." The man sighed, unable to resist praising her. He continued to thrust into her slowly, each movement filled with lust and desire.

“Fuck.” She kept her eyes on him as her hands ran over his hot shoulderbaldes, keeping that contact as he dipped all the way back home as deep as he could. Her mouth fell open and a high pitched noise left her throat without her permission, brows furrowed. “It’s never been that d-deep.”

He grinned at her, loving the way her inexperience made her react to him. "That's because no one's ever taken the time to stretch you out right." He leaned down to kiss her neck, his hips continuing to move in slow, deep thrusts.

“Where the fuck have you been, then?” She laughed breathlessly, letting her eyes fall back closed as he kept the thrusts slow and deep, relishing every inch he took. her body was lax and hot, his for the taking. Right now she felt like he could do anything and she would welcome it. “Are all older guys like this, or is it j-just you?”

He chuckled darkly against her neck, "There's a reason why women often prefer older men, doll- but M’gonna say for greeds sake, s’just me." He suckled at her skin, his hands sliding down to grip her thighs and push them back farther, opening her up even more to his slow, deep thrusts.

“Oh, shit.” Her mouth fell open and he welcomed it, sliding his tongue back inside her mouth and humming at the taste of her against him. The fact there was not a single barrier, albeit risky for the first time fucking, made it even hotter.

His movements became gentler, his hands caressing her skin instead of gripping it. "You like that?" he murmured against her lips, his hips rolling into hers instead of thrusting. "You like knowing that there's nothing between us?" He pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a heated gaze. "I want you to look at me when I ask you something," he said, his voice low and commanding as he took her eyes. "Are you on any birth control?"

“Y-Yeah. Uh-huh.” Her eyes wide, she looked up at him hazily as she wrapped her legs further around his hips. “Don’t pull out when you cum. Please- I know m’crazy, but I need… need it.” Y/N knew she was insane for it, but their connection was so strong, every thrust inside of her, hitting places she didn’t know existed prior to this… she needed it.

His expression softened, a coo leaving his mouth as he nodded at her. How precious. "Alright, sweetheart. I promise I won't pull out." A dumb decision on his part too considering they’d just met but in the midst of it all, it was all he wanted to do. His hips began to move again, his pace quickening as he felt the heat of her around him. "You're going to take it all then, aren't you?"

“Yeah.” She mewled. From the sounds and feel alone she knew she was making a mess on his cock, but she had a feeling he was enjoying it every time he snuck a glance between them. “Take everything you give me, Daddy.” It was a risk, but she wanted to see what he’d do.

His face contorted with pleasure, his brow furrowing and his jaw clenching. "Good girl…" he hissed, his voice low and gravelly. He buried his face in her neck and thrust into her with more need, his movements becoming more urgent. "You're going to make me cum, doll."

“Cum.” She begged. “Cum in me. Then fuck it into me. Please.” Her nails dragged over his toned back as she clung to him, his bed creaking as he fucked into her welcoming, wet pussy.

He let out a primal grunt and slammed into her one last time, his cock pulsing as he filled her with his hot, thick cum. He held himself inside her, his hips jerking as he pumped his load deep into her cunt. "Fuck, baby... I'm going to fucking fill you up."

But he wasn’t done. Not in the slightest.

With his cum still pouring into her, he reached under her and grabbed her thighs, spreading them wide apart. Observing the mess he made, he fixed his fingers on her clit as he fucked the cum into her just like she asked. “I gave you what you wanted, darling. Give me what I need too, mm?” His lips brushed her cheek, feeling the beginnings of her orgasm. She just needed a little extra, and he was more than happy to provide.

Y/N squirmed slightly as she felt it creep up on her faster than she could anticipate. The pulse of his cock as it dribbled the last of his cum inside of her, the feel of his facial hair brushing her tender skin and his fingertips rubbing quick circles over her clit, it was impossible to keep from holding back. Heat boiled in her stomach as she tried to tell him, but it came on quicker than she could speak.

A broken moan left her lips as her body shook under him, eyes burning with tears of pleasure as he fucked her messy cunt and continued the circles until she pushed his hand away, grabbing his face and kissing him far more messily than she would have done in any other capacity- but this felt right. Fucked out and wobbly, melting into the bed as he slowly stopped the thrusts and stayed buried in her.

“Mm- baby. Sweetheart…” he pulled back to look at her. “You alright? Tell me how you’re feelin’.” He needed to check in on her, make sure she was feeling properly taken care of. Just by the look of it alone he had a feeling she felt that way, but he wanted to hear it from her pretty lips.

“I’m so good.” She grinned, drunk with the pleasure as she looked up at the handsome man. He was everything that she had dreamt about when she woke up sticky between her thighs. Aged like a fine wine.

“Can we go again?”

[dilf-docs]

This Thing Upon Me, Howls Like A Beast

professor!pedro pascal x younger!reader

summary: to cover some social hours and as a favor to your recently fallen-ill friend, you become your research methodology professor's TA. but here's the catch: you've got history, and what you really mean is beef; good, pure, unadulterated loath.

warnings: 18+ (minors dni), age gap, pwp, rivals to ??, hate sex, p. in v. (do i even wrap it atp), degradation kink, daddy kink, lwk exhibition kink bc this happens on his office (rip to the furniture), bit dom!pedro + brat taming (again?? stop it mayor we get itttt omg) sprinkled here and there, fingering, squirting, creampie (everyone got invited to the party), reader is a loud-mouth (who's this divaaa), pedro's kind of an asshole and a perv in this one (ooc sorry), don't expect a second part this is literally just self-fulfilling filth without a storyline

word count: 6,451 words

side note: hello! this won the poll. am i the only one with this fantasy? pls tell me not; i feel insane looking some of my professors like a fucking starved drooling dog. giggling as we speak, bc the movie's got everybody insane between marvel renaissance, gif dump, new content, husband!pedro material and professor wet dreams out there... this piece of work is the last. hope you enjoy it, citizens! ps. jin of bts makes an appearance bc i love my seven men and i'm currently sick so he is sick too lmao (ah pero para escribir cochinadas ahí sí estás sana verdad)

It's your fault, really, for opening it in the middle of the class. It was a link, and you should've saved it for later, but then your thumb clicked into the blue underlined text your friend sent, and the reel popped up on your screen.

Your laugh erupted before you could cover your mouth, your professors' words hanging mid-air.

"Who did that?"

Everyone looks at you. Those sell-out, ass-kissing, boot-licking dicks.

His eyebrows furrow until they seem to melt into one, a big angry scowl on Mr. Pascal's face.

"Something you'd like to share with the class, Ms. Y/n?"

His voice reverberates on the class' walls, sounding even scarier.

You shake your head, tone quiet as you let out a small, "No"

"No?" he repeats your words, mocking your insecure demeanor, "because with that loud ass laugh, it seemed like something important enough to dissrupt my class. So please, share. You can't leave us wondering in here"

People cough and avoid your gaze while you wish the building would collapse and kill everyone inside, you included. Oh, that would be good. But no, you're stuck on a space that now feels too small and his persistent gaze cuts right through you.

"I-It's not important-" you stumble over your words.

"Can't speak anymore? All that boldness, suddenly gone"

"Mr. Pascal" you plead. God, you had never even begged for anything in your life. But there's always a first.

"I said share" his voice menacing, like he's got not an ounce of sympathy in that sturdy body that could fit plenty. No, wait. Focus!

He grows impatient at your lack of movement, practically growling his next words:

"I won't repeat myself"

"I-I I don't know how to-" you cut yourself off, cringing at how pathetic you sound. "It's a video, so-"

"Then cast your phone and project it" he clicks his tongue, clearly enjoying this. What a sadistic motherfucker.

"I-I can't-"

Can Jesus please hurry up and come fast? Even better, immediately take this one to hell, please.

"Aw, you poor thing" he tuts, mockingly. No one dares to speak, and you'll learn later that he's got his own reputation. For a reason.

"Don't worry, I'll help you myself"

Turns out, the fucker made you and your shaky legs stand up and walk the walk of shame. Then, you had to proyect the silly video, which in handsight, wasn't funny anymore. While some of your classmates laughed, that didn't lessen how humilliated you felt.

It had happened during your first year at university, on a subject you really couldn't care less and when you were still (practically) a baby; freshly eighteen. But now you were twenty, almost finishing your career, and the shaky insecure teenager was long gone, replaced by a secure (albeit a bit of a bitch), confident woman.

That had been your first encounter with professor Pascal.

You have to give him some credit: he is kind of the reason why you did a full 180 on your personality.

But life always comes back to bite you in the ass.

"What do you mean you're sick?" you scoff, "we were supposed to go to Dave's party tonight!"

Your friend lets out a cough that sounds borderline animalistic.

"First of all, don't come closer. I'll pass it to you" Jin speaks up, voice rough from the earlier death-threatening cough. "And second, do you think I care about a stupid party? I'm dying here"

"Don't be so dramatic" you roll your eyes.

"Hello? Didn't you hear that cough?!" he sounds offended, reinforcing the feeling by throwing one of his used tissues at you. You dodge his lame throw with a yuck. "I think you're devoid of empathy"

"Well, thank Mr. Pascal for that"

Jin wasn't your friend when that happened, but when you became buddies, he eventually came to know about your beef with the older man. Yes, beef, because after the Reel Deal (as you both have come to call it), he made your life impossible. If it weren't for your skills and intelligence, you'd probably fail his subject. Mr. Pascal gave you the hardest time ever: be it pairing you with the absolute worst students or making your assigments more difficult, for an "unknown" reason.

Eventually, even after such a traumatic experience and subject being way behind, it became a staple in your duo to bring him up everytime something negative happened or was mentioned.

("You're so funny!")

("Thanks, a professor pushing fifty made my life impossible when I was eighteen")

But here's an even funnier thing: for unknown reasons, Jin became his TA last semester. Probably he didn't know that you were friends, and that has to be the reason he's actually a decent human being towards the younger boy. I'm telling you, Jin would insist, the whole mean asshole shtick is propaganda!

"Talking about him..."

"Stop" you raise your hand dramatically, "enough bad news today"

"You can still go to the party, you know?" he giggles, earning another cough that practically leaves him voiceless. "Why do you insist on taking me? I don't know this people!"

Jin was two years older your senior.

"But it's not fun without you!" you insisted on dragging him around everywhere after you met because he tutored you. "Who will I bore with all my failed flirting attempts?"

"Thank God, not me" he ignores your pout. "Besides, wasn't like Marcos insisting you went with him? There's your chance!"

"But Marcos is boring..." you draw out, "and I need a man who makes me laugh"

"You can't really ask for that much in this economy"

Okay, here's the deal: there's another reason you can't let go of the Mr. Pascal subject, and it's not because of the beef. Hell, Jin can't know about this or he'll never let you live.

The answer is quite simple: as infuriating as he is, Mr. Pascal is hot. Like, middle-aged hot, with the greying hair and face marked by lines that tell time. If it wasn't for him you'd probably never discover your preference towards more... aged meat. You should be furious, and you were, but during all your petty arguments over topics or slides that didn't deserve to be reviewed for more than five minutes, the fire that ignited in your lower belly? You've never felt it before, and if that managed to get you more hot and bothered than a fresh boy ready to kiss your lips, neck and below? Well, that's a serious issue.

But it was his voice, that treated you with such vitriol, a deep and rich sound reserved just for you, or be it the way his auburn eyes seem to catch fire whenever you opened your mouth, dark forests burning in flames that threathened to reduce it all to ashes; yo were eager, anticipating the burn.

He saw your defiance, and instead of putting you in your place, he matched that wild rageful spirit of yours that refused to be tamed.

And that you liked, despite the history of hate between you.

"What about him?" you appear nonchalant, while retouching your makeup for the party.

"About him who?" Jin quips, "we just talked about two fine men-"

"The much older man"

A weird smirk forms across his lips. "Sure, of course"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. But it will be fun, nonetheless" he sits up straight from his previous surrendered position on the couch. "So, remember how I'm his TA, right?"

"Yes?" you pause. "Wait, if this is for me to help you check again more homeworks, no. I am not helping you read a hundred papers again for free"

"They weren't a hundred!" he barks. "Besides, it's not that"

"Then?" you press, not admiting how interested you were.

"Do you see my poor state?" you nod, not understaning where he's going. "Then, you're aware I'm not capacitated to do said task as of right now"

"I'm aware" you repeat, "what I'm not, is what does that have to do with me?" you resume your activity, going for your eyeliner. "So much mystery when you could've just said it in a pass"

"I need you to cover up for me"

The liquid eyeliner paints a line across half of your face. "What?!"

He laughs at your reaction, "You heard me"

You leave the mirror, now focusing your attention on him. "It's not April Fools yet, Jin. Heads up, it was a terrible prank"

Even if it made you hot to have such dynamic with your former IM professor, you weren't exactly keen on seeing him again. For you, he had turned into a memory slash fantasy at some point: an asshole that got your panties wet and pussy slick when you touched yourself at night, on behalf of all the dumb uni boys who couldn't reach that sweet spot of yours. What a dirty girl, his velvet voice on your head would say. Why are you touching yourself to your supposed foe, a much older guy? Fucking slut. Yeah, there was no way you'd go back to the real thing for the real him to taint the image you got off almost every night to, so he could say your name in that animosity that leaked with a barely contained rage and poorly disguised distate that left a bitter taste on your mouth, ego and self-steem on the ground. Because the truth is, no matter how much you argued back, he always won. You had just found your voice, but all efforts to bring him down seemed powerless, and he had won every single battle: even if he didn't have the last word, just with a look, he made you feel small, stupid and meaningless.

Nope. Not going back.

"And you have a terrible way of coping" he's quick to counter back. "Listen, it's not so bad. You just have to do meaningless tasks and pretend to be interested. Simple, right? Look, those extra credits could be useful, you know? And you excelled the class, y/n. Easy!"

"You're making it sound trouble-free as if the man doesn't hate me"

"He's definitely forgotten about it!" he waves his hand, dissmisively. "Probably jokes about it, like us!"

"Mr. Pascal doesn't seem the type of guy to have humor"

"Humor me, then" Jin sighs. "Do this for me, yes? When have I ever failed you?"

You wish for some sense to get into his skull. Had he forgotten every single anecdote?

"Think of all those times where I've taken you home, carried you drunk. Or the sad heart breaks I've been through with you, remember? Brought you ice cream and watched your favorite movies. Or when I used to tutor you? Or-"

"Enough of your emotional manipulation, Mr. Kim" you shake your head, dissapointed, all to avoid the quiet rage to settle in. "I thought better of you"

"It's for a week. Days if this pills do a miracle" his big black eyes look at you, pleading.

"Jin, you're not being a very good friend"

"It's just this one favor" he sighs. "Look, I can't loose this thing, okay? I get the credits I need to finally leave this shithole. If I don't show up, they'll hand it to someone else. You may not believe it, but it's very demanded"

People making lines to be emotionally abused by your former IM professor? Sure thing!

"Can't you tell someone, though? I'm sure they'll understand and you can go back once this cold is gone"

"I already did so, and they told me to show up or quit, due to the wait list of people applying for the position" you roll your eyes at your university's antics and their bullshit policies. "I don't trust anyone else to not fuck it up, but you. You'll just have to tell him about this minor inconvenience, and Mr. Pascal will understand. You know, I'm kind of his favorite guy in there..."

Great, just what you needed.

"Sorry to break it to you, but as soon as I walk through that door, all that pretty boy privilege would be gone"

"Please, y/n. Please"

"You'll never ask me any other favor?"

"No" he looks rather desperate; it's funny. "Hell, you can use the lake cabin for your birthday bash if you-"

"Deal"

Were you that easy to buy, huh? What does that say about you? Fucking ass sell-out.

Okay, but a birthday party in that all glass modern cabin with a deck and a jacuzzi does sound tempting. Who could be blamed? Not you, who will have to face her biggest foe in exchange for one wild bash.

You take a deep breath, imagining the lake water splashing and champagne on the deck (ugh, Jin's parents had a waterbike too. They were loaded), before knocking on his office. The door flings open, almost hitting you in the face, and there he is: Mr. Pascal, with his brown hair with white on the sides, loose curl over his face. Your fingers definitely don't itch to touch it, of course.

He's sporting a grumpy look (when doesn't he?), his big hands (you had forgotten how big they were) holding a bunch of papers (great, work!).

"Goddamn it, Jin. I was about to call you for standing me up, you know I hate when people don't tell me-"

He stops on his tracks, and that all too familiar scowl deepens his face.

"You"

Seethed with such venom, it's quite scary. Your legs tremble, yet your pussy clenches.

"Yes, me" you can't help but let out a little laugh at his antics. What did Jin said about him not remembering you? Well, can't be blamed; you weren't easy to forget.

His jaw clenches while looking down at you, but this time, you don't dare to flinch.

"What are you doing here?"

"See, Jin is my friend-"

He interrupts you, body frame resting on the door with a relaxed posture, but his shoulder looks tense.

"Oh, I liked him. Liked, as in past tense" he emphasizes, like a child throwing a tantrum. "How can a kid like him be friends with you?"

"We're best friends, thank you very much. As a matter of fact, I'm here as a favor" you hand him Jin's written apology, that may have one or two sneezes over it. "He's sick, and I'll cover him for a week, just so he doesn't loose the position. Said you would understand"

"I do" he replies on an instant, "you I don't"

"I passed your subject. With honors, even after you made my life impossible" you reply. "I'm the best candidate, face it"

He's rendered speechless for a moment, before he bites back:

"What makes you think I won't do it again?"

Now it's you who doesn't know what to say. It's infuriating how he still keeps winning.

"That's right" a wicked smile adorns his face. "Stay and find out"

Boy, don't you love a challenge?

So you stayed, much to his surprise. The bastard probably thought you were still the same scaredy mouse from first year.

Oh, it was delicious the way his whole face fell at your entrance next morning, how he quickly replaced it and introduced you in a clipped tone.

"Where's Jin?" a girl sitting in the front row had asked, more students joining to ask for his absence. You wonder if your friend's popularity stems from his brain or looks.

"He's sick" you answered. "But don't worry, he'll be back soon"

"Thank God" Mr. Pascal voices out loud.

You shoot him a look. He wasn't joking about not making it easy, was he?

"Oh, I didn't take you as a man of faith, Mr. Pascal, but you're right. It's important to thank our Lord everyday. So, thank Him for this week where I get to offer my suffering. In reward" you turn to face him, all the class silent as they take in your weird exchange, the atmosphere tense, "I'll never see your face again"

This time, you weren't going down without a fight.

"We'll see about that"

There it was: the fire to your gasoline.

So you pushed back, and argued everytime you disagreed, things that weren't part of your work but you still did because well, if he was still hellbent on making you suffer, you weren't going to make it easy for him this time.

If students argued against him, you took their side; even if just one did, you had their back.

You finished grading, but when returning the papers, you'd let them fall with a heavy thud over his desk, not even daring to look back.

At the time he'd talk to you, you wouldn't answer, instead just doing so, but no words to be uttered his way, as if he wasn't worth the effort. Not even a clipped okay.

And you enjoyed this; savored how he'd take every one of your petty actions with his full chest, eyebrows furrowed and face red in anger, but never answering, just silent, like deep in thought, a cold and calculated look overtaking his brown eyes.

Then the veins on his neck would pop as the ones of his tight white-knuckled grip on his mug. He'd speak up, and his voice had your legs shaking for some friction, wet spots now more often on your lingerie.

That he didn't know.

All he did was you were now more than a pebble on his shoe: a huge fucking stone, going down the hill, ready to squash him.

But boy, didn't he love a challenge?

It's Friday, aka last day of Torture Week.

You drop the quizzes for next Monday on his desk with the same harsh movement you had done all week.

"And it's over" you announce, papers plopping next to him, who is writing something. Mr. Pascal's hand moves, his L much longer than it should be. He looks up at you, annoyed, but his eyes flash with a hint of amusement.

"I see you can talk"

"Well, you already know me, Mr. Pascal. So you should be aware of what I can do"

"Love if you'd enlighten me"

He leans back on his chair, arms resting behind his head. It's hard not to take a brief glance to the flexing muscles, or how he's rolled up his sleeves, arms bulking up with the action, the fabric tense. It's hot in here. Wait, or has it gotten hot? Your face feels red, and when he catches your lingering gaze, he smiles devilishly.

"Like what you see, Ms. Y/n?"

No. You refuse to let him win this again, so close to the end.

"The release from prison?" you regain your posture, "very much"

"You may be a loud-mouthed brat, always knowin' what to say. I'll give that to you" he props himself to the front, elbows now resting on the desk as his eyes scan yours with a shade of dark covering them. "But a good liar you ain't"

You try to remain still, face emotionless, but your professor is a man of experience; an expert on his field. He who investigates, who has majored to be able to notice every small detail that can contribute to a hypothesis, has now formulated his.

You want this as much as he wants to.

You, with your wobbly legs and nervous eyes, glancing up at him with a hungry gaze that matches his own, despite your angry posture and irritated tone. You, that picked up petty arguments just to rile him up, because you liked the command for power on his voice. You like this, didn't you? Feeling small and weak, fangs pointy, just barely gracing the skin; the edge what set your skin on fire.

He isn't one to hold grudges (he's just mean all the time), but Pedro is willing to show you he hasn't forgotten about the years, and he'll be more than willing to fuck that bitchy attitude out of you.

"Hello?" you snap your fingers in front of him, "are you there?"

He snaps back to reality, your face covering his vision. In his position, he gets rewarded with a delicious peak at your breasts and the nude lingerine hiding them. He can imagine the perked nipples and the rosy plush skin he'd love to trace his tongue with, because even when you speak in a harsh voice, your eyes speak another thing. Fuck, he thinks he can even smell your arousal.

"I was talking to you" you don't even give him room to reply; snotty ass. "Said I was already leaving"

He thinks of himself as merciful. So he stands up, your bodies barely brushing against each other for a second, before he's opening the door, towering over you. He's so close, you can see the grey hairs mixed with the brown ones on his beard and mustache. God, you can smell him: coffee, cigarrettes, sandalwood and leather.

"You're free, Ms. Y/n" he follows your line of joke from before. "Just, humor me with one last thing"

You glance over at the clock above his desk. It's barely noon.

"Yes?" as dry as possible.

"Why did you accept?"

It's a simple question, really, but it manages to catch you off guard.

His tone is so different, maybe that's why: it's low, impossibly low. For less attentive people, it could even pass as a growl. But you hear, the amusement and dare laced within the velvety tone.

"Because I'm a good friend" you manage to speak, his body caging your smaller frame against the door.

This is ridiculous. You can leave at any time. Hello? Have your legs not gotten the memo?

"I didn't think you were capable of good things"

You huff, annoyed. "Well, I passed your subject, didn't I?"

He clicks his tongue.

"Many before you, and more after you have. Doesn't make you special, y/n"

Your name alone leaves a savory and toxic sweetness on his tongue.

"But how many of those you remember?" Mr. Pascal shots up an eyebrow, confused. "Tell me, how many can you name? That's right. I changed your life, whether you like it or not"

He's quick to reply. "Bullshit"

"Bullshit" you mock his angry tone, "but you recognized me the moment you opened the door. It didn't even take you seconds, hell, you hadn't even fully seen me and you knew who I was. Doesn't take a great investigator to figure it out, does it? So I take you missed me"

He can't believe your fucking mouth.

But then Pedro's remembering the way his pants tightened when you started to stand up to him, getting even worse when he still managed to shut you up. Fuck, the way you had smirked when you approved his subject during your last project delivery. He let you, because well, you had earned it: for the way your image had been the perfect companion for his hand pistoning his cock will full force, thinking of that loud mouth of yours gagged with it. Or when you walked past him in the hallways, wrapped in your own little bubble, your carefree laugh erupting and bouncing off the walls, tickling every hair of his body.

Part of him had accepted Jin to be his TA if that meant having a piece of you, even if a small connection, to you. Did you think he wouldn't know? That he wouldn't see you walking by in those small skirts that rode over when you bent? He noticed you; after all, you were in the same place most of your day.

You had excelled his subject after all, hadn't you?

So of course you'd notice his stare lingering in your back like a hand over your ass. How his eyes would dart to the skirts you wore on purpose, attentive to the moment you'd drop a pen on accident and your panties would be on sight, a wet spot in the middle you hadn't even noticed that smelled. Fuck, and wasn't it sweet?

You really feel like you have won this, don't you?

"Miss you?" Pedro hisses the words out. "I didn't miss you. What I think is happenin', is that me missing you is what you want"

"And I think you're repeating the same words and fumbling thoughts because you're a big egocentric prideful asshole who can't admit he's got the hots for his younger student"

"God. Don't you have such a filthy mouth, baby?"

Before he can register and you've fully let the nickname sink, your hand slaps his face with a potent movement that reverberates across his office's walls.

"You're a fucking piece of work, Mr. Pascal" but instead of being offended (or you don't know, fight back?), he remains silent. "You dirty old spoiled prick. Think I would never fight you back? That you can get away with whatever this is?"

"Whatever this is?" he chuckles, a sound rumbling deep from his chest. "Well, pretty girl, ain't you started this?"

He looms over you, hot breath carressing your face softly.

"Me? Unbelievable" you scoff. "You're one to talk, humiliating a poor freshman"

"Poor? You were distracted, in my class! Did your parents never teach you manners?!" his words leave droplets of spit that land in your face. "I had to put your stupid ass in place; that'll teach you something"

"Like what?" you taunt, recklessly, chest up and down with uneven breaths.

"I see it didn't work" his body language does an immediate switch. You remember a predator ready to strike their prey. "Maybe I should've tried harder"

His eyes do a wild dance over your body as so do yours.

Lip. Eyes. Skin. Cleavage. His tight pants. Biceps. Legs. Hair.

Before you can register, he's got you pinned against his desk, door closed in a loud move. There's a click sound somewhere in between, but you're too busy feeling his big hands grabbing your face roughly, as if he wants to consume your skin and feel your very bones on his calloused tips.

His lips are impossibly wet and eager, hands needily gropping your body. He pushes all his weight over you as he deepens the kiss, his tongue now inside your mouth, making you falter.

You let out a breathy moan when your back hits the desk, the wood digging your skin, but he swallows it whole, making it impossible for you to talk.

"Mmph-"

"Mmph?" he mocks between kisses, not giving you the chance to take a breath, or maybe he was scared you would get the time to think and would push him away. "Just my mouth got you all worked up, baby? Can't even speak"

Your fingers run through his hair for support, curls between your fingers. They felt soft, like they were meant to be combed through over and over again. He dives his head in your neck, hot mouth wet with its trail of kisses, making you squirm.

"I see" his breath ghosts over your reddened skin, "you wanted this just as much, don't you? This boys aren't enough for you?"

Every hair on your body prickles, his mouth claiming every spot he could, bites and hickeys all over your skin. You whine, pouting your lips, missing his already.

"It's okay, baby" he laughs, "just gotta show them who's enough for you" he grunts, "a man"

Mr. Pascal takes off your shirt, well, basically rips the poor thing, his hands relieved to finally touch your breasts. He roughly grabs one of them, and you bite your lip so hard, you almost feel the bitter metallic taste in your mouth. He lowers himself, despite his aching joints, to play with your hardened nipples, lapping them with his warm tongue, sucking and swirling until they turn swollen.

Your hand finds its way to his formal pants, fingers gracing over the fabric, feeling his cock straining against it. Just like you imagined it: big, like his presence. If it could, your pussy would jump in excitement, realistically just throbbing and leaking.

You untie his belt and buttons so you can begin to rub over his boxers. You can feel him trying to meet your touches, grinding onto your palm. He groans, deeply, enjoying your hungry stare, steady beat, parted lips and wet cunt.

He bucks his hips against you, propping himself on the wall behind his desk, which had moved from its original position thanks to the mayhem.

"You clearly don't know what you got yourself into, baby. But don't worry, I ain't letting you go just yet"

He pulls the skirt up, revealing the damp panties and mess between your legs. He licks his lips before rough digits find your wet folds. His fingers carress your impossibly tight walls, coating them with your slick.

"So fucking tight" he groans against your collarbones, "thought of yourself as uptight but I can fucking smell you dripping, you dirty slut. Could tell you loved provoking me becayse that's the only way your snotty ass can get off"

"F-fuck you, Mr. Pascal" you manage to choke out.

"Where are your manners? After how I've rewarded your big mouth, you bitch" he takes off your panties with skilled practice, the piece falling to the floor with a weak sound. Your bare cunt makes you shiver. "You think you're smart, baby? You think you can play these games and face no consequences at all?" he tuts. "No, Ms. Y/n, you know I hate wastin' my time, so be a good girl and don't make this harder for you, get that?"

You whine at his words, but refuse to shut your mouth.

"Oh, I'm smart" you laugh, "smart enough to have you on your knees for me"

An ugly grin spreads across his features.

"I will never bend for a bratty pretentious slut like you" he grips your hair with force, leaving your neck exposed, "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, stupid cock hungry whore. You wanted my attention? It's all yours"

Then, with a low, almost feral growl, he grabs your hips and hoists you up, wrapping your legs around his waist. He sweeps the papers and books onto the floor with a clatter, setting you down on the edge.

"You better behave, baby" Mr. Pascal bites your lower lip, "don't want people to know what we're doing in here, do you? Or would you want them to know just how much of a slut you are, spread on my desk as your cunt drips for me?"

He steps between your legs, pushing them further apart, his hands gripping your thighs hard enough to leave bruises. He leans in, his face inches from yours, voice low in a threatening rasp.

"I'll behave, I promise" mind in blank.

"No loud mouth bitchy stuck up attitude?"

You free his cock, hands scouting his shaft, his base, and balls. You fondled them while his fingers lingered closer to your pussy.

"No"

"This is what you wanted, isn't it? To be fucked stupid and used for my pleasure? Well, get ready, because I'm not going to stop until I've had my fill of this sweet little cunt"

He savors at the sight of your glistening folds.

"Let me-"

He laughs, seeing how you desire to guide his cock towards your entrance.

"Eager, little one?" he teases.

"Yes" you whimper, "I need you so badly, papi"

Your plea mixed with Spanish sends him on edge. His eyes darken with a primal, almost feral hunger at your desperate plea.

His voice is strained, rough with barely restrained lust.

"Fuck, you needy little thing. You want to take my dick until this desk breaks?"

He rubs the swollen head of his dick against your dripping slit, coating it in your arousal. Then, with one powerful thrust, he slams into you, burying himself to the hilt in your tight, hot cunt.

"So tight" he groans, starting to move and setting a brutal pace from the very beginning. The desk shakes and creaks beneath you with each forceful thrust, the sound of skin slapping against skin echoing through the empty office. He punctuates his words with a particularly hard thrust, grinding his pelvis against your clit. He sets a relentless, punishing rhythm, determined to fuck you into oblivion.

It's a goddamn view in here: him above you, droplets of sweat falling to your face, pristine hair now disheveled.

At this point, you were clenching so hard it hurt, walls fluttering around his massive girth. But he's greedy, and he's pushing himself deeper and deeper.

"Runnin' your mouth but now all quiet as you take all of me, hungry greedy whore" he digs his fingers into your cheeks harshly, but you find pleasure in the sting the pain causes. "Bet this is all you been thinking since you started talking back, huh? Don't worry, daddy's got you"

Surprisingly, he leans down, capturing your mouth in a dominating kiss, tongue invading your mouth. His hand comes up to wrap around your throat, squeezing lightly, a silent reminder of who you belong to.

"God. You're wet everywhere, baby"

His sweaty chest presses itself onto your tits as he forced his cock deeper within you, the plaid shirt sticking with sweat to his ablazed body, temperature high.

"T-the desk" you protest numbly; mind-fucked.

And oh, boy, doesn't he enjoy this view? Your fluttering eyelids, hazy eyes and trembling body.

So he keeps fucking you: pounding into you, rolling his hips skillfully, taking up all the space within you.

"I don't give a damn fuck about the desk, Ms. Y/n. I'm gonna fuck that attitude of yours until all you know is my name" he leans down, sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of your neck, biting down hard enough to leave a mark. His hands grip your hips with bruising force, pulling you harder against him with each violent thrust. "Gonna break the desk, hell, fuck you on the floor if necessary, but you ain't leaving this office until my cum drips from your legs and everyone knows your tight little cunt is mine"

The desk groans and wobbles beneath you, the legs scraping against the floor as Pedro fucks you with wild abandon. The sound of your moans and the crude, wet slap of skin on skin echoes obscenely in the room.

His pubic bone grinds against your clit with each thrust, the rough friction sending jolts of electric pleasure shooting up your spine. His cock hits that perfect spot inside you, the one that makes your toes curl and your back arch off the desk.

He feels your walls starting to flutter around him, your body tensing as your orgasm approaches. Mr. Pascal leans in, his lips brushing against your ear, his voice a dark, intimate rasp.

"Why don't you be a good girl and tell daddy how good he's making you feel? Show me and everyone else what a desperate little slut you are, waiting for me to fill you up nicely with my seed"

He makes out of you a loud mess, a series of sweet sounds falling from your lips. You clench and he twitches, his digits holding your waist, keeping you in place for him.

"Good girl" he praises, "now you're gonna take it all, milk me dry, you greedy cocksleeve"

His thrusts become erratic and sloppier. The older man can feel your walls starting to flutter around him, body tensing as your orgasm approaches. He leans in, his lips brushing against your ear, his voice a dark, intimate rasp.

"Will you be a good girl?"

"Yes!" you cry out, "don't stop!"

You hated this humilliation, how easy it is for him to fuck you with his big cock. You fucking hated him. But didn't he make you feel so good.

"Then come on my cock, bitch"

You didn't think it was capable, no, but you did. A first, another first when it came to Mr. Pascal.

You squirt. You fucking squirted.

Pedro lets out a feral roar of triumph when your pussy spasms around his pistoning cock, your release gushing out and soaking his dick and the desk, papers and shit beneath you (no, not the quizzes! You had printed them this morning). He savors the way you throw your head back, eyes rolling until they turn white on your fucked-out face.

"Such a sweet cunt, baby" he praises. "Milk me dry, come on"

Your slick walls milking him dry pushes him over the edge, clenching around him, and he knew it was over. He snaps, arching his back as he roughly moans. With one final, brutal thrust, he buries himself balls-deep inside you, his cock throbbing and pulsing as he starts to come. Thick, scorching ropes of cum paint your insides, flooding your womb with his potent seed, still pushing the remnants inside when he grinds against you, his pelvis pressed tight to yours as he rides out the waves of his intense orgasm. His grip on your hips tightens, fingermarks surely to be left in the soft flesh as he holds you in place, ensuring you take every last drop of his release.

"That's it, pretty baby. Can't even speak, can you?" he captures your mouth in a deep, dominating kiss. Like he owns you. "As you can see, I'm a man of my word"

He breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against yours as he pants softly. His eyes, when they meet yours, are dark and intense, filled with a primal, almost feral satisfaction.

It's humilliating, really, how your lips search for more. You need him, badly, despite how shit he treats you and how wrong all of this is. Is this a win or a loose?

"Good girl" he repeats, his sweaty forehead clashing against yours. The desk creaks yet again. You love when he praises you, and you whine on instintic, making him laugh. "Learned your place just yet? Listen carefully, Ms. Y/n: no matter what you do or say, I'll always win, get it? And you'll be nothing but a needy uptight slut who begs for my attention and cock"

He pulls out of you slowly, his softening dick slipping from your well-used hole with a gush of their combined releases. He tucks himself away, doing up his pants with quick, efficient movements. His thumb brushes over your lower lip, smearing a streak of his cum across it.

"Go on. Taste it, and tell me how it feels"

Your tongue does a lazy movement, making your lips moist thanks to the saliva and his cum, like a fucking gloss. You shouldn't enjoy this, really, but your body shivers when you feel the taste of him going down your throat as you swallow.

"Good" you manage to speak, salt on the tip of your tongue.

"Good" he repeats, voice low and menacing, "because we're just getting started"

cr: divider @kodaswrld / gif @a7estrellas

[writerfae]

Christmas movie au Advent Calendar 🎄

Day Twenty-One: (☃️)Snow globe(☃️)

Christmas special tag list: @bunnymermaidsblog @deadlycupid @dustylovelyrun @ladywithalamp @sleepy-night-child @theguywithnonickname

After dinner, they sat cuddled up on the couch.

Aiden made himself a home in between Talon’s legs, head leaning against his chest and Talon’s arms securely wrapped around him.

Talon wouldn’t mind staying like this forever, freezing this moment in to put it in a snow globe and hold on to it forever.

It felt an awful lot like the calm before a storm and he pulled Aiden even closer to himself.

“What was Christmas like for you? Before your family stopped celebrating, I mean?” Aiden asked and Talon froze for a second.

“You don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to talk about it,” he added quietly, fingers drawing patterns near Talon’s collarbone as if to soothe him.

“No, I want to.” Talon gulped. “It’s just… it’s been so long…”

Yet he remembered it vividly, he just hadn’t allowed himself to think about it.

“When I was younger, Christmas was my highlight of the year. We usually spent it at my uncle Kieran’s house, because it was big enough to host such an event. And it really was an event. Most of my family was there, as well as my uncle’s friends.

There was a huge Christmas tree in the main hall and decoration everywhere and the largest table I had ever seen, filled with so much food us children thought it could feed a whole village.”

He chuckled.

“Uncle Kieran always hosted nice Christmas parties like this with music and buffet and a present exchange. It was a sight to behold and everyone had so much fun. I think you would’ve liked it. It was like in one of those Christmas movies.”

Talon’s hand found its way in Aiden’s hair as he kept talking.

“But what I always liked best was Christmas Eve before it, where it was just my parents, my sister, Kieran and me.

My mom would’ve prepared dinner and even got dad to help her with it and my uncle played with us children. He taught me a new Christmas song to play on either the violin or the guitar each year.”

He smiled fondly, lost in the memories. He had almost forgotten how he had loved the holiday.

“My sister and me had to play something on the instrument before we got our presents - my family was very traditional when it came to things like this. And then we got our presents.

My uncle always got me the things my dad would never have bought for me, no matter how much I begged him. Stuff like video games or action figures.

One year he gifted me a violin, way too valuable for a child my age, but he said that a professional needed a professional instrument.”

Talon’s father had been skeptical if this was a good present for a five year old, but Kieran had insisted.

He had his first own violin when he was even younger, he claimed.

“Talent needs to be supported,” he said, laying his hand on Talon’s head. “And Talon has plenty of talent.”

Talon wanted to be a musician back then, but that childhood dream had died with his uncle, probably even before.

After all, he’d inherit a family business.

“That sounds nice,” Aiden whispered, as if afraid that him speaking any louder would scare Talon away.

Talon nodded.

“He was. And with his present came a Christmas card. He wrote one for me every year, addressing it to “his favorite nephew”, until the very last Christmas we shared together before he…”

He fell silent.

“I still have all of them, in my apartment somewhere. I couldn’t bring myself to leave them behind when I moved out. It was always our little tradition.”

He hadn’t even noticed the single tear running down his cheek before Aiden shifted in his lap and leaned up to kiss it away.

“You must’ve really loved him. I’m sorry,” he cupped Talon’s cheek with a hand.

Talon leaned into it, closing his eyes.

“I did.” He opened them again to look at Aiden. “Thank you.”

His voice was barely about a whisper but they were so close Aiden understood it nonetheless.

He kissed him then.

Because he wanted to and Aiden was right here, in front of him, and life was too short to miss out on even the smallest chances he got to do it.

After a while, Aiden pulled away, taking Talon’s face in both of his hands and Talon almost started to tear up again just at the gentleness of this gesture.

“Your uncle and the Christmases you shared with him sound really great. I’m sorry that you lost all that. But I hope you’ll at least find your joy in Christmas again. I think your uncle would want it, too.”

He was probably right with that.

For so many years Talon had been busy pushing away all the negative feelings regarding his uncle and Christmas, that he didn’t notice that it kept out all the good feelings and memories he had, too.

All it took for him to achieve this clarity was to be sent into this little Christmas-loving town of all places.

That and the person in front of him.

Aiden had given him so much. He deserved to know the truth. Despite that knowledge weighing down on him, he smiled, putting his hands over Aiden’s.

“I did find it. Thanks to you.”

Aiden let go of Talon and leaned back, just looking at Talon.

“I’m glad,” he said then and smiled.

Shortly after, Aiden excused himself to go get them something to drink and Talon was left alone in the warm living room of Aiden’s house.

It was already cozy to begin with, but the Christmas decorations that were added recently gave the room a whole different charm.

Talon found it comfortable here, there was a feeling of warmth and safety in the air.

Like a magical aura surrounding the room.

Talon let his eyes wander through the room, taking it all in.

This here: this room, this house, the farm… Talon promised himself to find a way to protect it, no matter the prize he had to pay.

His gaze got stuck on something that sat on the mantelpiece of the huge fireplace, something he hadn’t noticed before.

He stood up to get to look at it from up closer.

It was a snow globe, he realized as he stood in front of the fireplace.

A very pretty snow globe, big and heavy enough that he needed both of his hands to be able to properly hold it.

Inside the snow globe was a little scenery:

Snow covering the floor and dusting the four Christmas trees in the background and before it a prettily decorated carriage loaded with a bag of presents, drawn by a single white horse and with no one less than Santa himself holding the reigns.

Next to Santa, a little girl with black curls sat in the carriage. Maybe she was supposed to be an elf or an angel, from the look of her it could’ve been both.

The pedestal the globe stood on was red with little handmade decorations in gold and green drawn on it. In the middle of it stood a name:

Ranva.

It was a pretty sight and as he slowly turned the little clockwork key on the back, gentle glistening snow was swirling around the globe.

He smiled to himself, carefully setting the snow globe down again.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Aiden’s voice asked close to his ear and Talon was glad he had put the snow globe down already, otherwise he would’ve most likely dropped it.

“Yes, very.” He turned to look at Aiden, who stood next to him, eying the snow globe fondly.

“It was my mother’s,” he said, reaching out and gently swiping his finger over the engraved name on the pedestal.

“She got it as a gift from her parents when she was little, cause the girl looked like her. It was one of the few things she took with her as she came here.”

He smiled.

“It was kind of our tradition, you know? Each year for Christmas she put the snow globe on the mantelpiece.

And each year on Christmas Eve she took it from its rightful place, sat down on the couch with it and let my brother and me cuddle up to her, telling us the story about a girl and how she got to help out Santa.“

A chuckle escaped his lips.

“It was the only time we were allowed to hold it, otherwise it had to remain where it was. My mom wasn’t really a strict mother but she took this one rule very serious.”

He sighed.

“The first two or so year after her death, we couldn’t put the snow globe up for Christmas, because father would freak out about it.

I put it in my room, once, because it made me feel like she was with us for Christmas, you know? But dad saw it and had a mental breakdown. I didn’t dare to put it back up ever since.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Talon said, grabbing Aiden’s hand.

Aiden squeezed their joined hands lightly, then he let go and used it to brush away the tears gathering in his eyes.

“It’s okay. The years after her death have been hard, but he’s better now. Now when he looks at it, he’s smiling, not crying. We have it up for the fifth year in a row this Christmas.”

“That’s nice.” Aiden smiled sadly. “It is…” He looked away.

“What is it?” Talon asked, making Aiden look at him. “What’s wrong?”

Aiden sighed, closing his eyes.

“I was just thinking about how this will probably be our last Christmas here.”

He opened his eyes to look at Talon and for the first time since they knew each other Talon wished those eyes wouldn’t look at him so directly, so he didn’t have to see the sadness in them.

And so that Aiden couldn’t see the guilt in his.

“What are you talking about?”

Stop lying, Talon scolded himself. You know exactly what he is talking about. You need to tell him.

“It’s senseless to keep up hope. We won’t be able to get enough money to save the farm, so we have to take the offer of these people.

Mr. Hawkins made a good offer, it will be enough to start a comfortable life someplace new but… it kills me to think about losing the farm. Not just not living or working here anymore, but it just being… gone.

Thinking about some stupid hotel or mall or whatever it is that they want to build here and that this town doesn’t need standing in its stead. Generations of family history lost…

I don’t want to be the one of my family who failed. I don’t want to be the reason father loses his whole legacy. Our legacy.”

His grip on Talon grew more desperate with every word and Talon’s heart broke at the same time as Aiden’s voice.

“He barely survived losing mom.”

Tears threatened to fall, but Aiden didn’t cry again. Didn’t allow himself too, probably.

Too strong for it.

Too proud.

“I don’t want him to lose the place that he made his home with her, too.”

Tell him, his mind screamed. You need to tell him.

Talon wasn’t as strong as Aiden, he did start to cry, silent tears falling from his face without his consent.

This was it then, the final moment. The one that would ruin everything.

But he couldn’t keep going like this, lying to Aiden about it all.

It would be selfish, dishonest, disrespectful.

It would be no basis for a relationship.

“I’m sorry, Aiden,” he said, grief tying up his throat. “I’m so so sorry.”

His reaction surprised Aiden so much that he let go of him.

“What’s wrong?”

Concern showed in his eyes, concern for Talon, even though it was Aiden who had all the worries.

And Talon was just about to cause him even more.

He didn’t deserve Aiden’s concern.

“Aiden, I-“ Talon took a deep breath.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

[restinslices]

Mortality

Jesper Fahey x Spouse (no gender specified) Word count: 2150 Summary: You and Jesper aged differently. You aged as any Otkazat’sya did. Jesper on the other hand is Grisha and ages much slower. As your mortality gets closer and closer, you and Jesper have a much needed talk. Wrote this on my phone at midnight😀

People could say a lot of negative things about Jesper Fahey. 

He was a shit gambler, a flirt, a drunk, he didn't think, he could be selfish at times, he could give you a headache with one sentence, among other things that could make anyone go in the opposite direction. 

But it was impossible to say he wasn't loving. Jesper held onto people and treated everyone like family, even when there were conflicts. There were plenty of times when you and Jesper would have a disagreement, yet he still looked at you like he'd both die and kill for you. Jesper could sometimes make promises he'd easily break for the right price. The promises he made to you though? There was no card game, no shiny gun, no heist, no amount of cash that could make him turn on you. 

Jesper supposed that's how he got himself to where he was now and honestly? He wasn't sure he liked it. 

Was it selfish to say apart of him wished you two never became something more or maybe that he never met you? Was it selfish to look at your aging body and wish he walked away and stayed away after The Ice Court heist? Maybe. He wasn't sure he cared though. 

Aging gave him a tap on the shoulder, but aging slammed into you. That didn't mean you were unattractive in his eyes, it just meant your body felt the stings of aging. Bad knees, hips, shoulder pains, wrinkles, all that was normal and expected. Jesper practically looked the same as he did when you two met. You were closer to death but he felt like the true ghost; forever stuck in a single moment. No changes to himself, only to his environment and the people around him. 

Or maybe even a time loop, but only for himself. Everyone else was free and moved on. Not him though. 

Jesper didn't realize he was staring until you said something, 

“A penny for your thoughts?”. 

“What?”

“You're staring”

“Oh” Jesper said with realization, “an accident”. Partially true. 

He smoothed out the blankets in front of him to distract himself but that worked as well as anyone would imagine. Your face was imprinted on his mind, and although Jesper could've just laid down and went straight to sleep, he knew it'd be all he'd see when he closed his eyes. 

Jesper heard you close and set your book down, then felt your eyes on him. 

“What're you doing?”

“Smoothing these blankets. They're quite wrinkly”

“Why?”

“Why? Why does anyone do anything?”

You sighed, “why won't you look at me?”

“I'm getting rid of the wrinkles on this blanket like I said”

“Because you can't get rid of mine?”. Jesper's hands stopped moving and he finally looked at you and another wave of sorrow hit him. Why did your inevitable death hit him so hard? 

Maybe it was because you were the last one left. 

Kaz, Inej, Wylan, Matthias, they were all gone by now. Matthias’ death was the first hit he received since his mom passed and as time went on the rest of his family, even if not by blood, passed on. Sure, he had Nina but Nina’s home was Ravka. Nina was more often busy than not and she was not the fondest of Kerch. Many times you suggested moving to Ravka for a “change of scenery”. He knew the truth though. You wanted him to get used to living somewhere else so he could be closer to Nina and not alone. You were the last consistent thing attached to his younger life and by some twist of fate, he'd be doomed to outlive majority of the people he met. He wondered if he did something awful in a past life to deserve this. 

“You've gone quiet again Jes”

He shook his head. “I don't know what to say”

“Too much on your brain? Don't know how to get it out?”. He assumed you took his silence as an answer because next you said “just say whatever, even if it doesn't make sense”. 

He took a deep breath then. It's not like you two hasn't talked about this before, but it was usually a small conversation that he'd slip his way out of with some dumb excuse. 

“I have something to do”. “I'm tired”. “Let's go eat”. “I have to go write a letter”. The list went on and on. This time though he couldn't think of an excuse and with limited time, he knew he had to speak to your living body now instead of a tombstone. 

“I don't think I'm ready to do this without you”

“Do what?”

“Live”. It came out breathy and quiet. He could tell he had upset you by how deep your frown was. Or maybe that was another sign of aging. He couldn't tell. 

“I can't do it”. 

“Yes you can”

“I can't”

“Jesper Fahey you can break into a Fjerdan Ice Court, escape, survive months at sea with Kaz Brekker, go toe to toe with every gang in Ketterdam and you still use the words 'I can't’?”. In any other circumstance he would've laughed and made some comment about how amazing he is. He didn't this time though. Nothing really felt enjoyable or funny anymore. Not when you could have some attack at any moment and be gone. 

“You're beautiful,” he said. “Absolutely stunning. I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful as you”

“There's the stars and sea yet I’m the most beautiful thing you've seen?”. 

He nodded. “Absolutely”. 

“Is that why you're with me then? My charming looks?”

“You could look like all things wrong with the world and I'd still want you”

“Jesper the poet? I think I like it”. Your fragile hand held his and your eyes locked onto his. “You can live without me-”

“I can't”. The tears he had been fighting so hard to keep away finally slipped. He didn't bother wiping them away, too scared to let go of your hand. “I wanna be able to but I can't”

“Why?”. 

“Why?”, he  repeated. “I just can't”. 

Your thumb rubbing over his hand soothed him for a moment, but only a moment. That calmness died when you spoke again. 

“If this is hard for you, you can go. You don't have to see me like this”

“Where would I go?”, he asked with furrowed brows and a mix of hurt and confusion etched on his face. 

You shrugged. “Ravka maybe? Make it your new home-”

“My home is here. With you”

“You'll have to find a new one when I go”. 

His hand slipped from yours, frustration building in his chest. It all sounded so easy but it was only easy because you were the one dying. You wouldn't have to feel another part of you ripped away. You wouldn't feel anything anymore. He would. 

He'd think about it almost everyday and a hole would form in his chest and pull him into this thick fog and within this fog he'd hear the future. He'd hear a heart monitor go flat. He'd hear your breathing become shallow before it eventually stopped. He'd hear his own crying. Yet you would come along and act as if everything was alright. You'd be calm and fine while he was breaking on the inside. 

“Jesper Fahey, I am going to die and there's nothing you can do about it”. 

“What?”

“Jesper Fahey, I am going to die and there's nothing you can do about it”. 

“Stop”. 

But you didn't stop. You repeated it again and again and he thought he must've been hallucinating and finally reached his breaking point. He covered his ears but you grabbed his hands and intertwined your fingers with his. You opened your mouth but he cut you off with a broken voice. 

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you don't understand you can't control this”

“I understand fully” he said quickly. “That's the whole problem. Can you stop being calm and show some sort of emotion for once?”

“What do you want me to do? To cry? To think about it and stress myself to a migraine like you do everyday?”. He hated how you looked at him then; with pity. It felt like with one foot in the grave, you'd always use the other to stay near him and soothe him and it made him feel selfish. “You wanna know how I feel?”. He didn't answer but you continued anyway. “I am terrified of death. Faith exists to calm us of this fear but honestly, I'm still scared. I don't know what's next. I don't know how it'll feel. I don't know if I'll see a light or if I'll be in darkness. I don't know how I'll go out and I don't know how it'll feel to take my last breath. I'm terrified but worrying about it everyday? That's not living. I'll be on my deathbed slipping away and all I'll think about is how I should've lived more”

“You are so stressed about me dying but honestly Jes? You're just making yourself live through the inevitable every single day. We should be loving each other now more than ever when we have the time. We're gonna get to my final moments and we'll both have regrets, the only difference is you'll have to live with yours”. 

Jesper couldn't help but let tears fall from his eyes. He knew you were right and that he should be holding you close during this time, but he couldn't help but listen to the tiny voice in his head that drove him insane everyday. Everyday was a reminder that for some unknown reason, he'd live much longer. Years would pass and he'd forget your face and always have to look at pictures or letters to remember you. One day he'd even forget your voice. How long would that take? 10 years? 20? 30? 

The more he thought, the more his breathing became erratic and his vision blurred. Blinking away tears didn't work. They'd just come back. You guided his head to your shoulder before your hand found its way to his back to rub circles on it. Jesper wasn't known to cry, but he cried. Hard. And you let him. When his breathing returned to normal, it wasn't because he was no longer sad. It was because he was exhausted. His eyes and nose had gone red by now and his face felt incredibly sore. 

When he quieted down, you spoke again. “I want to love you while I still can but if you don't want to see what'll eventually happen… I’m… I'm willing to let you go”. It was hard for you to say. He could tell because of how quiet it came out. Were you willing to? Probably. Did you want to? Absolutely not. He didn't need to ask or look at you to know. 

Jesper had a big choice to make. He stayed, spent the rest of your life with you and eventually buried you or he could leave and try to get a jumpstart at a new life. He wouldn't see age continue to eat at you and when your time came, he wouldn't be there. He'd be leaving you alone. He probably wouldn't know exactly when you died. Years would pass and he'd just guess that you were gone. 

Jesper was ashamed of how long it took him to make a decision. Leaving seemed so good. The pain of watching you continue to grow old would be no more, but then he'd be left with another pain; the pain of never seeing you again. Of knowing he abandoned you when all you wanted was to hold him close. You had no family and no notable friends besides him and Nina now. You'd probably be found and with no one to identify you, who knew what would become of your body in Kerch. A body with no name. And he'd become a body with no home. 

“I'm not going anywhere”. He finally lifted his head up to look at you and although he still felt that pang in his heart, he didn't look away and try to avoid your gaze. He just looked at you, mapping every detail of your face so he could look back and remember just how beautiful you were when you're gone. 

“I am so going to miss you”

“Of course you will” you said with a small smile and you finally got a chuckle out of him, even if it was small. 

You didn't have forever. You both knew you were on limited time and one day you'd be apart, but you both promised to love and cherish the time you still had together and maybe, just maybe, you'd see each other in the next life when the sun finally set on the both of you. 

I am feral for this man in the most wholesome way possible. Legit just wanna hold his hand and hear him talk about dumb shit.

[nahisummerhold]

Completely out of her depth, that is how Nahi felt as she approached the medical school admissions offices of the college. 

A number of governesses, dance instructors and tutors had been part of her childhood. The governesses and her grandmother gave her impeccable manners, the instructors got her at least a little approval from her mother, the  tutors would have made little impact had she been less intelligent, they only would have just created enough knowledge for her to be a good conversationalist for social situations. There had never been an inkling of higher education in Nahi’s life right up to this new calling she felt to medicine. 

Over the past week, she had spent a lot of time with her step-father and Aronouthia, one of her mother’s nurses, to help her figure out a path into the medical field. Plenty of pastries and tea had been served, they told her stories about what Nahi would be facing in the field, plus Iren took time to heal her throat. It had been a wonderful week, that she hadn’t known was needed. 

All that work led her to stand in a hallway, settling her breath then stepping through the admissions office door with her best polite smile affixed. The receptionist was lovely and welcoming, putting Nahi immediately at ease and having her take a seat to wait for her appointment time. 

A man stepped down a hallway and talked to the receptionist, when he turned to Nahi his smile faltered a little bit and a confused frown created a shadow between his brows, as he walked to her. “Hello, I am Professor Jallathal, I am told you have interest in joining our nursing program.” 

Nahi stood and smoothed non-existent wrinkles from her simple brown pants, keeping her smile easy. He had recognized her and she knew him, maybe more than he realized, his family had been to a few parties that her family attended when she was younger and his son had married one of the women in her circle. More recently than that, she had been introduced to him at a couple fundraisers for medical research she performed at in Suramar. 

There was a calculation in his gaze, turning he gestured her forward , “Second door on the right, please.”

Moving gracefully down the hallway, she stepped into the room and scanned the walls, looking over diplomas, books and pictures, seeing one of his son, the woman she knew and four children, that made her smile warmer, it was nice to see. Looking to him once more as he closed the door and gestured to a comfortable looking seat in front of his desk. 

“Tell me Lady Summerhold, what has brought you to my office?” His voice held curiosity and he had skipped right past any form of address and went right to Lady, it meant he recognized who she was, something that he had not done when they met at the parties recently. 

With a dip of her chin, she acknowledged his use of her title, “I was told that your program is one of the better ones in the city.” It was a tactic that her step-father suggested, it was actually the best program in his mind, but he didn’t want her to say that up front. Iren said that the school should want to draw her there, not make it look like she was shooting for the stars.

The Professor leaned back in his chair, “I am surprised I didn't see it before. You look so much like your grandmother.”

Violet brows rose slightly in surprise, usually people compared her to her mother when commenting on her looks, even though the only thing they had in common was their coloring. “She used to say that about me as well, that I looked just like she did when she was young.” 

“I suppose it was my being a little in awe of meeting you recently that made me not recognize it, or seeing your full name on the appointment calendar. You have quite a draw as a performer,” he commented, “so, I ask again, why are you here.” 

All the talking points she had discussed with Irenthalas went right out the window. “I have been working with the medical staff for a mercenary company and I wish to learn more than just first aid and helping with patient intake.” 

They just kept surprising one another and that was clear as he looked puzzled again, “Maybe we should step this conversation back a little, as much for my curiosity as to your admission here.”

Nahi’s first instinct was to tell him that she wasn’t here to indulge his interest, but, like with many of her first reactions, she kept it held back with her lessons in social niceties. “Whatever will help you make a decision on my enrollment.” It was a gentle version of what she wanted to say, but not antagonistic enough to weigh against her.

His gold eyes went to his son’s picture but he didn’t address that directly, “How does one go from being the Summerhold heir to the Silver Banshee, horrible name by the way, to a mercenary?” 

It was such a straight path question that it made her chuckle, she liked how this professor got right to a point. “We were with the Prince in the Outlands, my mother was injured so we ended up in Dalaran when I began to perform. The name was my first manager’s idea, I should have fired him just for that.” He laughed and she continued on, “When Dalaran was about to fall I recognized a chance to change my pathway and when I was offered a place in a company I took it.”

“So you're a fighter too?” He sounded even more surprised at that, “Your family was not known for being martial in a couple of generations.” 

“I had been training in self defense for a while, so I thought I was, a notion I was disabused of very quickly, with more than a few bruises.” Nahi had her most charming smile on her lips, “My step-father is a healer so I know a little bit of first aid, plus I had been helping my mother which meant I needed to know some emergency practices in case we had to wait for a healer or nurse. I gravitated towards helping the healers in camp, began learning and asked the lead healer for a place on her staff.” 

He nodded along with her explanation, a hint of surprise at the mention of her mother, “You said your mother was injured, but she still needs help?”

The lead in question was expected when she had opened up to that fact. “Brain injury which has led to dementia, we have a full time nursing staff for her now.” Letting him know about her care might help influence him more to accept her interest as well thought out, so she made sure he knew it. 

“I am sorry to hear that, it is not an easy thing to deal with,” his gaze became softer and she saw a paternal kindness in him. “And now you want to be a nurse? I am sure you are valuable to your company as you are, every extra pair of hands are usually put to good use in the military.”

“Our last engagement had me wanting to help at a greater level. I know I can just keep doing what I have been. Volunteering at the Shielded Mind clinic has helped me increase my skills, but I recognize that they are not a teaching hospital.” Veilos had mentioned that one night shortly after she started volunteering, that if she wanted to move forward with being medical personnel she would need to find another place to train as they are not a teaching location.

Iren told her that this school had high standards and so she would need to get them interested in her, and see her determination to further her education, to get them to offer her a place in their program. “Do you have a healing gift?”

“I do not, but I know that is not necessary for a nurse, or even a doctor, and there are even people that magic can not be used on.” Nahi had let her tone become more serious and professional, part of it was practiced, part was controlling the fear trying to flare after mentioning the Undermines and the rest was her need to be taken seriously, something that had been a struggle in big chunks of her life. 

Nothing was said for a while as he looked her over. She wondered if he had magic that let him sense things about a person, or if, like her, he just was good at reading people. “The costs for schooling are a hurdle for some people.”

It was a big part of the conversations over the past week, but she knew she could afford it, even with the expense of restoring the estate gardens. Taking time for all this in her life would limit her availability for performances even more than she had been doing already. Luckily for her, being more exclusive meant she could charge more. “Yes, sir, but I can manage that.” 

“Our program will have you certified in six to nine months for a basic LPN certification, two to four years to become a registered nurse.” He reached into his desk and slid class schedules across his desk to her, “The times are variable to the time commitment, we have a full time and a part time schedule.”  

Nahi took the paper and looked them over but she already knew her answer, “Full time is what interests me. I a, free for other obligations at the moment.”

Professor Jallathal looked at her, “You do not have work with your company?”

Nahi frowned a little, and reached up in a nervous gesture to brush a loose lock over her scarred ear, “We currently are not on active duty which is why I would like to get started.” 

“And if you are called back?” He asked and tapped his fingers on his desk. 

It was a question she expected to come up, “Depending on what the company is signed on for, I would take a leave from my program here, or ask my commander if I can stay behind. I know that the LPN certification doesn’t have any work study involved, but your RN program does. I can check to see if any of the camp healers have credentials that will let me work under them when, and if, the time comes.”

“You have done your research,” he said with a measure of approval.

“Met with my step-father and my mother’s nurses this week to ask their advice,” she recovered a little of her smile, “moving forward blindly into things does not always work out well.” And sometimes it did, like Nahi joining the company. 

Taking another of those long breaks to appraise her, “Our next semester begins next week but you will need to be evaluated first, but I am guessing you knew that too.” He smirked and stood, “I can arrange for your evaluation on Wednesday, Miss Mun’law upfront will get you your paperwork, please return that by this afternoon or I will have to delay the evaluation. I look forward to seeing how you do, Lady Summerhold.”

Nahi scrunched up her nose slightly, “Could I ask that you use Ms. Summerhold? It is how I will be applying.” 

“Alright Ms. Summerhold, I will see you Wednesday.” There was a question in his gaze but he didn’t saying anything more and he gestured to his door then walked her to the front desk and got the very nice Miss Mun’law started with her paperwork.

When he moved to step back to his office she wanted to tell him to tell his son and daughter-in-law hello for her, but she remembered how she treated them when she was younger, so she just nodded her head, “Thank you.”

(Tag @veilosdaigoa )

[billpottsismygf]

73 Yards

I have slightly mixed feelings on this one, but what it did well it did brilliantly. The episode was beautifully shot with a fantastically creepy atmosphere throughout. The Welsh landscape, the close shots, the out of focus semper distans, the mystery of what was being said. Millie Gibson's performance throughout was stellar and this is the most invested I've felt in her character so far. I did miss Ncuti's presence somewhat, but it says a lot that she was able to carry the episode on her own and I do love when the format gets shaken up occasionally and we get a Doctor-lite episode.

I loved Kate's brief appearance and the way it sold the fact that this was a very serious situation. You think UNIT might be able to help here, but Ruby is once again left alone. The themes of abandonment in this one were incredibly potent and really tie into the themes of the series. Unsurprisingly, one of the most effective and upsetting parts of the episode was Ruby's mum also being affected by the mysterious woman. Her anguished screams for her mum were really quite harrowing, as was that awful comment about her birth mother not wanting her.

It also got far darker than I would expect in a Doctor Who episode. The far-right politician and the threat of nuclear war was plenty, but what was done to Marti was absolutely chilling, as was Ruby's apology for not doing anything. It gets away with it because it's all through implication, but that almost makes it more hard hitting. You don't always need to see the monster in action to know what it's doing. It also reminds me of my much younger self not picking up on the Master beating Lucy Saxon until I was a teenager.

The way time began to speed along was actually quite shocking to begin with - I actually gasped when we saw the 25th birthday cards - and it kept bringing to mind various other episodes where companions have been abandoned either in the real world or another timeline/reality, especially things like The Girl Who Waited, Turn Left, Forest of the Dead, The Lie of the Land, World Enough and Time etc. That things get undone at the end was again a little reminiscent of a few of them, but this is also where we come to my criticisms of the episode, because - while I loved the experience of watching it - the ending feels tacked on in a way that is very unsatisfying.

There were a number of things that just never get explained. For a minor example, why did the Doctor disappear? Disturbing the fairy circle released Mad Jack (I'll come onto him) and also made the Doctor disappear? And also made the TARDIS lock in a way that couldn't be opened with Ruby's key? I'm not as bothered by this as the below, but it feels messy and like an attempt to do a Turn Left without an actual reason for the Doctor to be gone.

A bigger gripe is Ruby being the following lady. That on its own would have been fine, but that combined with other elements just frustrates me. Mainly, if the following lady was Ruby, what is it she says to get people to run away? I don't mind things being left to the imagination - for instance, I quite like that we don't get an explanation for why she has to be 73 yards away; I can infer that that's got something to do with the fairy circle - but it appears that whatever she says specifically makes people think there's something horrifying about Ruby.

What could Old Ruby possibly say to that end and why would she? And why would the same thing make a Prime Minister resign? If we had never found out who she was, I would have been perfectly happy to infer that she was a force of some kind that drives people mad, but it's Ruby! Knowing who she is but not what she does or how or why she does it is the worst way round. I want to know neither or both, or possibly the latter but not the former, but this way round just frustrates me.

On that note, the friend I was watching with pointed out that, as she was dying, elderly Ruby had very short hair and suddenly has long hair when she becomes the semper distans lady. A small detail, perhaps, but one that further muddles the conclusion. Why did her hair change? Where did the coat come from? It's a different actress as well and, even at that distance, you can kind of tell. Did Old Ruby just end up embodying an existing spirit to do with the fairy circle? If so, I would have liked that to be a lot clearer. If not, why does she look so different?

Okay, so, Mad Jack. Who or what is Mad Jack? Is he a spirit of some kind that possesses Roger ap Gwilliam? Was he always Roger ap Gwilliam? Does Roger ap Gwilliam exist without him? If Roger ap Gwilliam does not exist without Mad Jack, how come the Doctor still mentions him? If Roger ap Gwilliam does exist without Mad Jack, what is changed by the Doctor stepping on the fairy circle?

In the version of the timeline we end up on (where the Doctor doesn't step in the fairy circle but Roger ap Gwilliam is still mentioned by him as a dangerous Prime Minister), here are a few possibilities and why they don't work for me:

Does he still become Prime Minister and get taken down another way? Perhaps, but it's not like Turn Left where we know the problems would have been stopped by the Doctor (who's not here). Without Ruby's infiltration and semper distans lady, what stops him? And why was that not able to stop him in the timeline we witnessed?

Is he less dangerous? The second time around of the opening conversation we don't get the line about the brink of nuclear war, though only because Ruby interrupts him to point out the woman, but maybe we can infer that this time he's a dangerous Prime Minister but not that dangerous? That seems quite weak and unclear, though, and seems to disregard the horror of the Marti stuff.

Does the timeline only change after the Doctor's comments about him being a dangerous Prime Minister? He does say that before stepping (or not stepping) in the fairy circle both times. I might be happy to assume that Roger ap Gwilliam never comes to power after that diverging moment has passed, except that things have already changed before the Doctor mentions him because Ruby says she's been to Wales three times. Maybe they've changed a bit but not enough until the moment she stops him from stepping on it, but that is not at all clear.

If it's any of these (or none of them), that's really confusing! It's just so messy and unclear. It would have been a simple fix, too! Keep everything the same and just add in a line as they're walking away at the end along the lines of "thank goodness he never got into power; people never found him that convincing". That would have clarified a) things have changed since a few seconds ago b) that Mad Jack is what allowed him to get to power and c) in this timeline, that won't happen and Ruby won't need to stop him.

Despite all my complaints, I did really love watching this episode. It's just so carelessly wrapped up, as if they didn't think about the implications of the otherwise very well told story. I'll be interested to rewatch it and see if my complaints bother me more or less on second viewing. I really want to love this episode because there were so many fantastic elements, but it just makes all the inconsistencies and loose threads and muddled logic particularly frustrating because they were only another draft or two away from being solved.

Misc small things

No theme tune! I feel robbed! Maybe it was meant to be part of the vibe that we're not in the usual timeline, but come on. It could easily have been slotted in when she left the TARDIS the first time or before she got to the pub!

Other episodes I thought of: Extremis with warning other versions of yourself; The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood with waving at future versions of yourself that disappear when things change; Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS with weird timelines and future selves and things being undone; Last Christmas with the companion becoming elderly; Turn Left for the vibes of "there's something on your back"; Under the Lake/Before the Flood with a silent message, since it looked like the woman was trying to sign things to Ruby; and The Sound of Drums/Last of the Timelords with the triple whammy of the companion having to 1) set off on their own to 2) take down a prime minister and 3) have time reverse.

It's also got a good old bootsrap paradox in it, which doesn't bother me in the way of the above complaints, but for the sake of completionism: How was Ruby warned about the future when that future hasn't happened? Would have loved Twelve to briefly pop his head in and explain it for us.

It's interesting that the snow stopped throughout this version of her life. It also seemed to snow while she was on her way to the pub.

Kate's comment about how "this timeline might be suspended along your event" was interesting and I wonder if it connects with the snow stopping.

For the first time I actually recognised Susan Twist when she appeared, but I'm not sure I would have done without Ruby realising she recognised her. I liked that! It felt very Boom Town and recognising Bad Wolf coming up again.

There was a little cameo from Mrs Flood.

[shatteredvioletnuzlocke]

Pierced Stone

(A Shattered Violet One shot)

It was a cloudy midday on Uva’s training field, with the sunlight fading out with each cloud that passed by. Nemona was near the end of her Intro to Battling class. She had sent Fuerte into battle with a student’s Lechonk.

Glad it’s not me out there, Pierce thought, I would’ve skewered the poor thing! She stood by with her teammates as she observed the little Sprigatito lashing his claws about.

“Zipi use Tackle!” The younger student tried to evoke a serious command.

“Fuerte, Quick Attack!” Her trainer followed.

“Go Fuerte!” Punchy squeaked flailing his little paws around.

Fuerte darted toward his opponent without any preparation. He lunged with unsheathed claws, scraping the poor Lechonk in the face.

“Ha, take that!” He reveled in his strength.

“Auntie, Xio! Auntie, Pierce!” Punchy padded over to the older Pokemon, “Isn’t Fuerte cool?”

“Don’t go looking up to him, Kid,” Pierce nagged with a snuff, “He hits well. But his form is sloppy and he’s never going to cover himself when he’s too focused on the power of his attacks,” she informed the little Pawmi.

“Don’t let the mean wolf bark at you, little one,” Xiomara mooed, “You can battle however you want!”

Punchy’s brown eyes beamed. “Can I battle like this?” He rubbed his yellow cheeks to build friction. Then, he emitted little sparks until they were bright enough to see. “Like that?”

“Well done, Punchy!” she went to pet him with her hoof lightly but missed him.

“Yeah…” Pierce agreed, “Just figure out a way to channel your sparks faster.”

“Is battling all you think about, Pierce?” Xiomara smiled.

“I can’t lose focus,” Pierce sneered back playfully, “But it hasn’t been fun without you.”

“How did Auntie Xio used to fight?” Punchy politely asked.

“We Tauros, attack horn-first and charge at the ready!” The old bull reminisced.

“Once she knocked down an entire Garganacl,” Pierce added.

“Well, I wouldn’t say I knocked them over…” Xiomara replied humbly, “But I earned us a gym badge that day!”

Xiomara was Nemona’s starter Pokemon. When Pierce joined the team she always felt like she needed to catch up to the Tauros in strength. But now that they were both older they could always look back and laugh. Unfortunately, Xiomara’s glory days were now behind her. With her old age, her eyes became a foggy blue and her sight became blurry. Nemona had no choice but to retire her from battling. Although Xiomara acted content, Pierce knew that she yearned to gallop on the battlefield again.

“Alright, it’s all about accuracy,” Nemona lectured her class, “Your first assignment will be help your Pokemon hone either a physical or special attack! Try practicing by battling each other or a decoy doll!”

As Nemona rambled on, Fuerte came scampering over to teammates. He held his head high, without even looking at them in the eyes.

“Fuerte!” Punchy said in awe, “You were so cool!”

“It was nothing,” Fuerte scoffed, “These battles are getting too easy, Nemona should give me a challenge!”

“You have a long way to go, Pussy Cat, you haven’t even evolved yet,” Pierce lightly criticized.

Xiomara gave Pierce an exhausted look as a warning to cease her blunt mockery. But Pierce couldn’t help it if she was right.

“Oh yeah!” The Sprigatito hissed, “I’m too good to evolve, I’m plenty strong!”

That’s what someone who wants to evolve would say, she read the desperation in his eyes. That Patch kid dodged a bullet with him, but I hope their doing better with that agreeable Fuecoco. Nemona dismissed her class and went to meet her Pokemon.

“Hey Xi, how ya doing?” She cooed to her Tauros, “You having fun in the sun?”

Xiomara gave her trainer a lick on the cheek. Given that she was her first Pokemon, Nemona's love for her Tauros was the strongest. Was Pierce jealous… a little. But it didn’t matter, Nemona loved her in her way.

“I’m going to be the best battler Nemona’s ever seen!” Fuerte mewed to Punchy, “I’ll be so good that I’ll only get a scar on my flank!”

A tense tremor began to shake the Lycanroc’s heart. She could sense Fuerte taking a spiteful jab at her. Scars ain’t medals kid. She placed her paw on the scar streaking down her right eye. When she sustained it the nurses said she would lose some depth perception and have to retire early, but she proved them wrong. With some special training, nothing could slow her down. That was seven years ago, and she was now nine years old. Most of Nemona’s original team had passed on, and if she wanted to keep her Champion rank she needed to shape up some young recruits. But Pierce would never quit. Sure her muzzle was starting to turn silver, but that only meant she was wise. She’d carry the legacy she helped her trainer create.

…

It was nearly time for Nemona’s Advanced Battling class, and Pierce began to warm up.

“Rah!” She slammed her paws against the dirt field and summoned a row of razor-sharp stalactites. Not too shabby!

She clenched her right paw and tightened her focus. But then suddenly and unexpected breeze blew through her pelt.

“AUGGGHHHH!” A sharp blade had scraped her back.

Caught off guard by a surprise attack, she bared her fangs and growled. When she turned around she saw Fuerte hunched over apologetically.

“PUSSY CAT!” Pierce snarled ferociously, “Why did you do that!?”

His dark green ears drooped down, “I wanted to see if my Magical Leaf could slice through your stones!” he whimpered, “I didn’t mean to hurt you… I thought we could train together?”

Pierce sighed out her tension, “You trained enough for today,” she let him down lightly. She tightened her fist and punched away one of her stalactites. “If you want to train more tomorrow, you should rest.”

“I can take it,” Fuerte promised, “I just want to be as strong as you someday!”

So you can take my place? She channeled her anger into another Focus Punch, “HAH!” She made another stalactite crumble into large clumps of rock and shook her paw “I only got strong because I knew when to take a break.”

Far in the distance, Pierce saw students gathering for the next class.

“Go take a nap with Punchy,” she shooed the kitten off.

She padded across the field to more important matters. These trainers were much older than the beginner class, being teenagers with some experience under their belts. Pierce recognized some familiar faces from past years and some new ones.

However, Pierce noticed one of the newer students brought a ceramic vase with them. The Lycanroc oggled the object curiously, it had a fresh grassy smell to it. It was painted black and white with a crack trickling down from the rim repaired with a green substance. Who’d bring something so fragile to a battle class?

Suddenly the vase shook its own, then levitated into the air.

“Didn’t anyone tell you it was rude to sniff someone else?” The vase spoke in a calm, brittle voice.

A cursed object! “Oh, I uh… didn’t know you were a Pokemon…” Pierce apologized, “Sorry I’m not the best seer.”

“Ah,” the vase replied, “If that’s the case that’s quite alright, it’s probably difficult to see much with that crack on your face.”

Pierce’s blood began to boil again, You’re calling me rude?

Tiny blotches of green levitated beside the mysterious Pokemon forming detached hands. The cursed vase took out a wooden stick from inside its head which was filled with a tea-like liquid.

“I am Harunori,” they introduced themselves, “My master is an exchange student from Blueberry Academy.”

“Blueberry, huh?” Pierce crossed her arms, “Hear it’s a great school, you guys take battling way more seriously than we do.”

“Yes we are known for being… competitive,” Harunori twirled their stick, “Only because my master has great ambitions.”

“We’ll we’re competitive too!” Fuerte suddenly interrupted, “Our trainer is a Champion!”

“Fuerte!” Pierce barked, “I thought I told you to go take a nap!”

“Well well,” Harunori sounded pleased, “So your trainer is the revered Nemona Torrez?”

“That’s right,” Fuerte proudly mewed.

“I didn’t expect her to have a pre-evolved kitten in her team,” the cursed vase scorned playfully.

Great now he’s making us look bad, Pierce groaned in her head.

As the Pokémon conversed, Nemona blew her shrill whistle to start her class. All the students redirected toward the fearsome champion in all of her glory.

“We look forward to beating you,” Harunori whispered before floating away.

What's their problem, are they intimidated by us or something? Pierce went to stand beside her trainer with Fuerte tagging along.

“Go!” She grumbled to him.

The green little cat scampered to the side.

“Alright, new year… same people it looks like,” Nemona clapped her hands, “For those of you who have to retake this class don’t think it’s going to be easier, because I got creative!”

Here we go again, she smirked.

“You came back to this class because you didn’t bleed like the ones who passed!” Nemona lectured, “I’m going to whip you up into shape and you're going to have everything I teach you as an instinct!”

The familiar students began to sweat, and one of them was on the verge of bursting into tears.

Pierce saw a new student with long, obsidian black hair with red undertones pulled together with a yellow headband. Over her academy uniform, she wore a blue varsity jacket. She expressed no anxiety in the presence in Nemona’s discipline, and instead had a collected smile. Harunori floated beside her, cementing the two as a team.

What are those two are planning?

…

The class commenced with Nemona’s students breaking into pairs to battle one another. Pierce stood watch as the Pokemon spouted attacks and flailed themselves around. Of course, she always found something wrong. She witnessed a Primape hurdling a fist toward a Toedscruel. They’re going to get sore if they punch that way. Nearby a Dolliv harnessed light for a Solar Beam, the bright flash irritated her. Even I could tell they used it too early, some Pokemon are too impatient for charged attacks. When it came time to check Harunori, they were chosen to battle against an entire Donphant. Pierce knew the vain little vase would have the upper hand based on their grassy scent, yet she noticed them dodging without any effort to attack back. That doesn’t seem right. While the battle ensued, Nemona snapped her fingers behind her back. Following the signal Pierce sprung another row of stalagmites in between the two other Pokemon. The Donphant flinched and fled back to its trainer upon seeing the impaling stones.

“So…” Nemona started, “You’re the Blueberry student?” she glanced at Harunori’s trainer.

“Carmine Kakurezaki,” the obsidian hair girl replied.

“Are you sure?” Nemona asked, “I was told Blueberry students had more… edge to them. And the way you were battling seemed rather flighty.”

“Harunori is rather delicate,” Carmine held her cursed vase, “Besides I prefer to tire out my opponents and attack them at their most vulnerable.”

That’s not a bad strategy, Pierce thought, tire out an opponent and you’ll have a better chance of winning.

“Why even battle with a fragile Sinistea?” Nemona assumed.

“They’re not a Sinistea!” Carmine suddenly lashed back, “They’re a Polchaghiest!” she scowled aggressively.

The other students and their Pokemon paused their battles at the sight of the explosive exchange student. Presumably wanting to witness something to gossip over. A nerve was struck before there could be any discipline.

“Well whatever they are, I wanna see what they can do,” Nemona prompted her further, “On the battlefield, Blueberry! You and me!” She demanded.

“Your on,” she scowled.

When Nemona chose a student to be hard on she wanted to make an example to tie in with a lesson. But there where also times where she saw potiental in someone and wanted to build them. It was anyone’s guess what she saw in Carmine.

“Wanna help me out, Pierce?” Nemona looked toward her with trust in her eyes.

“Let’s do this!” Pierce barked back.

The other students surrounded the field’s battle court. Unfortunately, Fuerte was present.

“Are you really going to battle them?” Fuerte wondered, “I think they’re a grass type and you’re-”

“Don’t worry, Pussycat!” Pierce tried to push them away, “I know what I’m doing.” They think that they’ll have the advantage, but I’ll be the one to throw them off.

Pierce marched onto her side of the court while her opponent bobbed around in the air. Of course, they had to be a floater, she dreadfully thought of hatching a plan.

Looking back at her trainer, she noticed her making a fist with her left hand and placing her right palm over it. Of course, Pierce recognized the hand gestures, corner them with the ol’ stone cage!

“I am honored to have this battle with you, Pierce,” Harunori tilted forward to bow.

Nobody is this cordial before the battle. She crouched her body into a ready position, “Likewise…” Whatever they're hiding, I'm ready for it!

“Battle begin!” Nemona announced, “Pierce, use Iron Head!”

The Lycanroc of night thought of a steel barrier shielding their mind. In that instance the rocky spike at the end of the fringe of their mane became metallic.

“Use withdraw!” Carmine countered.

As Pierce swung her head around like a blade, the Poltchageist retreated back into the confines of their porcelain shell. She allowed her nose to guide her towards her grassy opponent.

Yet she only ended up swinging the open air. Damn it!

Still having steely thoughts, they picked up the grassy smell on their right and swiped their mane accordingly. Still nothing. Stay still, damn it!

“Coat them with a Stun Spore!” Carmine directed.

Oh perfect!

“Pierce on your front!” Nemona instructed.

She backed away on command, but they smelt a polleny aroma around them. Then their left paw had a tingly sensation that made her whole arm numb. Arceus’s Ring! She could barely move it, this can’t stop me! Come on Pierce, you’ve fought through worse!

She attempted to lift her arm but the numbness overtook her. Just need to focus!

“Mega Drain!” The Blueberry student blabbered.

Oh no you don’t! She scampered away from the Poltchageist’s green light. But she kept her mind fixated on breaking out of her numbness. With a single focus punch she shook off the spores.

“My you’re everything I expected and yet you surprise me!” Harunori mused.

Shut up you, ugly urn! Her tongue was beginning to feel moist with slobber. She saw Nemona making a slicing motion with her arm. While the cursed Pokemon reveled in their smugness, Pierce took a swift head swing into Harunori’s ceramic body. Her spike punctured a single crack into their side.

“That’s it, Pierce!” Nemona praised.

As the Poltchageist hovered back up, its newly formed crack began to ooze green. They’re not delicate at all if they can repair themself like that! Pierce became crossed she wasn’t going to be the one bested by a piece of pottery! Forgive me Nemona… She raised her claws and began swiping at the sky. With her stony might she conjured a boulders, and before they could hit the ground she created a ring of stalagmites. With boulders hurtling towards and sharp rocks surrounding them the little vase was trapped in their stone cage. However, Harunori precisely maneuvered through the oncoming avalanche, effortlessly dodging each rock. How could something so small survive something so destructive? There were greater opponents she defeated with ease!

Arceus dammit! If I could only kill this fucker! If I don’t tire them out they’ll drain me instead! As she recounted her battles of the past she remembered a particular fight when she needed to take cover. In that instance, she created another row of stalagmites to hide behind. Come on Nemona, Pierce thought, terastlize me already! She squeezed her eyes shut to protect herself from the meddling light of the terastal orb. She couldn’t feel the crystals emerging beneath her feet or the invigorating, adrenaline rush that it gave. Was Nemona crossed at her for her impulsive disobedience.

“What are you waiting for?!” Pierce winced. If I don’t terastalize now that jar is going to take everything out of me! You know that!

Nemona only glanced at Pierce with a vacant expression, she wasn’t smiling nor was she frustrated. Instead she took out an Ultra Pokeball; Pierce’s Pokeball.

Eager to hold her own, she lunged back into the fray unexposed. It wasn’t over until she won! At that point Nemona was a quiet as a pair of Tandemaus. It was up to Pierce to be the trainer.

Proving her upper hand she allowed for a little bit of her energy to be taken. Then she would jab the with another Iron Head.

As Harunori reeled in another Mega Drain, Pierce could feel a dose of adrenaline being ripped out of her chest.

I will be okay… she reminded herself.

But Harunori didn’t stop, they kept going and she could feel more being taken from her. Water, blood, air… until she couldn’t keep track. …

Within the next minute the Pierce the strong musk of potions, canceled out the rubbery odor of turf grass.

Dang nab it…I blacked out… she thought as she waited for her vision to clear. But even with her eyes dilated she realized that the sky was gray with clouds until it became a ceiling. But it wasn’t the ceiling of Nemona’s room.

She pressed her paw pads against the strange cushiony thing that was she lying on. It was leathery and naked without any sheets. No… don’t tell me! With enough strength she lifted her head up and could make out diagrams of different Pokemon displayed on the walls. She was in the Nurse’s Office!

Fuck! What happened?! That little… they couldn’t have beat me!

“She’ll recover in time,” the Nurse’s voice entered the room, “But my best recommendation going forward is to take this incident as a sign.”

What do you mean? Pierce wondered knowing well of the implications.

“I assume you saw this coming but most Pokemon get tired once they are ten years old. And based on these records Pierce should have stopped battling a long time ago,” the nurse's words shoved into the wolf’s heart.

“But… I…,” Pierce wheezed to the ceiling, “I proved…” I’m still nine years old. Golden years aren’t my style!

“She’s never slowed down before,” Nemona protested, “So she had an ugly battle… that’s never stopped us.”

Exactly.

“I’m not saying it's definite, just something to keep in mind,” the nurse hushed, “I want to keep her here for the rest of the week to see how she does.”

No problem, I've done this dance once I can do it again!

...

The week was nearly over with her trainer coming to visit her from that day on. Each day there was a new test in her recovery process. Bloodwork, physical therapy, urinalysis. Pierce passed all of them except for vision, and that was the prime symptom of old age. There was still one test left; battling performance. If she couldn’t pass this one she’d be sidelined for sure. That night she waited until the building lights were out so she could do one last warm-up. She was lucky to still be well enough to see in the dark, even if she bumped into a few walls. The school’s fitness center was empty. The machines smelled of sanitizer and all of the equipment had been neatly stored away. While tempted to go all out on the punching bag, decided on a much quieter decoy doll. She imagined that the doll had been possessed by a nagging spirit.

“Oh look at me!” She gave the doll a crackly voice, “I think I’m so smart! Look at me, I’m going defeat- THE CHAMPION LEAGUE CLASS LYCANROC!” She let her true voice slip through.

Piling her frustration, her rock spike turned to iron and she took a swift stab into the doll’s burlap flesh. As she raised herself back up she was satisfied to see her opponent split at the seam, pouring out sand. It helped that the doll was dyed green, the color of bitter tea. Pierce realized that if the doll was Harunori, it would repair itself easily. The tea inside of them is like blood that heals wounds. Maybe if I could taint it somehow… What am I saying?! She was thinking like she needed to best them in a rematch. Sure it made her look bad when she lost. But she didn’t need to think about some random Pokemon. As long the battle they had wasn’t over Nemona’s title, there was nothing to worry about. Challengers come and go, she thought as she picked up another doll, this one would get so cocky that’ll go to their head. Head full of crap! Then again… something about the way they held themselves… GET A GRIP, PIERCE!

The wolf used that stress for a Focus Punch, but missed. If I'm really “so old” why can’t I land a direct punch by now! Just Pierce picked up a familiar jangling noise echoing from the hallways. Seems to early for a late night snack. But the metal bell kept tolling closer with the sound of hoofsteps.

“I thought I’d find you here,” Xiomara stuck her head into the room.

If I just keep quiet she’ll go away.

“Come on, you know well you can’t be here after hours,” the Tauros mooed, “Let me walk you back to bed!”

A nerve vibrated in the Lycanroc’s head, “What do I think I am? A grandmother?!” Realizing that she had just said that to a senile Tauros, she was in for a headbutt.

Xiomara cleared her nose, “You already exercised for the day.”

“I can handle it!” She barked back.

“I thought you told Fuerte it was bad to overwork himself?”

“I LIED!”

“It’s not right Xi, we’ve busted our backs to become champions! And now we’re being told to just lie down after all we’ve done!” Pierce vented, “We’re the last ones of the original team still left! And I’m going to stick with our girl till the very end!”

The Tauros paused, Pierce could tell the memories of training were flashing by in her head.

“Pierce…” the old bull started, “You can still fight. Your body is just showing age, you’ll have to accept that and work with it.”

Pierce took a good look at herself through the room's mirrors. She stared deeply at the graying flecks on her once-red muzzle. The seeping moonlight highlighted the streaks of silver curling in her white mane.

“So why did you give up battling?” The wolf asked.

“I won,” Xiomara answered proudly, “After we won the league, battling didn’t feel the same anymore,” she smiled, “I would have retired whether or not I couldn’t see. I might as well enjoy myself while I’m still here.”

The hardy Lycanroc was shaken by the response. She wondered how much time she spent battling. Was she wasting her time?

“Come now,” Xiomara backed out of the doorway, “Let’s take you back to rest.”

...

The following morning Pierce passed her last test with flying colors. Finally she could still fight if she still wanted too. Yet she decided to rest a little longer after her talk with Xiomara. There had to be more to life than just battling?

While the little ones practiced training on the field, Pierce tried to make her comfortable. She threw herself down on the plastic grass and watched the clouds pass by through the dark lenses of her visor. It felt very coarse on her fur.

“Am I doing it right?” She asked the wise bull.

“Don’t worry, it’s better on real grass!” Xiomara laughed, her humor as dry as ever.

“Auntie Pierce! Auntie Pierce!” Punchy frolicked toward them, “Are you really all better?”

“Of course she isn’t!” Fuerte spat, “If she were better she’d be battling!”

Yeesh, she thought, whatever happened to being to good to evolve?

Within the past week the little Sprigatito grew into a snobby Floragato. He now stood on two paws much like Pierce and it was easy to tell he was still getting used to it. The fur on his body became more bristled like tiny thorns on a wild rose.

“Gotta know when to take a break, remember?” she told him.

“Whatever!” He stormed off clumsily.

Pierce took notice of his hardened attitude, it felt like something she would do. Was he just as disappointed in her loss as she was? Maybe I rub off on him in the worst way. Suddenly as she closed her eyes, the smell of the artificial grass became authentically natural. It brought back infuriating, grueling memories. And hovering right before her was a newly evolved Harunori.

“Salutations,” they chimed.

They’re evolved form heavily resembled a Polteageist as much as their trainer tried to deny it. Instead of a teapot, the little ghost sat in a bowl. Their body was exposed green blob which would drip green drops onto wherever they were floating above. They wore a strange tool made up of dried twigs like a hat.

Oh Arceus, not today… “What do you want?” She groaned.

They were only entertained by her attitude, “My master has business with yours,” Harunori smiled.

Am I really ready for another rematch? I just healed for crying out loud.

Nemona approached the student and her snide Pokémon, “Can I help you, Blueberry?”

“Carmine…” she murmured to herself, “What I want has nothing to do with your class,” she raised her voice, “So please understand…”

Uh oh, Pierce immediately got up and stood by her trainer’s side.

Carmine pulled out a dark blue tin case from her uniform pocket. She opened it, revealing eight long metal pins. Each a different color representing a different type. There was no mistaking it as gym badges from a different region. I knew it!

“Nemona Torrez!” Carmine proclaimed, “I hereby challenge you for your title as Champion ranked trainer of Paldea!”

Lady, you have no idea what you're getting into!

Nemona said nothing, unsure if the girl was making things up. The league had many rules but would this be allowed?

...

That night there would be a battle on Uva’s field. Night was tailored for the wolf, ever since she evolved. She fought better without the sun's glare messing up her vision. The moon was the mightiest stone of all, and while it wasn’t full she felt honored to fight under its presence. On the battlecourt she locked eyes with her trainer, reading the uncertainty and desperation of the poor girl. Her tangerine eyes were two suns about to be overshadowed by an eclipse.

For whatever reason a trainer with eight gym badges was eligible to challenge a champion no matter where those badges came from. Nemona defended her title before…with her original team. It had been years since someone had challenged her. And knowing it was someone who had bested her before, just made the outcome more suspenseful. Nemona paced about the battle court, waiting for the Blueberry student to show herself. Nemona was always early for everything and she was obligated to accept every responsibility the league gave her. That was the only thing Pierce couldn’t stand. Someone made it onto the field but even Pierce could tell it wasn’t Carmine.

“Ree, what are you doing here?!” Nemona winded up emotionally.

It was the uptight green-haired girl from the league; an elite four-member. They had known her a long time before then.

“Heard you got challenged,” she answered adjusting her glasses, “The league permits me to supervise.”

Nemona blushed, strapping her brace tighter out of frustration. Masking any fear she had.

“You’re gonna do fine, Cuz,” Rika encouraged.

“I shouldn’t even be fighting her,” Nemona complained, “Her badges don’t even count for entering a league challenge in Paldea!”

“Champion challenges are different,” Rika added, “It applies to every league in every region.”

Nemona gave Rika a sneering, “This rule is dumb and you know it” kind of look. Pierce couldn’t agree more.

Finally Carmine arrived but with a strange accessory on the side of her head. It was a mask of some kind of blue pokemon. Perhaps it was a custom in her region.

Once both trainers stood on their sides of the court preparations would commence.

“Nemona Torrez of Cabo Poco vs Carmine Kakurezaki of Mossui Town. This is a champion-ranked battle, therefore all league rules must be followed,” Rika decried, “Whoever wins or breaks the rules will be granted the title of champion!”

I’m coming for you, Pierce promised Harunori. This time she would be better prepared for the grassy foe with a more balanced moveset.

“As per tradition the reigning champion will decide the format of the battle,” Rika pointed towards Nemona.

“Double battle!” Nemona quickly replied, “Two on two, no rotations!”

“I accept!” Carmine nodded.

Double? Who’s going to be my partner?

“Pierce you’re up!” The champion called for her wolf.

With pleasure!

Her trainer threw a common Pokeball into the ring. Much to Pierce’s surprise Fuerte came out! The Lycanroc could barely comprehend, what was happening. Fuerte just evolved! Nemona likes to catch people off guard but this is ridiculous!

“Pierce?” Fuerte mewed scanning the area, “What’s happening? Is the battle over?”

“You’re in it!” Pierce growled begrudgingly, “Don’t screw this up!”

Pierce expected Fuerte to build himself up with pride. But his green ears drooped and he said nothing. Don’t chicken out on us, Nemona’s title is on the line. Carmine launched her two Pokeballs out on the field. Of course, Harunori was one of her choices. The other was a grey dog Pokemon with protruding fangs. They were small enough to be unevolved.

“You go for Mangey, Harunori is mine!” She instructed to the inexperienced cat.

He gave the wolf pink apprehensive eyes, “Okay…”

“Battle begin!” Rika incitated, that there was no going back.

Nemona called the first attack, “Pierce Iron Defense! Fuerte, Quick attack!”

Pierce folded her arms accordingly, and focused on her iron will to win this fight. The fur on her white mane turned to a gray metal, heavier than normal but she could handle it.

While Fuerte threw himself onto the grey dog.

“Kurumi, use bite on the Floragato!” Carmine declared, “Harunori, Stun spore the Lycanroc!”

The little ghost floated toward the Pierce, and she began building up friction in her paws. She could feel an ember sparking between her pads. With her visor on she wouldn’t give into the light.

Soon her entire left paw caught fire in an elegant, scarlet flame.

“RAHHH!” She threw a flaming fist at her grassy opponent.

“Oh goodness!” They frantically hovered away. As her paw burned out, she saw that Fuerte was spilling blood out of his leg. With her metallic back she went over to shield him in his vulnerability.

“Pierce…” Fuerte struggled, “It hurts so much…”

There was an entire bite mark semented into his spring green pelt.

“Get to Nemona, she’ll heal you!” Pierce urged him.

She could feel Harunori trying to absorb energy off of her metal coat. Fuerte’s eyes watered as he tried to stand up. Without putting any pressure on his leg, he scampered to Nemona on all fours. Never send a kitten to do a wolf’s job! Fixated on the ghost, Pierce formed a ring of stalagmites around Kurumi. She made sure they stretched out of the ground enough so that the little dog couldn’t jump out of it. No other opponent could distract her from keeping Nemona’s title! Harunori hovered their distance, knowing well of the Lycanroc’s newfound fire.

“Pierce,” Nemona called to her, holding her tera orb harnessing light particles, “Get ready!”

Took you long enough, she joked. She kept her visor close to her face to shield herself from the overwhelming light. She could sense an energy beginning to grow and shift beneath her feet. Fractals of rock reaching up to her paws. Pierce shut her eyes allowing herself to merge with the earth’s heart. Raw crystals rose, chillingly frigid like a thick chunk of ice. The coldness spread around her body coating her fur in a crystalline layer, it even consumed her metal mane. Pierce’s heart pulsed intensely. Boiling blood flowed through her veins like unsurfaced magma. She felt less connected to the earth but had the strength to break it apart. When she opened her eyes, she remerged. Her body was shimmered a twinkled like a freshly polished garnet, and she adorned a crystal Tera crown of a fighting type. Can’t drain me now! She began preparing her Focus Punch while her opponent’s trainer followed suit. As Harunori terastalized, Fuerte returned to battle.

“Woah,” he marvelled as the Lycanroc’s terastal form.

“Shush! I need concentration!” Pierce tightened her fist, power swelling in her paw.

Once the little ghost reappeared from the iridescent stones with a flowered crown, Pierce made her move. She leaped into the air as high as she could go. Within a few moments, she would have them, but she never felt the glassy surface of a bowl hit against her knuckles. She landed on the ground missing her target once again. Dammit!

“Wow, that was sad!” Harunori laughed.

The little ghost began whisking themselves with their bamboo whisk. As if mixing themselves into a good brew.

“This will warm you up!” Harunori projected globs of his own body at Pierce.

A single drop splashed her body with a piping-hot burn, “Agggh!” She wasn’t as used to heat when she terastalized.

It was agonizingly scalding as the tea trickled off her glassy body. This can’t be how I lose! This is far from my last fight! Her thighs ached from doing a single leap.

“You can still fight!” She reminded herself of Xiomara’s advice: “Your body is just showing age. You’ll have to accept that and work with it.”

If I can’t jump, how am I going to reach them now?

As she tried to strategize a solution, Harunori began whisking another attack.

“No hard feelings!” The ghost cackled.

Suddenly a flash of pink swung around the Harunori’s bowl and they soon found themselves grappled by a vine.

“What the-,” they inspected the vine caught off guard.

Fuerte was holding the other end tight, “Pierce now’s your chance!” He heeded her.

Not bad! Pierce curled her paw and readied a punch. With a boost in her typing she didn’t need to wait another moment, and cast her Focus Punch.

The sound of two crystals touching hummed, and Pierce felt the sweet relief of a landed hit. Harunori’s amorphous body stretched and spilled on the blue battle court.

Yet the little tea master still had their crown and their diamond body didn’t shatter. Pierce knew one Fire Punch would do the trick.

Once Harunori pulled themselves back together they floated down to Pierce’s ring of stalagmites to retrieve their companion.

“Get in there and fight!” the ghost fussed, “We’re so close, and we’re not going to be thwarted by some stone-age wolf and her little kitten!”

“Well, you heard them, Pussycat!” Pierce ushered, “Let’s thwart!”

“Fuerte use Magical leaf!” Nemona cheered.

Fuerte took to twirling his vine to create a flurry of magical leaves. A thick whirlwind of bioluminescent green spun around, obscuring its opponents.

“Go in and be careful!” Fuerte informed her.

Pierce fled into the leaf storm, feeling the sharp edges of the leaves slice against her even with her terastallized body. She scanned for any sign of the Sinischa but it was no use. They might as well use the leaves to blend in.

Sparking a flame with her fist, any leaves that she touched crumbled into flakes of ash. But soon they found them.

“Rah!” She threw another fist in their direction.

Harunori spun away from the flame, almost splashing themselves onto their opponent.

This is perfect, Pierce thought satisfied, they’re starting to slow down. But they could also be faking it.

“Fuerte!” The wolf barked to their teammate, “Tie them up again!”

The Floragato responsively twirled their vine around confidently and launched it at the Sinsischa. Before they knew it they were tangled in his grasp.

Although Pierce had every reason to knock Harunori into next week, she didn’t want to push herself. She looked at Fuerte, he was waiting for her to make the last move. In his gaze she noted how intently he was relying on her. This cat had so much potential already why did he need to look up to such an old wolf? I’ve had my glory moments, maybe it’s time to give him his time in the spotlight.

“You do it Fuerte…” Pierce barked, “Do it now!”

With that command Fuerte lashed his vine letting a crack boom across the atmosphere. The bowl plummeted far down to the ground, Harunori flung from his shell becoming nothing more than a puddle of hot tea.

…

The sunlight poured down onto the battlefield, the next mourning. The sky was pleasant shade of blue, with not a cloud in the sky After the battle, Fuerte’s leg was bandaged and his strut had a limp to it. Only time would tell if it would be permanent. Harunori seemed to be doing much better in comparison, with more cracks being filled with their solution.

“Now I certainly hope there are no hard feelings,” the tea spirit began to apologize, “I was only doing my trainer’s bidding… our home region is so small, my master thought if became Champion in a dual it would give Kitakami the chance to start a league.”

“No worries, I get it,” Pierce nodded.

In the far distance their respective trainers attempted to make a mends. Pierce noted how much less restrained Carmine was compared to her Pokemon. Her attitude being more explosive than a Fortress. As Harunori drifted away, the Lycanroc turned to the limping Floragato.

“You're the one who wanted a scar on your leg,” she smirked.

“Flank!” Fuerte added, “I wanted a scar on my flank!”

“Oh, Fuerte,” the crimson wolf admitted, “We can never choose where we get them.”

Fuerte glared down at his paws, ashamed. Pierce nudged him to chin up and stamped her foot on the ground and conjured a stalagmite that rose from the turf grass.

“If you want to be an ace teammate we better get you into shape,” She told him.

“Training? Right now?!” Fuerte complained before even starting.

Pierce gave him the gentle truth, “Fuerte, I must retire eventually. I’m not as limber as I used to be, but if I’m going to retire I want Nemona to have someone strong carry the team.”

Taking a moment to process all the information, Fuerte responded, “Where do I start?”

__________________________________________________________

Hey guys its the author, I really hope you like this in universe one shot it took me forever to finish! I hope to do one of these novellas with other characters! Maybe I'll hold a poll to see who gets the next spotlight!

[thehitori]

Character Intro: Janus

This is probably my newest member I've created for my adventuring group but he's certainly one of my favorites!! He's your average dumb golden retriever who tried his best to keep everyone in good spirits! Janus is a moon elf Paladin + Rogue who lives the same village as Alphonse, so they became good friends once Alphonse moved in!

I don't have a toyhouse page for him yet, so check out his lore down here:

Childhood

He grew up in a quaint little town with not much ever happening. He has a younger sister named Istrina Cliffgate by 3 years, and his mother passed from birth. He grew up with Istrina and his loving father, Ruthen Cliffgate, who did an amazing job keeping his kids from missing their mother by trying to give them the best lives. He worked as a chef, giving his children fun cooking lessons plenty of times. Janus even wanted to be a chef just like his father, making maybe not the best meals for his sister to try.

18 years old ( about 9 years old )

They had a peaceful life, until an attack came over their town, everything was in flames, they had no time to grab anything and had to run before the soldiers could find them. They had barely escaped their grasp, and fled very far into the woods to avoid any contact from life. The Cliffgates were lucky to find an abandoned cabin in the middle of their flee, and decided this could be their refuge. Janus and Istrina quickly had to learn of the resources nearby to figure out what was safe to eat, with luckily Ruthen’s extensive food and foraging knowledge. Ruthen had made very few expeditions from the forest, and did it purely for acquiring tools and seeds. These days had always made Janus and Istrina nervous, anxiously waiting in silence as they watched the window to see their father return. He had luckily never failed in this, and they were able to grow crops and sustain themselves better. Since the children couldn’t see their friends in their town anymore, they primarily only had company of themselves. Istrina liked to make stories and act them out, with Janus willingly acting anything she asked him to. This was the routine of most of their days when they weren’t out in the garden or foraging, so some days Janus begged his father to leave the woods and go back to the more populated areas, but his father always anxiously denied him this.

24 years old ( about 15 years old )

Janus and his sister had been out gathering logs, when they spotted some adventurers fighting against a magical beast, they hadn’t seen anything like it before, and immediately panicked and went home. Ruthen explained that it was common for people to work together to go on quests for bounties on beasts of retrieve ancient artifacts, and even some adventurers were about as important as kings themselves. Janus was in awe of these people, protecting others and getting to have fun fighting beasts and exploring the entire world? This. This was it. Janus knew what his real dream was.

36 years old ( about 18 years old )

Ruthen finally gave permission to Janus to go past the woods, make a livelihood even if he wanted. Janus felt a little nervous, but was also excited to learn more about the outside world. He swore to return and send them as many materials as they needed once he stabilized out there, he also told Istrina he’d give her as many journals she needed to write her lovely stories, and obviously spoil her in gifts. So, he left the forest and a comforting cabin. He eventually made it to a couple smaller towns, asking for directions to a larger city and he made it to Mæthedune and managed to learn quite a bit more about adventurer's guilds, and society. It was certainly different from his memories of 9 years ago, but had some familiarity. Janus became accustomed quickly to all of the new, and earned himself some work as a guard in the local markets, and eventually got himself a good system on lettering his family. He didn’t make the best profit, but he obviously didn’t have a great education from his upbringing, and had knowledge in things useless in the big city. He actually tried to apply to the guilds repeatedly, but they always seemed to deny him, probably because of his barely documented history and bare minimum training, but Janus was determined to find the perfect group to explore the world.

Now, 39 years ( about 22 years old )

He moved away from the city into a slightly smaller village, where Alphonse Torlynn lives (they became very good friends). He convinced his father and sister to come live with him and they agreed, they have their quaint little garden and Janus helps in delivery with Alphonse and other artisans around town

[cookiesupplier]

Every Rose Has It's Thorns - Part Six

pairing: Ricky Olson x ofc (Talia)

warnings/tropes: slow burn, soulmates, strangers to enemies to lovers, betrayal, angst, fluff, smut, language.

summary: In a world where soulmates inexplicably receive a tattoo that will match that of their soulmate the moment they turn eighteen years old, being famous and covered in very visible tattoos can make finding your true soulmate a questionable fate. Not that it is any easier for the soulmate in question. Thus is the fate for Ricky and Talia. Sooner or later, however, life is bound to collide, but what will happen when it does?

author’s note: Unbeta’d, so please readers beware. Sorry for the mis-post before!

tags: @tearfallpixie @cncohshit @jordynyingling0219 @faceless-mirror @nyxthedestroyerofworlds @wild-child-7747 @witchyweeb34

If you would like to be added feel free, please let me to know, whether to this list specifically or in general.

~~

So, there were two weeks left of the tour. Two weeks, and it was obvious that neither Vinny or Ava just wanted to walk away immediately now that they found each other. As awkward as meeting your soulmate could be, especially under trying circumstances, they obviously had a connection already and wanted to spend time together, and Talia envied them that. She however, didn’t want to think about the way Ricky looked at her, she’d obviously set this whole thing up just to spite him.

She couldn’t blame him though, in less than a day his whole life had turned upside down. One the other hand she’d had years to adjust to her predicament. Not even the fact that she’d lost him, but the whole issue of being his soulmate in the first place, and how people treated her for it. Really, being treated what felt like a little bit like a pariah sometimes in her own family, like she was mental for believing what she did, and unlike Rick she’d had plenty of time to adjust. He’d had the rug pulled from under his feet. Sure maybe it was new for him, maybe he’d dealt with soulmate issues before in the band in a way she hadn’t, but this had to be horrible, had to be worse. Or at least, new, fresh.

Maybe he could not blame her though?

Still, when Vinny suggested that maybe Ava could join them for the last couple weeks for the tour, Talia jumped at the chance to point out she’d make a fantastic PA, even if just helping out with general housekeeping on the bus and making sure they don’t go stir crazy for the last leg of shows. After all, helping her was pretty much what she did.

~~

“How will you ever cope without me?”

Talia laughed at her best friends dramatics as Ava went and pressed her hand to her chest with a gasp as she just shook her head,

“I think I’ll survive just fine.”

Oh, she knew she’d miss her best friend something awful, all three of them would, but there was no way that Ava wouldn’t keep them updated. Talia knew how Ava was, she’d keep them updated to how she was going on this every step of the way, she could only hope she wouldn’t drag her into it as well, there was only so much that she could deal with right now.

“You should come too, right, Vin?”

“No!”

Before she could even argue, the other person she knew would spoke first, she glanced across the once more empty table after the waitress had come and collected their plates after they’d finished eating their breakfast, Ricky looked livid, and she knew instantly she was going to have words with him about how he was going to be treating Ava.

“I can’t go, I have clients, set appointments, you know that. Either way, you don’t me dragging you down, use this time to get to know Vin, okay, you’ll get to spend so much time together, getting to know each other.” “Only getting to know each other. No sex on the bus.”

Ricky was quick to point that out kicking Vin under the table, smirking a little, only for Vin to snort in response as he grinned back,

“Yea like any of us keeps to that rule anyway.”

Of course, the moment the words slipped from the younger man, he seemed to remember the fact the issues at hand, which was stupid because they were here, and why they were talking and it had just come out, fuck, he back peddled,

“Whatever, Ava is probably going to want to kill me after me making her living in a bus full of dudes for two weeks anyway, Talia you’ll say something nice at my funeral right? I’m not sure I can trust Rick, he’d be snarky.”

“Oh Vin, I’ll always be on Ava’s side.”

“Dammit.”

Chuckling… his grin, she loved this, he would be great with Ava. She wondered if she’d ever be on Ricky’s side, like she was sure Vinny would be on Ava’s but she doubted he’d ever want her there.

At least they weren’t trying to convince her to come on tour anymore, she couldn’t keep saying no to Ava, and the thought of actually having to handle the painful glares from Richard Olson. She could work around her clients, take vacation time, she hadn’t had vacation time in so long, two weeks would be nothing, but the thought of being in a cramped bus, with those glares, bearing down on her. Stripping away at her soul, ripping her open and bleeding her heart dry? She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t put herself through that. While she could handle all of this, she needed to handle him and his, and she figured, justified anger, at what he was going through, from far away.

“Okay, so, we should get going,”

“But-”

“You have to pack, you’re going on tour for two weeks.. You have to go home, pack, and call Bee and let him know you’ll need vacation time for soulmate reasons.. and get back to the the bus all before they leave.. We should get going.”

Ava sighed, nodding quickly,

“Okay, okay.”

Getting up from the table, it was when Ava was hugging Vin tightly talking quickly, probably whispering some shit, who knows, that Talia didn’t want to think about that she grabbed the sleeve of Rick’s jacket and pulled him over to the side.

“Hey, lay off.”

Oh, he was in a real mood still, annoyed at the very least, didn’t want to calm down at all.

“Not going to check the attitude at all are you? Well you can with Ava. I don’t give a shit how you treat me, it’s obvious you hate me, I get it. I know why, I don’t blame you. I didn’t want to fuck up your relationship anymore than you wanted it to be, but now here we the fuck we are.”

Ricky just glared at her and she swallowed, even though he was short, he was taller than her, she’d always been tiny, and right now, she hated it. It was only a few inches, half a foot at best.

“But so help me, if you treat Ava like shit, I will stick my foot so far up your ass Richard Olson.”

Standing so close to him, her head tilted up, his eyes boring into hers, the fierce stare piercing, and the blue was like ice in her veins. This was why she couldn’t go on tour, and this was why she was worried about Ava. All she could hope, was that if he couldn’t play nice, was that Ava was far too wrapped up in her cocoon of Vinny to notice the hostility coming from Ricky in waves.

“Oh don’t worry, Talia, I’m sure I’ll get along with her famously. You are the only problem here, I’m not putting up with anymore of this soulmate shit.”

Talia sighed,

“That, right there. Don’t call it shit in front of Ava, she believes in this stuff, and loves it. She just found Vinny, her soulmate. Support them. I can’t be with them okay, I won’t inflict myself on you like that, and if you can’t support them, keep your mouth shut, got it?”

She just stared him down for a long moment, so much so she didn’t even notice the far that Ava and Vinny weren’t talking anymore between themselves and were just watching them, watching them standing very close, and bickering as they were. There was something dangerous in his eyes, and she didn’t want to think about how it felt to be this close to him. She didn’t want to think about the fact that despite the pain of how much he hated her right now, just being near him now, actually filled her with a sense of warmth that her breath caught slightly. Swallowing, she didn’t want to think about it, she didn’t, she couldn’t, not like this.

“You got it, Sweetie.”

With a parting glare, his shoulder shoved hers as he moved past her and walked out of the diner. She sighed and turned to see Ava and Vinny staring at her now, only her with Rick already gone.

“Don’t.”

~~

Most of the drive home was completely silent. Absolutely completely silent. Talia really didn’t want to talk about any of it anyway, but she was waiting. There was no way that Ava didn’t want to say something with the way that she’d been looking at her along with Vin before they’d left the diner, it had been on the tip of their tongues she could just bet it before she’d grabbed her best friend's arm and rushed her out. She had her bags to pack because he had a tour to finish.

“So, that was something.”

“Please, please don’t Ava.”

She didn’t want to talk about it, she really didn’t, she could feel herself cracking even as she said it.

“That was intense, I mean, if I didn’t know better, with how close he was standing to you, I’d think he wanted to..”

She giggled.

“Vinny hasn’t even gotten that close to me yet, and Ricky was right there babe… and Sweetie?”

Talia shuddered hearing it again,

“He wasn’t saying it as a compliment Ava, he was saying it to insult me, I heard that loud and clear.”

Even if Ava was right, even if what she was saying had crossed her mind as the silence of the drive back to their apartment went on. It was hate though, that was the intensity, so her giggle was misplaced and Talia couldn’t let herself think about it.

Talia had to remind Ava multiple times she was only going to be gone for two weeks, and staying one a tour bus with so many people that there wasn’t going to be room for a heap of luggage. Pack as if she was going to be living out of a carry on bag. She was no happy, but, for Vin, she did it. They called Bee, and the owner of the parlour was ecstatic for her, and Ava, without asking Talia, even flouted the idea of Talia taking some time off in two weeks, while they were on the phone. If she hadn’t been about to leave, she would have killed her for that. Fuck. But at the same time, it wasn’t in stone, all she said while they were talking to Bee was she’d think about it and that there was no appointments set on the books anyway.

~~

By the time Ava got back to the bus they had smoothed everything over, sorted the schedule so they were heading out to the next town as soon as she was settled.. And Rick was staring at the empty bunk she would be sleeping in when she got there.

Grace’s bunk.

He couldn’t, he didn’t even want to think about this, not about the fact that Ava was going to be taking up Grace’s space, that Grace wasn’t going to be here, that every time he even looked toward the bunk all he could think about was her lies. There were so many memories, moments, good moments, that were each turning sour and toxic one by one in his head with this poisonous little darkness in his head reminding him about how she lied. Reminding him about how it was all a trick and that she had been manipulating him from the very moment they met.

Distraction, he needed to think about something else. Update, a tour update, he could do a tour update before Ava got here, he’d already talked to Vin earlier about whether he wanted to let anyone know about her, and the consensus was that he wanted to talk to her first, so this update would be better to happen before she got here anyway. Rick also wasn’t sure how to update his socials about Grace after how open he’d been about his relationship, so here he went. Everything was going fine, until it wasn’t.

He ran into Justin.

It was nothing. He knew it was nothing, it was nothing. But it felt like everything. He just exploded and just started yelling at him to get the fuck out of his way and why the hell couldn’t he do anything right. Why the hell was he always in his fucking way. What was wrong with him?! Ricky Shoved the at the bassist and it took Chris coming to grab him, the singer literally grabbing him and heaving him up and carrying him, yelling out of the bus, before he started to calm down.

What the fuck, was he even doing.

That was exactly what Chris didn’t need to ask him because if anyone knew what he was going through it was Chris. The women that had tried to manipulate him into believing they were his soulmates, and ruined his real relationships in doing so. This time, this time, the fake soulmate exposed his real relationship as a fraud soulmate herself.

He left him outside to calm down while they had time, before he had to be closed up in the bus again for the night while they travelled to the next town. Standing there, Rick slipped something out of his pocket, and looked down to the box in his hand, he’d not known what he was going to do with it..

Taking in a breath, he reaching back, and threw the ring box holding the engagement ring he’d bought for Grace as far as he fucking could from the tour bus. Hopefully whoever found it got better use out of it. Sell it, use it, he didn’t give a shit, he just didn’t want to see it ever again.

~~

Talia dropped Ava off at the bus and watched it drive away before heading back to the apartment once more. Two weeks, the start of two weeks alone. Alone with nothing but time to think about Ricky and the way he’d stared at her with such hate… and the way it made her feel.

When his arm had been around her during the VIP, her tattoo had been warm, it had tingled. She wondered on some level if that had been her imagination, or something real. Just the way he has been looking at her made her feel something as well, even if he was looking at her with such hate, it was with such intensity that it warmed her. Like a spark had been ignited inside of her.

The kind of spark that she’d imagined she’d feel when her soulmate looked at her with a very different kind of intensity. Like he wanted her, instead, instead he hated.

Dropping her keys in the bowl by the door, Talia walked into the empty apartment, moving through the big, empty apartment with no one waiting for her, no one. Letting the crushing weight of the day, of how Ricky looked at her made her feel press down on her now, and she crumbled. Collapsing to her bed she cried until she could do nothing but fall asleep. 

[unheadmusicnotes]

Can't Stay Home

This one is for @that-stoner-alien-thing love ya boo:)

Jake sighed heavily as he came into the lifeguard tower. The man was exhausted, he was on his 4th 13 hour shift this week. His roommate and best friend Max Asyford had fallen ill, leaving him bedridden and unable to work. So to make sure the team wasn't short and to make sure they had enough to cover bills this month Jake was working extra shifts and extra hours. 

“Jakey mate you sweet?” Chappo an older lifeguard turned to the younger man concern written on his face, 

“Yea, Chap, I’m good.” Jake tiredly crocked out, Chappo shared a look with Whippet, who frowned slightly, 

“How's Max?” Whippet asked hoping that Jake would slip up and reveal something about his own haggard state, 

“Awful, I don't think the meds are helping him, he's almost out and the poor bloke hasn't gotten an uninterrupted night of sleep for close to a week now.” Jake said quietly, sitting down in a chair next to Whippet, who shared a look with Chappo both taking a long critical look at the man sitting towards their right. He had bags under his brilliant blue eyes, announcing his lack of sleep. The blue collared lifeguard shirt was button wrong and the boy's hair was slightly deceviled, and a slight tremor through Jake's whole body. Whippet silently turned Jake towards him and reached up to fix his collar, getting a real look at how pale Jake looked, as the rest of the boys clambered into the tower. 

“Jake, you are at backpackers today with Hutz,” The surf was about 6 foot, breaking right after another, the team knew the conditions were dangerous and plenty of rescues would be made. 

Hoppo told his lifeguard team as the boys made their prospective ways to areas of the beach that needed protrolled. 

Jake nodded along to Hutz very energetic mostly one sided conversion, 

“Jakeeeee.” Hutz whined when Jake zoned out for a little too long eyes strained on the water, 

“Yea sorry mate,” Jake said tiredly, moments before screaming, 

“Help! Help!” A girl screamed, going under as waves crashed around her, 

“I'll go!” Jake shouted as he peeled off his blue shirt and threw his sunnies to the ground, grabbing the board and racing to make the 3 kilometer paddle to the girl who was disappearing under the waves quickly. 

Jake was a mere meters from the girl, when a wave broke over his head, pushing him under the waves. Despite his best efforts, the rescue board was ripped from Jakes hands, causing him to be thrown around, 

“God it would not be fun to be a pair of bordies in a wash.” Jake would have laughed at his thought if he wasn't currently underwater fighting for his life. After what felt like forever and a day, Jake broke the surface. Finally above the waves he tried his best to get air, and look for the girl he had been sent out to rescue. Finally he saw a dark shape floating face down, it was the girl. Despite not having rescue equipment he called for a resus and exhaustedly swam to the beach hoping the girl would be okay.

“Jakes calling a resus!” Hutz screamed into the radio as Whippet, Chappo, Jesse and Hoppo raced down defib in hand. By the time the others got there Jake was on his 2nd set of compressions, 

1… 2…3…” Jake did not realize he was shouting as he counted out his compressions. 

“Ambo’s been called! Defib attached, Clear! Jesse shouted making sure nobody was touching the girl. Her small body convulsed with shock as the defib tried to get her heart started again. Seconds after the shock the girl coughed and became sick, 

“On her side!” Jake shouted holding her head as the boys helped him move her, so she didn't choke. Soon her eyes were open and she was transported off to hospital, leaving the boys to pack up the gear across the sand. A bystander came by and handed Jake his shirt and Sunnies, which he took with a shaking hand. 

“You okay mate?” The stranger asked, then jumped back as Jake went to his knees coughing and spewing, the blood rushed in Jake's ears as his body trembled, 

“Jake?” Chappo kelt down beside the younger man, waving for the oxygen mask. Whippet rushed over, as Jake continued to be sick in the sand, 

“How much water did you sallow?” Whippet asked 

“I- don’t- Whip-” Jake breathlessly whispered out, trying to move as Whippet put the oxygen mask on Jake's face. 

“Mate, you need to wear it, you swallowed a lot of water.” Chappo said gently running his hand through the red heads hair checking for abnormalities. He didn't find any but his concern grew as he felt Jake's forehead, the kid was burning up. 

“Whip, he's hot.” Chappo said to the blonde, as Hutz and Maxi drove the rhino towards them. Whippet quietly cursed, Jake still shaking under his hand when the rhino arrived. 

“Jake, we need to get you to the tower buddy,” Whippet said, looking at Chappo when he failed to respond. Chappo stood up, placing a hand on Jake's back and the other under his legs, shocked at how light the boy was. Quickly all four boys made their way up to the tower where a very concerned Hoppo waited. 

“Jake mate, how long have you been sick?” Hoppo asked the redhead

“I’m not sick.” Jake mumbled from underneath blankets as he lay on the medical bed, figuring that it had been several minutes after he was asked that he answered. Hoppo, Whippet and Chappo all looked at him slightly alarmed. 

“Jake, you are sick. And I am sorry I didn't notice how much you had been working.” Hoppo said quietly kneeling down towards the boy, 

“Its okay Hop, I wanted to-” Jake rasped out 

“No, Jake, no, with Max being sick I should have known money would get tight for you guys and you being you would work extra without complaining and eventually get sick. I am sorry I didn't notice before.” 

“It's fine Hop, you're still a good boss.” Jake said before his eyes slid closed, 

“Nope, eyes open Jake.” Hoppo said tapping his cheek earning a groan from Jake, 

“I know, I know.” Hoppo said quietly looking up as Chappo came in, it was close to 7, pack up time for the boys. The reason an ambulance had not been called for Jake was because Whippet and Chappo had insisted on taking him so they could take care of both Jake and Max. 

… 

“Chap?” Whip asked closing Jake's door quietly as Chappo did the same to Maxs door. 

“Max could hardly tell me who I was and he's burning up something fierce, I don’t think the meds are working. How's Jake?” 

“Sleeping, his fever has not spiked at least and I got him to eat a couple mouthfuls of soup.” The blonde said tiredly. Both Chappo and Whippet grabbed blankets and pillows from the spare closet, laying them on the floor making a sort of fort in the middle of Max and Jakes living room. Falling asleep in a short time. 

… 

“Whip? Chap?” A horse voice coughed out, scaring the blonde and brunette awake, being faced with a glassy eyed shivering Max. 

“Oh, Max, hey.” Whippet said softly, getting up and walking over to a still fevered Max. 

“Let's get you back to bed mate.” Whippet said taking Max arm and leading him towards his room, 

“Where's Jake?” Max horsley asked, 

“In his room, he got sick at work yesterday, so Chappo and I came over to help take care of you guys.” Whippet told him as Max layed down eyes already closing, 

“Jake is sick?” Max asked about as panicked as he could, trying to get back out of bed. Whippet placed a comforting hand on Maxs shoulder pinning him to the bed 

“Yeah but he's okay, Chappo is checking on him now, why don’t you go back to sleep mate?” Whippet smiled softly looking at the younger boy laying on the bed, moving some sweaty hair from his face. Despite the flush in his checks Max was very pale, but him getting up this morning ment he was improving.  

A couple hours later Hoppo was knocking on the door, feeling guilty about failing to notice Jake had been working so hard and wanting to check on the four men working under him. 

“How are they holding up?” Hoppo asked 

“Max’s fever finally broke this afternoon and he left his bed for a few minutes so major improvement, and Jake was able to keep down a couple bites of soup this afternoon.” Chappo informed his boss tiredly, 

“And how are you two?” Hoppo would not let his team get hurt or sick again on his watch,

“We are fine Hop.” Chappo said sharing a look with Whippet, 

“Mhm. Get some sleep, I can watch the boys for a few hours and Ill have some food ready when you wake.” Hoppo’s voice left no room for argument, leaving Chappo and Whippet to fall asleep on the still put together blanket fort. 

…

“Hop?” A tired voice asked from the doorway revealing Max small frame, 

“Hi mate, how ya feeling?” Hoppo asked as he watched Max make his way to the couch, around a sleeping Whippet and Chappo. 

“Like death microwaved me twice.” Hoppo let a small smile play across his features. 

“A shower would help.” Hoppo said gently and Max agreed, rising slowly, 

“Don’t tilt your head back, call if you need help and leave the door open.” Hoppo commanded, leaving the young boy no room to argue. 

As Max finished showering Whippet woke up, 

“Whip?” Hoppo asked as the blonde looked around like he couldn't quite place where he was, then understanding dawned on his features as he spotted Max coming out of the bathroom, hair still wet. 

“Better?” Whippet asked Max who jumped at the sudden volume change, 

“Thanks Whip.” Max said turing to go to the kitchen picking up a knife, 

“Max no. The lot of you are on bed rest.” Hoppo said, taking the knife from him, turning so he could finish dinner. Slowly Chappo woke up both to the TV noise and the smells entering the house. 

“Morning sleeping beauty,” Whippet said cheekily. Chappo groaned and rolled over, sitting up startled when he saw Max sitting watching TV. 

“Max!” Chappo shouted a little to loud making everyone else flinch

“Oi, Mate, still sick.” Max mumbled smirking slightly 

“Boys dinner.” Hoppo called smirking 

“Dinner?” A new voice crocked out, Jake was now leaning against the doorframe, eyes a little hazy, while he took a look at his discombobulated living room. His flatmate was there, which checked out, but so were two of his coworkers and his boss.  

“Dinner, Hoppo confirmed.” 

… 

A week later Jake and Max where back on for their first shift in a long time, 

“THERE HERE!!” The lifeguard team cheered and clapped as Jake and Max opened the door to the lifeguard tower. Confetti was thrown and cheers passed around. 

“Alright boys, let's take care of eachother and have a good day out there.” Hoppo clapped, as the boys smiled and got to work. 

From then on the boys in blue took care of each other a little more closely than before. If one wasn't feeling good the others covered his shift and made him go home, coming by after work until the sick man was better. The lifeguards already a close knit bunch become even closer.

THE END

This is my first fanfic! If its awful I am so sorry:)

[coruscqte]

ok so as much i adore my solaris with her beloved husband cove i do love her relationship with her older sister just as much if not MORE because theyre everything to me 😭. rambling underneath the cut.

solaris does use they/she but i default to they more often because the game only ever used it for them. solaris also prefers sister over sibling!

liz was the first person solaris came out to as a kid, first because they didnt really feel like a girl anymore but they werent sure they were a boy either. they never had to say anything about the fact they didnt just like guys either, liz had probably figured that out already considering the way solaris would have plenty of female celebrity crushes, just as many as the guys.

solaris had a very overactive imagination, but a younger lizzie was happy to indulge her creative side. this changed during their teenage years of course, but her support was always there, even if the methodology changed. whenever they’d have nightmares, solaris would sometimes run to liz, and liz would begrudgingly make room for them in her bed.

even though liz grew distant at times, she still made some time for her sister. whether that be watching some terrible tv in relative silence or having good days where they were right back to being the sisters they had been as kids, there was never a moment one of them felt as if the other didnt love them. even if they fought, they’d always apologize.

most of their fights were relatively ridiculous, but one in particular hurt enough that solaris actually hadnt spoken to liz for nearly a week. they dont really remember what it was about, but liz does. theyd said some pretty mean things about each other because solaris was a latch key kid and liz wanted her own space. to this day, liz still feels pretty bad about it whenever she remembers.

solaris didnt take liz leaving for college very well. at all. they’re just as much of a crybaby as cove is (maybe why they were perfect for each other), and they showed up at her door at 2am the day before she left in these big fat tears because they were going to miss her so much. so they spent the whole night yapping to each other, and liz was dead tired in the morning, but it was worth it.

liz was solaris’s first best friend. she still has the friendship bracelet from that awful gaudy kit they got for christmas one year, but it is meaningful, nonetheless. she wears it sometimes, especially when shes been away from sunset bird for a long time.

they have matching jewelry with their birth stones that their moms picked out. theyre both necklaces, and solaris’s is a ruby.

solaris has never missed a golf tournament of liz’s, regardless of whether she was in the middle of school, university, or even in the middle of wedding planning. liz looks for solaris out in the crowd, and can always find that bright pink hair cheering for her.

liz helped solaris pick out their prom dress. swatted their mothers away and had the whole day to themselves. of course, liz had plenty to say when cove came to pick them up, but she was nothing if not proud of them. and solaris of course ruined their makeup crying about how good of a big sister liz was, which liz then lightly scolded them for.

canonically, liz was present for when solaris picked out their wedding dress as well. did we really think that in that planning time, she wouldnt have come down at least once?

liz is probably solaris’s emergency contact. cove is the first, after theyre married. solaris is liz’s emergency contact.

liz has a very nice photo of solaris as their icon in her phone. in contrast, solaris has a picture of liz with paint on her face as their icon of choice. good representation of how they view each other.

there’s a photo hung up in the hallway between their old rooms of a two year old liz holding a newborn solaris. both sisters have caught themselves staring at it before.

(theyve recreated it at ages 18 and 20)

liz was solaris’s maid of honor. solaris cried asking her (of course) because canonically, solaris made the drive out to visit her and ask with a bottle of wine and plenty of silly little trinkets. liz may have also cried a little.

naia’s (cove and solaris’s daughter) full name is naia elizabeth holden-mondragon. i think solaris finally managed to break liz over that one because then liz also cried a bit once they brought her home.

naia does quite like her aunt. the feeling is mutual.

i think even for all teasing liz does, cove has been regarded as her little brother for years. they may not have seen eye to eye all the time, but if someone was bothering him in school and solaris wasnt around, i bet they certainly got a nice talking to by the older girl from upstairs. its just nice theyre actually family these days, even if they dont talk much.

solaris accompanied liz when she went about getting to know more about her heritage. i like to think they visited the phillipines together while liz was discovering more about herself, and made a trip of it. solaris didnt have the same cultural distance, but was more than happy to help liz close her own gap some.

im sure theres more ill think of later on, but AUGH i love them so muchhhh. theyre SISTERS guys and they love each other so much.

[myjunkisyuzuruhanyu]

I just hope Shoma has also big fanbase as Yuzuru has, so that even in moments of being underscored or facing challenges, he feels the support and never experiences loneliness. And I want this support to continue even after retirement. Shoma has made significant contributions to this sport and always delivered breathtaking performances. I hope he always feels loved, now and in the future. Of course he does not need anyone's support to feel okay, but I want him to get the appreciation he deserves. I just do not want anyone to forget him and his contributions to figure skating. Today's score made me think about such things.

Shoma has a huge fan base, obviously not as big as Yuzu's (which is basically a once in life occurence and tbh I am not sure that level is desired), and I think and hope that Shoma has long realized that we as his fans love and support him not only for the victories but for who he is. I think already back at IdF he learned that we appreciate him if he's in 1st or last place and NHK's scoring doesn't change that.

Also Shoma survived the disappointments of Worlds 2019, the disaster of IdF19, the disaster that was WTT 2021, he did have his share of unfair judgment over the years even ofc antis would never admit that and he never gave up and he would come back stronger and proof everyone wrong who ever called an end upon him. Shoma may be at a different stage of his career and obviously sooner or later he will quit competing but until then I don't see him going down without a fight. Yes first his NHK comments sounded awful but a day after it sounded like Yuma was actually a motivator to try his best. He also said he wouldn't suddenly quit, so this is all hopeful. Now I just hope judges treat him fairly. Again I am not mad if Shoma's not winning with mistakes or if someone else was clearly better that day but NHK was none of this as he was clearly the best skater at NHK and that's what made me mad and sad.

Shoma also not only has fan support but also the support of his family, his girlfriend Marin, his coach Stephane, his pyhsiotherapist Demi, his friends as Koshiro, Satoko and Keiji and I am damn sure they all tell him how supported he is.

I also think for the future things look bright. He is already the frontliner of The Ice and One Piece on Ice was also very successful, he is invited to many ice shows. I don't think we have to worry for him.

Only time will tell if Shoma's contribution to figure skating will be recognized in the future but it is already while he competes. Yuma just once again confirmed Shoma as the skater he looks up to at NHK. Plenty of junior skaters and younger senior skaters call Shoma among their favorites, some even have copy like costumes of his programs.

Shoma has written his name in the history books of figure skating as 2 time world champion and first to land the quadruple Flip. No one will take away those achievements and NHK scoring also won't take away any of his glory. Yes Shoma may not always come in first place, but that takes nothing away from how special he is to skating.

Inside Skating published some very nice articles on Shoma over the years and each reads not only like praise but also if you track back old articles skaters have admired Shoma from way back when he was just a little junior. This article from today is a recommendation.

He already left his mark in the sport. He's not where he is because of favors and fed politicking as some envious haters say but because his skating is magical - spell binding and ppl inside and outside the skating world appreciate Shoma. I am sure.

[kittyball23]

It Takes Two (a Trolls fanfic)

Summary: Now that they learn they are sisters, Poppy and Viva celebrate by singing a song together

A/N: Requested by troll_fan_broppy on Wattpad :)

__________________________________________

As soon as the beat had started, Poppy already knew that a song was going to take place. A good thing too, since Poppy loved to sing! And it seemed her sister was the exact same way.

Sister… Poppy still couldn’t believe she had one! It was something she’d always dreamt about (among other more recent dreams of becoming wed with a certain blue Troll), and now, in an incredible turn of events, it had come true.

And how wonderful of a surprise that it was!

Viva took her by the hand and started to twirl her around, grinning widely as the Pop Queen laughed. Then she began to sing, happily so.

“I didn’t know it until I found you

Havin’ the time of our lives, it takes two…

When I look up, the stars are brighter

Now I know everything’s better with you!”

When Poppy peered up, it really did seem like the twinkling stars above were shining even more brightly than usual. Viva was lighting up her whole life, and Poppy’s presence was seeming to light up hers. Everything really was better with her! Inspired, Poppy took to singing the next verse of the song.

“You got me feelin’ right, feelin’ right

Feelin’ like goodbyes are at my door,

Every day, every night, ooh, ooh…”

Viva was pleased to find her sister joining so wonderfully in the melody. They danced their way through Putt Putt Village, bopping and grooving, and harmonizing greatly together.

“I didn’t know it until I found you

Havin’ the time of our lives, it takes two

It takes me… and you!”

The Putt Putt Villagers were quite impressed. They’d seen Viva happy plenty of times (she almost always was, 24/7) but everyone could come to the unanimous agreement that none of them had ever seen her this happy before!

The sisters high-fived, making a great connection, and floating high up together on the resulting sparkles that come of it. Fireworks burst around the girls, lighting the scene up with color and music.

Their happiness was very intoxicating, as the brothers who’d been watching with awe the entire time soon discovered. Branch couldn’t help tapping a foot to the beat watching Poppy, and Clay couldn’t help humming some of the tune in time to Viva’s singing. Still, they felt awkward exchanging a glance with one another. Both of them had the urge to add on to the melody with the girls, but both were still a bit hesitant of wanting to sing together. Would they still sound alright?

Even if they didn’t, it seemed that John Dory and Spruce were willing to take their chances. Sliding out in front of them and synchronizing the way they had on Vacay Island, the two Trolls sang a verse of the sisters’ song.

“I didn’t know it until I found you, havin’ the time of our lives, it takes two…” JD crooned.

“When I look up, the stars are brighter, now I know everything’s better with you…” Spruce belted out smoothly.

Encouragingly, the eldest BroZone brothers waved over the younger two. A part of Branch inwardly groaned. Here he was, about to sing for ‘Funsies’ again and not for the actual Family Harmony that needed to be accomplished. But the other part of Branch, the part that rolled along with it and opened his mouth to sing, didn’t care.

“You got me feelin’ right, feelin’ right

Feelin’ like goodbyes are at my door…”

Clay sighed. It seemed he was the only one left to join in among their bunch. Clay ‘The Fun One’ would have no problem joining in, but he’d convinced himself a long time ago that that Clay was long dead.

But maybe he isn’t, he told himself. Was he still buried deep in there somewhere? Judging by the smirk that he suddenly felt growing on his face, he had a feeling that he really was.

“Every day, every night, ooh, ooh…”

Slickly busting out the old ‘Rusty Robot’ dance move, Clay ‘The Fun One’ made a glorious return as he sang alongside Branch.

“I didn’t know it until I found you

Havin’ the time of our lives, it takes two

It takes me… and you!”

A satisfying CLAP of hands echoed out into the night air when Branch and Clay high-fived, and both brothers were thrilled.

“Yo, that was sick! Great job, Bitty B!” Clay enthused, slinging an arm over his little Branch’s shoulders. 

While Branch wasn't too fond of the old nickname he'd had as a baby, he still smiled proudly at having his brother praise him. "You too, bro," he said in a compliment.

“So, you coming along?” John Dory asked. He and Spruce wore the same hopeful expression.

Clay seemed to ponder the request, but eventually shrugged. “Yeah, might as well. Can’t just leave Floyd trapped in a diamond now, can we?”

“All right!” JD patted his younger brother on the back, who fondly rolled his eyes.

“But you might wanna give them a few minutes before we head out on the road, though,” Clay added, gesturing up at Poppy and Viva. The sisters had finished their duet, and were perched atop of Viva’s ice-cream cone-designed home, gazing at the constellations. They had been inseparable since the discovery of being sisters, and it seemed wrong to break them out of their conversation now.

“Sounds fair to me,” Spruce said in understanding. “In the meantime, why dont’cha tell us more about how you became leader of the Armageddon?”

Clay chuckled. “Only  after you tell me about how you became the king of Paradise Island!”

“Vacay Island, Clay,” Spruce corrected, “And the only one I’m a king to is my girl. You see, it all started some years back…”

__________________________________________ A/N: Justin Timberlake, Kid Cudi, Eric Andre and Daveed Diggs are also credited in “It Takes Two,” and tbh I’m looking forward more to those verses of the song

[thebardisabird]

Hello barb. I'm on vacations, it's great and all, but I'm extremely homesick rn. Can I get a small scenario of Choro giving some support to his homesick gf pretty please with a cherry on top

Of course. 😊A little Choromatsu x homesick!Reader comfort, under the cut! (There's also some wholesome brother content sprinkled in there as well c: )

The number that buzzed across Todomatsu's cell was one he didn't recognize right away, but nevertheless he answered. "Todomatsu speaking," he responded, tucking the cell onto his shoulder. "Totty, hey! It's me," you greeted, happy to hear your friend's voice. He returned the sentiment, asking how you were and how your trip was going so far. From the doorway Choromatsu had heard your name come from his younger brother's mouth and he immediately darted to him. Todomatsu lifted his hand in record time, the elder brother's face clapping smack in the middle as he was held at bay from snatching the phone away from the youngest. His squirming was fruitless as Todomatsu's iron grip let him nowhere near his conversation with you. What droned on for about ten minutes was finally wrapping up as Choromatsu heard him say:

"Yeah, he's here! Sure, you can talk to him," carefully removing both his hand from Choromatsu's face and his cell from his shoulder, Todomatsu handed the device to his brother.

"You've got twenty minutes, Choromatsu-niisan," he warned before heading to the kitchen, "And nothing gross!" Red as a beet at the thought that you probably heard that, Choromatsu yelled after him, "Devil! You're a shitty little devil!" Sighing in annoyance, Choromatsu lifted the phone to his ear, "Hey! I was hoping I'd hear from you soon."

You bit your lip at his enthusiastic tone. A wave of sadness poured into your chest, "Sorry Choro, I was hoping to call you as soon as we landed but we had so much going on." There was something off in your voice, he could hear it. Eyebrows turning up, his expression faltered into something more concerned, "...What's wrong?" That made you even sadder. So badly did you want to wrap your arms around him, and being where you were right now versus where he was - it was entirely impossible. You missed him. You missed being home, being with your friends, and especially being with him. The promise of your vacation was going to be plenty of fun...but it felt less so when you didn't have your boyfriend with you to enjoy it with.

"I just...miss you, Choromatsu," you confessed, your hand bunching into your shirt at your vulnerability, "It feels awful knowing I'm going to be away from you for so long." Being honest with himself, he was feeling the same. Your company was so important to him, like he mattered to someone that wasn't his family for once. Not having you at his side, even if it was so you could spend time with family, felt...weird. Small pangs of hurt poked at his chest, especially to hear you sound so sad, but he took solace in the fact that it wasn't just him feeling this way. He took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts; you needed comfort, not pity.

"I miss you too," Choromatsu spoke softly, "But you'll be back soon, right? We won't be apart for too much longer," his eyes wandered over the window, watching the clouds lazily roll by, "Just try to have fun while you're there - when you come back, you can tell me everything; I'll be right here waiting, promise!" To hear that he missed you as well made your heart flutter, the simple words bringing you a world's worth of reassurance. He was right - this was only temporary. Soon you'd be back home and in his green clad arms in no time! A small smile shaped your lips, "I'm glad," suddenly a voice called out for you in the background, "Oh! I have to go Choro, we'll talk soon again, yes?"

He laughed softly, though he was a little disheartened you had to go already - he wanted to talk to you just a bit more, "Of course. Remember - have fun! Stay safe!"

You assured him you would, giggling back as you told him you loved him. He tried his best not to stutter back the affection, but to no avail - the "L word" still making him a tad nervous even after having said it so many times. Once the phone call ended, Choromatsu simply stared at the phone. He really did miss you a lot. Seeing your warm smile was a highlight of his day. He'd get through this...right?

"Maybe you should take your own advice, Choromatsu-niisan," came Totty's remark from behind him. The third son turned, handing the phone back to his brother. Todomatsu took it gently, eyeing his older brother's blank expression. Rolling his eyes, he tugged at Choromatsu's sleeve, "Come on, let's go." Instantly confused, Choromatsu found himself pulled upright and heading towards the door, "Where are we going?"

Slipping on his shoes, Todomatsu sighed, "...There's something I need from the bookstore and you're coming with me," Todomatsu brushed off the legs of his jeans, "Besides...I heard that manga you liked had a new issue out." Realizing what he was trying to do, Choromatsu followed suit, sliding on his green sneakers and zipping through the front door to his sibling who was already at the street. Once at his side, Choromatsu lent him the tiniest of smiles,

"...Thanks, Totty."

[walker-extended-universe]

Where I Can Belong, Chapter 1

Relationship(s): Kris Furillo/Cordell Walker

Tags/Warnings: Seduction, Inappropriate Behavior, Inappropriate Relationship, Age Difference, Alternate Timelines, First Meeting, First Kiss, Loneliness, Insecurity

Summary:

Kris Furillo never felt like she belonged anywhere. Not at home, not at Camp LaGrange, not even at Raintree. After bouncing around the country for a while, she gets a job at a local ranch in Austin to give herself a bit of normalcy. The absolute last thing she expected to find there was a place to call home. Or, the author commits timeline nonsense because this idea popped in their head and it wouldn't go away.

Written for @angstober Day 14: Only Around You

Taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

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

When Kris left Raintree, she didn’t really have any idea on where she was going. She just knew she needed to get away. She never planned on settling anywhere, just taking the bus as far as it would take her, doing some odd jobs until she got enough money for another ticket, and moving on again. 

And that’s just what she did…until she found herself in Austin, Texas.

There was an ad in the paper looking for ranch hands. She hadn’t set foot on a ranch proper since she left Raintree, and she missed it dearly. And it was a legal job, unlike the illegal racing she’d been doing for the last few months.

A change of pace, but a familiar one. She called the number listed in the ad and got an interview later that day. The owner of the ranch, an older man named Bonham, seemed skeptical at first given her age but couldn’t argue with her skills. She was hired on the spot.

The job came with a spot in the bunkhouse, meals, and plenty of alone time. She mostly spent that time with the horses but spent time with the family running the ranch as well. Bonham’s wife, Abilene (“Call me Abby”), made all the meals for the ranch hands and sometimes chipped in with the chores. His younger son, Liam, occasionally enlisted her help at the horse rescue he ran, helping the horses get through their exercises and teaching clients how to care for them.

This was also familiar, but in a way that made her itch to get moving again. She didn’t want to get too attached again. She would only cause trouble for everyone here if she did that.

That all changed when she met the elder son.

Abby had asked her to go to the farmhouse on the other side of the property to deliver a package to Cordell Walker. Apparently there had been some mix up with the address and he never responded to texts, much to Abby’s annoyance. Kris was more than happy to help, as it gave her a reason to procrastinate mucking the stalls.

She knocked on the door. No one answered, but it was unlocked. Figuring Cordell was just busy inside, Kris opened it and went inside. She figured she would just leave it on the table and go. And she had every intention of doing so but…she got distracted.

The walls were covered in family photos, and she couldn’t help but look. There were plenty of him and his children, and the whole family together, but one face stood out.

There was a woman (his wife, Kris presumed), that looked an awful lot like her. She didn’t appear in many of the photos, but she was plastered to Cordell’s side in each one. 

For a moment, Kris almost pictured herself being the one in these pictures. Someone who belonged, someone who was loved, cherished even. She certainly seemed happy with her life, something Kris never allowed herself to dream of.

“Excuse me?”

Kris jumped and turned around to see Cordell Walker standing at the base of the stair. “Oh! Hi. Uh, I’m Kris- the new ranch hand. Your mom sent me here with a package….” She gestured to the box she left on the table.

Cordell smiled at her and her heart skipped a beat. He was wayyyyy more attractive in person. “Thanks. I’m Cordell, but Momma probably already told you that. Thanks for dropping it off.”

“Uh, yeah, no problem. Sorry- I was just looking at the photos….”

He chuckled, a deep sound that did something funny in her gut. “No worries. I mean, that’s why I put them up; to look.” His smile dimmed looking at a photo with his wife. “It’s almost like they never left, you know?”

Kris nodded, but she didn’t know. “Do you miss her?”

He nodded. “Yeah. It’s been… Gosh, it’s been almost six years now.” His finger traced over her face. “Now the kids are off to college and it’s just me here….”

Kris felt something like hope bloom within her. Cordell was nice. He was hot. And he clearly needed someone. Someone who could be what his wife was.

Someone, maybe, like her. “It’s a lovely home,” she murmured.

Cordell snapped out of his thoughts. “Right. Uh, thank you. For the package. You should probably get back to work before my dad comes looking for you.”

Kris nodded. “Yeah, probably. And, you’re welcome. I’ll see you around.” She waved and left the house, putting a little extra sway in her step as she went.

Maybe sticking around here wouldn’t be so bad after all.

—------------

Kris Furillo was the newest figure on the ranch. She’d come out of nowhere, responding to a random ad Bonham had put in the paper (because he couldn’t put up an online ad like a normal employer) and was impressive enough to get hired within an hour. 

She was also occupying Cordell’s thoughts at any given moment of the day.

She really shouldn’t be, he knew that. She was just an employee around the ranch, nothing special.

She just happened to look exactly like Emily and have a similar personality and be around all the time. That’s all.

Not that it mattered. She was 19, he was much older, and it really didn’t matter. He wasn’t interested in her. Not really.

No. She was just really pretty. And pretty funny. And reminded him a lot of his dead wife.

“Hi, Cordell!” Kris beamed at him, leaning out of the stall and showing off her low-cut top.

Oh, and she had a pretty massive crush on him. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t going to do anything about it. He did have some self-control, after all.

He smiled politely. “Hey, Kris. How’s Chopper doing?”

“He’s great! He misses you though; you really should take him out more.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I know. Just… Work.”

She rolled her eyes. “They don’t give you days off there? You’d think that white hat would come with some perks.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, you’d think…. Anyway, I better get going. Momma called me up to the house.” She didn’t, but he needed a reason to leave before Kris got the wrong idea.

She pouted. “Oh, okay. Tell her ‘hi’ for me.”

“Will do.” Cordell skedaddled out of the stables.

Yeah. He had perfect self-control. She would grow out of that crush eventually, right?

—------------

This was getting out of hand. Cordell needed to talk to Kris and sort out this little crush she had on him now. She was getting far too familiar with him, coming up to the farmhouse whenever she had a chance, brushing up against him “accidentally”, and making far too many inappropriate remarks about his appearance.

Nevermind that it was flattering. Nevermind that it had been a while since he’d had someone show interest. Nevermind that she was a pretty girl and he didn’t really mind the attention all that much.

She was far too young for him, barely 19. He was barely on the good side of 45 as it was and he was old enough to be her father. There were plenty of young men in Austin she could spend her attention on, and Cordell needed to set her straight on that.

Fortunately (or, rather, unfortunately), he didn’t have to go too far out of his way to start that conversation. He just had to wait for her to decide to show up at his house for some random reason. And, like clockwork, she did, making some excuse about finding something of his in the stable.

“Actually, do you have a minute?” he asked before she left.

She smiled brightly. “Sure! What do you need?”

Cordell tried to match her smile. “Kris, we… We need to talk.” He guided her to sit down on the couch while he thought of the best way to say this. “Kris, I’ve noticed you’re a bit…attached, to me. And there’s nothing really wrong with that but… You know this can’t happen, right? You and me, I mean.”

Kris frowned. “But I like you. Do you not like me?”

That wasn’t the point. That was so very far from the point. “Kris- You’re a lovely girl. You have to know that. And-”

Kris scoffed. “I’m a lovely girl but I’m too young for you, is that it? I’m perfect except I was born in the wrong year?”

Cordell bit the inside of his cheek. “I’m too old for you. For God’s sake I’m old enough to be your father!”

“Oh, really? I didn’t notice.” She rolled her eyes. “Maybe I’m okay with that. Did that ever occur to you?”

“Kris, even if you are okay with that- this isn’t right. And it’s my responsibility as the adult to explain-”

“I don’t need to be lectured to; I’m not a child,” she snapped. “I’m a legal adult, I’m attracted to you, and I can tell you want me too. What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is- Is this is wrong! You have to know that.”

“Maybe I don’t care if it’s ‘wrong’,” she said, making air quotes with her fingers. “You have to know….. I’ve never felt this way with anyone before. Only with you….” Kris leaned in dangerously close, her hand running up his chest.

“You’re still so young,” Cordell protested, though his strength was waning. “There’s plenty of time for you to meet someone better, more your age….”

“I don’t want someone else,” she whispered. “I want you.” She nipped his jaw.  “I’m nineteen, you know. Perfectly legal and consenting. No one can even say you groomed me; I only got here a few months ago.”

“It’s not about legality,” he protested. “It’s about right and wro-”

She cut him off with a kiss, one hand fisting his shirt collar and the other working its way into his hair.

He should’ve pushed her away. He should’ve told her to forget about this and maybe talk to his parents about her behavior. He should’ve given her a more stern statement about how this absolutely would not be happening before marching her out the front door.

But he didn’t do any of that.

After a moment of hesitation, he groaned into the kiss and lifted her off the ground, supporting her small legs with his big hands. She gasped into his mouth and he didn’t hesitate to fill the gap with his tongue as he carried her to his bedroom.

It all felt so familiar, a dance he used to run with someone else. It felt so right, despite everything saying it was wrong.

He dropped Kris on the bed and pinned her down. “Fuck, yes, give it to me,” she moaned.

Cordell groaned. “You are a damn tease,” he muttered.

“Not a tease if I’m giving it to you.” Kris grabbed his face and pulled him down for another kiss. “Come on, I want it, I’m here…. Please….”

“As you wish…” Cordell started tearing at their clothes.

Maybe it was wrong, maybe he shouldn’t, but he didn’t really care.

Kris was there. Kris wanted him. Kris made him feel good. And she asked so nicely; who was he to say no?

That night, Cordell fell asleep with Kris in his arms, and had his best sleep in years.

—-----------

Kris woke up slowly the next morning. She felt warm and safe, tucked into Cordell’s arms. She fit perfectly, like she belonged.

She’d never belonged anywhere before, not really. She tried to fit in at Raintree, but it never worked. There was always one problem or another, usually caused by her. Here? She slotted right into place, something she only ever dreamed of.

She quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Cordell, and put on his discarded shirt before heading to the kitchen to make breakfast. Humming softly, she started some bacon and eggs. She wasn’t much of a cook, but she could handle that much.

Just as she was plating it, Cordell came down the hall into the kitchen. “There’s my shirt,” he muttered, heading straight for the coffee machine.

She giggled and set their plates at the table. “I needed something to wear.”

“Yeah….” He slowly walked over and set his mug down on the table. “Kris, about last night…. You know that can’t happen again, right?”

Kris popped a piece of bacon in her mouth. “Why not? Pretty sure we both liked it.”

“I- Well, that may be true but-” He sighed. “Look, the fact remains that you’re way too young for me and- It’s just-”

“It’s wrong?” Kris interrupted. “It’s immoral and borderline illegal and everyone will think you’re a creep who preys on young women?”

“I- Well, yeah,” Cordell stammered. “I mean, I like you and all but-”

“Let me explain something to you,” she said. “I like you. A lot. I like this ranch. I like your family. I feel more at home here than I ever have anywhere in my life, and that has next to nothing to do with you or what happened last night. It’s just a fact.” Nevermind that seeing the pictures of his dead wife gave her the idea to start getting comfortable here in the first place. “And, regardless of morals, I’m a legal adult. I can consent to sexual and romantic relations with anyone I want. What’s the big deal if I choose you? People can judge all they want, but if we’re both happy and we both want it…. Who cares what they think?”

Cordell chuckled mirthlessly. “You make it sound so simple when you put it like that.”

“Isn’t it?” Kris kept munching on her bacon. “I’ve spent way too long giving a shit about what other people think. And you really should know better too. I mean, at this point in your life, your kids are moving out and finally have time to think about what you want just for you. They can’t be too mad at you for having a little fun.”

He hummed and bent down to kiss her. “You really are a little minx, you know that?”

“I’ve been called worse,” she murmured, kissing back.

Cordell cupped her face. “I have the day off,” he murmured.

“So do I.”

“Good. Eat, and then we’re going back to bed.”

Kris smirked and stole a piece of bacon from his plate. She was in. And she couldn’t be happier here.