#i just. god i love vivi so much i could go on. anyway when someone tries to pull a 'familiar-equivalents are soulless puppets | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lovingmyselfcore · 4 years ago

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Protect You

Chapter One: I Have To Guard Dain; God Save Me

The Greenbriar's have their own reality TV show. Madoc is the head security guard. A mix up requires Madoc to ask his daughters to step in and help out. Taryn refuses (the beech) but Jude and Vivi accept. Jude gets assigned to Dain Greenbriar. Working for Dain, Jude uncovers some dirty secrets involving the family and friends. She strives to uncover these secrets and above all, keep her charge safe. But threats to the Greenbriar's lead to Jude guarding the youngest. Who also happens to be the biggest pain-in-the-ass. When working for his brother, avoiding Cardan was easier (she couldn't always) but now it's impossible. Deaths of people in the Greenbriar family, infidelity, love, and above all; pain. Why couldn't Vivi's father have been a carpenter?

“Can someone help me? I can’t get these damn heels Dad wants us to wear on.” Rhyia yelled, followed by some crashing noises. My older half-sister, Vivi, and I looked at each other then at where the commotion came from.

"You're closer to her," I said, stepping back with my hands raised.

Vivi sighed and steeled her shoulders back marching down to the door marked Rhyia Greenbriar.

Vivi and I were only here at all because Vivi’s father (my adopted father) had called and asked us to look after the female Greenbriar's for a short time. Vivi and I had grudgingly marched down here from our penthouse (A gift from Eldred Greenbriar to my father, for what I’m not certain) in hoodies sweatpants, and sneakers at four am.

The Greenbriar's were the family Madoc was ‘in charge of’. They had their own reality show, and my father was the head security guard. Madoc had trained Vivi, Taryn - my twin sister - and me to defend ourselves and others from a young age. Since he got the job with the Greenbriar's we had been asked to come down at all odd hours if Madoc couldn’t get any of his employees down fast enough. Taryn always refused, besides, she lived with her fiancé anyway, but Vivi and I came down until we were relieved when the actual guards showed up.

I watched as Rhyia’s door cracked open just enough for Vivi to slip in and walked across the trailer and peeked out the window, a hand resting on the pocket I had thrown my gun - well Madoc’s gun - into.

It was a grey rainy morning, the rain drizzled down, obscuring my view of the trailer only a few hundred feet away. That was where the male Greenbriar’s were at the moment, and where I was glad I wasn’t.

At another crash, I turned away from the window and half-jogged across the trailer to Rhyia’s room. I knocked with my knuckle “Rh-Miss. Greenbriar, is everything alright? Vivi?” When I didn’t hear anything my hand tightened over the handgun. Nothing ever really happened while Vivi and I were here, so I was unsure what exactly to do. Madoc had only drilled the basics in our heads.

1) Their lives mean more than ours do, protect them

2) Shoot first, ask questions later

I knocked again, more insistent.

“Jude?” I head Vivi call.

I relaxed a little, “Vi, what’s happening is everything alright?”

“Oh- yeah. Rhyia keeps knocking shit over.” I heard an embarrassed laugh.

Vivi slipped out the door and I could see Rhyia making a vulgar gesture before Vi closed the door behind her.

“Can you check on Elowyn?” Vivi asked. “I’m gonna run outside real quick and call Heather.”

“Oh?”

“Shut up. You know she’s in a different timezone.” Vivi pouted. “She’s up now so I’m going to call!”

I threw up my hands. “Go for it. Just don’t blame me when Dad yells at you.”

She rolled her eyes, “My central purpose on this earth is to annoy and piss off that man as much as possible,” She shrugged, her phone already in her hand, as she walked backward towards the door. “Just doing my job.”

I turned to knock on Elowyn’s door just as Vivi poked her head back in the trailer. “Don’t think of romancing any female Greenbriar while I leave you unsupervised.” She wagged her finger.

I snorted, “I don’t want to get involved with the Greenbriar’s any more than just being Dad’s clients. So don’t worry.”

I didn’t want to spend time dissecting the look she was giving me so I looked away.

I knocked on Elowyn’s door. “Miss Greenbriar? Just checking everything’s alright?”

“Yes,” Her soft voice carried through the room. “But can you zip up my dress?”

“Of course.” I let myself into her room.

I was immediately bombarded with the over-floral scent. Elowyn’s walls were covered with paintings, local artists, famous artists, and dedicated fans who sent their own work to her. There was always classical music playing from somewhere in her room, and I wasn’t sure anybody knew where it came from. Elowyn was probably one of the nicest Greenbriar’s out there, if not the nicest. But that didn’t mean I could stand being in her room for more than ten minutes and any given time.

I went over to where she was standing and zipped her dress. She saw me in the mirror and looked at me with quickly veiled disgust. I only rolled my shoulders back, I’d stopped allowing things like that to get to me a long time ago.

She vaguely shooed me out, her acrylic nails typing vigorously on her phone.

I did not understand that woman in the slightest.

~~~~~~

My phone buzzed from my hoodie pocket and I pulled it out, seeing a text from Madoc. Vivi and I were leaning against the wall again. When I’d come out Vivi was already back inside, explaining to me, with such extreme sadness I almost laughed, ‘She couldn’t talk, she had to get to an appointment.’

“He’s almost here,” I told Vivi, typing a response and sticking my phone back in my pocket.

She moaned, closing her eyes, “That means I can go back to sleep.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

She opened an eye and looked at me, “What’s the matter, Jude?”

“What? Oh - nothing, just tired and distracted.” I lied.

She hums in acknowledgment.

“Girls!” Madoc’s booming voice echoed through my skull and we pushed off the wall to go greet him.

He kissed us both on the cheek and when Vivi went to leave he held out his hand.

“I’m so sorry, girls.”

Vivi and I exchanged looks, that couldn’t be good.

“I know you don’t have college degrees in this field. You,” He looked at me, “Are under the age of 22.” I’d turned 21 last month, but Eldred had a weird rule about his official appointments being under the age of 22. “However, we’re running low and I’m going to need to assign you a Greenbriar to look after.”

Vivi actually whimpered and I just ran a hand down my face.

“Which ones? And for how long?” Vivi asked, already resigned.

“Vivi, I want you to look after Elowyn.”

Vivi smiled. Elowyn didn’t cause trouble and was her father’s favorite. In real life, she was most everybody’s favorite too but in the show, the watchers favored the more dramatic of the bunch.

“And Jude,” I held my breath, “I would like you to look after Dain for me.”

I released a breath and nodded. Dain. I could look after Dain. He wasn’t the worst. I’m not saying he was great either. But he was okay.

“It’ll only be for a couple of months. Again, I’m sorry.”

“When?” Vivi asked.

“Now,” Madoc winced at Vivi’s shriek.

“Dad,” I said, “We aren’t even dressed ‘cause we were planning on going back to bed after you got back. At least let us shower, change, and eat, and then we’ll be down here. Right,” I cut a look at Vivi who met my eyes then nodded vehemently.

Madoc considered this. “I suppose that makes sense,” He ceded.

Vivi took the win and ran with it. Literally. As soon as he said that she bolted, sprinting full force out the door, letting it slam shut behind her. I didn’t waste time either, and as I ran out of the trailer I heard Madoc’s deep chuckle behind me.

Once I was far enough away from Madoc I slowed to a walk. I heard the roar of her motorcycle, and I wondered how she’d even gotten so far away so quickly. I had a sneaking suspicion she broke time and space just so she could be home and have the hot water first. She was my ride, and she just took off. Hot water superiority, I suppose.

I breathed out a chuckle (It was still too early. I wasn’t putting that much energy into laughing) and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I stuck my earbuds in my ears and pressed play on my playlist.

I hummed along to the song as I walked home. The streets were almost completely vacant, save for a few stray cars. The early morning commute hadn’t happened yet, further proof that waking us up at this hour against our will was nothing but ungodly.

I’d reached our penthouse apartment. I sighed through my nose, ‘Penthouse apartment’ it sounded ridiculous. Why did we need a penthouse apartment? Oh right, we didn’t, but I guess it was nice.

When I got up to our apartment I was proven right. Vivi was already in the shower. I went over and banged on the bathroom door, “Don’t use all the hot water!”

I tossed my gun and phone on the kitchen island, next to Vivi’s, shucking off my hoodie and tossing it somewhere.

I slipped off my tennis shoes as I walked to my bedroom. I threw myself on my bed, taking a deep breath. I hadn’t asked Madoc how long we’d be watching the Greenbriar’s, but I knew that as long as I had to accompany Dain, I’d see my least favorite Greenbriar somewhere.

Cardan Greenbriar was the bane of my entire existence. We’d never gotten along. No. Scratch that. We detested each other. When we were in high school, we were academic enemies. Cardan always made it his job to make me feel like I, a daughter born from infidelity didn’t belong in that school. With the elite. In a way, he was right. I never felt like I fit in there. No matter how hard I fought. Things got extremely messy between me, Taryn, and Cardan and his nightmare posse. By graduation, I thought I had finished with him, despite knowing Madoc worked for Eldred. Then Madoc got promoted and started asking Vivi and I to help with whatever he needed involving the Greenbriars. And now, boom. I can’t get rid of him, but I do my best to avoid him.

I distantly heard the shower turn off and I pushed myself off the bed. Vivi emerged from the bathroom in her towel, flashing me a quick smirk before she hurried to her bedroom, “I didn’t use all the hot water!”

“Sure you didn’t!”

“Trust me more, Jude!”

“Only when you become trustworthy!”

“Bitch!”

“Love you too, sis!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

That was how most of our conversations went, though the ‘bitch’ varied depending on the argument.

~~~~~

Once I was in the shower, water streaking down my body I really thought about what watching Dain would entail, and I started to question why I was needed at all. He had his own team, who all went by codenames, and seemed to know everything about everyone, everywhere. They already were with him everywhere, behind the cameras during every shoot. The Bomb, The Roach, and The Ghost. Nobody really knew who they were, besides Madoc. But, despite my pressing, he never revealed where he or Dain or even Eldred found them. They suddenly just appeared one day, surrounded by rumors.

I do think that I’m a pretty incredible fighter. I’m good with a gun, I box almost daily. Madoc taught me how to fence and use knives as a kid. but Dain already had the three of them. What did he need me for? Maybe he personally requested me? But that would make even less sense? I suppose I would find out soon enough.

I turned off the shower after washing my hair and stepped out.

When I exited the bathroom I had to cross through the living room back to my bedroom.

I let out a noise somewhere between a scoff and a snort, “Really, Vivi?”

“What?” She exclaimed, her mouth full of sugary cereal.

“We watch that show happen in real-time,” I gestured to the TV where Vivi was watching reruns of Wicked Royals. “I still can’t get over that name. It’s ridiculous.” Vivi nodded absently, her eyes now refocused on the screen, where it was one of those one-person interviews. Elowyn was talking about some fight that Balekin and Dain had just gotten into.

“Anything good happening?” I joked.

She snorted, “Depends on your definition of good.”

I laughed (She knew my definition of good was definitely not that) and went into my room, leaving Vivi to her mindless watching.

I got dressed in a simple black outfit and pulled my hair up into a simple ponytail. It was boring, but it wasn’t like there was anybody I wanted to impress.

“Jude!”

“What?” I asked, exiting my room.

She waved her phone in my face, “We gotta go.”

~~~~~~~~

When we arrived, Madoc was waiting for us. He ushered us along with quick words, “They’re filming already, so Vivi you go hang out behind the crew. Watch Elowyn, make sure nothing happens. Jude, I want you to meet Dain’s other bodyguards. Not all of them are in there because the others are with Dain, but meet them.”

He practically shoved me into Dain’s trailer and I only heard Vivi yell, “Good luck!” Before the door slammed closed.

I immediately took note of my surroundings and made a point of knowing obvious weapons and places to escape. (Comes with the territory if you live my life)

I turned to see them sitting in a makeshift circle on the floor, playing cards. Well, two of them. A woman and a man.

“I’m Jude,” I said, fighting the urge to shift uncomfortably.

They stared at me for a long time, unblinking and revealing no emotions.

Finally, the woman stood up and held her hand out, “Someday I might tell you my name,” She winked, “Call me Bomb.”

I flashed an uneasy smile at her but my eyes flicked back to the man, who also stood up and in an eerily similar fashion, offered his hand. “Roach,” His voice was gruff and it seemed like it rumbled through the trailer.

He tilted his head towards their discarded cards, “You play?”

“Depends on what it is we’re playing,” I said carefully. It seemed like the right answer if his slight nod meant anything.

“Anything,” Bomb said, “We’re just bored.”

“Why aren’t you out with Dain?” I cursed mentally. It was too bold. Too probing.

However, they didn’t seem offended by the question. “He usually only takes one of us with him and gives the others a job to do, but we don’t have anything.”

“Job?” I asked, but she didn’t respond, didn’t even acknowledge that I’d asked anything.

I was immediately on edge. I even felt my shoulders tense. Something wasn’t right here.

“Let’s sit,” Roach said. So we sat, we formed some kind of triangular circle. I could physically feel how tightly-drawn my body was. I was like a gazelle, I had no idea whether or not a predator was about to lunge. I detested that feeling.

As Bomb collected their previous cards and shuffled Roach turned towards me, “Tell us about yourself, Jude.”

“Your Madoc’s daughter, right?” Bomb asked.

I nodded, “He took us in when we were young.”

“When did you first meet the Greenbriar's?”

I hummed, “I met them all on separate occasions. Vivi knew Rhyia since grade school, so I knew her a little less than that. I met Elowyn and Caeila next, I had tried to run away from home, but I was seven so I didn’t make it quite as long as I’d hoped. It was winter and little me was lost and freezing when they stumbled across me in an alley. I’m still not sure what they were doing there but they recognized me and handed me over to my step-mother Oriana.”

“They didn’t ask any questions?” Bomb questioned.

“Nope, nothing. Just handed me over like I was some misplaced article of clothing.”

Roach whistled under his breath and I opened my mouth to tell them about my first time meeting Balekin when somebody banged on the trailer door. Bomb and Roach spared a quick glance at each other before standing up.

Roach peeked through the peephole and let out a noise between a groan, a laugh, and a curse.

Bomb looked at him questioningly and he just responded with, “It’s the crew.”

She sighed, then gestured for me to stand up, “Dain’s going somewhere, and it’s being filmed for the show. So it’s time to see what you got, newbie.”

I followed Bomb and Roach out the door. The Ghost joined our ranks as we moved through the yard. The trailers were all in the backyard of the huge Greenbriar palace-mansion, they didn’t want the cameras capturing them before they were ready. And in their bedrooms too?? Never.

It would have made sense to hang behind them, observe the way they moved, and the way they schooled their faces to reveal nothing. (It wasn’t hard to see how they’d warranted all the rumors) I, however, am an idiot. So I shoved my way until I was directly next to them, so when Dain’s eyes landed on me, I knew the predator had found me.

His eyes were cold but unnerving. He seemed to take in every detail about me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It sent shivers up my spine. He was waiting for this gazelle to jump.

We held eye contact for only a breath before he turned around.

I didn’t jump.

“Newbie,” Dain said, not even looking at me. “Get your,” He paused as if searching for the right word, “Compatriots, some food from craft services or something. Be useful before we leave.”

When I hesitated he snarled. “Do I have to tell you twice? I’m giving a shot at being valuable. Use it.”

The three of them looked at me, Roach’s face was the only one I could read and it seems he was saying with his eyes, “We’ve all been where you are.” Though I doubted they had, not with him.

I balled my fists, digging my nails into my palms and pursing my lips in hopes of holding back the biting retort on the tip of my tongue. Oh, how I wanted to put this over-grown rich kid in his place. I knew I’d win in any sort of physical fight. But legally? He could destroy me.

So, I spun on my heel and stalked off towards where I knew there would be food.

~~~~~~~

I stomped in, letting the door slam closed behind me, and banged my fist on the wall. I didn’t like him already. I hated anybody that talked to me as if they were miles above me. I hated the Greenbriar’s for their elitist attitude. I hated feeling so powerless. I hated my parents for dying. I hated Madoc for making-

“Jude Duarte, long time no see,” That voice. Despite the haze of anger in my mind, I knew that voice anywhere, that melodic lilt and seductive purr that seemed ingrained in him.

I turned around, slapping a scowl on my face, despite my urge to spill every feeling I had. Somehow, I knew there were some parts he would understand. “Carden Greenbriar, wish I could say it was a pleasure.”

He was sitting on the counter, his legs crossed in front of him. Although he was on a counter, he managed to look regal. His clothes, as always, were fashionable and worth more than my life.

He reached out with long, delicate fingers and plucked an apple out of a bowl. “Well, you could say it.” He smirked, “You’ve always been a pretty liar, Jude.” His rings and the golden highlights in his hair gleamed in the harsh, fluorescent light.

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks,” I strode forward and plucked the apple out of his hand. “And thanks for this.” I mock-saluted him with it and turned to leave, despite not completing my task, when he grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him.

“Haven’t you missed me, Jude?” I shrugged his hand off and shook my head in response. I wasn’t sure how he’d leaped off the counter so fast, but with him so close to me, I was reminded of how much taller he was.

“Come on,” He said, with an indecipherable look in his eyes. “Banter with me, my monster girl. Or have you changed that much?”

“I’m not your anything,” I spit.

“There she is.” And there was that damned smirk again.

“Do everyone a favor and rot in hell, Cardan.”

“Only if you come with me.” He bowed with a flourish and kissed my hand.

I shivered despite myself. “I’m going to heaven.”

He actually let out a laugh, “Really?”

“Probably not.” I shrugged.

“Like I said,” He grinned, “Pretty liar,” He purred again, making my toes curl in my boots.

I hated the way he made me feel. I hated the way I would think of the sharp lines of his face, and the sound of his actual laugh whenever I couldn’t fall asleep. God, I hated him.

I resisted the urge to spit in his face.

I maneuvered around him towards the rest of the snacks. “Your brother’s an ass.”

“I had no idea,” He drawled, voice dripping sarcasm.

“You’re not going to ask which one?” I slammed the fridge door closed and dumped my haul into a backpack that was sitting on the table.

“Nope. Greenbriar’s are good at being asses.”

I smiled at the definite tone in his voice. “Of course.”

I tossed the bag over my shoulder and made to leave when Cardan’s hand shot out. “Just a second, and I’ll let you get back to whatever servant’s task you were doing.”

I looked at him with such hatred I could feel it in my veins. He seemed to realize he struck a nerve and his grin could put the Cheshire cat out of business.

He held out his hand as if he wanted me to shake it. When he didn’t he let out a dramatic sigh and grabbed one of the bottles of wine that rested on a shelf near his head.

He saluted me with it, in a similar fashion to when I’d done the same with the apple.

“Until our next tête-à-tête, darling.” And, with a wink, he was out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“The Greenbriar's suck,” Was all I said as I threw myself face-down on our couch.

Vivi threw herself on top of me with a groan of assent.

I smiled despite being smushed in the cushions, “I feel validated.”

“What was that?” Taryn asked.

I yelped and Vivi jumped up from off of me.

Taryn was standing, leaning slightly against the kitchen island. She had a small smile on her face.

“Taryn!” Vivi threw herself at my twin.

When they separated Taryn looked at me, “Jude?” She asked softly.

I shook my head, hanging back. “Not yet,”

Taryn’s smile vanished and it looked like she was going to roll her eyes.

Vivi could sense the tension and took it upon herself to distract us, “Dad gave us jobs guarding individual Greenbriars.”

“Oh. How is that going?”

“About as well as you’d expect,” I said tightly.

“Okay,” Vivi said, exasperated. “Sit down, both of you. Let’s catch up and act like sisters.”

I opened my mouth to argue but Vivi cut me a scathing glance and I knew I couldn’t get out of this one.

The three of us sat on the couch. Vivi, relaxed, in-between Taryn and I. Taryn and I both sat board-straight, glaring at each other.

“So,” Vivi said, moving so Taryn couldn’t stare at me anymore, “What’s been happening with you since we last talked?”

“Well, Locke-” Oh god. I tuned her out but tuned back in when they looked at me like I should have an answer to a question.

I somehow managed to talk my way out of what was happening and escaped to my room.

I was ready for bed, laying and staring at my ceiling when my brain started spiraling.

There were so many things that would be expected of me. What if I messed up and somebody got hurt? What if I couldn’t succeed and get stuck working a boring 9 to 5 office job. I loved the rush I got working where I do. I, for some godforsaken reason, excelled in dirty politics. That’s how I felt fulfilled. I got used to fighting to survive as a child and now I can’t live any other way. Is that too deep? I’m thinking too much about this.

*buzz*

Cardan: I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early my monster girl ;)

Jude: I hate you

Cardan: I hate you too darling

Jude: You’re drunk aren’t you?

Cardan: How’d you know?

Jude: You’re always drunk

Cardan: Hurtful

I rolled my eyes and turned my phone off, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.

Tag List:

@ladyofbloodandroses @foreverscreaming This is already going so far off the ‘reality show’ aspect. I’m so sorry :)

#the folk of the air #tfota fanfic #tfota #jurdan #jude x cardan #jude duarte #tcp #twk #tqon #hthkoelths #prince cardan #cardan greenbriar #vivi duarte #taryn duarte #locke #nicasia

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tatttletale · 3 years ago

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(my mind’s) fully fading | Mystery Skulls Animated

It's been five months since the gang lost Lewis. But how, exactly? Arthur can't quite remember, and from what he knows, neither can Vivi; but it couldn't have just been an accident like the investigators had ruled. There had to be something else at play. So Arthur goes on a search to recover his lost memories and bring their friend justice, but something's wrong with Vivi... and Mystery seems more on-edge than usual...

CONTENT WARNING for swearing throughout and exploring trauma-based mental illness (PTSD). TRIGGER WARNING for description of injury, trauma responses etc. TWs/CWs will be detailed at the start of relevant chapters.

CONTENT WARNING: Mention of needles, vague reference to amputation.

"So I was thinking, maybe we could set up a website," Arthur mused, fingers tapping away at his laptop. The rain outside showered against the roof in a light drone. "Flagging for key terms or something. That way it'd be much easier for Vivi to find new tip-offs."

"Oh, she'd love that," Lewis said appreciatively, whisking whatever it was he held in the white bowl. "I'd come and help you if I didn't have my hands full."

"Mhm," Arthur said skeptically, thinking of his too-big fingers struggling with his laptop keys. "You say that like baking for you is a treat. As if you don't do it all the time."

"Ah well," Lewis winked, "You need a little extra, flaquito."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Lewis set the bowl down, wiped his hands on his apron and started forward.

Arthur jumped up before him. "Hands full, my ass!"

Lewis only laughed in surprise. "I thought you were busy with the technical stuff? Are you expecting someone?"

"More like I can't have you tarnish our good name turning up at the door with a pink Kiss the Cook apron," he teased back, turning for the door. "Even if it is in Spanish."

"Mami gave it to me," Lewis said, defensively. "She altered it herself! You know how hard it is to find clothes in my size!"

"Sure, sure," Arthur snickered, hastening down the hall in front of him. He opened the door to a bedraggled Vivi, standing impatiently in the rain.

"What took you so long!" she cried, and bustled in, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. He flushed pleasantly.

As she kicked off her shoes, dripping onto the carpet, he noticed that she was very obviously hiding something big and angular under her sweater.

"What's that you've got?"

She immediately perked up and pulled the thing out—a thick battered tome.

"I was protecting it from the rain," she explained at his inquiring look. "I just found it today at the Tomb! Look at this thing!" She opened it, flipping through hundreds of yellowed pages, eyes glittering with excitement. "It's got, like, everything in here! Ciphers, spells, guides, maps. . ."

. . . She looked beautiful like that.

"Vee!"

She turned around at Lewis' voice and flashed him a huge grin. "Lew-Lew! Look at this book I found today!"

She dumped it in his capable hands and he flipped through it slowly, eyes scanning the pages. "Wow, Vivi. . . this is amazing! Where'd you get it?"

"Tome Tomb," she replied smugly. "It came in a shipment of weird books. Duet looked through them and sent them back—said they got the wrong address—but not before I fished this out!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that. . . stealing?"

"Well, I mean, yeah . . . but half the stuff we do is already illegal."

"Um, I object," Arthur cut in.

She turned around and stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, half the time you hide behind Mystery and don't do anything, anyway."

Arthur couldn't help feeling hurt. He scuffed his feet, eyes flicking back to the table, and then lit up when they settled on his laptop. "Oh, Vivi! I was thinking, I could rig up something for you—a website or something. It'd make it much easier for you to track down busts—"

He turned to her but she wasn't listening. She was smiling up at Lewis with the book in her hands. "You like it, don't you?"

"I do. Great find, Vivi," Lewis smiled, and leaned down to kiss her. She happily threw her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoes to reach.

Arthur tore his eyes away and plodded into the kitchen to wait for them.

Half an hour later Lewis served dinner for two, with Vivi plopping down on the couch with her takeaway noodles. Arthur was aghast.

"You're turning down Lewis's cooking for that?"

Lewis only laughed. "It's okay, Arthur. There's always leftovers."

"Mhm," Vivi agreed from the couch, anchored in front of some supernatural program. Arthur understood that she had Lewis' food a lot—they both did—but he couldn't imagine for the life of him ever turning it down or, god forbid, getting sick of it.

Shaking his head, he focussed on the plate in front of him. Picking up his fork, he prodded it curiously. "So . . . what's this?"

"Jambalaya," Lewis answered, not touching his. Instead, he elected to prop an elbow on the table and lean his head against his hand, eyes on Arthur.

"What's that, Cajun?" he asked, scooping some into his mouth.

"Creole," Lewis corrected. "Thought I'd try something different, this time."

Arthur's eyes popped as the flavour hit him. "Holy shit, Lewis, this is amazing!" He chewed for a bit, placing a familiar taste. "Are there oysters in this??"

Lewis smiled, eyes crinkling. "Yeah . . . they're not really popular in Creole cuisine but since you like them so much, I thought I'd experiment."

"Well, it really paid off," Arthur replied, shovelling more into his mouth and hollering at Vivi. "You haff no idea what you're mishing," he garbled through a mouth full of food.

"I'll try it tomorrow!" she called back, waving him off as she refocussed on the program.

Again, Arthur shook his head, giving Lewis a pointed look. "Well, I think it's delicious."

"I'm glad," his friend said, soft eyes still fixed on him, food untouched.

○ ○ ○

"Hi Lew-Lew!"

Vivi swung through the door to the Pepper Paradiso, barely affording Arthur a glance. Instead, she ran right past him and into his best friend's arms. Arthur tried to tune out the giggles.

"And what's got you so excited?"

"I found a bust! Apparently the Texas-Mexican border is a supernatural hotspot. You would not believe the stuff I've read! Ghosts, yokai, chupacabras—"

Arthur spun around. "Vivi, no way. Not those dog things."

She brushed him off. "Chaneques too! They pull the souls right outta peoples' bodies!"

Lewis sighed fondly. "They scare them, Vivi. Scare the souls."

"That's right! And there's this cave, Ojos. . . Ojos Sabi-ose?"

"Ojos Sabios?" Lewis mulled. "That means 'wise eyes'."

"Yeah!" she motormouthed. "It only appears for people if they're looking for it, or if it wants something from them—"

"Can we please talk about this?" Arthur cut in. "I don't want to go disturbing ancient Mayan spirits. That sounds dangerous."

"These will be Aztec," Vivi replied. "Not nearly as dangerous."

"Still!" he fought. "I don't feel comfortable with—"

"C'mon, Artie, we'll protect you." Lewis flashed him a dazzling smile. The words died in his throat.

"We can't miss out on an opportunity like this," Vivi pushed. "It would really put us on the map! We could open commissions, earn money. . . upgrade equipment. . ." She looked back at him with puppy dog eyes. "Pleeeeeaaasee?"

Arthur gauged her uncertainly, raising his eyes to Lewis for support.

Instead, he was met with that heart-melting smile.

He faltered. "O. . .Okay. But. . . please, let's just be careful."

○ ○ ○

Five hours of driving filled with chatter in the front.

Arthur had been lumped in the back.

"Because we know how drained you get on long road trips," Vivi had supplied, but Arthur knew it was because they had wanted to sit in the front together. And that hurt. They'd probably dump him off somewhere if they could get away with it—

No, he couldn't think like that. They cared about him. They were his friends. And they'd listen to him if he had any problems.

. . . Wouldn't they?

"Well, I mean, yeah . . . but half the stuff we do is already illegal."

"Half the time you hide behind Mystery and don't do anything, anyway."

"Great find, Vivi."

"These will be Aztec. Not nearly as dangerous."

"C'mon, Artie, we'll protect you."

"We can't miss out on an opportunity like this!"

"Because we know you get drained on long road trips."

His stomach sank.

The van began to slow.

"Alright Skulls, we're almost there," came Lewis' voice from the front. "About a mile to go."

"And then we'll be going deep inside Ojos Sabios!" Vivi said excitedly.

Helplessly, Arthur gazed out the window. No, they wouldn't listen to him.

A toxic anger simmered away in his stomach. They never did.

○ ○ ○

. . . . .

Arthur was being shaken and he didn't know why. Was it time to get up? Did he sleep in? He thought he heard his phone buzzing too—he reached out his arm lazily, feeling around for his phone, but nothing happened. He couldn't feel most of his arm, or his fingers. But he could feel sticky stuff all over him, and then he was hit with a blinding pain.

Gasping, he reached for the burning shoulder and cried out when the touch sent daggers through his nerves. Why did they do this? He knew something bad would happen! He took a deep breath, and rolled his head to the side to survey the damage—

His eyes popped.

His arm. It was gone.

His thoughts spun wildly. How had this happened? What had he done? They had been on a job, right? Looking around for a cave. They had all been together. Then why was he alone? Where was Lewis? Where was Vivi?

"Arthur?"

Vivi?

"Arthur!"

Vivi! Vivi was there, and she was going to help him!

"Arthur! Please, we need to go! We need to get you to the hospital!"

Hospital. Yes—painkillers, bandages, safety. Arthur cracked open his eyes, and slowly sat up, groaning. He tried to blink through the blinding headache and blurring tears. He reached up his hand to wipe them away—

Nope. No hand. He crushed the reeling thoughts down and tried not to panic. He had to get up. He needed to get to the hospital—maybe they could reattach his arm. Where was that arm?

"Arthur! Come on!"

A hazy figure was waving something at him—what was that? Arthur squinted. A blue balloon? A ribbon? Oh. An arm.

Arthur grabbed Vivi's arm and hoisted himself upwards, weaving on his feet as his vision almost whited out. His head spun—maybe he should sit back down.

Something looped itself around his torso and under his arms—arm, keeping him steady. "Come on, Artie. We can do this. It's only a few steps to the van."

The van? Oh, yes, they had a van! Only a few steps. . . Wait. Lewis.

"LEWIS!" he yelled, trying to turn back. Vivi's grip was firm even as he struggled.

"Arthur, no. We need to go."

"Lewis—"

"Arthur, we don't have TIME!" she cried desperately. "Us first, Lewis later! We can't go looking for him like this!"

There was something in her voice and when he looked at her, he could see her eyes were wide and wet. "Please," she insisted, a tear dribbling down her cheek. After throwing one last glance over his shoulder he clenched his jaw and nodded.

With Vivi holding him up and Mystery dragging them along, it was a relatively quick stagger to the car before he was flopped onto the front seat and the vehicle started humming. The agony came back and hit hard.

Arthur cried out in pain. How much blood had he lost? Was he going to die? His breathing became loud and quick in his ears.

"Mystery! Please, calm him down! It's only a few minutes to the hospital but we can't let him get hysterical! Jesus, he's losing so much blood . . . Oh, god, fuck, fuck, fuck. . ." The car stopped and Vivi took off her scarf and wrapped it around his bleeding stump—and only then was Arthur aware of the weight on his chest. He blinked up at the hazy figure, making out a white face, spiky hair, and yellow spectacles—

"Mystery?" Arthur moaned. The dog whined, huddling onto his chest and licking his face. He blinked at the dog in disbelief. "Were you with. . . Did you find me. . .?" He couldn't finish his sentence before his head began spinning again.

The next few hours were a blur. They arrived at the hospital and he was immediately shoved into a bed and rolled through white corridors and pushed through swinging doors. A doctor slid a needle into his wrist and his head grew hazy; he strained to make sense of the snippets of conversation that broke through the blur. Critical condition . . . hysteria. Blood loss . . . emergency surgery. Fluids . . . gas. Eight hours.

When Arthur finally woke up he was questioned. Neither he nor Vivi could remember anything significant of that night. They could remember before and after, but that was it. The nurses had said it had been shock. When the first responders had come to brief them in the hospital, they had told them Lewis was dead. Arthur hadn't wanted to believe it—that meant they had left him.

Foul play had been ruled out as there had been no evidence of anyone else entering or exiting the site. The investigators had decided the most likely cause an accident: Lewis had tripped, he had been running and hadn't seen the ledge. But that wasn't like Lewis. He was always so methodical, so careful. Things hadn't seemed right.

Despite Arthur's pleas to go back and search, the authorities wouldn't let anyone else near the site. They told him that after removing the body they'd cordoned off the area from the public. Arthur had insisted on seeing him—he had to be alive, he had to be—but they'd held him back. The first and last time he got to see his friend after that night was at the funeral a week later, and when he did, though he looked as clean and whole as ever, he fell to his knees and threw up in shock.

When Arthur finally completed the drug therapy and was cleared to go home, he locked himself in his room for days and didn't come out to eat. He barely got any sleep, and the sleep he did get was plagued with twisted images—images that he didn't remember, but terrified him still.

He missed Lewis; everything about him. And he missed Vivi's lovestruck bubbliness. It hadn't been that bad, really. He had just been selfish—they had been happy together. That didn't mean they hadn't still cared about him.

By the time he pulled himself together and came out, smiling at Vivi and putting some bread in the toaster for them, he didn't really know much, but he knew that he—and the remaining Mystery Skulls—were never going to be the same again.

Not without Lewis. Together, they were a puzzle. And without that piece, they could never be whole. He certainly couldn't be.

(Chapter 1/6)

Check out the rest of this story on: - Wattpad - Archive Of Our Own

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monaownsmyass · 4 years ago

Text

Convince Her

Requested fic by anon. (If you have any fic ideas or requests you'd like me to write, you can leave me an ask!)

Book: Queen B

Pairing: Veronica Lombardi x MC (Bea Hughes)

Genre: Fluff but like, a little smutty and angsty?

Rating: Uh... NSFW 🤭 Sexual scenes, strong language

Word Count: 6,793 (explains why I took so long doesn’t it)

A/N: Things seem to be going great with Veronica and MC but when V is forced to choose between MC and her online presence, things get a little bumpy. This is a continuation of Influence Her. This took me so long and so much energy and effort I wanna die 😭 I’ve been writing the whole day so if some parts are off, I’m sorry, I’m a little loopy rn. Anyway, V stans, come get y’all’s feast!

Tag list: @ineedskyecrandall @kamilahsayeet2063 @avalawrencefl @lovekamilahsayeed @thequeenkamilahsayeed @heygmicheelle @djtjsmith14 @jjlover01 @soft-for-drake @dopeyouth @alexroyard @satrinadia @toalltheboysididntlove @mypegasifly @samanthadalton @playallthechoices @queensayeed @fundamentalromantic (lmk if anyone would like to be included or removed in my next fics and if you only want to be tagged for certain pairings.)

2nd 'Date'

"Where are you going?" Zoey asked curiously, eyeing me up and down as I approached the living room.

"Uh, the library, why?" I said, fidgeting uncomfortably.

I definitely was not going to the library but she didn't need to know that.

"The library, huh, babe?" she said skeptically and stood up from the sofa, walking towards me. "Right, to the library... wearing your push-up bra and that sexy perfume of yours."

"Um, yeah?"

"You're definitely not sneaking off to meet a certain someone, hm?" she hummed.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I played dumb, pretending to busy myself by checking my bag. "I'm just going to... read..."

My roommate started circling me, gazing at my outfit that was the farthest thing from anything anyone would wear to stare at words on some pages.

Why did I say the library? I groaned and cussed inwardly at myself.

"So you're not gonna meet this special someone who so happens to be the queen of social media and is ranked top three in Belvoire and is one of the hottest persons here and also has the hots for you and grew on you only after the first date and made out with you outside our suite, which, I heard everything, by the way, and made you day dream about her for the past few weeks and-"

"I did not daydream about her!" I said defensively then immediately, my eyes widened.

"Oh? So you do know who I'm talking about."

I stayed silent, contemplating my next words as she stared at me.

"I'm talking about one Veronica Lombardi."

"I know who you're talking about," I snapped.

Zoey giggled and gave me a pat on the cheek. "Aww, look at you, scoring a second date with Vivi."

"It's not a date! We're just hanging out."

"Ah, so you are going out with her!"

I bit my lip and sighed. "So what if I am?"

"Eek! I'm so happy for my bestie!"

She crushed me in a hug and which took me aback and left me gasping for air.

"Thanks... Zo...!" I struggled to get out.

"Okay, okay," she pulled back and smooth out my clothes, pushing me towards the door. "Go get your girl!"

"She's not my-"

"Yeah, yeah, we've been through this before, now go!"

I smiled, shaking my head at Zoey before stepping out.

"Oh, and Bea?"

"Yeah?" I turned to look at her.

"If you're gonna shove your tongue down her throat against the door, try not to be so loud this time, okay?"

I grabbed a pen from the side table by the door and chucked it at her. "Zo!"

She clutched her stomach laughing as the pen bounced off her shoulder harmlessly.

"Bye, babe! Have fun," she blew me a kiss as I finally walked out.

~*~*~

5th Date

"Oh! Veronica!"

"I love it when you moan my name," she groaned against my neck where she was left aggressive nips and kisses, no doubt leaving her mark on me. I felt her smirk against my skin. "You sound so hot."

We found ourselves in her car after our date at the park. And yeah, yeah, I admit, it was a date. What was meant to be a sweet, innocent kiss turned into a heated make out session with me on her lap and her hands on my ass, guiding me to move against her.

I ground myself harder into her, her words making me whimper and encouraging me even further. Her lips travelled further down to the exposed skin of my chest that was left uncovered by my buttoned shirt, leaving kisses.

"Mm, V! I need to feel your lips on mine."

My hands that were wrapped around her neck brought her face up to mine and I smashed my lips against hers in a fiery passion. She moaned against my lips and I felt a shot of heat rush through my body at the gorgeous sound, making me groan in return.

I felt a hand slip down to my thigh, giving it a squeeze while the other moved around my waist and pulled me closer into her. She bit my lower lip, making me shiver in her arms.

"Oh, you like that, huh, beautiful?" she teased with a smile.

The hand that was on my thigh quickly moved around to give me a sharp slap on the backside. I collapsed onto her, gasping as I felt myself getting soaked, still grinding against her.

"You liked that too, hm?" she said cockily. "Such a naughty girl."

"God, you're so annoying," I grumbled between breaths and straightened up. "You talk to much!"

I forced her head into my cleavage where she hummed and immediately began nipping at the skin that wasn't covered by my bra. "Thank fuck I found a way to shut you up."

I felt her chuckle against my chest as her hand on my thigh crept up under my skirt, massaging as she went. It approached dangerously close to where I wanted her the most and I was sure she could feel the heat radiating from between my legs. I squeezed them together, wanting to some sort of pressure against my center.

"Please, V," I whined. "I need you to touch me. I need to feel you."

She lifted her face from my breast. "Touch you? Where?" she responded playfully, smiling. Her hand grabbed onto my thigh. "Here?" Then moved up to cup my chest. "Or here?" And then further up to my next to clutch at my throat. "Or did you mean here?"

"Fuck you," I cussed at her but with a grin, grasping her hand and brought it down between my thighs, gasping when her hand made contact with my damp panties under my skirt. "Here."

She kissed along my jaw and made her way up to my ear where she bit my earlobe and whispered huskily into my ear, "You're so wet for me, beautiful."

I let out a loud moan when I felt her hand slip into my underwear, working her hand back and forth. "I've wanted this since we first hung out together."

"Not since you first saw me?" Veronica spoke teasingly into my ear. Her fingers moved faster and I threw my head back with my eyes closed, panting hard.

"No comment," I managed to get out even though my thoughts were clouded in desire and pleasure wrecked my body.

"Looks like you're gonna have to wait a little longer," she smirked and took her hand away. I whimpered from the lost of contact and glared daggers at her.

"What?!"

"What?" she asked back laughing, casually taking her fingers in her mouth.

"You're such a jerk!" I slapped her shoulders in disbelief. "Why can't you just finish me off?"

"Where's the fun in that?"

"God, you're insufferable!" I huffed and got off of her, plopping myself back onto the passenger's seat.

"Aww, you're adorable when you're mad," she cooed and pinched my cheek. "I promise to make it up to you."

I swatted her hand away but felt myself start smiling. "You better watch out, Lombardi. Next time is gonna be hell for you."

She looked at me in the eyes and the intensity in them did nothing to calm my libido.

"Why are you threatening me with a good time, darling?"

I rolled my eyes at her even though I could feel the heat creep up to my cheeks. "I'm gonna tease you till you're begging me to stop."

"And what if I do the same?" She moved in closer to me.

"Then I'd say," I whispered, our lips skimming each other's, not quite touching. "Game on."

~*~*~

8th DATE

"I still can't believe you brought me to an arcade! I haven't been to one since I was a kid."

"You and me both," Veronica laughed as she grabbed my hand, making my heart leap. "I haven't been here in years!"

We played a bunch of games, trying to outdo the other by seeing how many tickets we could get from the same machine. I clutched the heap we won so far in one arm as I giggled along with her, letting her lead me to the next arcade machine. "I definitely won that last one."

"No way! I swear you were cheating."

"How would I cheat at skeeball?" I laughed.

"Maybe you leaned in closer when I wasn't looking!"

"That wouldn't help at all. Plus, I saw you staring at me the entire time." I looked at her pointedly with a brow raised.

"You have no proof."

We laughed and I moved my arm to wrap around her bicep. "What do you think we can get with all these tickets?"

"Plenty of stuff, but we aren't done yet," she glanced back at me with that familiar mischievous glint in her eyes.

"V... What else do you have planned?" I asked cautiously.

"You'll see."

"Are you gonna get us into trouble?"

She gave me a lazy grin. "Maybe."

She brought me to a machine at the corner of the arcade. It was decorated with rockets and stars and anything else to do with space. There was barely anyone around since it was a weekday but this side of the place was completely deserted.

"No one comes to this part 'cuz it's supposedly the hardest games to win tickets," she laughed, shaking her head. "I honestly can't believe it's still here after all this time."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll explain later, right now, I'm gonna tell you what you have to do."

She lead me a few paces away from the machine. "Okay, so I'm gonna do a little tinkering and I'm gonna walk away. After a while, it's just gonna start spurting out a bunch of tickets, so you just gotta take 'em and leave."

"Wait, what-"

But she already started walking towards the machine. She shot me a wink over her shoulder and placed a finger over her lips.

She nonchalantly looked at the machine, inspecting it from different angles. She bent down and reached behind it then under, fumbling around until she finally stood up. She gave it a hard jerk and the machine gave out a loud whirr.

"Hey, you! Stop!"

We both whirled around to see a worker pointing at Veronica and rushing towards her.

She ran past me, smiling. "Well, that looks like my cue to leave!"

"Oi! Get back here!" the worker shouted and started racing after her around the arcade while she laughed joyfully.

I had to stifle my giggles behind a fist as I watched the scene unfold.

God, this was amusing.

Veronica sprinted out of the building and apparently the worker had enough of chasing her. He returned to the machine and gave it a brief check before walking away.

Soon enough, it started shooting out a long stream of tickets that seemed never-ending. I quickly started gathering them in my arms that were already full of the tickets we won.

'V!' I sent her a quick text. 'Get your ass back here!'

She sent me the laughing emoji and I rolled my eyes at the screen but I couldn't help but let out a small smile.

'Alright, alright, I'm gonna try and sneak back in.'

A few minutes later, Veronica was back by my side and helping me stuff all the tickets into a bag which I had no idea where it came from.

"Where did you even get this?"

"I came prepared," was all she said.

I just shook my head at her as the machine continued to spit out the tickets.

After what seemed like forever, it finally stopped and we walked away, giggling and pretending like nothing happened.

"Where did you learn how to do that?

"My brother and I used to do this when we were younger," she explain and reached to hold my free hand. My stomach filed with butterflies as she intertwined our fingers together and I smiled. "We used to come to this very arcade. He taught me how to rig the machine and soon enough, we started doing this every other week. It was our version of bonding time." Veronica smiled at the memory and looked at me.

"I didn't know I've been going out with a felon," I teased.

"Nah, think of it like a Robin Hood situation."

"You gave the tickets to other kids?"

"When we were feeling generous."

"And how often was that?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

I laughed at her, giving her an amused look as we made our way to the redemption prize centre and looked at the wide range of selection for us to choose from.

"What would you like?" V turned to me and asked.

"Hmm, why don't you pick out something for me?"

She snaked an arm around my waist and bring me into her, making me lose my train of thought for a moment. "You sure about that?" She kissed my cheek.

"Mm, I'm regretting it now."

"Too late," she spoke. She spun me around and instructed me to close my eyes and ears.

"But why?"

"'Cuz I want to surprise you."

I groaned but complied. "This is dumb," I muttered.

"You're just no fun."

"What's that?" I shouted, pretending I didn't hear her. "Did you say something? Sorry, my ears are covered."

She laughed and stepped in front of me, holding the prize behind her back.

"What is it?"

She pulled it out and held it up to my face, grinning proudly at me.

"A board game?"

"For our next date," she explained.

My heart burst with joy at her words. While I was sure it was already a given that we'd have more dates in the future, it was so sweet to see her already thinking about our next one already.

"You're just begging to get your ass kicked again, huh? Today wasn't enough?"

She waved a hand at me. "Pft, as if. I let you win today. Next time, no mercy."

"Is that so?" I moved in closer to her.

"Mhm," she hummed. "Why don't we make things more interesting."

"I'm listening," I whispered and took her hips in my hands, bringing her closer into me.

"The winner has to punish the loser, however they see fit," she smirked.

"I like that idea. You better get ready to lose, Lombardi."

Her face moved closer to mine. "In your dreams, Hughes."

Right before our lips met, we heard a shout that made us jump back.

"You!" It was the worker from earlier.

"Time to get out of here," V tapped me on the shoulder and held onto my wrist.

We both ran out of the arcade, hand-in-hand, giggling as the man shouted after us. I looked at Veronica and saw a child-like gleam in her eyes which was absolutely adorable. It was obviously she used to get up to trouble when she was a kid. Thrill ran through my body as we ran along the sidewalk under the night sky and I could feel the adrenaline pumping in me.

Eventually, we stopped running and looked back. We stared at each other, breathing hard and then doubled over laughing.

I glanced over at her to find her smiling back at me with that heart-stopping smile of hers.

And in that moment I realised, I really liked Veronica Lombardi.

~*~*~

12th DATE!

"Come here."

I grabbed the collar of her shirt and tugged her into me then pushing her up against the wall.

"Yes ma'am," she teased and pressed our lips together. One of my hands tangled in her hair while the other fumbled around, searching for the door knob of my dorm.

"Zoey isn't in?" she asked against my lips.

"Don't know, don't care."

I pushed myself further into her and ran my hand up under her shirt and over her chest, making her groan.

"Why didn't we go to my room then?"

"Mine's closer," I whispered hurriedly as the door clicked open. "And I need you now."

I pushed Veronica past the door, never breaking off the kiss.

"Hey, ba- Oh!" Zoey stopped herself in surprise.

I walked Veronica back to the direction of my room, hands never leaving each other's bodies and lips never parting.

"I'm guessing you guys had a good date, then," Zoey added.

We crashed into the kitchen counter on the way to my room. Veronica's hand were all over me as she kissed her way down my neck.

"Mm!"

"Good to know, babe," Zoey replied.

I ignored her and finally pushed V towards my room, finally making our way past the door.

"Have fun you two," my roommate said jokingly as I shut the door behind us and shoved Veronica on the bed, straddling her.

We sure would.

~*~*~

"There she is!" Zoey cheered as I walked into our suite after class the next day.

"Uh, hey?"

"The sex was that good, huh?"

"Zo!"

"What?" she asked, laughing. "You're the one that barged in here groping and sucking the soul out of your girl as if I wasn't sitting on the couch or anything."

"I'm sorry!"

I was going to continue but she waved me off.

"I don't need to hear some lame excuse about how horny you were, I heard it all. Till an ungodly hour in the morning too like damn, you both really went at it, huh?"

"Zoey, please!" I groaned and hid my face behind my hands, heat making its way to my cheeks.

I walked towards the fridge and Zoey followed me.

"You're even walking a little funny," she giggled.

"Stoppppp!" I playfully shoved her even though I knew it was true 'cuz I still felt a little sore.

"Aw, no need to be shy! You definitely weren't last night," she smirked at me cheekily. "'Oh, V! Yes! Don't stop, please, god!'"

"That's it!" I walked off towards the direction of my bedroom. "Conversation is over."

"And then she went, 'Mmm! Bea, right there! Fuck!'" Zoey mimicked teasingly.

"Bye, Zo!" I said as I shut my room with her laughing her ass off.

~*~*~

Nth DATE!!!

I woke up to find myself wrapped up in a pair of strong arms. The familiar warmth and comfort of the embrace made me smile.

I felt the arms hug me tighter and a soft kiss was placed on my neck. I sighed in contentment and melted further into her clutch.

"G'morning, beautiful," I heard Veronica's sleepy voice whisper into my ear and my heart swelled.

"Morning, V," I yawned and turned in her arms to face her. She looked at me and smiled.

"What?" I giggled.

"Nothing, you just look really cute."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "God, V, it's too early in the morning for all your cheesiness."

"Cheesiness?" she laughed. "I'm not cheesy."

"You're like the cheesiet person I know."

"Well, even if I were, you're in my bed so it worked, didn't it?" She gave me a crooked grin.

My face was burning at this point. "You're unbelievable," I groaned but the smile on my face gave away my true emotion.

She smirked. "I know, you told me last night, remember?"

Flashbacks to the night before played in my mind and I felt my entire body get hot.

"Veronica!" I grabbed the pillow beside me and gave her a whack on the head with it as she laughed. I looked at the time on my phone and sighed. "I gotta go."

"Aw, c'mon," she said as I moved to sit up and stretched. I glanced back to find her eyes running up me down my bare back. "Can't I hold you a little longer?"

She crawled towards me and wrapped her arms around me from the back, resting her chin on my shoulder. I felt her whole body pressed up against back back as she held me tight.

"You know I wouldn't leave if I had the choice," I moved my head back to kiss her cheek.

"You going soft on me, Hughes?" she teased as I rolled my eyes.

"I could say the same about you, Lombardi."

Our lips met in a soft, sweet kiss but not longer after, I pulled back which made her groan.

"I know, I know," I said as I stood up. "But I have class soon."

Before I could take a step, Veronica pounced on me and wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug.

"Ahh! V!"

"You can't escape now!" she giggled and attacked me with kisses.

"V! Stop!" I laughed along with her.

"No!"

"Please!" I wheezed out. "I'll make it up to you later, I promise!"

"Promise?"

"Yes!"

"Fine," she said sadly as she reluctantly let go off me and as much as I was protesting, I was already regretting it and thinking twice about going to class.

"I'll see you later, okay?" I told her as I reached for my clothes, putting on my bra and underwear before reaching for my pants while she did the same.

"Mhm," she hummed.

"V? Where's my shirt?" I asked, looking around.

"I don't know...," she spoke in a low, mischievous tone that caused me to whip my head to look at her.

There she was, one hand on her hip and holding my shirt in the other. She looked at me with a cheeky glint in her eyes and a small smirk on her lips. "Wherever could it have gone?"

"V, give it back," I stepped in her direction and reached for it but she held it out of my reach.

"Give what back? I don't know what you're about." She jogged past me to the other side of her room and grinned at me.

"Oh, that's what we're doing, huh?" I quickly moved towards her but she evaded me and jumped onto the bed instead.

"You're gonna try harder than that," she laughed and jumped off the bed as I lunged after her.

I started chasing after her around the room, the both of us giggling like children playing a game of catch.

"Veronica! Come back here!"

"You wish, Hughes!"

Eventually, I managed to corner her against the wall.

"Got you now," I grinned at her, both hands pressed against the wall to trap her. "Give it back."

Veronica was holding my shirt up, still out of my reach. She gave me an entertained look and shook her head. "No."

I was about to retort when an idea popped into my mind.

"Fine," I said and moved away from her. She looked at me curiously as I walked to her closet and started rifling through her clothes.

"Are you gonna steal one of my shirts?" she asked in amusement.

"Yes, I am."

One particular sweater caught my attention. She always wore it whenever she invited me over to her room. I removed it from the hanger as Veronica crept up behind me to see what I had chosen.

"Seriously? My favourite sweater?"

"Yup!" I tossed it over my head and felt the comfy fabric envelope my body. It smelt just like her which made me smile. "I think it's only fair. Since you're not planning on giving back my shirt, I'm gonna take your sweater then."

"Y'know what, darling?" she asked and pulled me into her, hand still holding onto my shirt. "I think it's a pretty fair trade."

"You do, hm?" I said teasingly. "Why don't we seal the deal with a kiss?"

Her arms wrapped around my neck as I brought her closer to me by the waist. She gave me a brash smile. "Just say you want to kiss me."

"Shut up."

Our lips met in a slow, tender kiss and suddenly, I didn't care that I was running late for class.

~*~*~

Aftermath...

"Veronica!" I heard a shrill voice shout from outside my room a while after Bea left.

I sighed and shouted back, "What do you want, Poppy?"

"Let me in!"

I groaned and got off my bed to open the door for her, knowing she would just scream until I let her in anyway.

"Yes?" I questioned, clearly annoyed.

She brushed past me and entered my room. An angel walked out only for the devil to come in. She turned to face me and crossed her arms. "We need to talk."

"About?"

She rolled her eyes. "Farmsville, duh!"

"Bea, you mean."

"Aw how cute," she mocked with a jeer. "Protecting your little girlfriend."

"Cut the crap, Pops. What is it?"

"Break off whatever fling you have going on with Bea," she said her name with distaste on her lips, cutting right to the chase.

I scoffed. "Why would I do that?"

"When was the last time you vlogged? Or live-streamed?" Poppy asked, ignoring my question.

I paused for a while. "Almost a week ago."

"A week, V. A week," she tsked and pretended to busy herself with the makeup on my dresser. "You used to do it all the time. Speaking of, why haven't you been vlogging or live-streaming your stupid dates? Embarrassed the Veronicats would find out their precious Vivi Lombardi is dating some farmgirl?"

"Oh, but you know Bea isn't just some farmgirl, don't you, Pops?" I smirked, challenging her. "You know Bea is coming for your crown, and fast. You're threatened by her."

I saw her shoulders tense in anger, as if she was gonna blow her lid as she scoffed defensively, "I am not!" She cleared her throat and spoke calmly, "Anyway, you're avoiding my question, V. Afraid to tell the truth?"

"For privacy," I said deadpanned but that wasn't true. If I had it my way, I would've told the Veronicats all about Bea since our first date but I promised her I wouldn't vlog and although it's been months since then, I didn't want to go back on my word even though I was sure Bea would definitely be okay with it.

"You among all people should know there's no such thing as privacy for social media stars," Poppy mocked.

"What's your point?" I asked, getting frustrated.

"My point," she whipped her head around to look at me. "Is that she's a distraction. No wonder you've barely had the attention you used to from your followers. Poor them, too."

I squinted at her. "You don't care about my followers. You never did, you only cared that so many people would listen to me. And in return listened to you. I know why you became friends with me, if we can even call it that, so don't pretend for a second you give a fuck about me or them."

"Oh, so you aren't as mindless as you seem," she raised a brow at me.

"I'm not stupid, Poppy."

"Well, you definitely seem to play that role well."

My jaw clenched in annoyance but I was determined to not give her the satisfaction of knowing it.

"But this benefits you, too, V," she continued in a condescending tone. "If she's gone, you can focus on your," she waved her hand, looking for the right word. "Career."

"You must have gone insane if you think I'm buying your bullshit for even a second."

"Oh, but you will."

"What is that suppose to mean?" I raised a brow at her, tired of games.

"You'll cut things off with Farmsville because if you don't," she paused, giving me a malicious smile. "I'll expose Veronica Lombardi for the fraud she is."

And suddenly, my entire body went cold.

~*~*~

"Veronica!" I heard that familiar voice I've been longing to hear for the past week call out to me and my heart wrenched.

It had only been a week but I missed Bea like nothing I've ever felt before. On top of that, there was also the guilt and shame of ignoring her instead of talking to her like what I should have done.

I wanted to run away on instinct but I forced myself to stay put. I've never felt so unsure in my life which was such a strange feeling since I always knew what I wanted. But this time, what I wanted was a little bit more complicated.

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, bracing myself to face her.

"Hey, Bea," I said awkwardly as I turned to look at her which made me even shudder. God, this so wasn't like me.

She looked at me weirdly for a second before concern took over her face which only me feel worse.

"Is everything okay?" Her brows creased as she spoke, her tone laced with worry. "You haven't been replying any of my calls or texts."

"I... I'm so sorry," my voice cracked and I gulped.

"V, what happened?"

The guilt was eating away at me and I couldn't hold it in any longer especially with the way she was looking at me. I looked around and remembered we were still outside the lecture hall.

"Can we talk somewhere private?"

She took me to her room and sat me down on her bed.

"Okay, what is it, Veronica?"

I steeled myself and looked her in the eyes. Then, I spilled everything Poppy said to me. By the time I was done, I expected to scream at me. To shout and cuss at me, to tell me to go to hell and that she never wanted to see my face again. To accuse me of leading her on and using her.

But instead, she was quiet.

I searched her face, looking for a reaction, any reaction, and where I expected to find anger and rage, I found something much worse.

Hurt and disappointment.

"Bea..."

"Veronica, no," she said firmly. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know how to," I said lamely. 'Cuz honestly, how was I suppose to tell the girl you liked and have been seeing for months that you were torn between choosing her and your follower count? Even thinking about it made me cringe but that's what it was.

"God, V," she spoke sadly. "I don't even care that you're having trouble choosing between me and your followers. I know how hard you've worked for them just to throw it all away." She looked away. "I'm upset that you didn't even think to come to me to tell me about what was happening."

And I felt a million times worse than I already did.

"Bea..."

"I could've helped you. Don't you trust me?" her voice cracked. She stood up, not looking at me but I stood with her. "'Cuz I trusted you. And if Poppy pulled some shit like this on me I would've told you. I wouldn't even think twice about it."

I didn't respond. I didn't know how to. It wasn't that I didn't trust her, I just didn't know how to face her.

"Of course I trust you! I was just worried!"

"Worried about what?"

I bit my lip, wondering how I should phrase it. "That you wouldn't understand."

She scoffed and turned to face me. "Yeah, so much for trusting me, right? You didn't even give me a chance."

I knew she was right. "I'm sorry," was all I could say.

"That's all you have to say?" she asked, disappointed. She crossed her arms and shook her head, groaning. "God, I should've known better."

"What? What are you saying?" I asked warily.

"Of course you were too good to be true. I should've seen it. I knew there had to be a reason I didn't like you when I first saw you." She stepped towards me, tears streaming down her face. "And this was probably why. You run away as soon as things get bumpy and ignore it. So goodbye, Veronica."

Her words were like a knife slicing through me. Piercing and jabbing at my soul but I deserved it. She pointed towards her door, not even wanting to look at me and I felt my heart start to shatter.

"Bea, please, let me explain."

"Explain what? About how I was I fool to think I meant more to you? About how I would've told you everything but you didn't even tell me about this? Save it!" she spat. "I don't want to hear it."

"Please, let me make it up to you," I begged. "Please, Bea."

She sighed. "How?"

"This past week was hell for me. I felt like absolute crap. And I know how that must have felt for you too and I'm sorry. I know it must have been frustrating being left in the dark."

"I was just so worried for you," she admitted in a small voice that made me want to kick myself.

"And I can't apologise enough for it," I continued and stepped closer to her. "And I'm not just saying that, I really do mean it. It killed me, not talking to you for the past week and I know I'm the only one to blame for that. But I felt guilty and ashamed but mostly, I felt so lost. Ever since I started spending time with you, you were like a light guiding me even if you didn't realise it. I opened up more to you than I ever had with anyone and I was becoming more comfortable showing the real me to others. And if there's anything I learnt in the past week, I'm ready, Bea. I'm ready to show my followers who I am."

I cautiously raised my hand to cup her cheek, afraid she would slap my hand away or pull back but she didn't. My palm met her face in a soft caress and I felt butterflies in my stomach. I wiped away her tears with my thumb as I spoke. "And I also learnt that I really like you Bea. Much more than I expected to. And I would give it all up for you. Of course I'm proud of what I've worked for but what's the point if I lose my happiness because of it? And you, Bea Hughes, are my happiness."

She looked at me, her piercing brown eyes bore into mine and I tried pleading with them to her, to show her how honest my words were, how I meant it all.

After what seemed like eternity, she rolled her eyes and breath out, "And you say you aren't cheesy."

Relief washed over my entire body and I let out a huge sigh.

"I gotta do what I gotta do to get you back don't I?"

"God, don't you ever stop?"

I gave her a small smile, feeling incredibly thankful. "Not if I can help it."

She pulled me into her and hugged me, resting her head on my shoulder. I felt chills run through my body as I rubbed her back.

"And for the record," she whispered quietly. "I like you a lot too, V."

My heart leapt in my chest at her declaration and I was so happy, I could cry. "Thank you, beautiful."

"So what are you planning to do now."

I closed my eyes and rested my head against hers.

"Expose myself before that bitch does it first."

~*~*~

"Are you ready?" she asked me as we stepped onto the courtyard. She looked at me to be certain. "Are you sure you want to this?"

I smiled at het softly and took her hand to give it a reassuring squeeze before letting go. I couldn't express how grateful I was that she still by my side. "More than anything if it means I get to be with you."

We walked side-by-side to the middle of campus where a screaming Poppy was scolding a poor freshman for something stupid, no doubt.

"Hey, Glorified Barbie, over here!" I shouted at her.

She shot me a glare. "What the hell did you say to me?"

"Oh, so you do know I'm talking about you then," I laughed.

A crowd started to gather around us and my heart started racing but there was no backing down now. I had to do this. I looked at Chloe who was among the crowd. She held up my phone, live-streaming to my followers the shit storm that was about to happen.

Poppy turned red in the face and noticed Bea standing beside me. "For fuck sakes, V! Are you really gonna throw away all your years of pretending online just for that?" She pointed at Bea with a disgusted scowl on her face. "You must be dumber than I thought."

I was about to shoot back a snide remark in Bea's defense but I felt her hand lightly touch my arm. She knew what I was thinking and shook her head, reminding me not to get distracted from the actual reason we were here.

"If anything, Pops, you're the dumb one here." I stepped closer to her. "I have to admit, you got me there for a second. You really made me believe you had power over me. But you underestimate how loyal and understanding my followers are." I looked into the camera of my phone. "And if they aren't, then I don't think I want them."

"Veronica, you stupid cow! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, am I making you mad Poppy? That you you have nothing to hold over me anymore?" I taunted her with a smirk, no doubt infuriating her more. "That you can't control my followers anymore either?"

"This is ridiculous!"

"You heard it here first, Veronicats!" I grinned into the camera, finally feeling free. " Veronica Lombardi isn't who you think she is." I turned to Bea and my face soften looking at how proud she was of me. "Consider this my first step of rebranding."

I held out my hand to Bea and she gladly accepted it with a smile on her face.

"And one more thing," I said and held eye contact with the fuming bitch across the lawn. "Fuck you, Poppy!" I flipped her off and the crowd surrounding us gasped as I tugged Bea into a passionate kiss. One of my arms wrapped around her neck while the other cupped her face, my thumb gently stroking her cheek while hers was pulling me into her by the waist.

Among the sea of people, I heard Zoey whooping and cheering for us. "Hell yeah, babe! Get it!" And just like that, everyone started clapping and cheering along.

I felt Bea start laughing against my lips and I smiled into the kiss. I pulled back to grin rakishly at Poppy who was about to blow her lid off. Her face was red and she stomped her feet in anger. "Veronica! Stop this nonsense right now!"

"Or what? You'll expose me? Oh, wait!"

Bea and I giggled as Poppy shouted, "You better watch your fucking back! Both you and Farmsville! This isn't over!"

"Oh but it is, Pops!" I called out after her. "You have nothing over me now, so go find someone else to blackmail and manipulate!"

She lets out a shriek as she stormed off, leaving us in laughing in each other's arms with a crowd of supporters behind us. I walked towards Chloe and thanked her before taking back my phone to address my online audience.

"Well, Veronicats, there you have it," I gave them a winning smile, trying my best not to look at the comment I was currently being bombarded with. "I know you have a lot of questions right now, so leave 'em and I'll answer them in a Q&A later." I signed off in a much calm and collected manner than the usual high-energy outros I would give them. It was a small step but for the first time in years, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

I made my way back to Bea's side where the crowd started to dissipate.

"Well, you did it!" she cheered with a huge grin as she encircled me in her arms. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you, beautiful." I placed a kiss on her forehead and brought her closer into me to hug her tight, resting my cheek against hers.

"Are you scared?"

"Oh, I'm terrified," I laughed and she giggled along. "But having you by my side definitely helps."

I heard her scoff but her felt her cheek become warm against my own. "Cheesy Veronica is back at it again I see."

"But seriously," I whispered into her ear. "Thank you so much. For everything."

I felt her squeeze me. "Thank you for choosing me."

"You're worth it," I sighed. I thought about all the backlash I would get, from my manager, my followers, the haters, the general public, everyone. I think about all the followers and subscribers and support I'd lose and yet, nothing would be as bad as losing Bea.

So despite my worries and fears, my greatest comfort was in my arms and no matter what happened next, I knew I could face it with her.

"You'll always be worth it."

(More fics!)

#I went from veronica stan to veronica simp writing this #Veronica lombardi #Veronica x mc #Veronica qb #qb #queen b #qb choices #choices #choices: stories you play #pb #pixelberry #playchoices #choices fanfiction #qb fanfiction #also Poppy is a bitch but she’s so fucking fun to write I love it #thanks for reading!

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alkhale · 4 years ago

Note

so... that new his dark materials on HBO got me feeling some things and thinking... Memos HDM AU?

Memos His Dark Materials AU Ko-Fi Request

(for context for the excerpt down below this, when someone’s daemon makes contact with another person’s daemon, it’s considered very personal and intimate. This is normal between family members and very close friends or loved ones, say, Luffy’s daemon would probably touch all his nakama’s left and right just fine, but for certain others, this may come as a bit of an alarming little sensation for them since people feel what their daemons feel and the same vice versa as extension of their souls)

- Hoku’s daemon is a white panther named Hau.

The two of them don’t get along very well and tend to get on each other’s nerves due to personal reasons. They’re capable of being a fairly good distance apart even though this isn’t normal and considered painful for most people. They sort of trained themselves to be able to be apart because they felt following their independent values was most important. It’s a bit of a messy situation but they’re the first ones either of them would turn to no matter what. He has the same marking she has painted around the curve of his left eye because it’s tradition for Pokians to paint it onto their daemons when they come of age. All daemons from Artopoki are also always colored white just like their hair.

His name means “happiness” in Hawaiian.

- Mahina’s daemon is a white horse while Manu’s is a small white wild cat. Mihawk’s is a massive, massive ink black raven named Sable. She and Mahina’s daemon got along really well.

- Shank’s daemon is a reddish tinted lionness who goes by Reina. Hoku and Hau are a bit smitten by her but Hau kind of hates Shanks, maybe not hate but he tends to be on the more skeptical end of him versus Hoku being a little doe-eyed for the man. Hau loved Mihawk though. Mihawk was the first person to ever touch him outside of Hoku’s parents (human to daemon contact is a super big deal when it’s not family or intimate loved ones, daemon to daemon is a little more tolerable but raises some brows)

- Luffy’s daemon settles as a springy lionness name Soleil who he calls Sol. She’s very energetic and can’t really read a room but she makes up for it with energy. She and Luffy are two peas in a pod.

- Nami’s daemon is an orange fox named Riki, the greatest thieving duo across the East Blue.

- Zoro’s is a massive bengal tiger named Masumi and she’s got a much more approachable personality than her counterpart but tends to be just as lazy and ferocious.

- Usopp’s is a chameleon by the name of Emmo. She’s a bit of a coward too but she’s funny.

- Sanji’s is a beautiful, rather stunning lady jackrabbit by the name of Celine who loves beautiful people and kicking. She seems a little wiser than Sanji.

- Brook’s is the skeleton of a songbird named Aretha. They’re the strangest case on the Grand Line because of his devil fruit. She sings beautifully for a pile of bones though.

- Franky’s is a female beaver named Aspen, they’re pretty much carbon copies of each other.

- Robin’s is a black owl named Yuval. He’s on the quieter side and tends to creep people out on first glance but he’s a very gentlemanly owl.

- Ace’s ends up settling as a red and black lynx by the name of Iskra. Sabo’s is a peregrine falcon named Brisa.

- Vivi’s is a fennec fox named Seti.

- I couldn’t decide of Kid’s should be one hell of a murderous honey badger with attitude named Naga or a crocodile or a bear. Any of those three felt pretty right but I lean more toward the honey badger HAHAHA.

- Law’s daemon is a snow leopard named Estrella. These two are an especially dangerous duo and Estrella tends to be a bit more on the mysterious side at first.

- - - - - - -

“Your blood,” Shank said, cupping her cheek. “Is worth treasures more than his.”

Hau bit at Shanks’ cloak, snarling as a white husky in protest, trying to pull him away. Reina watched him in utter amusement.

Steam exploded from Hoku’s ears, her entire face flushing red.

“Oops, hey, someone get Makino! I’m worried dove’s got a fever!”

- - - - - - -

“It’s nothing but a childish crush,” Hau said pointedly to her, perfectly aware of the fluttery, gross feelings inside Hoku spilling over to him. He walked after her, lashing his tail angrily while Hoku stared up at the sky in a daze. Shanks had just given them a living, ripe kiionohi tree. “He just thinks we’re cute kids. He likes teasing us. This is how he took Luffy!”

Hau worked over-time to remain as indifferent toward Shanks as Hoku originally wanted to be. Hoku had just given up and rolled over to the fact that Shanks was just… so hard to dislike. Was there even a reason to dislike him? Sure, she still got jealous that Luffy was so damn fond of him, but when Luffy was always pulling her around despite that, promising she was his first before anyone else—

“Are you listening to me?” Hau hissed at her, biting her ankle in protest. Hoku looked down at him. “I don’t like him! He’s just another schmuck! Nothing’s gonna happen anyway! Dream on! We’re just kids to him, got it?”

“I know that,” Hoku snapped, cheeks flushing. “I-It’s just adoration. Childish adoration. What do you think I’m gonna do, ask him to marry me?”

“No,” Hau muttered, “but don’t get any ideas.”

“I’m not,” Hoku snapped back at him, lightly nudging his paws. Hau swiped at her. “He’s just… he’s just charming, is all. And you’re one to talk, you know. You look at anyone that’s willing to scratch your ears like they’re god!”

“I don’t let people scratch me behind the ears!” Hau protested. “No one’s allowed to touch me!”

“Yeah,” Hoku snorted. “Except Luffy, right? I feel what you feel too, dumbass. Think about how it feels for me to get scratched behind the ears too, okay?”

Hau grumpily settled down onto his haunches, stubbornly looking over to the side, “But it’s Luffy.”

Hoku could understand that, but it didn’t make the sensation any more normal. Actually, I might be starting to get used to that. Luffy’s so damn touchy it’ll kill me. She didn’t even flinch anymore when Hau and Soleil were pressed tight together, rolling around or tumbling about each other or cuddled up in a pile. Luffy’s warm fingers patting Hau’s head, hefting him up into his arms—that was still something she was getting used to.

Or Hoku, cupping Soleil’s head in her hands, pressing a kiss to the top of the daemon’s head, committing utter taboo. Hoku, letting Soleil cozy up to the crook of her neck, shove her face into Hoku’s hand, weave between her fingers while Luffy laughed beside them—

The four of them, touching each other’s daemons, each other’s partners, each other’s souls—

But I am getting used to it. Hoku shivered. Never touching anyone’s daemon, huh?

Hau lashed his tail, “I won’t let Shanks touch me, you can count on that.”

“You’re just jealous,” Hoku said. “Luffy and Soleil already said we’re first. And it’s not like Shanks is going to be here forever, he’s a pirate, remember?”

Hoku rubbed the side of her arm, looking down at her shoes, “He’s just… he’s just become Luffy’s idol. You see how he looks at him—Luffy knows what he wants to do now ‘cause of him.”

Hau huffed, whiskers twitching. Hoku gave him a little shove and Hau shifted into a bull, ramming at the back of her knees as Hoku laughed, shoving back at him.

Shanks was just a bit of fun, that was it.

- - - - - - - -

But Reina didn’t play by the rules.

“You’re getting faster, little dove.”

Hoku almost screamed. Her heart lodged into her throat, forcing her to choke as Mau nearly clattered onto the dirt from her hands had she not hooked it last minute. She apologized to the amused blade, checking for scratches and trying to work out a game plan in her head.

Hau frowned. As deep of a frown as an unhappy skunk could make, sitting by a log and looking pointedly Reina’s way.

She didn’t know when Shanks’ daemon had made her way over to them or where Shanks was, probably with Luffy to be honest, but there Reina was, living up to her name.

The lioness daemon was stretched out onto a fat slab of rock jutting upwards from the ground. Luffy used it as a launching platform a lot when they were playing. Her red-gold body rippled, leisurely soaking up the sunlight.

Hoku’s fingers itched.

Reina watched them with golden irises.

“Thanks,” Hoku said, trying not to be awkward but feeling very much so. “I’m not there yet though.”

Reina’s chest rumbled, a deep sound that made Hau wrinkle his nose in protest. She laid her head down onto her paws, rolling over onto her side. Hoku noticed the scars lining her softer underbelly, the notch missing from a piece of her flicking tail.

“You’ll get there,” Reina said soothingly. “Why don’t you take a break?”

I feel like I’m talking to the devil. Hoku shivered. Temptation incarnate. “I haven’t hit my number of swings yet.”

“Shanks and Luffy are playing by the harbor,” Reina almost purred. “Don’t you want to join?”

Hoku frowned at her boots. Yes. “No. I’m glad Shanks is taking up all his time.”

Reina’s ear twitched. Her eyes glimmered playfully. Hoku felt as though if her feet weren’t planted firmly to begin with, she’d already be making her way over to the lioness for no reason other than the fact that Reina seemed to be beckoning her over.

“How come you two can be so far apart?” Hau blurted. Hoku shot him a look of disbelief.

Reina’s whiskers twitched in amusement.

Hau hunkered down, waving his big bushy tail. “I-Isn’t it painful? It’s weird, daemons aren’t supposed to be able to do that.”

“You two seem to be able to go fairly far,” Reina murmured. “Is that not strange?”

Hoku and Hau flinched.

Reina laid her head down onto the rock, letting the sun color her pelt. She looked crimson gold in the sunlight. “He and I simply found it in ourselves to promise to live our lives to the fullest and the freest.”

Reina seemed to smile, lips pulling back to show her fangs. “Besides, like this, I can be with Luffy and he can be with little dove at the same time, hmm?”

Hoku and Hau blinked in confusion. They looked at each other and back to Reina who’d rolled over to show them her back, settling down for a nice, long nap.

“Finish up those swings, dove,” Reina purred. “Then let’s play.”

I miss Luffy. Hoku miserably flattened herself down against the grass, Mau propped up onto a trunk beside her. Hau was chirping haughtily in the tree branch above her, flapping his white wings even though he was supposed to be a toucan. I always run off even when he’s playing with Shanks. Maybe I should just suck it up and have fun with them too. Or, not fun. Just… spend time. Yeah.

Hoku groaned, rubbing her sweaty face with her hands.

“About time,” Hau chirped at her. “Let’s go! I don’t care if Shanks and everyone else is there, I want to see Luffy and Sol.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hoku snapped. “I heard ya. You just want to get touched again.”

Hau flattened, ruffling his feathers, “That’s not true!”

It absolutely is. Hoku sighed, preparing her aching muscles to lift her sluggish body up. Hau was practically touched starved and Luffy’s generous pats were like a drug. He did a good job making sure Shanks never got near him though. Hoku didn’t even flinch. Touching other people’s daemons is still such a weird feeling though, I can’t get used to anyone else but them.

She’d only ever touched Sable twice. Ki and Kekoa didn’t count because they were family. Soleil was the only one she ever really touch-touched, and even then, it was still a sensation Hoku felt all the way to the tip of her toes and down to her bones. Intimate.

Bet no one else has a daemon willing to get himself pet. Hoku peeked through her fingers at Hau who jumped from the branch and shifted into a little white butterfly. He’d turn into a dog later because it was easier to play with Luffy like that. What daemon goes up to someone to get themselves touched?

Some taboos just weren’t meant to be crossed.

A shadow fell over Hoku’s face and she blinked, moving her hands away to look up.

Reina looked down at her.

Hoku froze, stiff against the ground like a corpse. Her heart hammered stupidly loud in her chest, loud enough to burst through her ears. From this spot, she could make out every fine, red-gold hair smoothed over Reina’s slender face. She could see the dark lines that traced her feline gold eyes, followed the slope of her muzzle, to the long, elegant whiskers—a few cut short, and the few scars that lined her soft nose.

This was the closest she had ever been to the daemon.

She could sense heat from the lioness, hulking power and muscle. Reina’s killing paws sat on either side of her head. She could crush Hoku’s skull without much effort. Rip her throat out. In another world, Hoku would be fearing for her life—even in this world, Hoku was still fearing for her life, but, but, maybe death at the hands of such a beautiful, powerful daemon couldn’t be that awful.

Hoku waited, staring at Reina with wide eyes.

Reina blinked once, slowly. Something like amusement seemed to shift over the fine hairs on her face and she lowered her head over Hoku’s. Her body seized up, unable to breathe.

And then languidly, a warm, wet and scratchy pink tongue rolled once across her face, down her forehead to her lips and over her chin. Reina pulled away, satisfied, looking down at Hoku’s disheveled, slightly wet face and bulging eyes before calmly sauntering off, hips swaying.

It took her a moment. A good, solid moment. Her heart did something funny, her body frozen stiff and ascended to some other plain of existence, her mind whirring and still buzzing from the electricity of the slightest contact with—

Someone else’s daemon—

Reina—

Shanks’ daemon—

Touched—

Hoku’s face blushed a bright, scarlet red. She grabbed her face with her hands and rolled around in the dirt like the little bug she was.

Hau jealously nudged her face with his little ferret nose, huffing and puffing in displeasure.

She’d never been touched by someone else’s daemon before.

- - - - - - - -

The final nail into her own coffin was done by Hoku’s own hands.

At the crack of dawn, when the light was just beginning to crawl its way out of the horizon to peek over into the sky. Just hours before, Hoku had finally shown Shanks the book, speaking with him in the low light of that bar and making a total fool of herself—enough for Hau to tease and taunt her about it for hours until they fell asleep.

She woke up earlier than Luffy today, leaving him snoring in her hammock with Soleil sprawled as a baby badger over him. Hau woke up, slithering into her shirt and keeping himself warm by her stomach as they walked out into the forest.

Reina was already waiting for them.

“Dove,” Reina greeted, velvet voice carrying over as Hoku trudged through the dewy grass. Sunlight was warming her pelt, heating it up like a forge and turning the red-gold of her pelt darker and brighter.

Hau muttered a low, half-reluctant protest. Yesterday, Luffy had picked him up, holding him close and willingly thrusted Hau toward Shanks like some kind of sacrificial offering.

Shanks didn’t take the daemon, simply grinning in understanding at Hau’s horrified expression. Her daemon had never felt more betrayed.

“Hau, you gotta get along with everyone!” Luffy laughed. “Don’t be dumb like Hoku!”

Hoku couldn’t stop the greedy, uncontrollable itch in her fingers.

“...good morning,” Hoku mumbled, tucking hair behind her ear out of habit. Reina was stretched out, regal and picture perfect on that same slab of stone. Dawn was rising over the fine curve of her spine and the lioness kept her gaze on them evenly, waiting as Hoku slowly came to stand beside the slab of rock.

Reina’s ears swiveled forward. She watched Hoku, eyes glittering. A soft sound left her parted jaws.

Hoku hesitantly took a seat on the rock, a few inches away from Reina. She could feel heat rising from the daemon, her head turning to follow Hoku as they stared at each other.

She weakly raised one hand. Hau’s heartbeat matched her own.

“Could I… Could I draw you?”

Reina’s jaws parted to let out a soft rumble. Her body curved more, keeping Hoku in the middle. Her paws stretched out and Reina kept her eyes evenly on Hoku’s.

Hoku softly set her hand down on Reina’s side. Warmth flooded into her fingertips, spreading up her arm and making half her body feel almost numb with the sensation. Hoku’s head spun, buzzing with that vibrant thrum of energy as Reina’s pelt shifted under her fingertips. Hoku daringly let her hand come down Reina’s spine, feeling the muscles and scars in one gentle stroke.

Reina’s scratchy tongue dragged over Hoku’s hand in approval.

“I hope that man is deep, deep asleep,” Hau muttered. Hoku agreed.

She thought her heart was going to burst.

- - - - - -- -- - -

“This place is crawling with marines now,” Smoker said. “What are you going to do? Let them arrest you like some kind of washed up drunk?”

Hoku lightly pushed the glass in front of her. The bartender nervously refilled the glass, jumping in fear when Smoker glared daggers at him.

“Hoku,” Smoker said.

The woman kept swallowing mouthfuls of the whiskey in her cup, ignoring him. Blanca’s fur had settled over her back, smoothing out. His daemon watched the woman before them in silence, looking at Hau and then back to Hoku.

A soft sound left Blanca’s lips. Smoker shot her a warning look. The smoky colored husky daemon lowered her tail.

“What happened to all that spunk?” Smoker continued. “You don’t give two shits if I cuff you and take you in from here?”

Hoku didn’t even turn to look at them. She kept her shoulders hunched, curling in on herself over the bar’s countertop and refusing to meet the gazes burning into her back. The empty glasses spread out across the wood counter beside her, the heavy smell of alcohol settling amidst the cigarette smoke.

Hau kept silent at her feet, curled up and head low. Smoker observed the daemon carefully, noticing the matted fur, the dirt stains in the crisp white that used to be his go-to for hunting them down in the crowd. His unsheathed claws, caked with dried dirt and blood. The cleanest spot was the blood red ink curled over his half-hidden face under the countertop’s shadow.

A new spot was inked into his fur. A small, blood red flame right where the muscle of his shoulder blade bunched under his right foreleg. Smoker’s eyes traveled upwards to the matching red flame inked into Hoku’s skin over her right shoulder blade.

“This is it?” Smoker said gruffly.

Hoku snorted. Blanca shot him a look, gray eyes hard to read but Smoker never needed to read her eyes, he could hear her thoughts loud and clear in his own head, in the space they shared.

“Who cares,” Hoku muttered bitterly. “You got what you wanted.”

Blanca fell silent. Smoker shot his daemon a sharp look, but she refused to meet his gaze, tail limp behind her and ears pricked far forward, focused on the woman before them.

Hoku bowed her head. Her hands went up, carding through her hair, holding them there as though she were cradling her head in her hands.

“You won,” Hoku whispered.

His daemon took a step forward.

“Blanca,” he warned.

The husky kept her muzzle shut, looking at him.

“Smoker.”

Smoker tossed his cigar to the side. His gloved hand clenched into a fist before it loosened. Smoker let out an aggravated sigh, shaking his head. He took a step forward, raising his hand up.

Hau’s growl ripped through the air like a knife. A single, resounding warning. Smoker glanced down to the daemon, glaring at them with icy venom, fangs and claws bared. Blanca lowered her head only an inch, her only way of showing they meant no harm. Hau pulled his lips back into a louder snarl, tail lashing in aggravation.

Hoku glanced down to her companion, frowning for a moment before she raised her head and looked back at Smoker.

Tears continued to trickle from the corners of her eyes. They slid down the curve of her cheeks, dripping down her chin. Hoku watched him in silence, expression unreadable.

The admiral hesitated for only a second. Blanca let out the softest, softest whine.

For a moment, Hau’s body untensed, staring. The foggy look started to clear. Hoku’s brows creased and Smoker reached out with his gloved hand one more time.

The doors to the bar slammed open.

The light winked out from Hoku’s eyes. Hau stood onto his paws, head lowered, eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

His men flooded the dimly lit room, raising their guns and shouting out orders as Smoker cursed in his head and Blanca’s ferocious barks of protest flooded the room over his, ordering the marine daemons to stand down.

Smoker lurched, eyes snapping in surprise to where Hau suddenly had Blanca pinned to the wooden floorboards of the bar. His daemon was silent, rigidly looking up at Hau with her teeth barely bared, body still while Hau’s jaws were wrapped around her neck. Smoker felt his teeth on his own, Hoku’s dead eyes looking at all of them.

“Go ahead,” Hoku said coldly. She turned to the marines by the door, half-smiling. “Just don’t forget, Hau’s got one more life over her.”

Blanca kept silent, staring imploringly at Hau. The panther ignored her gaze, keeping his jaws buried in the scruff of her throat, waiting. Smoker stared hard at Hoku and she kept her gaze on his men, expression devoid of emotion.

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

“Estrella,” Law drawled, ice dripping with the roll of his tongue.

His daemon pounced.

They poor no-body marine dog never stood a chance.

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

“No,” Law said. “This is rehab.”

He kicked Hoku’s lower back, sending her flying down the stairs with an ungoldy screech and down into the boiler room. Penguin and Sachi peeked their heads around the corner, staring down into the darkest depths of their sub while Law shoved a hand into his pocket.

“Is she still alive?” Penguin asked.

“She’s got a couple, right?” Law asked Hau. “Which one was that?”

Hau flicked his tail tip, the only sign of his annoyance. Estrella watched him with peering eyes, following the sway of Hau’s haunches as he slunk down the steps into the boiler room after Hoku.

“Fuck you, Law!” came the ghostly holler. “I’m going to blow up your submarine! You forgot I’m suicidal, asshole!”

Law looked satisfied, turning his back on them and closing the boiler room door. To Sachi and Penguin he added, “Make sure she doesn’t come out until she’s done.”

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

Law froze, his entire body stiff as ice.

He took a moment, reassessing the sensation he felt unfolding in his chest. He considered it carefully, made sure this… this feeling was not a mistake, that he had not wrongly interpreted the shared sensation between himself and his daemon. He picked it apart in seconds, slowly, rigidly turning his head to the corner of the deck.

It was dark, only a single headbeam lit from the corner pathway of the submarine. The deck on top of the rounded hull was bathed in darkness, but even in the thin light, he knew down to his bones he was not seeing wrongly.

Law gave the woman beside him one discreet, searching glance.

Hoku looked completely and utterly unaffected. He watched her a second longer to make sure it wasn’t an act, but her careless, bored demeanor showed truthfully she had no inclination whatsoever to sharing his barely, barely startled turmoil. Hoku looked completely at ease, still squinting in the distance to see if she could make out the constellation they’d just discussed, mouth moving around the dried fruit she’d just popped into her mouth.

Law carefully, with great composure, withheld the light, creeping shiver that traveled down his spine. He narrowed his eyes, looking back, but Estrella coyly kept her mind blank, hiding all of her thoughts from him the way they’d taught each other to.

There, against the side of the entry doorway, the two of them laid.

Hoku’s daemon had stretched out, directly in the middle of the deck to keep the perfect distance away from either side of the railings. His long, furred body turned a pale, ghostly shade of white under the moonlight, large paws hiding pearl white claws. Hau’s side rose and fell in lazy slumber, his tail stretched out behind him like a white whip, ears twitching only occasionally.

But the issue was who was beside him.

Estrella had silently made her way from Law’s side across the deck to his. Her lithe, powerful feline body almost nearly matched his in size. Law watched her with rapt, rigid focus, brows furrowed in dark disbelief as his daemon purposefully ignored his silent prodding.

She stopped inches from Hau’s form, sitting on her haunches, tail curled neatly over her paws. Hau’s ear flicked once in her direction to signal he’d noticed, but kept his eyes closed. Estrella stared down at him, icy gray gaze that had stared back as she ripped throats out of marines and pirates and their enemies alike, becoming almost clear.

Estrella rearranged herself, laying down on her stomach barely a centimeter—a heavy, tense centimeter Law could feel—from him. She folded her paws neatly over each other, staring out seemingly in boredom. Her striped black tail flicked from side to side, occasionally brushing against Hau’s limp one. A ghost of a touch.

Touch.

His daemon. Estrella.

Hau didn’t move, tail limp, body relaxed. Estrella turned her head to look down at the other daemon, expression carefully blank. Her tail curled and then the tip of it brushed against Hau’s flank. His fur seemed to shift, bright, scarred pink nose twitching but he remained relaxed. Estrella seemed pleased by this and her tail promptly laid out beside his own, curling idly over his.

Touching.

Law looked back at Hoku and she reached for another dried fruit, popping it into her mouth. She shuffled through her bag, debating whether or not to shove a handful more. Oblivious.

Is your connection to your daemon that terrible? Law almost bit out. Almost. It would have come out calm and cold and collected. Are you that dull? Is it that messed up? Are you an idiot—

He went rigid, gripping Kikoku with white knuckles.

Law exhaled, slowly. He carefully turned over his shoulder, inch by inch, glaring daggers behind him.

Estrella didn’t even blink at him, eyes trained sideways and away. She looked silver against Hau’s snow white. Her long, raspy pink tongue slid out languidly from her mouth in soothing, relaxed motions. It showed off the dangerous curve of bone-crushing fangs. But Estrella’s tongue was now running over the top of Hau’s face, over his ears, around his neck as she turned her face and—

“Are you grooming him?” Law spat out in disbelief at her.

The snow leopard lazily flicked her tail behind her in response. Hau yawned, stretching his paws out, unbothered, and resumed his slumber as Estrella continued her grooming, content.

Law ripped apart the shudder that almost raced down his spine. He shoved the sensations traveling from Estrella and Hau’s shared connection, the low buzz of energy, of electricity that came when two daemons touched each. A feeling he’d only ever felt when Corazon’s Rosa would curl her soft, furry body up around Estrella—

He grit his teeth, squaring his shoulders and forcibly maintaining his composure as he promptly knocked Kikoku against the metal railing once.

Hoku looked up, brows creasing. A fruit stuck out from between her lips. She gave him a look, as though he’d done something wrong for disturbing her.

Your daemon is touching my daemon.

“Somethin’ wrong?” Hoku asked.

Do you not feel what I feel?

Law gave her a flat look. Hoku continued to chew.

Go get your daemon—

“Hoku,” she and Law both looked down. Hau’s voice was smooth and not too low, like a melted rumble. He came up to her leg, pressing his big head against her hip and curling his tail over her leg. The white panther daemon blinked blue eyes up at them. Law could see gold.

Hau seemed to examine Law for a moment before his long whiskers twitched. The white panther blinked once. Law stared back at him, curious about the eye contact someone else’s daemon was making with him.

Without even pausing, Hoku’s hand ran over his face, pushing past his soft ears and turning against his cheek to scratch under his chin. Hau lifted his head for better access, a loud rumble filling the air.

Several feet away, Estrella slowly made her way toward them, nonchalant and shifting mass of silver and black fur. She didn’t even acknowledge the icy daggers her other half was fixing her with, haunches swaying as she came up and sat down loyally by Law’s feet. Estrella looked up at Hoku, whiskers twitching.

“What game are you playing?” Law thought at her.

“Nothing,” Estrella thought back at him, innocent. “Nothing at all.”

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

P.S - If you guys like this au, highly recommend checking out 500shadesofblue’s story “Echoes” on ao3, super good.

#memos #memos au #hdm au #daemons #straw hat crew #shanks #trafalgar law #mihawk #mahina #manu #hoku #ko fi requests #smoker

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clockworkgraystairs · 5 years ago

Note

O.M.G!!! I loved your recent jurdan fic sooo much!! Can you write when she tells Cardan she’s pregnant?? Can Cardan get emotionally excited??I love their softness and excitement... love you 😍

Hello dear!!! Thank you so much for your words!

I’m sorry it took me long but my job is a pain in the ass and I don’t have as much time as I would like to write. Buuut here it is!

It also came out longer than I expected bc apparently I can’t keep things easy.

Anyway, ENJOY! LOVE U TOO!

~~~~

JUDE TELLS CARDAN SHE’S PREGNANT

Jude had spent half of her life learning how to face danger.

Years and years of training, creating strategies, fighting and even killing when she needed to.

Gods above, she was the Queen.

The High Queen of Elfhame, and she was shrinking on one corner of her sister Vivi’s bathroom; staring at the little pharmaceutic device, the third one, showing the result.

Jude carved her face with shaking hands.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” She muttered, her breathing harsh.

This was supposed to be an ordinary weekend.

One year had passed since her official coronation and occasionally she liked to spend a day or two at the human world with Vivi, Heather and little Oak. Sometimes Cardan came with her, partially she suspected, since he’d caught some fascination for Sephora stores and some human customs, he claimed, he wanted to experience.

This time though, he’d stayed back in Elfhame, to attend some meetings Jude didn’t want to be part of.

Everything was going fine, they went to the park, to the movie theater and at last to the pizza place near her sister’s house, where Oak asked for Jude’s favorite to honor her visit. What she didn’t expect, was the sudden nausea that crept up her stomach as soon as the pizza arrived, making her ran to the toilet in a couple of seconds.

It didn’t take much time for Vivi to suspect what was going on, even with Jude’s insistence on it probably being a stomach bug.

On their way back to her apartment, she bought Jude three different pregnancy tests under the argument that “one could never know”. Then filled her with orange juice and waited. And waited.

So here she was. With three positive results. Pregnant.

A loud knock on the door made her jump. “JUDE? Is everything alright?? You’ve been there ages! Are you done??”

“Let her be Viv, don’t make her more nervous than she already is…” That was Heather.

“What? I’m not. I just want to know if-”

Jude stood and opened the door stopping her mid-sentence.

Two pairs of eyes stared at her expectantly. She pursed her lips and took in a deep breath.

“So, apparently I’m pregnant.” She said to no one in particular. The words sounded strange in her mouth, as if she wasn’t the one saying them.

“Are… are you sure?” Viv’s face had lost all track of emotion. Jude quirked an eyebrow and handed her sister the pregnancy tests.

What came next was a bunch of screaming and “oh my gods” and Heather swearing she’d dreamed about it a few nights ago. Maybe something else about a bet between her sister and Madoc.

Jude was only hearing half of it. Instead her mind was worrying about one thing only. Cardan. How in hell was she going to tell him? How was he going to react?

She didn’t even know how she felt.

They didn’t talk much about the subject. Some comments from the Court members about them providing heirs had quickly turned into inside jokes she and Cardan occasionally teased each other with. But joking about it was very different to this. To actually being pregnant. To carry life inside her that someday would become a baby, a child. For her to become a mother. For them to become parents.

How was a parent supposed to be to begin with? She’d grown up with her kidnapper, a cold-blood murderer as the only parental figure. Her husband didn’t have a better role model.

And now they’ll have to raise a new creature into this world. It was too much to digest in one day.

The next morning, she returned to Elfhame. Still with no clue of how to tell Cardan the news.

She found their chambers empty, and took the chance to take a bath and put on her queenly clothes before going to search for her husband. She needed to tell him immediately, before her sense of fake bravery vanished.

“Last time I saw him, Your Highness, he was on his way to his mother chambers.” Fand told her. Jude rolled her eyes and groaned, that was the last place where she wanted to go but her hands had already started to tremble, if she waited more time she wouldn’t be able to do it.

One step away from Asha’s door she hesitated. Jude had meant to knock, but the door was already half-opened and she could hear voices coming out.

“Seriously Cardan, how long are you going to keep this up?” Asha sounded annoyed. “You had your fun with the mortal girl, why keeping her at all?”

“She is my wife.” Was all he answered.

Jude leaned just a bit so she could peer inside the room. Cardan stood before his mother, who rested on a pile of cushions. His back faced the door so she couldn’t see his expression.

Asha sighed.

“That didn’t stop you from vanishing her once. And we are not at war anymore so I doubt her fighting skills are needed much.” she shrugged. “Aren’t you just bored already?”

Jude could see Cardan’s fist tightly closed. “I don’t see why my personal decisions affect you mother, nor why should I explain them to you.” His voice sounded strained. “As for Jude, she is no weapon just designed for war, and her staying is not for you to decide or even mention.”

Asha’s lips quirked just a little. “Ah, I see now. My dear son, are you not capable to see all of the pleasures you are denying yourself just for a whim?” She raised to her feet and rested one of her perfect hands on Cardan’s shoulder. “It is not rare for Kings to take mistresses, and let me tell you, I know several beauties who would do anything for the opportunity.”

Jude’s ears were ringing with rage. How dare she suggested such thing? To even consider the possibility of Cardan taking some vulgar… she shook her head, not even finishing the thought of it. She was so focused in her desire to take Asha’s head and slam her into the floor she couldn’t hear his answer.

Asha laughed in a cruel way that make Jude’s stomach turn as she came back to reality. Oh gods, was she going to be sick again?

“You ought to think of the future of your people too, you know. Elfhame will need an heir someday. And do you think the folk will not prefer a precious pure fae, instead of some half breed…” Asha’s eyes darted to the side and locked with Jude’s, making her heart skip a beat. “With filthy human blood?”

Jude took a step back, feeling tears stinging behind her eyes. She knew what Asha was doing, that bitch, knowing she was listening behind the door. But it didn’t matter, not as her heart hammered with such intensity it was starting to hurt. Not as her throat closed in anger and impotence, making her hard to breath.

So she just turned and rushed far from there.

Somehow she reached one of the back balconies and stood there, staring at the sea under her. Jude knew she would be a filthy human for some of the folk for the rest of her days. She’d grown with that knowledge and she didn’t care anymore. But now, it was not only her. It would never be only her ever again. Was she really that stupid for allowing this to happen to someone else? Not only someone else, but her own child? Would Cardan even agree to the idea?

Minutes passed. Even hours maybe, but she didn’t move. She felt as if she’d forgotten how to.

Light steps sounded behind her.

“Jude?” Cardan’s voice somehow filled her with something between peace and anxiousness, remembering why she was searching for him in the first place.

She didn’t answer, so he continued. “I ran into Sir Fand a while ago, she told me you were looking for me. I should have been there when you arrived, I am sorry my love.”

Jude shook her head, “It’s okay.” Her voice was faint, almost a whisper. She still didn’t dare looking at him.

“Jude, is there something wrong?” He came closer to her, now standing by her side. Cardan searched her gaze but she looked down. “Have… Have I done something to upset you?”

Jude’s heart hurt at his tone.

“No, no you didn’t.” She wanted to tell him everything was okay, that he didn’t do anything wrong, that she was perfectly fine. Except she was not. She just didn’t know what to say first or how. “And yes, I was… looking for you.”

She felt Cardan’s hand take hers, soft as a feather. “And you were looking for me on the sea? Unlikely, but I appreciate the effort.” He chuckled for a second, and then went back to his worried voice. “I am here now. Will you tell me what is that troubles you? You look as if you just had a nightmare.”

That wasn’t unusual. More than once Cardan had woken her up from some bad dreams, usually ones in which he didn’t return after Jude cut off the snake’s head. It always left her pale and shaky. Sometimes it happened the other way around, but they always found comfort in each other’s arms.

She bit her lip and took a deep breath. “I don’t think your mother would appreciate being called a nightmare, even if she usually is.”

He gave her a wide grin before furrowing his brow in confusion. “Funny, I was just with her right…ah.” Realization crossed his eyes, Jude watched him clench his jaw. “You went to my mother’s chambers. You heard us.”

Jude nodded and held his hand tighter. “I heard some of it. Many of the folk will always find me to be inadequate, that’s nothing new. But I hadn’t heard any mention of it in so long that, for a moment I, I let myself believe that-“

“Jude, stop, you cannot possibly think you are not good enough. Look at what you have done for Elfhame; anyone could see that!”

“That’s not it. I know I have done things for them, saving some of their asses and stuff.” She shrugged.

“Then I am not understanding, Jude-“ With his free hand he reached for her cheek and cupped it, tugging her into a hug.

“I’m pregnant.” Her voice was almost a whisper, but she felt him froze.

Without letting go of her, he leaned back, wide eyed and openmouthed. “What did you just say?”

“Cardan I’m,” She closed her eyes and said louder, “I’m pregnant.”

She didn’t open her eyes, afraid to see his reaction. But instead of saying anything he just gasped and pulled her back into his arms. Jude felt his heart beating fast against her hands.

“When did you find out?”

Now it was Jude’s time to chuckle. “Yesterday, even though I was feeling odd for the past days. Oak invited me a pizza but it made me sick, Vivi guessed the rest and I took some tests.”

Cardan didn’t say anything letting her continue. “When I came back I looked for you to tell you, mostly because if I didn’t right away I would be too scared to do it after. But…”

“But you found me with my mother,” He sighed. “And what she said…gods, Jude I am so sorry. I ought to throw her back to the Tower of Forgetting.”

She couldn’t say the thought was not appealing.

“Every day of my life since I got here I was reminded of how I was different. Sometimes in the cruelest ways.” Cardan started to say something but she continued. “I am over it now, I know who I am, and I am happy with it. With you. But the thought of my own blood going through the same thing is… I am afraid of it being as hard as it was for me. I am afraid of not knowing how to make it different. Of not knowing how to be a mother. And most of all, I am afraid of not knowing how you feel about this.”

There. She’d said it. She felt herself shake, but it wasn’t until a few seconds had passed, that she realized it wasn’t her. “Cardan?”

He let go of the embrace but raised his hands to cup her face. His eyes were shimmering… and wet. He was smiling in a way she’d rarely seen, leaving her breathless for a moment.

A tear escaped his right eye and Jude quickly caught it with her thumb, still puzzled about what she was seeing.

“My love, I feel nothing but happiness at this moment.” He kissed her forehead. “I know we usually joke about this but, one part of me always wished for it to became true one day. To love and raise as we weren’t. Giving us the chance to become better than the ones who should have taken care of us.”

Jude didn’t realize she had started to cry too until he kissed her cheeks and felt them cold. Cardan looked down at her belly hesitantly, “Can I?” He asked.

She nodded and pulled his hand to where someday she was going to be the size of a watermelon. He touched her with such delicacy and devotion she almost couldn’t believe this was happening.

“We are going to have a baby.” It seemed as if he said it in order to really believe it.

“We are going to have a baby” She repeated. Beaming with emotion. “I don’t know about you but, I think the first one who should hear the good news is Asha, hopefully she’ll have a heart attack and let us be.”

Cardan laughed and shook his head. “You are insufferable, my sweet villain. But this time, I am afraid I agree with you.” At that, he took her hand and guided her back inside.

Maybe, just maybe, she shouldn’t be afraid at all.

#jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #jurdan #holly black #tcp #twk #qon #jurdan au #jurdan fanfiction #pregnancy au

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mysteriouslyhopefulstranger · 4 years ago

Text

The Final Test

((My Secret Santa FanFic gift for @solitaria-fantasma. You asked for Lewis to undergo a sacrifice test in a forest, so I placed the crew into the universe of the horror indie game, “The Cursed Forest.”)) @msa-secretsanta-2020

“How are you holding up, Lew?” Arthur asked.

“Much better now that the deadbeats offered a few hands.” Lewis straightened his posture as he carried as much as the sacred stones he could. Not that they were heavy for him; it was just that his arms could only wrap around so much.

“I just hope that this stone doesn’t grate my prosthetic too much.” Arthur looked down at the stone he was holding and huffed. “But better the stone than the skeleton.” He cringed as he looked over at the deadbeats carrying parts of the child’s skeleton. “Son of a bitch. It was supposed to be a simple investigation! An exorcism is one thing, but a fetch quest?! And while avoiding her ‘impulses!’“

“Again, it’s not her fault.” Mystery reminded him. “Corrupted souls barely have control over themselves.”

“Anyway, we’re almost done, right?” Vivi piped up, also holding a stone.

“Yep.” Mystery nodded. “Now we just wait-”

The ground rumbled as the trees cracked and groaned. Vivi and Arthur nearly lost their balances as roots and vines burst from the ground to block the path in front of them. The trees around them shifted and moved to form a new path.

“Ah, there we go.” Vivi smiled. “Onward!”

With Mystery leading the way to keep an eye out for traps, the team headed down the newly formed path.

It only took them about five minutes to find the stone altar. It seemed as though it was made rather shoddily. Normally, altars were hand made; this one was just a giant flat boulder with imprints, possibly for the sacred stones. Vivi came closer to get a good look. “Oh! They have numbers etched into the slots! This should be easy!” She carefully placed her stone down to check the bottom. “Ok, mine’s #3, sooo...” She searched the slots for her assigned number.

Arthur checked his. “Seven.” He scanned the altar and saw that his stone was to be placed at the top center. He set it down. “Phew! OK, LeWAAUUGH!!!” He screamed as he fell back. Arthur had looked up to see a black cloud of a skirt and feet, leading up to more black and a pair of glowing white eyes. The little girl showed up again; the very child whose soul was corrupted by a ritual gone wrong; the very child who called them over by crashing the van; the very child who trapped them; the very child who ordered them to perform this exorcism;

The very child who had also tried to kill them while they searched for the pieces they needed to do so.

Vivi and Mystery backed away from the altar and got close to Arthur, ready to defend each other. Lewis looked stern.

“You’ve got everything?” A white streak appeared below the eyes of the cloud, and moved about as the girl’s voice echoed out of it.

“Yes.” Vivi said. “Now we just read what’s written in the paper, right?”

“Yeeesssss,” The ghost girl lilted with a smile. “but there’s one more thing that needs to be done.”

“Oh God!” Arthur groaned, looking like he was going to cry. “ Don’t tell me we missed something!”

“Nope!” The corrupted ghost’s smile got bigger. “This is just a liiiittle test!”

Mystery sighed, “Let me guess: we have to figure out which object is truly needed, or something like that. And if we pick wrong, we die. Yeah, already did this shit.”

“Nnnnnope! ~ Nothing like that!”

Arthur opens his mouth to ask, only to feel his next words being choked in his throat. Along with any air that was trapped along with it. In fact, when did the skin on his neck feel this...constricted?! He put his real hand up to his neck; there was a vine wrapped around it.

Mystery heard his restricted protest and turned to look at him. “Arthur, what-?”

CRMBLE CRMBLE SHK SHKKKKKKKK!!!

It happened so fast. Vines shot out of the ground, hoisting Vivi, Arthur, and Mystery off of the ground. They grabbed at their limbs, pulling them away from their bodies as if to rip them off of their sockets. Vines wrapped around their torsos, right where the ribs were. Mystery didn’t even have time to react and snap at the vines, for one had wrapped his muzzle tightly shut.

“NO!!” Lewis screamed, dropping the stones he was holding. In a flash of anger, his hands burst into flames. The deadbeats dropped their loads and prepared to attack. The corrupted ghost teleported in front of him, her finger wagging in front of his nose. “Ah, ah, ahhh! ~ You try anything, and I’ll kill them instantly.” She giggled and looked up at Mystery. “And if YOU try anything, I’ll rip your tails off!” Cue more vines shooting up from the ground and snagging each white tail. Mystery whined in pain.

Lewis shot his hand at the girl. She teleported out of range and cackled, “You must really want them to die! Well then, here goes!~”

Arthur let out a strangled cry as the vine around his neck tightened. Vivi screamed out as she felt the vine constrict her ribs and limbs, threatening to break bones. Mystery still could only whine as every limb he had was slowly being pulled apart.

“Stop, STOP!!! PLEASE!!!” Lewis begged. Their cries subsided as the vines slackened.

“Good boy!” The girl chirped. “Now, for the final test...you must choose which member of the team shall die!”

“Are you serious?!” Lewis roared, his hair glowing and whisping.

“Since when was this part of the ritual?!” Vivi grunted.

“Shut it, you!!” The ghost snarled, tightening the roots. Vivi squealed in pain.

“VIVI!!!” Lewis cried.

“Now pick!! Or I’ll kill them all! Ten, nine....” The roots slowly tightened again. Lewis panicked. Even the deadbeats were just flying around, screaming.

“...eight, seven, SIX....”

He can’t burn the roots without risking burning his loved ones, or without the risk of the spirit killing them by other means....

“...five, four, three....” Arthur’s face was turning purple, and Vivi and Mystery were tearing up as they continued to cry out.

....Wait. “a member of the team.” huh?

“TWO....”

“Myself!!” Lewis yelled.

The ghost stopped counting, looking surprised. “....What?”

“I choose myself!”

“Nnngggh, Lew...” Arthur gargled.

“Hey! I said..” The ghost started.

“That I should pick which member of the team should die. I’m a member! And in case you haven’t figured it out...” In a flash of fire, Lewis dropped his human façade, revealing his skeletal form, suit and all. “I’d like to see you try kill me, since I’m already dead!”

The ghost paused before smiling again. “I can just destroy your anchor!” She grew more roots, aiming at him.

Lewis flinched for a moment. But only for moment. “That would just make me disappear. You said that one of us had to die, not disappear.”

“B-but you...That doesn’t...!” The girl sputtered.

Lewis laughed, “Aren’t loopholes just fun?”

The corrupted ghost looked like she was about to explode. With an angry grunt, she slammed the rest of the team down onto the ground, releasing them from the roots. “Alright, alright! I’ll call it a pass!” She faded away. “You’re no fun!” Her voice echoed as she pouted.

Lewis and the deadbeats rushed over to the team. “Are you all ok?! Anything broken?!”

Arthur was too busy coughing and gasping to answer. Vivi on the other hand, “Owwww.” She moaned, rubbing her ribs and limbs. “I’m gonna have bruises for months!”

Mystery curled up and rubbed his muzzle with his paw. “This was humiliating.” He growled. “This exorcism better be super painful. Let’s get this over with before something else happens.”

Arthur finally caught his breath. “God dammit! If I get bruises too, Uncle’s gonna have a stroke and a hernia before I do!”

Lewis lit a flame near Arthur to investigate his throat. “Yeeeah, a bruise it already forming. But other than that, nothing broken?” He put his free hand on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur slowly stood up and moved his limbs around. Vivi and Mystery did the same.

“We can still move,” Vivi responded. “but it hurts a little.”

Lewis sighed, “Either way, the deadbeats and I will do the arrangement. You guys rest.”

“Fine, but I’m still reciting the words.” Vivi crossed her arms...and then winced since her arms rested on her ribcage.

“By the way,” Mystery laid back down, “that was some incredible quick thinking back there for someone of your attention span.”

“Ha.” Lewis rolled his eye sockets as he picked up the ritual stones one by one. “If there’s anything that I picked up from every horror movie I watched with Vivi involving deals with the devil, is that there is always a loophole in the contract based on certain word choices or in the fine print.”

“See?” Vivi turned to Mystery, smugly. “There ARE some accuracies in these stories!”

“But, what if she didn’t mix up the words or didn’t care about word choice. Would you have stood by your decision?” Arthur asked.

Lewis put down a stone in the assigned imprint. “...Yes.”

“But why would you-?!” Arthur started. Lewis turned around and glared at him. “Let me guess, you would’ve wanted me to pick you, right? Because you ‘deserve it.’ I’ve accepted that it wasn’t you back at the cave! Why can’t you?!”

Arthur lowered his head. “It...preyed on weakened feelings, right? So...if I had said something...”

“This was completely out of your control.” Mystery interrupted, sternly. “Hell, it took over me, remember? And I’m equivalent to that of a god!”

“And why should I pick someone that I love?” Lewis picked up another stone and put it down. “Why should I choose any of the ones that I love? Isn’t that obvious?”

Vivi smiled. “And you know that I would never, ever forgive if you did choose him.”

“That too.” Lewis chuckled. Arthur smiled as tears threatened to trickle down his face.

“If anything,” Mystery mumbled, “I should’ve-”

“Aaaaahhhhh!” Vivi pointed a finger at the kitsune. “Noooo! Don’t you dare go there, too! You’re my precious guardian pooch, and I’ll be damned if I lose you!” She scratched his ears. Mystery opened his mouth to protest her remarks, but succumbed to the blissful ear scritches and let it be.

“Aaaand done.” Lewis and his deadbeats floated back to examine their work. The little girl’s small skeleton laid in the center, surrounded by the ritual stones. Seeing her small frame made the team somber.

“God, looking at this now made me realize that I forgot this was just a kid who was dealt with the worst hand.” Arthur said.

“Yeah, poor thing.” Vivi sighed. “Lewis, you still got those instructions?”

Lewis fished out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to Vivi. Vivi scanned through it until she found the proper incantation. She recited the words as carefully as possible, making sure she doesn’t mispronounce anything.

There was a crash of thunder and an ear-piercing shriek, as a black mist hovered over the skeleton. The team stumbled back and ducked. Winds howled as the clouds above them formed a vortex high above the altar. It sucked up the black mist, leaving a small, glowing white orb. The orb began to rise up into the sky, and the cloud vortex dissipated.

Silence.

Then rumbling from the ground and the cracking and creaking of the trees; they were moving again, clearing away the dead ends and opening a path to the way out.

Silence once more. The atmosphere felt lighter. Lighter enough to take a deep breath and savor it.

The curse has been lifted. The gang was free.

“....We did it. We did it!!!” Vivi laughed and hugged her boys.

“Oh thank God!” Arthur rolled his head back in relief.

“Now let’s scram. I’ve had enough of forests.” Mystery said.

The gang ran up the nearest path, with the living members fighting back the lingering pain in their legs, and they didn’t stop until they saw their bright orange van. They piled into it, collapsing into the back or onto the seats.

“Oh, vehicular transportation I’ve missed you!” Arthur almost cried, burying his face into the upholstery fabric.

“Another successful mission!” Vivi giggled.

“Alright, everyone settle, because I’m driving. You all still need to rest.” Lewis said.

“Ok daaaad.” Vivi teased before she leaned over from the back to give Lewis a kiss on the cheekbone. Arthur followed through after Vivi as he gave his keys to Lewis. Lewis blushed as he turned the ignition on.

As they started to drive away, a young voice echoed into their heads:

“Thank you.”

#solitaria-fantasma #msa-secretsanta-2020 #((I hope this suffices))#lewvithur #the cursed forest #msa

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theoretical-whore · 4 years ago

Text

Red Roses (Fred Weasley x OC)

Fandom: Harry Potter Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Blood, vomiting, injury, mentions of death, Hanahaki Disease Words: +2k

A/N: oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god I’m actual hot garbage anyway so we’ve got some Hanahaki between Freddie dearest and my OC Vivienne Hollenberry. I’m trash I hate myself and I hate this I’m so sorry this was like six and a half pages long

Fred didn’t think much of it when he felt the first tickle in his throat. They were in Herbology after all, it wasn’t uncommon for one of the plants in Professor Sprout’s greenhouses to be an allergen. He watched as Vivi carefully trimmed their tenatcula, making sure it was just right. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, but her tongue just poking out the side of her mouth. Her scarlet hair was pulled back into twin braids, just how she wore her hair on her family’s farm when they were younger. His heart swelled with love as his throat continued to tickle. He cleared his throat and Vivi looked up at him.

“Alright there?” she asked, the tiniest bit of concern visible in her blue eyes.

He flashed a toothy grin at his best friend. “‘Course I’m alright. That tentacula doesn’t look alright, though.” He pointed at the plant, whose head was dangerously close to Vivi’s shears.

“Oh!” She moved her shears away. “Sorry, little fella. Almost done with your haircut now, don’t worry,” she cooed to the plant. Fred laughed. Tentaculas were dangerous. Leave it to Vivi to call one “little fella.” He felt the tickle in his throat again, and this time he let out a small cough.

Vivi looked back up at him in concern. “I’m fine, Vivi. Probably just allergic to something in here.”

“You’ve never had any allergic reactions before. Nothing’s different.” She placed her shears down, finished trimming the plant.

He patted her shoulder affectionately. “The stuff in here is always changing. Why? You worried?”

“If you’re sick, you’re going to give it to me and your brother. I’m just looking after myself,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

Fred gasped in mock offense, but the sudden intake of air caused another cough. Vivi raced to pat him on the back. “I’m okay, I’m okay!” Fred assured her. George and Lee were looking over from their tentacula.

“Fred, you alright?” his brother asked.

“Yeah, I think I’m allergic to something in here.” He raised his hand. “Professor Sprout! May I go to the hospital wing? I think I’m having some sort of reaction.”

Sprout looked at him with concern and gave him a nod.

Fred turned back to Lee, George, and Vivi. “Just going to go get checked out, you know?” The three others nodded.

“Let us know as soon as you can if something’s wrong.” Vivi looked so worried. Fred’s throat tickled again.

He gently placed his hands on his best friend’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back for Defense Against the Dark Arts, don’t worry.” And he hurried off to the hospital wing, coughing every now and then.

Madam Pomfrey gave him a Pepperup Potion to clear up the chest cold she assumed he was developing, but it did nothing. His throat still tickled. He still coughed. If anything, his coughs were getting more frequent and more violent. Madam Pomfrey made him stay through Defense Against the Dark Arts. He wasn’t allowed to leave until she could find out what was wrong with him.

Vivi and George came in after Defense Against the Dark Arts. Fred felt a pang of jealousy at his brother’s arm around Vivi. He coughed again. “I knew you were getting sick,” Vivi said. “I knew it.”

Fred laughed, ignoring the urge to cough. He held out his hand, which Vivi took and squeezed. “I’m not sick. Madam Pomfrey just isn’t sure what’s wrong. Must not have been allergies, though. I’m still coughing.” As if to punctuate his sentence, he coughed again.

“It’s worse,” George said matter-of-factly. “You’re coughing harder now.”

Fred nodded. “Yeah. Kinda feels like there’s something in my chest. My throat keeps tickling. Pomfrey is clueless about what’s going on.”

Vivi rubbed Fred’s knuckles with her thumb. “Well, you better get better.” She squeezed his hand again. “Can’t have you staying in here for too long.”

Fred smiled at the girl he loved so dearly. And then his chest tightened. He started to cough, but it was different this time. He doubled over in pain. It felt like something was stabbing at his lungs. The tickle in his throat had returned, but this time it felt like it was climbing up towards his mouth.

“Freddie!” George shouted.

Fred continued to cough and wheeze. Something was in his mouth. He spat into the hand that wasn’t still clutching Vivi’s, hoping to clear whatever it was. But nothing could have prepared any of them for what came out of his mouth.

“Is that…a flower petal?” Vivi asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

In his hand, Fred held what looked to be a deep red rose petal, wet with saliva. How had that possibly gotten inside his mouth? He hadn’t been near any roses lately. But he brushed it off. Surely something had just gone wrong in Herbology. He tossed the flower petal to the ground.

“Maybe someone jinxed you?” George offered. That made sense.

Madam Pomfrey returned to Fred. “I’m afraid I can’t help you, Mister Weasley. You’re free to go. If the coughing gets worse, return to me.”

He nodded and stood, leaving the hospital wing with his brother and best friend. Vivi’s hand was still in his. His throat tickled again. He coughed into his hand again, catching another rose petal.

“Is there a jinx that makes you cough up petals?”

“There’s a jinx to make you cough up slugs, so I wouldn’t be surprised,” George said as they headed to the Great Hall for dinner. “We can ask Flitwick in Charms tomorrow. See if there’s a counter spell.”

Fred nodded. Every now and then, there was a sharp pain in his lungs that made him pause and wince. He wasn’t very hungry at dinner that night. Every time he opened his mouth, he’d have to fish a rose petal from between his lips. He knew he was getting strange glances from other students. How uncommon was it for someone to have petals in their mouth? If it was caused by a jinx, it couldn’t be that odd.

“Professor Flitwick!” Vivienne leapt up from the table and rushed over to the tiny Professor who had just entered the Great Hall. Fred followed her, his hand on his chest to steady his coughing.

“Miss Hollenberry, Mister Weasley. Good evening. Can I help you?” Flitwick asked with a kind smile.

“Um, well…” Vivi reached for Fred’s hand again. He suppressed a more violent cough. He felt the petals building up in his mouth. “We were wondering what the counter spell is for the flower coughing jinx.”

“Pardon? The what?”

“The jinx that makes you cough up flower petals.” She looked to Fred, who was having a hard time keeping the petals in his mouth. He turned his head and spat into his hand, shoving the petals into the pocket of his robes. “Someone must have hit Fred with it.”

“Miss Hollenberry, there is no such jinx.”

Fred’s head snapped back to the Professor. “What?” he tried to ask, but was silenced by another violent coughing fit. Petals fell out of his mouth.

Flitwick’s eyes widened. “That is not the work of any jinx I know. I’m afraid there is something else going on.”

Vivi nodded, making sure Fred was okay. “Thank you, Professor.”

Flitwick gave the pair a look of concern before leaving the scene to join the other professors for dinner.

“I’m not hungry anymore…” Fred mumbled.

Vivi told George that they were leaving before retreating to Gryffindor Tower with a coughing Fred. Rose petals trailed on the floor behind them.

“Not a jinx…” she mused, stroking Fred’s hair as he rested his head on her shoulder. The pair sat on the floor by the fireplace. Whenever new petals were produced, Fred would toss them into the fire. “A potion, maybe?”

Fred chuckled, causing him to cough and produce a few more petals. “If it was a potion, you’d know.”

“I think you should go back to Madam Pomfrey, Freddie.”

Fred shook his head. “She said she didn’t know what was wrong with me.”

Vivi hummed. “She didn’t see you cough up petals though.”

Fred shrugged, craning his neck to look up at Vivi. The firelight reflected gorgeously on her crimson hair. He could see the embers sparkling in her eyes. Merlin, she was so, so beautiful.

He started to cough violently again, leaving Vivienne’s embrace. Petals flew everywhere. But something was different again. Instead of a tickle at the back of his throat, there were sharp pains. Like something was crawling up his throat, trying to get out. He gagged.

“Freddie?” Vivi asked in a panic. “Freddie!”

He gagged again, and again, and then he heaved forward, vomiting onto the floor in front of them.

But what he spat out wasn’t vomit. It was petals and blood and a single fully formed bloom. The thorns on the flower were clearly the culprits of the sharp pains in his throat. The lining of his throat felt like it had been torn, and he felt like there was a heavy weight on his chest.

Vivienne practically dragged him back to the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey went white as a sheet when she saw him spit out another fully formed rose blossom, again stained in blood. Her expression was deathly serious. “Mister Weasley…”

“What?” Fred said between coughs. He was alone. Madam Pomfrey had chased Vivi out. “Do you…do you know what this is?”

“I’ve only seen it once before. My dear, I’m afraid you’re terribly sick.”

More coughs. More petals. More blood. “I am?”

The matron nodded. “It’s called Hanahaki Disease. And…it pains me to tell you that it’s fatal in most cases.”

Fred felt his heart stop. “Fatal?”

“It’s caused by unrequited love. The only way to cure it is for the love to be returned, or to have it removed. But the removal…comes at an awful price. You will lose all memory of the one you’d fallen in love with.”

“Lose…my memories?”

“And it appears yours is dangerously severe. Unless the disease is cured, the flowers growing in your lungs will suffocate you in a matter of days.” With a sad face, she asked the question he was dreading. “Do you have any idea who these feelings might be for?”

Of course he knew. It was Vivienne. It was always her. She occupied all of his thoughts. His heart, soul, and body yearned for her. And now…his love for her would kill him.

“It’s Miss Hollenberry, is it not?” Fred nodded gravely. “Is it possible that she returns your feelings?” He shook his head. “Then…I’m afraid you only have two options. I’ll leave you to think it over.” Madam Pomfrey gave him a basin for his flowers, and left to let him sleep.

It wasn’t long before George burst in. “Vivi told me you coughed up a whole bloom! What’s going on?”

Fred mulled over his choices. He couldn’t worry his brother. “I’m fine,” he lied. “We…we think it might have been some sort of potion someone slipped into my drink or something.” He spat up another clump of flowers and blood. His throat felt like someone had taken a knife to it. He gave his brother a smile. “I’ll be fine. Just gotta stay here a few days until it’s passed.”

George looked as if he wasn’t sure he believed his brother. “Alright, well…hurry up and get better. I found Vivi sitting on your bed crying. Don’t keep us worried.”

Fred held in his flowers until his brother had left. He thought he could see the lining of his throat stuck to some of the thorns. Surely Madam Pomfrey was wrong. He’d be better in the morning.

He wasn’t better in the morning.

He awoke to dried blood on his lips, flowers and petals surrounding his head, and what felt like a vine growing out of his mouth. He severed the vine with diffindo.

But the most concerning thing was how hard it had become to breathe.

Madam Pomfrey wouldn’t let anyone come see him. The curtains were pulled around his cot, and he was utterly alone, coughing up flowers, bleeding, and suffocating. He knew he had dreamed of Vivi returning his love. Madam Pomfrey said that thinking about her or being near her was only causing the plant to spread faster. Several times throughout the day he heard people try to come see him. Ron, Harry, and Hermione came in, having heard from Vivi and George that he was sick. Madam Pomfrey turned them away. She turned away a nervous Ginny and a concerned Angelina Johnson. She turned away George and Vivi at least five times. By the third time, Vivi was in tears, practically begging to see him.

The sound of her crying made his heart ache and his lungs constrict even tighter. He spat up about five roses then, each one more and more soaked with blood.

His throat was so torn up that he couldn’t even speak. He wheezed whenever he tried to take a breath.

And this carried on for a few days. He could feel the plant in his lungs slowly draining his life. Every day he coughed up more roses, more thorns, more blood. He knew he was dying.

It was on the fifth day that he asked Madam Pomfrey to remove the plant. He knew he couldn’t let himself die, even if it meant forgetting Vivienne. But his heart broke at the very thought.

Madam Pomfrey waved her wand over him, and hung her head. “My dear…I’m afraid it’s too late.”

Deep inside, Fred knew it would be. He passed out then.

Even unconscious, he could feel the plant growing and expanding, ready to claim his life at any moment. He heard crying. He recognized it as Ginny. He heard Ron and George’s voices trying to comfort her. He even heard Percy’s voice above him, sounding laden with sorrow and grief. He wanted to tell them he was sorry. He was sorry for taking so long to decide to save himself. Sorry that he’d never see Ron and Ginny grown, that he’d never see Percy become Minister for Magic, that he’d be leaving George alone. He wanted to tell them he loved them, to tell mum and dad how much he loved them, and how sorry he was for leaving them.

He felt pressure on his hand. A squeeze. He heard a voice call his name in the darkness. Vivienne’s voice. She was here. She was holding his hand as he died. He wanted to tell her how he’d loved her since second year. He hoped Madam Pomfrey wouldn’t tell her that it was his love for her that had killed him. He felt her rest her head against his heaving chest, he heard her crying for him. Oh, he loved her so much. His precious Vivienne. He hoped she would recover from this. He hoped whoever she ended up with treated her well.

It made sense, he thought. The roses were the same color as her hair.

He felt the darkness calling to him. It was time. Growing ever fainter, he heard Vivienne’s voice once more.

“Come back to me…” she said. “I can’t live without you. I love you.”

Something changed in his chest. He felt the vines starting to recede. He drew in a breath. It came smoother than it had in days. The crying voices became clearer, the darkness less oppressive.

He opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Vivi’s face over him, crying and beautiful. He felt the flowers in his lungs shrink and wither. He took in a heaving, gasping breath as he felt them vanish. The weight was gone from his chest.

His love had been returned. The disease had been cured.

Vivienne leaned back as he gasped to fill his lungs with the air that they had been missing so dearly for the past five days. He saw his siblings’ faces crowding around him. He tried to speak but nothing came out.

Madam Pomfrey helped him to sit and pressed her wand to his throat. He felt the tears stitch together and heal. Percy handed him a glass of water.

He looked at Vivienne, who had her hand clasped over her mouth. “I love you, too,” he said.

#fred weasley #fred weasley x reader #fred weasley x oc #fred weasley fanfiction #harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #hanahaki disease

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avionvadion · 4 years ago

Photo

So the first two are some VERY old drawings- like, I was back in high school kinda drawings. Oof. Sorta hurts to look at it, but whatever. XD The next two plus the dancing one are closer together, though still fairly old, and the Ienzo drawing is one I did literally the other night because I was listening to “soldier” nightcore and OH MY GODS.

Because, like, Nobodies grow hearts over time? Well, Irene is crushing on Zexion from the start, and she pretty much just sort of annoys him into falling in love with her- though he doesn’t realize it. He just gets angrier and more flustered, until La City de Cloches happens (right before CoM) and he snaps. (Riku witnesses their friendship in the DDD part of the fanfic, or at least will when I’m able to write ti) Also, while I originally planned on them masquerading as gypsies because it’s fanfiction and I can do that, um, I rewatched Book of Life and realized-! BATTLE DANCE MOVES! Which basically inspired the last page because it’s them fighting and doing a team attack. A dancing team attack.

I’M A ZEXION/IENZO SIMP OKAY I’M SORRY I LOVE ONE MAN AND IT’S HIM HE IS BEST DISNEY PRINCE

Story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12448743/chapters/28327938

Major Fanfic Spoilers below

Anyway, the whole Irene/Ienzo conflict is that Irene was super freaking in love with Zexion, right? She was happy and sweet, and he was calculative and manipulative and smart, and she knew that, and he knew that, and it worked. But then he died. Lexaeus- bodyguard/father figure- died. Everyone at CoM died. Even Xion. But then Roxas defects.

Irene tracks Roxas to Twilight Town after he ran away from the Organization in a desperate attempt to bring him back so to avoid his obliteration. In the process she meets Hayner, Pence, and Olette who mention they just met a blond a day or two ago and wish her luck in finding her friend. She learns of the abandoned mansion and encounters “Ansem” at the gate. She asks him about Roxas, but the only response she got in turn was Soul Eater pointed at her face. Irene tries to go about things peacefully, but when he refuses to put his weapon away Irene summons her own and tells him that she won’t go easy on him for hiding her “brother” from her. Irene wins and manages to break into the mansion.

There she encounters Namine, who is all too aware of who Irene is because of her connection to Roxas and Riku- and therefore her connection to Sora. Namine is surprised, but says that she should have expected Irene to come to the mansion because of how much she cares for Roxas and the other organization members. She then says that she’s always wanted to meet Irene since she found out about her, having learned of her apparent affection towards Nobodies. She explains that Roxas is hidden in a version of Twilight Town DiZ created, but his memories of her were now locked away.

“Without the memories of Kairi… Sora can’t wake up. He needs Roxas.”

“So do we! Roxas is my family; I’m not leaving without him!”

“But… if you take him away, then…”

“Then he gets to live. I am NOT losing him, too. Just take the memories out of him and put them back into Sora!”

“I… I can’t… it’ll take too much time…”

Irene storms out and locates the basement, but during that time Namine panics and tries to mess with her memory. Unfortunately, as a Keeper of Heart Irene’s memories can’t be altered as much as a normal person’s and due to that Irene becomes incredibly dizzy. Having made her way to hidden basement Irene encounters DiZ, who mocks her in her state for caring so much for a being that doesn’t even have feelings. Irene snaps at him, saying that he knows nothing about Nobodies and their feelings, and tells him that the bonds between her and the Nobody friends she made are what keep her going.

“I-I’ve already lost so many… I won’t… let you… take Roxas, too!”

She summons her staff and goes to attack, but “Ansem” arrives in time to protect DiZ. She goes so far as to call them murderers for trying to remove Roxas from the world, but DiZ merely laughs and says that Roxas shouldn’t have even existed in the first place. This only makes Irene more angry and her attacks against a weary “Ansem” become more wild and frustrated.

“You know NOTHING! Of them, of the Organization, of the way they treat each other! One may lack a heart… but the feelings are still there! Wh-When they died… when that girl went missing… Roxas cried! And mourned! And hurt!” Knocks “Ansem” back and switches her illusion staff to her own. “Without being there or witnessing any of it… YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ABOUT NOBODIES!”

Goes to swing the staff with a huge surge of light, when Namine started to try and lock up her memories of the Organization- thus causing Irene to fumble. She falls to her knees and begins to panic, knowing SOMETHING was happening to her. Her eyes lock onto the rings and gloves on her hands and she realizes- she couldn’t remember who they were from. A face was starting to fade from her memory, the face of someone very important to her, and she begins to panic- frantically trying to recall the name as she stands and stumbles back into a wall.

Irene begins screaming when her head begins to throb to the point it felt like her skull was splitting into two. Namine’s powers were starting to fail and Irene was on the verge of recalling Zexion’s name when “Ansem” takes the initiative to knock her out. DiZ decides to place her in the virtual Twilight Town with Roxas, removing all the gear the Org members have given her (including her coat), and had Namine alter both her and Roxas memories enough to where they would coincide. However, Namine could only do so much and was unable to “make” new memories for Irene, only able to lock up the majority of them and edit the details of the remaining few.

When Irene woke up she remembered nothing except her sibling status with Roxas. Roxas believed Irene to be his sister and the only remaining survivor of the “accident”. She obtained amnesia since the accident and was brought home only recently since she recovered from hospital. He explained that any gaps in her memory could be because of the head injury she sustained, but Irene couldn’t feel much pain at all aside from a light headache. During the seven days Irene behaved overly doting towards Roxas, taking side-jobs from the help wanted boards in an attempt to help support them so Roxas wasn’t doing things on his own anymore.

Also Struggles with him sometimes to help prepare for the tournament after it gets revealed that she was the one who taught him how to struggle. Is surprised by her own strength. Eventually sometime while hanging up posters for the upcoming struggle match Irene encounters “Ansem” again. He’s just standing there and watching her, and her feeling rather uncomfortable upon noticing him calls him out and tries to strike a conversation.

“Hey~ random person! How you doing? New in Twilight Town?” No answer. “O-kay… well! You want one of these posters? The tournament’s coming up soon and my little bro’s gonna be fighting in it! Well, I say “little” but he’s like fifteen? Also taller than me, which is lame, but hey! You should come watch! You might enjoy it.”

“...”

“No?”

“Ansem” leaves and Irene is left very confused, but also feeling like she should know that person from somewhere because of the coat. Thinking about it makes the pounding in her skull worse, so she stops focusing on it. More time passes and Irene is at the accessory looking for something to help Roxas out a day before the tournament when she catches sight of the rings. Her head starts to hurt again and she wonders why looking at them hurt her heart so much, and why her fingers suddenly felt so exposed. Leaves the shop, only to crash into “Ansem” again who shoves two rings into her hands.

“If they’re so important to you, you should try harder not to lose them.”

Before she could ask what he was talking about he’s gone and Irene is left standing there, staring at the rings in her hands and wondering what he meant by that. She puts on one of the rings and places the other in her pocket, and heads home to get started on another cooking attempt for dinner. Sometime later Roxas comes out of his room- very dazed and confused, not understanding how he got there since he was certain he fell off the clock tower- and after dinner when Irene is putting the dishes away she asks Roxas if he knew why the rings she had were so important to her.

He’s surprised to see them, having believed they were lost in the accident, and hesitantly tells her that the ring she was wearing was given to her by her boyfriend- the same one that died in the accident- and that the other was the ring she gave to him. Irene’s headache gets worse, but she’s just barely able to recall a face. In the mansion DiZ questions “Ansem”, demanding why he intervened, and “Ansem” responds that those rings in particular were something they should have never taken from her. Later that night Irene winds up in her heart, where she is asked a question and is forced to fight a previous Keeper.

During the day of the struggle when time freezes and Roxas is forced to fight the dusks, Irene moves to help him only to be dragged away by “Ansem”. Continuously blocking her way, Irene gets frustrated and in her determination to help her “brother” she summons her weapon. There she fights “Ansem”, but just as she starts to win the world unfreezes and he vanishes into a corridor of darkness. Irene is really confused and her weapon disappears, but quickly runs back to the match and is surprised to find everyone cheering- the dusks nowhere to be seen and Roxas apparently victorious against Vivi. The dusks reminded Irene of something and she passes out after focusing too much on it, and recalls pieces of her conversation with Zexion/Lexaeus after she found out the dusks listened to her.

When the seventh day comes Namine releases the locks on Irene’s memories and the girl goes in desperate search for Roxas, but ends up having to evade the hordes of Nobodies attacking. Memories back she heads to the mansion and finds Roxas just in time, stopping him from calling out to Sora. Roxas apologizes, knowing full well he was causing her and Maria both grief, but tells her about the dreams he had of Sora and that- even if he didn’t want to- Roxas had to do this. So many worlds and people needed Sora. He asks her to respect his decision and to keep smiling, and then fades into Sora. Irene starts to breakdown and panics when Sora starts to wake, running off in an attempt to hide. Unfortunately she slams right into Goofy and Donald who have just woken up, and is almost instantly mistaken as “Mazy” by Goofy who had last seen Maria when she was a young teen. Irene is instantly confused only to remember Maria’s stories about Goofy and realizes mid-bear hug what was happening. He sets her down, only to notice her eyes were brown instead of hazel and that she WASN’T actually Maria, and apologizes. Then asks why she’s so upset, but Irene quickly changes the subject by bringing up Sora and saying something about how “someone was waking up in the next room” and Donald and Goofy run off to find Sora.

Irene makes a break for it, but encounters “Ansem” again. He tosses her bag and white coat at her, all her equipment inside, and tells her to “Go”. Rather than grateful she ends up even more confused and mad at him as he was the reason Roxas was now gone, and she didn’t understand why he was helping her so much, but he says nothing and merely vanishes into a Dark Corridor. “What is wrong with that man?”

Finds a room to hide in and puts her coat on, looking through the bag to find her equipment and is more than alarmed when she finds the bracelet she made for Lexaeus in there. He had worn it to C.O so it should have been there, so why was it in her bag…? Did that man put it there? His weapon looked a little like a keyblade- could he have been the one to kill him? And the photo from Halloween Town with them and Zexion... Irene was just about to open a portal to the castle, ready to resign herself to her fate of having to explain the situation to Maria, when the door slams open and Sora, Donald, and Goofy walk in.

Gets questioned by Donald and reluctantly answers most of them, when Goofy has a realization like, “I get it! The reason you look like lil’ Mazy is ‘cause yer her other half, isn’t it?”

Sora is super duper confused and Donald is in disbelief, and Irene is like, “Er, I mean, I am, but the reason we look alike is because we’re sisters??? Not because we’re both Keepers??? Hi??”

Que Goofy having an excited freak out because holy crap his little Mazy has a little sister he’s so happy for Maria. Asks how she is and what she’s doing, but before Irene could actually answer Donald throws a fit because the King was looking for the other Keeper and she’s right in front of them- they HAVE to bring her along- and Sora is just asking what the heck a “Keeper” is and who “Maria” was. Goofy and Donald explain, then bring up how the Keepers of Heart are supposed to work together with keyblade wielders to free captive hearts, and Sora gets on board with bringing her along because why not?? The more the merrier, right??? And Irene is all types of “Nope” but they aren’t having it. Donald is the most aggressive about it. Irene is cursing her luck as she just wanted to go back to the castle and burrow under the covers like a depressed bunny rabbit.

And now Irene is even more distraught then before. Maria learns that Sora was in C.O and tries to kill him, and Irene attempts to defend him because Roxas was still in there somewhere- she can feel his light- which causes Maria to call her delusional. Maria, feeling betrayed by Irene, tries to kill HER while Sora is unconscious, and Goofy drags Donald and Sora back to the gummi ship. Irene doesn’t fight, instead keeping a shield up the entire time as Maria is wailing on her, until the woman is exhausted. She tells Irene to get out of her sight and she does, and every now-and-then Maria will appear. To simultaneously check up on Irene, to attack her, and to attack Sora.

And though Irene hates Sora for stealing Roxas away, she can’t help but also be friends with him. At least... until Demyx dies. Then she snaps, claiming Maria was right all along, and goes after him- only for “Ansem” to intervene. Sora heads farther into Hollow Bastion and Maria attacks him, thus how she gets her chest scar, and Irene nearly kills “Ansem”. She was seconds away from doing it, but then the hood falls down and she can see his eyes... and realizes that he was a person just like her. Like everyone else. And if she killed him... someone who cared for him would be feeling exactly what she was.

And then “Ansem” won. Her face burned, stomach ripped open and then simultaneously healed/burned shut, he tosses a defeated Irene and Maria somewhere safe where they can talk. And then more org death happens, and the girls are depressed. Luxord was the last for Irene- she couldn’t handle anymore. She gave up and just hid in her old room, even as the castle fell apart. The previous inside her heart eventually opened a light corridor and pulled her through, saving her, and for a long time she just stayed there before accidentally wandering into Destiny Islands where she encounters Riku. Through some things Maria and Irene are able to start working together as sisters and keepers again and make a home in the Radiant Garden castle, helping the restoration committee, until DDD.

Lea is pretty much the same Axel. The personalities don’t differ that much. But Ienzo? Heck, even Irene? They’re not the same as they were. Irene is depressed, traumatized by all the events that occurred in such a short span of time. She’s still grieving. And for a man with the same face and voice as the one she had loved so wholeheartedly before, only to be so DIFFERENT, appearing before her? it hurts. And she’s conflicted. And she’s scared.

And while she wants to protect him, to keep him safe and ensure he lives this time around, she also wants to avoid him at any cost. But Ienzo loves her- he was as much as Zexion as Zexion was him. And Lea tries to help her see this, definitely not as patient as Ienzo and being far more annoyed that the tension in the room was so physically painful he wanted to rip his hair because GOD DAMN IT GIRL JUST ACCEPT HIM ALREADY. YOU KNOW YOU LOVE HIM. It isn’t until after Tangled that she does, witnessing Eugene’s death.

Also Riku feels massive guilt over killing Zexion, especially after becoming friends with Irene (poor girl unaware he was “Ansem”), and witnessing their interactions in La City de Cloches during his exam.

The songs “Haven’t Had Enough” “All to Myself” and “Who Do You Love” by Marianas Trench fit Irene/Ienzo pretty well, actually. Especially if you imagine the PoV shifting back and forth. “Soldier” is more Irene/Zexion to Irene/Ienzo, but... yeah. XD I’m weak, okay? I’m sorry. I love torturing characters.

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solitaria-fantasma · 4 years ago

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Magic villain uses a shield that can keep out any living being. Gawain walks right through

It couldn’t have been that easy, Gawain thought.

The villain was still laughing, suspended some fifty feet above the street in the grip of a powerful spell. Hawkgirl was furiously slamming her mace into the glowing red barrier, but neither the electrified Nth metal, nor Green Lantern’s power ring, nor even Superman’s laser vision left even so much as a scratch. Diana’s fists only bounced off the barrier, and not even J’onn could phase through it, for its reach extended impossibly high, and even below the ground.

Still, Gawain thought, it couldn’t have been that easy.

“Foolish heroes!” The villain shouted gleefully, clearly reveling in their ability to hold at bay seven of the world’s greatest heroes so easily. “No living being can pass through my barrier! I am untouchable!”

“.....” Gawain looked down at his hand, and flexed the fingers curiously. Reaching out, he tried to press his hand against the magical barrier….and made a surprised sound when he passed right through it. Bloody hell, it was that easy.

“Ugh, this guy has an ego bigger than Texas!” Flash griped as he zipped around the magical dome for what felt like (and probably was) the millionth time. “Is he going to monologue right up until the end of the world?” The speedster skidded to a stop when he returned to the group.

“I can’t find a weak spot anywhere. Have any of you guys had any luck getting-....through?” Flash trailed off when he looked back, and saw Gawain standing on the other side of the barrier. “Wha-? Dude! How’d you-?”

“The spell must not count ‘sentient’ and ‘living’ as the same thing. Huh. There’s a philosophical argument just waiting to happen.” Gawain shrugged, and waved his hand past his side. An orange, snake-like form followed the motion out from the depths of his cape, and Chopper looked up at her master with a curious chirp. “Help me wrap this up, will you love?” Gawain nodded meaningfully up at the villain.

The orange spirit immediately broke into a wide, toothy grin, and launched herself upwards. Like a bola, she wrapped herself around the villain in a vice grip, pinning his arms to his sides, and cutting him off mid-monologue. With his concentration broken, the villain could no longer keep up his levitation spell - but before he could fall too far, Gawain flew up to grab him by the back of his robes, and halt their descent.

“Didn’t account for the robot, did you?” The hero asked cheekily. The villain looked from the long drop to the street, to the seven other superheroes now glaring at him from the other side of the barrier, to the fanged spirit holding him hostage, and his shoulders sagged in defeat.

“No…” He realized too late. “No, I did not.” Gawain lowered them down to the street, and looped an arm around the villain’s shoulders in an almost friendly way.

“How about you let down that barrier, nice and peaceful,” He pointed to the only thing holding back the rest of the League. Hawkgirl casually started twirling her mace by its wrist strap. “And we’ll let you off with just a pair of handcuffs and your fair shot at the American justice system.

“Or…” He leaned out to arms’ length, and Chopper eagerly leaned in to fill the space, teeth bared and gnashing. The villain promptly tried to lean as far away from her as he could. “I’ll step right back out and leave you trapped in here with Chopper until you decide to take it down anyway.” Gawain threatened cheerfully. “Your choice.”

…….

“Would you have actually left him trapped in there?” Diana asked Gawain once the villain had been stripped of his spellbook, and loaded into a police car.

“Oh, god no.” Gawain shook his head, scratching under the spiky little spirit’s chin despite his horrified tone. “It was a completely empty threat. She’s all bark and no bite, this one.” Chopper’s yellow eyes snapped open, and she made a short, angry noise of offense before turning her snout up, and vanishing back into hiding within her master’s cape.

“I think you hurt her feelings.” Diana commented with a small smile.

“Ah, she’ll be fine.” Gawain shrugged as they moved to rejoin the rest of the league. “A few hours to sulk on the flight home, and she’ll be right as rain.”

“So, ah, what are we gonna do with this thing?” Flash held up the two spellbooks they had confiscated off of the villain once they were all back together. “The police chief didn’t want these things sitting around in his evidence locker.”

“He made a good call.” Batman spoke up. “Those books may be harmless to someone who has no interest in them...but in the wrong hands, they can be just as dangerous as any weapon.” He took one of the books from Flash, looking thoughtfully at the cover for a moment, and then turned to Gawain. “Your brother’s fiancée maintains her own library, right?”

“Ah, yes.” The hero nodded, a little bit surprised that Batman knew of Vivi and her growing collection. Then again, he was known as the world’s greatest detective. He’d probably known for-

“Have her hold onto these.” Gawain pulled himself out of his thoughts as both books were dropped into his arms. The leather bound tomes were still covered in dust and little flecks of asphalt from where they had been dropped in the rubble.

“She’d be glad to.” His optical display flashed in a blink. Vivi was going to be over the bloody moon to get a look at these! But yikes...

Poor Mystery was about to have his paws full with an overstimulated apprentice.

#phantomslair #mun's writing #AU: Super Ghost #Gawain #Reptilitones #((I don't actually have a name for this villain))#((time to worldbuild??))#phantoms-lair

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sweetinsecruity · 4 years ago

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another yeorry ask! yerim is convinced that if she kisses a frog she’ll find her prince! in an effort to do this, runs off path from a nature walk with her parents, lipsoul, after a frog! when she finally catches it, she kisses the top of its little frog head. yeojin, who had similarly escaped viseul, falls from a tree in that moment, right in front of yerim. obviously, yerim reasons that yeojin is her fated prince! -🌸

Every little kid likes fairy tales, but by the time they're in high school that love of children's stories is usually swapped out for television dramas. Yerim is a little different though, she never quite grew out of her fondness for classic bedtime stories. The idea of being swept off her feet into a magical adventure by a prince or knight was enchanting to her. However, kids can be cruel and because of her seemingly childish interests, Yerim was a bit of a social outcast in middle school. Still wanting to see the best in everyone she would simply brush off any mean comments and continue with her day. Her mothers, on the other hand, were no as okay with how Yerim was being treated so when she was set to start high school they decided to homeschool her. Of course, Yerim didn't mind she loved the idea of her mom teaching her interesting facts about marine biology and math. And so Yerim happily stayed in her lovely world of kindness and fairy tales. Something Jinsoul and Jungeun found odd about their daughter however was her fascination with frogs. Of course, they knew it stemmed from her immense love of Princess and the Frog. But the couple worried because their daughter would chase after any frog or toad she saw wanting to kiss it. They didn't want Yerim to get sick so they would get her frog plushies in an attempt to stop her from kissing real frogs. And for the most part that was an effective method. Today, Jinsoul had planned a nice nature walk to teach Yerim about different kinds of plants and luckily Junguen had the day off work so she decided to join them. The family happily followed the hiking path as Jinsoul pointed out neat looing plants and gave lengthy explanations of their names. Even though this was technically a school trip Jinsoul was mostly talking to her wife, who simply nodded along. The ever-curious Yerim slowly began to tune out her mother's rambling as her eyes landed on another path. She skipped over and followed it. She continued going that way humming contently to herself for a minute or two before she heard some rustling. Inquisitive as always she decided to figure out what made the noise. Yerim's mind raced with possibilities. She could find anything really; a fox, a fairy, maybe even a unicorn. When she does get to the tree she heard the rustling coming from her excitement turns to pure elation. There, right in front of her, was the most adorable frog she had ever seen. Yerim shrieks and sprints over to the little reptile and scoops it up into her hands. She stared at the little creature in awe for a moment before gently petting it. "Don't worry little frog," she whispered, "I know that there is a prince trapped inside you, and fear not for my kiss will save you!" She says dramatically leaning and closing her eyes. She paused just before kissing the frog to squeal one last time. Then Yerim softly pecks the frog on its head. The very moment she does Yerim hears a loud cracking sound and an even louder scream. Startled she drops the frog, who hops away immediately, and opens one eye. Then the other one and when she looked at the foot she saw a cute blond girl rubbing the back of her head. And of course, her jaw drops.

Yeojin, unlike Yerim, was a somewhat troublesome child. No matter what her parents tried they could just never keep her out of schemes. On her last day of middle school Yeojin managed to light the school's pool on fire. This got her expelled and banned from any of the district's high schools. The only option left for her mothers was homeschooling. Yeojin didn't care much for homeschooling. She loved her moms sure, but whenever she pranked them Vivi would just end up making her feel guilty. But when she suggested the family go on a hike Yeojin was instantly excited. So the next day off they went. Vivi almost instantly regretted suggesting this as her daughter wouldn't stop teasing her and Haseul for being 'fruity'. Eventually, Haseul got fed up too and suggested they play hide and seek. Yeojin instantly agrees and runs off into the woods, leaving her mothers with some lovely peace and quiet. So there she sat, perched on a tree branch evilly rubbing her hands together. Then she heard footsteps coming in her direction and was worried about being caught. Yeojin then moved up on the branch to cover herself with leaves. She couldn't really see who was below her so Yeojin did her best to maneuver the branched so she could see. Then she heard it

CRACK

All Yeojin thought when she heard that was "Fuck" and before she knew it she was lying flat on her back winded.

After Yerim managed to close her mouth she simply screams "HOLY HECK!!! IT WORKS!" While jumping around. For someone who was very much in pain that scream was not a welcome sound. "Oh my GOD be QUIET" Yeojin groans. Immediately Yerim's hands fly to cover her mouth "Oh I'm sorry. I was just excited that it worked." She apologizes in a much softer tone bending down. "Ugh, it's fine my head just sorts hurts," Yeojin says rubbing her temples, "Wait. What did you mean by 'it worked'?" The shorter girl questioned. "Oh! Well, your majesty, I saved you from living an eternity as a frog with my kiss." Yerim says springing up again and bowing dramatically. It was Yeojin's turn to have her jaw drop. Yerim is beaming when she goes to wrap Yeojin into a warm hug, then helps the shorter girl up off the floor. "Well, you're certainly a pretty princess! I'm so sorry you had to be a frog for so long." Yerim says, gently taking leaves out of Yeojin's blonde hair. "O-oh, um thanks" She replies hesitantly " You're not too bad yourself" She returns while dusting herself off. "Wow, it's so nice to be complemented by a princess," Yerim says dreamily as she spins around. "OH!" Yerim exclaims causing Yeojin to jump "What's your name princess?" She asks grabbing Yeojin's hands "Um, well, my name is Yeojin" The shorter girl mumbles out blushing a little from Yerim's bluntness. "Oh, that's a beautiful name" She sighs in the middle of her sentence "Princess Yeojin." Yerim pauses again "I LOVE it! My name is Yerim!" She exclaims jumping happily "Ok cool nice to meet you Yerim." Yeojin says with some more confidence. "Do you live in a castle princess?" Yerim asks with shining eyes. Something about that nickname makes the shorter girl feel incredibly shy but she shakes her head no as a response. "Oh, then where you live?" Yeojin decides at that moment that she likes Yerim. "Well I live town," She replies simply. Yerim nods excitedly "Princess come with me you should meet my lovely mothers!" There is was again the dang nickname that made Yeojin's stomach do a flip. 'Just indigestion I guess' Yeojin concludes. "Alrighty sure, why not. Lead the way Yerim." She says gesturing forward. Immediately Yeojin is dragged through the woods by the taller girl. After maybe ten minutes of walking the pair approach to women with their arms linked casually strolling. "MOMS LOOK!!!!" Yerim practically screeches causing both Yeojin and the other women to cover their ears. "Yerim sweety what?" Jungeun asked turning around. "Mom look I kissed a frog and there was a Princess!" She says pushing Yeojin towards her parents "Uh nice to meet you?" Yeojin says offering a hesitant hand. Jinsoul does a double-take and Junguen nearly faints. "I'm sorry Yerim darling but what?!?" Jinsoul says shocked. "Well, this is Princess Yeojin! and she was trapped in a frog's body and I freed her with a kiss!" Once they hear the short girls name both parents to look at each other then back at Yeojin who simply shrugs and waves. "Well, this isn't how I wanted to meet Vivi and Haseul's kid Soulie." Jungeun says laughing inwardly "Agreed," Jinsoul says with a nod. "Woah you know my moms?!?'' Exclaims eyes wide. "Yes, Yeojin we do. All of us are good friends." Jinsoul explains and the shortest girl simply nods. "Mom! It's Princess Yeojin. Don't be rude." Yerim scolds her mother shaking her head in disappointment. "Um well sweetheart, how do I say this," Jungeun says cautiously looking at her wife who simply nods at her "Yeojin..isn't really a princess and I'm sure that she was never a frog darling." Yerim's jaw drops again "WHAT!?! Princess?" Yerim shrieks turning to Yeojin "Is that true?" She questions softly. Yeojin looks down "Yeah I'm afraid it is Yerimmie. I just happened to fall out of the tree after you kissed that frog I guess." Yeojin says as kindly as she can. Yerim simply nods and lets the information sink in for a moment before simply smiling and pulling Yeojin into a hug "That ok Yeojinnie don't worry about it. You can still be a Princess though. I'll just call you princess sometimes oki?" Yerim says surprising happily. "U-uh yeah cool with me," Yeojin says with a blush. Then the group heard a loud "YEOJIN YOU LITTLE SHIT! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!!" The girl in question rolled her eyes "Gimme a sec" She said taking a deep breath "OVER HERE!!!" She yells back. A minute or so later Haseul and Vivi come jogging up to the group. "Oh well looks like you guys finally met Yeojin," Haseul says to Jinsoul and Jungeun, who just nod. "Oh, you must be my little princess's parents! I'm Yerim it's wonderful to meet you!" Yerim exclaims extending her hand. Vivi and Haseul both turn and stare at Yeojin "Princess?" Vivi questions her daughter. "Long story" She replies with a shrug. "Alright then, whatever you say." Vivi says teasingly. So the families return from their walks together each pair hand in hand happily chatting on their way home.

AAAAAAlrighty so this one is a LONG one lol. Anyways I hope with is good and I hope you all enjoy reading it :] also plz excuse any errors, I did proofread but it's late and my brain is a little fried so i may have missed one here or there. Anyways until next time - Rose 💜

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dianaraven · 4 years ago

Note

jacob/benedict for fairy tale au!!! Kevin/Juniper for friends to lovers!!!! Hope and Grey having a lil smooch good morning maybe? Then Roshan dancing with someone of your choice in the rain!!! Di I love all your ocs they all seem delightful

Thank you vivi <3 <3 <3 sorry this is so late

edit: VIVSS I LOOOOVE YOUUU AND THIS TOOK SO LONG CUZ IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROCRASTINATION FOR FINISHING MY BOOK THEN I PROCRASTINATED FINISHING THIS TO FINISH MY BOOK (you know, as you do) SOOOOOOOOO ANYWAY THANK YOU FOR SENDING THIS AND BEING PATIENT I LOVE YOUUUU

Benedict/Jacob Fairy Tale au (i decided to do a tangled au because it reminds me of the same chaotic energy that these boys have)

"This is all your fault!" Ben grumbled as he pulled himself up and out of the river. Jacob glared at him, wringing out his long hair.

Ben shook his head, spraying Jacob with water, and pulled off his shirt in one swift motion.

"All my fault? You're the one who said we'd be safe!" Jacob snapped.

Ben ignored him. He dragged his hand across his pants to wipe the mud off and winced. He must have cut it on one of the rocks in that cave. When the water had poured in... Ben had told Jacob who he really was and Jacob had-

Benedict raised his eyes to Jacob who was carding his fingers through his long chocolate hair. The magic hair. The hair that had glowed.

"If you hadn't demanded we come on this stupid trip-"

"You brought me to that tavern to scare me!" Jacob snapped. "Don't think I didn't realize that."

Yeah, well that hadn't worked, had it? Benedict thought grumpily. The sun was going down, they'd have to make camp. And tomorrow...

Tomorrow they'd reach Aeon, and the castle. And Benedict would be out of time to convince Jacob to give him back the lost prince's crown.

They found a nice spot to make camp, and Benedict went to find wood for a fire, cooling off as he stomped around the forest. This entire situation was insane. He might have been better off at the hands of his ex-partners. At least they would have killed him straight out instead of him drowning after sword-fighting a horse with his only weapon a frying pan. Absolutely insane.

Ow. Benedict hissed when his hand scraped across the bundle of sticks he’d collected. Benedict squinted at it in the moonlight but couldn’t see well enough. Once they’d made the fire he would check it again, maybe wash it out. The last thing he needed was to catch a rot. Or maybe, Jacob’s hair will glow again and you can see that way. Benedict shuddered as he thought it. He put it as far out of his mind as he could.

When Benedict returned, Jacob’s hair was spread out across the dark grass and dirt. Good thing your hair’s brown, he thought but didn’t say. He wasn’t in the mood to fight with Jacob again.

Benedict started the fire, wincing from the stinging pain in his hand.

“What’s wrong?” Jacob asked curtly. Clearly he was still mad. He had one leg slung over the other, and his arms were crossed over his chest.

“Nothing,” Benedict mumbled. He frowned, and put his hand to the low fire, squinting at it.

“Clearly its something. What?”

Benedict tried to shrug him off, but Jacob was nothing if not persistant. “Let me see-” Jacob crawled over.

“You’ve done enough-”

“Oh shut up already.”

Jacob pulled the hand into his lap. “Oh!” He said, surprised. “You’re hurt.”

“I’ve had worse,” Ben said.

Jacob rolled his eyes. He reached for a lock of his hair before freezing. He gave Benedict a sheepish look.

“Promise not to freak out.”

Benedict was frozen in fear. Those words never preceded something good. "What?”

“Promise me.”

“Why do I need to promise?”

“Please?”

“Fine, I-uh, I promise I won’t freak out.”

Jacob gave him a frown that said he didn’t believe him, which was fair because Benedict was a) a liar, and b) pretty sure whatever new magic trick that Jacob pulled out of his ass (or magic hair) was going to freak the fuck out of Ben, and Ben would, in fact, freak out despite any promise to the contrary.

“My hair doesn’t just glow.”

Benedict’s belly went cold. Jacob’s fingers were soft and warm. He was sure his hands weren’t nearly as nice to touch--too rough, the skin cracked and calloused. But Jacob didn’t act as if he minded.

Jacob took a lock of his long hair, and wrapped it ominously around Benedict’s hand.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Just trust me.”

Benedict closed his mouth, as much as he wanted to scream and run as far away as he possibly could.

Jacob closed his eyes. He had thick but short lashes. They barely brushed his cheeks, but lined his eyes nicely, Benedict supposed.

Then Jacob started to sing.

Benedict watched. Every impulse in his body told him to run. Told him to get away from the rushing glow that trickled first from the part of his hair and then followed the hair all the way down. Circling around Benedict’s hand, swirling down the long winding tresses that splayed across the ground.

Jacob stopped singing, and slowly he unwrapped Benedict’s hand.

Benedict looked down, and opened his mouth to scream.

“YOU PROMISED!” Jacob shouted, covering Benedict’s mouth with his hands.

Benedict’s hand was completely and utterly healed. As good as new. As if it had never been cut in the first place. Benedict hadn’t felt anything! The entire thing happened unbeknownst to him, but now he didn’t feel any pain either.

It wasn’t actually that scary, Benedict told himself. No, just a little weird. Startling. But not scary. Not scary at all.

“I’m not going to scream,” Benedict said eventually, muffled by Jacob’s hand. He was surprised to realize that he believed himself.

Jacob removed his hand, and winced. “Are you sure?”

“I’m not going to scream.”

“Oh, good.”

“Does your-does your hair do anything else? Just, you know, as a fair warning.”

Inside, Benedict’s heart shrieked. GREAT FRICKING GOD HOLY SHIT HOLY FUCK HOLY-

“Not that I know of,” Jacob said, giving Benedict a small smile. Oblivious to the chaos in Benedict’s mind. “Just the glowing and the healing.”

“Oh.” Benedict heard himself say. His voice sounded much farther away than it should have been. “Okay. I think I need to sit down.”

“You are sitting down.”

“Oh. Good.”

Jacob gave him a nervous glance. “Are-are you sure that you’re okay?”

“All good. Yeah.” Benedict’s mind calmed a little when he looked back at Jacob. Watched Jacob anxiously fiddle with a lock of hair. “Yeah.”

Kevin/Jun friends to lovers

Jun groans and eases the shoes off of her feet. She’s been dancing for so long she thinks they might fall off. The sigh that falls from her lips might border on pleasured, which she is with the way she feels now that her toes are free. She sighs again and wiggles them, cracking them and rolling her ankles.

“Thought I might find you here,” Kevin says. Jun leans back on her wrists and looks up to him.

His dress is a sparkling blue, and it swishes wonderfully when he walks. He sits down beside Jun and takes her feet into his lap, rubbing them. Jun lets out a little yelp and would complain if it didn’t feel so good.

“Alec would not let me sit down!” Jun explains.

Kevin chuckles. “I’m aware. I tried to peel you away to dance three times. Every time, she managed to distract me.”

“You were dancing too,” Jun accuses.

Kevin gives her a little grin. Charming and bashful at once. It made something in Jun’s chest flip-flop. But... she shouldn’t be thinking about that. Kevin was her friend. Just her friend. That was all.

“Like I said, I was distracted.”

Jun lets out a moan as his fingers work out the kinks in the arch of her foot and is immediately embarrassed because woah that’s not a sound you make near one of your friends. It was throaty and raspy and Kevin just smiles pleased with himself. Jun is too annoyed at his smugness to be embarrassed. She does flush though.

“Is every year like this?” she asks, to change the subject.

“The ball? Yeah, pretty much. Last year Alec and Gray were almost kidnapped, so... that was different.”

Not... what Jun was expecting. “Huh.”

“Yep. I like this better though.”

“The not-having-a-kidnapping? Yeah, I’d like that too.”

Kevin snorted. He put Jun’s right foot down and picked up her left foot.

“Sure. That and you.” For the first time since she’s known him, he actually looks a little flustered. “You know.”

Jun’s heart leaps. “Oh. Well, I suppose a new person to your... group is-”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh.” So he... he felt it too?

Kevin’s hands stop. He glances up at her through his lashes, his orange eyes glittering in the pretty lamplight set up for the outdoor areas of the Hall.

“Is that... I mean-” Kevin asks, quietly.

“No! I mean... no. I-I, um...” Jun doesn’t know really what to say. She presses her legs over Kevin’s where he propped them up to rub them. They’re leaning closer now. Kevin’s maybe a few inches away from her. Too far for them to be comfortable.

Kevin raises his hands (they’re shaking, Jun notices, and it gives her a thrill) hovering above the bodice of her dress. As if he wants to pull her closer.

“I... uh, I mean, I was just touching your feet... I don’t want to-”

Jun almost laughs because, well, “they’re my feet, I think I’ll live.”

Kevin does laugh. He smiles at her, that cheeky, smug one that gives him dimples. Jun’s heart flutters again. He holds her gently, pulling her closer, arms around her waist.

“Good,” he murmurs, and then he kisses her.

So... maybe he wasn’t just a friend after all.

Hope/Gray morning kisses

“Good morning~” Hope hums in Gray’s ear. Gray groans in his sleep and turns over beneath her arm, burying his face further into the pillow.

“Hnnnn.”

Hope moves around Gray to slide out of bed and he grabs her arm, pulling her back in.

“Gray....”

Gray shifts so she’s pinned under him and he rests his head in the crook of her neck, pressing a light kiss there.

Hope runs her fingers through his hair and snorts. “Gray, darling, I do have to get up at some point today.”

“Hnnnnnn,” Gray groans again, pulling her closer. “No....”

“In fact, you have to get up too. Possibly in an unpleasant way if Alec gets the chance.”

Gray grumbles again. His breath tickles the short stubble the dots the bottom of her chin. He nestles himself further against her. He kisses her neck again.

“You’re not going to distract me.”

Gray harrumphs into her neck.

“Yes, I know. But think of it this way, if you get up now Alec won’t come barging in to dump a bucket of water on you. You do know how much she loves to.”

Gray groans and leans back on his elbows. He blinks his eyes open groggily and rubs the sleep from his lashes. He has morning stubble too, and his hair hasn’t been set so its curls stick up.

“Do we have to?”

“Yes, unfortunately. Princely duties can’t wait.”

Gray pouts so Hope raises herself up and kisses him. If her breath tastes bad, Gray doesn't give any hint. Hope slowly draws herself back to her feet, and Gray follows her. When Hope finally breaks away, Gray pouts again and falls to the sheets with a fwump!

Hope sighs. “If you get up, I’ll kiss you more,” she teases.

But it works, just like it works every time. Gray bounces up, feet firmly on the floor and wraps Hope in his long arms. He dips her slightly, and Hope’s heart hammers way too loudly in her chest considering that since they’ve been together it’s been a common occurrence.

When he finally gives her a reprieve he smiles cheekily.

“Promise?” he asks.

Hope ignores the flush she knows it probably darkening her cheeks and blows a puff of air into his face. “You’re a menace. I don’t know how you ever get things done.”

Gray grins and Hope’s heart melts a little. “Why, with kisses as a reward, of course.”

“Menace,” Hope repeats, but she gives him one more reward anyway.

Roshan & Alec dancing in the rain

The rain sizzles on Roshan’s skin when it hits, but she doesn’t mind. In fact, she revels in it. In the the music still in her veins from the tavern and in the booze that’s warming her blood nicely. Her head is a little tingly and though it was hot earlier, it’s cool now with the rain. The door of the bar is still open, and she can see the orange haze of the warm hearth inside. The musicians inside can still be heard from where she stands. The rain soothes the fire from the evening.

It’s not dark out, not yet. Just barely evening, but the storm-clouds make the sky a light purple.

Roshan spins. Her hair whips around her in it’s braid, slapping against her head and smelling deliciously of rain.

It’s been so long since she’s been like this. Since she’s felt safe enough to do this. In fact, she can’t remember the last time she just stood in the rain. Nor the last time she just felt free.

Well, she knows the answer to that one. She’s never felt free before. Not like this.

She doesn’t realize that someone has been watching her--so overjoyed by no longer having to hide. Maybe she should be holding onto those prey instincts. Maybe she hasn’t lost them, maybe it’s just the smell of the dirt, the cool of the rain, and the fire in her veins.

Roshan puts her hands on her hips. Alec stands under the lip of the roof, just barely out of the rain. Roshan almost laughs, she’s never seen it before but because of the dark of the sky and the shadow the roof offers, she can see it now. Alec’s eyes (the color of ice chips, of frostbitten lips, of the poison a queen gives her husband) really do glow. If ever so slightly.

When Roshan’s dark eyes meet Alec’s light ones, Alec smiles. An ever so slight quirk of her lips.

“What?” Roshan demands.

“I’ve never seen you so happy before,” she says, voice raised over the roar of the downpour.

“I’ve never been happy before,” Roshan replies, a little more harshly than Alec deserves. But Roshan knows Alec, and knows that she can take it. She can take anything Roshan throws at her, as she’s proven again and again and again.

Alec pushes herself off of the wall and walks into the oncoming rain, not even flinching.

It’s something Roshan admires about her, not that she’d ever tell Alec. No. Maybe others might--Hope or Gray--but Roshan and Alec know one another. They don’t need such silliness between them.

“You know,” Alec says, lowering her voice as she comes closer. Her short black hair sticks to her pale face. Thunder rumbles overhead. Lightning flashes. “I don’t remember you dancing much at the ball.”

“I didn’t dance at all,” Roshan says. She’s not ashamed or embarrassed. Back then she couldn’t even let anyone touch her, much less dance.

Well, anyone except Alec. Alec always seemed to think that the rules didn’t apply to her.

Alec holds out a hand, giving a mocking bow to go with it. “Then, may I?”

Roshan rolls her eyes, but she takes the hand. Despite her eyes and demeanor, Alec is warm to the touch. Alec pulls her in close as the faint music of the tavern switches to a soulful ballad and rests her other hand on the small of Roshan’s back. And together, they dance in the rain.

#diana replies #diana writes the makings of magic #diana's ocs #oc asks #myanchorandyourcompass #i love alec and roshan so much #its interesting because if they hadn't met in the way they did idk if they would have ever been friends #idk if they even would have liked one another #their relationship is so based on the trauma and other experiences they shared that they're completely different people without them #and their relationship is totally different #which is funny because one of my fav scenes in the whole series is their sparring match #also writing this made me realize how cute and fluffy hope and gray are :3 #not canon and prob will never be but they're cute and i can dig it #btw this is like the first thing ive written since finishing the first draft of alexis like..... 10 days ago #diana: says diana wants attention #also diana: proceeds to ignore all the attention she gets because hnnnnnnnnnnnnn

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eijiroukiriot · 5 years ago

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After Months of saying i would i’m finally posting about my Kiribaku playlist! I’ve linked it before but I’ve never really gone into what the songs mean to me and how I see them in relation to the boys, and I think the explanations puts things into perspective, so I typed it all out!

This is my main krbk playlist - I also have playlists for Bakugou and Kirishima separately - and this focuses mostly on happier songs (and a few that are so ingrained into how I see them that I had to put them in anyway). I also have an angst-themed krbk playlist and post-breakup playlists for each of them! Really I just. love music and love seeing characters I like in it so this is fun for me

Spotify Link

song descriptions under the cut!

i typed up all of this after 1 a.m. last night so not only is it very long it’s also somewhat incoherent but these songs mean a lot to me so if you’re down to read it then thank you!!

note: a few of these songs aren’t available on spotify at the moment but they’re so crucial to the Vibe that i’ve still included them here!

i. I Always Knew - The Vaccines

“So let’s go to bed, before we say something real -

Let’s go to bed, before we say how we feel”

-this is my Ultimate krbk song, man. the first time i heard it i was walking to class and i just had to stop on the sidewalk and take a Big deep breath. everything abt the lyrics fits them so well - i’ve talked about this before but the verses and prechoruses really capture that “being young and stupid and tiptoeing around your emotions” feeling, then the chorus hits and it just SOARS, and really, has there ever been a sentiment that fits them more than “it’s always been you”

ii. Fly Me to the Moon/Lucky - Rick Hale

“Fill my heart with song and let me sing forevermore -

Tell me I’m the lucky one you worship and adore”

-I have an extreme soft spot for these boys and love songs. and this has been a part of my fic writing playlists for so long that it always makes me think of them. I don’t even have a lot to say by way of lyrics, this is a full atmosphere pick

iii. If My Heart Was A House - Owl City

“Circle me and the needle moves gracefully back and forth -

If my heart was a compass, you’d be north”

-boy if this song doesn’t make me think of bkg every time!! it’s the transition from the prechorus into the chorus that gets me - it starts so quiet, like there’s so much love inside of you that you’re still trying to keep down, and then the “bombs away” is the moment when you decide to stop running and just embrace it, and the chorus comes in so loud and strong and so thoroughly in love. call me a sap (spoilers: i do that myself multiple times here) but it really does remind me of what it must be like when bkg just...decides to let himself have this. and then i feel dumb bc this is about anime boys who are like not in love in canon at all but inside the intricate Kiribaku Canon i have built in my head oh yeah this is how bkg falls in love

iv. Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando

“One floor below me, you don’t even know me - I love you”

-this is just the prime soundtrack for a college AU where kirishima’s dorm is right above bkg’s and he’s in Love with him. And Also, something about the bold retro vibe makes me think of kirishima, but that almost certainly a me thing! still a big bop though

v. Intergalactic Disco - Interlunium

“So, with stars in our eyes, let’s fly through the glowing galaxies”

-again, a big sappy atmosphere pick! i really do love the imagery in this one and the storyline of playing things off as just having a good time until it turns out the other person is as deeply in love as you are. it really is just That Song! please stan interlunium

vi. Animal - Neon Trees

“Here we go again, I kinda wanna be more than friends”

-the ENERGY in this song!! the loud, highkey, driving beat! the vibes of being young and stupid and stumbling through having feelings for someone equally as inexperienced with love as you are! and yet the fact that we KNOW both of them would run full-force with it once they realize they both want it! the lyrics to this one do get a bit spicy but it’s really the high school crush energy in this one that gets me

vii. If You Wanna - The Vaccines

“I don't want to do things independently, but I can't make you stay -

That's what all the friends I do not like as much as you say...but if you wanna come back it's alright”

-the ENERGY in this SONG!!!! the electric guitar and the chorus so long you think he’ll run out of breath! bkg getting so fed up with being so close to kirishima’s face and not being able to kiss it that he takes the dive and goes for it and then goes to run away until kirishima yells WAIT- IF YOU WANNA COME BACK IT’S ALRIGHT!!!

viii. No One Like You - Best Coast

“Been around this crazy world, but I still wanna be your girl -

Cause there’s no one like you.”

-I feel like...if krbk had a cheesy high school romcom, and everything led up to a big dance at the end, and at the very end the camera panned out as they finally caved into each other and went onto the floor to do that slow dance, this would be the song. This is their slow dance

-seriously like 70% of the lyrics to this song are “there’s no one like you” which is really, once again, just the Pinnacle of krbk

ix. Idfc - Blackbear

“'Cause I have hella feelings for you -

I act like I don't fucking care, 'cause I'm so fucking scared”

-the bkg energy in this song...the self doubt and the pining but the deep-seated belief that you don’t deserve this, even though you’re so close, even though he keeps telling you he loves you- but how could he, he has to be lying, and why would you even care, you don’t care about people like this- you never have, until now...oh this song is just DRIPPING in it

x. My Best Friend’s Hot - The Dollyrots

“Won’t you apologize to me, to me, to me? For being such a tease, a tease, a tease”

-it’s a song about being pissed at your oblivious hot best friend who you have a huge crush on! they might as well have credited the lyrics to bakugou katsuki

xi. Stay by My Side - Twice

“I can’t hold it back anymore -

I can’t even believe how much I love you”

-it’s Cheesy Romance! it’s cheesy romance that’s all this is!!! this one is pure michigan cheese!!!!!

xii. Love Line - Twice

“With you by my side, I wanna take a shot, take a walk on the love line”

-again this is a very me pick! this one’s been sitting around on my writing playlists for a long time and i’ve come to really associate it w these Boys. the member who wrote the lyrics has said it was about her first crush and it’s generally about just. being So enamored with someone you can’t stop thinking about them. and i’m a big sap so you know where that goes

xiii. Maybe (Luck of the Draw) - The Vaccines

“There’s nobody else like you, there’s nobody else like you -

And if there’s nobody else like you, then maybe I want to spend my life with you”

-this one always sounds to me like krbk growing up, spending late nights both awake in the dimly-lit kitchen of their second apartment, watching the hours tick by on the microwave clock as they just talk and argue and make each other laugh and slowly realizing that this is by no means perfect but there’s no one else they’d rather keep getting old with...i feel like this is another end credits song for them, you know?

xiv. I’m Totally Obsessed with Him - Matt Fishel

“He’s in my heart, he’s in my lungs - he’s in everything that I touch”

-matt fishel deserves SO much more than he gets i mean LISTEN to this huge campy gay anthem about being just extremely an unapologetically in love with your big gay boyfriend!!!! i feel bad making pride anthems like this about anime boys but i’m also gay and i’m here to say that the absolute SCALE of this - the explosion of electricity and infatuation and campy guitar in the chorus - this one has BIG kirishima energy. words can’t do it justice just please please listen to this one

xv. Slayers - Matt Fishel (again lol)

“We’re in this together, you and I -

Hand in hand, side by side, unbreakable”

-It’s a song about being in love with someone who you see as your total partner, you rely on each other and protect each other and you’re with each other through everything, and it’s written through the lens of a fantasy story - this one always, always makes me think of the two of them in the fantasy AU, sworn partners for life, able to rise above any challenges in their path, flying into the sunset together after a long day of adventures, so happy that it seems to make the world spin

-this really may be the most krbk song i’ve ever heard so please listen to it,

-i played it for my krbk friend once and when he said unbreakable they started screaming

xvi. Hooked On a Feeling - Blue Swede

“I’m high on believing you’re in love with me -

I said, I’m hooked on a FEELING!!!!!”

-picture this: class A crammed into a karaoke room for a party, kirishima standing up in front of the scream and screaming “THIS ONE’S FOR YOU BKG” and belting out the entire thing, slightly off pitch but FULL of spirit, every time ‘girl’ comes up in the lyrics he sings ‘bakugou’ really really fast (‘I CAN’T STOP THIS FEELING, deep inSIIIde of me, bakugouyoujust don’t reallize!!! what you do to me!!!!”) and everyone is whooping and hollering along except bkg who gets so red that nobody can tell if it’s angry embarrassment or in love god just so in love embarrassment

-it’s hooked on a feeling it has such loud kirishima energy do i have to explain myself here

xvii. Everyday I Love You - ViVi (Loona)

“If only you liked me - if only you loved me

Like a fool, I think only of you”

-note 1: stan loona

-note 2: this song is just such a sweet picture of pining!! imagining the stolen glances and ‘hopeless’ crush feeling when (in some AU where they both have. less emotional hangups the first time they meet) they first meet,, i can’t explain it for this one even it just makes me so soft

xviii. Crush - Weki Meki

“This feeling- like I’m losing, it’s hurting my pride

But I can’t help it, I’m so curious that I’m going crazy”

-i’m sure you can tell by now that i. Really like kpop but the first time i read the lyrics to this one i lost it! there are really too many lyrics than i can fit here that remind me of how bkg sees kirishima when he first realizes it’s really a crush that’s making him act like this - i really recommend that you take a look at the translation for this one!! it really has it all - being mad at your crush for how they make your heart pound, feeling like it’s hurting your pride, “it’s not like me to be circling around you like this, i’m gonna make a move”, the line about how “i’ll be better to you than anyone else” - seriously, i cannot exaggerate the bkg energy in these lyrics

xix. Kimi Janakya Dame Mitai - Masayoshi Ohishi

“I want to get to know you more and more - but that kind of line doesn’t really fit me”

-aaaand here’s a song that radiates EXTREME Kirishima Energy!! everything from the vibrant guitar to the big belted chorus to the lyrics about being, like, confused but absolutely buzzing and just wanting to be with them - it’s loud and bright and awkward but THRILLED about every part of it!!

-it, of course, helps that the title essentially means “it’s gotta be you”

xx. I Do Adore - Mindy Gledhill

“Everything you do - it sends me higher than the moon”

-like….is there a more classic song to associate with your favorite stupid pining high schoolers ship

-don’t get me wrong i KNOW this one is cliche and i KNOW there’s other ships this fits better but i’m soft don’t @ me

xxi. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You - Frankie Valli

-legally this song is only Half in the playlist bc spotify likes taking it down and putting it back up at random but after writing fly me i can’t NOT think abt krbk when i hear it. i have no further justification

-also imagine kirishima being loud and embarrassing and singing this song to bkg all the time

xxii. Television/So Far So Good - Rex Orange County

“I don't know, no, I don't know what you like,

But if you're looking for something new, I know somebody that you could choose:

What about me?”

-what about MEEEEEEEEeeeeeEEEe

-i think it’s that driving guitar rhythm that makes this one for me. it just sounds so...ready to take on this weird new feeling of knowing how perfectly things could go with someone if you both just took the jump. it sounds very kirishima.

-the content does start changing as it keeps going but those first few minutes and the RAP VERSE really have such bubbly dumb teenage ‘it’s our first time feeling like this and it might be a little too serious for us but why don’t we take the leap i’m sure it’ll be worth it’ vibes. it really feels like the first “what about me???” in the chorus should be accompanied by kirishima sprinting up to bkg and lifting him up and kissing him because he’s so caught up in this feeling

xxiii. Sweet Talk - Saint Motel

“When you laugh, I forget that it’s about me

But it’s alright - cause being your punchline still is something”

-we all know this is a krbk song, everyone knows it’s a krbk song, my non-bnha friend who I annoy constantly w krbk stuff knows this is a krbk song, honestly do I even have to explain why? it contains the line “you could yell ‘piss off, won’t you stay away’ - it’d still be sweet talk to my ears” and we All know how whipped kirishima already is

xxiv. Into The Storm - Banners

“Through night and dark, through fantasies that fall apart,

Know you're always in my heart, anywhere you go”

-Unconditional love! Working through the hard times together! and knowing these two, there have been & will be no shortage of hard times to work through. it’s that loyalty and devotion that makes this one.

xxv. Talk Too Much - COIN

“Stay cool, it’s just a kiss - so, why you gotta be so talkative?”

-when it comes down to it bkg and kirishima are two idiot 16 year olds who have never been in love before so you know they’re gonna stumble a lot when they first get together. i don’t know how to explain it but i think this really captures that

-also i feel like this is a pretty staple krbk song! i see it on so many playlists

xxvi. If I Tremble - Front Porch Step

“And if I tremble at the sight of you, it’s not because I’m cold -

It’s because I’m staring at the girl I want to love me when I’m old”

-that idea of the kind of love you want to last forever, knowing the person you want to grow old with...I honestly don’t like this one for them that much anymore but it Did make me cry the first time I thought about it so it gets to stay. tbh when I’m soft enough it still gets me

xxvii. Cold Cold Man - Saint Motel

“You’re the only one worth seeing, the only place worth being -

The only bed worth sleeping is the one right next to you”

-Saint Motel is just krbk culture at this point, this is another staple krbk song. I mean, the core theme is “I know I’m an asshole but I love you more than anyone” - come ON

xxviii. Wonderful Things - Ryan Corn

“So you say you wanna grab hold - well to hold, you’ve gotta let go

Of the only way you may have ever known”

-is this song about god? maybe. is it about krbk? Oh absolutely

-the themes of not knowing what you’d do without the other person in your life, and looking back on the person you were able to become because of them, and that lyric up there always makes me think of Kamino - it’s just all around got the themes and I’m very soft about that

xxix. Bad Enough For You - All Time Low

“You love to hate me when I'm chasing you,

And I hate to say this, but I'm stuck on loving you”

-Okay this is totally 12-year-old me talking here but hear me out: Bakugou being convinced Kirishima could never like him more than this weird half-flirting thing they’ve come to and also being scared that he’d never be good enough for him, but him as he is now is letting them HAVE this half-flirting thing, so...he keeps it up, even though he wishes he could be the one to treat him how he deserves to be treated, but there’s no way he could be Kirishima’s boyfriend anyway so what’s the point in caring (but kirishima loved him the WHOLE TIME!!! they sort things out before long lol)

-also they’re both 16 and emo so.

xxx. Instead of My Room - Charlie Burg

“Can't we just put on Ramones? And we'll drive

And I'll kiss you, in my car, instead of my room”

-if kirishima wrote songs with kaminari and sero during high school, i think they’d sound like this

-the lyrics to this one are just so Fun! it’s goofy and jokey and just having a good time! i can’t make the lyrics line up as much as i’d like them to but it really just sounds like them to me

xxxi. I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

“I don’t wanna close my eyes -

I don’t wanna fall asleep, cause I’d miss you, babe”

-i have exactly 2 krbk moods and one is “they are stupid. 16 and loud and just so dumb” and the other is “this is Love love, they’re gonna live off this forever”

-kirishima looking over at bkg fast asleep the night after their wedding and feeling so wholly in love that he cries

xxxii. Stutter - Marianas Trench

“So here I am - you can take or leave me,

But I won't ever be anywhere but here”

-If krbk starred in a mid-2000s battle of the bands romcom with a car chase scene this is the song that would play in the trailer (I KNOW that’s crazy specific but that’s the image I always get when I hear this)

xxxiii. Must Have Done Something Right - Reliant K

“If anyone could make me a better person, you could -

All I gotta say is I must have done something good”

-i feel like i’m 13 when i hear this song but it’s really really Them

-really i think the thing that keeps me so invested in krbk is that they’re so involved with each other’s character arcs - they’re constantly making each other better people, each of them is like a missing piece for the other, and they’re both so wrapped up in their own shortcomings that they barely even realize how big of an impact they’re having on the other. but really they would never be the same if they hadn’t met. and that’s the entirety of this song’s content

xxxiv. Deer in the Headlights - Owl City

“Tell me again, was it love at first sight

When I walked by and you caught my eye?”

-there is literally nothing in the lyrics that makes me think of them. this one is 100% for the vibe. and also kinda the lyrics in the chorus. like, being taken aback by how suddenly everything is happening but in a very excited and enthusiastic way. things don’t go Smoothly when they confess, persay, but oh man is it memorable (and loud and sweaty and hoarse-throated but never, ever sad)

xxxv. On and On (About You) - Bowling For Soup

“Now you can scream about the little things, slap me twice across the face,

Man it would be great if I could buy you flowers every day”

-this is really middle school me speaking here BUT:

-krbk don’t exactly work out in high school and end with some big fight but with time they both realize they were wrong and when they finally meet again at a class reunion they both wanna get back together but they’re still arguing and shooting quick remarks at each other but the whole time they’re thinking “man, if i could, i’d buy you flowers every day”

xxxvi. Mamma Mia - ABBA

-it’s mamma mia. it’s just mamma mia

-it’s also kirishima’s inner monologue every time he thinks he’s finally kicked his crush on bkg and then he sees him for 0.1 seconds and falls right back in

xxxvii. I Dare You - The Regrettes

“I can't seem to sleep, and I feel my pulse beating

I wanna keep all my control, but you're the one that brings the sun”

-maybe it just reminds me of the music video song in quote love unquote but the second i heard this song i was like oh yeah that’s kiribaku

-the idea of trying to catch yourself as you feel yourself falling but also choosing to make the jump in the first place! the idea that you’re taking a big chance but things are so much better together that you’re not scared! you’re even pushing yourself forward! it’s truly for them

xxxviii. I Want to Hold Your Hand - the version from Yesterday

-like, fuck the beatles but it’s a song about hand holding. come on

xxxix. Love At First Sight - The Brobecks

“Turn the lights off, I’m in love”

-that lyric has happened in canon. that lyric is the context of why bkg went to bed at 8:32 pm that one time

-it’s such a sweet mix of being scared about falling in love but also...feeling like the world just got a little brighter, and kinda letting yourself sink into it in reluctant acceptance because it just feels so good? kinda hitting the same notes as If My Heart Was A House. idk the first time i heard this i thought abt the girl i have a crush on so i was like “nope. nope. refocus this to krbk”

xxxx. Holliday - The Weekend Run Club

“I'd never been so soaked before

I was drenched in your arms, dancing in your downpour”

-this was on my discover weekly last week and I put it on here without thinking about it and now I”m really listening to it for the first time and. wow. Wow.

-you know the scenario i’ve been bringing up this whole time of taking a leap into something awkward and electric that makes you happier than you could imagine? that’s the energy i’m getting from this

-just imagining krbk being out on their first date and it starts pouring so they duck inside and they’re like “well...should we just go back?” and then realize it’s so much more like them to run out into the downpour and get soaked and kirishima’s losing his mind laughing and bkg’s like “what are you so happy about idiot” and kirishima’s just like “i don’t know. i just really like this. i just really like you” and then they’re both kinda floating on air

#i know it's long but!!!! i Finished typing it #thoughts #kiribaku #also not to pat my own back but i personally think this playlist. like. slaps #i listen to it a lot and it has a lot of music i like on it! definitely not everyone's tastes but a very strong look into mine #anyway i love them and i've been putting this playlist together so long it just keeps growing and growing #this is in no way its final form it's gonna keep getting longer!!#playlists

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