#i love when i get to knock on my knees to demonstrate

[salt-baby]

my beige flag is taking immense pleasure in shocking people with my disability

[moonpascal]

FRACTURED BONDS

pairing: logan howlett x fem!reader wc: 830

warnings: angst, language, fighting, slight jean slander, idk what else

a/n: thanks to everyone who liked, commented, and reblogged on the first part. part two to “something stupid”. this is everywhere, not sure how i feel about this but just wanted to get this out of my drafts. this gave me a headache, since im not hyper fixated like i was in the beginning of the year but hope it’s enjoyable! 🤎

Numbness was all you felt. The field around you lay in ruins, a burnt crater marking where your powers had gone haywire. Trees leaned or lay fallen from the blast, and you could only hope no one had been nearby.

The blue energy slowly dimmed from your hands, its destructive aftermath concealing the calm now settling over you.

Why did you let yourself get attached to Logan? You knew from the start it would lead to heartache. Still hung up on Jean—much to Scott’s displeasure—you were merely a distraction for him, someone to vent his frustrations on.

Shakily, you stood, wiping away tears that seemed never-ending. Transporting back to the castle’s foyer, the usual smile you wore was gone, leaving only a hollow feeling.

“Are you okay? You were gone for a while,” Scott murmured, making you jump, pulling you from your thoughts.

“Yeah yeah, I’m fine just tired. I’m heading to bed,” you replied, waving him off.

He nodded, giving you a sympathetic smile and let you go. Your room had become a place you hardly visited except for the occasional change of clothes.

Changing felt like a chore, your body weak and exhausted. Sleep, you knew would evade you. With a wave of your hand, you locked the door and placed runes on the walls to block out everything and everyone.

—

After a night of minimal sleep, teaching was the last thing on your mind. But you loved your students, and it wasn’t their fault you got “dumped”. On your way to the classroom, Rogue pulled you aside.

“Where were you last night? Logan was screaming and thrashing around in his sleep! Nobody could contact you, and it took forever to calm him down,” she exclaimed, dark circles under her eyes.

“Sorry, guess I was knocked out,” you shrugged. As much as you wanted to feel bad, you didn’t. Logan used you and then discarded you like you were nothing.

Rogue looked ready to defend him but couldn't find the words. Not wanting to hear it, you walked away and went to class.

In the classroom, the students fell silent and went to their seats—unusual behavior for them.

Lost in your thoughts, you barely noticed Logan standing next to the mat, arms crossed with his usual scowl.

“Mr. Howlett, apologies. I forgot you’d be joining us today,” you said curtly before turning your attention to the students.

Their shocked murmurs filled the room, noticing your cold demeanor towards Logan, contrasting sharply with your usual flirtation and sunshine behavior.

As class progressed, the tension grew. Logan’s patience with the kids wore thin, while you on the other hand calmly corrected their mistakes.

“Fucking hell, kid! Don’t swing so wide when throwing a punch! You’re—”

“Logan! Language!” you shouted. “That’s why we’re teaching them!”

He huffed, ready to retort, but you silenced him with a flick of your hand, making the room erupt in laughter.

“Let’s demonstrate then,” you said, clapping your hands.

He begrudgingly walked to the mat. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you, sweetheart,” he whispered.

“Please, as if that was a concern bub,” you smirked.

He threw the first punch, which you quickly dodged, transporting behind him and kicking his leg, making his knee hit the mat. He tried to swipe his other leg under yours, but you froze it in place.

“Using your powers isn’t cheating. You want to use your abilities to get out of tough situations.” You addressed the class.

Releasing him, he stood and grabbed your arm, twisting it behind your back. “But you shouldn’t rely on them in case they fail you one day!” he argued.

Suppressing a laugh, you maneuvered out of his hold, flipping him onto his back. He huffed and glared at you.

Although he never voiced it, Logan constantly underestimated your powers. You and Jean were similar, but you had control ninety-seven percent of the time. You didn’t know what she had that you didn’t.

Abruptly standing up, you dismissed the class. As the students exited, you didn’t spare Logan a glance and walked out with them.

—

Word travels fast among mutants. Ororo tried to help you as best as she could, but she knew you’d need time. Jean gives you sympathetic glances, and you managed small smiles in return. It wasn’t her fault; Logan just likes to think there’s a cat-and-mouse game between them, even though she rejected his advances. And Scott just added it to his list of reasons to hate him.

Logan ignores you as if you don’t exist. It hurts, but you after years of practice, it wasn’t hard to do the same.

Behind closed doors, you let your mask slip, crying for hours and replaying the good times in your head. As much as you wished Logan would take you back, you knew he’d never fully love or let you in.

He wanted what he couldn’t have, and you wanted him. Destined to never get what you truly wanted.

© moonpascal

tagging who requested a part two: @being-worthy @ro-lamperouge and to @kaita0 who gave me some suggestions.

[stevesbipanic]

Inspired by this post by @liightsnow

Steve had always been quick to open his home to his friends.

It began of course with allowing Tommy to throw big parties at his house since Steve’s parents were away, later he would open his home to the kids to have a safe place to just be kids. Steve enjoyed having his friends around and it helped fill the silence of his usually empty house. So it was no surprise that when Eddie needed a new location for Hellfire, Steve was the first to volunteer.

He and Eddie had gotten close as Eddie recovered in hospital, he was fun to be around, loud and bright in a way that pushed away the thoughts as to how Eddie ended up in the bed in the first place. Wayne was appreciative of Steve keeping his nephew company while he was at work and Steve always reassured him that it was no trouble, most of the time Steve stayed even when Wayne was there.

There was one issue with hosting Hellfire however, the Hellfire boys. Jeff, Gareth and Grant had visited Eddie a few times after school, all their parents keeping them at home when they could after the “earthquake”, Steve always excused himself allowing Eddie to have time with his friends. Steve couldn’t blame the wary looks that they’d send him, he knew who he was in high school, even Eddie had assumed the same.

This lead Steve to now as he opened the door to the three boys, who were last to arrive. They all nodded politely at Steve before heading straight to where Eddie was calling them in the dining room. At first Steve tried to make himself seem friendly and approachable to them, demonstrating that he had changed since his years of being King of Hawkins High. He set out snacks and got people drinks, even remembering which drinks Eddie had told them were their favourites, but all he got were polite smiles and glances towards Eddie. After receiving similar treatment when he brought them lunch, Steve gave up his attempts and retreated to his bedroom to wait out the rest of the game.

Steve curled into a ball on his bed, knees tucked tightly under his chin as he wrapped his arms around is legs. He got an eerie sense of déjà vu to when he was a child and his mother would send him up to his room once he’d been “showed off” to the guests. His purpose complete and he was no longer needed, Hellfire had what they needed to finish their game without them.

Steve heard joyous cries downstairs and wished for a moment he would’ve been able to stay and watch. Everyone always sounded so happy when the game concluded, and he knew Eddie told the best stories. He knew he couldn’t though, he didn’t want to ruin it for anyone, especially Eddie’s friends.

He was getting ready to go downstairs and clean up, another thing similar to his mother’s parties, when there was a knock at his door.

“Stevie? You ok in there?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, Eds, I’m fine, game finished then?” Steve replied as Eddie entered the room.

“Yeah, it was great, you should’ve stayed to watch Gareth made the best final attack, you have a headache or something, why are you hiding up here?”

“Oh, um,” Steve looked down at his hands, “Thought I’d just be in the way down there, didn’t want to spoil the fun.”

Eddie made a face at this, “Spoil the fun? Sweetheart, everyone would’ve loved you to stay and watch, might get Dustin off your back about playing.”

Steve shook his head, “Your friends don’t really like me much, which I get, it’s fine, glad you guys had a place to play though.”

“Steve why did you offer up your place if you didn’t want to watch? And the guys think you’re fine what’re you talking about, did one of them say something?”

“You guys needed a place to play and I have an empty house, need to be useful someway now that there’s no monsters to fight and my parents cut me off, and no, no one said anything but they always act weird around me.”

“Fuck Stevie, you’re more than just someone useful you know that right? I’d want you around just because I like you around, sweetheart, you don’t have to earn that by offering your house.”

“You sure?”

“Very sure, wasn’t getting better in Casa Harrington, was I? Got better cause I had my favourite jock beside me.” Steve blushed at that. “And as for my friends, I think I know the reason they’re acting weird around you,” Eddie said guiltily.

“Why?”

“Might’ve told them not to embarrass me in front of you,” Eddie said sheepishly.

“Why wouldn’t you want them to- oh,” Steve smiled softly, “Eddie Munson did you want to look cool in front of me because you like me?”

“Would it be bad to say yes?”

Steve lent over and kissed Eddie’s cheek softly, “Not at all.”

When the boys returned downstairs holding hands to find the others cleaning up, Jeff let out a sigh of relief, “Thank fuck you got your shit together Eddie, Harrington can you make those sandwiches again next time, I don’t know what you put in them but Gare ate like 5.”

“Hey, you would’ve eaten just as many if there were any left!”

Steve laughed, “Sure, will make them a Hellfire staple every week.”

The following week Steve was met by wide grins when he opened the door, and celebrated with the party when they defeated Eddie’s villain. Sitting on Eddie’s lap to watch the campaign was a good new perk too.

[koiiiji]

hiii! i really love your windbreaker scenarios😭❤️ can i request a hyuk kwon scenarios with friends to lovers trope, if you don't mind? thank you so much!!!

AHHH U READING MY THOUGHTS! i had it in my drafts, but already posted!! so here like a short scenario in same timeline, just take it as what happened in gaps here

author note ; seminar week in uni hits hard, but random tequila shots with flatmates in the middle of the week hits harder.... but don't worry i played through and won this fking hangover and dropping this post now😌🫦

warnings ; fluff, cute hyeok, not proofed

(bro is the type of guy who will show off a trick on his bike he hasn't trained enough yet and end up falling)

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friday evening started out great - all the lectures were over, the weather was beautiful outside, the sun had not yet disappeared behind the horizon and was giving the city its last rays. this week you didn’t miss a single lecture, and in general today you were quite active in class, you also agreed with your classmates to meet next week to complete a group project, so your socially active duty for today has been completed and you can calmly relax on weekend.

entering cozy apartment, you set down your bag and kicked off shoes, ready to delve into usual routine of household chores. you took a slow shower, completed all the steps in the skin care routine and now you wanted to start that series that you had been putting off for a long time when you heard a soft knock sounded at the door, interrupting your thoughts. curious, you opened the door to find Kwon standing there, with his usual calm and relaxed face. his presence caught you off guard a little, your heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. "hey..." he began, his voice a gentle murmur. "i was wondering if you'd like to go to that shop near our building with me. i wanted that banana drink you recommend me recently... and i thought you spent whole day in uni, so we could take a little walk together... you know to catch some fresh air and stuff..." your initial surprise quickly gave way to excitement, as your lips curling into a grin. despite his usual reserved demeanor, Kwon's offer filled you with pleasant a sense of warmth, joy and anticipation. "sure, i’d love to," you replied, grabbing a jacket and slipping on her shoes.

together, you ventured out into the cool evening air of Seoul, the streets alive with the hustle and bustle of city life. As you walked side by side, you couldn't help but steal glances at Hyeok, marveling at the way his stoic facade softened in the glow of the streetlights. small conversation about everything flowed effortlessly as you made your way to the shop, sharing stories and laughter along the way. but little did you know that Kwon had something else up his sleeve, a secret he was eager to reveal. of course you notice bike he took with him, but you genuinely thought he was so obsessed with these races and bicycles that he just wouldn't get off his bike.

upon reaching an empty playground nestled within a quiet corner of the neighborhood, Kwon's eyes twinkled with mischief as he hopped on his bicycle, a gleam of excitement dancing in his gaze. "watch this," he murmured, his voice tinged with excitement as he prepared to demonstrate a new trick he had been practicing. however, fate had other plans in store, and as he attempted to execute the trick, a misstep caused him to lose his balance, sending him tumbling to the ground with a muffled thud. your heart felt like it skipped a beat as you rushed to his side, concern etched across your features. ignoring the pain coursing through his knee, Hyeok tried to brush off the accident with some kind of incomprehensible emotion. but you saw through his facade, your heart aching at the sight of him in distress. without a moment's hesitation, you took charge, guiding him to a nearby bench and inspecting his injury with gentle hands. rummaging through your bag, you retrieved a pack of cute adhesive bandages adorned with playful images of bananas, a small smile tugging at your lips. with utmost care, you cleaned his wound and carefully applied the bandages, your touch felt so tender that Hyeok could feel goosebumps down his spine.

in that vulnerable moment, when he saw you on your knees before him as you tended to his injury with unwavering kindness, Kwon felt a surge of emotions wash over him, his heart swelling with a newfound warmth. as he looked into your eyes, he realized with startling clarity that what he felt for you already went beyond mere friendship.

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[daytaker]

Can I request a fic where MC is sort of a pathological liar? and they lie about stuff that ultimately doesn't matter, but they can't help it? Also, if it could be Mammon x mc centric that would be amazing, but it doesn't have to be. I love your writing!! bye bye

POV: You are cldhart08. You forgot you sent this to me. Two full months later, you get a notification that daytaker replied to your ask.

Pants on Fire

Ships: (Lowkey) Mammon/Reader, Beel & Reader Word Count: ~1.1k CW: lying (general), lying about medical conditions, bullying Mammon

So you're a bit of a liar.

"I was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck. I wasn't breathing or anything, and my dad actually fainted.

...Or a lot of a liar.

"Did you know my second cousin actually dated Selena Gomez for awhile?"

One might even go so far as to call your lying 'pathological'.

"I actually have a severe tree nut allergy, so I'll pass on that. Thanks though."

There was never any logic to it. The lies just came out. You never felt guilty about it, because no one got hurt. So there wasn't really anything to worry about, right?

Wrong.

You sit on the floor outside of Mammon's room, hugging your knees, when a big, hulking form slumps down the wall onto the floor beside you.

"Oh... Hey, Beel," you say. You're not even trying to pretend as if nothing's wrong.

"Hello." He looks at Mammon's door, then at you. "Did you knock?"

You sigh, then demonstrate to Beel what happens when you knock on Mammon's door. A muffled voice comes from inside.

"Who is it?"

"It's me," you reply.

"I already told you! If you're a scummy, lyin' human, you can go eat nuts for all I care! I'm never talkin' to you again so you might as well stop wastin' both our times!"

"He's talking to you now," Beel points out, and it's hard to argue with his logic.

"Who the hell was that? Beel? Fine, then I'll only talk to you to tell you to fluff off, how's that?"

You rub your eyes tiredly and Beel leans in a little, speaking lower so Mammon can't hear him. "If you just leave, he'll come looking for you in about ten or twenty minutes."

"If I leave, he's going to think I'm not sorry." Hugging your knees, you shake your head. "I am sorry."

"Is this about the thing at the student council meeting and the nuts?"

You shudder at the memory.

----

You hadn't even thought about it at the time.

You never particularly liked nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, chestnuts... not even peanuts outside their butter form. So when Mammon asked you why you declined to try a rather nut-heavy dish prepared by Barbatos himself, you simply told him you were allergic. "If I even get a whiff of them, my body goes into anaphylactic shock."

"What the hell's that?"

"Basically, my immune system goes haywire, and if I don't get the right kind of shot in the first few minutes, I'm a goner."

At the time, Mammon had seemed impressed by how close you skated to death, risking your life by casually allowing tree nuts to continue existing around you. And you? You'd enjoyed the brief attention.

At the time.

-----

That was weeks ago, so it was far from your mind as you accepted some human world trail mix from Beel while you sat, bored out of your wits, through another student council meeting. You picked out most of the nuts, of course, but in the end, you swallowed the imperfectly sorted handful.

And Mammon lost it.

"THERE WERE NUTS IN THAT!"

Diavolo, who had been in the middle of speaking, stuttered to a halt as everyone looked over to Mammon, who was simultaneously cradling you and screaming obscenities at an utterly bewildered Beelzebub. In the moment, you'd sort of frozen up and said nothing. Mammon...

Mammon was crying.

He was crying and yelling ridiculous instructions to everyone in the room and getting extremely angry when the others didn't seem to see what the issue was.

"They're gonna go into analgesic shock and die if we don't do somethin' fast! Do none of you bird brains get that?!"

He begged you to tell him how to get that shot you needed, that... what was it, an Apple Pen?

...It was several minutes before you were able to get the truth out.

Force the truth out, more like. Telling that truth made you almost wish you really had gone into anaphylactic shock. That seemed like an easier way to go than looking Mammon in the eye, in front of all his brothers and Diavolo, and explain that you didn't actually have that allergy. That you'd lied.

And of course, of course, the onus fell on Mammon for believing it.

Satan and Asmo sighed at how someone so stupid could function. Levi posted on Devilgram about how you'd epically trolled Mammon. Lucifer scolded Mammon for his overreaction, and Belphie just glowered at Mammon for waking him up with all his shrieking.

And you, you sort of...said nothing.

-----

"Ah," Beel says, nodding. "You feel bad that you made him look stupid."

"No," you groaned, frustrated at your inability to articulate exactly what it was that felt so off. "It's... He really thought I was going to die. I scared him. And then everyone treated him like a gullible idiot. So...I guess I made him look stupid, but..."

Beel stares at you. His expression is blank, but in a soft sort of way. It's oddly comforting.

"He got made into a laughing stock because I told him a lie, and he reacted to it....the way someone would react if they thought someone they really cared about was in danger. I feel guilty for lying and worrying him, and I feel worse that I just let everyone tear into him like always, when all he did was try to take care of me."

The door you're leaning against swings open behind you and you fall flat on your back in Mammon's doorway. The demon stares down at you with a mixture of righteous contempt and a flustered embarrassment that was so painfully typical of Mammon.

"Yeah! And you should feel guilty! You're a real asshole, ya know that?"

You blink up at him and offer a weak smile. "...Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."

Mammon folds his arms. "You really think you can just come snivelin' up to me and beg for forgiveness, and I'll just hand it to ya?"

Beel looks between you and Mammon, watching the conversation unfold with the same mild interest he'd show while staring at a somewhat unimpressive exhibit at the zoo.

"...Well, today just so happens to be your lucky day," Mammon continues. "The Great Mammon, the big guy himself, has decided to forgive your tiny mortal soul for bein' a total jackass and liar. You're welcome. Don't expect it to happen again."

Still lying on your back, you grin at Mammon. "Thanks, Great Mammon."

The demon clears his throat and looks away. "Anyway. Our turn to make dinner tonight, so..." With that, he walked right past you and darted down the stairs.

Typical Mammon.

[starsreminisce]

The bonus chapters do provide context and throwbacks to the main books, and it's frustrating to think they wouldn't impact the overall story. After all, the ACOMAF bonus chapter cemented Nessian's relationship and added depth to their story. SJM excels at weaving these elements seamlessly. Therefore, it feels like a step backward to argue that Elain will face a choice when the bonus chapter clearly shows Azriel's feelings for her and his developing friendship with Gwyn.

Elain demonstrably showed interest in Azriel, but he rejected her. Rhys reminded Azriel that Elain and Lucien still have a bond, and Lucien has the right to defend it. Elain returned his necklace, which Azriel then gave to Gwyn.

Both ACOSF bonus chapters establish context. Azriel's chapter clarifies his sullen behavior at the solstice, and Gwyn starts calling him "Shadowsinger" after he reveals the title. Feyre's chapter explains their choice of the name Nyx for their son.

Therefore, it's confusing why SJM would regress Elain and Azriel's interactions. The bonus chapter clearly showed Azriel hurting Elain to the point of returning his gift. Additionally, it focused on his growing investment in Gwyn. Elain's book likely won't start with a love triangle involving Lucien and Azriel. The bonus chapter suggests Elain has already made her choice.

Ideally, Elain's book will explore her reasons for accepting Azriel's rejection and delve into her feelings for her true mate. Most importantly, we should see Elain stand up for herself against Azriel. This is the third time he's acted without considering her, similar to how Tomas motivated Nesta to overcome her fear.

ACOMAF Bonus Chapter:

He didn’t care. Didn’t give a shit as she rose up on her toes, her mouth nearing his— Pain exploded between his legs, knocking the breath from his chest as that gods- damned knee of hers indeed found its mark. Cassian staggered back, swearing viciously. She snorted, looking down at him as he fell on his ass into an armchair, clutching his stomach, trying to reorder his brain— “You’re all the same,” she said, imperious as the night and cold as the dawn. “Perhaps being an immortal makes you predictable.”

In ACOMAF:

I’d had one break from Cassian’s brutal training—just one morning, when he’d flown to the human realm to see if my sisters had heard from the queens and deliver another letter from Rhys to be sent to them. I assumed seeing Nesta went about as poorly as could be imagined, because my lesson the following morning was longer and harder than it’d been in previous days. I’d asked what, exactly, Nesta had said to him to get under his skin so easily. But Cassian had only snarled and told me to mind my own business, and that my family was full of bossy, know-it-all females.

In ACOSAF:

He didn’t know why the hell he cared. Why he’d bothered. Even from the start. Even after she’d kneed him in the balls that one afternoon at her father’s house.

ACOMAF Bonus Chapter:

No, she had not been with any male, Fae or human. Tomas had wanted to, and she . . . some part of her had known no future lay with him. Knew about his hateful father, and that he did nothing to prevent the man from beating his mother. She had barely let Tomas kiss her, and that day when she had ended it, he’d . . . She swallowed, shutting out the memory of what he’d said and done. The sound of her tearing dress. No—it hadn’t gone that far, but . . . The blind terror in those moments he’d tried, before she’d screamed and clawed her way free. And never told anyone. Something must have shown on her face, in her scent. Because his annoyance vanished—no, it shifted. Into something else, something . . . Rage. That’s what stilled Cassian’s face. Pure, burning rage.

In ACOSF:

Three days afterward, Nesta broke it off with Tomas. Enraged, he’d launched himself at her, pinning her against the enormous woodpile stacked along the barn wall. Spiteful whore, he’d growled. You think you’re better than me? Acting like a queen when you haven’t got shit. She’d never forget the sound of her dress tearing, the greed in his eyes as his hands pawed at her skirts, trying to raise them as he fumbled with the buckle on his belt.

[niki-phoria]

hello :) can i req that you write a fic based on either txt or enhypen calling their older male s/o when they feel down or upset about something that happened during their day? tysm!

⋆｡°✩ txt reaction - their bf comforting them after a bad day

includes: older male reader (use of hyung), established relationship, tried to make these as different as possible, chose txt for this bc i have a few other enha reqs lol

a/n: thank you for requesting !! i hope you like it :))

male reader (he/him pronouns)

requests open !! read my rules first

⋆｡°✩ yeonjun

(word count 339)

yeonjun sighs, letting the cool concrete wall behind him soothe his aching muscles. he slides down, pulling his knees up to his chest. he sighs, letting his eyes flutter closed as he enjoys the fleeting silence. 

he startles when there’s a gentle knock at the door. he scrambles to his feet when you crack it open just enough to slip into the practice room. “hyung?”

“hey,” you smile. he’s quick to pull you into a hug, wrapping his arms around you. he buries his face into the crook of you neck as he lets out a content sigh, letting you support his body weight. “bad day? you’re usually not this clingy.”

yeonjun hums before he pulls away just enough to look into your eyes. “i’ve felt… off all day. i was just about to call.”

“i’m glad i came then.” 

you let him cling to you for a few more minutes before he gently pulls away. you bring a hand up to gently cup his cheek, brushing your thumb against his soft skin. yeonjun smiles as you pull him down into a kiss. “come on,” you whisper as you wrap your arm around his waist, guiding him to the center of the room. 

“what are you doing?” yeonjun chuckles as you rush over to grab his phone, connecting it to the speakers and putting on the playlist specifically for dance lives. he recognizes the familiar melody of their latest comeback as the noise echoes throughout the room as he chuckles. you stand beside him in front of the mirror, taking his hand into yours. 

“we’re dancing,” you smile. “show me the steps.”

yeonjun shakes his head, chuckling as he ghosts his hands against your hips. his movements are slow and careful as he demonstrates each step. “one, two, three, four.”

you copy him as best as you can - even with your subpar footwork. you focus on yeonjun’s bright smile in the mirror in front of you, a familiar feeling of warmth and love washing over you whenever he laughs.

⋆｡°✩ soobin

(word count 315)

soobin sighs, letting his eyes flutter closed as he finally collapses onto his bed. he lets his eyes shut for a second. every part of his body aches and feels stiff with the tension he’s been carrying around for what feels like weeks. 

the momentary silence is broken by a gentle knock against his hotel door. soobin resists the urge to roll his eyes as he forces himself to get up and open it. his eyes widen when he opens the door to you. “hyung?”

“hi,” you smile. he immediately steps forward to wrap his arms around you. his grip is tight as he jumps into your arms. 

“what are you doing here?”

“yeonjun called me,” you whisper, rubbing a gentle hand against his back. “he said you were having a rough time so they flew me out here.”

soobin smiles slightly as he steps back just enough to tug you into the room with him. “i’m fine.”

“you’re not. your shoulders are tense and i can almost see the stress lines on your forehead. binnie,” you whisper, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. “just let me take care of you.” 

he glances away before finally relenting with a small sigh. “okay.”

you pull him into a quick kiss before guiding him back to the bed in the center of the room. “lie down.” soobin complies, rolling over to lay on his stomach. you move to lay over him, gently rubbing your hands against his back. he lets out a content sigh as you move your hands to massage his shoulders, slowly releasing the built-up tension. 

“i love you hyung,” he sighs, reaching over to grab your hand. he pulls it over to press a kiss against your knuckles before letting go. 

you stifle a chuckle as he lets go so you can continue to massage his back. “i love you too, binnie.”

⋆｡°✩ beomgyu

(word count 332)

you let out an annoyed sigh when your phone rings once again. you squint down at the device to read the time - 14.54. sunlight seeps in through your windows despite the closed blinds, surrounding your bedroom. beomgyu groans from beside you. his arm gingerly resting around your waist tightens slightly as he pulls you closer to your chest.

“gyu,” you chuckle. “i need to answer my phone.” 

he huffs but relents, shifting just enough so you can reach over to grab it. you prop yourself up with your elbow as you answer the call, stifling a yawn when you do. “hello?”

“y/n,” soobin’s voice comes through clearly from the other side. “have you heard from beomgyu?”

you furrow your eyebrows, fully sitting up in bed. “yeah, he’s right here. what do you mean?”

jay lets out a small relieved sigh in response. “he’s been having a rough day. he said something about needing you before he grabbed his jacket and ran off a few hours ago. i was just getting worried.”

“sorry, that’s probably my fault,” you chuckle. “he said he was having a bad day so i told him to turn his phone off.”

“no it’s okay. i’m glad he came to you. sleep well, y/n.”

“you too.”

you set your phone aside as soon as you hang up from the call. beside you, beomgyu leans over to tug you to lay back down. you stifle a laugh as he pushes you over to lay on your chest. his body weight pins you down against your bed, keeping you firmly in place. “who was it?”

“soobin,” you reach up to play with his hair, twisting the strands between your fingers. “he was wondering where you were.”

beomgyu simply hums in response. his eyes remain closed and his grip loosens slightly as he slowly falls back into a restful sleep. you lean down to press a kiss against his forehead. “i love you, gyu.”

“i love you too hyung.”

⋆｡°✩ taehyun

(word count 385)

a gentle knock on your door interrupts you from the middle of cooking dinner. you jump slightly at the sudden noise before reaching over to turn the heat from your stove down to answer the door. you cock your head in confusion when you find your boyfriend standing on the other side. he’s wearing an oversized hoodie - one of yours that he stole - and a pair of loose sweatpants. his hair is slightly damp, likely from a shower he took before coming over. 

he gives you an apologetic smile at your confusion. “tae?”

��hi hyung.” you step aside to let him in before locking the door behind him. “i’m sorry, i should’ve called.”

“no, it’s okay. how was practice?” taehyun sighs, setting his bag down on your couch. “oh, that bad?”

he walks over, wrapping his arms around your waist. he buries his head into the crook of your neck as you turn the heat back on. “i’m just having an off day.”

you hum in acknowledgement, turning around to pull him into a sweet kiss. “okay. well, dinner’s almost ready. you can help me finish up here and then we can watch movies and cuddle.”

“that sounds nice,” taehyun smiles. his hands ghost against your waist as you finish sautéeing the food. taehyun reaches up into your cabinets to grab two plates as you separate the food out into two different portions. 

you smile as you turn around, pressing a quick kiss against his cheek. “go pick the movie and find some blankets. i’ll bring the food over.” 

taehyun steps back slightly, watching as you finish garnishing the food. you cock your head at him in confusion at the small, lovestruck smile on his face. you stifle a small chuckle as you walk over to place the plates down on your coffee table. “what?”

taehyun is quick to follow you, shaking his head as he sits down on the couch beside you. “nothing.”

“if it’s ‘nothing’ then why are you looking at me like i’m the reason the sun is in the sky?”

he chuckles as you snuggle yourself beside him. “i’m just… so in love with you.”

you shift to look at him, smiling at the way his smile grows before you pull him into yet another kiss. “i love you too, tae.”

⋆｡°✩ huening kai

(word count 277) he's so KDLNDSLKDSN i'm in love with him omg

your phone vibrating against your desk catches your attention as it cuts through the previous silence. you reach over to grab it, furrowing your eyebrows as kai’s contact photo lights up the screen. you swipe to answer the call before raising it to your ear. “hello?”

“hyung,” kai replies. his voice is quiet and raspy - you can hear it through the call. 

“is everything okay? i thought you were at practice.”

“i was- i am, it’s just…” he sighs. 

“kai, you can tell me anything. you know that.”

“i’m okay. it’s just been a rough day. soobin-hyung said i should call you.” he takes a shaky breath before continuing. “i don’t really want to talk about it.”

“okay,” you whisper. “we don’t have to talk.”

“can you… come over?”

“yeah, of course.” you reach over to shut your computer before slipping on a random pair of shoes and grabbing your car keys. “i’ll be right there.”

the drive feels longer than it should despite the desolate streets. you shove your phone into your pocket as you run up the steps until you find kai sitting inside of an empty practice room. he startles slightly when you push the door open before standing up to let you pull him into a hug. 

you let him cling to you for what feels like hours. he rests his head against your chest, listening to the rhythmic sound of your heart beating before leaning down to tilt your head up and pull you into a sweet kiss. “thank you hyung,” he whispers. 

you simply lean down to press a kiss against his forehead. “i love you, kai.”

“i love you too.”

[chaotic-orphan]

A Month of Whump: Winter Whumperland Day 8 - John McClane

Russian roulette // forced to watch // held hostage

LISTEN DIE HARD IS MY FAVOURITE MOVIE AND THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT HOW HE IS ALWAYS COVERED IN BLOOD THAT GAVE SEVEN-YEAR-OLD-ME WHUMPERFLIES OKAY!!!

Also I know it’s late, but time is relative, okay?

*~*~*~*~*

“I knew you’d come,” Whumper said with a smile, but Whumpee wasn't paying attention to Whumper. Instead their gaze was locked onto Caretaker who was being held by two of Whumper's henchmen behind where Whumper sat. Whumpee swallowed as they watched realisation dawn on Caretaker’s face. Black blood dried from his left nostril, caked and flaking down his lips. He had dark red bags under his eyes, that contrasted with his too pale face. A giant black bruise took up the bulk of his left cheek, his bottom lip split open.

He barely even looked like Caretaker anymore. Just a shell of who Caretaker was. It had only been two days… the guilt flooded Whumpee the moment Caretaker met their eyes.

“Whumpee no! No!” Caretaker yelled, wild green eyes angry and glaring helpless at Whumpee as he struggled against two of Whumper’s henchmen holding him. “I told you to run!”

“I couldn’t leave you here,” Whumpee said, voice quiet and cold, switching their gaze to glare at Whumper. “Not with them.”

“I do love a good reunion,” Whumper said, standing to greet Whumpee. Whumpee was stiff as Whumper walked towards them. Caretaker was anything but, struggling furiously in the corner his hands tied behind his back, the henchmen struggling to keep Caretaker down.

“Don’t touch them!” Caretaker growled, then suddenly threw his weight to the left and knocked one of the Henchmen into the wall. Caretaker was about to do the same when he saw Whumper grab Whumpee by the throat and slam them back against the wall.

Caretaker froze in place, half hunched ready to pounce on the other henchman but all he could do was look at Whumper’s hand around Whumpee’s throat.

Whumper glanced back at Caretaker knowingly, while Whumpee glared at Whumper and grabbed their wrist with both hands.

“Caretaker, do I have to explain to you again? Who holds the power here, do you need a demonstration old friend?”

“Whumper—”

Whumper sucked in a breath and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Wrong answer, Caretaker.”

“Wait, Whumper!”

Whumper blocked Caretaker’s view of Whumpee with his body, smiling down at Whumpee like this was a professional hazard.

Whumpee threw their body forward and got two inches of leverage before Whumper hummed and slammed them back, their head smacking off the wall.

“Whumper! Stop!”

Whumper’s right hook connected with Whumpee’s cheek and they cried out. Whumpee could still hear Caretaker’s struggles behind Whumper, even over the sound of their own as they tried to push Whumper off of them.

Another punch went to the bridge of Whumpee’s nose, then their jaw, then their lips and then again against their cheek. Whumper released Whumpee’s throat with the final punch and let Whumpee slid down the wall sideways, cradling a hand to their cheek.

He didn’t let Whumpee slide all the way down, grabbing them in the middle of their hoodie and half holding them up.

“Now, Caretaker, is that enough blood for you to learn your mistake or do we need more?”

“You’re a fucking bastard, Whumper!” Caretaker yelled, grunting with the effort trying to get free of the hands on him.

Whumper looked down at Whumpee apologetically. Then he grabbed Whumpee’s head and slammed it against his knee. Whumpee fell to the ground crying out and then gasped when Whumper slammed a foot on their ribs.

“Hurt me! Hurt me, not them!” Caretaker raged, helpless tears gathering behind his eyes. Whumper pressed his heel down harder on Whumpee’s ribs who blubbered, before turning their head as they gurgled a spit bubble of blood before spitting out a glob onto the floor. “Whumper please!”

“Ahh!” Whumper exclaimed happily, immediately taking his foot off of Whumpee’s chest and turning to face Caretaker. “There we go, and they say you can’t teach an old dog new manners.”

“Tricks—” Whumpee corrected, slowly getting to all fours.

Whumper turned and kicked Whumpee to the ground again without looking at them, instead drinking in Caretaker’s struggles.

“Mmm, I have some tricks, Caretaker. You’d know all about that wouldn’t you? I learned some of them from you after all,” Whumper said, something simmering behind the words, looking directly into Caretaker’s fury filled eyes. “Y’know, Whumpee, there was a time when Caretaker protected me this fiercely. A time before you came along.”

“It’s not Whumpee’s fault you turned into a psycho, Whumper.”

Whumper’s nostrils flared as he smiled. “Why, Caretaker, do you want to take the credit for it?”

Caretaker didn’t say anything, just stared at the face of his best friend and saw a stranger looking back at him. Whumper hmphed softly at Caretaker’s silence then turned back to Whumpee who was on all fours again.

Whumper leaned down and grabbed the back of Whumpee’s hoodie, dragging them to their feet with ease even as Whumpee struggled.

“That’s it, it’s alright, come on now, we’re going to play a game. That’s it, settle down now,” Whumper said shoving Whumpee down into a chair. Whumpee fixed their hoodie with a huff, wiping the blood from their nose on the back of their hand. They never took their eyes off Whumper as he walked around the small square table, only big enough to fit two people sitting at it. Whumper took the chair opposite Whumpee where he was sitting when Whumpee first arrived.

Whumper grinned at Whumpee when he finally sat down.

“God, you look so much like an old friend of ours,” Whumper said, looking over his shoulder at Caretaker. “Do you remember Friend? They always had that wildness to them, I only noticed now with the smeared blood and the murderous glint in your eyes. Caretaker was the one to put them down,” Whumper said turning his attention back to Whumpee and winking.

“I don’t care,” said Whumpee, voice cracking after being strangled. “Me for Caretaker, that’s the deal.”

“Whumpee—”

Whumper clicked his fingers in the air and wagged his finger at Caretaker’s protest. “Caretaker I swear to god I will gag you if you interrupt us again. Do you understand? The last word I want from you is yes or no.”

Caretaker let out a begrudging yes, and Whumper smiled again. “Good. Danny, can you get something to gag him with, I feel like we’ll need it before we are finished here.”

Whumper turned his attention to Whumpee again, a dazzling smile on his face as he interlocked his fingers on the table.

“Now, Whumpee. Your deal is a good one, however, I don’t like it because it’s only half good. Either I lose Caretaker or I keep Caretaker but that means I don’t one of you.”

“You can keep one of us though,” Whumpee argued.

Whumper smiled. “Yes. I know,” he replied calmly, then leaned forward, eyes twinkling with mischief. “But I have a better deal.”

Whumpee’s eyes flashed to Caretaker behind Whumper who shook his head before settling on Whumper again.

“Okay. What’s your deal?”

“My deal is far more favourable for both sides, Whumpee. I propose a game… a game of chicken you could say. If you win, I’ll let you and Caretaker go no strings attached.”

Whumpee’s heart pounded against their chest, hope fluttering it faster, harder, louder. They glanced at Caretaker again, whose suspicious eyes were focused on Whumper.

Whumpee swallowed. “And if you win?”

“If I win I get both of you.”

“No,” Caretaker said immediately. “No. Absolutely not, Whumpee walk away. Whumper—”

“Ah! Danny, just in time, shut Caretaker up would you?”

Whumpee stood up but a hand on each of their shoulders forced them to sit back down again. “Whumpee, don’t! Whatever it is don— argh— mmph!”

Whumpee shot up again but was forced back down and the chair pushed in further to the table keeping them sitting. The table edge pressed painfully against their ribs.

Whumper smiled at Whumpee. “Whumpee, I could just as easily take you both right now by force. You’re outnumbered. I could have killed you when you walked in the door but I didn’t, did I? Do you know why I didn’t Whumpee?”

Whumpee swallowed, eyes going back to Caretaker who huffed furiously around the gag.

“Because you’re a fucking monster?” Whumpee asked, raising their brows and dragging their gaze back to Whumper’s stupid smiling face.

“No. It’s because I invited you here for a negotiation in good faith. If you like we don’t have to play and I can just take you both—”

“No,” Whumpee said quickly at the same time Caretaker mumbled out something like a no behind Whumper.

Whumper smiled and sat back into his chair, smile turned smirk now. “So you agree to play then?”

“Yes,” Whumpee said again, not looking at Caretaker who cried out against the gag again.

“Good,” Whumper said. “Very good. Here’s the game.”

Whumper pulled out a revolver that Whumpee had only seen Whumper use once. Whumpee flinched back but didn’t go very far. Whumper grinned as he cocked the gun at Whumpee and Caretaker screamed and struggled with renewed energy against the Henchmen holding him back.

Whumper let out a soft laugh. “Just kidding. God, Caretaker, it’s so easy to rile you up.”

Whumper held the hammer and pulled the trigger before slowly lowering it until the gun wasn’t live anymore. Then he pushed his thumb against the ejector rod and took the round out of the chamber. Whumper then slowly turned the cylinder, and repeated this until all six bullets dropped rhythmically onto the table between them. The entire time Whumper kept eye contact with Whumpee, a soft smirk on his face as he watched Whumpee swallow back the lump in their throat.

“—umph—r—nn—” Caretaker screamed against the gag until the last bullet fell from the cylinder and into Whumper’s awaiting hand.

“You know this game Whumpee?” Whumper asked, cocking an eyebrow at Whumpee.

Whumpee’s throat was suddenly dry, so they swallowed again, before they replied nervously: “I thought you said we were going to play chicken.”

“A version of it,” Whumper said with a shrug. “Russian roulette. Caretaker, Friend and I used to play it all the time as kids.”

Caretaker had tired themselves out, now he stood limp in the hold of the henchmen, glaring daggers at Whumper. Even his stare didn’t have any real bite left to it. Whumpee looked at him with surprise written all over their face.

“Back when Caretaker was fun,” Whumper said, sliding one bullet back into the cylinder and spinning it with the palm of their hand before stopping it and sliding the cylinder back into place. Whumper grinned at Whumpee as he drew the hammer back, loading the chamber.

“I’m a good sport, Whumpee,” said Whumper handing Whumpee the gun. “You can go first.”

Whumpee went to grab the gun from Whumper but froze when they heard another gun cocking in the room. Whumper’s smile turned razor sharp.

“Just in case you get any ideas… if you try to kill me, Caretaker dies too.”

“I got it,” Whumpee said with an edge in their voice. Sick of all the threats Whumper had made in the last five minutes.

“Mmmm. Eager! Wonderful. I knew you’d be an interesting games partner.”

Caretaker cried out when Whumpee put the gun to their own head, swallowing hard. A shiver ran down Whumpee’s spine as they felt the weight of the gun in their hand.

If the shot was in the chamber they would be dead.

This would be it.

They never imagined they’d die from a stupid bet.

God this was so stupid, what were they doing?

Whumpee’s hand started to shake as the realisation slowly dawned on them. They looked at Caretaker who shook his head furiously at them, telling them not to do it.

Whumpee licked their lips trying to get some moisture back in their dry mouth enough to speak. “If I don’t do this, Whumper gets us anyways,” it was an explanation. An excuse that fell from their lips. “Thank you for everything.”

Caretaker cried out again when Whumpee pulled the trigger.

They let out the breath they were holding with a gasp as they dropped the gun to the table, trembling all over. Wild eyes went to Caretaker who had his eyes closed until he heard the gun clatter.

Whumper laughed and grabbed Whumpee’s shaking hands. “Look at that! That adrenaline spike, Whumpee! That’s how you know you’re alive. I barely get it anymore. Watch.”

As soon as the words left his lips, Whumper had the gun in his hand, while his other still held Whumpee’s and pulled the trigger without even blinking.

That stunned Whumpee more than their own turn had.

Whumper grinned and put the gun back on the table, then held out their hand. Whumpee’s eyes went down following Whumper’s movement but true to their word, not even a muscle twitched in Whumper’s hands.

“See why it’s fun now, Whumpee?” Whumper asked again, and Whumpee’s mouth went dry again, realising it was their turn. Again.

They had a one in four chance.

One in four.

25%.

Whumpee didn’t want to bet their life on the one in four chance that when they pulled the trigger they would die.

And yet, after seeing Whumper do it so casually, Whumpee found the familiar weight of the cool metal revolver in their hand once again. Caretaker mumbled out a pathetic “nnnuh” against the gag, but this time a strange calm overcame Whumpee as they pressed the barrel against their head.

They found Caretaker’s hopeless eyes and offered a smile.

“One in four. 25% chance I die, Caretaker. 75% chance I live.”

“Look at you, Whumpee,” Whumper cooed. “Playing the odds. I am so happy you decided to join me today. You are magnificent.”

Whumpee didn’t close their eyes this time.

They pulled the trigger.

The hammer shot against empty air and the recoil sent Whumpee’s hand back away from their head, letting their hand follow the movement to place the heavy hunk of metal onto the table.

“Safe again,” Whumper said, clicking his tongue against his teeth. Then he took the gun and Caretaker cried into the gag.

“-nuf! -umpr- s’enuf!”

Whumper paused this time. His eyes going to Whumpee but looking passed them.

“Someone take their gag off would you?”

Whumpee watched as someone drew the cloth down from around Caretaker’s lips and he let out a sigh of relief.

“Whumper stop this. Please. I can’t watch this. I can’t watch you die!”

Whumper didn’t move for a moment. “You mean Whumpee. You can’t watch Whumpee die.”

“I mean either of you,” Caretaker pleaded, voice genuine. “Please. Don’t do this.”

Whumper arched a brow at Whumpee. “Whumpee. Do you forfeit?”

“No,” said Whumpee. Whumper smiled.

“Sorry Caretaker. No can do.”

Whumper pulled the trigger.

Whumpee started forward, their entire body jerking at the sound. Whumper grinned at Whumpee and put the gun back on the table.

“What’re the chances Whumpee, eh?”

“Stop this! Stop! Whumpee! This is madness. It’s 50/50, you can’t logic your way out of that. Either you die or you don’t, please. Don’t. Whumpee please. Whumper! Listen to me, this is crazy.”

“I will gag you again, Caretaker. This is Whumpee’s decision.”

The words seemed so far away, muted from the blood drumming against Whumpee’s skull. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“Fuck,” Whumpee breathed softly. Whumper’s eyes glistened when Whumpee raised their head to meet Whumper’s gaze. “You let me go first.”

“I let you go first,” Whumper repeated with a self-satisfied sigh. His grin grew to a knowing smirk, knowing this was how it would turn out all things going well. “You should have played the odds from the beginning Whumpee.”

Whumpee swallowed, eyes searching for something, something in the back of their brain. Some way they could still win, get Caretaker and themselves out of this.

Whumper let them go first. They were an idiot. The only way they could have won was to let Whumper go first, then if the game played out as it did and they came to the second last bullet Whumper would have had to stop the game and let Whumpee and Caretaker go.

Fuck!

FUCK!

Whumpee reached for the gun. Caretaker cried out. Whumpee savoured the look of surprise on Whumper’s face.

“Fifty-fifty,” said Whumpee, not trying to hide how bad their hand shook as they pressed the cool metal to their temple.

“Whumpee!”

“You’re bluffing,” Whumper said with a smile, but there was doubt behind his words. A game of chicken, Whumper had said. The game only really started when there was two rounds left unfired.

“Either I get free Caretaker and I, or I die and Caretaker—”

“Gets taken in by me,” Whumper said with a laugh. Whumpee narrowed their eyes at him. “Come on Whumpee, if you’re gone I have to take my anger out on someone.”

“You said we’re playing a game of chicken,” Whumpee argued. “If I pull the trigger and die then I didn’t lose.”

“Hmph,” Whumper mused, and maybe it was the crazy talking but Whumpee thought they sounded impressed. "If you're dead how would you know I'd keep my word?"

Whumpee narrowed their eyes and opened their mouth to reply, but Caretaker was the one to break the silence. “Whumpee, Whumpee look at me! Look at me!”

Whumpee fought to keep their gaze trained on Whumper’s face as he chewed on Whumpee’s words.

“Whumpee!”

Whumpee looked at Caretaker with sympathetic eyes. Caretaker had tear marks trailing down his cheeks which stirred up a wealth of guilt in Whumpee’s gut.

“Don’t you dare sacrifice your life for me.”

Whumpee swallowed, trying and failing to keep their voice even. “It’s my life—”

“If you do this and you die, you’re fine! What about me?! I’ll have to carry that guilt—”

“It’s my decision.”

“Really building the suspense here, Whumpee,” Whumper mused, “I’m on the edge of my seat. What a performance! You can pull that trigger now and die, or you can pull it and force my hand to let you both go. What’s worse Whumpee? Dying or living under my care again, hmm?”

Whumpee hesitated.

Whumper continued, “after all the lengths and hoops Caretaker had to jump through to get you out, you just walk back into my arms. Could you live with that guilt Whumpee?”

“Don’t listen to him, Whumpee,” Caretaker said. “He’s lying.”

Whumper’s smile was knowing as he spoke again, “we both know I’m not lying Whumpee. Caretaker’s fate was sealed from the moment he betrayed me, and he wanted you to be out. To be free from me. You come back here, you beat me at my own game you both walk free, the only thing holding you back from this happily ever after is that trigger there, with your index finger resting on it.”

“Whumpee don’t! Please. It’s not worth it.”

“Do it Whumpee. I know you want to.”

Whumpee’s hand moved faster than they thought it would as they aimed the revolver at the henchman with the gun on Caretaker. Whumper laughed at the turn of events as the henchman behind Whumpee grabbed the revolver and snatched it from their hand, keeping Whumpee restrained all the while.

“No! You fuck! Get off me—” Whumpee cried as the henchman handed the gun to Whumper. Whumper took the revolver in his hand with a small surprised laugh.

“I knew you had it in you Whumpee, but to be fair, I don’t think I would’ve pulled the trigger myself. Let’s see, shall we if you would have died or not.”

Whumper turned their body and pointed the revolver between Caretaker’s ear and the wall and squeezed the trigger. Caretaker didn’t flinch.

Whumpee did.

The chamber was empty.

The chamber was empty... Whumpee could have done it. They could have freed Caretaker, they could have freed themselves if only they had the fucking nerve of it.

“Whumpee,” Caretaker said. “It’s okay Whumpee. I wouldn’t have done it either, Whumpee. Whumpee?”

“Were they all empty?” Whumpee asked, voice blank and devoid of any emotion.

Whumper smiled. “Of course they weren’t. Watch.”

Whumper pulled the trigger again and this time Caretaker flinched and fell as the shot went off right at his ear, knocking his centre of balance off. Caretaker fell like a stone but was stopped by the Henchmen from falling flat on his face.

Whumpee started when they saw the blood trickle from Caretaker’s ear, furiously pawing at the henchman holding them back.

“You fucking dick!” Whumpee cried as Whumper reloaded his revolver whistling quite happy to himself. Whumpee twisted and turned and tried to get the arms holding them off so they could scratch Whumper’s eyes out of his stupid fucking skull.

When Whumper was finished loading the gun he checked the chamber and lowered it so Whumpee could see there was a round loaded before cocking the gun and pointing it at Caretaker’s head.

Whumpee immediately stilled and Whumper stopped whistling.

“There we go," Whumper cooed. His voice no longer jovial and mocking, but back to Whumper. The scary Whumper that had kidnapped Whumpee and tortured them everyday. The cold calculating monster. "You haven’t forgotten your training, of course, you’ll have to re-learn some of it, but I think this arrangement will be good for all of us. Something new.”

Caretaker was still half held up by the Henchmen on either side of him, face pale, eyes unfocused. He wouldn’t be able to move suddenly if he had to, and Whumpee was too tired to fight anymore, the adrenaline leaving their body in the same rush that it came with until Whumpee was deflated, body exhausted.

Whumper uncocked the gun, drawing the hammer up and clicking the safety on before holstering it again beneath his jacket. He walked around the table to where Whumpee was still held sitting on the chair and patted Whumpee’s cheeks lightly.

“No need to be a sore loser, Whumpee, you agreed to my terms. Fair is fair,” Whumper’s hand tightened on Whumpee’s cheeks tilting their head up to look Whumper in the eye. “I get you both. Bring Caretaker to the car, Whumpee’s coming with me and Danny here.”

One of the Henchmen handed Whumper an extra pair of handcuffs that he turned over in his hand and clicked open, grinning down at Whumpee. Whumpee was dragged to their feet, Whumper taking Whumpee’s wrist and slapping the metal cuff around their wrist until it bit into Whumpee’s skin. Whumper turned Whumpee until their back was to him and tightened the other cuff unkindly tight.

To add insult to injury, Whumper pulled on the taut chain yanking Whumpee back unbalanced into Whumper’s chest.

The perfect place for Whumper to whisper: “can’t have you running away again, can I?”

Whumpee remained stubbornly silent.

“Whumpee, come on now, the silent treatment? Maybe I should get you a leash and a collar, like a dog so you won't be able to run, hmm? You know, this little game of ours is only drawn even now.”

Whumpee stilled at the words. “What?”

“I’ll explain on the way to the car,” Whumper said, pushing Whumpee forward to walk out the door, hand on Whumpee’s upper arm forcing them on. “I’m an easy man to please, Whumpee. I like to be entertained. That’s why I got you, you were so malleable and vulnerable. You hung onto every word I said just because I gave you attention…”

Whumpee bristled at the reminder of how they were before they met Whumper but stayed quiet, allowing Whumper to finish his little Villainous, victory speech.

“Now could I have chosen someone else? Yes, but they wouldn’t have the brain you had Whumpee. I could tell you were like me from the moment I laid eyes on you, and today has proven it. You were bored with life before me, and you needed something to entertain you. Something to fight against, something to live for.”

“So I took you. We have our fun, but you beat me. You and your clever little cunning brain found a way to defeat me, you used my best friend's kindness against me and you managed to escape.”

“That wasn’t a game,” Whumpee hissed, “you were torturing me.”

“And wasn’t it so fun? I bet you’re just dying to see what I have in store for you now, but our Russian roulette makes us even. I guess you could say that this is the start of our third game together; two worthy opponents, battling it out against each other. Except this time,” Whumper said opening the boot of the car and shoving Whumpee in. Whumpee landed awkwardly on their shoulder, hands restrained uselessly behind them as they stared up at a grinning Whumper.

“This time, I don’t have a friend you can use against me. They’ll be right there with you, a new contender. Extra fun. Aren’t you excited, Whumpee? Maybe this time the roles are reversed and now I have a friend I can use against you. Get comfortable, I've moved my little estate and bought some land in the country. It's going to be a long, long ride.”

Before Whumpee could reply Whumper slammed the boot closed and they were buried in darkness. The sound of the empty chamber firing no bullet replaying in their mind like a broken record.

"Caretaker," Whumpee whispered into the darkness, "I'm so sorry."

*~*~*~*~*

@amonthofwhump

[multiversed-daydreamer]

Shiver and Shake

Pairing: Joel Miller X ADHD!Reader

Summary: Life in the QZ is monotonous and harsh. When it all get to be to much you go to Joel.

Word Count: 3k

Tags: MDNI, PiV sex, oral (f receiving), Fingering, Degradation, Pet names (Dumb baby, baby.) Dom!Joel, Sub!Reader, Dom/sub dynamic

A/N: This is my first TLOU story! Shout out to @gab-thelamb-onthemoon for being my beta. thank you bby! <3 This was super fun to write, I hope yall like it! Please comment what you think! I'd love to hear opinions! :D Check out my Masterlist for more!

You shift under strong hands, looking down to watch broad palms slide over your stomach to your hips. He pauses to squeeze you, fingertips digging in just the right amount while his palms press you into the mattress. You push against him automatically, wriggling around just to feel his hands tighten around you in a warning. Joel’s eyes flash to yours. “Knock it off.” His voice is low but firm. You settle under him, and he keeps going, hands now traveling down your thighs, curling his hands around the backs of your knees to press your legs further apart, his eyes locked on your bare sex, which is glistening with your arousal. His intense stare leaves you blushing, pressing against his hands to close yourself off. You move your arms to reach for him, touch him, and distract him from your body momentarily. But the catch on the cloth around your wrists reminds you that you’re immobilized.  Joel raises an eyebrow, an amused smirk curling on his lips. “Told you to knock it off.” 

You’re unsure why his amusement pisses you off, but it does. Your eyes flash as you yank at your bindings. Joel laughs at you outright this time. “Not getting anywhere, dumb baby.” He taunts. You glare. You’re not sure why that’s the nickname he’s stuck with, but he’s been calling you it since the first night. He pushes your legs further apart as if to demonstrate that he held all of the power tonight. “Lay back and let me have you.” He murmurs, leaning down to nip at your thigh. 

You do your best to settle under him. It’s easier said than done, though. You can feel the goosebumps rising over your skin and the inevitable blush coloring your cheeks as he watches you with dark eyes. He’s still mouthing at your thighs, dragging his lips from one patch of skin to the next, kissing, licking, biting, sucking. He reaches the top of one thigh and goes back to give the other the same treatment. You eye the blossoming marks he's left behind, purple from hickies and red from his beard and teeth. You can feel the air chill in specific spots where his saliva hasn’t dried yet. You pull lightly at the bindings again and feel him suck a new mark into your skin. “Joel.” His name comes out tentatively, already knowing he will reprimand you for attempting to distract him again. Sure enough, he bites down hard on his next spot, making you tug against the bindings and try to close your legs to escape his teeth. “Ouch! Fuck!” 

Strong hands keep you open to him, pinned to the bed and exposed for Joel. It makes you even wetter for him. God, you hate to love this game. This fucked up desire to be pinned down and overpowered by someone else. The fact that you found a partner more than willing to give you just that simultaneously excites you beyond your wildest dreams and fucking terrifies you. What if it’s too much? What if he wants something more normal? What if he’s a fucking psychopath who won’t let you leave if you safeword? Joel’s never ignored your safeword the few times you’ve used it, but what if he-

Another sharp bite makes you yelp and writhe in your restraints. “Damn it, Joel!” Your eyes find his. “That fucking hurt!” 

“Good. Pay attention.” Then he’s moving to hover over your core, waiting until your eyes meet him before he ducks his head and drags his tongue against your clit. Your mouth drops open at the sight of him between your legs. His lips wrap around that swollen bundle of nerves, and he sucks on it until you whimper for him, your eyes blown wide as he captures every ounce of your attention. Joel smirks. You know that’s exactly what he wants—your undivided attention. 

“Atta girl.” He praises, dipping lower to trace the tip of his tongue at your entrance. You shudder above him as he digs in, his tongue going between your clit and your clenching hole to dip his tongue in, letting loose low groans as he tastes your arousal. Flames of pleasure lick at your body as he brings you higher and higher with his tongue, his hands keeping your legs wide open while he devours you. You whimper and moan out into the room, your mind slowly emptying of every thought except for the selfish need to cum. 

He has you pinned, so you can’t push against him, but you can beg, and you do. “Please, please, please. Joel, please let me cum. Wanna cum. So fucking close.” He watches you with dark, amused eyes. He loves watching to get this way, reduced to begging and pleading for him. Your head is empty, and your focus is on him. If his mouth weren’t busy, he’d likely be taunting you. Instead, he sucks on your clit again. Hard. You cry as your orgasm hits, pulling at the bindings and trying to close your legs to escape the blinding pleasure. It doesn’t work. Joel holds you open, lapping at your clit, no doubt enjoying your helpless moans and whimpers as you jerk and twitch the best you can through your orgasm. 

You tremble as he continues, not letting you have any reprieve as his tongue presses inside of you, fucking into you while his nose nudges your clit. He doesn’t pull away or let up, and you cry out under him, shifting to try to escape the oversensitivity. He wants another orgasm from you, and you squeal when he pulls up just enough to scrape his teeth over your clit. “God, Joel! Fuck!” He ignores you entirely and will continue to until he’s bored enough to move on or you’ve reached whatever goal he has set for you in his head. 

He never tells you his plans for you, refusing to tell you the few times you’ve asked. It frustrates you, the unknowing, the way you have to trust him to know what comes next and what you guys do that night. Again you find yourself almost infuriated with how experienced he seems with this type of dynamic. It makes you almost miss your previous partner simply because you had both been young, and he hadn’t been as good at taking control, far more hesitant in misstepping. 

Joel is not hesitant to misstep in the slightest. He seems to know exactly what he wants with you, and he isn’t afraid to poke, prod, and push until you either safeword or give in to him. It’s what you want, hell, what you need. But the fact that he executes it without hesitation leaves you wanting to fight him for the control that you beg him to take from you. He trusts you to safeword should you need to. 

You whine when his tongue swipes across your clit, your body jerking into the touch. He was building you up again, and it felt wonderful. Your hips try to grind into him, chasing that release he’s so desperate to bring you to. But he continues holding you to the bed, forcing you to accept your fate on his terms only. Slowly, the pleasure builds, your muscles relax into the bed sheets, and you close your eyes, hoping to heighten the feeling of his mouth against your core. Slick tongue gliding in and out of you before dragging up to flick at your clit before going back down to your entrance again and again and again. You don’t even notice when your pent-up whimpers turn to soft moans. But Joel does, and on his next stroke to your clit, he wraps his mouth around it and gives you an approving hum. You moan far louder than you mean to at the sensation. The waves of pleasure crest slow but sure over you, your second orgasm softer but lasting longer than the first.  This orgasm left you boneless, weak, and shaking on the bed and thankful for the soft mattress at your back. 

You come down from your high slowly, your body feeling like liquid as you look down to meet dark eyes. Joel slows his ministrations down some, but you still whine and twitch feebly under the rough drag of his tongue. He continues slowly torturing you until tears are pricking your eyes and the fight has left your body. Simply lying there for him to touch exactly as he pleases. Finally, Joel pulls off, propping himself against his elbow and watching your fucked out expression with a gleam in his eyes. Never a good sign. It means he’s still got more for you tonight, and your bones already feel too heavy to fight against your restraints. 

“There you go, head nice and empty now, huh? Dunno why you fight me on this. Look so pretty all fuck-dumb, baby.” He presses whiskery kisses up your thigh, and you whine for him. The scratch of his beard feels annoying and pleasurable at the same time. You have to agree with him, though. You have no clue why you fight him when it feels so good to be like this, pushed so far, you can’t give a fuck about anything but how good it feels for him to touch you in any way. You cry out when he leans up to bite at your hip, his teeth fucking hurt, but you can feel your pussy clenching around the air. 

You’re startled from your post-orgasmic haze when an alarm sounds outside, the robotic voice ringing over the speakers. Some FEDRA officers announced curfew, and those still outside must go home for the evening. You glance towards the window, the brief pull back reality enough to have your mind fighting the slippery hold of submission Joel had put you in. The feeling of a hand caressing down your thigh to your soaking core brings your focus back to Joel. You barely have time to register the feel of his fingers against you before two are pressing inside you and curling to rub against that magical spot that makes you sob under him. “Looks like I get to keep you here tonight. Tied up and unable to leave.” He smirks, letting his predatory gaze linger over your body like a goddamn weight. 

You stay with Joel most nights you two do this, but how he phrases it makes your chest tight with nerves. ‘I get to keep you’ and ‘unable to leave’ reminding you that he technically could if he wanted to. His reputation in the QZ is a firm reminder that Joel is scary as fuck most of the time. You still wonder why he does this with you, but every time you ask questions like “Why?” Joel typically spends the night making sure you’re so fucked out of your mind you can’t think straight, let alone string words together. 

You’re once again pulled out of your head. This time, the curl of his fingers inside of you accompanies the bite he leaves on your torso. “Stay with me,” came the low command. You look at him, glaring down at his wild hair. You'd pay him back if your hands were free by yanking on it. He pulls back to meet your gaze with a glare of his own. He raises an eyebrow and intentionally presses against your G-spot hard. You cry out, hips trying to grind into his hands as he sets a hard pace, two thick fingers rubbing relentlessly against that spot that makes you see stars while his thumb rubs at your clit until you’re being forced over the edge of your third orgasm. He grins at the sight. “That’s it. You’re gonna give me one more before I put my cock in you.” He says low. 

You shake your head and whimper. “I can’t, Joel. Please. Please fuck me.” He shakes his head and slaps your thigh. 

“Hush. You’re gonna do what I want you to do. If you tell me you can’t again, I’ll spank the attitude out of you, and then we’ll start all over again. Understood?” Without waiting for a response, he leans down and captures your sensitive clit between his lips, sucking and licking at it while his fingers continue their assault on the most sensitive spots inside of you. You scream and cry under him, overwhelmed tears falling down your temples to get lost in your hair. He loves hearing the noises you make for him, often taking it as a challenge when you attempt to stay silent. 

You don’t know how long it takes for your next orgasm to hit. It feels like hours. Your body was riding a blissful high so intense it almost hurt when you finally snapped. “JOEL!” You screamed for him as you came so hard you thought you might black out. No sound leaves your mouth. You simply tense up, and your back arches. You stay that way for the entirety of your climax, frozen and unable to process the pleasure as he coaxes you through it. Finally, his fingers let up, slowly guiding your body back down to the bed. You’re not aware of much; that last orgasm rendering you pliant and so out of your own head, you’re barely aware of Joel shifting off of the bed to remove his jeans and flannel. You trail your eyes over his body with a small, loopy smile. He was beautiful, broad, strong, and just overall big, including his thick erection bobbing between his legs and demanding your attention. You moan at the sight, and he chuckles. 

When he climbs back on the bed, he pinches your chin between his thumb and forefinger, leaning down to kiss you languidly. You moan, letting his tongue into your mouth and eagerly sucking off your own release. He settles between your legs, his hard cock pushing against your thigh. He pulls his mouth away for a moment to position himself better. He reaches down to hook one of your knees over his forearm, pulling it up to spread you open. His knee nudges your other leg, bracing himself so he can reach down and grab hold of his cock. He strokes it a couple of times before rubbing the head of it up and down your slit. “You’re so wet. I bet I could slip right inside, and it wouldn’t even hurt. Do you wanna find out?” He looks down at you, waiting for your answer this time around. 

You nod, whining, eager to feel how full he always makes you. He grins, raising an eyebrow at you, not moving yet. You whimper under him. “Please. Want cock, Joel.” You’re not sure how you managed that many words, but it seems enough for your dominant, who lines himself up at your entrance and pushes all the way inside in one smooth, steady thrust. You cry out from the intrusion. 

He groans over you, his hand coming up to tangle tightly in your hair, pulling your head back firmly into the pillow. He starts at a slow, rough pace, hips grinding into your pelvis every time he bottoms out. “Not even a single ounce of resistance.” He growls into your ear, moaning as he picks up his pace. “Came four times and you’re still begging for cock after you told me you can’t take anymore. Lying slut. You’re gonna lay there like a good little toy and let me use you. Got it?” 

“Yes, Sir.” You gasp out. You cry under him as he fucks into your sensitive pussy. He groans at that. 

“Finally, a correct fuckin’ response outta you tonight.” He snarls. The hand not in your hair curls around your hip, fingers digging into your flesh tight enough to bruise as his pace picks up to something brutal. You scream under him. The way his cock rubs against you makes your muscles tense up and twitch, partially to escape, partially to chase the forced pleasure. You can tell he’s getting close by the way he fucks into you with a wild sort of abandon, pursuing his own pleasure selfishly. 

You don’t know when you got so close to cumming again, but your orgasm is suddenly only seconds away from overtaking you when his hips start to stutter, and a punched-out groan leaves Joel. You whimper, wanting to be the one that cums first. “Please, let me cum, Sir. I’m so close. Please.” 

Joel makes a rough noise from his chest. “No. You’ve cum enough. S’my turn.” His moans go higher pitched, and you whine when you feel his cock twitch inside of you. He chases his pleasure single-mindedly, but it’s enough. You can’t help it. You swear to god you can’t help when your body tightens once more, bliss washing over your body. Joel lets out his own blissed-out noise before pulling out, interrupting your orgasm. You snarl at him, yanking at the bindings holding you down uselessly. You glare up at him. He watches you with dark eyes and a slack jaw as his hand untangles from your hair to grab his cock, fist moving furiously over the tip as he lets out a stuttered noise and then growls as ropes of cum paint your mound and stomach. He fucks his fist through his orgasm, and then he pulls back from you, moving to kneel back. He’s panting, and his other hand gently drops your leg, caressing your thigh. He reaches up and unties your wrists. You pull them down to your chest and rub at them. 

“Color.” He demands breathlessly. You blink up at him. 

“What?” There’s more?

“You disobeyed. I told you not to cum.” 

“It was ruined ‘cause you pulled out.” You snark at him. He folds over you, glaring down at you with a stern expression. 

“You think I give a shit?” He grabs your hair again, yanking it hard. You yelp at the feeling. “Color?”

“Yellow. I’m fine, but I need a break.” You pant out

He scoffs and shakes his head, letting go of you. “Dumb baby can’t do as she's told but needs a break after disobeying.” He glances at the clock on his wall. “One hour. Then I’m turning your ass bright red, dumb baby.”  

“Yes, Sir.” You whisper, already squirming at the thought of punishment.

[headfulloflettuce]

The Human Who Fooled All of Prythian

33. Dangerous Dreams

"They've promised that dreams can come true - but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too."

- Oscar Wilde

Cosette sniffled. Her brother had yelled at her. Yelled! Who yells at their younger sister? Probably asshole brothers like hers. 

Sure she had been annoying him while he had been playing a videogame with his friends but he had promised to spend time with her today! She had finished her math homework like they agreed and everything.

Cosette sniffled again.

Mom was right, teenage boys really do suck.

A small knock sounded on her door. Cosette looked up to see her brother, holding two strawberry cupcakes that Mom had made yesterday. 

‘Go away.’

‘I brought your favorite.’

‘I hate you.’

Nicholas took a deep breath, clearly trying to control his own temper, ‘That’s a hurtful thing to say.’

‘Don’t quote Dad to me.’

‘What can I say, the big man speaks the truth.’

Nicholas remained at the door.

Cosette rolled her eyes, knowing he wasn’t going to go away, ‘Fine. You can come in.’

Nicholas walked over, sitting next to her on the bed.

Cosette made a demonstrative motion of scooching away from him.

He sighed, ‘Cosette please, I don’t want to beef with you right now.’

She remained quiet.

‘You were in the wrong too.’

‘No I wasn’t!’

‘We agreed that I would play with you after you finished your homework. I was in the middle of a game with my friends when you announced that you were done.’

‘You can pause!’

‘I can’t just pause Cosette, it’s a live shooter game. I am playing on a team with my friends in real time, I can’t just abandon that commitment.’

‘You had a commitment to me first!’

‘Yes, but I also told you when you went to do homework that I would play games while you finish. You knew that I would be playing.’

Cosette glared, ‘You promised.’

‘I did, and I said to give me two minutes, after which we would go play together.’

Cosette looked away, pulling her knees closer to her chin.

Nicholas sighed, flopping down on the bed, ‘I am sorry.’

She looked at him.

‘I shouldn’t have yelled.’

‘Yeah, you were being very hurtful.’

He rolled his eyes.

‘You quoted him first.’

‘Guess I did.’ he sat back up, ‘But, next time, please don’t tug on my arms when I am actively in the middle of a game. When I say I’ll be done in a couple minutes, I’ll be done in a couple minutes.’

She snorted, ‘You conveniently ignore Mom whenever she calls for you.’

‘Well, you’re not Mom.’

Cosette glowered.

‘Fair point, it’s an asshole thing to do.’

‘It is.’

‘I’ll do better.’

‘Right.’

Nicholas hesitantly opened up his arms; an offer of a hug, ‘I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’

‘I am sorry too.’ Cosette hugged back, careful not to tip over the cupcakes.

‘I promise not to yell.’

‘Good.’ Cosette huffed, ‘And I promise to not tug on you while you’re playing your stupid games.’

‘Oi, they’re not stupid.’

‘They are if they keep you away from me.’

‘Aww, are you jealous?’

‘Don’t even dream of it.’ she took a cupcake off the plate and began eating it.

‘Right…’ he rolled his eyes, eating the second cupcake.

‘Did you all even win?’

‘No…’

‘Ha, losers.’

‘Oi, it was a certain blonde’s fault that we lost.’

‘Looooooser.’

‘Alright, that’s it.’

Cosette shrieked, dodging as her brother threw one of her stuffed animals at her. 

Nicholas smiled, letting her finish her cupcake in peace, ‘Well, what do you want to do then?’

‘Hmm, I wanna play monopoly.’

‘I swear you’re a masochist.’

‘Am not!’

‘You’re going to grow up to be a politician with how much you adore that game.’

‘I am going to grow up to be a doctor that helps people! If I truly loved monopoly as much as you insist I do, I would be a businesswoman instead.’

Nicholas shrugged, ‘My point still stands. Manipulative as all get out.’

Cosette cleaned her hands with a napkin, moving a guitar out of the way to reach the board game in her closet.

‘You still practicing on that thing?’

‘Yeah, you?’ Cosette began setting up the game as Nich finished his own cupcake.

‘Ehhh…’ her brother made a vague hand gesture, ‘I plucked the strings a couple times.’

‘Weren’t you going to be the one to teach me, big brother?’ Cosette raised an eyebrow.

‘Well, you know, highschool is hard. And busy. Very busy.’ Nicholas countered.

‘Nich, at this rate you’re going to be that guy in college who has a guitar just for aesthetics sake.’

‘Hey, I am more classy than that.’

‘Right…’

Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening and closing were heard, their parent’s voices echoing up the stairs.

‘I thought they were going out for a dinner date, why are they home so early?’

Nicholas shrugged, getting up and heading downstairs to greet them. Cosette followed.

‘Mom, Dad, why are you back so early?’ Cosette approached the blonde woman, who didn’t respond, instead pouring herself a glass of wine.

Cosette frowned.

‘Mom?’ she quickly turned to her father, ‘Dad, what’s going on? Did the restaurant close or something?’

Her father also ignored her, asking his wife, ‘We should go there again sometime.’

‘Agreed.’ Cosette’s mother nodded, taking a swig of her drink, ‘The steak was divine.’

‘I make better ones.’ the Dad huffed.

‘Of course you do, but for a restaurant they didn’t perform half bad.’

What on Earth was happening?

‘Nicholas, are you seeing thi-’ Cosette gasped, as a pain shot through her stomach.

She looked down, seeing the end of a knife sticking out, her hoodie quickly beginning to stain red.

Cosette stumbled forwards, whirling around to face her brother, who had taken out a knife from a kitchen drawer while she was trying to get their parent’s attention.

‘Nich?’ she whispered.

Her brother merely smiled, grabbing another knife from the drawer.

‘Nicholas what the fuck are you doing?’

‘Young girls like you shouldn’t use such foul language.’

She gaped, ‘You just stabbed me, and you’re concerned about foul language?!’

Nicholas took a step forward.

‘Don’t you dare.’ Cosette took a step to the side along the kitchen counter, one hand still holding her knife piercing her.

Nicholas tilted his head, the motion inhumane, the angle too sharp, ‘Dare? Or what? What will you do little human?’

Cosette stared at her parents, tears of betrayal threatening to spill down her face.

Why weren’t they responding?

‘Mom! Are you seeing this?!’

The blonde woman didn’t respond, giving her husband a small kiss as he began cooking a steak to prove without a doubt that he was superior to the chefs at the restaurant.

‘DAD!’ Cosette yelled, waving her arms, hitting her father in the back for good measure.

Nothing. Nada.

Nicholas laughed.

Cosette cowered, moving away from him once he took another step forward.

‘I forget how reliant the little ones are on their parents.’ Nicholas muttered.

‘Nich, I don’t understand.’ Cosette felt her legs begin to shake, from fear or blood loss, she wasn’t sure. 

They didn’t cover stab wounds in health class for seventh graders.

‘Of course you don’t. You’re quite stupid aren’t you in this state.’ Nich took another step forward, ‘Granted, most creatures are.’

‘What are you talking about?!’ Cosette cried.

Was this about the damn video game? I really hadn’t meant to upset him, but this was taking revenge a bit too far! A silly prank would have sufficed.

Nich stood still, watching her unblinking, before he lunged.

Cosette screeched in fear as she tried to dodge him, but was quickly caught and shoved to the wooden floor of the kitchen.

Small hiccups of fear and sobs escaped her as she tried to claw her way to freedom, the odd position she was in only pushing the knife further through her.

‘Let me go!’ she cried out as the second knife cut her back. Nicholas forced her to roll over and face him.

‘No.’ his expression was blank as he stabbed his sister in the chest.

‘Mom!’ Cosette struggled, trying to shove her brother off but he held her down, ‘Dad, tell him to stop!’

Their father finished cooking the steak, putting it on a plate and surrounding

‘Help me!’ she screamed, her voice weakening from the lack of oxygen. Cosette’s bloody hands left small stains on the kitchen floor.

Their mother kissed her husband, smiling happily.

‘Child of depravity. Child of plight. Child of suffering, death and despair, cease your struggles and follow the light.’ Nich muttered, his voice not his own. 

Not Beron’s.

Someone else’s. Something beyond Cosette’s understanding and knowledge.

‘Die for our futures. Die for yourself.’

‘I don’t understand.’ Cosette begged, as she was stabbed again, ‘Please stop this.’

‘Your existence is a mistake.’ he plunged the knife into her once more with glee, his eyes watching her as she choked on her own blood 

‘Mom, Dad, help!’ she screamed, ‘Please…’

Anyone, please, help me.

I don’t want to die.

I don’t want to die.

I don’t want to die.

I can’t die.

Not here. Not now.

“Cosette wake up!”

“Cosette!”

“Cosette!!‘

Cosette would have fallen out of bed when she opened her eyes if Amelio hadn’t caught her, pushing her back into the blankets.

“Oh thank the Mother.” Amelio exhaled, “You scared us when you weren’t waking up.”

Her body felt like molasses. A gooey feeling settling over her insides.

Cosette’s eyes glanced around the room rapidly, her breathing uneven. Amelio was still dressed in pajamas, with Linus standing in the doorway of her cabin wearing a casual shirt with proper pants.

He clearly had been in the middle of changing.

“Linus called for me saying that weird sounds were coming from your room, are you alright?” Amelio tried to explain the situation, hoping that it would calm her but Cosette remained panicked.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as everything in her body burned. Amelio was saying something, the words unintelligible, her ears ringing louder than any church bell.

Cosette pushed Amelio’s arms away, throwing up over the side of the bed, except what came out wasn’t last night’s dinner but blood. She coughed, feeling Amelio’s arms firmly pull her back into a sitting position.

He muttered a curse, “Linus call a healer, now.”

Cosette tried to breathe.

My chest hurts. Everything hurts.

“Cosette, can you hear me?”

She nodded shakily.

“Where does it hurt?”

“Chest.” She managed to croak out.

Amelio nodded, “May I?” he gestured to her clothes.

She nodded, her body shaking as he unbuttoned the top part of her shirt, his eyes widening.

“Linus, where is that healer at!?”

“Coming!” Linus returned, bringing the ship’s doctor with him.

The faerie rushed over, her eyes widening as she took in Cosette’s state.

“I’ll take it from here.”

Amelio obeyed, moving away from Cosette’s side, letting the healer get a closer look at the blonde.

The faerie gently pushed Cosette’s shaking body down into the bed, her eyes narrowing as she pulled off her shirt fully, examining her chest.

I can’t stay here, it’s dangerous.

Cosette sat up, only for the healer to push her back down.

She wasn’t sure where she would run to or why but she just knew she had to. It didn’t feel safe here.

The air, the water, nothing was safe. She didn’t know why, it just wasn’t.

“Don’t move.” the healer pulled out vials from their suitcase, applying some sort of liquid to Cosette’s skin, “I need you to calm down.”

What do you mean calm down?! Nicholas just tried to kill me!

The healer began chanting whispered words, shoving Cosette back down after she tried to sit up again.

“Breathe in for 1…2…3…”

Cosette tried to follow the instructions.

“Good, again. 1…2…3…”

Wiping away Cosette’s sweat, the healer gently encouraged her, relaxing a bit as the blonde’s breathing and heartbeat slowly returned to normal. The oil that the healer applied had a calming scent to it, making her take deeper breaths. The doctor’s hand remained at her chest, monitoring her breathing.

Cosette sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard. The doctor didn’t stop her this time, instead observing her state, and helping her cover up due to the presence of men.

‘What happened?“ Cosette’s voice cracked midway.

“Linus reported weird sounds coming from your room. He said it sounded like you were choking.” Amelio said, leaning against the farther wall of her room.

Cosette looked at Amelio, searching for Linus behind him but the younger faerie was already gone.

“How do you feel now?” the healer asked, handing her a glass of water.

“Better, though my chest still hurts.” Cosette murmured, wincing as she drank from the glass; the liquid managed to burn her insides while soothing the dryness of her mouth.

“Hm well that would be due to the chest injury.”

“What?” Cosette looked down her shirt, her eyes widening as she saw the large bruises forming across her chest and stomach, “How?”

“It's possible you were hexed Miss.”

“What?”

“Hexed, a mini curse if you will.”

“Who….why?”

Amelio and her exchanged a look.

“Well…you're a foreigner.” she said carefully, “Many don't take too kindly to faeries like you.”

“You're telling me someone was willing to hurt me just for being from another court?” Cosette didn't like how small her voice sounded.

Amelio put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, addressing the doctor, “Is there a way to know who did it?”

“Unfortunately, no.” the healer sighed, placing a couple vials on Cosette’s bedside table, “It’s strange, when a faerie casts a spell some residual energy and magic remains, however I don’t detect any on you..”

Cosette stared at her.

“That would mean whoever hexed her was powerful enough to hide their trail.” Amelio’s face hardened.

“Yes, that would be the case.” the healer turned back to Cosette, “Do you remember anything before waking up?”

“Huh?” Cosette felt a bit stupid with her body responding as well to stimuli as a fly could stuck in honey.

“Before you woke up, was there anything out of the norm? Pain before you went to sleep?”

Cosette shook her head.

“What about while you were sleeping?”

Cosette paused.

“Did you experience a dream of sorts? One where you were hurt?”

She nodded hesitantly.

I guess a hex would explain my brother’s behavior. Here I was ready to believe that my brain was just really into self sabotage. Wouldn’t be the first that it turned a family member against me. Although, usually they turn into Beron. They never hurt me as themselves.

“That makes sense.” the healer sighed, “Like I said, it’s a hex.

“Are you sure it’s not a curse?” Amelio looked suspicious, “Her injuries look severe.”

“They might be on the serious end but they’re not deadly.”

“They could have become deadly if Linus hadn’t found her.”

“If it were a curse I wouldn’t have been able to snap her out of it so easily.” The healer stood up, packing up her suitcase, “Miss, I have left you some medicine for the bruising. Just in case I suggest not sleeping until we leave tomorrow.”

“What?” Cosette croaked.

What do you mean no sleep?

“Usually a hex is a one time thing but some can last a bit longer. I recommend waiting it out until you leave Night Court waters. The caster’s magic will weaken by then due to distance or ideally, the spell will have run its course.”

“If they’re such a powerful mage then their magical power might not weaken.” Amelio pointed out.

“It’s our best bet for the time being. Once we exit Night Court waters I will monitor you during your sleep and if the hex is still present we will start looking into ways of dispelling it.” the healer said, “However, just to make sure we cover all our bases, did you meet anyone during your time in Velaris who would qualify as a powerful mage, and did you take anything before sleeping? Food, medicine?”

“I met Azriel and Elain Archeron…we had coffee together.” Cosette murmured, “Then I got back to the ship, ate dinner with Amelio and Linus, and drank a chamomile and passionflower tea before going to bed.”

The healer froze, staring at Cosette, coughing to cover up her surprise, “Well, those certainly are powerful figures, but to my knowledge neither are known for their prowess with spells.”

You don’t know what their side hobby may be!

Cosette couldn’t believe the situation.

Would Azriel or Elain do something like this? Why would they even want to hex me? I haven’t done anything to offend them.

No, I met countless faeries yesterday. In fact, it could have been anyone from the Rainbow. Who wouldn’t want to take revenge on an annoying customer…by hexing them…what is wrong with these people?

“Besides waiting out the hex, you are physically healthy, not counting the bruises of course.” the doctor smiled, trying to cheer her up.

Amelio relaxed slightly hearing that from the healer, approaching Cosette as the doctor left.

“Sorry about this.” Cosette smiled.

“It’s fine, what’s important is that you’re okay.” Amelio sighed, “Do you need me to get you anything?”

“No, I can manage, the pain is going away now.”

He nodded approvingly, leaving her to rest.

Looking out the little circular window in her room Cosette could tell it was still early in the morning. Seagulls were beginning to call for their friends, hunting amidst the rocks and waves.

Carefully, Cosette pushed herself out of bed, wincing as a dull pain shot through her body. Making her way over to the small cabinet she began to get changed.

On second thought I should have asked the healer to stay. Trying to pull on a dress by yourself is hard enough without bizarre dream-induced bruises.

After a period of struggling, Cosette decided to take a break by throwing the dress onto the floor with a frustrated growl. Her eyes fell on the mirror standing in the corner of the room. Approaching it, Cosette stared at herself in the mirror, cautiously tracing the bruises covering her body. 

All of them were located in the same spots that she had been stabbed in her dream.

Stepping out of the room, Cosette checked one last time that she had packed all her essentials from the previous day into the small bag. She adjusted the bow keeping her hair in a braid, making sure it was secure, moving her arms carefully to not further injure herself. 

“Hey…” Linus stood a couple feet away from her, still not fully changed into proper clothes, seemingly just returning from Amelio’s room, “How are you feeling?”

“Better.” Cosette said, ignoring the ache in her chest and stomach. 

“Good.” he looked away, fiddling with his door’s knob.

“Thank you for calling for help.”

“What was I supposed to do? Ignore the sounds of literal death coming from your room? Yeah no, that would have ruined my skin care routine.”

“You have a skin care routine?” Cosette raised her eyebrows.

“Of course, Amelio says that any business fae should always look his best.” he narrowed his eyes at Cosette, “You’re currently failing, walking corpse.”

She shrugged, “Considering my situation I am unsure how I am supposed to look better.”

He rolled his eyes, “That’s the point, that regardless of your circumstances no one should be able to tell the difference. I wouldn’t expect an amateur like you to understand.”

Cosette nodded, only half listening to Linus as she noticed the fluffy tail peeking out between his legs.

“What are you looking at?” he snarled, the tail quickly tucking itself closer to his body.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.” Cosette looked away.

I forget Lesser Faeries hide their traits.

The pain from the bruises and the discomfort of restless sleep must have been getting to her, as Cosette didn’t think she was that obvious with her usual staring.

“It’s cute.”

“Yeah, uh huh, you say that yet you keep your Lesser Faerie features hidden as well.” he smiled mockingly, “Way to be proud of them.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Cosette tried to explain.

“Right, right.” Linus muttered, stepping into his room and slamming the door behind him.

That was definitely the wrong dialogue option. I swear, one step forward and five steps back with this man.

Cosette sighed.

It was her bad though; probably shouldn’t point out physical traits that people actively try to hide.

Cosette began walking up to the deck of the ship.

So Linus has a tail, Solene is a High Faerie, what about Amelio? What’s his trait? Imagine if he had long talons or something! Like a bird of prey!

Cosette’s brain proceeded to picture Amelio with nail clippers and a filer, filling out paperwork like an absolute diva.

Pausing before the final stairs leading up to the deck Cosette realized she didn’t actually know what Ophelia’s Lesser Fae markings were.

I sleep in the same bed as this woman and I don’t know…how well does she hide them?

Cosette was suddenly worried.

Does she not trust me enough to share?

No, it could just be a privacy thing. She’s not obligated to share it with me.

But we’ve survived so much together.

What if she’s uncomfortable? It could be intimate.

Climbing out, and taking a deep breath of fresh air Cosette instantly felt better. 

I am overthinking this. Me and Ophelia are fine. She has her secrets and I have mine. If she wants to tell me about this later, she will. No need to worry.

“Cosette!” Amelio’s voice caught her attention, “Shouldn’t you be resting?” he walked over to her.

“It’s just bruising, sitting in one spot won’t help much.”

Amelio looked skeptical, “You coughed up blood, so I highly doubt it’s mere bruising.”

Cosette shrugged, “The healer didn’t say I needed to stay in bed.”

Amelio hummed, uncertain.

“What’s for breakfast?” she changed the subject.

“The crew set up a small table. Grab whatever you want from it.” Amelio gestured to a small group of faeries huddling around a circular desk full of food, “Are you heading out into town again today?”

“Yeah…”

“I would advise against it.”

I doubt I’ll get to come to Velaris again any time soon. If I don’t seize the opportunity to learn all I can I may regret it.

“I feel fine, Amelio.” she insisted.

“I understand your desire to push yourself but you won’t accomplish much if you just get yourself hurt.”

“I won’t get myself hurt.”

Deciding it wasn’t worth arguing with a person who had clearly made up their mind Amelio simply nodded.

“The best way to learn is through failure. I won’t stop you if you wish to do this, although I have given you my advice.” Amelio began climbing down the stairs she had just come up through, “I am going to go get Linus. We need to be heading out in an hour to deliver the rest of the produce and discuss trade agreements and I am not leaving with him not having had breakfast.”

“What, does he get grouchy?”

Amelio held her gaze, “You have no idea…”

Cosette smiled, turning to the miniature buffet table and grabbed a couple slices of fruit and a piece of bread.

I don’t think I can stomach much more than this.

She chewed and swallowed, shivering at the discomfort of the food traveling through the spots where she had just been stabbed. After a couple more bites Cosette gave up, setting aside the food for later, deciding that it wasn’t worth it. 

Waving Amelio and a fashionable Linus goodbye, Cosette descended into the port via the gangway, and set off into the city of Velaris.

With it being daytime, the sun was out, albeit dimmer than normal. If she squinted, Cosette could still see the stars sparkling, like the blade of a dagger before being thrown at an enemy. Faeries with horns, fur, glittering spots on their skin, or hooves for feet were all busy going about their daily lives; chatting, laughing, trading and working.

Even though the city was clearly wealthy, Cosette could see the minor differences separating out the neighborhoods of wealthier businesses. While one street would have clean sidewalks and the shops were tidy to the point that you could eat off their floors, a couple streets down the spaces had more grime, the cobblestone rougher and the buildings in need of maintenance. It seemed that the streets further away from the center also had more bars or rowdy restaurants.

Perhaps one of them was the one Nesta visited. 

The further she walked up to the Sidra River the more those distinctions became prominent. It was not as obvious as in Winter, where the outer rings of the capital were rundown and almost forsaken to businesses that no one wished to deal with, but still noticeable.

It was also becoming clear that Lesser Fae were hiding their traits on major streets. While the action clearly wasn’t as popularized here as it was in Winter Court, it was still practiced.

What Cosette didn’t understand was why Kallias and Viviane took no action to utilize those streets for their own benefit. It seemed strange to let land and buildings on the capital city’s soil waste away.

Cosette took a deep breath, the pain shooting through her chest causing her to stumble. Ignoring the concerned gazes of fellow pedestrians she quickly sat down on a bench off to the side. 

On second thought, maybe I should have listened to Amelio.

Cosette couldn't get rid of the uncomfortable, gooey feeling that had settled over her insides. Everything felt heavy and sluggish. Lifting her arms was only becoming harder and harder.

Granted, after being metaphorically, and somehow literally, injured, Cosette assumed that this was a normal response from the body.

Taking another deep breath the unpleasant sensation eased, and she was able to stand again and continue walking across the bridge of the Sidra River. 

However, that didn’t end up being the only resting stop Cosette had to make, with her taking a break every twenty to thirty minutes during her hike. Luckily there were plenty of benches with scenic views or chairs from patios of cafes or restaurants.

While Cosette could have ordered a carriage she didn’t want to spend unnecessary money. Considering that her day was only beginning she was certain she wanted to save as much of it as possible for later.

Cosette let out a small sigh of relief as she walked, more like staggered, through the entrance of the art studio. Faeries that were chatting happily amongst themselves glanced up at her when she entered, quickly returning to their conversations, deciding she wasn’t worth the trouble.

Aranea smiled, spotting Cosette, “Cosette, welcome! I am so glad you could make it.”

“Thank you for having me.” Cosette smiled back, keeping her hand from gripping at her bruised stomach.

“Are you alright though? You look rather pale.”

“No, sorry, I just ran to make it here on time so I am a bit out of breath.” Cosette lied.

“I see. Well, there's no need to rush. We do accept late comers too, within reason.”

“Right.”

“Please, take a seat, we’ll begin soon.”

Cosette happily sat down on a stool, wiping the sweat off her brow.

This hex sucks.

“Cosette!” Elain’s voice, bright as sunshine, made Cosette want to groan.

Why did I sign up to interact with them today? Traveling in pain by yourself is one thing, but traveling with another person is completely different, it’s worse.

“Elain, it’s great to see you.” caution surfaced in Cosette as she watched Azriel and Elain sit down next to her.

Could one of you be responsible for my predicament?

Azriel only cast her a brief nod before turning his attention back to Elain.

“Alright class, since everyone is here let’s get started!” Aranea smiled, passing out materials to them, “Today we’ll be learning how to use the twining technique to create baskets!”

Standing at the head of the room behind a large work table Aranea began showing them the steps, arranging the bark pieces in a circular fashion,  “There are many versions of the technique but we’ll start with the simpler one that uses a spiral base.”

Cosette tried to copy her motions while jotting down notes about the step by step instructions. She looped the softer bark, a ‘weaver’, around the thicker pieces being used as ‘stakes’ to create a skeleton for the basket.

“Good job, you just made the two weavers! Now, interchange the two weavers between your stakes, making sure that one is always behind or in front of the other.” At this point Aranea had to correct the weaving technique of several of her students, including Cosette, to make sure they were moving the weavers correctly between the stakes.

“Make sure you pull gently, but firmly on the weaver to keep it secure.” Aranea commented while helping a student fix a basket that had already begun falling apart. 

“What material is this?” Cosette asked.

“The stakes are bulrush and the weavers are sedge.” Aranea said.

Not plants that would be easily accessible in Winter Court.

Nonetheless, Cosette still jotted down this information.

“Okay, since some of us are finishing up with weaving. I will now explain how to finish off your baskets.”

You all are already finishing?!

Cosette glanced around, relaxing when she spotted only two of the faeries with almost completed baskets.

“In order to finish off the baskets we will be using the ‘cut and tuck rin’ technique as it’s good for beginners and doesn’t involve the creation of a decorative rim. The first step is to cut the tip of your still exposed stakes, preferably at a diagonal angle and then insert the remaining length into the third row of your weavers from the top. This way you get a nice finished rim that covers the top portion of your weaved basket.”

Cosette and Elain were too focused on their baskets to notice Azriel watching the former’s note taking with interest, a subtle, insulted smile appearing on his face.

“Now, you’ll do this by carefully opening up a space between your weavers and pushing the stake through and pulling it out again to be exposed after it passes through a couple rows.”

Aranea approached Cosette, frowning at her struggles, “First of all, be a bit more gentle with your woven material. It’s not metal, it can break fairly easily in this state. Secondly, make sure you are inserting it under two rows of twining, with only the top row getting covered. That way you’ll make sure your basket is secure after finishing.”

Cosette nodded, doing her best to follow instructions.

“There you go, better!” Aranea encouraged, “Now, once you’ve done that with all your stakes you may trim the remaining lengths if they’re too long, or you may leave them to add a decorative element to the design.”

Cosette left her stakes still visible after trimming them a bit, wanting to make sure that when they got back home she and Theo could still tell with ease the technique used to create the basket.

Looking down at her creation Cosette couldn’t help but dread when she’d have to show this to Theo. It wasn’t a bad basket per say, but it certainly looked rough with little pieces sticking out at odd ends.

“Weaving is quite challenging.” Cosette said as Aranea approached their group after checking in with other students.

“Indeed.” Aranea eyed her sad excuse for a basket with sympathy, but gave her an encouraging smile, “I am sure the more you practice the better you’ll get. This was your first time, no?”

“Yeah…”

“Exactly, just keep at it and you will improve.” Aranea said, “Either way, I do hope this experience was helpful for your project.”

“It was, thank you again for letting me come to this class.”

“No problem dear.”

The moment Aranea turned away Azriel spoke up, “What project?”

“Oh um…”

Shit.

“Thought you were just a tourist?”

Cosette would have sworn there was a hint of mockery in his tone.

“I am…” Cosette scrambled to come up with an explanation, “It’s just a minor thing I am working on back in Winter Court. It’s supposed to help crops grow better.”

She tried underplaying the whole operation, closely watching Azriel to gauge his reaction.

I wasn’t technically doing anything wrong, and it was true that I was here to sightsee. 

Azriel hummed, “How big of a scale is this?”

Why must he start asking questions now? Maybe I shouldn’t have been so honest with Aranea, then I wouldn’t be in this position.

“No particular scale…focusing on me and my close friends mostly.” she lied.

“How long have you been working on this for?”

“Some months now.” Cosette was beginning to grow annoyed at the spymaster for asking questions. She of course understood that this was technically his job, but still!

“What ship did you come in to Velaris?”

“Oh, I traveled on a trading ship.”

I don’t think I can lie about this.

“Who was the captain?”

“I don’t know.”

Should I be lying?

“What of the expedition leader? Most trading ships don’t allow just anyone to come onboard.”

Cosette decided to be honest, in case her lying was inconsistent and only worsened the situation at this point, “Amelio.”

Cosette immediately knew that she had said the wrong thing as the shadows that were cast by objects throughout the room suddenly became oppressive. The hairs on her skin stood on end as the darkness hiding in the crooks and corners of the room seemed to stretch, almost engulfing her. 

The feeling disappeared as quickly as it came, with Azriel nodding and respectfully turning back to his basket, seeking out Aranea to thank her for the lesson. Elain glanced between the two with slight confusion.

Ohhhh forget being a sugar baby I just don’t want to die! Please!

Cosette quickly stood up, and headed towards the door.

“Cosette, wait up!” Elain’s voice called out.

Despite her wishes to escape into the crowd, Cosette waited, the golden-brown haired woman catching up to her at the doorway of the art studio.

“We promised you a tour of the city!”

“That we did.” Azriel stood beside Elain, “It would be inappropriate for us to not fulfill our promise at this point.”

Cosette almost groaned from frustration and discomfort caused by her bruises.

Why did I agree to this?

“Right, sorry. I got so caught up in the class that I forgot.”

“Not a very good memory you have there.” Azriel raised an eyebrow. 

“Come on, let’s stop wasting time here! We should get going.” Elain beamed, taking Cosette’s and Azriel’s hands and leading them down the street, “I picked out a few shops that I think you would love to see based on your interests.”

“Thank you…” Cosette massaged the bruises on her stomach, unsure if she should be grateful for Elain’s thoughtfulness or fearful of how this tour would end.

This was the second time they had stopped to rest since beginning the tour, all within the span of an hour. 

“I am sorry.” Cosette held her face in her hands taking deep breaths.

It hurts.

Her chest burned, the bruising making it harder to even out her breathing.

“It’s okay, take your time.” Elain said, nervously moving about the blonde, a concerned expression plaguing her beautiful features. 

“Are you injured?” Azriel spoke up for the first time during their entire walk, having let Elain do all the talking about the various shops they passed by, despite the fact that he was probably much more informed about all those locations than she was.

“No.”

“Are you certain? You keep grabbing at your stomach and chest.”

Attentive, aren’t you?

“Yes, I am just extremely out of shape.”

In a way Cosette wasn’t lying. By faerie standards she was extremely weak and unathletic. Although, if Cosette was compared to an average human in this world who had grown up carrying a sword or plowing the fields she’d also be deemed weak.

“Well, perfumery work doesn’t exactly require a faerie to swing a sword.” Elain nodded with understanding.

Taking one final breath Cosette stood up, “Alright, I am ready to go.”

“Perfect!” Elain clapped her hands, “As I was saying, since you visited the Rainbow already and one of the big Spirit shrines we should take you to some of the shops surrounding the Rainbow. There is this one perfumery that I think you would adore.”

Cosette followed Elain’s lead, approaching a medium sized building with large display windows inside which stood gorgeous perfume bottles with flowers and pearls surrounding them.

Inside, the building was filled to the brim with perfume, from the rows of shelves that lined the walls to the tables positioned expertly throughout the store. There was no second floor, instead the ceiling was decorated with a stylized mural of the night sky from which hung a massive chandelier, illuminating the space.

My selection is so small compared to this shop’s.

Elaine quickly began chatting with one of the employees who immediately recognized her and Azriel, showing them the new collection that they had just released.

Cosette followed behind, pulling out her notebook and jotting down bits of information about the perfumery’s design, style and decor. Similar to the perfumeries of Winter Court they had picked a color scheme and followed it, switching it up slightly for the various collections that were displayed across the store.

We should actually also do something similar. Pick a color or design that is unique to us because eventually Winter Court’s perfumers will start making non-hazardous perfume and we won’t just be recognized as ‘the good ones’ anymore. However, we can still maintain variety by focusing on the release of collections or sets of perfumes that can be branded under a particular style or aesthetic.

Cosette picked up a perfume bottle from the newly released collection. It was clear that this shop was well managed since they had funding for detailed bottles even when it wasn’t a custom order. The top of the bottle was a white moonflower, the color fading out moving down the bottle so that the clear liquid inside was visible. Cosette read the text on the bottle but besides the fact that it was a moonflower scent no other information was provided.

“Excuse me?” she asked a passing by employee, not wanting to disturb the faerie giving Azriel and Elain a whole presentation, “Do you write on your bottles if something contains an allergen?”

“I- what? Um, no Miss. We don’t do that.” the faerie answered and returned to her work.

Guess that was to be expected. The concept of allergies didn’t exist in the same form until modern times, and requirements for disclosures on food, health and cosmetic products are all pretty recent.

Cosette spritzed a bit of the sample onto a strip of paper, inhaling the cross between vanilla and jasmine.

This is what Linus meant. This is where my competition was hiding all along.

The scent was divine, capturing her senses in the best way possible. It was quite sweet, but its softness and airiness compensated, creating a beautiful balance between innocence and allure. She was almost tempted to ask them to see their workshop, but stopped herself, not wanting to incriminate herself further with Azriel. 

Besides, if they don’t even put the ingredients on a bottle, their method of production was probably heavily guarded.

“Found something that you like?” Azriel’s voice startled her, Elain peeking out curiously from behind him.

“Yes…I did.” Cosette showed them the bottle of perfume she was holding, “I was hoping to find souvenirs for my friends but it seems I am just finding things for myself.” she laughed.

Azriel didn’t find her joke funny, continuing to stare her down with a calm expression on his face. 

Elain, however giggled, “Oh, if you want to buy souvenirs there’s a spot down the street that sells soaps. They’re really nice.” she suggested, “We can also stop by the bookstore if you’d like. I am not sure what souvenirs you’re looking for though…”

The employee who had been assisting the two High Faeries gestured to the bottle, “Our perfumer collaborates with local flower shops that grow their own plants. In fact, these flowers were specially pollinated by bats.”

“Bats?” Cosette tilted her head.

“There’s some bats here that feed on nectar.” Elain piped in, “They’re really cute. Small and fluffy. I got one recently for my garden, they’re really good with nighttime flowers.”

“Interesting…” Cosette murmured.

A very, very good idea. One that I could in theory implement back home. Collaboration with locals is a great way to establish rapport and build community.

“How much is it?” Cosette asked the employee.

“25 gold.”

Ma’am. That tapestry was already half of my rent for the workshop back in Winter Court, and you’re upping the price even more?! Your economy is either cracked or something is extremely wrong here. Was Amelio giving me a huge discount on the two rooms?

Maybe what’s actually broken here is my understanding of your money system, because what the hell??

Cosette sent a small prayer to the Spirit of Night and Winter, asking them to keep her wallet in their thoughts.

It would be good to try and work backwards from this perfume to see how it was created by analyzing the top, heart and base notes of the fragrance. If I could I would grab more, but this one alone is expensive enough.

Behind her she could hear Elain trying to convince Azriel to try out one of the other newly released perfumes, but the spymaster politely declined. Huffing, Elain walked over to the counter after Cosette had finished making her purchase.

Cosette stared in awe and fear at the basket of perfumes Elain had selected, purchasing them all without hesitation.

How much money did Rhysand have?!

That was a dumb question, obviously it was a lot, but more importantly, how much money did he give to the members of his inner circle to use freely??

Why do you need five different perfumes at the same time, Elain? Consider expiration dates!

It was beginning to dawn on Cosette how rich the Night Court actually was, which scared her because it made her start to think about how wealthy the other High Lords must also be.

“Shall we?” Elain happily skipped outside, with Cosette and Azriel following after her.

A bit further down the street they entered the soap shop that Elain mentioned. 

The building felt like its own little pocket dimension with little bubbles floating throughout the shop, the ones hanging around the ceiling containing faerie lights. 

Cosette poked at one that floated by but it didn’t pop, instead it just wobbled awkwardly and whizzed away.

The space looked almost impossibly tall, with shelves that looked too unstable to function teetering along the edges. The walls and everything were so elongated to the point that Cosette was certain that there was some sort of spatial magic at play making the space look or be larger than it actually was.

Elain and Cosette jumped as a continuous, monotonous croaking, rapping sound disturbed the peaceful daydreaming state the shop evoked. A nightjar, perched on one of the shelves stared down at them

“Elain Archeron, how wonderful to see you.” a faerie dressed in a deep blue dress, decorated in countless jewels appeared from behind the encounter, exchanging cheek kisses with Elain.

“Oh Azriel, you two do not stop by frequently enough.” the woman shook hands with the spymaster.

The nightjar called again.

“Oh settle down, Gloaming it’s just Rhysand’s friends.”

The nightjar shifted in discomfort, still staring at the group.

“What can I do for you today?”

“We’re giving a new friend of ours a tour of the city as this is their first time here.” Elain pulled Cosette to stand by her.

“Oh how wonderful!” the lady clapped her hands together, the rings on her hands making a satisfying clicking sound, “I assume you’re here to buy souvenirs?”

“Exactly!” Elain winked, “Do you mind if we take a look around?”

“Oh of course go ahead, look at whatever you want!”

“Perfect!” Elain led Cosette over to one of the uncomfortably tall cabinets filled with boxes upon boxes of bar soaps, “Here, you can pick them up to smell them.” Elain handed Cosette one to sniff.

“It’s good.” Cosette nodded approvingly. 

This kind of soap is actually an impressive feat. Soaps as I know them would logistically not exist in this world due to the time period it’s supposedly set in, but this comes pretty close to it. Back in Winter Court we had blocks of soap but they weren’t scented, and weren’t that great. 

In fact, what if it wasn’t soap? They didn’t foam as much as traditional soap back home did. It could be made from some sort of native Winter Court plant that performed a similar function to soap.

Cosette pushed these thoughts to the back for later, trying to focus on Elain’s lecture about the soaps’ scents.

If this entire place is filled with soap, how much time does this woman dedicate to making it? There’s countless boxes, all filled to the brim. Where is the staff to do this? The resources?

Cosette glanced at the odd shopkeeper who was still standing next to Azriel, rattling off about how wonderful soaps were, the man stoically nodding along.

“Do you think your friends would like any of these?” Elain brought Cosette back to the present once more.

“Oh right, yes. I think they would. What’s the price on the lavender soap?”

It would be cool to get Blanche a matching soap to her perfume.

“5 gold.”

Finally an affordable price!!

“Is there a cedarwood scented one?”

Forrest can also have a matching one too then.

“Yep, over here.” Elain stood on her tippy toes, trying to reach a shelf above her head.

Azriel leaned over Elain, grabbing the soap just out of her reach, “Here…”

Elain blushed shyly, taking the soap from his large hand, “Thank you.”

Cosette wasn’t sure if she should have pointed out that there was a stepping stool standing right next to Elain.

Cosette shifted slightly as the two stared deep into each other's eyes.

Oh God I am third wheeling so hard right now.

“Thank you.” Elain whispered.

“It’s nothing.” Azriel looked down slightly, his hair falling forward.

Seeing that Elain had lost interest in continuing their conversation, Cosette fled to the register, giving the two some space.

“Did you find everything you want?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you find everything you need?” the faerie smiled mysteriously.

“I-yes…” Cosette just wanted to get her soaps and leave at this point.

“Haha, I am just kidding around with you. What else would you need from here if not soap, hm?” the woman sighed, ringing her up and wrapping the soaps in paper.

The nightjar made eye contact with Cosette, instantly making her uncomfortable. The bird tilted its head, as if trying to read her soul.

Cosette mimicked the motion playfully, offering it a small smile.

The bird looked insulted and suddenly began its chirping again, flapping its wings wildly.

“What has gotten into you?” the shopkeeper looked at the bird with concern, but the bird just kept screeching, unable to properly convey its message.

Seeing that no one was understanding him the bird decided to begin harassing Cosette, diving straight at her.

Cosette screeched in turn, ducking under the counter as the bird missed her by a few inches.

“Gloaming! Stop that!” the lady yelled, but not taking any actual action against the bird.

The nightjar landed on the other side of the room on a different shelf, still staring down Cosette with a hatred she didn’t know was possible for a bird to feel.

“I am sorry about him, Miss.” the shopkeeper helped Cosette up, “Gloaming isn’t usually like this.”

“It’s okay, we all have bad days.” Cosette smiled.

Your bird is clinically crazy ma’am. Or, alternatively, he’s just being a bird, and birds are clinically crazy.

“He’s usually so well behaved with customers. Even plays with the little ones. He’s just very sensitive today.” the faerie sighed, “Nightjars can only truly hate those that insult the Spirit of the Night Court, or those that are terrible people. However, since Elain has befriended you, it certainly cannot be the latter.”

Nice, I have Elain immunity.

“Perhaps me being from a different court is triggering him?” Cosette offered.

Also, how does a nightjar know who’s a terrible person? Is it based on if I tried to feed him the wrong type of seeds? Or maybe I looked at him wrong? Like how severe must the crime be?

“Maybe, but that shouldn’t be enough.” the lady sighed, “Our Spirit is kind and welcoming. In recent months we’ve had plenty of visitors and nightjars haven’t been harassing them. I truly think he’s just having a bad day.”

“Um, I have picked out the soaps I want.” Elain approached the counter, Azriel following behind her, a small blush gracing his cheeks and the tips of his ears.

“Perfect, thank you for your patronage!” the faerie wrapped up Elain’s soaps and waved them goodbye as they left, the Nightjar still staring intently.

Stepping out of the shop, Elain handed Azriel her bags, as well as Cosette’s, sweetly asking him to carry them since they were getting heavy. Azriel, of course, obliged, quietly carrying their bags behind the duo who chatted about where to go next, but something told Cosette he would have very much preferred to throw all her stuff in the Sidra River.

“It’s turning dark already.”

“Right? It’s so strange, I still can’t get used to it.” Elain looked up at the sky, taking in the brilliant stars, “I know one more place we should go before calling it a day!” Elain spun around dramatically, “There is a cute ice cream spot near the Sidra River, let’s go there.”

Azriel nodded, “Sure.”

Is this actually a convoluted plan to actually have this man throw my stuff in the water?

Thus they began their trek to the Sidra River, taking pauses for Cosette to rest when the bruising began hurting too bad.

Eventually they made it, with Cosette letting the two of them go in first because she was in pain and her chest hurt. The other reason was that she didn’t want to watch the two of them feed each other samples while she awkwardly stood off to the side and made eye contact with an innocent faerie employee.

Cosette put her head down on the table, the cool wind gently ruffling her hair as the small waves of the river hit the foundation of the walkway that the cozy street was located on. Several painters were sitting along the edge, working on their canvases with paints. A couple of the younger faeries perched on top of the balustrade, were hard at work on their smaller drawing pads with just a pencil. The smell of waffles wafted through the air.

It felt peaceful. A true dream captured in real time.

Cosette’s tranquil state was interrupted by a male faerie dressed in a black cloak grabbing her wallet and making a mad dash down the street with it.

“Shit.” Cosette  jumped out of her seat to chase after the culprit, immediately grabbing onto the table as she shuddered, pain exploding in her stomach and chest. Gritting her teeth and doing her best to ignore the pain, Cosette continued to try and run but ended up toppling over. Cosette made another mental note to herself; practice running in heels when returning to Winter Court.

“Stop that ma-male! He’s a thief!” Cosette yelled, having to stop herself from saying ‘man’.

A couple faeries did give chase, but the man was too far away to be caught by that point.

Elain gasped as she stepped out of the ice cream shop, “Cosette, are you alright?!”

“I am fine.” Cosette forced herself up to her feet, trying to wipe away the dirt that now covered her dress, “Someone stole my wallet though.”

Which in fact was not fine.

“What? A thief?” Elain looked shocked, “How could someone do something like that?”

“Pretty easily, they just, you know, grab the item and run with it?” Cosette snapped slightly.

“Sorry, that’s not what I meant…” Elain looked down sad. 

Azriel stared at Cosette with a blank expression with eyes that held a storm within them. He sighed after a minute and spoke in a soft voice, putting an arm around Elain, “Where did the male go?”

“Down the street.” Cosette pointed.

The few faeries that did try to catch the culprit returned just then, “Sorry Miss, we lost him.”

“It’s okay, thank you for your effort.” Cosette said; she did appreciate the attempt, even if it didn’t amount to much.

“What did the male look like?” Azriel asked.

“I didn’t get a chance to see his face, he was wearing a black cloak.” Cosette said. 

“What about you all?” Azriel turned to the other faeries.

“We didn’t see either.”

“How about this; we can buy you an ice cream.” Elain offered.

“No, it’s okay.”

I would really rather not owe you anything, even if it’s a couple silver pieces, although considering the neighborhood it was more likely to be several gold coins.

“I will have my shadows try to find the culprit for you.” the shadowsinger offered, leading Elain over to a chair and pulling it out for her. After she sat down he took the seat beside her.

Does your gentleness only extend to that woman alone?

Cosette couldn’t help the sourness pooling in her gut as she took a seat across from them.

“Are you sure you don’t want some?” Elain offered once more.

“Yes, I am sure.”

Cosette watched as the two shared an ice cream covered in rose petals. 

Well, at least my wallet was practically empty.

Cosette had been bringing parts of her budget with her into the city to make sure that if this exact thing happened, she didn’t lose all her money. She wasn’t sure how she had allowed the man to get so close as to steal her wallet. Granted, she was quite out of it due to the hex. It wasn’t that far fetched that someone could have snuck up on her.

The moment Azriel and Elain finished their ice cream Cosette excused herself from the table, “I think I will head back to the ship.”

“So soon?”

“I am quite tired.”

“Understandable, have a safe trip home.” Azriel’s voice was calm, but a cold edge was clearly present.

Don’t worry bud, I am just as happy to get going as you are to be rid of me. So sorry for ruining your ‘date’, when you two literally invited me.

“You have so many bags to carry, let us accompany you!” Elain said.

“I appreciate your concern, but I will be fine.” Cosette gave them a pleasant smile, picked up her bags and walked away. The two members of the inner circle let her go.

Making her way over the Sidra River, Cosette stopped on the other side of the bridge, approaching the shore.

Right there, at the very edge of the sidewalk’s foundation, lay her wallet. Cold, absolutely freezing to the touch, even though the air had been warm this whole evening.

Cosette practically crawled onto Amelio’s ship, a heavy, invisible, sticky weight covering every part of her body.

“Cosette, you’re back!” Amelio waved her over from his seat at the table with the crew, Linus sitting beside him, devouring a chicken leg.

“Yeah I am back.” she grumbled. Cosette had ended up caving and took a carriage back to the ship, not being confident in her ability to walk all the way across the city again while carrying several heavy shopping bags. The coachman had been very confused when she gave him wet silver coins.

At least the sailors at the port were kind enough to escort me to the ship to make sure I didn’t collapse on the way.

Amelio’s smile barely faltered as he took in her rough appearance, “Had a rough day?”

“You could say that.”

Cosette had honestly thought that the tour might have ended with a visit to the guillotine. Why and for what crime she didn’t know, but Azriel’s silent stare, his shadows and masking of expressions unnerved her. 

Be more like Amelio Azriel. Smiley and happy!

“Will you be eating in your room?” seeing her exhaustion, Amelio didn’t press her for details.

“Yes.” Cosette took the offered option with a grateful expression.

Amelio nodded, “Very well. Please rest and recover soon.”

“Did you spend the whole day shopping?” Linus called out after her as she walked away from him, missing how Amelio gave his student a sharp, stern look.

One of the crewmembers offered to carry her bags and food which was a deal she happily agreed to. The two made it down to her cabin where the sailor left her, going back up to the deck.

Cosette wasn’t sure how she managed to change into her pajamas, but she did, throwing the dress haphazardly into the cabinet along with the shopping bags.

I’ll regret not hanging it up nicely now, but I don’t care.

Cosette collapsed into bed ready to close her eyes when she remembered the healer’s instructions.

‘Just in case I suggest not sleeping until we leave tomorrow.’

She was really tempted to disregard the warning but when Cosette kicked the blanket in frustration she yelped in pain grabbing at her stomach. The pain immediately changed her mind regarding her plans for the evening, not wanting to inflict more pain on her human body.

Reluctantly, Cosette pulled out the book she had opened last night, ‘The History of Prythian’s Spirits and Traditions’, and began reading, hoping it would be enough to keep her distracted and awake.

Credit for information regarding weaving a basket.

Next: Chapter 34 - A Sleep Deprived Vacation

Back: Chapter 32 - Behind Closed Doors

Masterlist

Tag list: @rcarbo1

If you want to be added to a tag list let me know :D

[noodyl-blasstal]

Oops, Come Dine With Me

It's @taznovembercelebration day 7! Today I got "Cooking" and drew another card, "Bakery AU"

You can read yesterday's prompt here and today's below.

-

Taako answers the phone, tucks it between his shoulder and ear, grabs the cookies, and closes the oven door as quietly as possible with his knee. "Go for Taako."

"Tah-kow, darling, how are you?" Asks an overfamiliar voice. Definitely one of the twins from the production company, Taako isn't sure which one, maybe Edward?

"Cha'boy's just wonderful, thank you so much for asking. How about your good self?" Taako rolls his eyes, but it’s worth playing the game as long as this pays off.

"I'm splendiferous, just peachy, and so thrilled to tell you the outcome of your interview."

Taako waits, there's so much riding on this. If he can just get the money he can afford the bakery. There's no way he's letting Jenkins get it instead, but Jenkins has family money and Taako has one sister who’s as broke as he is. If Jenkins gets it Taako's going to have to leave, going to have to charm his way into another restaurant or bakery because boy does he not have the qualifications for it. His macarons can only take him so far in life. But if he gets to own the shop? Then he can branch out. Taako can bake better than anyone, but he cooks too. He's a baller chef and once the bakery is his he can prove it.

"Are you still there dear?" Edward asks, Taako's fairly sure it's Edward, not that he’ll gamble and use his name yet.

"Yeparooni."

"Aren't you going to ask what the decision was?" Edward sounds pissed off, but Taako hates playing games. It's worth it though, well, if he's got the spot.

"Sure. Did cha'boy knock yours socks off?"

"We were impressed by your skills, and very intrigued by your husband's menu theming - a fan of the macabre you said?" Shit. He didn’t think they were going to ask about it… maybe Taako didn't completely totally and fully think this plan through.

"He sure is!" Taako says brightly. "Big fan of death. Loves a goth bird too, you can probably tell." Taako had channelled him hard when he wrote that menu.

Edward laughs, polite and insincere. "Yes, well, such a shame he couldn't make it to the interviews."

"Mmhmm." Taako replies, attempting the most mournful voice he can muster. "It was deeply difficult to do something so important without him there, but, you just can't argue with explosive diarrhoea, can you?" Well, hopefully he wouldn’t.

Edward makes a choked noise of disgust on the other side of the phone and it fills Taako with vindictive glee. Serves him right, honestly - how dare he ask Taako about the husband he’s entering Couples Come Dine With Me with and mentioned multiple times throughout the interview.

"How..  ah... romantic." Edward's clearly struggling not to let his disgust shine through and failing miserably.

"Thank you, we're very deeply in love." Taako says, doing his best impression of Taako Tacco: married guy.

Edward chuckles. "I'm sure you are, and that you'll be delighted to hear that you get to demonstrate that love to the nation - you’ve been selected for the show!”

Edward’s so effusive that Taako feels he should do more to celebrate than a silent fistpump. “Wowwee! Golly gee! What wonderful news!! I’m jumping for joy!” Taako does jump, three times, just in case Edward can hear somehow.

“I’m so glad you’re excited. We’ll just need you and, Kravitz to meet with the producers to hand in your final menu and we can discuss filming your sections.” Edward’s in business mode now.

“Just to check…” Taako ventures. “... just in case, you know, it comes up, what would happen if my beloved, darling Kravitz were still too unwell to take part?” Taako tries to sound as innocent as possible, it’s a perfectly ordinary question, anyone would ask it.

Edward laughs once. “He won’t be, Taako.” 

“I’m sorry, what?” That sounded like they’d marionette his corpse round if he tried to back out.

“It’s <i>Couples</i> Come Dine With Me, Taako. No husband, no shot at the prize, we’ve got back up couples.”

“Uh huh.” Says Taako, cool, totally normal, nonchalant, in fact. “So, if he were ill, could I bring a friend? My sister would do it.”

“That’s not really the kind of show, not to judge of course, but the couples do have to be legal. Anyway, ta ta! Watch out for the email from production.” 

Edward’s gone. Taako stands alone in the kitchen with a tray of cookies and the mess he created. He pulls out his phone:

Taako [15:27] Hey Krav, wanna get married?

[ivoryminitower]

Echoes of Home side story: Steve ("Ultima")

Echoes of Home: FFXIV AU OC – WoLs on Earth

Written for a writing challenge: "Write something that incorporates all five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch) to paint a scene and tell part of your story."

I had told Tsu'na that the Ultima weapon demonstration in the Praetorium was like a nuclear explosion.  Not that I have personal experience of what a nuclear explosion is like.  I suppose now I can experience one and simply wake up at my home point.  But that's not something I particularly want to do.

So I was basing that statement on scale.  It was big.  It was very big.  It took out imperial airships.  It hollowed out the entire base.  Might not have been Hiroshima scale, but it didn't have to be, since it was being used on a more personal basis than that.  So maybe what they refer to in science fiction (and for all I know military briefings) as a "tactical nuke."  Which means a comparable nuke would be smaller than Fat Man or Little Boy.  Maybe beer-keg size.

It still wasn't fun to have happen right in front of me.

Hydaelyn's shield protected us for the most part, but it didn't completely spare us from the experience.  We weren't, for example, blinded by the flash, but it did fill our vision, getting bigger and brighter until it at least looked like we were inside the sun.  I couldn't see Gaius or his bigass mecha.  I couldn't see Tsu'na.  I doubt I could have seen my hand in front of my face.  I don't think I could see my eyelids when I closed my eyes.

Then there was the heat and the pressure.  I wasn't knocked off my feet because it was all around me, squeezing in on me, trying to crush me.  The shield kept it at bay, but it was still difficult to breathe.  My chest didn't want to expand.  My knees wanted to buckle from what felt like tremendous weight.  I think my eardrums threatened to rupture.

As the light and heat and pressure faded, I tried to catch my breath and choked on the air.  It smelled and tasted of metal…all the metal that Garleans love so much making up the base that was then hot vapor.  I yanked a bolt of linen from my inventory and covered my face with it, trying to filter a little bit of oxygen from the metallic atmosphere.

Then the ringing began.  My tortured ears were able to function, but they weren't happy about their job.  I healed so quickly in Eorzea that I hoped it would eventually go away.  But before that could happen I got to listen to Baelsar's voice blasting through his dinomecha's loudspeakers.  I'd already gotten tired of his helmet-filtered voice when he was raving about his justifications for conquest, and in his mecha it was ten times as loud and at least that much more annoying.  Especially with the ringing providing background.

It didn't matter that I had run Prae in the game back on Earth.  It didn't even matter that I had farmed Prae for poetics and mogtomes until I could hear Baelsar's damn speech in my sleep.  Nothing could have prepared me for the firsthand experience of the Ultima weapon going off from a few yards away.  Nothing that I'd've wanted to go through, anyway.  It was only later that I could appreciate Tsu'na going through it a second time just to support me.

When we got done in there, when the dust of battle had settled, and we, the strong, had dictated the fate of the weak (fuck you, Baelsar), and we had evacuated, Tsu'na found a quiet place we could go to hide.  A small room, a bare floor, a single lantern.  It was enough.  It was all I wanted, and she knew that from experience.  The speeches and the adulation could come later.  All I wanted was to not experience anything for a little while.

We didn't talk.  We didn't touch.  She covered the lantern a bit.  We sat in the dark.

Eventually my ears stopped ringing.

[madamebristow]

True Power

This fic was originally posted on my blog, mbcartoons. (Blog deleted) So, I decided to post this almost a year old fic again!

Characters belong to Nintendo. Dialogue and Story belongs to @jell-o101

TW: Mentions of Death and Violence

WILL BE WRITING NEW REMEMBER THE TIME CHAPTER SOON!!!!

Oh, this was bad. Mario looked on in horror at his baby brother squirming around in that weird turtle-dragon’s claw. How did they get to this point? One minute, they are in the flooded streets of Brooklyn, New York and the next, they’re battling a lovestruck turtle dragon. “Put back the Super Star,” Bowser threatened Mario. “Or this twerp learns how to fly WITHOUT POWER-UPS!” Bowser put Luigi over the sea of molten lava below the castle the crew was in. Luigi was terrified looking at how high he was from the lava. The heat made him sweat where he didn’t know he could.

Mario couldn’t even think about Luigi dying. How would he go on? How would he explain this to their parents? “LUIGI!” Mario called out to his brother. “Toad...do what he says!” Toad put the Super Star back on its platform before racing down to his monarch who welcomed him with open arms. “Okay…okay,” Mario tried to comfort Bowser and frankly, himself. “You have what you want, just, let him go. He means the world to me. So please, let him go.” Mario felt a lump grow in his throat. “Mario,” Luigi called out to his brother, his voice small. He felt like that little kid on the playground who was always getting bullied. Bowser rolled his eyes. “That's the thing about the people you love. The more you love 'em, the more it hurts when they go. Allow me to demonstrate.” Then, he let go of him.

Luigi was falling to his death. Tears fell from his cheeks as he fell to his demise.

Everyone looked on in horror. Luigi was gone. Mario’s world came falling around him. The red-hatted plumber dropped to his knees. Luigi was gone. He couldn’t be. Mario thought about his last moments with his brother before they were sucked into this situation.

“Nothing can hurt us as long as long as we're together!”

“You're gonna bring your brother down with ya..."

“I hope you told your brother how much you love him..."

"Mario...you're not bringing me down!"

Mario grabbed his chest, he felt like he had just been stabbed right in the center of his heart. His other half was gone, and it was all that evil turtle’s fault. That’s when he was sent into a blind rage. “Give him back,” That’s all Mario could say at that point. He shakily stood up.

Meanwhile, Peach took a Tanooki leaf and ran to the sea of lava. She jumped in and started flying around looking for the other Mario brother. Then, she saw him, falling. He was two inches away from being burned alive.

“I’m sorry, what?” Bowser asked. “Give. Him. Back.” “What? You told me to let him go, and I let him go!” Mario ran up to Bowser and pounced at him. “I am a Koopa of my word-” Mario punched him square in the jaw, knocking out one of his humungous teeth. The tooth landed in front of Donkey Kong and Toad. “NO WAY!” Toad exclaimed. Bowser was pushed to one of the windows in his castle. The sea of lava right below him. Bowser gained his balance before stepping forward to Mario, who was ready to fight. “First, you try to push me out the window AND break my tooth? How pathetic can you be?” Bowser didn’t get to finish his sentence because Mario had knocked him down.

While on the floor, Bowser grabbed the plumber and breathed fire at him. Mario stopped the fire before it could reach him. The interruption made Bowser start coughing. Mario grabbed the Koopa King’s tail and was about to swing him around. “OH NO YOU DON’T!” Bowser wiggles his tail up and down trying to flick Mario off. Despite the wiggling, Mario still held on, and then, the plumber swung Bowser around. “GIVE. HIM. BACK!” Then, Mario let Bowser go. The king flew to the sea of lava and fell to his demise.

Mario stood on the ledge with sweat and tears rolling down his face while DK and Toad were left shocked at how Mario fought Bowser. “And he did all that without power-ups,” Toad finally said, breaking the silence. “Why didn't he fight ME like that?” DK wondered. Toad noticed that the Princess was gone and also something else. “The Princess seems to have gone somewhere. We need to… Mario, you're standing AWFULLY CLOSE to that edge.” Mario didn’t respond, all he did was look at the sea that his brother died in. “OK Listen, I'm sorry for what happened to your brother,” Toad explained. Then, DK and Toad saw something green and blue zoom past them.

Mario couldn’t hear anything the little guy was saying. All he could think about was his brother. Luigi was dead. He had gone somewhere that Mario couldn’t. All Mario wanted was to be with his brother. “Dad was right. I did bring him down,” Mario thought.

Mario couldn’t even hear the person calling his name. “MARIO!”

“It's my fault…”

“MARIO!” Mario took a step forward and was about to jump. “Luigi...I can't wait to see you again…” Then, someone wrapped their hands around Mario’s waist and brought the both of them back from the ledge. Then, everything went black.

A few seconds later, Mario opened his eyes and looked up to see him. Luigi. “Mario!” Luigi exclaimed tears streaming down the younger Mario’s face. Mario sat up to face his brother. This had to be a dream. He saw Luigi fall to his death. It didn’t matter what it was, Luigi was okay. Tears streamed down Mario’s face. “T-the Princess and the...the bear thing, it... I'm here and...the sounds, I heard it all,” Luigi told Mario. “You'd be surprised at how much you can hear when you're falling towards your death, haha! Like when you yelled, "GIVE HIM BACK!" That was cool! And the fighting and the shouting...it was… well...I knew I had to get back to you, so when I heard the little mushroom man, My bro misses me so, I… Mario, what were you gonna do?” Mario couldn’t contain it, he pushed himself into his baby brother and started sobbing. “LU!” Mario exclaimed. “I’m here Mario,” Luigi comforted his Fratello. Donkey Kong gagged at the sight of the brothers hugging. “Ew, stop being gross,” DK said. In response, Toad hit him with his frying pan. “OW!” DK exclaimed. Then, the two started fighting.

Peach, still in her tanooki (or bear) costume, walked up to the brothers. “With Bowser out of the picture, we can safely take the Super Star away for safekeeping,” She said, happily. “I don't know if this matters to you two, but I have your caps.” The two stood up and put on their caps. Then, Mario thought about something. What if this was a dream? What if Luigi was still in that lava and Mario was hallucinating the whole thing?

“Lu?” Mario asked Luigi. “Hm?” Luigi answered. Mario put his hands on his brother’s cheeks. “How do I know that you're real and actually here?” “If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to do this! Hyah!” Luigi poked his brother’s belly. “Luigi, nooo!” Mario chuckled. He pulled Luigi into an embrace. Luigi was alive. He was okay. And that’s all Mario needed.

[rulesforthedance]

Sunday was the one-year anniversary of my first date with N. Neither of us remembers what day we became "official," so we count our first date as our anniversary. She told me weeks later she'd been half-expecting me to stand her up because I hadn't seemed very interested in my texts. I didn't want to be too forward! I have this problem a lot. We went roller skating, her idea--she thought she'd remember how from her childhood, but she didn't, and I lent her my knee pads and she made good use of them. It was also, unfortunately, Organ Day at the rink, so we shouted to each other through our masks while the live organist blasted deafening showtunes on the Wurlitzer. Fortunately she gave me a second date anyway.

Life with N is so good it feels like it shouldn't be possible (DON'T JINX, KNOCK ON WOOD, KINA HORA). I didn't think I was allowed to have this. I am learning how it is to have a partner whose love you never doubt, who is your home, and to get to be a home for her, too. Some of the moments I love her most are: when she is doing a silly dance at an unexpected time, when she is being very sweet to Henry, when she is telling me about her work as an environmental lawyer (which is hard and she is doing it because she cares about it so much, which is what makes it so moving and compelling to listen to her), when she is arguing jocularly and brilliantly with her lawyer friends over drinks, when she is finding a way to talk to me about something important even though it is uncomfortable for her (because it demonstrates that Doing Our Relationship Right matters as much to her as it does to me, and that she is brave and thoughtful), when I am holding her while she is sleeping, when she is holding me as I fall asleep.

We'd been planning to go out for a nice dinner on Sunday, but it was 100 degrees, which is too hot for a restaurant patio, and we don't eat (or take our masks off) inside restaurants (or any other buildings that aren't our home). So N made BBQ chicken nachos like she used to have in college in Mississippi and I made margaritas. We filled our kiddie pool (juuust large enough for two adults to sit in, if they're willing to have their legs all over each other) in the backyard and sat in it to eat our nachos and drink our margaritas. Ideal party. (When Mary Oliver said "Each time it solved a great many things but not everything. Yet left me as grateful as if it had indeed, and thoroughly, solved everything.")

[thatfangirlofsb]

T/W: Grishaverse spoilers.

Your highness (VI)

"Zoya..."

"Leave me alone, Nina."

The squaller was packing up the few belongings she had for the trip. A week ago they had returned from Hellgate with Matthias and, between several assassination attempts against the grisha and escapes by the drüskelle, they had managed to elaborate a plan to go to Os Alta.

Zoya didn't want to, but mainly to hide that now so obvious pregnancy. She had asked Nina to do it with her tailoring skills, but she couldn't; so now she could only use a cape that each day served its function less.

"Never..."

"Even though we're fucking deserters, imagine I'm still your general." That hurt immensely, she had turned her back on Ravka because of the simple illusion that the sun summoner had managed to plant in her. "Shut up and don't talk to me."

"What a pity, because we are fucking deserters and you are no longer my general." Nina looked at her sympathetically, and Zoya lifted her chin haughtily to meet her eyes with that fierce look she always had. "How did it happen? It's not something that takes place every day."

"Why don't you ask your drüskelle? I'm sure he'll give you a demonstration and…"

"Let's keep Matthias out of this." Zoya rolled her eyes. Despite everything that the damned grisha hunter had done to her comrades and friends, Nina kept foolishly trying to get close to him. Was that love, or was it actually the drüskelles who used witchcraft?

"I'll tell you all you want as long as you don't name that one to me." She sat down on the cot with a sigh. She had slept in worse places, but with the pregnancy her sensations increased, and the discomfort she felt every night having to rest there caused her insomnia. "One day, we got too close and we ended up having sex. It was repeated and repeated until the wedding, when I left knowing that I was already carrying our baby. I told Alina before the ceremony, and she made me think that we could find a solution , him and me, to be able to be... together." She lifted her chin, as her common movement to control the feelings that bubbled up in her. "I was going to have an abortion, I had everything planned, but the image of a future with him and the baby... blinded me. So I waited, I waited for the damn ceremony to end. I stayed there suffering, waiting for him to turn around and go to me. But none of that happened, and when everyone had gone to the banquet I left." She moved her leg when she felt Nina's hand on her knee. It was Zoya Nazyalensky, she didn't receive words or signs of consolation. "And now I know that another girl is impersonating me. And I'm worried about how she's playing general for Ravka, but…also what she's doing with him. Even if I'm not the kind of girl with nice words… you don't know how soft he gets when he hears one."

"Do you like him." Zoya turned her head and stared at her. "I mean...yes, General."

"I am no longer a general."

"You can still be the one of that king's heart."

"Nina!"

And they would have continued annoying each other if a knock on the open door hadn't interrupted them.

"Nina." Kaz tapped the raven head from his cane at the door, turning and walking down the stairs again. "They are looking for you." He said before disappearing from the sight of the two grisha.

"I am required." The humorous tone returned to the heartrender's voice. "I hold a very important position here."

"Yes? Then I'll go with you to see how important you are."

"If you catch up with me."

Nina began to run down the stairs, but trying not to step too hard on those rickety planks and fell to the bottom next to it. Zoya couldn't be that fast, the extra weight she was carrying made her stagger sometimes. So her hands gripped the railing tightly and she started going down, sometimes even sideways for more stability.

When she got to the end, Nina was already on the strange ground floor of the club. Her feet still and her hands on each side of her hip without making any movement.

"Is Helvar trying to kill you again?" She asked with a laugh as she approached her. "He will never learn."

"Zoya!" What was Genya doing there? And why was she looking at her with that face between evil and surprise? Oh no, she had seen it. "Zoya?"

"I reacted the same, but in reverse."

And Nina's mouth moving to speak was the last thing she saw before she felt arms tighten around her and lips moving against hers.

[°°°]

"That hurt."

"Not enough if you keep talking."

If Zoya was about to hear Nikolai complaining again about how his head had hit the table after being pushed, she was going to lose her patience completely. Who would think of throwing themselves at someone to kiss that person? Ah yes, the King of Ravka.

"But..." Zoya looked at him with dagger eyes, and he didn't do anything dumber than keep talking. "I was looking for you a lot, I even lost hope and now... saints." His gaze fell to the girl's belly, to which one she put over a coat trying to hide it. "We'll be..."

"Stop, let's not start assuming things." Her eyes rolled back for a few seconds before she spoke again. Couldn't her life get worse? "Why do you think the baby is yours? I've been traveling around so many places, it could be anyone's." She was exaggerating a bit, she hadn't been to that many places, although she would do whatever it took to not put up with that big smile that the blond put on his face when he saw that lump. "Maybe from a Fjerdan, wood is very expensive and you have to find new ways to keep yourself warm." The squaller turned her gaze towards the drüskelle and smiled, since he was there, she was going to bother him too. "Maybe it's from Matthias."

Nina's 'don't know what' choked on the glass of water he was drinking. And the heartrender ran to his side and placed her palm against the opponent's back trying to help him. But this only caused him to cough more forcefully and almost fell out of his chair. Zoya, with a haughty smile, returned her gaze to Nikolai, she was going to try to read his reaction but the drüskelle's voice sounded again.

"Get off me, witch!" The blue-eyed girl rolled her eyes, and before turning around to fix that, she flashed a slight smile at the blond in front of her. "One moment." Her body rotated and she extended her hands towards the fjerdan, slowly sucking the air out of him causing the glass to fall to the ground and break; so he couldn't use it as a weapon. "Do you want to go back to your fucking igloo?"

"It's called the Ice Court." He corrected her, trying to catch air again. "Damn witch."

"And that's what I said, drüskelle." She turned around again, letting the air pass freely through that boy's lungs again. She would regret it later, but before she had several more important things on her list. "How could you find me if there is a Zoya Nazyalensky in Os Alta?"

"She's clearly not you." The grisha raised an eyebrow, visibly curious for a longer explanation. "She's kind and smiles."

"A lot." Genya noted, before beginning to contribute her own information. "She, Alina and I were taking a walk... and she told us that she loved her job."

"Well, that's not a lie either..."

"Especially the part about putting up with Nikolai." The squaller's surprised eyes made a small smile appear on the redhead. "Well... however, now I don't know if that's something impossible."

"If you look at my belly, I swear I'll throw you some air." She raised her hands, in a clear threat that she wasn't sure if she would be able to carry out. "Bye to my respect in the Little Palace."

"No, hardly anyone has noticed." Nikolai smiled, like that was cool. Would he like the fake version more than the real me? Zoya thought, regretting it after a few seconds. "Except the little students and Fedyor."

"Fedyor?" How could that boy, so cheerful, have noticed? He wanted all people to be the same as him, and now that he had made the cold 'Zoya' to be... he doubted? "He says it looks like you've had a heat stroke and then you're going crazy."

"And the students?" Zoya cut through Nikolai, crossing her arms over the belly as she waited for an answer. Those little grisha at least knew how to recognize her. "Two inferni and a durast messed up your kefta on purpose to test their thoughts." Genya nodded her head when she saw the stunned face of the squaller, when they'll returned with her... poor students. "And when the fake Zoya found out, she wasn't upset, she even praised them for their artistic skills."

"We're going to Os Alta, now." She turned her gaze to Brekker, and he gave her a small smile.

That trip no longer seemed so bad.

—————

You can see the list of fanfics with all parts of this fic so far HERE.

[dungeonbf]

sjw antics

part of an art trade i did with @boykujou :3 featuring his s/i, christian libertarianism and anarcho-communism <3 tw for brief drug use — ancom uses qui/he and chris lib uses he/him

“Have you ever smoked before?”

Ancom asks, eyes dark and shiny as qui passes the lit blunt to Christian Libertarianism.

The two are seated mere inches away from each other on the sofa. Chris practically sinks into the couch, knees knocking into Ancom’s as he sits up.

Chris shakes his head mutely and inhales deeply, erupting in a coughing fit as he exhales.

“I should Wikipedia how to do this, no fuckin’ clue what I’m doing.”

“You just, y’know, inhale. It’s easy.”

Ancom grins, quis face spreading into an easy smile as qui tries to demonstrate. With the joint in one hand, qui mimics inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the nose.

“Like that. You should get the hang of it, Chris.”

“I don’t normally partake … it’s new.”

“Lucky you have me then. I’m the best — and only — smoker I know.”

“Charming.” He snorts, rolling his eyes slightly as he accepts the blunt and takes a short drag, careful not to start choking up again.

Ancom eyes the lack of space between them with interest, his fingertips ghosting over Chris’ knee cautiously.

“This okay?”

Chris looks at the hand on his knee with curiosity, but doesn’t flinch. “Yeah, yeah, it’s — it’s fine.”

He takes another hit before passing the blunt back to Ancom, ignoring the heat rising high on his cheeks. It’s just the THC roiling in his system. Nothing else.

“It’s hot in here.” Chris palms at the back of his neck, feeling beads of sweat roll down between his fingers.

Ancom hums quietly in response, stubbing out the blunt with quis free hand — “I think you’ve had enough. Don’t wanna get you sick.”

Slowly, qui moves his hand from Chris’ knee up to the curve of his jaw. “You’re handsome, you know that?”

Quis voice is soft and gentle as he strokes quis thumb back and forth over Chris’ jaw. They’re much closer now, Ancom looming over Chris’ lap, half-tempted to sit down. With each movement, they’re pressing closer - knees touching, arms brushing against arms.

“So pretty, Chris.”

In a slightly thick Southern drawl, he mewls demurely: “Thanks … you, too.”

He wants to say more, he wants to spill every single thought rolling around in his skull - how he thinks of Ancom every time he catches a glimpse of My Little Pony or when he sees a cat walking around and how, when it’s dark and he’s all alone in the confines of his room, he fucking aches for Ancom’s arms around him.

Instead, Chris softly sighs and watches the ideology’s every movement, entranced.

A few minutes pass in relative quiet - the only noise being the two’s breathing, hot breath mixing together.

Ancom stares back, glassy pupils blown wide, quis thumb still absentmindedly stroking Chris’ jaw.

“Can I?”

Chris doesn’t have to say anything — there’s a mutual understanding of just how badly they both want this — an unspoken craving, a desire. He still nods regardless, eyes closing in anticipation. He’s subtly trembling, as if each individual atom inside him is begging for more.

Ancom slides his hand from Chris’ jaw to the nape of his neck, pulling him closer as qui delicately, tentatively presses a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Qui sighs, body emanating a greenish hue with how excited qui is — “Was that okay?”

“More than okay.”

Their foreheads touch, sweat mixing before Ancom shifts and begins to pepper the other ideology in loving kisses, starting with the tip of his nose before moving on to his cheeks, his forehead, his chin, and finally, his lips once more.

Chris bites back a laugh, soaking up the affection eagerly — “I think I like you, Ancom.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell.”

He rolls his eyes at quem, flicking the side of quis neck, “I take it back, I can’t stand you. At all. My least favorite extremist. I hope you die.”

Ancom giggles in reply, a high, whistle-y sort of noise. It’d be grating if it was anyone else.

“C’mere.”

The two ideologies lean against each other, arms tangled around waists in a loose embrace, hearts beating in tandem. Ancom murmurs against the crook of Chris’ neck and shoulder, “Stay with me.”

“I will.”