#i made this awhile back but i forgot to post it until now

[fishlung8877]

[deansbeer]

♱ american made ⎯⎯ SOLDIER BOY.

⎯⎯ your encounter with soldier boy at the flatiron building proves he's nothing like his disappointing son, homelander.

YAP SESH! so this was meant to be posted days ago … but i got super busy 'n totally forgot about it. but it's finally up <3 love me some soldier boy every once in awhile too.

WARNING(S) smut | smoking | mild degradation ( towards homelander ) | semi-public sex | rough sex-ish | mentions of past relationships | strong language. ୨ৎ EIGHTEEN PLUS! ADULT CONTENT | minors do NOT interact.

୨ৎ JENSEN'S LIBRARY.

୨ৎ CAI BOT — based off this FIC.

you hadn't expected to find soldier boy lounging on butcher's desk, smoke curling from his lips as he took another hit from his joint. the flatiron building was usually empty this time of night, save for butcher who you could hear talking in the other room.

"well. if it isn't america's former sweetheart," soldier boy drawled, his eyes trailing over you with an intensity that made your breath catch. "came to see the brit?"

you shifted your weight, suddenly aware of how alone you were with him. "i needed to discuss some things about homelander."

"that fucking disappointment," he scoffed, taking another drag. "you know, hughie told me about you. america's sweetheart turned rebel. gotta say, that's pretty hot."

the way he said it made heat pool in your stomach. you'd heard stories about soldier boy, about his reputation before payback turned their backs on him, but nothing prepared you for the raw magnetism he exuded. maybe it was because he reminded you of homelander — or rather, homelander reminded you of him. but there was something different about soldier boy. something more primal, more authentic.

"what else did hughie tell you?" you asked, taking a step closer.

soldier boy's lips curved into a smirk. "enough to know that you're wasted on my sorry excuse of a son." he stubbed out the joint and stood up, closing the distance between you in two long strides. "tell me, sweetheart, did he ever make you feel like a real woman?"

your breath hitched as he backed you against the desk, his hands gripping the wooden edge on either side of you. "soldier boy—"

"ben," he corrected, his breath hot against your neck. "my name's ben."

what happened next was a blur of sensations. his lips crashed against yours, tasting of marijuana and whiskey. your hands found their way to his shoulders, feeling the solid muscle beneath his suit. he lifted you onto the desk with ease, stuff scattering to the floor.

"fuck butcher and his precious fucking desk," he growled, pushing you back until you were lying flat on the wooden surface. "been wanting to do this since i first heard about you."

your clothes seemed to disappear under his experienced hands, and soon you were bare beneath him. soldier boy took his time, his eyes drinking in every inch of you. "now this is what i call a view," he muttered, his voice rough with desire.

you could hear butcher still on the phone in the next room, his muffled british accent a reminder of where you were. but soldier boy didn't seem to care, and truthfully, neither did you.

he knew exactly how to touch you, where to kiss you, how to make you fall apart. each thrust was calculated, powerful, making you bite your lip to keep from crying out. his experience showed in every movement, every angle he hit perfectly.

"you're all mine," he growled in your ear, his pace relentless. "no other man gets to touch you, look at you, think about you. understood?"

you nodded desperately, your nails digging into his back.

"say it," he demanded, slowing his movements teasingly.

"i'm yours," you gasped, and he rewarded you by picking up his pace again.

the desk creaked beneath you, and somewhere in the back of your mind, you wondered if butcher would notice the scattered papers, the slightly askew angle of his workspace. but those thoughts disappeared as soldier boy brought you to the edge again and again.

when it was over, he helped you straighten your clothes, a possessive glint in his eyes. "you should come around more often," he said, lighting another joint. "might make these meetings with butcher more interesting."

you couldn't help but smile, even as you heard butcher's footsteps approaching. soldier boy didn't move away from you, if anything he moved closer, making it clear to anyone who walked in exactly what had happened.

from that moment on, everyone knew you belonged to soldier boy. the boys never commented on it directly, but they saw the marks he left on your neck, the way his eyes followed you whenever you were in the room, the possessive hand he kept on your lower back.

and honestly? you wouldn't have it any other way.

[jenny-in-a-jar]

My surgery is tomorrow!!! ✨💕🥰✨💕🥰

(Picture taken June 23, 2024)

I'm very very excited for my surgery (it's my second gender affirming surgery but this one is more significant to me since it'll be top and bottom surgery) and I was obviously counting the days until it and I thought some people might be interested in my trans journey 🏳️‍⚧️ I finished up most of the story a few days ago so now I'll towards future under the cut! 🌈🌈🌈

With these surgeries I feel like I'm completing the "main campaign" and all that'll be left will be "side quests"

Like I will still have voice training. Also hair removal and getting my birth certificate updated.

Oh!! That's other things I forgot to mention in early posts 😅

I got my name legally changed in the summer of 2021. I just paid a lawyer to handle it for me with my stimulus check money. And I remember getting an updated social security was a whole process 😮‍💨 Now I just need to get my birth certificate updated before I lose the chance to 🙃

Also it was in 2022 that I got laser hair removal. The place locally had this weird plan where you pay for an area and it's pretty expensive but it covers all sessions you can keep coming back for life if there's ever any regrowth (which their definitely was). Honestly, I have a lot of really light hair so I'll be finishing it off Electrolysis.

I had a consultation for body contouring a month or so ago. And she said that she didn't recommend it since I had so little fat that it would be very risky and have minimal results 😔 She did say that she could do a tummy tuck since I have a bit of loose skin there 😅 But she said it would be one of the most painful surgeries which made sense to me as bc I remember they pulled a little bit of fat for my FFS from there and that was the most painful part 😬 Also getting a big scar just to get rid of a bit of flabbiness, especially if I couldn't also get an ass out of it just did not seem worth it. Maybe in a decade when my metabolism goes down, I'll reconsider it. I'll have to go in to replace my implants anyways 🤷‍♀️

Oh!! I'll make sure to upload a picture after I get the surgery! But it might be a few days

But after this surgery I'll done for awhile, finally 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 But life is all about change so I doubt I'll ever consider myself fully done with transitioning. I'm excited to see the person I'll become 🥰🥰🥰

Also thank you everyone who left kind messages in the tags and comments 🥺🥺🥺

[we-were-beautiful]

Marry me

Xaden x Sorrengail!oc

WC: 816

Warnings: None just Fluff

A/N: Well I decided to take part in a small writing Challenge. I had fun writing this little blurb and while it has the potential to turn into its own series; I am going to show self restraint by not doing that. The prompt was "I can never say 'no to you" From Jana over at @creativepromptsforwriting

Also fair warning; I didn't send this to any of my betas. So we die like men at this point

Thank you to @skyfallscotland and @justallihere for putting together the Fourth Wing Birthday Bash

Last but not least tumbr is being dumb and won’t let me post from my laptop so apologies about the formatting

“We should get married” I comment wrapping my arms around my beloved’s shoulders, fingers gently tracing along the scars at the top of his shoulders. I look up into his gold flecked onyx eyes and smile widely at him. Was the flight field after lessons the best place to have this conversation, probably not, but I couldn’t help myself. It had been an interesting lesson with a storm about to roll in; the thunder off in the distance rolling. But now with the rest of the third years and Professor Kaori heading back to the citadel, I figured given Xaden a small heart attack would be fun.

Where I would expect to see shock and hesitance on his face I only see a fond smile as he wraps his arms around my waist to pull me into his chest.

“When do you want to get married and how do you want to tell your mother and sisters?” I hadn’t thought of that.

It would be pretty easy to tell Violet. If I could get her away from her squad it would be as simple as that. Mira I could just write a letter too. Shed be pissed at first; she had specifically told me to stay away from Xaden. That didn’t work out since we ended up in the same squad with mated dragons; but Mira could get over it. She’d be happy for me eventually.

My mother; however, I completely forgot about. General Sorrengail hadn’t been a fan of the relationship and she had made it known to me once the word had made it to her office. That had been the only time I had formally gotten called to her office to make her displeasure known; but its been three years. Xaden and I work well together and we have been in love with each other for awhile now. Not to mention we are kinda stuck with each other until one of us dies so at one point or another she’s just going to have to learn to live with it.

I feel Tairn’s amusement in the back of my mind. The old curmudgeon had been riding my ass this last week about acting like a love sick puppy around Xaden. Like his grumpy ass isn’t the exact same way around Sgaeyl.

‘I heard that’ the rumbling voice flows through my head.

‘You were supposed to.’ I felt Tairn’s snout push at my back sending me further into Xaden’ s grasp ‘Tairn!!!’ I can hear Sgaeyl chuckle in my head.

‘I think I shall go get some sheep’ I’m not sure if it is the mighty beat of our dragons wings or thunder, but as the two dragons fly off the heavens open up above us and cold rain begins to pour down. Xaden lets out a hearty laugh squeezing me tightly.

“When do you want to get married love.” He leans down to whisper in my ear repeating his earlier question.

“Want to grab Garrick, Bodhi, Liam and Vi and sneak down to Chantara.” I would do it; grab our family and secretly get married today if he agreed.

“How about we wait until graduation. We can get our family together, before we fly to our post, and have a small ceremony.” He pushes a soaked strand of hair away from my face. “Then it gives you time to let Mira know, so she can try and get leave” leave it to this perfect man to remember that I wanted Mira there when I got married. While Brennen had Mom and Violet had Dad it had been Mira and I against the world. I still had all of the letters we had wrote to each other while she was in the quadrant and then when I started second year. She had to be there on our special day; she would kill me if I ran off today and got married.

“Ok Graduation it is then.” He looks even more breathtaking in the rain as water droplets roll down his skin.

“Alright then lets go Mrs.Riorson.” He lets go of me and moves towards the hidden tunnel entrance.

“Wait.” I call grabbing his hand to stop him. “Kiss me?” Is it cheesy and straight out of the romance books that I brought into the quadrant, yes. But I had always wanted to be kissed in the rain.

“Have I ever been able to say ‘no’ to you.” He gently cradles my face in his hands tilting my face upwards; his lips crash into mine is a passionate kiss. It starts out innocent enough but my hands quickly find their way to his hair and one of his finds its way to my ass. When we break apart we are gasping for breath; Xaden rest his forehead against mine and hazel eyes meet onyx “Marry me?”

“Yes.” I laugh and pull him into another kiss.

[lovelykil]

I need a moment where thereader accidentally calls Kyle their girlfriend like, offhandedly and he's like "huh-" bcs it would be so cute and super funny, PLZ I LOVE MY GIRLFRIEND ‼️🗣️

-✩

「 Girlfriend !!! 」

kyle x reader older ver.

cw; none

note; I'm posting my drafts 😭😭😭..

"Wendy why don't you just break up with him already? If he's being such a dra–"

"Noo, I love him you know that Y/n I just think he needs to talk more you know? Like to me.." Wendy leaned against her locker with a sigh, I closed mine shaking my head from having a different viewpoint on her situation.

"This is like the 5th time he's done this, you better figure out what's up, or else it's gonna keep dragging you along."

"Yeah I know, maybe I'll talk with him later today. This just kinda sucks." She leaned away from the locker and look at me. I put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it with care.

"It's not your fault wends, guys are just stupid." I reassured, snickering after when she began to laugh with me.

"They so are, but aren't you with Kyle? Does he–"

"Okay now Kyle is different." I pulled my hand away to stuff them in my pockets. Wendy raised her eyebrow then crossed her arms.

"Didn't you just say guys suck?" She questioned, to which I shrugged lightly with goofy smile.

"I did but Kyle isn't like that he's not even my boyfriend."

"Girl what?" Wendy's arms unfolded but her confused expression remained on her face.

I was about to explain what I meant but saw my ginger walk side by side with Kenny, chuckling together as they made their way down the hallway about to pass me and Wendy.

"Ohh Kyle!" I raised my hand up for him to see, beaming a smile. He was a tall guy so wasn't hard for him to spot me, his head perked up from being called, he looked around confused until he saw me waving he immediately walked through the herd of students towards me, leaving Kenny behind though the blonde actually followed along.

"Oh hey Y/n" Kyle grabbed ahold of my hand then leaned in for a hug, smiling, I hugged him back leaning away just to kiss his cheek.

Wendy waited awkwardly by her locker really deciding if she should just ditch or not as me and him interacted with each other 'lovey dovey' like.

"Hii babyy" I held on to his arm, kissing his cheek once more before resting myself down to the floor.

"You know what I think I should.."

"Oh shit Wendy– I forgot." I turned my attention to Wendy, being thrown off.

"Sorry, anyway.."

"It's okay.. uhm what were you saying?" Wendy adjusted her backpack uncomfortably, her eyes landing back on me. Kyle looked at Wendy then at me.

"What were you guys talking about?"

"Like I said Kyle isn't my boyfriend.."

"I'm not?" He paused, and looked down at me obviously a little confused I tugged on his arm to make him lean down towards me.

"He's my girlfriend, like my pretty girl. He never does wrong. Isn't that right Kyle?" I put my hand on his cheek to make him look at me with a grin.

I've never seen him so confused.

"I'm so confused right now"

"Huh?"

"I don't know I've been calling him that for awhile, it just kinda rolls off the tongue you know? He's pretty and doesn't do anything wrong." I let go of his face to look back at Wendy.

"Ohh yeah okayy.. I'm gonna pretend that makes sense and go now." The girl in the hat awkwardly stepped back and left the scene, just leaving me, Kyle and.. oh yeah and Kenny.

"That doesn't make sense babe."

"Trust me it does, now head to class." I let go of his arm putting my hands back in my pockets. Kyle thought for a second, touching his cheek.

"Okay I guess, kiss goodbye though?" He asked, not questioning the conversation. I signaled him to come over to me and latched my hands to his face once more.

He put his hands on mine kissing me back with his cute smile before ending the kiss short when he heard the bell.

"Ohh shit the bell– okay I gotta go. See you later!" Kyle shouted, waving me a goodbye then went to quickly get to his class. I admired him from a distance sighing with a lovesick smile.

"He's so cute Kenny."

"Are you gay" I heard Kenny walk up from behind me. I turned around, giving him a look.

"What? No." We stared at each other for a second before I started to walk away for class, him tagging along beside me.

"Well.."

[return-of-a-space-cowboy]

Yandere Rikkiel X Ex girlfriend stand user reader

Oh God just when I was about to post did I actually see the stand user part!! I'm so sorry, my eyes betray me once more. I've been pondering on the fic for so long but I'm going to post anyways it as I've kinda gone to far to throw it out.

If you still want me to do the stand user concept please send me another ask and I'll fulfill it. Yet again my apologies.

I pondered on this for awhile after finishing as it's my first time writing for Rikkeil and i was a bit nervous due to how little we get of him. Hope I did him justice.

(Yandere Rikkeil x gender neutral ex Reader)

“Rikkeil, I have something to tell you…” you said as you sat with him for lunch. You had to tell him, it was eating you inside to keep hiding it.

“Yes?” He asked. Obviously happy to be with you. You didn't want to hurt him but you had to tell him. You took a deep breath in before finally speaking.

“I got into the University of Michigan,” you told him. Of course he was proud of you. Previously you arranged to go to whatever state you got in together but recently you started to think about your relationship with him. You did care for him, however you realized that your feelings for him were more platonic. He deserves someone who could love him without a doubt.

“There's another thing I have to tell you too” you said. He could tell something was wrong by your somber tone. He reached out to hold your hand but you pulled it back.

“I've been thinking about our relationship, I realize that my feelings for you aren't romantic. It's nothing to do with you I just feel as though I didn't understand what I really felt” you tried to explain. He sunk in his seat, you could tell he was hurt.

“Are you ok Rikkeil?” You asked him.

“I'm fine” he told you with a shaken voice. He was struggling to articulate just how he felt. Ye wanted to cry, to beg, even grab you and ask if this was a horrible joke.

You had been the only person he'd been with, one of the few people who hadn't looked down on him and helped him. Deep down he felt something repulsive writhing inside him, reaching up into his chest and ensnared his lungs.

“We can still be friends, I promise I'll keep in contact if you want” you reassured him, however he couldn't quite take that. He loved you, you were his everything. He couldn't even speak, couldn't bear to be in this situation any longer as he felt himself struggling to breathe.

“I have to go! I forgot something important!” he yelled as he stood up and quickly left. You felt horrible but perhaps it was best just to give him some time.

💔💔💔

He hadn't left his house in days, God he felt horrible. Even worse than usual. All he could think of is just how much he needed you. You'd been together for a few years now and you'd helped him through so much even before he'd had the confidence to ask you out.

He wondered if he did something that made you not like him. Were you telling him that you'd stay friends just to please him. His mind was full of so many horrible thoughts.

Even in his dreams he couldn't escape it. Horrible scenarios of you meeting someone else, getting hurt or even worse.

He was convinced that he had to do something. Had to get you back. He grabbed his tone and texted you as quickly as he could.

‘(Y/n), could we catch up?” He asked and waited for what seemed like forever for a response.

‘I'm sorry, Catching up with family for a couple of days, I'll be back on Thurs’ you replied. It only made him more insecure, what if you were lying? What if it wasn't even you that responded to his texts.

💔💔💔

After a lot of deliberation he finally decided to check your apartment. He needed to know what was going on. At first he thought it would be tough to get in but the moment the owner saw him she offered to unlock it for him assuming he was still the tenant's partner.

He practically scavenged through everything in an attempt to find a reason. He hadn't even realized you'd arrived home early until you'd turned on the lights.

“Rikkel? What are you doing here?” You asked with concern in your voice. His head whipped towards your direction. What was he going to tell you? That he was looking for a reason as to why you dumped him. No he had to make an excuse or else you'd surely get defensive.

“I… I was looking for something, lost something and I last remember having it here” he worked up a measly excuse.

“Ah, I'm not feeling too well but I can try my best to help you find it” you offered.

“Thank you,” he said.

“What was it you lost?” You asked. Again he had to lie, he was raking his brain for another excuse.

“A card,” he replied.

“What was it for and what color?” You asked.

“Red… it was one of those loyalty cards for the mall… need it to get something for my grandma” he lied.

He could see you pondering, did you not believe him?

“I don't remember seeing it around, it must be in-between furniture or something if it is here” you told him.

“You sure it isn't at yours or in your car?” You asked.

“I checked several times,” he explained.

“Ok I'm going to sit down for a bit, could you get me some water and I'll start looking when I feel a little better” you told him as you sat down on the lounge.

“Of course” he responded, heading to the kitchen.

“Oh could you add some ice?” You asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“So how was seeing your family?” He asked.

“It was alright, had dinner out but I got this pounding headache and couldn't stay any longer” you explained.

“I was supposed to be heading off to an engagement party a couple of hours out tomorrow but I don't know if I'll go if I'm still feeling like this, at least I didn't pay for my own room” you continued.

Meanwhile Rikkeil was getting out the ice cubes and putting them in a glass. His heart was racing from this whole ordeal. He couldn't lie, part of him was pushing for extremes. To lock you up and never let go. He didn't think he could ever do such a thing til now. End up like those sick freaks on TV. Maybe they had gone through the same thing, unable to process not having their one and only and acting out.

He opened up your medication draw. He knew you had some strong sleep medication somewhere. He shuffled the boxes around before he saw the familiar packaging. If he were to slip those in your water he'd have no issue with just picking you up and taking you back to his car.

No, he couldn't just do that?! If he got caught he'd get sent straight to prison. But what if you understood him? You always had. If you could see just how much he needed you you would reconcile. He could really show you that you still loved him.

So he followed through. Taking out the medication and crushing it with the side of a knife.

“You ok?” You asked after hearing a thud.

“Yes I'm fine, just hit my knee” he told you as he put in the crushed up medication into the water and gave it a gentle stir til he couldn't see it.

“Sorry for taking so long” he apologized as he headed towards you with the glass in hand.

“No it's fine” you replied.

He sat next to you and handed you the water.

“Thank you” you told him before taking a sip.

“I was worried when you left the other day,” you confessed.

“Why?” He asked

“It's just… I know it must have hurt to hear me say what I did after all we've been through, I was afraid to lose you. I might not see you romantically but I still really care about you. I didn't want to lead you on… you deserve someone who can love you without a doubt” you explained.

He remained silent, there was no going back now. You were the one he deserved, how could you not see that you two were meant to be. After everything you two had gone through.

[destinygoldenstar]

🌟And So It Begins🌟 - Total Drama Viewer Reacts to Disventure Camp Season 3 Episode 1 “Reach For The Stars”

We are finally here.

I finally made it to the merge.

I watched both seasons, I know all the context now, and now we are here.

When I started watching this show, it was just before the finale of the season came out. I think there's like... 20 Episodes?

Well, I THOUGHT, the playlist has 22.

I came in the show at the height of everyone saying shit things about the show. And I decided to do it anyway.

I'm both nervous and excited. Cause I don't know what I'm getting into. I heard that this season was bad.

To that I say, well, if it is bad, I want it to be amazingly bad. I want to have fun with it anyway.

These episodes are OVER THIRTY MINUTES LONG, which is crazy.

And it makes me scared about a posts image limit.

Before I start, I just wanted to thank you all so much for your support of these reaction posts. It really warms my heart and motivates me to see you all enjoy these, my bad jokes, and what I have to say.

No matter what, I think this season's reaction posts are gonna be fun to do as a result.

So... I guess I have to start it now. Here we go...

Oh she's calling everyone in. I get it.

AAAAHHHHH JAKE!!!! HE'S WITH MIRIAM!!!

Who's this girl?

She's like "You gonna ditch me on the clock like this?"

"YEP!"

And he just runs away XD

And she just call the boss like, "We got a runner."

ROSA!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU ROSA!!!

Is that her daughter?! Oh my gosh... ❤️

DID THEY GET RID OF HER LIBRA NECKLACE?!?!

FOR SHAME ODDNATIONS! FOR SHAME!!

It's one thing to not bring her back. It's another to GET RID OF HER LOVELY LIBRA NECKLACE!!

#JUSTICEFORROSA'SLIBRANECKLACE

Oh I forgot to put captions on. Whoops.

"We're back with eighteen of your favorite and not so favorite competitors."

*COUGH* YUL *COUGH*

"Two years have passed since our first season, and one since our second."

Yeah. I figured that as much.

"Disventure Camp All Stars!"

Why did she say that in a whisper?

I would've directed her to project personally.

"DISVENTURE CAMP ALL STARS!!! LET'S GO!!!! ARE YOU EXCITED?!?!"

OOH INTRO!!!!

OH SHIT- XD

IT'S THE FIRST SECOND AND SHE ALREADY KILLED OLIVER!

Welp, she's a bad person. Noted.

Well now I want context. That image was not a coincidence.

Why are you two fighting? What happened?

And where's Tess? She's in the poly too.

And until I hear them say it, DO NOT tell me it's just Hunter and Allyson. They CLEARLY said Hunter chose both of them and they're in a polycule.

Oh yeah these two. They hate each other now.

HEY!

GET THE FUCK OFF OF MY GRETT!!!

And I called it.

Jake is an asshole.

"NOTICE ME DAMMIT!!!"

Aaaaaannnnd that's a glimpse of Riya's life.

*Gets a Grammarly Ad*

This intro has a Grammarly ad? Bruh. Fuck Grammarly.

"We are currently in Ottawa Canada to pick up our first five participants."

Only FIVE of them live in Canada? I'm surprised.

"Here comes our favorite granny and grandson duo..."

YUUUUSSS👏

"I'm ready to collect another million!"

XD

You know grandma's here to slay!

"Aren't you worried your age is catching up to you?"

"Bold of you to assume I let that stop me."

"There is no age limit for adventure, Krystal."

Exactly. Grandma all the way!

"If you're not sure about this, we can still leave."

You too? Don't you know who she is?

"It's just... I'm worried."

"Have you lost your damn mind?"

I get why he's worried, but also, come on. It's Miriam.

"Our viewers are dying to know."

HA HA HA, GET IT? CAUSE SHE'S OLD, AND EVERYONE THINKS SHE'S GONNA DIE?!?

Don't kill Miriam. Don't have this be foreshadowing Miriam dying. She does not deserve that!

"I bought a house near the beach. Then, with what was left, I helped Jake so he could move out of his parents house."

Awwww! They're living together?!

She really did adopt him! That's so sweet!

"Do you have problems with your parents, Jake?"

"No, they're just not the most understanding people and... I prefer to distance myself for awhile."

Aw.

Yeah, I have to assume it didn't go well since Season 1.

With the whole, you know, making out with a spy on National TV.

"The Disventure Camp audience loved the relationship you formed during the first season."

I FEEL CALLED OUT.

"Do you two still keep in contact?"

"All the time! We're basically neighbors. We even went on a trip a few months ago."

Aw that's awesome! Love hearing that Jake and Tom are still friends!

I'm a bit surprised. But they actually worked things out in the platonic sense!

"...although we had to cut it short."

"Miriam got a little sick, and she's been having some back problems."

...

OH SHIT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT JAKE AND MIRIAM. OH.

THAT'S MY BAD.

We're what, four minutes in, and I already fucked something up?

Where's Tom then? Did he not go on this trip too?

"Does it bother you to talk about your vulnerabilities, Miriam?"

"Bold of you to assume I have vulnerabilities! Everyone gets sick! I'm not dying! I'M NOT DYING!"

"Jake, in this entire interview you haven't mentioned Tom. What happened to him?"

Okay now they're talking about it.

They kept distance, right?

"Next question please."

Huh?

No no. No next question. I want to know how you two are holding up.

"Emily, if you have insight, Jake would love to know what happened to Tom."

He doesn't know what's going on with Tom?

You don't, I don't know, CALL?!

TOM HAS A PHONE, RIGHT?

"Yeah, so uh, we've been distancing ourselves because of what happened on our season, and turns out, Tom does not own a phone. So it's kinda difficult to keep in touch with that hurtle."

"What?! No I wouldn't! Why would I care about him?!"

Oh, and Jake is also avoiding it.

Something happened.

And I bet he's still upset about their season.

What did I say? Jake is an asshole. I CALLED THIS.

"Oh brother..."

XD

Miriam's like "Ugh, YOUNG PEOPLE. Am I right?"

"Hurry Hunter, we're gonna be late!"

SHE HAS HER DEEP VOICE BACK! YAY!!!

"That's an understatement, you are already late."

What?

There's only two people in the plane right now! What are you talking about?

"Oh shit, sorry Ally, I just realized I forgot the Nintendo Switch."

OH NO NOT THE SWITCH!!!!

Awww, no bonding through gaming this time :(

That sounds like something Hunter would do though.

"But I reminded you right before leaving!"

Allyson, you're dating Hunter. You should know he's a bit dense.

Also, I would've thought she would get it herself since it's HERS, but whatever.

"Now what will we do in our free time?"

Touch grass.

This really isn't a huge dealbreaker.

I mean, I would have a freak out if I forgot my earbuds going somewhere, but also it's like "Oh dammit. Oh well."

"This year, electronic devices are prohibited at camp."

I'm surprised that wasn't a rule previously.

"Really? Why?"

Girl,

IT'S THE OUTDOORS!!!

IT'S SURVIVOR!!!

GO TOUCH GRASS!!

"Still, it sometimes feels like you ignore me when I ask you for something."

I mean... okay?

I wouldn't say Hunter is the best at relationships. So that checks out.

OH HEY! CROSS SEASON INTERACTIONS!!!

"The pleasure is ours."

Oh wow.

Jake's actually not as bad as I thought he would be. I thought he was gonna give the cold shoulder here XD

"Oh, you kids were my favorites in your season!"

Aw, that's sweet that this is canon.

"What happened to the other girl? I forgot her name."

They're your favorites, but you don't know their names?

BRUH.

"She went to study in New York."

"We haven't seen her in months, but we're seeing her soon!"

Oh okay. That checks out.

So they're just long distance in regards to Tess. I get it.

It's cool that she's in college now! That's awesome!

"So Ally, how have you been dealing with all the haters?"

Haters?

Nobody hated her last season. They voted her off cause she was a threat and they were still on good terms.

I'm not an Allyson hater. I liked her.

"Oh, fans are great! I love my fans... it's the haters that I could do without."

Oh, you mean online.

She has a gaming career, right?

So yeah, haters are to be expected no matter what you do online.

Trust me, I've had very harsh mean comments on some of my posts.

After awhile, you kinda stop caring because at the end of the day, you have people in person that love you, and you have online folks that do love what you do.

"Especially after Allyson and I became public about our relationship."

Poly-phobic?

Allyson's chill though. I think she just hates that it's a topic of discussion here.

Haters don't matter!

(Criticism & Haters are different things btw)

TOM!!!

I LOVE his new design. I said this already. This is such a glow up!

"Aren't spies supposed to be, I dunno, fast?"

"Yes, but I'm wearing normal clothes now! I still gotta get used to it!"

"Met a familiar face at TSA. We were officers in training together and-"

"Did I ask?"

Yes. Krystal. Yes you did.

"Uh, yeah?"

Yeah. Tom's a dude failure, but he's not stupid.

AH-

*Covers mouth to prevent squeals*

UH. YOU-TOM-YOU-YOU UH... HI!!!

HOW'S IT GOING? YOU'RE LOOKING GREAT!!!🤭

"Well... uh... busy with work, you know..."

Well this awkward XD

"A call to ask how we were doing wouldn't have hurt!"

Uh, yeah, before you got on the season.

Kind of not the best.

"Sorry, my minds been occupied with... other matters... we'll talk later!"

Um... bye?

What the hell was that?

Tom. THAT'S YOUR LOVE.

I guess they're still not over it.

OOOH THE LESBIANS! YES!

"It feels strange... going back to where it all began..."

Yeah, especially after all Ellie had done. I can imagine that'd weigh on her.

"I'm glad to have another chance, but the bad memories keep coming back."

Yeah, exactly.

Ellie isn't necessarily a bad person, she just did bad stuff.

"Don't worry, I'm sure this is our year to shine!"

Especially yours, Gabby!

Oh hi Tess!

I still don't like this design. Sorry not sorry.

Why is she wearing sneakers with tights? Why is she wearing a black camisole over a white T-Shirt that leaves such a small and pointless belly window? Why is her hair in a bun?

I don't like it. I do not see the logic behind the design choice.

"Did you see my text?"

OH.

OH THEY KNOW EACH OTHER?

"Yeah, we actually study at the same University."

WHAT?!

OH THAT'S SO COOL! I LOVE THAT!

Wait Ellie can afford college now? Since when?

"You two make for a great couple."

They do. They really do.

"It's uncommon for that to come out of a trashy reality show."

Yeah, she's seen Total Drama.

But you also have a-

*BEEP*

What?

*TEHNICAL DIFFICULTIES*

I accidentally clicked out of the episode XD

That's my bad.

Okay we're back a bit, but it's fine.

I was gonna say Tess got her own loves in terms of Allyson and Hunter.

Oh the beep was the plane XD

I thought that was my computer setting off something XD

AWWWWWW ❤️

"I just came to spend more time with Ally and Hunter."

Respectfully.

"So you're not at all bothered with third wheeling the love birds?"

THEY'RE POLY.

LONG DISTANCE IS A THING.

Also, "The three of them aren't openly affectionate."

Not all couples are all lovey dovey all the time. I'm asexual. I'm not that way with my relationship.

You can be casual and still be considered lovers.

This is just how they are. There's nothing wrong with that.

And there's nothing wrong with them being poly.

"I actually motivated Ally to finally confirm things with Hunter."

Didn't they do that in Season 2?

I'm very confused.

OH. HELLO ELLIE.

XD

Everyone immediately gives her the STINK EYE.

They're not gonna forgive you, sweetie.

I mean I dunk on Ellie, but it's not because she did that stuff.

"Look, I could forgive everything you did on our season, but those interviews?!"

What interviews?

"You dragged us all on live television!"

Oh. OH SHE DID THAT?!

DAMN.

"I did nothing wrong! Jake is a whiny bitch and he deserved it! LOL!"

"You can eat shit and die!"

Yeah so maybe that's why Jake and Tom are distant now.

ELLIE WOULD NOT LET THEM FORGET.

"It's been almost two years. It's time for them to get over it."

I mean... yeah. I agree there.

"Besides, I didn't say anything that bad."

“I just gave Jake some public death threats. That's all.”

Well if THAT doesn't make Jake and Allyson besties, I dunno what does XD. They're going through the same thing.

"I heard that Tom still ignores Jake's calls."

OH SHIT WE ACTUALLY SEE IT.

WAIT TOM HASN'T CALLED IN TWO YEARS?!?! THE FUCK?!?!?

I mean I know he said he wanted distance, but GODDAMN.

"Can you blame him? Dealing with Jake should count as community service."

OH DAMN.

DON'T DO HIM LIKE THAT. COME ON.

YEAH I WOULD IMAGINE JAKE IS AFFECTED AFTER HEARING THAT.

"You know why he's ignored you for two years? Because you're insufferable and nobody wants you around!"

"And Tom's no better. I mean the guy's an idiot. Who goes onto Reality TV as a spy?"

I mean... yep. I agree.

"Miriam didn't deserve to win."

OF COURSE. OF COURSE YOU'D SAY THAT.

"If that happens again, I'm letting her go towards the light."

SHIT!

THAT'S JUST UNCALLED FOR! NO MATTER HOW PISSED YOU ARE THAT YOU LOST TO HER!

YOU DON'T SAY THAT TO PEOPLE!

NO WONDER THEY'RE PISSED. I'D BE PISSED TOO IF I WERE THEM.

"The Purple Team was a disaster."

I agree.

It had Reality TV's Stupidest Alliance after all.

"Grett is honestly one of, if not the worst person I've ever met."

Worse than Yul? I don't believe that.

But even though I love her, she isn't a good person.

"First off Alec, your standard for children is alarming."

Considering he worked with a psychopath... yeah.

So uh... it's good to know that Ellie is BITTER after the first season.

It makes sense. I expected it.

But DAMN.

"Not like anything I said was a lie."

No. They weren't lies. They were just uncalled for slander.

OH MY QUEEN!!!! MY QUEEN!!!!!

HI!!!

"Hey, we haven't talked about what you said on TV last week? Remember?"

Oh great. What now?

Did Riya ALSO slander her cast?

"You didn't mean any of that, did you?"

"It's nothing. I just told the fans what they wanted to hear. I have a certain reputation to uphold you know."

Yeah, I figured as much.

People are PRAISING her bad behavior. And it's so tragic.

Give the people what they want. That's all you are. What they want.

OKAY BUT HOW CAN I BE MAD AT HER?

SHE LOOKS SO GORGEOUS!

I LOVE THIS OUTFIT SO MUCH! I LOVE THE PANTS AND THE GOLD TOP AND THE JEWELS ❤️

"What do you regret most in your last season?"

"A lot."

"...but I wouldn't tell you that."

"My only mistake was choosing Connor as a helper in the final."

Okay. I can see why Connor was upset.

Even if he did bail on her. Ouch.

Interesting how Riya has remorse for her TV reputation and the bad things she's said and done, but Ellie does not.

"GASP."

XD

WHAT WAS THAT?!

Okay that dude just wants attention!

So she's been throwing her only friend under the bus. Just because she has a career platform based off of that.

I feel bad for her.

But she is doing everything wrong.

I mean, I say that as though I am any better.

"For this next season and my next showing, I will present my REPUATATION! Everyone will kneel before be with respect! And Connor gets the bus!"

NO RIYA I HOPE YOU DON'T MEAN IN THE LITERAL SENSE.

Prepare to hear me do this until she gets eliminated. Get used to it.

"OH MY GOSH RIYA! I'M A HUGE FAN!"

Oh of course Gabby is a fan!

That's... that's both sweet and sad.

"Congrats on the Emmy!"

Yeah, so Riya's bad actions got her fame.

This is depressingly realistic.

Bad people get rewarded way too often in real life.

"How did you become so successful in Hollywood?"

"I left Aiden for dead."

"After the show, my current producer, Reynold Chaddington, was able to get me on a bunch of network dramas, and I quickly became "The Villainess Of TV"."

And that's who she is now.

Being herself and being decent is what ruins her success. Because the route of success that worked for her was to be immoral.

Again. DEPRESSINGLY REAL.

"Are you a couple now?"

The hell is with this lady?

THEY'RE JUST FRIENDS. Nothing about them last season was romantic.

OH COME ON. THAT'S RUDE.

DON'T DO ASHLEY LIKE THAT.

Oh yeah. They're a couple. I forgot.

I'm glad she's back, actually. She has a nice aesthetic and she has a nice story.

Of the members of Reality TV's Stupidest Alliance that could've come back, I'm glad it's her.

AWWWW YOU'RE SO CUTE

I just want to enjoy the Rosa crumbs while I have them.

ROSA. YOU WERE ROBBED. ❤️

"I wish you were coming too."

"I can't leave Sophia again."

Yeah... I guess that makes sense.

I still. I'm gonna miss you.

"Kick Yul in the nuts for me."

YEAH!!! KICK YUL IN THE NUTS!!! LET'S GO!!!

"Lake! Nice to finally meet you. I read one of your books, the one with the prince and the knight? I loved it!"

Oh my god Jake is a fanboy of her writing?

STOP. THAT'S TOO CUTE.❤️

"Is that award winning author Lake?!"

Award winning too! Wow!

Also hi James and Aiden.

"I'm still waiting for an apology for almost letting me die!"

XD

Yeah. That's justified.

"Keep waiting loser."

"AND I'D DO IT AGAIN!"

"Aiden, do you still have a grudge against James for using you to gain followers?"

Uh, no. They resolved that.

What is with this lady? She is in everyone's business.

I mean, interviewers are like that. Still.

"My hubby is vewwy sowwy."

Hubby?

You're engaged?

"Uh... I'm so happy you two are doing good..."

I'm calling it right now, this woman is gonna be a twist villain. She's gonna try and steal Krystal's job.

GRETT!!!

"Grett! You look... different."

RUDE.

"I made some mistakes last season."

"This time, it's a chance to end the game on a less sour note."

Oh, Grett is redeeming herself?

Grett redemption arc?

"So is what you said on Twitter true?"

It's X now.

"How else could I sell those online courses on personal acceptance and my new vitamin supplement?"

Still don't know why she decided on this. But I'm open to listen.

"What made you come back?"

"Money."

XD

OH MY GOD XD

THAT'S SO REAL.

"What inspired you to build second Krusty Krab right next door to the original?"

"Money."

Oh.

I think he's doing great. 👍

"Wait! You forgot someone!"

"Yul!"

"Idk who that is. He's not on the list. WE'RE DEPARTING ANYWAY!"

Oh. Yay.

"A dumb marching band blocked our exit for five minutes. Should have run em over."

And he's the exact same as we left him.

GREAT. I LOVE THIS. I'M SO GLAD HE'S BACK GUYS. I'M SO HAPPY. /s

"Hello baby!"

Baby?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

BITCH WHAT THE FUCK

WHAT THE FUCK IS ON MY SCREEN?!?!?!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

*gets up and paces around screaming and crying*

NO!!! NO!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!?!?!

WHY DID YOU CREATE THIS?!?!?!

NOOOOOOO!!!! NO NO NO NOOOOOO!!!!

There's a fucking LAWNMOWER outside roaring! It's upset too!

WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO THIS?!??!

I HATE IT!! I HATE IT SO MUCH!!!!

GET THIS SHIT OFF MY SCREEN RIGHT NOW!!!

WHO THE FUCK SHIPPED YUL WITH GRETT?!??!

WHY?!??!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO GRETT?!??!

THIS IS WHY EVERYONE SAYS THIS SEASON SUCKS.

LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS SHIT.

OH MY GOD!!! I HATE IT!!! I FUCKING HATE IT!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH

*I had to get water to calm down after having a mental breakdown*

Why the fuck did you create this...? 😭

Grett deserves so much better. SO MUCH BETTER.

FUCK YUL. OH MY GOD.

WHY IS IT BUFFERING WITH THAT IMAGE?!?!

SHIT MY WIFI IS OUT!

*I fixed it*

God is torturing me.

EVERYONE IS DUMBFOUNDED XD

They're all like "WHAT THE FUCK AM I LOOKING AT?!"

"His manager introduced us during a brand deal. Yul and I really it it off. He's been my spicy ab'd boyfriend ever since"

Spicy ab'd?

I hate it.

"Weren't you concerned after how he behaved on his season?"

"The Yul that I know is very different from the one that was seen on television."

I don't believe that one bit.

"Did the criticisms from fans about your body and weight contribute to your shift in personality?"

WHO BODY SHAMED MY GIRL?!?!

Also, they really are being explicit about the whole fans/fame/TV influence dictatorship on their lives.

I'm actually here for it.

Still. DO NOT BODY SHAME MY GIRL.

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER WHAT HER BODY TYPE IS.

"I should have you fired!"

GET HER GIRL.

"Girlfriend? Aren't you gay?"

What...?

Who-who thought that? No one made any sort of comment.

Actually, I was DM'ing some Disventure Camp fans, and they told me Yul had a 'gay voice'.

So I'm assuming that's where this is coming from???

Idk, in Season 2 I got NO impression of that at all.

"Don't lump me in with that disgusting crowd."

YEAH WELL I'M PRETTY SURE HALF OF THE CAST IN THIS PLANE IS QUEER, SO GO FUCK YOURSELF.

Gay or not. Straight or not. You're still a bitch.

Who's calling him?

"Excuse me, what I meant to say was... I do not belong to the LGBTIKZ community, but if I did, there would be absolutely nothing wrong with that."

Oh.

Is he under contract to not be a piece of shit?

"SEE GUYS. HE'S CHANGED. HE'S TOTALLY CHANGED."

There's a difference between making change, and being forced to change.

"I blame my old manager, honestly. He made me look like an idiot on International Television!"

Yeah. That was totally his fault.

"Weren't you the one that said those racist things?"

Yeah. Exactly.

"I only said the things my manager advised me to say and look where it got me."

If I believed you, WHICH I DON'T, why would they think that's a good idea?

"Do you expect anyone to believe you've changed?"

I don't.

Oh hey, what is...?

'I must not shoot tranquilizers at the nuns' 😂

AW SHE GOES TO NUN SCHOOL.

Aaaaaaannnnd she's out.

OH MY GOD BRIBING?! SERIOUSLY?! XD

AND THE NUN TAKES IT?!

"That's a child!"

"And that's an ugly pimply bitch."

😂👏

😂😂😂

DAMN. YES.

GET HIM!!!!

OH MY GOD THAT WAS GOOD!

Hang on, why are you going from Canada, to the US, to Brazil to Europe, then back to Canada? Huh?

"Are you really going to ignore me the entire flight?"

Yes.

"Oh come on, are you really that angry?"

YOU BETRAYED HIM.

"Where's that scary puppet from last season?"

AIDEN YOU'RE A JINX. YOU HAD TO ASK.

"Weren't they in jail?"

That's what I'm saying!

"I paid their bail."

Of course.

"Does money solve everything these days?"

UNFORTUNATELY.

🎵"I'm feeling so alone, cause I sit here on my own..."🎵

Whaaaaaaatt am I walking into???

That was strangely wholesome.

When your only friend is your music voice.

"I don't know if you heard, but we're gonna be in prison for the next ur years!"

Surprised it was only five years.

"Oh hell naw! There's no way I'm going back to that camp!"

Why did he have country swang saying that?

"They serve broccoli three times a day for crying out loud!"

I hate broccoli, but that doesn't sound so bad.

And now we're going BACK across the Atlantic Ocean.

WHAT IS YOUR PATHING?

"You will all grab a parachute and jump!"

Oh great.

I mean it's still better than what Chris does. At least they get a parachute.

Oh great. she killed them.

YOU ONLY GAVE THEM ONE PARACHUTE!

"You are prohibited from bringing your luggage and belongings."

Why didn't you tell them that before they got on the plane?

"The winner will win THREE. MILLION. DOLLARS!"

HOLY...

Where do you get that money?

They're actually doing it.

XD

NOT AGAIN!

Eh, at least he has a pachute this time.

At least they're working.

OOOOOOOOHHHH I GET IT.

OH NO TESS! NOO!!!

SHE'S SEPERATED FROM HER BAES!!

AWWWWWWWWW NO!

I kinda figured...

OH COME ON!!! XD

OH THAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO THESE GUYS.

YES!!!

Okay I'm fine that they're a couple, I just love that they're not on the same team now.

Oh cool. She burned everything.

This will be a walk in the park for the Season 1 characters.

OH OKAY LET ME LOOK AT THIS!

We got pink, yellow, and blue.

Pink has the demon child, the cowgirl, James, best boy, and two of the poly couple.

Jake and James being together is... a choice, for sure.

Yellow looks like it's all villains...

Uh, no actually, cause Fiore's Pink.

The villains and the elders.

That blue team is looking REALLY strong.

Tom is probably THE most physically gifted member of this cast. Gabby is really strong as well. Lake is a good brains. Tess and Aiden are good emotional support. And then you have Ellie, the wannabe schemer, so she can also be a brains.

That and Tom and Gabby are friends. Lake and Aiden are friends. Tess is on good terms with Gabby and Ellie.

THIS IS A STRONG TEAM.

Yellow is looking real good with Riya and Grett together. They're strong strategists and ruthless players. Alec too.

Idk, pink is kinda looking like the leftover characters. Cause nobody likes Fiore. Jake has no allies on his team.

Yeah idk.

Like, Allyson and Hunter are doing the heavy lifting here, and even then there's beef going on over... the Internet being the Internet? Whatever.

Yeah. This is an interesting layout.

Okay, what an interesting start.

So, to recap:

Tom and Jake have not seen or heard from each other since Season 1. They're still hurt because of Ellie slandering them in interviews, which yeah, would make them not forget.

Tess is long distance with Allyson and Hunter but they're fine. Allyson is just... beefing with Hunter because... he's dense? Idk what is happenig there.

Riya's a villainess as her reputation now. It's rubbed off on her in the worst of ways.

Yul is dating Grett. I FUCKING HATE IT.

And... yeah. We're just gonna have to see how this pans out.

[midnight-black2]

HIII IM SO GLAD YOURE BACK 🫶

prompt #8 with kai please 🙏 u can choose whether they're playing spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven

mwah thank you 😚

𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄

pairing : kai (voyagers) x reader

synopsis : uhh what the req says

disclaimers : kissing, mentions of sex, pretty mild since it's just spin the bottle lol

note : sorry this took me like three days to post ! i finished it, and lowkey forgot to schedule it for posting like a dumbass bro. anyways, enjoy !

everyone had gathered in a circle, wearing excited grins and cheeky smirks. zach had told you all about a game named "spin the bottle," which was apparently common back on earth. it was a game that involved kissing, which was enough to persuade the entire crew to play. ever since everyone stopped taking the blue, the idea of any physical contact seemed heavenly.

zach placed an empty glass bottle in the middle, that he managed to snag from the cafeteria. everybody watched the boy move, awaiting his next action.

"the rules of this game are simple. you spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on, you have to kiss," zach explained, wearing a smirk as all eyes were on him. it was forbidden, and almost felt sinful to kiss another person, and that's exactly why everyone was so eager to play. it was now their chance to revolt. you, on the other hand, were simply in it for the ride. i mean, you'd be lying if you said the idea of kissing someone turned you off, because it certainly didn't. however, you weren't actively seeking for someone to make out with.

"now who's going first?" asked zach, looking around the circle. eyes flitted around the group, and only one was willing to volunteer.

"i will," kai stated confidently, as his mouth contorted into the same smirk zach wore. everyone turned to him, and he seemed to like the attention. without another word, he got up, and gave the bottle a forceful spin.

it was awhile until the bottle came to a stop, and you weren't paying much attention. you were picking at your nails, oh so confident that the bottle wouldn't land on you. but, when you felt many eyes burning into you, you had finally looked up.

and there everyone was, staring at you.

and there the bottle was, also staring at you. the tip was directly in front of you. there was no mistaking that it landed on you. when you had met eyes with kai, he had this complacent look. you sighed, because you were secretly praying that you wouldn't have to actually end up kissing anyone. unfortunately, your prayers were not heard.

although...there was a fortunate side to this. kai was an attractive man, it was just his attitude that made you want to slap the absolute shit out of him. and now, with everyone staring at you intently, you had finally gotten up. kai followed suit, and you two met in the middle of the circle. everyone was whispering amongst themselves, waiting for one of you to actually do something.

kai was unmoving, there was something holding him back, but his eyes flickered between yours and your lips. so that left you, and without another thought, you attached your lips to his. he kissed you back with a sort of fervor you couldn't miss. he let out a very very small noise, that nobody else but you heard. it was a high-pitched hum, which made you kiss him even harder.

your hand flew to the back of his head, forcing him closer to you, as his hands rested at either side of your face. almost subconsciously, you had slipped your tongue into his mouth, and he invited it. you could feel his smirk against your lips, but at that point you didn't even care. it was insatiable, and you hadn't noticed just how long you two had been at it until someone had cleared their throat in the circle.

you pulled away, and the both of you were breathless. it was awkward, but i suppose all things after everyone stopped taking the blue were. there was kissing, and hickeys, and even sex. it was so animalistic, and at the end of the day, you were all just teenagers. no one knew what they were really doing.

"surprised you guys didn't just fuck then and there," zach said, and everybody erupted into chuckles and soft laughter. you felt a twinge of embarrassment pool in the pit of your stomach, but you didn't let it show. as you went to sit back down, kai did the same. eventually, the night progressed, and it became less and less weird. the game was almost...entertaining.

the entire rest of the game, kai couldn't take his eyes off of you. he was checking you out, and not so subtly. god, this was exactly what you didn't need.

and it was then that you knew, your relations with kai would not end at just kissing...

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 © 𝐤𝐲𝐚-𝐢𝐬-𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐥

𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐲? 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

𝐩𝐭.𝟐 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭? 🌚

[setthishouseablaze]

Fortnight - post mortem

"Fortnight"

(feat. Post Malone)

"I was supposed to be sent away, but they forgot to come and get me

I was a functioning alcoholic till nobody noticed my new aesthetic

All of this to say, I hope you're okay, but you're the reason

And no one here's to blame, but what about your quiet treason?"

To be sent away is to be committed to the psych ward, or sent to jail. From the music video (MV) it seems that in this case it's a reference to an involuntary stay in the psych ward - she's chained up in a bed being made to take pills, however, asylums and prisons are a theme throughout the album as a whole.

In the opening scenes of the video she is dressed up to look like 1920s movie starlet Clara Bow (who is referenced directly as a song title later on the album.) Her hair is pinned up with an extreme number of upside down bobby-pins which on the right side of her head make the roman numeral for 13, and she is wearing a wedding gown.

Clara Bow is known to have engaged in lavender marriages while having secret affairs with women during her stardom. "dropping hairpins" is a piece of historical queer slang, meaning dropping hints that one is queer, and the inverse, having your hair pinned up means that you're pretending to be straight. Hair pins reference back to the lyrics of Right Where You Left Me "Dust collected on my pinned-up hair." I read this scene as "maximum closeting," by force.

The entire room is shown to be upside down and at an angle which reminds me of the classic Emily Dickinson poem "tell all the truth but tell it slant" Given Emily is a favorite poet of TS the Dickinson reference is likely intentional and it's fair to assume that there are red herrings and metaphors in abundance throughout this song and this album. Remember the 'redherring' error code on the website pre-release.

This song and video also reference A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, which tells the story of a person released from prison who has mental health issues due to being tortured during their prison stay, who is then taken by their family from Paris(!) to London (!!) Book 2 of A Tale of Two Cities is titled "The Golden Thread" which reminds me of Invisible String "one single thread of gold tied me to you," and in the second book we're told the tale of how the golden haired daughter provides financially for her family in addition to repairing and maintaining their good reputation. A Tale of Two Cities feels oh so very appropriate as a touchstone for listening to this album.

"I was a functioning alcoholic" is this metaphorical, literal, or both? Other mentions of use and abuse of drugs and alcohol in her discography include Closure "I'm fine with my spite and my tears and my beers and my candles" Clean "Ten months sober" and Don't Blame Me "My drug is my baby I'll be using for the rest of my life" I think in this case I think it might be both metaphorical and literal. The loss of her love drove her to drink, but also, she was addicted to her illicit love and maybe got away with it until others noticed-?

"All of this to say, I hope you're okay, but you're the reason. And no one here's to blame, but what about your quiet treason?" reminds me again of the song Closure "It wasn't right the way it all went down looks like you know that now. Yes, I got your letter, Yes, I'm doing better. I don't need your closure" It's just as direct, but less aggressive in tone. She hopes her muse is well but they are the reason that she is where she is.

"And for a fortnight there, we were forever

Run into you sometimes, ask about the weather

Now you're in my backyard, turned into good neighbors

Your wife waters flowers

I wanna kill her"

A fortnight is two weeks, though, it may be a metaphorical stand-in here just meaning that for awhile it seemed like they were going to be together forever, but now they are acquaintances who make small talk.

"Now you're in my backyard, turned into good neighbors" reminds me of the ever so quotable line "Good Fences Make Good Neighbours" from Robert Frost's poem Mending Wall, the irony of the poem is that while setting clear boundaries with a wall prevents petty disputes over property lines the constant need to maintain the wall they've built brings the neighbours together to talk. The line is often quoted by people who've never read the poem without heed for the irony. As a reference here it seems very sarcastic - we're good neighbours look how polite and appropriate we are with our boundaries set in stone.

There are many references to gardens and flowers in the TS back catalogue but for me this in particular recalls the lyrics from Clean "The drought was the very worst. When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst." and this line translates to me as I hate your partner because they're growing a relationship/family with you, whereas ours is dead.

The MV shows TS wiping her face to reveal tattoos that almost match those of Post Malone who plays the part of love interest in the MV. The differences are the addition of two tattoos that spell out DDP, an extra heart, and a change from a playboy bunny to what looks like a diamond. The tattoos seem to have been covered with make-up while she was chained up in the asylum, and they disappear as soon as she steps out into the other room - only to reappear onto the face of Post Malone. I don't have any theories about what DDP stands for I would love to hear other peoples. Seeing TS with secret tattoos reminds me of Dress, "made your mark on me a golden tattoo." another song about secret love.

"All my mornings are Mondays stuck in an endless February

I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary"

Mondays being the most notoriously hated day of the week because it's the start of the work week for many people, and Feb being post-celebration winter in the northern hemisphere, I read this as - all I do is work I'm stuck in a bleak winter that won't end. I've tried every option available to get over you but it didn't work.

When she enters the writers room she's wearing a mourning dress, which could lend another layer i.e. all my mournings are mondays i.e. all of my break-ups are work/business.

The whole video is in black and white except for the sparks that fly off the pages into the air between their desks, and the fire once she sets things ablaze.

"And I love you, it's ruining my life

I love you, it's ruining my life

I touched you for only a fortnight

I touched you

But I touched you"

This is pretty direct but in context I read it as - I'm still in love with you, I feel stuck, I can't move on and my public image won't let me let you in, we may have only been together for a short time but we were together and I can't/won't forget it.

In the MV there are an endless array of masked figures also in black mourning attire, all with masks and hats sitting at identical desks disappearing into the horizon. Are these the other tortured poets from history, made to mask and hide behind their typewriters in a black and white world?

"And for a fortnight there, we were forever

Run into you sometimes, ask about the weather

Now you're in my backyard, turned into good neighbors

Your wife waters flowers

I wanna kill her

And for a fortnight there, we were together

Run into you sometimes, comment on my sweater

Now you're at the mailbox, turned into good neighbors

My husband is cheating

I wanna kill him"

"My husband is cheating I wanna kill him" This could be literal cheating, however, she is not literally married so maybe that's a hint - maybe he's violating the terms of a contract? After all she's probably not in love with him since she's pining so badly after the muse of this song-? So, why would she still want to murder him? Maybe they were supposed to get lavender-married but he cancelled the wedding and now everything is in upheaval?

She is laying on the ground with PM in the middle of an image of herself made up of pages reading from "The Story of US" book, "So many things that I wish you knew. So many walls up, I can't break through" they seem to be stuck there and then they break free, pages flying in the air, and hold each other laughing. The tattoos are now gone from both faces.

"I love you, it's ruining my life

I love you, it's ruining my life

I touched you for only a fortnight

I touched you

I touched you

I love you, it's ruining my life

I love you, it's ruining my life

I touched you for only a fortnight

I touched you

I touched you"

In the MV she's back in the asylum now, hair undone/pins gone, strapped to a table surrounded by men about to have electro convulsive therapy (ECT) administered, a black dog runs through the frame. The ECG read-out is showing "I love you it's ruining my life" in the read out of her heart beat. One of the panels in the background reads "Master Control." In literature The Black Dog represents depression.

So, when her hair is unpinned she wants to be publicly out as in love with a woman, and the men who surround her and control her and her music deem it inappropriate, they want to 'fix' her. But, when the ECT runs sparks fly, the machinery overloads, she screams, and PM runs over to release her from the table.

"Thought of calling ya, but you won't pick up

Another fortnight lost in America

Move to Florida, buy the car you want

But it won't start up till you touch, touch, touch me"

"Thought of calling ya, but you won't pick up. Another fortnight lost in America" You won't answer my calls so we've lost another fortnight of our lives to the American culture wars - reminds me of Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince and Paris, which are also songs about running away.

They are now outside in a raging storm stuck on top of a mountain with treacherously steep sides, TS sits atop a phone box in a dress that looks like chain-mail, while PM is inside the box making a call begging..

"Move to Florida, buy the car you want but it won't start up till you touch, touch, touch me." TS has said in interview that moving to Florida in this album is a reference to people running away from their mistakes and starting fresh. She's telling the muse to ditch their partner and runaway with her, this ties back to Getaway Car which opens with "It was the best of times, the worst of crimes" which is a direct reference to A Tale of Two Cities which opens "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way".

"Thought of calling ya, but you won't pick up

Another fortnight lost in America

Move to Florida, buy the car you want

But it won't start up till I touch, touch, touch you"

TS is back in the writers room, tearing open the draws, letting the pages fly into the air, crying, then stone faced in her mourning dress while the pages swirl around her burning. It reminds me of Dear Reader "Dear reader, burn all the files desert all your past lives" The version of her in the asylum smashes down the window.

And finally the version of TS on top of the phone box reaches down and holds hands with PM. She's created imagery of herself stuck inside cages, boxes, glass boxes, etc over and over through the years and this is the first time we've seen her outside and making contact with another human.

Conclusion: our protagonist has been held by force in the image of a virginal heterosexual bride, going slowly insane while she pretends that the woman she truly loves is just a friend, and she's now completely fed up and her bearding situation has gone to hell, she's asking her love to runaway with her and she's willing to metaphorically set fire to her history/her body of work to be with the one she loves.

[deepfriedscallops]

Do you ever have ocs who start in one fandom, then you adapt them to another- or make them their own being completely independent of the original fandom

Definitely! I got a couple of them, actually, but none of whom I've ever posted to this blog bc I stopped enjoying their original fandoms awhile back:

Wang Meigei (they/he/she) - originally a Persona/SMT character who was low-key a ripoff of Akechi, but from a more anonymous investigator angle wherein they operated a double life as the very cisgender K-Pop idol, Rosette, and the genderfluid online investigator, Thorn. A little bit on the nose, ik, but I still love them for it. They made a hop over to Danganronpa, when I got into that fandom for like a year, as the Ultimate Anon Private Investigator masquerading as the Ultimate Pop Idol. Nowadays, they just exist in my head as an OC with their own original setting! They now live in a futuristic world, roughly a century or so ahead of us, in which global disasters have pushed many surface dwellers on Earth to move to the ultracapitalist dystopia that is Samsara Station, a space station the size of a large city and operating with a population of over 5 million. Meigei in that setting spent a few years of their life on Samsara Station as an idol, but after the tragic death of their lesbian-coded best friend/almost girlfriend and co-singer of the band 6NE, Joo Aeng-ha, they made a sudden decision to move back to Earth and reconnect with their family, all the while uncovering some scandalous secrets about the music industry with the help of their friends, old and new. Their story would expose the predatory practices of the industry, including the unethical practice of using AI to cover up celebrity deaths and maintain the status quo (since that's a Thing™️ in that dystopia). It's very Jem and the Holograms but crime noir. Alas, unlike my main project, this has been on the backburner for a couple years now, especially since it's all vague ideas but no real plot to kick it off. Here's some pretty old art of them (excuse the old signature :P I promise I'm the same artist):

Lin An | Hayashi Yasu (they/he) - Originally a Danganronpa OC! They were the Ultimate Historical Crime Novelist, but that was just a guise for their true career of being a hitman for a yakuza family they got adopted into after that family killed his own family, who were also yakuza... Yeah, you see the pattern with my obsession with true crime LMFAO. Anyways, they've moved on to the same original setting as Meigei, but this time, their birth family lives on. Still involved in crime as a triad group on Samsara Station with ties to triads on the surface, but Lin An has been relatively kept away from the family business for the most part until very recently. There are a few differences from their original self, namely they aren't nearly as beefy and they are now a mech pilot for a popular competitive sport (it's like LARPing but with more puzzles and timed challenges? ie the teams are deployed in a simulated city with a certain number of weapons, tools, and mechs available that they have to coordinate and race each other for, all leading up to a battle royale). Anyways, Lin An is a supporting character and a love interest for Meigei, using their family connections to help Meigei expose industry secrets. Have some even older art of them from like 2021:

Anyways, thanks for the ask!! Damn, I nearly forgot about these two....

[fantisyoflove]

So You Wanna Play With Magic - Part 16

WC: 5,340

‘Single Savior’

The paper posts a rather odd angled photo of Harry shaking Draco’s hand at the engagement party.

‘... for someone who was the savior of our world, it shocks this writer that famous Harry Potter can't seem to find a date to “ex - girlfriends” engagement party. I guess fame isn't everything.”

Harry lights the paper on fire and watches it burn slowly.

[]

You are sobbing into your hands. Preacher has been trapped under the fallen stone for hours now. Bugs and Slim have stopped talking. It's too quiet in this tomb.

You try thinking but everything you can come up with involves magic. If you use it it might make the whole thing topple down. There has to be a better way.

[]

Draco jumps as he hears your voice echoing in his head, ‘Draco? Draco, can you hear me?’ You call to him.

He grabs on to the bond the best he can and shouts back, ‘Tell me where you are.’ He hopes his tone comes across as serious as he meant it to.

He told Harry what happened when he and Hermione returned from the Ministry.

So the only thing left to do was go home then. Harry promised he would stop by more often, he just didn’t want to impose.

“Please, Harry, if you can get him to sleep you will always be welcome.”

Harry chuckled, “Actually it was Draco.”

[]

Day Nine

They have managed to get Preacher out!

He is in rough shape but otherwise the muggle healers say he should pull through!

It is a huge relief to you.

After a war it took awhile before you stopped assuming anyone was dead. Someone was late? Your first thought was they were gone, kidnapped, would you find a body? But no, they were just held up at check in. Someone doesn't respond to your owl for a few days? Must mean they are dead now. Nope, just busy.

It takes time for your brain to understand that every moment is not surrounded by death anymore. Preacher would have been the first person you knew to die since the war ended. Thankfully he didn’t break your streak of people living.

“Alright ma’am,” calls Bugs “I’m sorry but it will be one more day… Hopefully tomorrow we are able to get enough moved so you can wiggle through.”

You thank him and Slim. They tell you the crate has some food for the night and an extra blanket. You thank them again and carefully pull it through. They wait until you tell them you got it, in case more of the stones fall, and then head top side for the night.

Someone forgot to put out a torch along the wall and it casts warm yellow shadows into the room. You watch them dance as you eat.

‘Tell me where you are.’

You are startled, that was the loudest you have ever heard Draco in your mind. It was like he was sitting right next to you. You could feel the glare he would have given you if he could.

‘I’m safe.’

[]

Draco had fallen asleep on the couch.

Harry cleaned up around him quietly. They spent the day with Hermione since Ron was back to work now. Hugo thankfully seemed to have settled in and wasn't nearly as ornery anymore.

They stayed for dinner, Ron joined halfway through with no more news about you from his department.

Draco rocked the beer bottle he was holding on its edge and let it swirl around in a circle while he stared at it.

“I think she’s okay. I just have to know.” He said finally. “This bond would tell me if she had passed or was actually hurt, wouldn't it?”

Harry nodded and squeezed Draco’s arm affectionately.

Hermione shifted in her seat, she was still uncomfortable with the whole bond and magical marriage. It had been made highly illegal and parties found to have a bond or have facilitated the bonding ceremony were sent to Azkaban. The knowledge that there was more than just Draco and you out there also didn't sit well with her. She did her best to focus on what she could, exposing anyone else with the bond might expose you and Draco as well. She could see how it wasn’t any of your faults, having been only babies at the time, but the magic it created was strange. Unknown to those without it and stronger when the pair were together. It's no wonder Voldemort did it, he created a whole generation of children who would be stronger than their parents ever were. Each generation of the bond increases the strength of it. Since your whole family had had their marriages arranged and from all documented accounts so had Draco’s, you both had the chance of a very powerful union.

Hermione snuggled her son closer to her chest. She couldn’t imagine putting him through all that.

Harry went over and gave Draco a little shake. He startled awake but was calming down quicker after the fact. Hermione paused in the doorway to the kitchen to watch as Harry took Draco’s hand in his, his thumb brushing along Draco’s wrist and with the other hand shook his shoulder. Draco tried to bolt right off the couch but Harry held him there. He muttered to him something Hermione couldn’t hear and kept rubbing lazy circles on his wrist.

She quickly escaped to the kitchen when she noticed the two breaking apart again.

[]

Back at Harry’s Draco was lingering by the front door.

“What's the matter?”

“You don't have to pretend for me. I know I should probably get out of your hair. I have overstayed my welcome.”

Harry gave him a look, “Draco, you are family now. Stay as long as you want. She will come here after this mission and will expect you to be here.”

“You could just tell me when she gets back.”

Harry took a tentative step closer and reached out his hand. Draco stared at it for a long time before sighing dramatically and taking it in his.

“She would want you here… and so do I.”

If Harry hadn’t been holding onto Draco’s hand he would have fallen a step back. Nobody wanted him. Nobody chose him.

“Come on, it's late, let's go to bed.”

Harry let Draco’s hand drop and went upstairs. He found that Draco listened better when he left him for a moment to think on it.

Harry came out of the bathroom and Draco was standing in the hallway in front of the spare room.

“She’ll be okay?” He whispered.

Harry gave him a soft smile, “Yea.” He whispered back and went to his room.

Draco stood there for a moment looking between the two rooms before turning and going to his own bed.

[]

‘I'm safe’ he hears echoing in his head. He reaches for you but you aren't actually there. He tries to pull the blankets up into his arms but it's not the same. One night with you and he craves your warmth.

He never knew how good it could feel to hold someone close. To breathe them in and feel their heartbeat so close to his own.

He glanced at the doorway. Setting his jaw he turned over in the bed stubbornly and tried to get comfortable.

An hour trickled by and his head hurt, his eyes burned, and his heart ached.

He got up and tiptoed into Harry's room.

He stood at the foot of the bed and just watched as Harry slept. He contemplated just getting into bed with him to avoid waking him but he thought better of it in case Potter didn't want him there.

He held his wand just in case. He reached to shake Harry's shoulder but a dark hand snatched his wrist. Harry pulled him closer to his face, squinting.

“Draco?”

“Yea,” he felt the air whoosh out of his lungs. “Can I sleep here?” His voice cracked at the end.

Harry let him go and pulled the blanket back.

Draco hesitated then walked around to the empty side of the bed.

Harry couldn't see him but he felt the bed dip and smirked to himself before settling back in.

Draco laid on his back keeping his arms and legs straight. Harry was already half asleep.

Draco felt better just being in the same room as someone else it seemed. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

[]

Day ten

It's early when the stones start to shake. They are tumbling down as the pile grows smaller and smaller.

Finally the side is open and you run to it.

“Hold up ma'am. Just a moment more.”

“You spend a week in this forsaken room and try and wait a moment more!” You snap but step back and let them move a few more stones.

Finally two men are visible. One holds his hand out to you and you let him help you out.

“Thank you!” You call before sprinting to the opening. You run past everyone tears pricking your eyes. You burst out into the early morning sun and fall to your knees. Rolling onto your back you stare at the beautiful sky!

“Y/n!” Someone calls and you hear several feet scuffing in the hard packed sand.

You have your eyes closed but the sunlight is blocked out as your friends and co workers circle around you.

“What day is it?”

There is a quiet shuffling and someone from the back calls, “March 2nd!”

March! You squeeze your eyes tight.

“Did anyone send word to ha.. Draco for me?”

More silence.

“Didn't you write to ‘im after Bill arrived?” Fleur asked.

“Well… no I let Dean go before me.” You lift a hand to your eyes and then try to sit up. Someone comes behind you and lifts you up by your armpits.

“Careful I am pretty stinky. A scrougify only does so much.”

The team dispersed and you head to the tent to shower and finally change clothes.

You feel so much better after you cleaned up and drank a full jug of water in the process too.

“Y/n, I need to debrief you and everyone about the collapse. We have to figure out what caused it.”

“Okay, let me just send an owl quick…”

“No! Now!” She snaps and stomps out of the tent.

You groan but follow to another tent that is for meeting and storing documents and unsorted items.

You sit down next to Dean. He leans into your shoulder, “glad to have you back!”

“Glad to be back! Hey what happened to the American, Preacher?”

Dean opened his mouth but your supervisor called for silence.

“Attention, now that y/n is finally out of the tunnel we need a full account of what led to the collapse.” she gave you an expecting look.

“I'm not too sure. Bill was able to get the staff in place. It held fine. It was on the other side of the room from the tunnel. Bill left and I felt a shudder and the tunnel collapsed.”

She nodded then turned to Bill, “next.”

“I had just left the tunnel opening. I didn't have anything with me. And nobody was in the other room.”

Bill didn't work directly with your boss, he was more often at Gringotts than anywhere else. You however spent many long days with this woman. Her face had a tell, a small tick in her jaw when she didn't trust something… or someone.

“Bill wouldn't have either,” you butt in “he is always so careful. His record is spotless.”

She purses her lips but moves on. “Dean?”

Everyone gave an account of where they were and what they were doing at the time.

You zoned out at that point.

Ten days.

Ten whole days.

Your hands twitched by your sides. You never liked sitting still for long.

…..

‘You must have been about 4 when your governess started locking you in the closet. She didn't like when you climbed on the furniture and tried jumping off. You had so much energy as a child. She wasn't allowed to hit you yet per your mother's request but honestly you would prefer it. She would lock you away for hours at a time. “You won't mind then you won't do anything” she would snarl in your face.’

You can still feel the spit flying from her mouth and landing on your face when you remember her.

…..

It was dark when she finally let everyone go to bed. You thought about sending an owl now but the camp owl was gone for the evening. You reached down the bond instead. “Everything is fine!”

[]

Draco woke up to the sound of snoring in his ear.

‘Y/n doesn't snore.’ he thought. He was too warm but also too comfortable to pull away.

The mass beneath him shifted and he cracked an open to see nothing but jet black hair. He tried to move just to get the hair to stop tickling his nose. He was becoming more aware of which parts were his and which were Harry’s.

He was mostly on top, Harry was tucked under his chest. He mumbled something and nuzzled his face into Draco’s shoulder. Draco tried not to react but his body stiffened up. He wasn’t trying to wake Harry just now but he had to get up. He had a problem .. rising.

Not because he was bent for Harry!

No!

Because it was morning and he had to use the loo.

Draco tried to slip away but Harry’s arm tightened against his back. He froze and tried to breathe evenly. Harry hooked his leg over Draco’s and pulled his thigh closer to his hard length.

Draco pulled away fast.

Harry jolted awake too, his hand going for his wand but only holding it in his hand. “Draco?”

“Harry?”

Harry took a breath, “Sorry, I still struggle with being … woken.” He said, twisting his wand in his lap. “It doesn’t help,” He added as he reached back for his glasses, “that I can't see.” He gave a half-hearted chuckle.

Draco just nodded, he held the blankets over his lap. “Sorry I don’t know how to help with that.”

“It will get better once I get used to you. I am used to y/n, I think it's her smell.”

Draco raises an eyebrow questioningly, “Her… smell?”

Harry smiled down at his wand, not looking at Draco. “Yea, sometimes I smell her in my dreams. It's very calming, don't you think?”

Draco tries to remember what you smell like but nothing comes to mind. He didn't remember. He couldn’t recall. Draco stood suddenly and stomped out of the room.

Harry sat there and tried to think of how he could have offended Draco this time.

[]

Day eleven

You woke up on your cot, your legs tangled in the blanket you had kicked down. You tried to untangle yourself when you thumped down to the ground. You groan and finish kicking the blanket off.

“Y/n?”

“Fine, just fell.”

“Well don't do that.”

“I didn't do it on purpose!”

Dean helped pull you up to your feet. You gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“The owl is back if you want to send that letter.”

“Thanks, did Seamus write back?”

“Yea, he isn’t too pleased this is taking so long. You know how he gets.”

“You think if he lived somewhere … sunnier it would help?” You tease.

“I don’t think I could ever get him to leave Ireland. After his mother passed he doesn’t like to travel much.”

You nod and give him a hug. “Few more days.”

You pen a note for Draco and Harry separately.

The ministry man standing by it holds out his hand for your letters. He reads each separately before handing them back to you. “No.”

You give him a puzzled look, “No?”

“Yea, no.” He flicked back open his newspaper.

“What do you mean, no?”

“This dig has become confidential and no information may leave.”

“How am I supposed to explain why I have been gone for so long.”

“Not my problem.” He shook the paper out again and crossed his ankle over his knee.

You snarled and held out the papers in front of you and wordlessly lit them both on fire.

The man didn’t even look up from his reading.

You stomped off to your tent and rewrote the notes. Significantly shorter and with no details.

You came back to the owl man and presented the new notes.

“And who are these too?” He asked, still reading them. You only ever used initials in your notes.

“Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.”

The owl man raised his eyebrows, “Friends in high places.” He set the notes on his knee and picked up a clipboard from the ground. He flipped the first page over and then tossed the whole thing back down.

“Not on the list.” He said and handed you back the notes.

“What list!?” You throw your hands up exasperated.

“Rakepick’s orders.” He goes back to his paper.

You aren’t proud of this but your temper has always been a bit of a problem. You grabbed the top of his newspaper and turned the whole thing to dust in his hands. You brushed the remaining dust off your hands right into his face and then stomped off, again.

[]

Draco had gone back to his room and was pacing back and forth. He was struggling with the thought that Harry knew you. He knew you knew you! He was able to recall what you smelled like. He called on that memory to soothe himself.

You had told Draco that you and Harry saw other people even when you were together but he is starting to get the feeling that only you were doing that.

He had a thought and stomped back into Harry’s room.

“Who were the others?”

Harry was in the middle of changing and had just pulled up his trousers.

“These other people you were supposedly seeing when y/n was gone?”

Harry was caught off guard, “Oh, umm well. Nobody you would know. But there hasn’t been anyone for a while.”

“How long.”

“A few years or so… Why?”

Draco crossed his arms and glared down his nose at Harry.

Harry squared his jaw and stared back. This hot and cold thing Draco did was throwing him for a loop.

“What about the people she was seeing?”

“I never met them. We kept it separate.”

“And that worked?”

“For us, yea.” Harry sat back down on the bed hoping it would help dissipate Draco's temper.

“Were they people she met on these missions?”

“I don't know Malfoy. She and I didn't discuss details. Besides, you would know if there was someone else.”

Draco glared at Harry. He took a few steps to pace then stopped and looked at him again.

“I am starting to think there was never anyone else.”

Harry waited patiently, something told him he had to let Draco come to his own conclusions sometimes. It wouldn't help to race him to the finish line.

The minutes stretched on and Draco was pacing again. Harry just watched him walk back and forth, he yawned and rubbed at his eyes under his glasses. When he readjusted them to sit on his face nice Draco was staring at him.

“I think there were long stretches of time where I didn’t feel anything from her. And like you said sometimes she would be gone for up to a month. I think you both downplay your relationship to each other.”

Harry thought about it, you both never specifically said you had stopped seeing other people. Harry had just stopped one day… Nothing special made him decide. Another terrible date, another crazy ‘fan’. He just didn’t want to tell you you had to stop or make you feel like you should.

“It isn’t fun trying to date when you're me.” Harry said with a half laugh.

Draco stopped pacing and stood in front of Harry, arms folded over his chest.

Harry had the idea that if he just pulled Draco closer he would let him but he kept his hands to himself. Darn you for putting these thoughts into his head. He would have never! Well maybe that wasn't true, he might have, given the right circumstances. You are the one who rushed these new feelings to him. Draco was fit.

“Do you love her?”

Harry had to stifle a laugh, of course he loved you! Looking at Draco though he probably didn’t give his love out as freely as Harry did. Draco probably had come to accept that he wouldn't be allowed to love anyone else.

“Yes.”

“Good. Let's go get her then!” He said finally and stomped out of the room.

He was just in the hallway when a sharp pain hit his chest, he gasped as his body flinched forward.

He saw you. He saw you on the ground, blankets tangled around your legs. Dean came in and picked you up off the floor. You smiled at him, Draco melted at the sight, he missed your smile. Then you pulled Dean closer and kissed his cheek. He sees you and Dean chatting but he can’t hear anything.

The image is gone faster than he is ready for it to be.

In the hall Harry is patting his face trying to get his attention.

“...Draco! Hey look at me. Draco!”

Draco gives him a little push away from him. “I saw her!”

“What?”

“Y/n! I saw her kissing Dean.”

Harry blinked rapidly and shook his head. “How sure are we that what you see is real?”

Draco sighed, “Not like that, Potter. He kissed his cheek. She was in a tent.” Draco tried to pull the image back and take in every detail. “She was in a tan tent with cots. There were other people sleeping around her. The ground looked like packed sand.”

“If Dean is with her we can at least try and find his location.”

“My thoughts exactly!” Draco gives Harry’s arm a squeeze and runs to his room to change.

[]

“Pat!” You call and shove back the tent flap. “Pat?”

Your supervisor is leaning over a table reading over yesterday’s reports.

“Y/l/n?”

“I need you to authorize a letter home for me.”

“Are they someone in your contact list?”

“What?!”

She closes her eyes and takes a breath, “Y/n, you have to have them approved prior to missions. You get one person to list to contact.”

“That’s never been an issue before!”

“We haven’t worked on a case like this before.”

You open your mouth to speak again but she holds up her hand. “Enough. This is above my head. I can't do anything for you.” She finally looks up at you. “I’m sorry, y/n.”

You head out of the tent and go to find Dean again.

[]

Dean is in the tomb working when you find him.

“Dean,”

“Alright, y/n?”

“Yea, fine, hey can you do me a favor.”

You ask Dean to send a note to Seamus to get in touch with Draco and Harry for you. He is more than happy to help.

“I’m sorry they aren't letting you contact them. We haven’t had a case like this in years! When we get back I can help you put in the paperwork to put Draco on the list. It might take awhile… because.. Well because…” Dean coughs

“Because he used to be a Death Eater?”

Dean nodded and wouldn't meet your eye.

“Dean, it's fine,” You touch his arm. “I know what he was. He isn’t like that anymore though. He has changed so much since then.”

Dean gives you a weak smile and nods. Dean has always been your friend, Seamus too, they just want what's best for you.

“But!” He says with new excitement. “Since you are engaged, after the wedding they will have to let you contact him. Some old law they have about spouses. Bet they never thought people like us would benefit from their backwards rules.” You have to smile at that.

Dean was able to get the letter through the ministry guy, you hid in the tents in case he was still cross about the newspaper incident.

Dean came back to let you know that it was sent without issue.

Feeling much better you went to get your next assignment.

[]

Draco and Harry were turned away again from the Ministry. They were much nicer this time because Harry was there but they still wouldn’t tell them anything.

“Top secret? What on Earth could she be doing!?” Draco was fumming.

Harry sighed and pulled Draco away from the muggle phone box and led him down to a spot they could apparate.

They were sitting down for lunch when there was a knock at the door.

Harry drew his wand and held it in his hand as he answered.

“Morning Harry!” A cheery voiced greeted.

“Seamus!” Harry threw open the door and pulled the man in for a hug.

Draco had been standing just a few steps behind Harry.

“Whatcher self there. Got a bit ‘o nosh wit me.” He took a step back and held the bags up as if to prove it. “Blimy! Malfoys ‘ere too. Brilliant. Figured I'd have one ‘ell of a time findin’ ‘em on me own.”

Harry was beaming and poor Draco looked so confused. He remembered how your accent used to sound so similar to the Irishman before him. Thankfully one of you learned to speak proper English. Draco then scolded himself for such a thought. He wasn't trying to be a dickhead. He gave himself a shake and followed Harry and Seamus to the kitchen.

Seamus busied himself with taking out several Tupperware containers from his bags.

“I gotcha some tings. You know how I get when he's gone.”

“Yea… hey thanks for coming over and thanks for all this!” Harry had to gesture to the whole kitchen since Seamus had covered every surface with tubs and plates of various things.

Draco picked up a container and checked inside. Blueberry scones. In another one cookies. A plate with a whole cheesecake.

“Seamus bakes.” Harry said

“I see.” Draco said, mildly impressed. The last thing he knew about their guest was he was particularly good at pyrotechnics. Baking seemed like an odd leap.

“He's opened up his own bakery and everything.”

Seamus blushed and turned to busy himself with folding the bags, “s'nothing”

“It's bloody brilliant! Don't sell yourself short.” Harry insisted and touched Seamus's shoulder. Seamus looked up at him with a warm smile.

Draco watched the whole exchange curiously. Seamus and Dean were the first openly gay couple Draco had ever known. His father made his opinions about homosexuals VERY apparent.

Draco used to think he held the same feelings… but he had thought that about a lot of things.

Still, the exchange between Harry and Seamus was different than say Dean and Harry or Ron and Seamus. Draco couldn't put his finger on it quite yet.

They sat around the table and tucked into some of the pastries Seamus brought.

“Oh, right, sorry. The whole reason I came by…” Seamus stood and started rummaging through his pockets. He patted himself down and looked around lost. Then he snapped his fingers and walked back to the front door where he left his jacket.

“It's for you.” He set a piece of parchment in front of Draco. Harry leaned in to read it too.

‘Love, Remember Lightning? Remember the summer of 1993

Dragon. Your girl is good. Tell the dragon to try harder. Time is unknown. Please tell the bat. Bring snacks.

I'll see you when I can. Don't burn down the kitchen please.

Love you Dean’

“Has he had a stroke?” Draco asked after reading it four times over.

Harry and Seamus exchanged a look and laughed together.

“S'code.”

“Dean made up codes during the war and he specializes in them at work. When they go on missions they sometimes have their letters read before they are sent. They can't say a lot of things.” Harry explained.

“See when we talked about Harry we would say ‘lighting has struck’. Lightning must be Harry, Dean is a stickler for punctuation,” Seamus said tapping the end of the second sentence. “So he's not asking, he's telling you Harry.”

Harry screwed up his face, “The summer of 1993 … we were 13. Going into 3rd year. Sirius was wanted and had just escaped Azkaban.” Harry thought aloud, Draco flinched.

“Remember Ron at the leaky telling anyone who would listen about their trip that year.” Seamus chuckled. Harry groaned. “Oh yea.”

Draco's eyes lit up, “She's in Egypt then?”

Harry squinted at the note then his eyes widened. “Yea that's probably it, and you are the dragon.”

“She said we couldn't call you ferret anymore.” Seamus said with a laugh.

Draco scrunched his nose but went back to the note. He figured you meant for him to try harder at using the bond. Possibly. And the bat had to be Severus. He hadn't even thought about contacting Snape and letting him know that you were gone. He didn't even know how often you visited him or that you brought him food apparently.

“So if you're lightning and he's dragon. Who is the bat?” Seamus asked.

Harry touched Seamus’ forearm and leaned in closer to him. “Hey Seamus thanks for passing along the message. Do you mind if we keep this? Maybe puzzle it out a bit.”

Seamus was looking into Harry's eyes, searching. Draco saw it then, the separate connection. Harry and Seamus used to be together.

“Yea, yea sorry Harry. Just got caught up in the excitement I guess. That's your private business. Can I… Can I just have the bottom part? I'm pretty sure that part is for me.” A soft blush spread across his cheeks and he leaned in a little closer so his shoulder brushed on Harry's.

“O'course.” Harry used his wand and cut the bottom half cleanly away and handed it to Seamus.

“‘M just gunna wash up and I'll get outta your hair.”

Harry gave his arm another squeeze before Seamus left.

Draco looked pointedly at Harry, when he met his eye he flicked his eyes to where Seamus just was and then back at Harry. “Thought you said it wasn't anyone I knew?”

Harry gave him a startled look, “Seamus was a long time ago. Back at Hogwarts. I didn't think you meant that. What, you jealous Malfoy?”

“No! I just thought …” Draco began but then stopped with a scowl and folded his arms.

“Seamus knew, he's said he's known since he was a kid. He has an eye for it, if you are gay. He had a way of bringing it up so you kind of figured it out yourself. He was patient and kind and just the person I needed then. We are good friends now.”

Draco bristled, he did not want to be here right now.

Seamus came back and gave Draco an odd look that he couldn't name. Was this it? Was he trying to decide? Did he know!

Draco suddenly had a darker thought, one that wasn't his, but his fathers. ‘What is there to know, Draco?’ His fathers voice still haunted him sometimes.

“Well I best be heading off.” Seamus said as he came back into the kitchen. Harry pulled him into a hug. They walked him to the door.

“Hey let me know if you need any messages passed along. I guess they are only letting people owl their main contact. We told y/n she should list somebody but she didn't want to bother with it. Never thought she would be on such a high profile case she did.” Seamus ducked his head and gave a wave before disapperating from the step.

[littletealseal]

Hey everyone, I kinda dropped off again didn't I? Yeah I'm really sorry about that.. I'm realizing I tend to go through different phases of doing certain things and forget to let others know >>;;

Well I'm hopefully gonna try getting back into things or at least get through my huge backlog of reblog going things for my queue. I've been talking a lot with family and my gf on my regression and I think we're making a good breakthrough on me being more comfortable on using my gear around them all <:3 since before... stuff that I won't get into happened awhile back that made me not use my stuff as much as I wanted too. But! That's in the past and I want to try getting back into using my gear again ^^

I'm going to update now where I've been, mental stuff ofc always is an issue but not everything has been bad! My gf and I have been playing through every single mainline Pokémon game! So far we're now playing through PKMN colosseum and we're both having a blast playing through it c: I diiiiid try to shiny hunt the Dunsparce but learned to try to do it later ^^; plus my old GameCube started acting up.. so that was scary. I took it apart and gave it new thermal pads and cleaned it, that was very easy! Turns out it was my old controller causing the problems <XD well at least I refreshed my old GC c:

We completed the remake of Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door and LOVED IT SO MUCH 💙 I seriously forgot how much I love Paper Mario as a whole and DOOPLISS OMG DOOPLISS 💙💙💙 I used to love him a lot as a young teen and maaaaan he was wonderful in this remake!! His lil voice was perfect for how precious he is 🥹 He is literally so baby... ofc I say this without referring to anything agere related buuuuut then my baby brain got to working and I'm regressing with him now lmao. I always saw him being young mentally, like around 15 while his bio age is a mystery ( idk how Dooplighosts age ) and since he partners up with Flurrie in the end I see after a few years of being acting partners and them bonding, I see Flurrie being a mother like figure for Doopliss, and being a semi cg to him when regressed c: I'll talk more about this in another post

I'm going to try drawing again and get back into that small series I started where I draw all the cookies I see as regressors, as well as get to alot of other ideas I have. Other than that I'm mostly doing alright? Just trying to get by each day but thankfully my wonderful girlfriend and mom have been helping me a lot <:3

Hopefully soon things can change here and become active again.. but until then I'll hope to see you guys again later c:

Thank you for reading

[not-wholly-unheroic]

Oh, almost forgot)): 31 and 41, s'il te plaît ;)

31. When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?

Post-redemption arc, there are a good many things that Hook regrets in his life and wishes he could take back. More than once, someone he cares about has been hurt by someone/something from his past…whether it’s the emotional pain of finding out the truth of something awful he did long ago and not quite being able to see him the same way anymore or physically getting hurt by someone he once wronged seeking revenge or the crocodile, it all makes him feel extremely guilty. Often, he has nightmares of his past life that he wakes from screaming and drenched in a cold sweat, checking his hand (and the claw if he forgot to remove it) for blood and begging for forgiveness. Sometimes the dreams are actual memories of the Lost Boys he killed or tortured; other times, they start out as a memory but the scene shifts and at the last minute, the face of the boy will morph into the face of his own child or a currently living Lost Boy or Pan with whom he has made amends. Those are some of the most horrifying dreams of all. Although historically, only the sight of his own blood has bothered him, the dreams of extreme violence now often leave him feeling physically ill. Talking about it sometimes helps, but just initially putting it into words and admitting it out loud is hard. It makes everything seem more real. So he frequently writes letters or journal entries expressing his feelings. He also has a sketchbook where he sometimes draws the scenes from dreams (or memories) that he can’t get out of his head. It’s…cathartic, in a way.

Because of his past violence, he also feels guilty (and even a little afraid of himself) whenever he feels his temper start to get the better of him. He has generally learned the “warning signs” and will step away from a situation before he blows up or lashes out. But he’s still figuring out how to safely let that anger out in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone or make him feel…wrong. Strenuous physical activity helps, but many of his preferred methods of exercise (like swordplay) aren’t really conducive to safe expressions of anger. So he frequently just hides out for awhile and feels guilty about it until the feelings of anger/frustration pass. Not the best solution, but better than hurting someone he loves.

41. What phrases/pronunciations/mannerisms did they pick up from someone/somewhere else?

Hook has been around for a looooong time and traveled to many places, so he’s had plenty of chances to integrate aspects of others into his own language, personality, and habits. As a boy at Eton, he had a teacher he admired who was also a great Shakespearean actor who rolled his r’s when on stage, and he quickly picked up the habit for when he wanted to sound particularly proper and posh.

He’s picked up a few phrases over the years that are technically anachronistic for someone from his time period—notably, “Great Scott!” Though he was trapped on Neverland for centuries, he occasionally was lucky enough to have a window to the outside world through various items that washed ashore on the Outer Islands where lost things wind up. If he was extremely lucky, sometimes, he’d find a book. Given the rarity of such items on the island, he often found himself rereading whatever he came across rather frequently and inevitably, some of the phrases and words started creeping into his own vocabulary.

He picked up the habit of smoking while in the Caribbean before his time in Neverland. A ship he plundered happened to be carrying a rather large stash of tobacco products, and though initially, he tried some merely out of curiosity and the fact that it seemed popular among men of means…but he quickly discovered that it calmed his nerves and helped him relax. He initially smoked only socially…but over time, especially after the added stress of the crocodile, he found that it had become more of an addiction.

I may think of others later, but these are a few off the top of my head.

[shinycollarboneapologist]

hiiiii, just read style and illicit affairs and i freaking loved them both so much!!!!<3 i just saw the post saying that you were taking requests so i thought i’d give it a shot even tho i never send asks bc i get so nervous hdjdjsjd so could u pretty please write something inspired by good ones by charli xcx with matty or ross? im currently obsessed with it and i love ur writing style and how u incorporate the lyrics without making it cheesy :) could be a little blurb or social media au or even just a little list with thoughts 💭 wtvr u decide i’ll keep an eye out for your next fic whatever it’ll be 💖

AHHH ofc. also tysm bby, i love and appreciate you so so so so much.

he was great. really and truly was. he couldn't have treated you or loved you any better than he did. ross was a proper gentleman. he was loyal, and sweet. he would remember odds and ends of things you said in conversation, bringing them up later on to prove that he was really listening.

like that time you mentioned how you loved chocolate croissants. and coincidentally, each time you stayed over his the next morning there would be fresh chocolate croissants waiting for you on the kitchen island.

but it left much to be desired. you didn't know what was wrong with you. he was perfect. he is perfect.

the breakup was hard. and maybe that's why you had to make up convoluted stories to yourself, twisting a web of lies in your psyche that would lessen the ache of abandoning one of the best relationships you had been in. in these stories, sometimes he was the rude boyfriend that never wanted to do anything with you. other times, he was just the one that was better at leaving than you. your friends, most of which were also his, were shocked at the fact that you had called it quits. they thought he would have been the one to break the curse.

you had thought that, too. until the grass on the other side shone greener and grew taller than the comfort of the walls you and ross had created as a home for yourselves. you remember the way he sat across from you, arms crossed defensively and staring you down indignantly. it had come out of nowhere. you had grown distant, short with him. and then it was over.

he never really let you go, though. he would shoot you a happy birthday text, wished you well on all of the major holidays, asked about your friends and family, told you about the successes of the band. and it was nice. you kept him close, too, wishing him luck with the band, asking for music recommendations, making light conversation every once and awhile. all while trying to navigate dating again.

you'd picked some real winners. there was the guy with the monster truck who conveniently forgot to tell you he was married with a kid on the way. how could you manage to forget about the one with the weird obsession with sour cream? or the one with the rat tail pony tail? they made for good stories to tell, but there was something lacking.

and that something was ross, no matter how hard you tried to deny it.

your circles remained intertwined. which is the reason you find yourself sat on a barstool of a rented out local pub for matty's birthday.

there's an emptiness in your chest. a hole making you feel hollow as you watch ross lead his new girlfriend into the bar. he's probably telling her all of his stupid jokes, and she's probably laughing along and mirroring the glint behind his eyes. there's a fire burning deep within your chest, jealousy is rampant in your veins. you chose this though, and now you have to live with it. his eyes catch yours and he offers you a small smile and a wave, which you have to return in civility. but it still hurts. you still ache.

the grass would never be greener on the other side. instead it proved to be browned and dead, with no sign of life coming from it. no amount of watering or tears for that matter could save it. and as he's bringing her around the bar to say hello, you're perched on the barstool waiting for a text back. because if there's one thing about you, you always manage to let the good ones go.

[wolverineblues]

ah so, i forgot i like to make a post showing my most listened to albums of the year! im actually not sure i even made one for 2022? anyway.

i think its neat to see how my listening habits vary from year to year. so here's my top 10 listened albums/eps from 2023! according to my last fm stats.

i got really into hardcore music this past year, but mostly the newer big bands atm. i'll have to explore some classic hardcore this year!

1. Merauder - Master Killer one of those bands/albums i had been aware of for awhile but never really checked out until now. great bridge between metal and hardcore favorite track: Master Killer 2. Twitching Tongues - Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred speaking of bridging metal and hardcore! this feels more hardcore-influenced metal to me as opposed to metal-influenced hardcore. good stuff either way. favorite track: Gaining Purpose 3. Abominable Iron Sloth - Abominable Iron Sloth really angry sounding sludge.. rarely have i heard anything full of such rage. i absolutely love this album. favorite track: I Am The Carcass 4. Fleshwater - We're Not Here to Be Loved incredible album bringing back some 90s grunge sounds with modern metal and shoegaze influences. favorite track: The Razor's Apple 5. Mongrel - Off The Leash (EP) been awhile since a 3 song demo excited me! incredible death metal leaning hardcore. cant wait to see what these guys do next. favorite track: Dog Complex 6. Judiciary - Flesh + Blood different yet similar approach from the band on this new album. less crossover thrash, more metallic hardcore, in a good way! favorite track: Engulfed 7. Fuming Mouth - The Grand Descent one of my favorites from 2019 that i revisted this past year. THIS is what we should be calling deathcore, not whatever its thought of as today. death metal and hardcore perfectly mixed. some slight doom and sludge tendencies thrown in for good measure too. favorite track: Burning Hand 8. Twitching Tongues - In Love There Is No Law thought of as their best by many and i see why! it's a journey from start to finish. it perfectly displays the band's range in under 40 minutes. favorite track: Preacher Man 9. Harms Way - Common Suffering kind of different from what i'd normally like but it's cool! very Sepultura and industrial influenced. some Neurosis coming out too? it's all over in a good way. love when bands try to step out of their comfort zone a bit and nail it. favorite track: Wanderer 10. Bleed - Somebody's Closer (EP) reminds me so much of what i would listen to in my early double digits. Chevelle, 10 Years, Crossfade, Evans Blue, etc... in a bit of a similar vein to Fleshwater where they're bringing back some of the best of 90s/early 2000s rock. favorite track: Burnt (By the Sun)

normally i like to tag people too, but since its already April, i won't be doing that lol

[ripplestitchskein]

Hi I hope it’s okay to ask you this. I was wondering if you would share what you had planned for the ending of Whether We Wake or Sleep. Not in like a nagging way just because it’s one of my favorite fanfics and I’m curious about how you were going to end it. Anything you’re comfortable sharing I’d love to hear. Thank you!

Omfg Nonnie I’m so sorry I didn’t see this message until now checking another message. I feel so fucking bad, I hope you are still out there!

Im torn because I don’t want to leave people hanging on it, it’s been so many years and I want to finish it but my brain has moved so far beyond that place I’m not sure I could even do it anymore. The characters voices might not be in my head anymore. But I still kinda wanna try. I loved it so much and it was such a huge part of my life and I didn’t get even to the scene that started it all 😭.

But you have been beautifully patient so I’ll share what I had so far, and who knows maybe I’ll take some time soon to finish it up! I hate leaving it unfinished, it was one of my favorite stories. I doubt I’ll finish my other OUAT WIPs but this one was super special to me. We were just a few chapters away and I still know everything I wanted to do.

I’m going to post the last scene of Chapter 9 and what I had so far for Chapter 10 below as a gift for your lovely feedback and being so patient, but based on other messages it was awhile ago. I’ll see what I can do about wrapping this story up. Please forgive me 🙏🏻.

The Chapter 10 snippet (it’s only a few hundreds words) comes after the *********.

~~~~~~~~~

Graham.

He looked exactly as she remembered him. The light curl of his hair. The dusting of stubble along his jaw. The way he stood, sure of himself but apart from the world. It was like being hit by a wave, a swift rush of emotion and awe jolting her physically just seeing him again, pulled into the undertow. For a moment she forgot herself, staring openly across the tavern at this walking ghost, at a relic from the past. Killian nudged her with his arm, and she turned back, ducking into the safety of her hood, her heart beating a rapid tattoo in her ears. They were well hidden in the shadows of the corner, but Graham was not alone, flanked on either side by two bored looking Black Knights acting as escort.

“I’ll take that as a yes, shall I?” Killian muttered. He downed the foul ale in one long gulp. It was his third.He had been surly, his face dark and shadowed, since he had returned to their room the previous evening. He had lain next to her in their shared bed without argument this time, turning his back to her without a word, though if he actually slept she couldn’t tell. He’d had no nightmares this time, his breathing steady next to her the entire night. She couldn’t blame him, she understood completely, her own nerves raw and frayed, anxiety pooling in her stomach. You never realized how long the night was when you had to wait for it to pass.

“Yes,” Emma whispered, sneaking another glance. “That’s him.” He was still at the bar, his face solemn and expressionless, but polite, collecting a handful of coins from the innkeeper with a nod.

“Alright then.” Killian put the empty tankard down with a bit more force than necessary. “I’ll distract the guards, see if you can get his attention.” He rose.

“Don’t,” Emma said, panicking. She reached out, grabbing his hand. “Wha-What do I do?”

The smirk he gave her was more of a forced sneer than anything, a flash of teeth, as he pulled his hand away. A fresh stab of hurt had her wincing as he backed away from her like she had burned him.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something Swan,” he said with that horrible false sort of cheer that only made it worse. “It’s True Love!” It was like he had slapped her. Another physical blow of pain that rocked her where she sat.

Killian turned on his heel and crossed the bar. Emma watched him anxiously, torn, and unsure of what to do. She didn’t want this. It hurt too much. She didn’t want to see Graham. But she desperately wanted to see him again at the same time. She didn’t want to cause Killian pain but this plan left her little choice in the matter. This wasn’t right. To be fucked with by some higher unknown destiny this way.

Graham had turned away, walking towards the door. He was leaving. She was about to miss her chance.

“Your story,” Emma whispered to herself. “It’s your story.” She was a bounty hunter. She had been through similar scenarios before. If she couldn’t sort out her own feelings she could at least do that. Pretend he was just like any other skip. This was just another job. Someone she needed to capture.

She leapt to her feet, just as Killian threw himself bodily into another man, at another table, sending half full cups of alcohol and bowls of the same greasy stew from the day before to the floor. Killian gave a slurred apology, playing the drunk with practiced ease, and clumsily went to pick up the discarded dishes, only to drop them again. The man he’d fallen into bellowed in outrage, cursing him and the Black Knights turned at the commotion, amused at the drunken lout. One stepped forward with a good natured chuckle to break it up.

Emma slipped past, her eyes trained on the floor, head turned to the side. She focused on the pair of soft brown boots that were leaving the tavern, apparently not interested in drunken bar fights. She increased her speed, the sunlight bright as she followed him out into square.

Graham was just ahead of her, apparently having no issue leaving his men behind as he moved to tuck away the small purse of gold he’d taken from the bar keep. Emma picked up her pace. And rammed right into his back.

The purse fell to the ground, tiny discs of gold rolling out of it into the dirt.

“Oh gosh,” Emma exclaimed, her voice high and breathless. “I didn’t see you there I am so sorry.” She followed him down to her knees. “Let me help you sir.”

“No, no need. I got it.”

Emma’s breath caught at the sound of that voice. So familiar. The accent thick, not friendly but not angry either. Resigned. She looked up, her mouth dry as she finally took him in fully. His eyes were not the same, she thought. Less open. Duller somehow. He glanced at her briefly as he gathered the coins. “Be a bit more careful, eh?” He said.

Her heart sank a bit. There was no flash of recognition. No grand romantic spark. No bolt of lightning. Just an act of clumsiness and a polite dismissal. Emma checked that off mentally. Made note of it. She wasn’t one prone to romanticized notions, so she wasn’t quite sure why, but it seemed important.

“I-I actually wanted to talk to you,” Emma stuttered. He did look at her with interest now, and more than a hint of suspicion.

“Me? What about?” The last of the gold collected he rose to his feet, reaching down to help her up with brusque efficiency. Emma looked at his hand for a long moment and then placed her own inside it.

Nothing. She didn’t know what she’d expected. His hand was warm, the skin roughened softness from labor, but nothing more than that, and gone as soon as she was back on her feet. She made another mental check.

“I-um-I,” Emma cursed herself. She was better than this. “I just, saw you in the bar, and I wanted to introduce myself.” She said finally, lowering her voice in a way she hoped was interested without coming across too strong. She should know this, she thought. She should know him. What he would like, what he wouldn’t. Her mind came up blank.

Graham just stared at her expectantly, more than a bit impatient.

“I’m Mary,” Emma said finally. “Mary Margaret.”

“Nice to meet you Mary Margaret. If you’ll excuse me though, I’ve a lot of stops to make,” he gave his pocket a pat where the coins jingled. “It’s collection day.”

“I know, I know, I just wanted to talk to you,” Emma rushed. She glanced behind her at the tavern entrance, unsure of how much time Killian could buy her.

“About?” Graham asked. His brow furrowed, scanning her face. “I know you-” he said, trying to work out if he actually did, more of a question than an absolute.

Emma’s heart stopped. He knew her. Did that mean-?

“You’re the girl on the poster. The one the Queen is looking for,” Graham’s voice was rising in alarm, his eyes darting back towards the tavern. He reached out, grabbing her arm.

“No,” Emma jerked back. “That’s not-” she pulled harder but Graham was strong. There was a reason he was chosen to be Sheriff. “That’s not what I need to talk to you about. It’s a misunderstanding. A great big misunderstanding, I just need to-” Graham had a good grip now.

“I don’t want to take you in,” He was saying apologetically. “I don’t have a choice. I have to do as she orders.”

“No you don’t,” Emma said, desperate now. This wasn’t going well at all. As far as meet cutes went this was turning into a disaster. “I just need to talk to you.”

“You can talk all you like on the way to the palace,” Graham said. He was pulling her arms behind her back now, fully in arrest mode. Emma couldn’t get them free, boots sliding across the dirt as he dragged her bodily back towards the tavern and the waiting Black Knights. Back to Regina and her dungeon, a burning pyre and the end of this entire horrible journey.

Emma sucked in a deep breath and blurted out the only thing she could think of, the only way she knew of to get his attention. The only way she knew this might work out. Perhaps she could save herself and an innocent man at the same time.

“I want to help you get your heart back.”

********

Graham’s grip loosened in surprise at her words, and Emma used the opportunity to dart away. She didn’t run. She stepped just out of reach, holding her hands up in supplication.

“Yeah, I know about that,” she said. Her feet moved across the packed earth, and they circled each other for a moment. Graham narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but she could see the warring emotion in them, the surprise and the tiny spark of hope that flitted across his face.

“How?” He asked, his voice soft. His hand moved unconsciously up, brushed his chest and dropped again. “How could y’know that?”

“I’ll explain everything,” Emma said. Her gaze darted back to the tavern. “But not here. I want to help you, to-,” she felt her throat constrict. “-to save you. But I can’t do that if you take me in.”

“The Queen-” he tried again, and took a step towards her.

“Never gave you a direct order to capture me,” Emma said following his movement with a step back of her own. It was more a guess than any kind of factual knowledge. She had no idea how far reaching Regina’s control was of his heart. No idea of what he could be made to do. “So you don’t have to do anything. I’m just asking you to hear me out.”

Graham opened his mouth for a moment, considering, and a small flare of triumph rose in her stomach. He frowned, gauging his own reaction, testing his limits. No, she realized. Testing Regina’s limits.

“There is a difference between being a slave and being a puppet,” Emma said. She saw him draw in a sharp breath. “You are still in control, Graham.”

“I am-” he let the thought trail off. “Who are you?” His gaze swept her, and she was almost sad she was hidden behind a glamour. If he could see her would it matter? Would he recognize her even though they had yet to meet? Would he somehow just know her? Connected by something greater than recognition, more powerful than acquaintance, could he see her through all the magic and deception?

“I’m-” Emma had no idea how to respond. “-a friend?” Her hesitation over the word made his expression sharpen with suspicion.

“I can explain it all, I promise.” She darted another glance at the tavern. She could feel her brief window of opportunity slipping away. “I’ll meet you. Firefly Hill, tonight. Midnight.”

That was the place Killian had suggested she tell Graham to meet her. It was a few miles or so away, far enough from the village they would be alone, away from the threat of Black Knights, isolated enough for a private conversation but close enough to reach on foot with relative ease. A neutral ground. A safe place, to do...whatever she needed to do.

Killian couldn’t help his sneer at the time she’d suggested, his eyes colder and further away than she had ever seen them.

“A kiss at midnight,” he had said softly. “How poetic. Just like a fairy story.”

He was building walls. She could recognize that as easily as looking in a mirror. He was shutting himself away. That had almost broken her. Emma shook the thoughts away, determined now as she has been then, and focused on the man in front of her. The man she was supposed to be thinking about.

She might not be able to control anything about this situation, she might not know how she felt about him, but she could at least try to save him. If nothing else, perhaps Graham Humbert or The Huntsman, or whoever he truly was, could live. Perhaps she could right one injustice.

“If you don’t like what I have to say you can bring me to The Queen. I won’t resist.”

Graham just stood there, confused and torn. She took heart that he had made no further move to apprehend her. He rubbed the spot on his chest again and frowned.

“Will you meet me?” She asked, half a whisper, half a plea.

Graham met her eyes full on, and Emma felt a jolt, a twisting in her gut that she couldn’t identify. It was tinged with guilt, with sorrow, and she had to swallow around the lump in her throat. “Please.”

“Aye.” He whispered. “I’ll meet you.”

____

“They really meant the Hill part didn’t they?” Emma groaned, her breathing labored as she crested the last rise of what she was sure was a small mountain. Killian was just ahead of her, already at the top, scouting.

“Alright there, Swan?” He asked, face pinched with concern. His hand went automatically for his satchel and Maleficent's potion within.

“I’m okay,” she wheezed waving him off. “Just not in as good a shape as I thought.”

He took a flask out instead, handing it to her. She eyed it for a second.

“Just water,” he gave her a flash of teeth that could be a smile, all without actually letting his eyes land on her. He had been doing that for hours, looking at her without looking at her. It was maddening and it hurt, but she pushed it away.

Save Graham. The rest could be sorted out later.