#i was talking to my old boss about this and he got RAGE over it

[andyridgeley]

looking at job descriptions and having flashbacks to when i went to a job fair and they stopped talking to me when i said i had an english degree

[bluerosefox]

GHOSTS WITH HEARTBEATS

When Jason had been going to Gotham Academy, he had (for a good reputation for the media and to help him catch up on his penmanship, remember he had been on the streets and dropped out of school before getting picked up by Bruce for a while) signed up for a penpal project for 'less privileged people' to write to.

(Although Jason was annoyed the penpal project stayed within the states and only selected a middle of nowhere town, he knew the Richie Rich Elites would never subjugate their 'Heirs' to actual kids in need of learning how to read and write)

But Jason didn't mind his penpal.

Danny Fenton was a riot to talk, err write to in all honestly.

From his dry punny humor (and boy can he give even Dick a run for his money in the pun department but hey using some of them actually got Dick to warm up to him a few missions ago) and death jokes so many death jokes, to his nerdy love for space Jason enjoyed writing to Danny.

Even the short stories he would write about a ghost kid protecting a small town from other ghosts was interesting to read. He really liked the different kinds of ghosts there could be. Granted some seemed very OP like that Clockwork dude.

Jason liked writing to Danny, and even after the penpal project was over they had plans to keep sending letters, maybe even exchange numbers soon...

But then he died by the hands of the Joker.

The letters leaving Wayne Manor may had decreased but the letters being sent never did or at least until a few years ago.

Then Jason somehow returned to the land of the living.

Got taken by the LoA, tossed in the green waters and turned into their Pit Raged weapon for a while before leaving them behind and setting out for his revenge against the Joker and to force B's hand.

And becoming a Crime Boss for a while too. Can't forget that.

Point being with all this going on, the old warm memories of exchanging letters with Danny Fenton was pushed into the back of his mind and forgotten about for a while.

It isn't until one afternoon at Wayne Manor that while roughhousing with Dick, who had Jason in a brotherly headlock as they walked down a hall to one of the sitting rooms, that while Jason had slipped out of Dick's hold had stumbled into a hallway desk that had a few things on the top of it, one of the things being a small box that tumbled off when Jason hit it.

The box lid opened and out of it spilled out a good number of letters.

"Shiii-p, dang it Dick!" Jason said when he looked at the mess he accidentally made and stopped himself from swearing, the place might be named Wayne Manor but everyone knew this was Alfie's domain and no swearing was a rule within his halls.

Dick only laughed and teased only in a way a sibling can do "Hey not my fault your as big as a tank Jaybird! We should get you some caution signals if you keep bumping into things!"

Jason flipped him his favorite finger, thankfully Alfred only knew when they swore thus it did not summon him, and bent down to the letters.

His hands froze when he recognized the hand writing and the address it was sent from.

"From: Danny Fent Nightingale

Amity Park, IL"

To: Jason Todd-Wayne

Gotham City, NJ.

Wayne Manor"

And when Jason opened the letter. He really wasn't expecting what was written inside.

"Jason.

I'm finally leaving Amity Park. I can't be there anymore, not after everything. I'm too tired, and emotionally hurt. Everything is just to much. And I can't keep doing this to myself. My parents still can’t understand there is nothing ‘wrong’ with me or why I refuse to let them take care of Ellie, I refuse to let her live the way Jazz and I did, Jazz has to much on her plate already with her own life and college but she’s been hounding me to reach out to mom and dad, Sam refuses to listen to me when I tell her I want to be more than ‘Phantom’ in Amity Park, and Tucker is so busy trying to get into a good college and job we barely have time to talk nowadays. And don’t get me started on Vlad, that fruitloop’s been breathing down my neck since Ellie’s deaging.

Despite how much of a hellhole you like to call it, I think Gotham might be my, no mine and Ellie’s best bet of living some kind of life, especially now since the whole deaging she had to go through, she needs an ectoplasm rich city as well and since she has no actual papers because she was my clone and I remember you saying Gotham has people who can create new identities and-

I’m rambling again, to letter you again. I really need to stop it.

I can’t keep pretending you’re going to read these.

I know you’ll never read these. You’re gone. I can’t even find you in the Realms no matter where I look.

I’m sorry. For using you as, well, a way to vent my life for last couple of years. I shouldn’t had done it but it helped me.

Believing my friend was still alive and getting my letters I mean.

Again I’m sorry.

This will be my last letter to your ghost, pun unintended.

Goodbye Jason. Wish us luck in your city.

-Danny Fen-Nightingale...."

The sent date on the letter was roughly eight years ago.

[atleastpleasetelephone]

53. holding the other’s jaw with Greg Nolan please 🫶🏾

A/N: Yessssss Greg!! This is just a little drabble.

Afters

Pairing: Greg Nolan x housewife!reader

Word count: 729

TWs: Reader cries, there's a little bit of dirty talk. Think that's it!

Greg shrugs his jacket on and straightens his tie. “Gotta go, baby.”

You’ve literally just pulled a pot pie out of the oven, and you huff in frustration as you place it on the pot holder. Putting the oven mitts on the side, you smooth your apron down over your dress and try to keep it together. Turning around with your best attempt at a smile. 

“But it’s dinner time, Greg.”

This is the third time this week he’s had to go back to work in the evening. You’re starting to get worried. 

“Sorry, baby. Have to get this photoshoot done.”

He grabs his camera bag and slings it over his shoulder. 

“But I made chicken pot pie. It’s your favourite.” You know you sound whiny but you can’t help it. Tears are shining in your eyes but he’s too busy grabbing the things he needs to notice. 

Stepping towards you, he kisses the top of your head lovingly. “I’m sure it’ll be just as good warmed up later, honey.”

“N-no it won’t!” You exclaim, frustrated and upset. “You know it won’t! It’s better now, just out of the oven!” Tears spill down your face as you rage about the pie, hands balling into fists. 

Greg blinks in surprise. He knows you like to cook, and you like to spoil him with your delicious food, but he didn’t think you’d be so upset about a pot pie. He wipes your tears with a thumb. 

“C’mon darlin’. I promise I’ll love the pie just as much when I come back later.”

You push his hand away, angrily. “It’s not about the pie!”

“It’s… not?”

“You don’t love me anymore, do you? You’re seeing someone else.” It comes out in a rush and you tremble with emotion.

Your lower lip wobbles, and then suddenly you’re really sobbing, body shaking as the tears flow down your cheeks, bringing your hands to your face to try and control it but it’s far beyond control at this point. All of your fears and insecurities come pouring out of you in the form of salty water. You’ve always been a little worried that you’re not pretty enough for Greg, but ever since he started the late nights at work, coming home and going out again, you’ve been convinced that he’s found someone better. No-one needs to do this much photography, surely?

Greg is shocked, letting his bag fall off his shoulder and catching it just in time to place it on the floor. How on earth can you think he doesn’t love you anymore? Because of the pie?

He gently prises your hands away from your face and sets them by your sides, before raising his large hand to your jaw, holding it gently. When you keep looking down, sniffing, he carefully tilts your face towards his. Your eyes find his blue ones, reluctantly. 

“What makes ya think that, baby?” He asks, trying to make his voice as soothing as possible. 

You groan. “All these late nights. You can’t be taking photos. Unless they’re photos of some other girl.”

He blinks slowly. Well, he is taking photos of other girls, that’s his job. But he decides now isn’t the time to be literal. 

“I promise you I’m jus’ doin’ my job. The new boss is fussier than the old one and he keeps wantin’ things redone. And tomorrow mornin’ is the deadline for publishin’. I’m sorry, baby. I don’t want ta work either.” He looks deep into your eyes as his grip on your jaw tightens. “Can’t think of anything I’d like ta do more than eat your gorgeous home-cookin’ and then put ya between my legs under the dining table for your desert…” 

You stop crying abruptly as warmth spreads between your own legs. “R-really?”

“Really, baby.” His thumb brushes over your lips. “I haveta go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can for that dinner.” He wiggles an eyebrow suggestively. “And afters.” Pressing a kiss to your lips he pulls back a little, his hand still on your jaw, making sure he’s got your full attention. “I love you, darlin’.”

“I love you too, Greg," you whisper, reassured.

“You’re the only one for me, baby,” he tells you as he lets your jaw go, reluctantly, and picks his bag back up again. “I’ll be thinkin’ of ya waiting here for me.”

***

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[lavender-butterfly-cookie]

I meant the isekai x self-aware fic with the team that you would never fight. I love it and want to see a part 2 of it. (sorry if I worded my previous ask incorrectly and confused you into thinking I was talking about another fic!)

OH- Butterfly- be more specific next time. I got around 3 different self-aware crk au's going on and you ought to specify which one you're referring to. I'm gonna mix them up if you don't T T Anyways, part two coming right up

Previous part

The ball's in your court pt2

While the battle between the heroes and Shadow Milk cookie raged on, Y/N cookie was just chilling with the kids and watching from the side eating popcorn (From where? nobody knows). The fight was pretty much still a 50/50 battle since neither team was taking enough damage for defeat. When did Shadow Milk cookie become THIS resilient??? Oh well, provided you got the healers doing their job and everyone else is holding up it would be fine.

Gingerbrave: So...

Strawberry cookie: The baker, hm?...

Wizard cookie: I thought you'd be bigger...

Y/N cookie: the feeling is mutual. And take as much time as you need to come to terms with it.

Strawberry cookie: And those cookies- the ones you brought to fight. Are... they the really like the ones we know? As in- the white lily cookie and dark cacao cookie. I don't know who the other two are.

Y/N cookie: Yes and no. Unlike the cookies of this universe, these ones are solely brought in to fight the enemy on my command. And if they crumble it's not a permanent death. They'll always come back provided I choose to use them for battle again. And even if I don't, they're on standby. Though I don't exactly think I'll need to put any of them on the bench with how well the battle is going.

Y/N cookie looks back at the fight, which hasn't calmed down in the slightest. But at least they were slowly getting the upper hand. The three other cookies looked at each other before looking at the baker.

Wizard cookie: So you're saying that anyone you choose to fight for you can and will appear?

Y/N cookie: Yeah, but that'll probably only be possible once I beat this boss or they lose.

Gingerbrave: Wow! This is so cool! It's like some awesome video game in real life!

Y/N cookie:... riiiiiiiiiiiight......

Strawberry cookie: I have a question.

Y/N cookie: Ask away.

Strawberry cookie: Earlier you said something about... Elder Faerie crumbling?... I-is that really gonna happen?

Y/N cookie: Uhh

Wizard cookie: Oh so I wasn't the only one who heard that.

Y/N cookie: Well-

Gingerbrave: Wait- he's gonna crumble?! When?!

Y/N cookie: Ok just calm down so I can speak, geez!

All three cookies go silent, looking up at Y/N cookie with visible concern as they sigh.

Y/N cookie: So originally, he supposed to die. I'm not gonna go into too much detail cuz that's way too many spoilers but yeah, he dies. I was admittedly hoping it wouldn't come to that since a whole lot of dialogue was changed, but I guess there odds of the story changing were pretty low.

Gingerbrave: W-when does it happen?! Maybe we can stop it?!

Y/N cookie: Considering how long the fight's been going I'd say right about-

Just then there was a yell of pain from the battle grounds, causing all the cookies to look at the source. Surprise surprise, Elder faerie was dying.

Y/N cookie: Now...

The four went to the scene. (skipping the whole using the guardians strength part because it's gonna take forever for me to finish this story if I don't.)

Y/N cookie: Can't you heal him or something, Mystic flour cookie?

Mystic flour cookie: No.

Y/N cookie: Why not-

Mystic flour cookie: I'm not about to interfere with a canon event.

Y/N cookie: Ah- fair.

Burning Spice cookie: And so the old fool dies. And yet, I still feel nothing.

Y/N cookie: Wait is that a ref-

White Lily cookie: WHY ARE YOU GUYS SO NOCHALANT ABOUT THIS?! I JUST BECAME A GUARDIAN FOR TREES SAKE!

Moonflower Faerie: You'll get over it.

White Lily cookie: Wait- really?

Moonflower faerie: No- that's gonna haunt you for weeks to come, trust me.

White Lily cookie: oh-

Dark Cacao cookie (Dragon lord): Now, let us make haste and seal that wretched beast once and for all.

Y/N cookie: He's gonna be back in- like, Beast yeast episode 7

Burning spice + Mystic flour: What?-

Y/N cookie: Nothing- let's just go!

[holylulusworld]

I’m your daddy now (3) - Lloyd Hansen

Summary: You reached the end of the rope.

Pairing: Lloyd Hansen x Singlemom!Reader (plussized)

Characters: Ari Levinson

Warnings: plus-sized reader, needy Lloyd, Lloyd being Lloyd, groping, daddy Lloyd (not the kinky kind of daddy), some fluff

A/N: This is part of my Traders of love (lust) masterlist series. It’s the prequel to TOL - Like a virgin (Bucky Barnes) and tells the story about Lloyd and his assistant sunshine. It will lead toward Ari’s story. We will see their relationship throughout all other stories. 

Catch up here: TOL - I’m your daddy now (2)

Ari exhales sharply. He’s not amused by Lloyd’s behavior.

The mustache-wearing bastard is shamelessly groping your ass while purring dirty nothings in your ear. “Plump. Sweet. Begging for cream.”

“Lloyd!” You swat his hand away and straighten your skirt blouse. “We have company. You can’t do such a thing while people are around.” You pucker your lips before striding toward the door. “Remember, we have a business to do.”

Lloyd licks his lips. He watches you walk out of the room, groaning loudly. “A hell of a woman I got myself.”

“Congrats,” Ari rolls his eyes. He knows about Lloyd’s endless stream of women roaming his bedroom. “For how long?”

“I’m gonna marry that chubby bug,” Lloyd grins before he tugs at his pants. He’s got a raging hard-on thanks to the woman ruling his mind and office. – You. It’s even worse since he got a taste of you and your perfect cunt. “She’s perfection.” Lloyd grins as he sniffs at his fingers. “She’s got a cute little shit too. Gotta be a daddy for the poor boy. His old man is a deadbeat.”

“Perfection,” Ari doubts that Lloyd will keep his word and marry you, but he says nothing. He came here for a reason, not to fight with Lloyd. “You should be careful if children are involved.

“I told you,” Lloyd grits his teeth, “I’m going to be a daddy for the little shit. I consider renaming him. Lloyd Jr. would be so cute, don’t you think?” He nods to himself. “I only need to convince my sunshine.”

“Lloyd, I came here for a second time because you want to discuss the details of my request later. I assume you had your hands full with your assistant,” Ari crosses his arms over his wide chest. He quirks a brow and waits for Lloyd to grovel.

“What can I do for you, my sexy friend?” Lloyd chuckles. He just loves to toy with people. Even more, since he found you. “I thought everything got discussed last time. My sunshine and I will join one of the dance classes and check your girl out. Maybe she needs a little money for her studio.”

“Lloyd, this is different from the other girls I paid. I want her to be mine,” Ari hesitates to talk about his feelings to a man offering women to wealthy men. He doesn’t believe Lloyd understands the concept of love.

“Love sweet love,” Lloyd smiles dopily. “I’m telling you, spring let me lose my mind. If only she wasn’t wearing those tight pants when I met her. I wouldn’t be so into that slutty little cupcake I call my own.”

“You are disgusting,” Ari sneers at Lloyd’s behavior. “I’m talking about love, not your libido. You’re lucky if your assistant doesn’t cut your balls off in your sleep.”

“That’s actually a great idea,” you say while walking back inside the office. “I got coffee for you, Mr. Levinson, and a disgustingly sweet coffee monstrosity for you, boss.”

Lloyd dips his head to glance at Ari. “I love it when she calls me boss. Gets me rock-hard every time. You wouldn’t believe how much I’m struggling to not have my way with her right now.”

You place the coffee on the small coffee table. “Lloyd!” You tut and glare at him when he tries to grope your ass. “Christ, you’re unbelievable. We have a client here. He wants our help.”

“All work and no fun,” Lloyd glumly replies. He pouts while staring at your tits. You decided on a light summer dress with a high neckline to avoid catching Lloyd’s attention. No such luck. “I wonder if I can make you forget about business.”

“Boss, do your job,” you point your index finger at him. “I already got a child to take care of. I don’t need a second one.”

“I like that one,” Ari throws in. He slowly sips his coffee while watching you and Lloyd interact. “Can we get back to my problem now?”

You nod and turn to leave Lloyd and Ari to their business. You’re still not used to the kind of business you’re involved in since you accepted the job offer. Lloyd takes the opportunity to grab a handful of your ass.

“Lloyd!” You huff and stomp away. It’s not worth it to get mad at him. He’ll only get horny the more you yell at him. Lloyd is a kinky bastard after all. “I should cut his balls off one day. But not his cock. It’s the best part of him.”

“You forgot my mustache,” Lloyd calls after you. “You know you love it, sunshine.” He turns toward Ari. “She loves it.”

“So…” You watch Lloyd rummage around his office. He curses under his breath as he goes on his hands and knees to look for something under the couch. “What are you doing?”

“I dropped something important,” he stretches his arm to reach something under the couch. You step closer to get a better look at his ass. It’s now or never. Payback for all the groping.

Smirking you grab his ass with both hands, groping him roughly through his slacks. You have to admit, he’s got a nice ass.

“Sunshine,” he purrs. “We don’t have time to get down and dirty. I need you to help me with something.”

“I swear,” you slap his ass, “if you get your dick out again and call it a surprise, I’ll follow Ari’s suggestion and cut it off.”

Lloyd huffs as he slowly gets back up. He hastily stuffs something in his pocket before looking you up and down. “He said balls, not my dick,” Lloyd smirks when you take a step back. “I see you can’t keep your hands off my perfect ass, huh? Do you want to feel me up some more?”

“We wanted to talk about your client. You remember your client, Ari Levinson, right? You mentioned a dance class and today he talked about it again. What is your plan now?”

“We’ll attend his chosen girl’s dance class and will find out more about her. That woman tries to make my job harder. She’s not on social media and pays cash,” Lloyd pouts. “I thought this would be an easy job, but no, Ari doesn’t want me to threaten her business. It would’ve been so much easier if he just played the knight in shiny armor after manipulating her business.”

“You’re so romantic.”

“When did you have the time to buy a book?”

“Romance is for losers, Y/N. I believe in horniness and my pussy-detector,” Lloyd points at his crotch. “If little Lloyd likes you, it’s true love.” He grins, proud of himself. “Come on, let’s get home. The little shit is waiting for his daddy to read him one of the new books I bought.”

“It’s called online shopping,” he huffs. “I don’t have the time to waste my time in a dusty bookstore.”

You quirk a brow. After you let him do unspeakable things to you for the first time, Lloyd is unstoppable. He wanted you and your son to move in with him. Lloyd even hired an interior designer to turn two of his guestrooms into a bedroom and a playroom for your son.

If only you could believe him that he wants to be more than the guy stuffing your pussy.

“Fine,” you sigh, too tired to argue. “The babysitter wants to go home too. Let’s go. We still need to talk about Mr. Levinson and your plan.”

He wraps one arm around your waist and kisses your cheek. “Does going home include a little action for the tiger in my pants?”

“I thought it was a python?”

“Who cares?” He groans. “There’s a whole jungle in my pants and it all belongs to you, sunshine…”

“…and then the little ant kicked the evil toad’s ass,” Lloyd closes the book, a big smirk on his face. “Son, how did you like the book?”

“Cool,” your son gasps. He’s still mesmerized by all the voices Lloyd imitated while reading the book he found online to your son. “I like the ant the most.”

“Tomorrow, we will read about his next adventure. I bet he’ll kick more ass.” Lloyd runs his hand over your son’s head, gently patting the little boy. “…can’t believe that deadbeat left a cute little shit like you.”

“Lloyd!” You tut. “You promised to stop calling my son little shit!”

“Our son,” he corrects. “How about you wait in our bedroom for me and the python fighting my pants? I got something to discuss with Lloyd Jr.”

You kiss your son’s forehead and wish him a good night. He refuses to sleep in your bedroom since he has his own room at Lloyd’s house. “We won’t rename my son. This is my last word.”

“If only…” Lloyd grins. “Now…go to bed mommy. We men need to talk about something…”

You reluctantly leave the room, looking over your shoulder before you reach the door. “No swear words, Lloyd.”

“I wouldn’t dream of swearing next to our baby boy.”

“You’re a bad liar.”

“I love you too, sugar cake,” he grins. “I’ll be right with you.”

The moment you are out of the room Lloyd gets something out of his pocket. He shows it to your son, smirking.

“What do you say, little shit? Will she like the ring?”

Tags in reblog.

[alexa-fika]

Aight here me out

Buggy has a child but instead their like moody, grumpy and stuff (like Octavia and loona from helluva boss) but they love buggy and would do ANYTHING for him

Happy go lucky dad 🤝 looks like it would kill you would kill you child

Substitute Assistant ( Cross guild x f!child!reader)

A/N not gonna lie I totally forgot who loons was, it’s been a hot minute since I watched helluva, since we are talking about helluva boss here, specifically loona, do expect a few swear words here and there. This one is kinda a flop but hopefully it lives to your standards Cosmo, I am surprised it wasn’t a Whitebeard request 😂,

Reader here is replaced by Dokucha which stands for Reader in japanese

Dividers by @/saradika

“Here you go, asshole,” Dokucha growled, throwing a stack of paper on Crocodile’s desk, a task that they had called her father to do

Crocodile lifts his gaze from his work to the child, taking another look at the stack that now lay on their desk

“Where is the clown?”

“Why the hell do you care?! You have your stupid reports, now leave my dad alone asshole!”

“Should a child your age be using such words?” The voice of the swordsman drawls from the sofa next to them

“Shouldn’t grown men be over bullying others like little children?” She snapped back

At that Crocodile let out a low chuckle that slowly grew into a full-out laugh

“Well, Well seems the brat has more guts than that useless clown,” he grinned

“Don’t call him that!”

“Would you prefer us we call him a coward instead?” Mihawk questioned, taking a sip from the wine in his hand as he continued observing the child’s rage bubble more and more

“Shut up! You assholes know nothing of Dad! He has done many things and gathered people of all kinds with his charisma alone; unlike you, he doesn’t have to pay off or bully people into being his followers!”

Crocodile lets out a dangerous smile at her words

“Funny seeing how it was your father who borrowed money from me, money that he lost and got him where he is now, so by all means, go ahead and tell me more about paying people off.”

“Just leave him alone; you got the business you wanted. Now leave him the hell alone.”

“No can do, little jester, see those people that your father won with his ‘charisma’ have named him the president of the guild; he’s not going anywhere,” Mihawk spoke

“Whether you like it or not, it was Buggy’s decisions that brought him here; he has no one to blame but himself,” he finished, swirling his cup around and downing the liquid inside

She growled, turning around and leaving the room only to be stopped by Crocodile’s voice

“Be a good child and bring me a light, will you?”

“Why the fuck would I do anything for the likes of you.”

“Because if you don’t, then I have no trouble calling your father in instead. While we’re at it, I might have a friendly chat with him about his brat’s behavior.”

She grits her teeth at his response, glaring at him as he chuckles in response

“When you return, I have a few other jobs for you to do, so don’t be long now.”

“Fine,” she snarls, stomping her way out of the office

-

“Dokucha, where did you run off to? I missed you, my little star!” Buggy cheered as the small girl entered the room

“I was busy,” she mumbled

“How was your day today, Dad?” She questioned

“It’s so much better now that my favorite act is here!” Launching himself toward her, babbling about the different things they could do on their next performance

She chuckled as he draped himself over her, hugging him and nuzzling into him

“Hey, Dad?”

“And then Richie would app-hah? Yeah? “He asked, pausing his rambling

“I love you.”

He looks at her for a few seconds before he begins coming apart in surprise, fumbling to put his body together

“Little Star! You are just the cutest,” he cried, hugging her tight

“Okay, don’t go too far, old man,” she grumbled, trying to get away from the suffocating embrace

“Of course, anything for my little star!”

Again this was kinda weak but I hope you like it, obviously Dokucha is more mellowed out compared to Loona, and she doesn’t have that tsundere side with Buggy , hope you find the dynamic interesting

Taglist:

@imaginarydreams

@amethystviolin

@h0n3y-l3m0n05

[freakyformula]

Wolf in sheep's clothing

Summary: Reader is a mafia boss and Lando is her rival.

Writers comment: Just posting this here, is anyone even interested in a part two?

Warnings: Swearing, explicit details about dying, guns and shit, not proofread

Word count: 1,6k

"Make him talk. If he doesn't, kill him." She tells her right-hand man, Florian.

As she walks out of the room she hears multiple crackling noises followed by screams.

You see, she was notorious for making her rivals suffer once she got her hands on them. This is a trait she'd inherited from her father, the most ruthless Don in the whole country. He had connections to every branch of business, meaning he did as he pleased… When he pleased. No one was safe from his wrath.

Her father's heart was once soft and warm. That was until a particularly cruel rival killed her mother. Her father met her when he was only 15 years old. She made him a better person. But she couldn't save him from his own nature. He was born to be violent and yet he never raised a hand on your mother. But anyone that dared to cross his path, was as good as dead.

His mind was still plagued with guilt. His carelessness killed her mother, according to him. He shouldn't have let her off alone in that car. Their only daughter was 5 at the time.

He didn't even have the heart to tell her the truth about what happened to her mother.

He missed her smile, her light, her scent.

She saw it in his face every day.

And now, he was gone.

All she knew at the moment was that someone broke into the house and kidnapped her beloved father.

She couldn't help thinking back on those fond memories of her parents. Even though her father was a Don, he still took his fatherly obligations very seriously. He would read her a book every night he was home. He would lift her up on his shoulders and pretend to be a raging stallion. She never felt unsafe growing up. Even when her mother died, her fathers embrace gave her the comfort she needed.

She walks along the hallways of her fathers home rapidly. When she walks up the stairs to the first floor of the large house, she notices a plethora of her father's lifeguards around the kitchen island. They're clearly planning something. She walks up behind them, her heels clicking on the marble floor, silencing the guards.

She'd already killed off the poor excuses of lifeguards that, in her eyes, betrayed her father by not keeping him safe.

"Miss." The man in charge addresses her. "We're planning an attack on the Norris family. We think the son, Lando, is behind the kidnapping."

Her and Lando had history. Oh well, not them per se, but rather their fathers. Back in the day, they were business partners. Lando and her had never met. For some reason, their friendship turned sour and they became sworn rivals.

Why, she didn't know and she never bothered asking.

However, now she could've used that information.

She exits the kitchen without a word and go searching for Mario, her father's friend and former bodyguard.

"Mario, I need to ask you something." She says as he kisses her forehead and smiles down at her smaller figure.

"Go ahead, little one."

"What happened between my father and the Norris family?" She asks as he leads her out through his old-fashioned room and out on his own balcony. The scenery on his balcony was fantastic, he had a view over the vineyard and could end the day with a glass of red wine and watch the sun set.

"Your father... After your mother died, he went into what I'd call manic episode. He'd kill everyone in his path in order to find the killer of your mother. Turns out... The signs were there all along, and one day, he cracked the code. He was convinced that the Don of the Norris family, Adam, killed your mother. He sent one of his men after her as she was driving down to the village on her own and rammed her car off a cliff."

She was speechless. No words came to mind.

Mario continues, "So, in revenge, your father killed Adam's whole family. Except for their youngest son, Lando. He managed to escape."

She stood there with her mouth shut, grinding her teeth. She could feel the anger bubbling in her stomach.

"Thank you for your valuable information, Mario."

She walks past her old girl room, struggling to find her old black cargo pants and bulletproof vest. After some diggling she finds what she needs and quickly switches into the more fitting attire.

She bumps into Florian and demands an update on her way back to the kitchen.

"We'll get rid of the body later." Florian simply comments on the man she'd met earlier.

"So he didn't talk.?" She asks of him.

"Not a word." Florian sighs.

The bodyguards are already getting ready when the duo comes into the kitchen. The room is buzzling and guns are thrown and loaded all over. The men look ready for battle with their straight faces.

"George, Max, you're staying here with Miss Y/N just in case." The man in charge orders.

"With all due respect, I'm coming with you." She exclaims, slamming her fist into the counter, making the whole room freeze. The men look at each other.

"I'll keep her safe." Florian fills in.

"All right. You're on your own." The man concludes and turns around, loading bullets into clips.

The team goes through the plan; sneak into the premises without making a sound, bug out the alarm system, take out the guards and find a way into the house. Should be pretty easy, concidering the amount of men stood in the kitchen.

As the day turns into dusk and the men load the cars with all of the guns and equipment needed for the invation, she waits in the car with Florian behind the steering wheel.

The way there was dark and melancoly, not sunny and happy like the road to her childhood home.

When they get close to their destination, they park the cars and sneak closer to the house. One of the men bug out the alarms, as intended, while five others kill off the guards pacing around the house with precision.

She walks behind the leader of the group, and as they get to the door of the house, it barges open.

Clearly, not all alarms were bugged out, because the guards completely overwhelm the group and they struggle to take the advantage again. The bullets whining were loud, and she saw her father's men pierced with bullets next to her. She was used to fighting but this was new. As the men struggled before they took their last breath, she could only look at them before she kept shooting at the enemy. Not a dignified death, this, she thought.

One after another dies off beside her and she looks around for options. The door was still open. Without thinking, Florian grabs her hand and runs inside with her close behind.

They look at each other, out of breath, clueless.

When the sound of footsteps reach their ears, they quickly sneak behind a half-wall and crouch down. Whoever it was, passes them.

She hears some struggling outside on the yard, sounds like the leader of the group is injured. Where were the others, are they all dead?

"Who sent you?" The unknown man asks, followed by a thud and her man grunting.

"Fuck you." He swears.

And then, a single shot. The sound startles her so much the Florian grabs her mouth in order to silence her.

"Come, this way, we need to find safety." Florian says as he grabs her hand.

They navigate their way through the house in order to find a place to lie low. The place was eerily quiet, it almost felt like a ghost house. When they've sneaked their way to the other side of the house, the last obstacle was getting past the main hall.

"Go, go!" Florian whispers as he urges her in the right direction. She runs lightly to the other side of the room and hides behind a glass wall. She could see the door to freedom in front of her as she stood with her back against the glass.

Then, a sharp noice. You peek behind the glass, and see Florian in a pool of blood.

"R-run!" Is the last thing he manages to say before he draws his last breath.

The sight of her dead friend induces a rage in her, and she draws her gun and starts shooting towards the shadow stood in the doorway on the other side of the room. Before she knows it, she's all out of bullets.

"Fuck, fuck." She whispers to herself. The stairs up to the second floor are located on her side. She runs up as fast as she can and quickly accesses her surroundings before she hears a pair of footsteps behind her. Hiding wasn't ideal but concidering she was out of bullets and alone didn't really leave any options.

Quickly, she draws her hunting knife from her right boot and crouches down behind a wall.

She patiently waits for her prey, like a predatory animal.

When she sees the man behind the corner, she's baffled. He's handsome, and rugged.

He looks around and turns his back to her, listening for clues of her whereabouts.

She takes the chance and jumps on him, with her knife against his throat. He roars out and throws her over him. She lands on the floor infront of him and as she's about to get up he grabs her hair. She hears a noice which could only be the noice of a knife being drawn, and feels it against her pulse point.

"Hello, sweetheart." Lando introduces himself.

[thescarletnargacuga]

Hello again! I've got another Harlequin brainworm to present to you. This one has a bit of a setup. I hope that's okay:

A mysterious signal was blinking away on the W.A.C.K.Y watch. At a loss for what to do, and currently neck-deep in another project, Caine opts to send Pomni out to investigate. Surprisingly, she accepts.

The signal leads Pomni to a dilapidated house, and inside she finds a lone person fiddling with a radio. Their skin looked… uncannily real, and blood was dripping from a wound on their forehead.

Red blood.

There was no doubt about it. She was looking at a living, breathing human, one who's eyes were pleading for help. Pomni knew that they weren't a threat in the slightest.

…she also knew the role that humans played in the present state of things. The world was a hellhole. Her directive invaded her thoughts at every waking moment. She, and all of puppetkind, were built to suffer.

They did this. THEY DID THIS. THEY DID THIS.

A storm was raging in Pomni's mind. She had a choice to make…

FINALITY

A HARLEQUIN AU ONESHOT

AU credit: @iamespecter @tadc-harlequin-au

A/N: in accordance to established lore...there is only one way this can end

WARNING: swearing, angst, death

~~~

"That's all you've got for me?" Pomni leaned against the door frame to Caine's office, arms crossed.

Caine entered information into Bubble as he spoke. "Afraid so. I don't have the coordinates for the next boss yet, nor have I received any readings for nearby charms. Best I can do is this radio signal."

"Does it say anything?"

"No." Caine closed the hatch to Bubble's controls. "It's all garbled mess, but it's been consistent for the last three days. Someone is trying to establish contact. This could be a rescue mission."

"Or it could be nothing." Pomni shrugged indifferently.

"Then I'm sure you'll find a lonesome rat to kill." Caine rolled his eyes. "If it's legitimate, there's a puppet out there enlightened enough to know how to use a radio that could use our help. We can't not check it out. It'll get you out of the house so you can dance those ants out of your pants, and you out of my teeth for a while. I've submitted the coordinates of the last known radio signal into Bubble. He can take you there." He shooed Bubble towards Pomni.

"Fine. It's better than being stuck in this dusty old house anyway." Pomni walked down the hall to the stairs, Bubble puttering along behind her.

Caine sighed heavily and fell into his desk chair. "Be safe. See you when you get back." He said to no one as he pulled out a bottle to drown the pulsing stress headache.

~

Pomni walked with Bubble to the very outskirts of the ancient City of Circuits. Before reaching the wasteland that separated the cities from one another, Bubble led Pomni to a row of dilapidated townhouses. The area was dead silent, say for the whispering dusty wind

"In there." Bubble looked to one house in particular. "Welp. My job is done. I'll wait for you here."

Pomni unsheathed her sword and cautiously approached the house. Her hunter senses felt no eyes. She saw no traps. She heard no voices. Carefully, she opened the broken front door.

The dark, broken house creaked as Pomni snuck inside. Sunlight poured in through the cracks in the walls. Crumbled remains of a forgotten world littered the floor. Pomni slinked her way through the house, ears perking when she heard shuffling and static coming from the back room.

Pomni pressed her ear to the door. A muffled voice. A puppet. She wasted no time. She threw open the door, sword at the ready.

The figure crouched over the radio skittered away in fear, shoving themselves under a low table. They were covered by a tattered cloak, a skeletal face peaking out from the hood.

"Alright, who are you? If you're smart enough to use a radio, you're smart enough to talk." Pomni pointed her sword at the cowering figure, prepared to kill at the first sign of madness.

The figure's realistic eyes looked Pomni over quickly. "Es-tu réel?"

"...what?" Pomni lowered her sword an inch.

"Tu as presque l'air humain..." The figure inched out from under the table on their knees. Hands up.

Pomni got a better look at the person's face. It was fleshy, if stretched thinly over their skull. Their hands were just as boney. Their eyes were sunken. Their skin was scarred and aged by the sun. Their hair was matted and molded. A single fresh wound marred their cheek, dried blood caked a scraggled beard. "You...you're human."

"S'il te plaît, ne me tue pas." The lone man pleaded as he squeezed his hands together. "Je meurs de faim. Aide-moi!"

Pomni kept her sword aimed at the crying man. "This is impossible. No humans survived the war. The famines! The plagues! The marionettes! How are you here!?"

"SHHHH! Pas si fort, s'il te plaît! Les monstres de métal nous entendront!" The man cowered and looked around frantically.

"What the fuck are you saying!?"

"SHHHH! s'il te plâit!!" The man hissed, his eyes as big as saucers.

"You shouldn't be here." Pomni lowered her tone, but not her sword. She glared at the man coldly. "Humanity is dead. You should be dead."

"Dead?" He repeated in a thick French accent. "Pas mort. En train de mourir...J'avais espéré qu'il y en avait d'autres."

"What a waste of my time." Pomni sneered. "You already have one foot in the grave, but the looks of you. You're not worth the time it would take for me to wipe your blood off my sword." She spat and turned her back on the sniveling human. "Enjoy what's left of your existence."

"Attendez! S'il te plaît! Ne le faites pas-"

Pomni made all of two steps towards the door when the wall to her right exploded. Brick and mortar showered her as the first of a pulverizer punched its way through. The weak wall collapsed, taking half the second floor with it. The room caved in. Pomni managed to get out of the way of the falling debris, eyes locked on the large gorilla-like marionette.

"Bubble! Why the fuck didn't you warn me!?" Pomni screeched angrily into her com. She dodged the pulverizer's charge by sliding under it.

"Warn you? About what?" Bubbles voice crackled casually over the com.

"THE PULVERIZER, YOU ILL-OBSERVANT MORON!" She jumped over its swinging fist and stabbed its elbow joint.

"I didn't see any pulverizer, but I did find some pretty nice cutlery a few houses down."

"WHY ARE YOU A FEW HOUSES DOWN!?" Pomni kicked out the support of another fragile building, toppling it on the pulverizer.

"I got bored." Bubbled hummed.

"I WAS INSIDE FOR A MINUTE!" She slashed at the pulverizer's gut as it raised its fists for a pound attack.

"Which is about ten times as long as it usually takes for you to kill something. I figured you were talking to whomever you found inside, so I busied myself."

Pomni plunged her sword into the marionette's face as it doubled over from the damage to its abdomen. She ripped out her sword and stabbed it again and again. Her warcry to release her pent up need to hunt echoed down the empty street.

The marionette collapsed to the ground as it lost the ability to function. As a precautionary measure, she tore open it's chest and destroyed it's power source. "There...motherfucker." She shook concrete dust from her hair.

Pomni surveyed the damage. Two downed townhouses. Amazing it didn't domino affect the entire neighborhood. Amongst the rubble, a single, broken human hand protruded, unmoving.

Pomni wiped the marionette oil from her sword. "Never let it be said puppets destroyed humanity. Their greed brought their end. Through slavery of the soul, they thought they ruled the world. Now they all rot beneath it."

~

Pomni ran into Caine as she made her way upstairs to change. He was swaying lightly, holding out a bottle to her. "Heeeey, Pomni. How'd it go?"

"It was nothing. False signal." She said stoically and accepted the bottle, taking a large swig.

"Oh...maybe my watch needs some adjusting...but you must've found something to beat up. You look like you took a dust bath." He giggled.

"Pulverizer. Easy shit. You got more?" She nodded to the bottle.

"You know I do. What are we drinking to?"

"The end of tyranny."

"Cheers to that." Caine picked up another bottle and clinked it against the one he gave Pomni.

~~~

A/N: I apologize if the French wasn't accurate, I used Google

[tachiharastanacc]

small black lizard fic

If somebody were to ask Gin for an example of a mafioso, she’d easily point them to Hirotsu. The elderly man had been in the mafia for longer than she’d been alive. He was both ruthless to his enemies and protective of their allies. In the six years she’d known him, he never wavered.

That wasn’t to say that he’d never failed. Hell, Gin had watched him be tossed out a window by his broken arm. She’d seen him bleeding out at the hands of that hooded Hunting Dog.

But she’d never seen him like this.

The man was hunched over his desk. His coat was gone; his usual pristine white shirt was unbuttoned and stained with coffee. Papers and files were scattered across the mahogany wood, buried beneath coffee cups and cigarette butts.

It was uncanny to see him like this. And it hurt a bit too.

“Boss asked me to talk to you.”

Despite that, her usually quiet voice was firm and clear. She’d dealt with her brother overworking himself on more than one occasion after all.

“Speak then,” he muttered, not lifting his head to look at her. “I’m busy covering for Tachihara’s slacking off.”

“That’s what Boss wanted to talk to you about.”

The assassin shoveled a pile of documents off the chair directly across from Hirotsu as she sat down.

“It’s been over two months. Boss believes it’s time to promote a new commander.”

He didn’t spare her a glance. “No.”

“Look. He was my best friend. I’m upset too. But it’s natural in our line of work. Isn’t that what you always say?”

“For the dead, perhaps. But Tachihara is not dead.”

There was a reason that Mori had tasked Gin with this conversation. Logically, he could order any one of the executives to tell him to knock it off and they would. But Gin wasn’t an idiot. She knew that doing so would push the old mafioso away further.

Afterall, how could you order someone to stop grieving the death of his son?

“Then he ran away. He was acting weirdly before his disappearance. Maybe he turn-”

“Don’t.”

Hirotsu finally looked up, a cold rage in his steel grey eyes. “Tachihara is not a traitor.”

And normally Gin would agree. Tachihara was aloof. Isolated, despite the brash persona he put on. But he cared. He would do anything for his comrades. She knew that. But…

“Tachihara is not a traitor.”

The boss smirked behind his gloved hands as he stared at the pair. “Perhaps your care for the boy has blinded you to his secrets.”

“I am not as oblivious to these alleged secrets as you claim. However, I put little value in senseless titles. Tachihara is no traitor.”

Hirotsu was perhaps the most frequent victim of the boss’ schemes. Mori clearly got a kick out of the way Hirotsu wouldn’t bat an eye at the absurd orders, such as throwing a ball in Elise’s name or painting a wall. And while Tachihara would frequently complain about the ridiculous missions, Hirotsu would smack him on the head and tell him that the boss’ orders were absolute.

Tachihara would still sulk, but he carried out his orders flawlessly without hesitation after that.

But to see Hirotsu speak back to the boss…it was clear they were discussing something Gin wasn’t privy to. And as much as she hated to admit it, she had a strong feeling that she knew what it was.

Tachihara had been paid off by the government. He’d tipped off the Hunting Dogs.

The military police had likely helped him escape. It’d be a miracle if he was even still in the country, much less the city.

And while Gin couldn’t imagine him doing such a thing, she couldn’t deny that he’d been acting odd; he was guilty and apologetic, as if he was sorry just for taking up space. It was a completely different Tachihara than the one that she knew.

“If the Port Mafia can’t find him, then maybe he doesn’t want to be found. We’re one of the largest organizations in the city. We’re already suffering losses from the attack on the airport and the vampire apocalypse.” Gin paused to rub at the fang marks on her neck. “We can’t waste any more resources on someone who doesn’t want to be found.”

If it was up to her, she would have been searching for him too. But with Ryuunosuke’s recent memory issues and the mafia’s declining numbers, that just wasn’t an option.

And though she wouldn’t admit it to the others, she was afraid of what she would find. The image of Tachihara’s corpse lying in the dirt was almost more than she could bear. His throat slit like her brother as he choked on his own blood. The light slowly leaving his eyes…

“It isn’t that simple. There are…there have been rumors. He may have been…”

“If he was taken by another organization, we would’ve heard about it. They would’ve tried to ransom him to us. Or we would have found clues.”

Or they would have found Tachihara relaxing next to a dead gang who’d thought that kidnapping a teenager was an easy way to get information.

“Not if it was someone with authority. Or somebody who could manipulate facts. Or-”

“You’re spiraling again.”

Gin whirled around towards the shadows. Not many could sneak by her, but her mentor was an exception.

The Frenchman stepped forward, giving her a respectful nod.

“Since when are you two close?”

“The boss would like to stop spending manpower looking for the dog, no?”

“The hell are you calling a dog?!”

Deep breaths.

Anger would help no one.

Gin schooled her face back into something neutral.

“Tachihara’s a person. Not a dog.”

A small smile crept across Verlaine’s face. He looked almost…proud?

“My apologies. But the point stands. The boss no longer has the resources to retrieve him. And you aren’t going to find him alone. Thus, I’m officially offering my assistance.”

In the roughly six years that she had been Verlaine’s student, she’d never heard of him leaving without the stubborn insistence of Chuuya or the violent prodding of Golden Demon.

“But…why? He might not even be alive.”

“He is. Those bastards are many things, but they’re not wasteful. I made a promise to Arthur. And to my brother. I will not stand by and allow this to happen again.”

Gin opened her mouth to protest, but Hirotsu spoke first. “Thank you. We would gladly accept your help.”

[justali-anne]

Thought Week: Asgore

Ooh, boy! Asgore, huh? It's really telling that a character with so little screen time compared to the others is much more popular than some of them. Well, better get into it.

(I'm sure you know the drill by now! If you have anything to say about Asgore, please reblog and write it down! I'd love to read them!)

First Impressions

The first time I think I heard of Asgore was in an Undertale playthrough? I can't exactly remember, but I definitely didn't see him in comic dubs because back then THERE WERE BARELY ANY WITH HIM IN IT! Jeebus! At least he's getting some focus now, but good gracious!

At first, I just saw him as a tragedy, but there wasn't really much for him to me. I guess I was busy hyperfixating on Papyrus because my early memories in the fandom with Asgore are just very blurry. He just wasn't really that interesting to me, I suppose. At least now, I figured it out, and now I'm like, "Oh, crap." He's just slightly more interesting to me now. Eh.

My Impressions Now

This poor man, honestly. He just wants his life back. His life got ruined by one stupid plan and one stupid decision that he made in a fit of rage over humans killing his kids. Which is honestly decently reasonable. Obviously, he wasn't reasonable in that moment, but if he could go back and do things differently, he would in a heartbeat. He's a kindhearted softie who put himself in a precarious position because of his grief. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Asgore's woes!

How about Toriel? This guy lost his only support system besides Gerson and when he finally sees her again, he just gets outright rejected, like DUDE! I'll cover my thoughts on her on Sunday, so I won't go into it right now, but poor Asgore, man! Having his wife around and helping each other through their grief would've been VERY beneficial to them! Could you imagine two vilomahs helping each other out and working together on human policies that could have benefitted everyone and helped them accept their loss? But then again, if it weren't for that, parts of the Undertale story wouldn't have happened, so I guess we're stuck with this timeline! Sorry, Flowey! You couldn't reset this one.

Oh, and it just keeps going! Remember Rudy? Asgore's "best friend" from a long time ago? I'm not talking about the Deltarune version, I'm talking about the Undertale version of Rudy that sadly passed away. At least from what I could tell, he lived a long and happy life, but it still hurts. Imagine being a boss monster. An IMMORTAL boss monster that stays the same age until you have a child. So for all that time Asgore didn't have a child, he had to watch as his "best friend" grew old and fell down.

GODDAMN IT, TOBY, COULD YOU GIVE THIS POOR MAN A BREAK??? Thank you.

The thing is, Asgore is by far the strongest monster in the Underground... besides Toriel (she was holding back). He's killed six humans and we all know how strong they are compared to monsters. Like no human soul was ever taken in the war, and he singlehandedly killed SIX of them. And we don't even know if all of them were actually kids or not, or if they were fighting back, or... Wait, the WAR!!! He was in the intro, wasn't he?!

Look, there he is! Unless that's his dad or something, which isn't actually a bad theory when you think about it.

GIVE. THIS MAN. A BREAK.

He can't even keep a marriage in Deltarune. Just make something go right for him, please.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah! The strongest monster in the underground! And by the time he fights you, he's spent. He doesn't want to go through with the war. That's why he's hiding. That's why he's holding back. I think we all know that by now. Dude was just waiting to take himself out of the picture, so to speak. It's understandable to be depressed when your life is nothing but tragedy after tragedy after tragedy. But let's move on to his actual personality.

Because Asgore... is a dork. He's just as dorky as the rest of the cast, and it's adorable! This big guy stumbles through life with the charming unawareness of modern things, like anime, ("What is an... anime?") and he's so clumsy he fell in a fishing hole during a game of ice hockey!

(Here is the original video)

He gives you tight hugs. He's a botany nerd. He dresses up as Santa for the locals. He is the QUINTESSENTIAL Gentle Giant. He just deserves better, that's all.

A King, Not A Deity

Conclusion

It's intriguing to me how literally the entirety of monsterkind treats him like he's gonna bring salvation to them like some god. As if it was a guarantee. Well, apart from Toriel, of course, but she knew him on a very deep level, so of course she's not gonna see him as some sort of "chosen one." And that's not even covering her disdain for him.

I get that Asgore is the monsters' only hope, though. That's a huge contributing factor in their deitification of him. And in turn, it just pressures Asgore to kill the humans even more, which sends him into an even bigger depression, but also, he doesn't want to call off the war so the monsters could still have hope. It's a vicious cycle!

No hate towards him, but I wish Asgore would grow a backbone sometimes. Just saying. You're the KING, man! Not a god! A KING. And the monsters are expecting you to become their god, but you don't want to! And... Gah, monster politics are complicated!

The Narrative

Despite his very little screen time, Asgore is one of the most important characters in the story. A kind king driven to despair after losing the thing he loves the most - his family. The reason the policy exists. The monster you're gonna have to kill in order to escape the underground.

It sort of sucks that he dies in every route besides the best one. Like, I get why that has to happen, but come on, man. He deserves better.

Honestly, Asgore? He's not the most remarkable character in the game to me. I wish he got more screen time, at least. The poor guy needs a freaking break from everything. It doesn't make him a bad character, in fact, he's a really well-written, intriguing one. He's just not my favourite.

But if there's anyone out there whose favourite character IS Asgore, please give a shout in the notes and tell me what you think of him! Is there anything I missed?

[sl-newsie]

American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 4: Persuasive

“What kind of rubbish is this?”

The voice is so sharp it jolts me from a deep sleep, making me panic when I try to recognize my unfamiliar surroundings. Oh, right. I’m employed now.

“But Tommy, it’s really good!” I hear Finn complain.

“I don’t care! It’s American rubbish is what it is!” Thomas barks.

As quick as I can, I hastily throw on a robe I find in the closet and peek my head out.

“What’s going on?”

Outside, Thomas is holding the copy Common Sense I gave to Finn yesterday. They both look over and see me, then Finn starts laughing.

“Nice robe!”

Confused, I look down and inspect the robe for any unusual features only to find nothing. “What’s wrong with it?”

“That’s Tommy’s old robe.”

His words send a blush creeping across my cheeks, one that I hope goes unnoticed. “Sorry about that. I was getting dressed in a hurry. What’s all this yelling about?”

Thomas’ jaw tightens and he strides over to corner me against the wall, holding the book in my face.

“Is this yours?”

I nod stiffly. “Yes. I gave it to Finn to see if he’d like it. I’m trying to find him more interesting topics to read-”

“Well, keep your American ideas to yourself. He needs to be educated, not fed ideas of rebellion and philosophy.”

His words send anger coursing through me, waking me up from my dazed state. “Since when do you get to decide if my American ideas aren’t good enough? You may be my boss, but your aunt hired me.” I snatch the book. “If you think my resources are unworthy then take it up with her.”

In a furious rage, Thomas storms down the hall and slams the door, startling Polly who has just come from the other door.

“What’s he on about now?”

“He doesn’t want me to read American literature,” Finn whines.

“What?” Polly scoffs. “That stubborn fool. Verena, I don’t care what he says. I’m sure whatever books you suggest will be efficient.” She puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I will talk to him. Right now, get cleaned up and ready. Your first lesson with Finn can begin after he’s finished breakfast.”

“Is Thomas always this arrogant?”

She shakes her head in defeat. “He has his mother’s common sense, but his father’s devilment. Lord knows he needs help.”

A thought pops into my head.

“Before Finn’s lesson, I might wish to do some reading or sit in prayer. There wouldn't happen to be a church or chapel here? Or just some quiet place where I could clear my head?”

Polly’s eyes light up. “I’ve got just the palace for you.”

It really is a beautiful church. Not too big, but still grand and modest at the same time. I’m not Catholic but the welcoming atmosphere is refreshing compared to the ugly world outside-

“Oh.” I’m startled to see I’m not the only one here. “Fancy seeing you here,” I speak up.

Thomas doesn’t turn to face me. “Did Polly send you here to reprehend me? Scold me for being too forbidding of your culture?” He says in a darkly taunting voice.

“Actually, no. She said she’d stop by later to give you a personal chat about something important. I’m here to pray.”

Tommy doesn’t argue and allows me to sit in the pew across from him, staying quiet and pulling out a cigarette.

“Those things will kill you, you know. My father smokes too, but I was never a fan of it. Doctors may not agree yet, but I say that smoking only increases the risk of lung failure. Plus, the smell can be unbearable. Especially to children.”

“Are you here to preach or pray, love?” Thomas complains.

I keep my mouth shut and close my eyes for prayer, silently hoping that my family will send for me. I ask for blessings on the entire Shelby family for helping me, even if some of them can be very unlikable at times. 

I’m amazed that Thomas never interrupts me. If anything, it’s as if he’s tried to not make a sound at all since I’ve started. When I finish I see he’s lost in thought, so I quietly stand up and walk down the pews to give him privacy-

“You hate it here, don’t you?” Thomas stops me in my tracks. “That’s what you prayed for, eh? For your family to come get you or for some dashing bloke to come rescue you from this Hell hole? Say what you want about us, but this is our home.”

After taking a calming breath, I pivot and walk back to stand across from him. “Are you always this gallant of yourself? Always assuming everyone is against you?” I put my hands on my hips and look up to face his icy eyes. “Yes, I do wish to leave here. Call it sappy, but I’m homesick! Imagine going from being on vacation to being stranded somewhere alone where the town is like a demilitarized zone and the people are snakes!”

Thomas holds up his hands. “Whoa, whoa! We’re not all snakes.” He leans in and snickers. “It’s the coppers who are the snakes.”

I roll my eyes. “You can be unbearably arrogant. I imagine you’ve got all of Small Heath wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?”

“I can be very persuasive.”

“If you say so,” I shrug and walk back to the door.

“Where are you off to now?” Thomas calls.

“Off to teach Finn’s lesson before you can persuade me to go jump in the river.”

The lesson was a success. Ever since Finn got to read my ‘contrabanned’ books he’s been all but willing to learn. He definitely has his brothers’ ambition and attitude. Polly came in a few times to check up on us and seemed pleased. Even Thomas popped in once to “fetch some cigarettes,” but still couldn’t hide his interest when I began lecturing about macroeconomics.

“How do you know so much about finance?” He outright asks.

Haha, funny story. The truth is that my Uncle Colon liked me best out of all my brothers, and therefore spent extra time with me teaching about the family business. Not my father’s brewery, but the unofficial mob business. I can’t exactly come right out and say “It’s because my family’s in the mafia,” so I decide to do a small white lie.

“I read a lot, so I pick things up here and there.” Not a complete lie.

Tommy arches a brow but appears convinced and walks off down the hall. Once he’s gone, Finn looks at me with a mischievous grin.

“What?” I ask.

“Oh, nothing.” Finn goes back to reading. “I’ve never seen Tommy interested in books until you showed up.”

“You didn’t like them either,” I try to re-route the conversation.

Finn just shrugs and keeps reading, leaving me to ponder over what he just said. I don’t know Thomas well enough, but is Finn right? Has me being here made him start acting differently? He doesn’t take me as someone who gets emotionally attached to people. From what I can gather, he’s incredibly cold and forbidding, making me wonder if he’s capable of any emotion other than anger and pride. I push the thought aside and continue making notes for the week’s lesson plan.

Later that night I help make bread despite Polly’s bickering about me “being a house guest.” The only one missing is Ada, but no one seems to notice. All the while Thomas keeps whispering to his brothers, who are all looking back and forth at me as if I’m a painting on the wall. After everyone’s eaten they all go their separate ways, and once again I retreat to my room for some light reading before bed. Turns out it goes much faster than I plan because then next time I check the clock it’s one in the morning.

Click!

I look up from the page I’m reading, alerted by a noise coming from the hallway. “What on Earth…?”

Quietly, I creep to the door and open it a crack to see a woman’s silhouette creeping in from the back door. It’s Ada. Sneaking in during the late night hours? Suspicious…

Opening the door wider, she freezes at the sound of the creaking wood.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you look as though you’ve got something to hide.”

She turns around slowly, then relaxes when she sees it’s me. “You Americans always this blunt and cocky?”

I tilt my head. “When we want to be. I’ve been taking a lesson from your brothers about being cocky. But I’m not the one keeping secrets, Ada. I’m not a Shebly. You answer to Polly, not me.”

My response surprises her because she smiles and shakes her head. “I never said I’d say anything.”

I shrug. “You didn’t. But that won’t stop your consciousness overwhelming you with guilt.”

This takes a few moments to completely wash over her. Ada keeps staring at me with an indescribable face, then slowly starts to walk past me towards her own room.

“Wow. American and a philosopher. Polly must be proud of your strong moral compass.”

Wait. She’s offended by this? “Ada, I’m not trying to offend you. Heck, I just promised to keep my mouth shut about your late return! Why are you mad?”

Ada gets to her door and stops to look me dead in the eyes. “Maybe it’s because an outsider is allowed into our house without question? Hm? You’re a stranger from America, we don’t know who you or your family are, and Polly just lets you in like you’re a stray dog.”

Her words keep firing at me like a conversational battle. “I’m not playing into your family’s kindness to gain anything. I was offered housing and employment, so I accepted it. Yes, I know I’m an outsider. So I say again: if you have a problem, take it up with Polly.” I throw my arms up to end the chat and stride back to my room, but not before I hear:

“I’m sorry. I guess it’s not just the Americans who are stubborn.”

Without turning my head, I answer: “Stereotypes are ways to dig yourself into a hole of assumptions. Goodnight, Ms. Shelby.”

[sataara]

Sibling Energy

"Ingo and Emmet talk after he explains where he was for the last few years"

Hello again! This is a small one shot that I wrote a long time ago and only now edited and cleaned it up so I could post it 😅

The bootleg merch mention comes from a convo that happened at @evtraininguniversity 's tumblr, here's a part of it but there was a lot more talked about at the time!!! Also go read Ev's stuff if you haven't already, she's great!!!

Either way, enjoy!!!

“Ok. Let me see if I got it. You still don’t know exactly how, but you were thrown in the past.”

“Correct.”

“Of another region entirely.”

“Right again.”

“Somehow you lost your memories in the way there.”

“Hm hm.”

“So you lived there, until a random kid brought Arceus to you and he gave you your memory back.”

“Yup.”

“And then, with your memory back, you asked to be sent back here after saying your goodbyes.”

“You are a very good listener, Emmet.”

“Shut the fuck up, this is the most bizarre thing you’ve ever told me and yet I have no better explanation. I could say that the old timey clothes you got in a museum or from reenactors, the destruction to your uniform from living in the wild for years, but how the fuck else would you get those extinct pokémon?”

“Guess you’ll have to believe me, then, asshole.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to, but you are talking about fucking Arceus, over here.”

“I guess that is fair, I had the same reaction before seeing the supposed creator with my own eyes.”

“Calling him “supposed” wouldn’t be heresy, then?”

“I fought him and won, I don’t care.”

“You fought him without me?!”

“I knew you would say that, so technically they owe me for the mess they put me through, I didn’t want to go to Hisui but apparently I had to, because technically that had already happened? Something about time paradoxes. Regardless, their influence made sure that no one connected my image in the history books with Subway Boss Ingo, so no one would alert you or try to get me back before I was supposed to return. I didn’t choose any of that, though, so after winning I got them to agree to fight you too, next time we played the Azure Flute in Spear Pillar.”

Emmet punched the air in excitement. He had the look he always did when going through strategies on his head, until a thought made him get back on track.

“Right, so, assuming you really did spend these last three years in ancient Sinnoh,” Ingo huffs in amusement at his brother persistent disbelief, “does that mean you know why they don’t have a rail system?”

That grabs his attention and suddenly he is furious.

“Professor Laventon kept making incredible remarks about trains and how helpful they are, I added my own agreement and yet! The construction corps were so prideful! They didn’t want to look into the system to see if they could adopt it as well! They kept saying that those “metal beasts” could not be safe!” His hands in constant movement, following his rage. “And now, the kid that helped me, told me that they have been starting construction in Jubilife City and that Sinnoh now regrets how long it took to adopt the rail system!”

“Oh, I did hear news of that a few years ago, I had bigger worries then.”

That gave Ingo’s rage pause.

“I’m sorry, Emmet, I wish-“

“Nope! Can’t change the past, it is what it is, do not go down those tracks.”

“Did your therapist tell you that?”

“More like he drilled it into my head.”

“I’m happy to hear it.”

“We can talk about me later. Don’t give me that look, I know I can’t avoid your older brother tendencies forever. But, that is why you want to go back there, then? You want to supervise the construction?”

“I don’t want to go back exactly, I want to give them our expertise on the subject, we might not have started the subway and train systems in Unova but we did expand on it. I also can not say I told you so to Kamado, so I want to do that to the closest descendent of his that I can find.”

“You are such a petty bitch sometimes.”

“Go fuck yourself, Emmet.”

Despite the jabs, that were all friendly at the end of the day, Ingo loved listening to his brother snickering laugh. Oh, how he missed his favorite problem while walking through the vast expanse of Hisui.

"Oh, and before I forget, I did get something in Hisui that reminded me of you." He leaned over the arm of the couch to reach the basket he had brought with him. "Emmet, I want you to meet Impostermet. I hope you two will play nicely."

Emmet left a bark of a laugh, he couldn't believe that, depite being stuck in the past, his brother was still able to find their bootleg merch.

"Impostergo is a part of a set now! I can not believe you, Ingo!"

"Since we're already on the subject, you didn't burn The Blanket, did you?"

"I think Crustle found it in a day he was very mad and it became rags, sadly, you can find my teeth around the house, I use it to clean."

"That's a terrifying sentence Emmet."

"You have no one to blame but yourself. I never told you to buy that fucking monstrosity in the first place."

"Oh, how terrible my brother is, I buy a gift of his likeness to bestow upon him and that's how he thanks me."

"If I wasn't so happy to have you back I would fucking kill you right now."

"As if you ever could, I'm the bigger twin after all."

"We're identical, you fuck!"

And that's how they ended up wrestling on the floor of their living room, Ingo having his brother in a headlock while Emmet kicked and refused to surrender. Eelektross glared at his trainer and his brother's antics, before giving a slight shock to the pile of squirming limbs, making them release each other with pained yelps.

"Eelektross is right, we have far more important things to do."

"Eelektross is always right! He is the best boy! We need to go to a police station and then do a looooot of paperwork to prove you're alive and to get you your job back."

"Maybe I should have stayed in Hisui."

"Oh no, you're not running away from the paperwork!"

"I think I can hear Sneasler calling me, Emmet, I have to go."

"Come back here, Ingo!"

"Well, who arrives first at the station is free from paperwork!"

"You're already at the door, that's not fair! Ingo! Ingo, stop!"

The twins should be thankful that their pokemon were as intelligent as they were, Chandelure stopped the siblings using psychic, while bringing them back to get their pokeballs and properly lock the door, before they actually teared down the streets, throwing quips at each other and laughing until they were red in the face. They tied at the end, as Emmet saw Ingo was about to win, and decided to tackle his brother inside the station, making them end up crossing the threshold at the same time. Ingo could only wheeze as his brother fell on top of him and crushed all of his precious organs, only moving when the depot agents came over, helping them stand up and properly welcoming back the siblings to their home, finally together once more.

[yuri-is-online]

Yo I just found your old dnd yuurollfellgrimgiddle post and here's how I imagine the dynamics:

Rollo and Yuu are in the "will they won't they" stage where they're clearly in love but something is holding them back and giddle is trying so hard to get them together. Fellow is also trying because he want giddle to be happy but honestly he just finds this whole thing funny if not slightly inconvenient.

Here's the thing though: they're already together. Rollo is just super private with his relationships and Yuu just thinks that everyone already knows about their relationship status and just thinks giddle is trying to get them some alone time to go on a date or something like a good little partner in crime.

Fellow has somehow been roped into the strangest qpr with rollyuu you've ever seen. You would swear he hates being in this party from the way he acts around his partner's but then you see Rollo and yuu sitting on a couch holding hands and fellows just. On Yuus lap. Just counting his madol and squinting at it like it will someone be more if he counts it again. He is the pathetic skrunkly straight man to Rollo and yuus comedy act and he's also secretly an entire circus right along with them.

Grim swears he's the boss. Apparently they are under poor management because the boss is easily swayed by tuna.

Giddle is the menace child and the actual boss because he's the only one everyone actually listens to. He knows this very well.

S.LKEUJBG;KDUTBHG the magic pipe... I Barbarian Yuu can have the ability to make anything a weapon just like Lancelot Beserker.

RolloYuu being already together but not mentioning it is cute but not exactly what I had in mind? Rollo is a Law Domain Cleric, and he worships Erathis the goddess of civilization, she isn't the biggest fan of barbarians who tend to live in the wilds as nomads. Rollo's attraction to and desire for Yuu is something he feels great shame for, but he finds their rage towards those who hurt the party to be holy and purifying. His goddess values community and the desire to protect it, does that not make Yuu pure? Are they not the very image of holiness when they're covered in filth and blood, voice cracked with their screams as they reach to check him over as if he isn't the healer and armored with more than some scrappy cloth. And don't even get him started on Fellow, he's little more than a common thief and huckster but there's a gentleness to the way he cares for Gidel and now Grim. He'd be a genuinely good father, and is a strong family unit, found or otherwise no matter how it looks, not also sacred to Erathis?

Fellow doesn't so much find this inconvenient as he does sad. He and Yuu are both very worried about Rollo, Yuu always has been but the longer Fellow stays with this party he "hates" the more he's able to pick up on the little things troubling his "friends." Fellow and Yuu have long talks about how best to help Rollo, what they'd like to do if they ever make it big (Fellow does the accounting, he's got a little cottage picked out that he wants to move Gidel before it's too late for him to actually go to school), and debating over strategy for the next job they agreed to take on. He doesn't fully realize when that little house he keeps thinking about has Rollo, Yuu, and Grim in it too but he sort of just rolls with it and doesn't fully think to complain about it. I'm not the biggest fan of poly stuff so I'm not the greatest with thinking about dynamics??? But in my mind they all sort of dance around each other until Rollo accepts his feelings and brings them all together. It's not a super noticeable difference to outsiders, but Gidel and Grim both see that you are more relaxed and less tense now. They immediately start playing you guys off each other when trying to get what they want.

Gidel and Grim have a secret alliance. Grim thinks he's the boss. Gidel knows that he's the boss. No critiques there.

[minihotdog]

Fearless Magazine

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3

Prompt:

When you dreamed of becoming a television writer, you never expected you’d end up wasting your time writing for a vapid dating quiz show, but a job’s a job. One night, your very charming, very single boss asks why you’re working late; you mumble something about new truth-or-dare questions. “Great,” he replies with a smile. “Ask me one.”

Notes: I wrote this on my phone and hope that it formats not like hell. Might make this into a series because I like this one. Accidentally made the reader come off snooty :/

***

“That is enough,” Max’s voice booms through the room. “We will not be having this discussion again until you have earned to work under the Historian.”

“Have I not proven myself enough!” I argue desperately.

“Y/n, you are too young. You still have so much to learn and skills to continue developing before I can appoint you. Please, if you want the position you will continue working towards it.”

I drop my head in defeat, my head pulsating with frustration, stress, and disappointment. “Is that understood?”

“Yes, Max. I understand.” He sighs, sitting back in his chair.

“In the meantime, you will be working with the rest of the second-year writers on Fearless magazine. Do not disappoint me.” He warns me while motioning to the doors of his office, ending the argument. I drag my feet through the halls heading towards my room.

“Y/n!” Tris catches up to me. “How did the talk with Max go?”

“He told me that I haven't earned the position as historian apprentice. I have to keep writing raunchy garbage for the magazine instead.” I roll my eyes at the thought of wasting my effort and passion on meaningless assignments and ‘What you’re favorite takedown says about you’ type quizzes that are plastered on the back of each issue.

“I told you he wouldn’t budge.” She puts her hand on my shoulder, “You are talented but, hey, historian is a very important position and one that takes a lot of time to earn and train for. You’ll get it eventually, but right now, please, don’t beat yourself up. Ok?”

“Ok,” I sigh.

“I got to get back to the initiates, but you hang in there!” Tris runs off towards the training area leaving me alone wishing I had her resilience.

I walk through the kitchen I share with three other roommates before reaching my door.

I look around not knowing what to do with myself for the next three hours before work. I guess I’ll just get ready.

I take a quick shower and throw on a dark green t-shirt over a black long-sleeve and a knee-length skirt matching to match the shirt. The one nice thing about working in an office is getting to have a more diverse wardrobe rather than looking like I’m going to war all the time.

I grab the backpack I take to work with me, inside my laptop, snacks, and possibly a hundred papers scattered inside from countless projects. I make my way toward the office to see no one else has shown up yet. I open my laptop on my desk and begin typing away, working on an old document about the history of the factions.

I hear the door behind me open and I turn my head to see which of my coworkers walked in only to do a double take. Why the hell is he here?!

“No way,” I say, dumbfounded. Eric leans against the wall next to the door with a crutch under one arm and a cast on his right leg.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite former initiate.” His evil smirk sparks rage inside of me.

“Who let you out of your cage?” I spit at him, he rolls his eyes at me.

“I just thought you missed me so I decided to drop by,”

“Eric don’t do sarcasm, it totally doesn’t suit you.”

He rests his head against the wall looking up at the ceiling as if it’s killing him to be here.

“I’m your new boss.” He says smugly. I sit there looking at him, mouth agape at the horrific news.

“Oh, that’s terrible news.” I hold my head in my hands.

Little by little people begin pouring into the office and finding their desks. The sound of typing begins as everyone gets a head start on the day.

“Good morning everyone!” Our lead editor, Jacob, stands at the front of the room. Eric leans against the wall behind him listening to the whispers.

“Why is he here,” my best friend Lynn asks me quietly. “To kill us all,” I snark.

“I have some news in regards to who’ll be filling in for Jade while she recovers.” He motions toward the brooding man to his left. “Eric will be taking her place for the time being. If you guys didn’t know, Eric was the lead writer for the issue a few years ago on the Economic Relations Between the Factions. He’s an extremely talented writer and someone all of you can learn a lot from.”

Everyone turns to look at each other. Since when did he write? I didn’t think that brute could even read.

“Now, this upcoming issue is going to feature a rapid dating segment that will be done in the pit next Friday, we have the contestants in the shared drive.” I roll my eyes at the stupid idea. Another raunchy issue. One or two would have been fine but every publication is littered with nonsense. My eyes meet Eric’s and he smirks. Shit, he saw that.

Jacob grabs a folder from the desk in front of him. He opens it and flips through the pages before reading from one.

“The assignments will be… Lynn, you are in charge of contestant introductions for the magazine.” He goes on listing off names and whatnot as I get lost in thought staring at my screen. “And, finally. Y/n, you’ll be coming up with insight questions for the contestants to answer on stage.”

I snap back to reality and purse my lips at my assignment. “Any questions?” He looks around the room before heading back to his office, leaving us to begin our work. Eric takes the secondary editor's desk at the front of the room.

I flip through my tabs looking for the work center to begin brainstorming what to write. I run my hands over my face and huff before getting up and making my way toward the coffee maker. This is gonna be a long night.

hours later

Everyone starts packing up and leaving one by one. Only a few remain at their desks typing away.

“How’s it going,” Lynn peers over at my screen reading through the bulleted list of questions.

“I hit a block, I can’t think of anything else and they all suck,” I whine.

“They can’t be that bad,” she says before reading one out loud. “Tell us one time you pretended to like someone but actually couldn’t stand them…” She gives me a weird look, “Girl, what’s wrong with you today? These are boring.”

I snort at her. One thing she never lost when she chose Dauntless was her candor.

“Are you gonna stay late today?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna try to spice up my boring questions,” I drag out the boooring and she laughs.

“Alright, I’m gonna head on home. Good luck.”

Time passes and I’m the only one left, at least I think.

“Y/n, what are you still doing here?”

Dear god, not him.

“I’m still working on my questions.”

“Great!” He uses his crutch to balance as he moves a chair closer to me and sits down. The knee of his good leg almost touches mine.

“Ask me one.”

I look at him nervously. “A-ask you one?” I stutter, fearful of the wave of criticism he’d unleash on me like he did in my initiate days.

I sit there looking at him before he shoots me one of his famous glares.

“Uh… Ok then.”

I look back at the screen scrolling through trying to find the best one I had.

“If you met a genie, what would your three wishes be?”

“Not bad,” he says before thinking for a second. “I would wish for better initiates, more hair gel, and for my leg to heal instantly so I can go back to the gym.”

I laugh briefly before feeling stunned. Did he just make me laugh?

“I didn’t know you had a sense of humor.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, princess.” I scowl at him for bringing up the nickname given to me in training when blood got on my favorite gray top.

“That was forever ago!”

“Doesn't matter, you’re still a little princess at heart.” He shoots back before demanding another question.

“What’s the cheapest gift you’ve ever gotten someone?”

“Boooring, take that one out.”

I suck my teeth at him.

“Next,” he demands.

We sat there for what felt like hours. He even began asking me questions, every once in a while striking through one that he didn’t like.

“What are you thinking?” He pulls me back into reality. “Huh?” “You looked like you were thinking really hard… Didn’t know you could do that.”

“Ugh! You’re insufferable.” I say with a smile on my lips. I’d never tell him that I was thinking about how lovely he really was when he wasn’t being an ass. For the first time I was seeing a side of him I liked.

“Alright, last one. We’ve been here for ages,” he looks down at his watch. His perfect lips still curved upwards, his baby blue eyes look back at me - what the hell is wrong with me?

“Dauntless or Candor: kiss the person nearest to you or tell us where you’re the most ticklish. I like this one because all the dudes are gonna sit-”

He pulls my chair closer to him and plants his lips on mine. I feel his heavy hand on the small of my back. His soft lips send sparks through my body and my hands slide up his chest, resting behind his head. He pulls away, “That’s a great one.”

Part 2

[drewstarky]

Detecting the Haunted Masterlist 

Chapter Three

Word Count: 3.2k

Pairing(s): Anthony Lockwood x Detective!Reader

Warnings: Swearing, Angst

A/n: hello friends! I'm sorry I haven't posted in forever!!! its going to be a busy summer for me as its my last year in my acting program, and I have professional Shakespeare shows coming up (auditions and rehearsals) soon. I really hope to be active but im not sure how active I will be but I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Add yourself to the Taglist

In all of Anthony’s life, he wanted people to love him. He wasn’t sure why but the praise of others and the showering of adoration towards him just gave him the feeling of being loved. Maybe it was because that’s what his life was missing, love. 

The current problem with wanting to be even just admired, was that you wouldn’t speak to him, unless absolutely necessary or with someone else in the room. He couldn’t pin point what had changed, but it put him in a grouchy mood. 

He had even snapped at George and Lucy at one point, because of it, which he felt bad about.

He just couldn’t understand why you would all of a sudden you just seem to loathe the mere presence of him. 

That was until he saw you having a conversation with none other than Quill Kipps in the library. That made Lockwood want to explode. He did his best to keep his composure, but how could he? Especially when someone he cared for was talking to his rival. 

You had laughed at something he said, before Anthony made his way over. 

“Tony! I see you have a new agent in training on your hands.” Kipps seemingly tries to antagonize him, “I thought you had enough troubles trying to keep your agency afloat, Being such a small and insignificant one.” 

Lockwood grits his teeth, and his fist goes into a ball, clenching it so tightly. 

“Anyway, my offer still stands.” He says directed towards Y/n in a overly confident tone before making his leave.

Anthony tightens his jaw even more if that was even possible to do so.

You shake your head while smiling, as Kipps leaves and Anthony notices. 

“When’d you get so chummy with Kipps?” He asks with an intensity that you can only describe as uncomfortable.

You ignore his prompted stare down, and shift over a book, and open it to start your next reading.

He keeps staring waiting for you answer.

“When did you get so controlling with who I talk to? Last time I checked you were my boss, not my boyfriend.” You say not even meeting his gaze, ignoring the way saying boyfriend made your body tingle.

He looks genuinely shocked, and hurt, when you spew the words with venom at him, wth a fiery anger, but you had to hate him, or else you’d hate everyone else around you. The problem was that hating everyone wasn't an option you wanted to explore, so your anger had to be directed towards Anthony Lockwood. That was or else it would consume you.

George walks towards the two, carefully, as if he could be the detonator to explode one of the two colleges of his on each other.

“I uh, found the paper in the archives we were looking for, Y/n.” He says before carefully setting it down on the table the two of you were working at.

George had noticed the tension in the house between Lockwood and Y/n, he knew Lucy could feel it too, as she kept trying to get Lockwood and Y/n to avoid each other as much as possible as she tried to figure out what triggered all this, for lack of a better term, teenage angst in the house. 

Well it felt like more than just teenage angst. It felt like a rage radiating off of the two directed towards each other, as if they were two old miserable manifestations bickering like an old couple while trying to murder everyone in the way that ticked them off.

Yeah that was more of the level of tension that was going on, especially when Lucy or himself got caught in the crossfire of the two. He actually didn’t hate Y/n, he had gotten to tolerate her during their times in the archives, but he couldn’t get a good reading of why she acted the way she did towards them, but mostly Lockwood. He was so curious of what was making her tick, or ticked off, pun intended.

Even Lockwood was making things feel off. He had been pissed almost every single day these past couple of weeks, and had even bursted with anger towards himself and Lucy.

George started to think of all the ways he could figure out what was wrong, and deiced to let Lucy in on his plot when he got home, to figure out what the hell these two had tasted to be so bitter to everyone.

George had come out of dreamland to find Y/n and Lockwood bickering.

“At least I talked to someone who wasn’t a stuck up prick for once!” Y/n almost yells.

“I think you’ve got it all wrong, love, you did talk to the stuck up prick, he just left with what’s left of his dignity, from the last time he was here!” Lockwood raises her one.

“Guys, Guys!” Lucy comes rushing In to break it up, “Maybe let’s try to not get kicked out of the archives? Y/n let’s uh, go get lunch, there’s this place I've been meaning to take you to.” 

Y/n gives Anthony one last glare before, picking up her jacket and heading out with Lucy.

“Well, that was awkward…” George mumbles faintly, before giving Lockwood a disappointed look before getting back to work.

“Urgh! He such a pompous ass!” You rant to Lucy, in between shoving pizza in your mouth. 

“Lockwood can be… selfish. But it’s really more because he wants the us and the whole agency to benefit… trust me I know it all too well.” She tries to console you, and you can see the genuine hurt in her eyes from it. 

If he could hurt Lucy, and get others hurt, even killed… who knows what the guy could do to you. Maybe the Job Kipps offered you wasn’t such a bad idea. 

It especially felt good to know it would make Lockwood infuriated. Maybe this was a chance to get a back at Lockwood a bit. Not to the degree you wanted, but it was something.

You make small talk with Lucy while eating, coming up with a plan in your head of how to piss him off the most.

To say Lockwood was pissed was a total understatement. He was enraged.

George and Lucy even seemed to tiptoed around Lockwood as of recently, and Lockwood felt nothing but isolated, and that led him to be able to sit and stew in his anger even longer. 

The both of you seemed to avoid each other physically, which made Lockwood all the more furious. The only time you’d see each other was for training, which George and Lucy had taken over most of that, and cases.

Today you had to train with your rapier again, and that was the main thing Lockwood oversaw.

“C’mon again!” He yells, as you missed one of the practice targets. 

You glare daggers into his direction, as he seemly does the same. 

“I would be a lot better if I didn’t have the constant screaming in my ear.” You mumble sarcastically.

“Sorry, I didn’t get that? Maybe you could actually try this time?” He says before smirking and leaning back to where he was sitting seeming satisfied with ticking you off.

“I’d like to see you do better.” You taunt stalking towards him, “The best I’ve seen in action was the Fittes team at a case I was working.”

He clenches his jaw, looking at you with an intense fire behind his eyes. 

“You’re more show than skill.” You smirk as his face turns even more sour. He gets up and moves right into your personal space. 

“Really? If you think I’m all show, then lets put it to the test, Love.” He pulls his rapier out and backs you into the wall.

You visibly gulp, not because of his challenge, but the sheer proximity of how close his face was to yours. 

He stares into your eyes, with his full of an emotion you couldn’t quite pinpoint. He had a anger but there was something else behind it. 

He shakes his head and scoffs, turning around walking away.

That made your whole body burn with fury. You knew he was one of the best from stories you had heard, but boy did that make you want to try harder to be better. 

“Like I said, all show.” You mumble loud enough for him to hear. 

He stops on the spot, turning around about to say something, and before he can Lucy is running down the stairs with a small stack of letters in her hand. 

“Hey, Y/n You’ve got mail.” 

You give Lockwood a victory smirk, and he gives you a glare saying ‘this isn’t over’.

“Thanks, Lucy.” You take the mail form her, before looking it over, until stopping on one letter in particular. 

“Crap…” you mumble to yourself, opening it quickly. 

Lockwood and Lucy seem intrigued to know what had gotten the rise out of you.

You skim over the letter, or well, the invitation. Your grandparents wanted to see you, and you knew that they rarely did unless it had to do with their agenda. 

You started to feel ill, hoping it was you actually getting sick to get out of it, instead of the idea of visiting them. 

“What is it?” Lockwood asks slightly worried as you lean to grab the wall. 

You want to throw the letter out, but you hand it to Lucy, “You can read it amongst yourselves, if you wish, Especially since I think I’m going to need you to accompany me.”

They give each other a look, as you head upstairs and They both follow you up quickly, if not seconds later. 

George seems intrigued to what is going on, and comes out of the sitting room area, with his usual cleaning gear on, and duster in his hand. 

Lucy starts reading aloud, “Y/n Y/l/n and Lockwood & co, You are formally invited to The Saunders Ball, this Friday. Please wear formal wear and please arrive early to meet and dine with The Saunders.”

“How in the bloody hell do you know the Saunders?!” Lockwood almost yells.

George pipes up, “And why would one of the oldest of richest families in London want dinner with with us?”

“Blood Relation, to me, unfortunately.” You say, wishing this wasn’t their reaction. 

Lucy and Lockwood sit there with their mouths ajar, while George looks like he’s going through every probability in his mind.

“Look, there’s no need to come. I can face my grandparents myself-“

“There’s no way were passing this up. It’s an opportunity for the company to find more clients.” Lockwood pipes up.

Your jaw clenches as try you to smile to pretend to be pleased that he wants to come. 

“Great. does everyone have formal wear? Or do we have to go shopping?”

Lucy shakes her head no, and you give a light smile, before grabbing her hand.

“Let’s go then, my treat.” You say before running out the door with Lucy. 

Lockwood gives one last glance at the door, before standing up.

“C’mon George, Lets go find out all we can about the Saunders.”

Lockwood wouldn’t try to dive into your history if he could help it, but he needed to know anything he could about who’s doors he was about to step into and how to best be prepared to gain new clients. 

Lucy had told you a bit about her past life, how she didn’t come from much, and her old employer, and briefly what happened to her best friend Norrie.

“Hey Lu?” You grab her attention with the nickname you called her in your nightly talks, “Im sorry.”

“What do you mean?” She asks, looking directly at you as you walked down the street of the shops. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about all this. It’s something my Mum left in the past when she left home from my grandparents. I’ve never really lived rich my mother just came from money.” You sigh as you continue to explain, “We really lived off of my Dad’s pay, and my mother worked part time in a flower shop. It- it’s not really important what they did. But my grandparents- well they only ever summon me if they want something.”

Lucy gives a sympathetic look, with almost an understanding. 

“My grandparents hated my dad, because the took their only daughter away, to live a ‘life of poverty’ and my dad, ‘he couldn’t provide’. Ah, it’s so messed up! Then my parents had me, and all they ever wanted was me to become their ‘Perfect grandchild of the Saunders’ but I never was that, or could be that.” You ramble it all out.

“I’m sorry y/n” she replies, “For all that family rubbish. I- I know the struggle of family too well.” She mentions with an understanding you’ve never felt. 

You felt so heard. You felt so seen even though your pasts couldn’t have been more different. It was so touching.

“Thank you. For being my friend.” You blurt out, as she gives you a genuine smile. 

“C’mon let's check out this shop!” You say while dragging her in and you both giggle. 

Lockwood was tapping his fingers against the table. He was getting George to pull article after article about your grandparents. After Fairfax, Lockwood couldn’t just walk into this blindly, especially at the reaction that Y/n had at the mere invitation of dinner with them. 

The archives seemed to have little to no information so far, other than that they were old money for being a huge lavender supply over the years and that they had a similar social circle to Fairfax; rich and socialites. Their only link to each other was Marissa Fittes and Penelope Fittes.

Lockwood sighed, as he hoped this wouldn’t turn into another Fairfax situation. At this point in time, he didn’t think he could really trust y/n anymore. 

But maybe that was the problem between himself and y/n, that she couldn’t trust him. He never had thought about it that way. He had told Lucy and George about his past, but not y/n, so maybe that’s why she didn’t share much about herself. 

Maybe it was time Lockwood let himself go of this rampant disease of the feeling of resentment. At least to a small degree, just so they all could survive dinner and the ball with one of London's most powerful and influential families. 

It was finally the day to head to dinner and the ball with your grandparents, and you were just pretending to have it all together, but underneath you were an earthquake of nerves waiting to start to rumble. 

You were curling Lucy’s hair with an curling iron, trying to distract yourself from the whole situation. 

“That’s a beautiful necklace you have on.” You mention breaking the almost silence as the record player played a soft tune in the back of the room.

She grabs it, fiddling with it, “Thanks, Lockwood gave it to me, for the Fittes ball.” You freeze for a second, trying to hold your face still in the same way it was. 

You were partly shocked she even mentioned it, because that was the night your father had died at the hands of him.  You were Devastated but wasn’t the only emotion you were feeling, you couldn’t help but feel a pang in your chest when she said Lockwood gave it to her. You hated yourself even more for falling into this trap of his charms. 

You were trying to hold a small smile, ads you finished Lucy’s hair. Your eyes started to water slightly, and as you tried to hold your tears in, there was a knock at the door. 

“Luce, Y/n, are you two ready yet?” Lockwood asks from the other side.

“You’re done Lu.” You say before turning around before the tears started to come out and started to go get your dress on. 

“I’m coming out, Y/n just has to put her dress on.” Lucy explains.

“Okay.” He repsonds.

Lucy slips out, and you here her shoes click against the stairs as she walks down. 

You wipe away your tears and start to pull your dress on before hearing your name being called.

 “Y/n?” 

“Yes Lockwood?” You reply.

You start to struggled with he zipper on your dress, as Lockwood starts to speak, “I just wanted to say that I’m- Y/n/n are you okay?” He asks as you made a loud sound as you crashed into the vanity. 

“Uh yeah I just can’t- I can’t get this stupid zipper.” You sigh in defeat, “Can you come in and help me?”

“Yeah, of course.” He says as he opens the door. His breath is taken away as If his lungs were ghost touched. You were leaning against the vanity, with a beautiful red dress on. 

“I know it’s pathetic but that the last case we had this week hurt my shoulder, so you don’t have to say it.” You mention looking away, before meeting his gaze. 

Was he… admiring you? You couldn’t tell for the few seconds he looked at you, before his expression changed as he moved towards you.

“It was my fault, on that case. I should have prepared you more so don’t worry about it. I’m just glad the dresser that hit you in the shoulder didn’t hurt you more.” He said, “That was quick moving, your getting out of the way before it squashed you.“ 

That was almost a compliment and an admittance of fault. What was going on with him? He motions for you to turn around and you do. As he moves your hair out of the way, a shiver runs down your spine, and goose bumps arise on your skin. 

You try to distract yourself at the feeling of his close proximity to you by cracking a joke, “Yeah well, now I can’t zip myself up, or get out of this stupid gown. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for this choice of attire I truly adore feeling trapped.” 

He laughs a small almost silent laugh, as he grabs the zipper and slowly zips it up. It was agonizingly slow. You couldn’t tell if he was doing this to spite you, or because he was feeling the same weird feelings that you were. 

You shook off the second thought, it had to be to make you uncomfortable. You couldn’t have second thoughts on this no matter how warm it made your body feel. 

You swear you heard him take a shaky breath in before he finished and you turned to face him. You were really close to his face, and you could see the way his eyes looked almost puppy dog like. His eyes trailed your whole face for a few seconds before he took a small step back.

“Shall we?” He extended his arm, before you both descended the stairs, heading out to the car to take you to the infamous Saunders ball. You only hoped that your grandparents didn’t pull some bullshit like they usually did with you. 

You had no idea what was in store for you and your team, and that’s what was killing you. The not knowing.

Taglist:

@waitingforthesunrise @sleep-i-ness @rinisfruity14 @uku-lelevillain

[ramblingoak]

The Cardinal’s Bride, Chapter 2: La Principessa

~~ Please visit The Outlaw Brides Masterpost to catch up and read more stories from this world ~~

~ A Romantic Adventure in the Old West: After being forced into a marriage with Mr. Saltarian by your father you are sent west to his estate in Nevada.  Along the way you end up meeting one of the cowboys you have always fantasized about... ~

Thank you to @tasty-ribz​  for the wonderful wanted poster and @kissingghouls​​  for holding my hand 💙

Cardinal Copia x Female Reader - The Cardinal and the Ghouls go over their plan and you have to deal with a very smug outlaw after they capture you.

Warnings: slow burn romance, adventure, violence, Copia in chaps, NSFW, MDNI, this chapter is about 3,000 words ~

“So let me get this straight,” Dewdrop stood in front of Copia with his hands on his hips, glaring down at the man as he lounged against a tree trunk.  He pretended he didn’t hear Swiss mutter ‘hear we go’ under his breath and continued on, “Your plan is to attack Saltarian’s stagecoach, kidnap his bride, ransom her for a shitload of money and then crash the wedding to stab Saltarian in the face.”

Copia squinted his eyes and thought for a moment then nodded, “Si, that is the plan.”

“That’s your plan.”

“Yes, that is the plan.”

“I have a different plan.”

“Well luckily for the health and safety of everyone here you are not in charge, I am.”

“Let’s hold a vote!  All in favor of me being in charge of the gang, raise your hand!”

“We’re not holding a damn vote!  Sunshine, put your hand down!”  Copia jumped up from the ground and pressed his finger into Dew’s chest, “I don’t pay you for your opinion Dewdrop, I pay you to shoot where I say to shoot.”  Copia turned from the smaller man and leaned down to pick up his hat and his faded red duster from the ground.

“Look boss, I’ll happily shoot at anything or anyone you want.  This just feels like a lot of work for something that happened a long fucking time ago.”

Copia settled his hat on his head and slipped the old duster on as he turned back to glare at Dewdrop.  “A long fucking time ago everyone and everything I held dear was taken from me.  Burned into the earth at the whim of one man.”  Copia stalked closer to Dew as he spoke, his voice brimming with rage.

The rest of the group was tense and unsure what to do.  It wasn’t uncommon for Copia and Dew to argue, but the intensity between the two rarely got this high.  Aether stood up from where he was packing away the pans and dishes from breakfast and slowly approached them, ready to intervene if necessary.

“If you don’t want to be involved you can leave right now.  That goes for anyone else here.”  Copia took a moment to look the group over.  The only one missing was Rain, off to scout how far off the stagecoach was from their camp.  “I’ll be at the creek, let me know when Rain is back.”  With that he turned and left to clear his head.

He knew their concerns came from a good place, they all had known each other for years.  Even Dewdrop meant well, he was just shit at showing it.  Copia crouched down next to the small creek and picked up a few rocks to try to skip over the water.  Every single one sunk at the first drop, hopefully that wasn’t a sign of things to come.

Copia heard footsteps behind him and didn’t need to turn around to know it was Aether.  He’d always been the one the group sent after him when he went off to brood.  The man had a calming presence and was generally level-headed.  Copia always knew that if they sent Aether his way it wasn’t just Dewdrop concerned about the plan. 

“What have I done wrong this time?”  He knew that wasn’t the best way to start the conversation but he really didn’t feel like talking.  His mind was made, they were going to execute this thing the way he had always planned.  He’d be damned if he was going to change things up now when they were so close to everything coming together.  Aether sighed and crouched down next to him to look out over the water.

“No one is against you boss, we’re just concerned.”  Aether picked up a few rocks and flicked them over the surface of the water, watching as they skipped a few times before falling below the surface.  “A lot could go wrong here.  We don’t want anyone to get hurt.” 

Copia scoffed at the man next to him.  “After all the lives lost, the lives ruined, you’re going to worry about one girl?”

“She had nothing to do with any of it though.  Seems unfair to drag her in the middle of it all.”

“Well what’s the other option?”  Copia stood up and brushed his hands off, why did everyone decide today was the day to finally bitch at him about everything?  “It’s the same basic job we’ve done before.  Attack a stagecoach, kill Saltarian’s men and take any loot.”

“Yeah but this time we’re not just emptying pockets and stealing supplies.  We’re kidnapping a girl that’s probably never taken a step outside the city she was born in.  She’s going to be scared to death.”

Copia shook his head and turned to glare at the man, “She should be scared, she’s marrying fucking Saltarian.”  

“You know what I mean boss, we’re not exactly the most hospitable group of people.  Well some of us aren’t at least.”  Aether stood up and looked back up the path to camp for a moment.  “We should’ve brought Cirrus and Cumulus and left Dew and Sunshine at The Ministry.”

Copia couldn’t help but laugh, honestly he’d thought about it.  Those two were hot-headed at the best of times, but they were good to have in a tight spot.  Secondo had insisted on keeping the two women though.  The Ministry had been getting busier as the town around it expanded and Cirrus and Cumulus were the best entertainment he had.

“They’ll behave.  We just gotta keep the girl in one piece long enough to get Saltarian to agree to the ransom.”  Copia turned to walk back up the path but Aether reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

“Don’t you think this is all a little unfair for her?  I doubt she actually chose to marry Saltarian.”  Copia shrugged Aether’s shoulder off and turned to face him.

“I don’t give a fuck what she chose, she means nothing to me.”  Aether sighed and shook his head.  Lucifer the man really was almost too soft hearted for this life sometimes.  “Look, we just have to keep track of her until we get back to The Ministry.  Then we can set up the trade and get the money.”  Copia noticed movement in the corner of his eye and looked up to see Mountain standing up the path.  Rain was back then, time to go.

“Yeah, but will Saltarian want her back?”  Aether fell into step beside him, his hands shoved into his coat pockets.

“It’ll look bad for him if he doesn’t give us the ransom.  He cares too much about his reputation not to pay.”

“And then what?”

“Then maybe we’ll get a wedding invite and the rest will be easy.”

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ 

You were trying not to stare at the bodies.

The stagecoach had finally stopped and you could hear the gang talking outside.  The Cardinal and his Ghouls.  The two guards inside with you were dead, their blood seeping into the wood beneath your feet.  You pulled your legs up in front of you on the seat and hugged them.  There was no way you could make a run for it.  Who knows what they planned on doing to you anyway.  If you ran it would just be target practice for them.  

Maybe you could grab one of the guns and hold them off while you took a horse…except you had never shot a gun before.  Or been on a horse for that matter.  You groaned and lowered your head against your knees.  The talking outside drifted closer and you strained to hear what they were saying but you couldn’t make anything out.  You let your mind drift and closed your eyes, but as soon as you did you saw that smile.

The Cardinal’s smile.

Never in your wildest dreams did you think you’d actually run into him, even after the guards had mentioned their concern over him and his gang.  But here you were sitting amongst the aftermath of their handwork.  All the guards were dead, you knew this without seeing the other bodies.  Maybe they would let you go back home, not that going back to your family that basically sold you sounded appealing.  You were stuck between two places that you didn’t think actually wanted you.  Your parents used you as a pawn and Saltarian was using you to get back at your father.  

Maybe you could convince The Cardinal to take you someplace else?  You could start over in a new city and live a life without being told what to do.  Without a man trying to control you.  Thinking about The Cardinal made you think of his smile again and you groaned.  That smile and the wink he gave you made your heart skip a beat that had nothing to do with all the gunshots going off.

He was just as handsome as the posters made him out to be.  The black kohl around his eyes made the odd white stand out even more.  He had looked so commanding on his white horse and not surprisingly he was a very good shot.  You probably shouldn’t still be fantasizing about a wanted man that just killed six men in front of you, but you didn’t think Saltarian’s guards were good men either.

The only thing you had control over were your thoughts.  No one could change those.  You let your mind go back to all those nights staring at the poster you had taken.  How The Cardinal had dominated your fantasies and dreams while you laid in bed at night.  You felt your cheeks flush thinking about what you did while looking at the poster.  If he only knew what you had used his image for.

The poster!  You held your breath for a moment and moved a hand to the side of your dress.  It was in your pocket!  You couldn’t even imagine what they would do if they found it.  Your head shot up so you could find a hidden spot to shove it into but you screamed when you saw a man crouching in the middle of the stagecoach.  He reached a hand out and grabbed your arm but without a second thought you leaned down and bit his hand.

“Satan’s dick!  What the fuck?!”  He turned and stomped back out and started shouting that you’d bit him.  You spit onto the floor and braced yourself against the other side of the stagecoach, gripping the edge of the window.  Maybe you should grab one of the rifles anyway, you could at least swing it at them.  Right when you started to lean down and grab one a pair of arms slipped around you from behind and pulled you out the window.

“Put me down!  Put me down right now!”  You found yourself on your stomach draped over a horse, practically in the man’s lap.  There wasn’t a red coat so at least it wasn’t The Cardinal, but you saw two large pistols hanging from his belt and an assortment of knives.  You grunted as the horse rode around the back of the stagecoach, the movements jostling you up and down on the back of it.

The beast abruptly stopped and you placed your hands against its side and pushed your upper body and head up to look for a way to escape.  You gasped when you were immediately face to face with The Cardinal, an amused look on his face.  There was yelling in the background that sounded like the man you had bit.  A gloved hand reached up to grasp your chin and The Cardinal leaned in close.

“Ciao Principessa.”

Before you could answer, the man on the horse jumped off and swung you down into his arms.  You saw The Cardinal point towards a pile of boulders and then you were plopped down in front of it.  The Cardinal took a few steps close to you and tilted his head as he looked you over, humming softly.  You leaned back as far as you could, but you couldn’t bring yourself to take your eyes of his own.

He was a lot to take in up close.  Even though his clothing was filthy and he smelled like he hadn’t seen a bath in a week, he was a sight to see.  Just like in the poster he had his mustache and sideburns, you could make out a hint of silver where his hat covered his hair.  Your gaze drifted to his eyes again and he quirked an eyebrow up at you.

“Like what you see?”

You huffed and turned your head away, you needed to stop staring at him.  The Cardinal laughed and then you heard him call over one of his men.  “Swiss, tie her hands up and search her.  Then you and Mountain get the trunks off the top.  Sunshine!  Unhook the horses.”  You watched as he sauntered towards the rest of his gang.  The man you had bit was getting his hand wrapped by another, but you looked away when you noticed he was glaring at you.

“What am I supposed to search her for?”  The man named Swiss had knelt at your side with a rope in his hands.  You let him wrap it around your wrists, wincing when he tightened it.  He sighed and looked you over before reaching a hand into the fold of your dress where your pocket was.  “What’s this then?”  You tried to squirm away as Swiss shoved his hand inside but he placed his other one on your shoulder to keep you in place.  He hummed and you knew he had found the carefully folded poster of yours.  The one that you should’ve hid in one of your trunks.  The one you never should’ve taken out of the damned shop window. 

The one of the man that had just kidnapped you.

You couldn’t help but flinch as he opened it, his eyes lighting up as soon as he saw what it was.  Swiss immediately doubled over in laughter and you lowered your head into your hands.  This was mortifying.  If the ground could open up beneath you it would be a gift.  You glanced up briefly when you heard another voice and saw the man you had bitten jog over.  Swiss held out the poster and Dewdrop’s face quickly went from annoyance to joy.

“This is the best day of my life.  Boss!  Check out what the princess had!”  You raised your head enough to let your eyes peek through your fingers and watched as Dewdrop jogged over to where The Cardinal was.  He and a few others were dragging the bodies of the guards into a pile.

The Cardinal stood up, brushing his hands off on his chaps as he did.  He had taken his duster off, the dirty thing tossed over his horse nearby.  You watched as he took the paper out of Dewdrop’s hands and held your breath.  The same smile he had graced you with while his gang attacked the stagecoach lit up his face and he immediately looked up at you, catching you watching him.  

Nevermind the ground, maybe one of them just should’ve shot you.

You groaned and lowered your head back into your hands.  Footsteps that you assumed were his got closer and closer to you, the spurs on his boots clinking with each step.  “Mi scusi Principessa, are you looking to collect the bounty?”  Oh you were so tired of his smug, teasing voice. 

“If I could I’d turn you all into the nearest sheriff.”  Copia laughed at your empty threat and leaned down so your heads were level, his hands resting on his knees.  You glanced down and saw your poster wrinkled and clenched in his hand.  A horrible sensation started building in your chest, watching as he ruined the paper and laughed at you.  He clucked his tongue and grinned.

You clenched your fists, tugging your wrists against the ropes but they had no give.  The Cardinal looked away to laugh at something Swiss had said and you felt tears gathering in your eyes.  You were so tired of it all.  Tired of being pushed around by everyone.  Already tired of The Cardinal mocking you.  You took a deep breath and waited for him to look at you again.  When he turned from Swiss he still had that smug smile on his face.

So you smashed your forehead into his nose.

“Figlio di puttana!”  

You winced at the ache in your head from hitting him, but it was worth it to see him fall over and clutch at his nose.  Swiss and Dewdrop were laughing again although thankfully not at you this time.  The man that had wrapped Dewdrop’s hand jogged over and knelt down at The Cardinal’s side trying to get a look at his face.  The Cardinal shrugged his hands off roughly and jumped back up to his feet, his hat had fallen off and his brown hair hung wildly around his head.

Blood was dripping down his chin and he definitely didn’t look smug anymore.  You could see where he got his reputation from.  He reached down and grabbed the poster from the dirt, smearing blood all over it, and then stalked towards you.  You held your breath and tried not to tremble but his demeanor had completely changed.  Maybe hitting him wasn’t the best idea…

He stopped in front of you and crumpled the poster in a ball before throwing it into your lap.  His hands rested near his pistols hanging from his gun belt and you took a deep breath before speaking, “Are you going to kill me?”

He laughed, although it was more in disbelief than humor.  The Cardinal wiped a gloved hand across his chin, smearing the blood even more before kneeling down in front of you.  He took the same hand and gripped your chin, leaning close to your face.  You could feel the warmth of the blood as it pressed into your skin.  “I’m not going to kill you, Principessa.”  

You let out the breath you hadn’t realized you were holding but he kept your chin in his hand.  “What are you going to do to me?”

“I’m going to let your future husband know we have you and what it’ll take for him to get you back.”  He let go of your chin and then stood up, glaring down at you.  His hair glinted in the sun as it started to set across the valley.  “Then we’ll trade you for the money and you can run off and have the wedding of your dreams to dear Mr. Saltarian.”

The trembling was impossible to stop now as he addressed you.  His voice held such rage speaking of Saltarian, he had to have done something horrible to make him want to go through all of this.  You bit your lip, waiting for him to continue, but you were scared of what the rest of the plan entailed.

“But once everyone has gathered to witness your vows, once all of Saltrarian’s associates are ready to start to celebrate, we’ll be there.  And we’re going to kill every single one of them, including your precious husband.”  He smiled at you once more, but it wasn’t a kind one.  It wasn’t a smug one.  This was the smile of a man seeking revenge and not caring how he got it.  

The Cardinal knelt down again and looked right into your eyes.  With the kohl, the white eye and the blood he looked more like a demon than a man.  He clicked his tongue at you and gave you another cruel smile.

“After that I don’t care what happens to you.”

Go to Chapter 3: Promises

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