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marvel-snape-writes · 1 month ago

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BAD HARRY:

The Etiquette of These Things

18+ Love Actually smut

Harry (Alan Rickman) x original female character

12.9k words (never expected it to be that long LOL)

I finally let my sleazy Alan Rickman urges win and wrote a tense and flirtatious encounter between Harry, a married man, and his younger colleague, Arabella, during a Christmas work party. As the night progresses, they find themselves alone, and the sexual tension escalates. Arabella openly flirts with Harry, teasing him and pushing boundaries, which he struggles to resist despite his marital status. They engage in suggestive banter, and eventually, they end up at Arabella's apartment, where they have a somewhat scandalous encounter... Afterward, Harry grapples with feelings of guilt and confusion, contemplating the implications of their actions. Arabella, however, seems unfazed and playful about the situation, suggesting they can proceed however they like, and Harry leaving her apartment, feeling both exhilarated and conflicted about what just happened.

The fact he was allowing her foot to rub up the inside of his calf frightened him a little. It showed that he was putting up less of a fight this time. Allowing it to happen.

The Christmas work’s night out with plus-ones invited was always a testing experience for Harry, let alone tonight’s when it was strictly only the colleagues themselves. He knew she had a thing for him. Though he was married, he couldn’t deny that having a younger colleague unapologetically taunt and flirt with him inflated his ego and boosted his mood when compared to the lull he was currently experiencing with his actual wife. He also couldn’t deny having whispered filthy sweet nothings into her ear from time to time just to spur her on for his own egotistical amusement. However, despite having practically fucked each other with their eyes on several occasions, they had never actually crossed the physical barrier before.

Tonight was like he was in a trance with only one goal. As usual, he and her were the last ones standing from the Christmas party. She bit her lip as their eyes met over the table once everyone else had gone home, the expression on her face beginning to cause a slight issue in the front of Harry’s pants when added with the light rubbing of her foot against his inner calf again.

“Can I get you another drink?” Harry asked, breaking the seductive atmosphere.

“You don’t need to get me drunk to have your way with me, Sir.” She picked up her glass and licked her lips after putting it back down again.

“You don’t need to call me ‘Sir’.” Harry replied, trying not to watch her tongue.

“Sorry… Boss?” She arched a brow.

“Arabella, Drop the titles. We are not at work.” He attempted to scowl.

“Yes…” Her lips formed the pronunciation of an ‘S’ before batting her eyelashes innocently as she emphasised, “Harry.”

“Good girl.” He squinted his eyes teasingly.

“I can’t call you ‘boss’ or ‘sir’ but you can call me ‘good gir-‘!?” Her lips parted dramatically, almost in offence.

“So, you don’t want another drink?” Harry butted in, already aware that what he said was not very professional and telling her that she ‘asked for it’ most likely would not go down well.

“I told you,” Her foot slid slightly higher up his calf this time and her eyes momentarily diverted to his lips, “You do nothave to get me drunk to have whatever it is you want from me.”

He remained silent for a few moments, pondering his response to how forward she was being, “Why is it always me and you the last to go home?”

“So no one can see us leave together.” She shrugged simply.

“Ha,” Harry shot her a sarcastic expression, “Do you not have a boyfriend?”

“Does it matter?” She arched a brow.

“Considering what’s going on under the table, I’d say so.” Harry responded flatly.

“Do you not have a wife?” She tilted her head, purposefully swirling her tongue around the straw in her glass before pushing it into her mouth whilst maintaining eye contact.

“No one here took your fancy?” He purposefully avoided her question, feeling heat beginning to climb up his body.

“Oh, yes, someone did,” She nodded, smiling sweetly, “But, then again, someone always does.”

Harry blinked hard and felt his hand tremble against his glass slightly as he lifted it to his lips, trying to ignore the way she was now pushing the straw deeper into her mouth before pursing her lips to suck the liquid through it.

Narcissistically, he already knew the answer, but he chose to ask anyway, “And who would that be?”

“The Boss.” She bit the inside of her cheek, “I ask you to dance because if I can feel your body pressed against mine, then I can better envision how it would feel to be on top of me.”

“You’re being dangerous tonight.” He let out a sharp breath, feeling the need to allow a bit more air through his shirt collar as the tension between them grew.

“You’re letting me.” She raised her eyebrows, enjoying the fact that she was gradually getting the upper hand in the situation.

‘Oh, I’d let you do absolutely anything to me right now’, he thought to himself, struggling at this point to keep his eyes off her. She was younger than him by quite a number of years, so the fact that she was even interested in him was enough. He thought about how it would feel to just fool around and get himself off with her tonight, completely meaningless. The thought had crossed his mind many times before, but tonight was something else. She had him right in the palm of her hand. So much so, his brain could only think of where they could sneak off to quickest just so he could get the relief he so badly desired and move on with his life. Quick fuck in the toilets? No, people would see them both go in. Were they both desperate enough to follow the back alley down behind the bar and get themselves off there? No, far too public… for a married man. Fuck, he would have her over this table right now if he could.

“Should we go somewhere else?” Harry asked to try and avoid what she was next about to propose.

“What, my house or yours?” She smirked.

“Another bar?” Harry ignored her question, resting his chin on his hand with his elbow bent on the table, “Fancy cocktail bars, that’s what you like, isn’t it? Or it is when I look at the accounts which the company so kindly funds your work nights out.”

“Well, the company does like to look after their staff, don’t they?” She raised her eyebrows, reaching across the table and lightly tracing patterns against the part of Harry’s forearm that was on show rested flatly against the table.

“Of course.” He swallowed hard, glancing down at her fingers and pressing his lips together hard.

“It keeps them happy,” Her nails lightly grazed his skin this time, “That’s how you keep your staff, Harry,” Her tone lowered, though her expression remained annoyingly innocent, “To make sure they are always looked after, taken care of, satisfied.” She emphasised each word by pressing her nails against him a little harder each time.

“Right.” He nodded, showing no attempt of pulling away.

“So, yes, let’s go to another bar.” She grinned, quickly standing up.

Harry’s lips quickly parted and he looked up at her, physically having to shake himself out of his trance. Before he could even formulate a response, she had already walked over to the bar, awaiting for him to pay for the tab with the company card.

“Right…” He blinked hard, “Right.” He repeated, exhaling deeply as he stood and cautiously glancing down and silently being grateful for not being his once younger self; for now, his threatening arousal staying concealed and hardly noticeable within his trousers.

“In your own time, boss.” She teased, watching as he made his way over to her.

He didn’t speak once he approached the bar, didn’t even react to her. Instead, he turned to the barman and gave the name of the tab before getting his wallet out of his blazer pocket.

“Thank you, sir.” The barman smiled once he had paid.

“And you, too.” Harry half smiled back, still on the comedown of the most intimate few minutes he had had with anyone in weeks.

“Thanks, boss.” She winked, looking over at him as they headed toward the exit.

“Where to?” Harry asked, pushing the door open and holding it for her.

The cold wintry air hit them before she could respond, both of them shivering and Harry stuffing his hands into the pockets of his overcoat.

“You tell me,” She moved closer to him as they walked, linking arms with him and immediately feeling his body tense as she did so, her words certainly not helping, “You strike me as the kind of man who knows how to satisfy a lady’s pallet.”

Harry bit down hard on his inner lip, his eyes darting around as they continued to walk. He could feel his heart rate increasing with each step, but still he allowed it to happen and made no attempt to remove her arm.

“Harry?” She turned her head to look up at him when he didn’t respond.

“Hm?” He snapped out of his thoughts, glancing down at her, “Are you sure you’d like to walk around the city like this with your boss?”

“What’s wrong with it?” She asked, looking at him with an unphased expression.

“Well, we’re…” He fought with what to say, his mouth opening and closing a few times, “We’re, you know—“

“What, not strangers?” She answered for him.

“No, we aren’t,” He shook his head, “Which almost makes it worse, if you think about it.”

“How so?” She narrowed her eyes.

“Because people who recognise us both will know that we work together,” Harry huffed quietly, “And you know how people like to gossip.”

She paused for a moment and waited for him to look forward again before leaning up to press her cheek to his and whisper into his ear, “Then, let’s go somewhere no one else can see.”

Harry held his breath for a moment before glancing down at his feet, then her arm linked with his, then his feet again before finally speaking, “Alright.”

“Or give them a reason to gossip.” She mumbled, glancing up at him very briefly with a smirk.

Oh, he liked the idea of that. Just from that one faint suggestion, he found himself subtly looking around for literally anywhere he could create the setting of a quickie in his head.

“How about there?” She suggested, though Harry’s mind was in a completely different place at what she was suggesting before he looked ahead to the glittering sign of another bar.

“Sure.” Harry shrugged, pressing his finger to his chin as he read the name of it, “As long as you don’t drain my bank account.”

She licked her lips slowly as they approached the door, flickering her eyes up at him and speaking as their eyes met, “Oh, I plan to drain much more than your bank account tonight, sir.”

Harry felt a strange, unfamiliar twinge in his crotch from her comment and his hand briefly slipped from holding the door, clearing his throat to try and cover it up. His lips twitched and he tensed his jaw as he followed her into the bar — though his mind was going in many more directions than just one.

“What would you like to drink?” He asked.

“Surprise me,” She shrugged, gesturing to an empty, tall table, “I’ll meet you over there.”

“They’re a nightmare, aren’t they?” The barman laughed.

“I’m sorry?” Harry scowled briefly, leaning against the bar.

“Girlfriends.” The barman raised his eyebrows.

“Oh,” Harry cleared his throat, glancing over at her before shrugging, “Uh, yeah.”

He ordered the first two drinks that came to mind after glancing at the menu written on the black slate hanging on the wall; a whisky and an espresso martini. He paid the barman and walked over to the table, placing them down on there and hopping up on the stool at the side of her.

“Thank you,” She crinkled her nose, “May I guess which one is mine?”

“If you must.” Harry shrugged.

“This one?” She arched a brow, bringing the espresso martini closer to her.

“What makes you so sure?” He mirrored her raised eyebrow.

“This one has a shot of espresso in it,” She said simply, “You clearly want me to be awake for the whole night.”

“I think it’s more favourable to me in that sense considering our age difference.” Harry attempted to joke.

“I wouldn’t say so…” She took a sip of it, “I like older men.”

“I hadn’t guessed.” He replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

“And grumpy ones, too, apparently…” She slowly licked her lips.

“Have you any—“ He began before feeling something light fell onto his head, looking at either of his shoulders and letting out a small chuckle when he saw that a piece of previously hung up tinsel was now on him.

“Come here,” She reached across the small table and wrapped the tinsel around him like a scarf, crinkling her nose as she pulled back, “It suits you.”

“Thank you,” Harry laughed, glancing down at one end of it now pointing down his chest, “New work uniform?”

“Oh, I think we could get people on board.” She agreed with a grin.

They both shared a laugh, catching each other’s eye for a few long moments before reaching for their drinks. Harry’s eyes darted back to the table, trying to push his most intrusive thoughts to the back of his mind.

“So…” He attempted to break the tension, “What are your plans for Christmas?”

“What are my plans for Christmas?” She scoffed.

“Yes?” Harry squinted his eyes and reached for his drink again, convinced he had made it a little too obvious that he was trying to change the subject for his own benefit.

“Wow,” She shook her head, watching as the tinsel fell from around Harry’s shoulders and to the floor, “I am going to the bathroom,” She hopped down from the high stool, “Your small talk is getting worse.”

“My…” He began to question her but lost his wording when he saw her bend over in front of him, purposefully emphasising the miniskirt she was wearing as she picked up the tinsel. His mouth became dry and his skin prickly hot, trying not to allow the feeling to travel further South.

“There we go,” She said as she placed the tinsel around his shoulders again, purposely skimming his cheek and then ear with her lips before whispering directly into it, “But if we’re going to do anything, we might as well just fuck.”

Before he even had a chance to register what she had said, she was already walking away toward the bathroom. After a few steps, however, she turned around and winked, shrugging innocently with an angelic smile before turning her back to him again.

He took another drink of his whisky and swallowed it shakily. She was igniting something in him that hadn’t been alight for a long time. He was almost convinced that she was aware she had turned him on at this point, and as he squeezed his thighs together, it was hard for him not to make it too obvious. Christ, he wanted her to have her way with him. He thought of any and every way he could justify it. Just sneak off somewhere and never speak of it again? Would it look a bit too obvious if they were to go back to hers? Well, they certainly couldn’t go back to his.

He drummed the fingertips of his free hand against the table while his other hand remained snug around his glass. The thoughts going through his mind were some of the most unholy, unfaithful ones that had ever crossed it. Sure, he would be a liar to say he hadn’t felt temptation before, one person in particular springing to mind, but he hadn’t exactly acted upon it. Now he wanted it. He wanted her because she was acting like someone who wanted him. It was as if the passion his marriage was currently lacking was now found in wanting one night with her.

He felt his heart skip a beat when she came back through the door. He knew he’d have to make a split decision before he talked himself out of it. He found his eyes taking a walk all over her figure as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and cleared his throat with an innocent smile when she joined him back at the table.

“Alright.” He said.

“Alright?” She squinted her eyes.

“Let’s go somewhere.” He spoke quietly, nervously looking around.

“Anywhere in particular?” She arched a brow, reaching over the table for the tinsel still hung around his shoulders.

He paused when he felt her foot against his calf again, opening his mouth to speak but then pressing his lips together. Her head tilted and she caught his gaze, raising her eyebrows with an angelic expression, “Hm?”

“Where do you think?” He asked, though it was more of a mumble.

“If I knew, I wouldn’t ask.” She shrugged innocently, licking her lips.

He looked either side of him before back at her, “Yours?”

“What for?” She squinted her eyes, moving her foot a little higher.

“Has anyone ever told you that you are absolutely insufferable?” He huffed, finishing his drink.

“Has anyone ever told you that a man your age shouldn’t drink so much?” She retorted.

“I’m sorry?” He scowled, “I’ve only had—“

“Don’t be getting whisky dick.” She winked, hopping off the stool.

He didn’t quite have a response to her remark but continued to watch her as she walked toward the door of the bar. She looked back at him with a wink as she pushed the door open, though didn’t stay to hold it for him in time to get to his feet and follow. But he did, only seconds later, following her like some desperately aroused dog.

He caught eye of her outfit — the one he had spent a lot of tonight picturing tearing off her — and walked toward the line of taxis. She gave her details to one of the drivers and gestured for him to get in it with her. As he climbed into the back seat, he couldn’t deny that his head was telling him one thing, but his cock most definitely another.

“Hi.” She glanced over at him once he shut the door behind him.

He didn’t reply, just glanced over at her and pressed his lips together with a small nod. Arabella pursed her lips and turned her head to look out of the window into the darkness. Harry turned to look out of his own window, but quickly caught sight of her very slowly parting her legs from the position she was sat in. His eyes stayed there for a while before blinking quickly and swallowing hard once she turned to face him again.

“I…” He began as Arabella placed her hand upon his thigh.

“It’s okay, boss,” She squeezed his thigh gently, “Everybody window shops.”

Harry let out a small laugh to try and cover up the tingle in his thigh when she squeezed it. He glanced forward to look in the driver’s rear view mirror to make sure that he wasn’t looking before placing his own hand on top of hers and closing it around his thigh again.

“Oh?” She glanced up at him with a grin, “You like that?”

He nodded and remained silent, letting go of her hand and hoping that she would carry on without his cue. She licked her lips and lightly dug her nails into the seem of his pants against his inner thigh, earning a small grunt from him in the process.

“Mm…” He tilted his head back, trying to pretend that if it was over his clothes then it wasn’t really happening. When in reality, he was actually in a taxi back to her house with ideas in mind that would send him to hell.

Arabella leaned in enough to lay her head on his shoulder and lightly tickled her lips against his earlobe, whispering, “Oh, the things I’d like to do to you on this back seat.”

Harry chewed his bottom lip harshly for a moment before saying, “Likewise,” but being unable to make eye contact.

“Oh, really?” She brushed her lips behind his ear.

“Really.” He replied, his eyes closing at the feel of her lips.

His eyes remained closed, his mind floating to the number of situations he would gladly end up in on the back seat at this present moment. The flames in his stomach flickered each time he felt her lips skim his skin and he exhaled shakily, wanting nothing more than to place his hand against her thigh, but some uncertainty in him still holding him back. Once again, despite wanting his hand upon her thigh for the brief moment, he wasn’t exactly encouraging her behaviour, but he wasn’t exactly stopping her, either.

“Tell me what you’re going to do to me when we get to my place.” She whispered against the crook of his neck, kissing the skin lightly.

“I am going to walk you to your door.” He spoke through a shiver.

“What, my bedroom door?” She grinned against his skin.

“No comment.” He mumbled under his breath, his eyes still closed.

“Well, let’s see, shall we?” She pulled back once the car stopped, undoing her seatbelt.

“Hm?” His heavy eyes opened, looking out of the window, “Is this your place?”

“No, it’s not, actually,” She rolled her eyes, passing the taxi driver some money and getting out of the car before continuing in the same sarcastic tone as Harry followed close behind, “It’s a secret base I’ve brought you to so no one can ever find out about us.”

“What is there to find out about?” He asked, trying to make himself sound as innocent and unbothered as possible.

“Nothing,” She shrugged, pushing the door open and gazing up at him with a smirk, “Yet.”

Arabella walked in front, but the way she looked over her shoulder and looked him up and down made his breathing somewhat uneasy. He chewed his bottom lip and followed her toward the lift, praying for no silence that would make his desires take over him.

“Have you lived here long?” Harry asked as the lift door closed behind them.

“Long enough to fantasise about having you in my apartment.” She winked.

“And the truth?” Harry arched a brow.

“That is the truth,” She shrugged, “Or would you like me to go on about the images that have popped into my head with you right here?”

Harry swallowed hard, knowing full well that he, too, was creating a far from holy image of them both stuck in this lift.

“Go on,” He swallowed hard.

“Imagine the lift gets stuck…” She walked closer to him, “And I… have no choice… but to…” She moved closer with each word, pausing briefly when her face was directly in front of his.

“I’m listening…” Harry felt his temperature rise, briefly glancing at her lips as her eyes flickered to his.

“Repopulate with whomever I am stuck in there with.” She shrugged, biting her lip.

“You want to repopulate?” Harry squinted his eyes, “With…. me?”

“That’s not what I said, is it?” Arabella licked her lips.

“Yes?” Harry scowled slightly.

“I never specifically said I wanted to repopulate with you,” She shook her head, “But, hypothetically, if I were to ever be in that situation, it wouldn’t hurt to practice, right?”

Harry let out a singular nervous laugh, fighting every urge not to place his hands upon her hips. They locked eyes through the silence and he swallowed hard, his lips slowly parting as the heat under his shirt creeped up to his collar.

“Right.” He nodded, unsure of whether to make the next move that was playing in his mind.

“I’m very glad to know that we’re on the same page.” She winked as the lift doors opened, turning away from him and walking down the corridor.

Harry felt the desire and arousal within him start to boil as she — once again — lead the way in front and he followed, muttering, “Women…”, under his breath. His want was practically turning into desperation at this point, growing less and less afraid of where the night would go.

He swore she unlocked the door to her apartment slowly on purpose, following her inside and casting his eyes around the surprisingly large space. He exhaled quietly after closing the door behind him and stepped further into the room, arching a brow when she reappeared from the kitchen.

“Are you impressed?” She asked.

“We are clearly paying you far too much.” Harry joked.

“There are other ways in which I would be happy to receive appreciation for the work I do.” She shrugged, licking her bottom lip as she glanced back over at him.

“Oh, really?” Harry began to smirk and advanced toward her, unsure where this sudden burst of confidence had come from.

“Would you like to hear my suggestions or would you like to guess?” She mirrored his smirk, walking backwards into what he assumed was her living room.

“Could I have a small hint, maybe?” He arched a brow.

“Perhaps something to do with this new sofa?” She turned to point to it, her eyes still on him.

Harry inhaled sharply as his eyes scanned over the large sofa, particularly paying attention to the part at the end that unfolded like a mattress.

“Do you want me to… give you my opinion on your new sofa?” He asked, coming closer to her, “Rate the colour?”

“How about we rate how sturdy it is?” She bit her lip in an attempt to hide her grin.

“How on earth would we do that?” He raised both of his eyebrows now, desperately trying to conceal his smirk, “Anything but a kiss?”

“No,” Arabella shook her head and placed one firm hand against his chest to push him backwards, speaking once Harry had landed upon the edge of the part of the sofa that folded out into the bed, “This isn’t ’Pretty fucking Woman’.”

“What is it, then?” Harry gazed up at her, leaning back on his hands.

Arabella’s eyes met his for a brief moment before leaning down and whispering, “Whatever you want it to be,” Her lips taunted his from being so close, “Boss.”

Harry sat up a little more and lifted his hands, placing them hesitantly on her hips and dipping his eyes to her lips as she sat down on one of his thighs. His heart was thumping almost painfully in his chest from what he knew was coming. The eye contact between them was only brief, and the tension could have been cut with a knife. Arabella’s hand against his cheek was all he needed to tilt his head and result in their lips being pressed together.

Desperation didn’t take long to become apparent between them both, Harry’s hand now cupping her cheek as the kiss immediately deepened. Arabella leaned against him a little more and rested both of her hands against his neck, kissing him with little mercy.

“W…Wait…” Harry inhaled shakily, breaking the kiss.

“Hmm?” Arabella raised her eyebrows, her lips still pursed from when he had pulled back.

“I would be a fool to not realise the difference between us…” He spoke as his thumb absentmindedly ran across her cheekbone, “You being young and free, me being, well…” He fought with how to word it, “You know what I’m trying to say.”

“Girls don’t want good boys,” She looked him straight in the eyes, their faces so close their noses were touching, “They want to be thrown around by someone above them who isn’t getting any from their own wife.”

Harry let out a singular laugh, unsure of whether he found that more amusing or arousing. Regardless, it wasn’t long before their lips urgently smacked back together.

“Glad we cleared that up.” Harry mumbled against her lips, his hand slipping into her hair as she pushed him down to lay flat against the surface.

He surprised them both by letting out a soft moan when he felt her laying on top of him completely. Arabella smirked against his lips before parting hers and teasingly running her tongue between his. She felt his hands tremble in his hair momentarily and was even a little bit surprised when he parted his lips for her, allowing her to deepen the kiss any further. Harry’s free hand slid down her back and he fought with the idea to try and feel around for her zip.

‘Perhaps not,’ he thought to himself, ‘then, at least if anyone was to find out about this, we can say it was just a kiss.’ But then she readjusted herself, now her hips rocking over him each time their lips met, and he liked that. A lot.

He was practically forcing himself not to moan at this point, the direct pressure over him making his thighs tense even with their clothes still on. His hand absentmindedly slipped to her bottom in a subconscious attempt to not lose the feeling.

“Oh, I think someone likes this, hm?” She taunted against his lips, applying a little more pressure and enjoying the quiet squeal Harry let out as a result.

“I-It’s…” He inhaled shakily between kisses, “Nice.”

“Really?” Arabella pulled back, gazing down at him with her hands at either side of his head, “You’re finally getting what you’ve always pictured in your head and all you can say is ‘it’s nice’?”

“I didn’t tell you to stop, did I?” He spoke in a low voice, his hand still over her bottom as her hips remained still over the front of his pants.

“No, you didn’t,” She shook her head with a smirk and leaned down to kiss him again, “Sorry, boss.” She whispered whilst kissing him slowly this time and making an obvious attempt at taking her time to move over him this time.

“M-Mmm…” He whimpered, kissing her back lazily and fighting the urge to not push his hips up at the same time.

Arabella held his head in place with her hands cupping his face again, their kisses growing rougher by the seconds as her grinding hips caught up to speed. He may have been in a dull marriage as of recently, but Harry was certainly still aware of when he was becoming visibly aroused. He thought about trying to reposition himself but that was quickly taken over by Arabella placing her hands on his shoulders and gesturing for him to sit up again.

Once they were both sat up straight again with Arabella still straddling his lap, Harry placed his large hands against her cheeks to stress how much he didn’t want to break the kiss. Arabella’s hands slid to from his shoulders to his shirt, untying his tie and tossing it to the side before starting to unbutton the first few buttons of his shirt. One of Harry’s hands tangled in her hair and he made a soft noise against her lips when he felt her hands slide between them and start to unbuckle his belt, still kissing him with the same force. Alarm bells were ringing in Harry’s head, but here he was again, just allowing it to happen.

His breathing became a little more shaky in between kisses when he felt the buckle on his belt pop open, but her hands didn’t stop there; once finished with his belt, they were now working on the button on his pants. Harry gasped quietly against her lips once she got the button undone and immediately reached for his zip, teasingly wiggling it between her finger and thumb.

“Mm, what on earth is going on in there?” She asked, feeling the already stretched material against her hand.

“I think…” Harry exhaled, trying to sound as unbothered as possible, “I think you already know.”

“Shall we have a look and see?” She grinned, pulling back while glancing down between them.

Harry swallowed hard and nodded almost immediately, shocking himself but barely able to remember the last time he was this desperate.

Arabella slowly unzipped the front of his pants and bit her lip when she heard the change in his breathing again, waiting a few moments before pushing her hand into the opening. Harry’s mouth fell open and he felt his head spinning with all the positive and negatives that were about to come along with her next few actions. His hands rested against her hips again and his breathing hitched when her fingers began to dip passed the waistband of his underwear, even a little embarrassed at how much she had turned him on already from doing so little. She giggled flirtatiously and wrapped her hand around the base of his hardened cock, licking her lips.

“O-Ohhh…” He exhaled shakily, his eyes growing heavy and his jaw tensing slightly from how much he enjoyed the feeling of her fist now gently stroking up and down his length, “Arabella…”

“Shh, shh…” She whispered softly, reaching for his face with her free hand and cupping his cheek in it as their lips urgently pressed back together.

Harry didn’t fight it, immediately kissing her back whilst soft whines passed through his lips and now finding himself tugging at her top slightly. Arabella’s fist tightened around him slightly, though still stroking with the same gentle movements.

“How long ago was it since you were touched, hm?” She asked quietly, gently squeezing her hand around him.

He didn’t answer, just let out a muffled moan instead.

“How long ago was it since you touched yourself?” She asked in the same soft tone, kissing him teasingly slowly now so she could continue to speak, “Do you think about me when you touch yourself, sir?” She paused, her fist still jerking up and down his cock, then grinned, “Because I think about you.”

“Damn you.” Harry grunted, feeling himself throb from what she had just said.

“Don’t be like that, boss…” She smirked, starting to twist her wrist now as the speed of her fist increased.

Harry placed one hand on the back of her head and cupped her cheek with the other, kissing her harshly as his cock continued to pulsate in her grip. The arousal surging through him made him feel twenty years younger, like he only had one thing on his mind: getting off.

His eyes rolled back in pleasure and his rough kisses became more clumsy, letting out jittery moans in between them. His fingers trembled in her hair and he squeezed his eyes shut, feeling his thighs tensing with each of her movements.

“Does that feel good?” Arabella spoke as she broke the kiss, glancing down at her moving hand instead. Harry’s eyes remained closed and his lips still parted, trying to control his breathing, “Sir?” She spoke quietly and removed her hand, now looking at him as his heavy eyes opened.

“Please…” He whimpered, looking at her with a face she had never seen before; he looked helpless, desperate, and quite frankly, pathetic. His eyebrows narrowed and his chest heaved with need for her to continue.

Arabella waited for a few moments before licking the palm of her hand slowly, maintaining eye contact with him the entire time. Harry felt his cock twitch madly just from watching her and exhaled shakily, feeling the heat in his body almost become unbearable.

“Please… what?” She asked, moving her hand closer to his crotch but not yet touching him.

“Don’t stop…” He whimpered quietly, feeling every bit of pride leave his body from his pathetic beg.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you to say that to me,” She licked the palm of her hand again, “How many times I’ve pictured it in my head,” She wrapped her fist around him again and started to move it up and down as her lips hovered down over his, “Begging me not to stop,” She paused, grinning as his cock pulsated in her grip, “No matter how pathetic you sound.”

Harry nipped at her lips first from the desperation of wanting to kiss her again and moaned at the feeling of her hand jerking up and down his length again. Arabella purposely brushed her thumb under the head of his cock as her fist slid up and down, enjoying the sharp gasps against her lips from Harry as a result. His breathing quivered and he felt his thighs tingle, unsure of when he was last brought so close to the edge so quickly.

“You know, I never expected to end tonight by tossing off the boss…” Arabella spoke softly against his lips, her wrist still jerking up and down.

“Mmmmh…” Harry grunted, his eyes heavy as the kiss briefly broke, “Really…” His tone came across as if he wasn’t entirely convinced by her statement.

“Really…” Arabella breathed against his lips, kissing him once more before moving her lips to his neck and creating a pathway of kisses up to his ear, speaking in a seductive tone, “I expected to be riding him instead.”

The noise Harry made was unlike any that had ever passed through his lips before. He swore he felt his cock harden even further in her grip from what she had just said and tried to convince himself that he hadn’t just imagined it. Arabella smirked and placed a finger from her free hand under his chin, tilting his head up so their eyes met.

“Would you like that?” She asked softly, tightening her fist around him but stroking extremely slowly, “Me bouncing over your cock?” She bit her lip, now tapping her thumb against the tip of his cock as he took a shaky breath, “Because I would,” She kissed him slowly, “In fact, I’ve dreamed of it…” The tip of her tongue teased between his lips whilst her thumb taunted under the head of his cock in massaging circles, having him completely at her mercy, “Haven’t you?”

“Stop… asking… stupid… questions…” Harry responded between drags of breath, his mouth now permanently open from the way she was teasing him.

“I’m going to need your consent… sir,” She pulled her face back and removed her hand from around him, gazing down at him with an innocent expression.

Harry looked at her with another pained glance, narrowing his eyebrows and feeling his cock angrily pulsate from being left unattended again, “Will you actually let me…” He swallowed hard, sheepishly trying to gesture what he meant, “You know…”

“Let you what, hm?” She purposefully played dumb, enjoying watching the frustration bubble up over his red face before changing her tone, “Oh, actually let you cum?”

She watched him swallow hard and nod as his face grew more red, pursing her lips before speaking, “Of course… sir.”

“Then, consider my consent given.” He leaned up to press an urgent kiss to her lips.

Arabella grinned against his lips and lowered him back down onto the sofa with her lips against his and her hands against his shoulders. Harry nipped at her lips absentmindedly from the pure adrenaline surging through him and shocked them both by placing his hands on either of her thighs once he was laid back fully. Arabella remained leant over him whilst straddling his hips and placing her hands at either sides of his head; mirroring her thighs at either side of his body.

Harry’s hands moved further up her thighs, under the hem of her skirt in search for her underwear. Arabella lifted her hips teasingly and pressed a slightly harder kiss to his lips, giggling quietly as his hands continued to slip further up her skirt.

“Looking for something?” She whispered against his lips, “Now you’ve actually had the nerve to touch…”

“I… can’t…” He swallowed hard, growing red with both arousal and embarrassment, “Find…”

“Find…?” She continued to taunt him, circling her hips over him lightly.

“Your…” He swallowed hard, feeling his cock throb from her movement, “…underwear.”

“Mmm… that’s because there’s none to be found…” She smirked, placing her hands over his and pushing them to her inner thighs instead, guiding them all the way up, “See?”

“You mean…” Harry struggled with his words, his hands trembling madly against her skin, “You’re not…” He swallowed hard, absentmindedly massaging his thumbs in circles against he inner thighs, “Any?”

“What can I say?” Arabella smirked, opening his crotch a little further open and biting her lip at the sight of his erection creating a large bump in the front of his boxers, the head almost visible past the waistband, “I told you I went into tonight knowing exactly how I expected it to end…”

As she spoke, she lowered herself over the material strain in his boxers and leaned down to kiss him slowly. He felt her warmth and shivered with arousal, kissing her back even slower as he not only mentally tried to come to terms with the information he had just gained, but physically, too. He didn’t know whether it was the kiss mixed with the almost direct pressure over him, or the fact he now knew that she wasn’t wearing any underwear and that she had purposely done this for the intention of him finding out. She was barely even moving against them as they kissed now, only naturally lightly brushing back and forth each time their lips met, but perhaps that made it even worse. His cock, barely even touched for as long as he could remember before tonight, was pointing upright and toward his stomach, albeit enclosed by his underwear, but overly visible at this point from the painful taunting. To feel the weight of another on top of him was practically foreign to him at this point of his marriage, and to have a much younger woman in that very position was making him feel lightheaded even though he was laying flat, but, heart racing, he only had one thing circling his mind right now;

Don’t cum. Don’t cum. Don’t cum.

“Mm, enough of that,” She spoke against his lips as she kissed him once more before winking as his heavy eyes opened, “For now.”

Harry’s chest heaved as his eyes followed her movements, feeling himself salivating from the anticipation at this point. Arabella moved herself a little further down his body so that she wasn’t sat over him completely and Harry silently thanked her for the relief of pressure being lifted off the protruding problem in his underwear. His heartbeat began to increase as he watched her fingertips push under the waistband of his boxers and pull it away from his skin before letting go and snapping it back to his waistline.

“A-Agh!” He whimpered pathetically, narrowing his eyebrows as his hands trembled at either side of him.

“Hm?” Arabella arched a brow innocently, biting her lip as she took a hold of his waistband again and began to peel them down this time.

Harry was lost for words, unable to take his eyes away but also barely even able to watch once one of her hands reached into his boxers to help completely free his desperately aching cock. Arabella licked her lips as she lightly traced her index finger from the base of his cock to the head, collecting the precum that had gathered at the tip and then pushing her finger into her mouth all whilst remaining full eye contact with him. Harry allowed a pathetic whine and narrowed his eyebrows, repeating the same last two internal words more than ever now as he watched her suck on her finger.

“Mmm, look at you…” Arabella licked her lips slowly once pulling her finger out of her mouth and gazing down at his angry arousal, “So…” She inhaled deeply, tracing a line with her wet index finger around the outline of his cock hardened over his stomach, “…impressive for your age.”

“I-Impressive?” Harry swallowed hard, sucking his lower stomach in slightly from the sensitivity.

“So hard so fast…” She let out a singular giggle, her eyes meeting his again, “Let’s just hope it’s the only part that happens fast.”

Harry swallowed nervously and leaned up on his elbows as she reached into her bra, pulling out a condom as if it was the most normal place to keep one. He forgot about his impatience for a moment as his eyebrow arched inquisitively, but words still failed him.

“Why do you think I disappeared when we first got in here?” She mirrored his raised eyebrow, ripping the packet open, “You can never be too careful, right?”

“R…” Was all that Harry managed to say as she placed the condom at the tip of his length and carefully rolled it down the rest of him, grasping his bottom lip between his teeth as he hissed through them quietly.

“I’m surprised they make condoms big enough to fit you…” Arabella smirked, placing one hand flat on his chest while her other hand positioned his length directly between her legs.

“O—Oh, fuuuck…” Harry groaned loudly from deep in his throat as Arabella sat over him completely, his eyes rolling back in relief.

“Want me to go slow, old man?” Arabella sat up properly, placing her hands flat on his chest.

Harry’s heavy eyes half opened and he glared up at her, feeling his heart beating madly in his chest. His arms felt like they were glued to the side of him and his breathing became even heavier from anticipating her next move.

“No?” She bit her lip and leaned down, pressing their lips back together as she began to move her hips back and forth over him.

“Absolutely fucking not.” He practically growled against her lips, his fingertips almost digging into her skin as her urged her to move faster against him.

“So naughty…” She kissed him slowly despite her hips moving faster, “And, yet, so fucking desperate…” She kissed him harshly, not even waiting for him to try and kiss her back before sitting herself up properly.

Harry’s lips parted to speak before all the air was taken out of his lungs from the bouncing of Arabella’s hips over him. His hands fell from her hips to the sides of his body and his head rolled back in pleasure as his eyes closed, giving her complete free range of however she wanted to move over him. His entire body trembled half in delight, half in the knowing that what he was doing was very wrong. But it was too late.

He moaned loudly, mouth hanging wide open as she continued to move over him at an unforgiving pace. Her nails scratched at his chest through his shirt and she bit her lip as she gazed down at him, the look on his face adding to the many reasons why she didn’t want to stop. Harry was unsure whether his cock or his heart was throbbing harder, but Arabella could feel each and every pulse as it repeatedly slid in and out of her with ease.

He couldn’t remember the last time he was ever in a situation like this, even with his wife. His eyes were tightly shut and all he could see were stars, even finding himself becoming lightheaded due to the far from familiar feeling. His entire body was numb, yet also felt pleasure surge through it like electricity.

Harry’s breath hitched briefly when he felt Arabella’s lips against his again, and her breasts pressed up against his chest driving him all the more wild. He placed his hand on the back of her head to urge her not to stop, kissing her back urgently.

“Fuck, I’ve never had someone fill me so well before…” Arabella breathed huskily against his lips, “Just how I’ve always imagined.”

“S-Stop… it…” Harry whimpered against her lips, her words only encouraging the throb of his cock.

He kissed her harder, able to feel her smirk against his lips as he tried to stop her talking; he knew he would soon be moments away from erupting.

“One more and then I’m going to make you forget your fucking name.” Arabella moaned against his lips.

“One more wha…” His voice got cut off from a harsh kiss to his lips before she sat up again and folded her arms behind her head, starting to bounce over him mercilessly, “—oh, fuck!” He cried out, feeling the pleasure already rising in him begin to threaten release.

Arabella grinned from his reaction and threw her head back with her arms still behind her head. Harry gripped onto the material at either side of him but forced his heavy eyes open, afraid this alone would push him over the edge but also willing to take this risk so he could visually lock this image in his brain; the bouncing of her breasts, the rise and fall of her chest, her relentlessly moving hips and the brief flash of his cock before it slipped inside her each time, the bliss plastered all over her face, and, mostly, the knowing that it was him who was causing it — mainly because he was aware of how long it would be, if ever, before he would be in this position again.

“You can touch,” She breathed out her words, pushing her breasts together with her hands and immediately moaning once her hands were replaced with his, “Mm… like that.”

“Ah, fuck…” He whimpered under his breath, feeing his thighs tense as the heat rose up his body, “Fuck, fuck– I’m cu– I’m– ugh!”

Harry’s head dug further back into the pillow as sticky strings of his climax began to erupt into the condom, desperately trying to grasp onto her breasts through the material of her clothing as his hips involuntarily bucked upwards.

Countless profanities left his mouth with each palpitation of his cock, especially once Arabella joined him with her own orgasm. She kept herself upright for as long as she possibly could, her eyes rolling back in sync with Harry’s.

“Mmhh, that’s it, boss… Mm!” Arabella moaned loudly, feeling her legs turning to jelly and resulting in her collapsing over him but still moving her hips.

Their lips smacked against each other and they kissed clumsily through their moans as their movements died down, their chests rising and falling against each other. Arabella raised her hands and run them through his hair, Harry’s resting over her bottom and whimpering against her lips when she readjusted herself slightly.

“So it is true…” She whispered against his lips, kissing him again as Harry made an inaudible noise against her lips, “Married bosses really do give the best dick.”

Harry let out a muffled laugh as she sat up and swallowed hard, the reality of what had just happened suddenly hitting him; he had just committed the most unfaithful act, but, fuck, did it feel amazing. His heart was pounding in his chest, half from pent up relief and half from shock of what had just happened. He almost pinched himself just to clarify that it hadn’t all been a dream — a wet dream.

“Everything alright down there?” Arabella’s voice was barely heard over his own thoughts.

“Mm…” He groaned as she moved, hissing through his teeth from how sensitive he felt as she pulled the condom off him.

“Oh,” She giggled when she saw his length twitch out of the corner of her eye whilst tying the condom, “Is that someone saying they’re already up for it again?”

“I honestly don’t think I have it in me…” He spoke with a heavy breath, placing one of his hands over his chest as his eyes glanced up at her.

“Oh, don't look at me like that,” She climbed off him, placing the used condom in the bin as she spoke, “I told you I would do it.”

“Do what?” Harry asked, reaching down to fasten his trousers back up.

“Drain more than just your bank account.” She winked, turning around to face him with her hands on her hips.

Harry didn’t respond, just shuffled further up on the sofa and slouched against it. He couldn’t help but trail his eyes up the body that had just been on top of him and swallowed hard, his chest still not entirely back to normal.

“Look at you…” She smirked at his flushed state, his hair still sweaty and stuck up, “I’m going to freshen up.”

Again, Harry remained silent and simply nodded, waiting for her to leave before running his hands through his hair to try and tidy it up a bit. He couldn't deny he had got what he had craved, and he would certainly be arrogant enough to know that she had, too. He felt like a young man again; alive and full of pulsating fun for a period of time, but then like a suddenly inexperienced old man after their few moments of fun.

“Mia was the one that got away, right?” Arabella spoke as she re-entered the room, taking Harry — lost in his own thoughts — by surprise again.

“I’m sorry?” Harry blinked hard, looking over at her.

“Did you want to fuck her?”

“No,” Harry lied, “I was married.”

“What, and did you just get divorced whilst I was in the bathroom?” Arabella scoffed.

After a long period of silence created from Harry unsure how to respond, he changed the subject by asking, “Do you have any cigarettes?”

Arabella walked over to the kitchen table and picked up an opened packet, handing one to him with a lighter, “Here.”

“I didn't know you smoked.” Harry said as he took them from her.

“A guy who was here the other night left them.” She shrugged.

“You do this often?” He arched a brow.

“Would it be a problem if I did?” She asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

“None of my business,” Harry shrugged, placing the cigarette between his lips, “Do you mind?” He gestured toward the lighter.

Arabella shook her head in response, “Does your wife know you smoke?”

Harry paused briefly while he lit the cigarette before speaking, “She doesn't know I'm fucking you, either.”

“Which do you think she’d be most mad about?” Arabella asked with a slight hint of amusement in her voice.

Harry took a long drag from the cigarette before speaking as he exhaled, “No comment.”

“Would you like a drink or anything?” She asked, watching him as he dabbed the end of the cigarette into the ashtray.

“Perhaps it would be wise for me to rinse my mouth out with something to take away the taste of the cigarette,” Harry sighed, “Then, I’ll be less likely to get questions when I get home.”

“Oh, you’re not planning on staying the night?” Arabella spoke with slight sarcasm in her voice.

“Funnily enough, no,” Harry took another drag, “I have a wife and kids to get home to.”

“Oh, really?” Arabella arched a brow, mumbling as she walked into the kitchen, “Didn’t seem that way when I was bouncing over your cock.”

Harry let out a forced, sarcastic laugh and tapped the ash into the ash tray again. He swallowed hard and glanced back over at the side of the sofa where the event took place only minutes before, bringing the cigarette back between his lips. He closed his eyes and took a large drag from it, resting his head against the back of the sofa as he exhaled.

“Look at you…” Arabella spoke as she came back into the room with his drink, “Cigarette in hand, still whisky on your breath, shirt untucked…” She handed him the drink when he opened one eye to look at her, “Like a real sleazy businessman, hm?”

“Thank you,” Harry lifted his head up, unsure which part of that he was thankful for.

“Well, don't let me keep you if you’ve got somewhere to be.” Arabella shrugged.

“I really should, uh— yeah,” Harry put the cigarette out completely and took a mouthful of the drink, standing up.

“Of course.” Arabella smiled politely, stepping to the side so he could walk past her and following him to the door.

“So, what happens now?” He asked, stepping into his shoes, “We just go to work an pretend this never happened? Do we never speak to each other again? Am I supposed to thank you for tonight?”

“Oh, Harry…” She let out a singular chuckle, shaking her head at him with a devilish grin.

“What?” He half laughed, “I’ve never really been in this situation before,” He raised his eyebrows, “I don't know the etiquette of these things.”

“Don't you worry about it,” She crinkled her nose as he opened the door and placed her hands flat on his chest, leaning up to brush her lips against his cheek whilst whispering, “We can proceed however you’d like, sir. But, from me, it’s been an absolute pleasure.”

“Right,” He cleared his throat, flattening his shirt down once she stepped back, “I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?” Arabella asked with a cheeky grin as he turned to walk down the corridor, “Goodnight, boss.”

“Goodnight, Arabella,” Harry responded with a briefly smug smirk.

He made his way back toward the lift and began his journey home, unsure if the emptiness of his balls made up for how uncomfortably busy and full his head felt with thoughts from the night they had just shared.

---

Thank you so much for reading! I started this random bit of drabble whilst in London in the summer after testing one of the new sofas in Harrods... the one that is described in the fic 🤣 ive been adding notes to it over the months between and have written parts whilst being in several different countries any time I've had a spare moment, so I am glad to now post the whole thing! Please let me know what you think of it and if you'd like it to continue - the plan is to write more situations that they land themselves in (requests also open!) and just see where it goes... 👀

Thank you again for reading, and please don't worry - the Snape fics aren't going away!

Tags! ❤️:

@bayleebubble @fallingfor-fics @ella-anna1 @warmpeachesandpears @smilingformoney @dailyalanrickman @viviandarkbloom11 @charlottepriestly @dracolilhoe @creatureofthenight23 @iloveveingdelulu @peppiloll @frequent-apple @severinaprince

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fantasyandshit · 9 months ago

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Replaced part two

Omg I’m so upset- it won’t let me tag like anyone with dashes in their name at allll soooo if you commented on that post I am so so so sorry I couldn’t tag you guys

Type: one shot turned more

Part: 2/2

Part 1 here

Masterlist here

Pairing: Azriel x reader/ mystery character x reader

Seriously guys thank you so much- I’m so glad that the first part had so much love and I hope this one is just as good.

“So, what did you need my love?” I lean down to kiss my fiancés temple. He’s stressed, I can tell. His fingers tap away in rhythm with his foot. “Baby- what’s going on? Why are you so stressed?” My hands run down the length of his arms in a soothing motion. “How can I help you?”

The new high lord of autumn’s head meets my shoulder, a small smile gracing his lips. His head raises till his lips meet mine in a soft kiss. “Baby I need you to sit down.” His smile disappears as soon as it came and I frown, moving to the seat on the other side of his desk. I raise my brows expectantly as his hands move to reach mine. “Love- we have a high lords meeting in two weeks time. They have requested it be held here in order to see how I’m handling the court now.”

“Ok? And?”

“Darling I want to introduce you as the new high lady of Autumn. I want you come along.” He sighs, “it means you will have to see all of them again.”

The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I breath for a moment, thinking about it, it’s been nearly five years since I left, the last time I saw any of them was the battle with Hybern, and even then Eris kept me mostly away from them so that I wasn’t distracted. “I’ll go.”

“Are you sure darling?”

“Very. I want them to see me as the high lady of autumn. Not the girl that left all that time ago.”

He smirks his signature smirk, pride filling his eyes. “Very well. Shall we begin planning?”

———

Everyone has finally arrived- or what is usually everyone, confusion sets in as Eris seems to sit in waiting, an empty chair beside him at the head of the table. “Are we waiting for someone Eris?”

“Yes actually. Shell be here any moment, she likes making an entrance.” Something bothers Azriel with the way the high lord smirks. He didn’t know who was going to walk through that door but he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like it.

The door swings open, a woman stepping through, decked in a gorgeous burnt orange dress, green and gold accents around her body, a golden crown, one looking like leaves woven together rests on her head. As her eyes catch Eris’ she smiles. “Sorry I’m late. Hope you haven’t started without me.” She surveys the room before stepping towards the empty seat. Eris stands, going to pull it out with one hand and take hers on his other. The pause for a moment, facing the table together.

“Everyone. I’d like you to meet my fiance and the high lady of the Autumn court. Some of you may already know her.”

As the female turns to kiss Eris, it clicks for Azriel. “Yn.” He can’t help but gasps and that is when it finally hits the inner circle of the night court.

“Hello guys. Long time no see.”

Cassian speaks this time, his brows furrowed and mouth agape, “you- your with him? Your the high the high lady?”

“Yes, in fact our wedding is next month. I am terribly excited. Especially after being named the high lady of Autumn.” She and Eris sit finally, hands staying tied together

An agony Azriel has never felt tears through him as he stares at his mate. She looks back to him as he gasps, clenching his chest wildly.

“Azriel. I’d like to get through my first meeting as high lady. So if you could stop…flailing. That would be preferred.” Yn clears her throat before turning to the others at the table. “I’ve seen some things. I see Koshei. I thought we took care of our issues with him, however I-“

The meeting continues, the night court still trying to process the news. After the meeting is finished, the high lords are given a walk through of the new Autumn court. “Yn. Yn can we speak please.” It was towards the end of the tour, courts had been led to where they’d be staying, only the inner circle trailed behind, minus Morrigan and Cassian who had been dropped off to their respective rooms.

I choose to ignore the shadowsinger, instead stopping at the next door and turn back to Rhysand and Feyre, “You two will be staying here. This castle works much like the house of wind. It will cater to you, we do tend keep things much warmer here for obvious reasons so if you are uncomfortable with the temperature just say the word and it will be brought down by the house.”

“Goodnight Yn.” I nod before turning back to lead the final male to where he’d be staying, Eris never leaving my side. We barely make it three steps down the hall before I feel Rhsyand pry at my mental walls.

‘What do you want Rhysand.’

‘You should talk to him Yn. He’s been devastated since you left and see you with Eris killed him I-‘

I shut it down. I don’t want to hear some sob story from my mate who didn’t even want me till I was gone. “You will be staying here Azriel. What I said to Rhysand and Feyre goes the same for you.”

Me and Eris turn to leave before I’m grabbed by the arm. “Wait. Yn can we please just talk.”

Eris growls. “Get your filthy hands off my fucking finance.”

The shadowsinger seems to get just as upset, opening his mouth to speak before I rip my arm from his grasp and turn, a glare resting on my features.

“Don’t you fucking dare! You have no right- no fucking right to get angry at my fiancée! Do you understand, you didn’t want me and I don’t fucking want you so go wallow in your self pity but stay the hell away from me!” Eris rubs soothing circles on my arm, a glare that could kill sent towards the shadowsinger as he grabs me, winnowing us to our room.

—————

Sooo I hope this lives up to your guys’ expectations!

#acotar x reader #azriel x reader #acotar #azriel #elain archeron #elain x reader #feyre archeron #feyre x reader #nesta archeron #nesta x reader #cassian x reader #cassian #rhysand x reader #rhysand #eris vanserra #eris x reader #replaced #angst #no happy ending

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theholypeanut · 1 year ago

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♪ To All The Girls You Loved Before ♪

Cw: gn!reader, Otoya slander, Otoya being a lovesick simp, Blood, mentioning of hooking up (not with reader), aged up characters (university), fluff?? kinda?? Mostly comedy I’d say, using words like whore or slut, but I promise it’s not serious I love Otoya, mentioning of STDs (guys why this cw gets weirder and weirder), Otoya is suggested to be bi here

1,3k words (I’m shocked too)

Birthday Fic for Otoya Eita!!

Otoya Eita was a whore.

Everyone knew it - at least everyone at the university, in the football club, gym, probably within a 50 kilometers radius from the dorms as well, including supermarkets, flower shops, game arcades, and even the cinema workers (oh they probably knew the best, seeing him every week taking another girl on the same romantic comedy).

Well, it was not a secret, and it was neither something that made you hate or despise him. You had no opinion about him until you met him.

And you met for the first time in the book shop, when you were looking into a new book by Yoko Ogawa.

Someone next to you dropped their book.

„Ouch, sorry” you heard a deep male voice. „I just accidentally dropped my modern feministic literature. My bad.” He picked up Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay from the floor. This scene was so ridiculous and obnoxious, you couldn’t hold the laughter.

„Did you literally pick the closest book with the word feminist in it?” You asked amused. He cleared his throat. „No, I’m a big fan of…” he took a quick peak at the cover. „…Roxane Gay”

You smirked and raised your eyebrow. „Ooh really? How did you like Five Guys; My Story of the Polygamist Hexagon?” Eita didn’t even blink. „Actually this one is my favorite” he said with absolutely no shame in his voice. You rolled your eyes with a smile. „It’s not a real book, dumbass. I made it up.”

Otoya was so used to interactions like this, that he didn’t feel offended at all. „Well sounds like a great read, maybe you should write something like this” he said, putting the book back on the shelf. „However if we start dating I don’t know if I want to have a… polygamist hexagon. Well, at least not with five guys”. He sent you a wink.

You looked at him with a mix of disbelief and amusement. „You are really something else, Otoya” you said, with a smile. „But I’m not gonna lie, that was probably the funniest and the dumbest conversation I had recently. Thanks” And you left him in between the shelves.

In the beginning, Otoya was planning to just woo you into going on a date with him because you seemed cute. But that was the moment when he fell hard - this bright smile, laughter… He knew his pickup line was awful but you were not really mean to him. You didn’t look at him with disgust. Even more: He never saw the most gorgeous human being with such a beautiful laugh and right now he was dedicated to getting to know you.

He started to come to the bookshop every single day - he was not obsessed enough to skip trainings (because he was not ready for Yukimiya to kick his ass) but even the elderly lady at the counter started to cheer up for him.

„You know, young gentleman” she said one evening, seeing him looking in between the shelves. „They are a student at the university close by, I assume they are in their second year since they were buying some textbooks recently” she gave him a hint. The next day Otoya gave her a bouquet of the prettiest flowers he could afford. He was dedicated to finding you. If you knew who he was, then you probably study together. Or did he date your friend? Multiple friends? He hoped not your sibling or mom because that for sure would make things complicated when he will finally propose.

Yes, this Otoya Eita, a town slut, was already preparing his wedding vows after one interaction.

„I have no idea what’s their name” he whined to Karasu during the break. „They were the most beautiful person I ever saw…”

„You say that about every second hook up, Eita” Karasu answered a little annoyed. It's been a week since he started making his failed love life everyone’s problem. Not like he wasn’t whining before, but usually it was after he cheated on a girl and she got angry, not before he even asked anyone out. „Also Jesus, why are you so fixated on the Feminist Book Stranger? You usually take rejection so lightly, I’m surprised to see you so…”

„Pathetic?” Chigiri suggested, as he was drinking water nearby.

„Pitiful?” Yukimiya added.

„…Lovesick” Karasu ended. Otoya signed dramatically. „You will be so jealous on my wedding, you will see”

„Well, I don’t think so” Chigiri said after taking another sip of water. „If they know your name, I assume they probably also know your dating history”

He knew. Otoya was well aware of his reputation, but till now he never really cared. Because he never expected to actually fall in love with someone, and even more he never was anxious that his soulmate might find him disgusting and pathetic.

„At least check yourself for STDs before trying to get into your future spouse’s pants” Reo added after listening to the whole conversation. „I don’t think chlamydia is the best way gift you can give them on the first date.”

Otoya took a mental note that even if he felt a little offended, this was not the worst advice.

And fate brought you together again, no later than the next day.

You had an important essay due today and spent every possible moment studying and writing it. You kind of regret you had no time to read for fun anymore, only to drown under the amount of literature you had to read for your university lectures and tests, but there was no other way. There was one particular book you needed to borrow to finally end this monstrosity you’ve been creating, and then you are free… at least until the next essay. You took the turn to the university library.

„You know, I think I achieved a new low” you heard a feminine voice. „I was looking for a fast hook up and even Otoya ghosted me. This one hurts. I think it's time for therapy or some shit, because if even him…”

You smirked. Who knows if there are therapists in this city, who get another crying college girl or guy in their chair and can thank Otoya Eita for bringing in more than 20% of their revenue?

You didn’t want to get caught eavesdropping, so you fast went to the door out of the building, the library was just minutes away. You pushed the door outside with a lot of force… and heard a bang.

„FUUUUCK” you heard someone swearing right in front of you. It was almost as loud as the laughter that was accompanying it. „Right into your nose dude!” You heard the amused voice. You panicked. „Oh my god, I’m so so sorry” You slide through the door to the poor victim who was not other than… Otoya Eita. He froze for a second, considering if he just died and gone to heaven, that he heard your voice again. He looked up at your face, but his vision was still blurry.

You took out the tissue from your bag. His nose was bleeding, so you gently pressed the tissue to his face. „Shit, do you have a concussion?” You asked panicked. Karasu stood next to you. „Just ask him something” he suggested, still amused by the situation. You thought for a second. „What's the capital of Malta?” The dark-haired guy looked at you both surprised and amused. „Okay but maybe ask him something he knows”

„I'm fine guys” they heard the weak voice. He looked at Karasu angrily. „Don't you dare flirt with the love of my life!”

You looked at him confused, then looked at Karasu. „Yeah I think he has a concussion, maybe we should take him to the hospital.”

Otoya’s nose stopped bleeding and his head was no longer spinning. Somehow you looked even more beautiful than the first time he saw you.

„How about you take me out for dinner, as an apology?” He sent Karasu „the” look. Tabito rolled his eyes in answer. „I’ll leave you two lovebirds here to flirt” he said and started walking away. You were too stunned to speak. You turned back to white haired guy still too confused with what is happening to digest his offer.

„Wait, are you serious right now?”

He smirked.

„So, how about tonight?”

There is gonna be part 2, this is a promise and a threat at the same time, because I had so much fun writing this crack fic

#otoya eita #eita otoya #blue lock #bllk #blue lock headcanons #blue lock x you #blue lock x reader #dividers by benkaibear #bllk headcanons #blue lock fluff #blue lock imagines #otoya slander

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zexapher · 8 months ago

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Art Imitates Life

Had this idea in my back pocket for what must be a few months now, but after Akumu_Oukoku’s wonderful ‘Weiss is silly’ meme, I thought I’d finally put this one together. That, and I wanted to make a little something to celebrate White Knight’s glorious victory in Ship Wars 8! The hordes of r/fnki well and truly descended upon the tournament, and all the better for White Knight!

I think there were a few folks on the regular sub that hadn’t quite realized just how popular White Knight had become within the community, but fnki itself has turned into something of a fortress for the ship, and the results of the tourney speak for themselves. White Knight really wound up dominating, becoming champion by an overwhelming margin, and with just Lancaster and Nuts & Dolts putting up strong competition in the previous rounds.

I’m impressed, and super stoked. It’s really something special seeing White Knight come out so strong after so many years treated as a pariah, having never before made it past the first round but now becoming the champion. The stars had aligned, really. The final round taking place on Weiss’ birthday, White Knight winning the championship being the perfect gift. Volume 9 had given the ship strong foundations to stand on. We can see that expressed in not only the various memes put out over time, but also in the A-Jaune-da alliance and numerous comments inundating the polls in order to promote the ship. White Knight shippers really had an incredibly strong messaging campaign this tournament, I might say no one else came close, and we always kept it positive. Everyone involved should feel proud.

Now, as for this meme, I chose these six characters (and Weiss) because I found it rather appropriate that they have all to some extent shipped White Knight in canon. Jaune, of course, is an obvious one. The story is littered with examples for him all the way through. Similarly, Weiss has been growing fonder of Jaune throughout the show, but Volume 9 saw her interest revealed in a very pronounced manner. Nora has the most tenuous claim here, having shared few moments with Weiss. However, Nora has a moment in Volume 5 where she teases Weiss about liking Jaune’s nickname, going on to tease the Ice Queen about her thawed heart.

Oscar, of course, gets his absolutely stoked look that he throws at Jaune when Weiss accepts Jaune’s invitation to the movies. Like, Oscar is just so happy for his big bro. Blake has a moment or two over the course of the show, notably her happy little glance between Jaune and Weiss at the Argus reunion, her smug look at the ~mature~ line, and how she perks up at Weiss’ giggle with Jaune about his restored youth. No real surprise there, since Blake is actually Jaune’s offscreen super-secret best friend. Yang herself throws a little dating advice Jaune’s way, and gets her ‘one day’ line, when our boy was down in the dumps following a rejection or two. She points out to Weiss that her harshness rejecting Jaune is the sort of thing that earned her the Ice Queen nickname. And, like Blake, Yang gets her own smug look following the ~mature~ line. Then there’s my most controversial addition to this list, Pyrrha. After all, she did walk Jaune through how to ask Weiss to the dance.

Yes, this was all an excuse for me to make a post about every little scrap from the show suggesting the characters ship White Knight. If anyone can think of any more, feel free to share. Maybe Cindere killing Jaune’s rival love interests, yet her attempts on Weiss’ life seem to have only helped Jaune and Weiss grow closer, hmmm. Well, I hope you all enjoy, I had good fun making it!

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krirebr · 10 months ago

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Congrats again on your well deserved milestone, lovely! 🥳❤️

If it sparks the muse, I would LOVE a drabble of WAM!Steve and Cole. I was so intrigued by their first part and how you wrote their dynamic and how Steve was a low key motherhen. I’d love to see more of him teaching Cole how to vampire!! Thank you! 🙏🏻

Thank you, Siri!! I so appreciate your support. 💜💜

Oh, the muse sparked hard. I wrote this one in a blink. Their dynamic is so fun for me. I hope you enjoy!

This is a few years after Steve takes Cole in.

And Gentle Persuasion

Characters: Dark!Steve Rogers, Soft!Dark Cole Turner

Warnings: blood, death, mind control, talk of humans as food, vampire stuff

We're All Monsters

“Cole.”

Cole looked up from where he was kneeling over the dead body. Steve was leaning against the door to the small cell, looking exasperated. Cole grimaced. “I don’t know how this happened,” he said.

Steve sighed and crouched down in front of him. “Yes, you do,” he said. “Tell me what happened this time.”

Cole stroked a finger down the now-dead young man’s cheek. “I just– I told him I loved him and wanted us to be together, you know? I wanted him to be mine. And he freaked out and I was just trying to calm him down, and maybe feed on him just a little, to show him how good it could be, but I was upset too. That he was being so unreasonable. And I guess I lost control.” He gestured to the blood that covered him and the floor of the cell.

Steve closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath. When he opened his eyes again, he fixed Cole with a stern look. “So,” he said, “the same thing as last time. Why didn’t you just compel him to agree to it?”

Cole looked down, embarrassed. “I wanted it to be real.”

“Honey, we’ve talked about this. You’re still trying to hang onto your humanity, but it’s gone. You aren’t human anymore, you’re something so much better. You need to start acting like it, finally embrace it. Humans, they’re just animals. They’re food. Pets at the very most. They are here to serve us. We want something from them, we take it. Any vampire who treats them as equals has lost touch with what we are. Do you understand?”

Cole nodded. He did. Or he was trying to. Steve had been over it with him so many times. Cutter, too. Everyone here, really. But. He’d just– he’d always wanted to find the one when he’d been human and he never had. He thought maybe now that he was something more, that power was thrumming through his veins and Steve had taught him how to harness it, that he’d finally be able to find someone. But he still hadn’t. Maybe Steve was right, maybe he was looking in the wrong place.

Steve placed a gentle hand on Cole’s cheek, pulling him from his thoughts. “You know I’m only this upset because you keep doing this to menu items. We won’t have anything left to serve at the bar at this rate.”

Cole leaned into Steve’s hand. “I know,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, sweetheart,” Steve said and stood up. “Come on, I’ll have someone come clean this up.”

Cole stood up too and started to leave the cell, not looking back at the body. “Cutter’s gonna be pissed.”

Steve smiled, “Cutter’s always pissed. You leave her to me.” Cole took a few steps into the hallway before Steve stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, if it’s just a feed and a fuck you need, you come to me and I’ll get it for you. You know I’ll always take care of you.”

Cole gave him a bashful grin back. “Yeah, I know,” he said and thought for the millionth time how lucky he was that Steve had been the one to find him.

Kris's 700 Celebration

Tag lists are open

@stargazingfangirl18 @yenzys-lucky-charm @thezombieprostitute @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @bval-1 @km-ffluv @texmexdarling @ladyvenera @roxyfan14-blog @darkserenity24 @femefetalelevelingup @moonlightttfae @lokislady82

#ask kris #kris's 700 celebration #we're all monsters #steve rogers #cole turner #captain america #ghosted #follower celebration #stargazingfangirl18 #kris wrote something #asks are always welcome

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jerzwriter · 5 months ago

Text

This story has been brewing in my head for such a long time I thought it was about time I wrote it down.

Book: Wake the Dead (Choices) Pairing: Eli Sipes x Zoe Rivera (F!MC) Characters: Troy Hassan, Minna Arbogast, Georg (OC) Rating: Teen Words: 2,600 Summary: There are still many things that need to be put in place in Olympus. Traditions and rituals that need to be established. When Minna and Georg pay Zoe a visit, this becomes abundantly clear. In the days that follow, there are meaningful conversations and realizations to be had, and in the end, Eli & Zoe see their future in a brand new light.

A/N: Participating in @choicesaugustchallenge (I used August heat instead of Summer heat - but I think that will be OK :) )

The sun had finally begun to set in the sky, ending another long day in the August heat. Summer was beginning to wind down, but drone activity wasn’t, and with much to do before the winter months hit, days started early and ended late at Olympus. As the colony’s leader, Zoe was working hardest of all, and while others were finishing their dinner and beginning to unwind, Zoe was still toiling away in her small office. There were plans and schedules to be made, and she wasn’t going to rest until she was done.

But Eli had other plans, and when he stuck his head in the door, he was on a mission. Zoe’s face lit up when she saw him.

“Did you bring me dinner?” she smiled.

“No,” he replied. “But I haven’t eaten yet, either; I’m waiting for you. So, let's go. We can eat together.”

“Eli! You shouldn’t wait for me. Go ahead and eat. I’ll be down soon.”

“You’ll be down now," he insisted. "It’s almost eight o’clock.”

Zoe let out a sigh as her shoulders slumped. “I’d love to, but there is still more to be done.”

“Yep. And it will still be here tomorrow.” He stepped behind her and rubbed her shoulders, causing her to sink into her chair. She closed her eyes and swore she was about to fall asleep.

“All right,” she grinned. “You win. Let’s go have dinner.”

Just as she was about to stand, there was a knock on the door, and Minna Arbogast entered, Georg Collins, from Sunflower Creek, behind her.

“Hi,” Minna, typically straightforward, said almost sheepishly. “Could we have a moment with you?”

“No,” Eli scowled. “The office is closed for the day. If it’s anything official, it can wait until tomorrow.”

“Eli!” Zoe scolded. “Minna, Georg, is this something personal? If so, we can discuss it downstairs. But if it’s regarding Olympus, I’m happy to take a few more minutes here.”

Minna and Georg exchanged a glance. “It’s kind of about both,” he said as Zoe motioned to the chairs in front of her desk. Eli, displeased, slumped down on an old couch on the side of the room.

“What can I help you with?” Zoe asked.

“Well, I suppose you know Georg and I are involved,” Minna started. “Romantically involved.”

Eli chuckled loudly, drawing everyone's attention his way. “Yeah, that’s pretty obvious.”

“Hmm,” Zoe snickered. “Laughs the man who thought we were fooling people at one time, too. But yes, I’m aware, and I’m very happy for you! But what does that have to do with your visit?”

“I’ve asked Minna to marry me, and luckily for me, she’s accepted!”

“What! Oh my! Congratulations!” Zoe hollered. “That’s such exciting news!”

“Thank you!” Minna smiled. “We’re so happy! There’s just one problem. How do we get married?”

“Oh,” Zoe chuckled. “You have a point. You’ll be Olympus’s first marriage, but I supposed we need to come up with how to do that here.”

“We had some traditions and rituals at Sunflower Creek,” Georg offered. “Minna says they had similar ones at Skyweld, too.”

“That’s great! I’d like to call our council to discuss this, but it shouldn’t take long. How soon would you like to do this?”

“We’d like to do it soon, before the fall if possible.”

“I think we can manage that. I’ll call for a meeting tomorrow, and then I’ll be in touch.”

“Great!” Minna smiled. The happy couple excitedly thanked Zoe and left. Zoe turned to Eli with a bright smile.

“Well, that was nice! A great reason to work a little later if you ask me!”

The corners of Eli's lips curled slightly as he watched Zoe, so genuinely happy for her friend’s news.

“I’ve got to admit,” he said. “It’s a lot better than issues we usually face around here, but now your day is now done, and you need to eat.” He stood up, extending his hand. “Let’s go!”

“Yes, sir!” she complied with a salute.

As they sat alone in the kitchen, a plate of stew between them, Zoe put a plan into action.

“I have a feeling this is going to be right up Feather’s alley! Some of the other elders, too!”

“I’m sure it is,” Eli said, a bit more reserved than usual. Zoe nudged him and gave a little grin.

“What’s on your mind, Eli? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“Nothing,” he sighed, pushing away his empty plate and stretching his arms over his head. “I was just thinking... we’re not married.”

Zoe barked out a laugh. “No, we’re not. And from what I hear, some in the old world would say we’re ‘living in sin.’ I never exactly understood that concept, but whatever...”

“I don’t get it either. But I was wondering... what are your thoughts on that?”

“On living in sin?” she questioned. “I think it’s ridiculous. What the hell could be sinful about people who love each other sharing their lives together. Like a piece of paper changes anything."

“Not about that,” Eli laughed. “About marriage.” He moved his chair closer to hers, leaning forward; he brushed a strand of hair away from her face and looked at her tenderly. “Have you ever given it any thought?”

Zoe's eyes went wide. “Oh. Oh, I see. I have to admit, I haven’t given it much thought. Formal marriages weren’t really a thing at The Tower. I never thought I’d meet anyone I’d want to spend the rest of my life with, and, let’s face it, the rest of our lives tend to be pretty short in this world, so I never really thought about it. Why?” She asked cautiously. “Have you?”

“For me, personally? No. I hadn't. It’s nothing I ever foresaw for myself, given my circumstances. But marriage in general? Yeah. I have. I still remember the old world, and marriage seemed to be a pretty big deal back then. Plus, my parents were married, and I always thought of marriage as something special, something almost sacred, because the two of them did it so well.”

“It must have been so nice to grow up with them modeling that kind of love,” she smiled.

Eli looked into the distance, but his eyes were warm with reflection. “Yeah, it was.”

“What do you remember about marriage and weddings from the old world?” She asked. “Maybe that can help me decide what we can do at Olympus?”

“I was still young,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But some of the celebrations were over the top. I went to a few family weddings, and they were fun, even if I had to wear a suit. But I remember my parents saying some people went broke just to have a fancy wedding day. My dad said too many were worried about the wedding and not the marriage. That always stuck in my mind.”

“That does sound kind of stupid,” Zoe agreed. “But then it was a different world. I know it was before you were born, but did your parents have a big wedding?”

“Initially, no. They were an interracial couple, and while most of their families supported them, some were real asses. They didn’t want any headaches, so they decided to elope, just the two of them. But when they got back and told everyone, my Mom’s parents insisted they have a wedding. My grandfather said no one was denying his little girl a wedding, and they weren’t going to deny him the chance of walking her down the aisle.”

“That’s sweet. Did they have a big wedding after that?”

“Not big by old world standards. My Mom said they had about fifty of their closest friends and family and that it was a beautiful day. They both said it was a lot of fun. But they kept the focus on the marriage - not the party."

“It sounds like your parents had the right idea. They knew what was important.”

Eli smiled wistfully, his fingers twirling Zoe’s hair. “Yeah, they sure did. But what about your parents? Were they married?”

“I really don’t remember too much, but I know my parents were married – my biological mom and dad, as well as my two dads. Ana told me that our biological parents were married in a big Catholic church wedding. Their families were very strict and wouldn’t have allowed them to live together without it. See,” she smirked. “They wouldn’t have approved of us living in sin.”

“What about your dads?”

“They were married. When my mother left, Dad met Papa, and they had a small wedding. I don’t remember much from my childhood, but I remember the picture of them on the mantle, and they looked so happy. It was on the beach, Ana was holding Dad’s hand, and Papa carried me on his hip.”

A bittersweet look captured Zoe's happiness, recalling the memory but the deep pain of all that she had lost along the way. Her began to quiver. “I wish things could have been different.”

“I know,” Eli said, holding her close. “I know.”

“Can we go up to bed?” She whispered. “I’d really like to just lie in your arms for a while if that's all right."

She didn’t have to say another word.

~~~~~

The following day, Zoe met with the members of Olympic’s governing council, and a plan was put in place. Later that night, she found an enthusiastic Minna and Georg talking to a too-proud-of-himself Troy, who had several long lists on the table before him. Curiosity got the better of Zoe, and she joined her best friend the second the couple left.

“Whatcha doing?” She grinned.

“Me? Only putting together the most incredible wedding Olympus has ever seen! Well... the only wedding Olympus has seen so far, but there’s more to come.”

“You?” Zoe smirked. “What do you have to do with their wedding?”

“Zoe. Zoe, Zoe, Zoe,” he sighed. “Who better to plan a party than moi? In fact, this whole thing has made me a little nostalgic for the old world. I think I found my calling. I would have been one hell of an event planner.”

“You know,” she laughed. “I can see it!”

“I’m glad Minna and Georg will be my first wedding,” Troy winked. “This way, I’ll have experience when I plan yours.”

Zoe spit out the water she was drinking. “Mine? What do you mean... mine?"

“Zoe, please,” he waved dismissively. “It’s only a matter of time before it’s you and Eli. In fact, I’m shocked you two aren’t the first.”

“Troy! Eli and I haven’t even discussed marriage!”

“Really?” He said, raising a brow. “Why not?”

“I think the idea is sweet and all,” Zoe shrugged. “But it’s not like I need it. I love Eli, and he loves me. That’s all that really matters. Besides, the archaic idea that women lived to get married was one of the better things to die with the outbreak. My wedding,” she scoffed, taking another sip of water. “As if.”

Later that night, Zoe stepped out of the shower and joined Eli, who was already reading in bed. She slipped under the sheets, reveling in the fresh feeling and quiet of the room. Eli smiled at the way she squiggled around like a little child.

“You happy?” he asked, putting his book aside.

“So happy!” she grinned. “This is my favorite part of the day.”

Eli looked at her thoughtfully, then leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead. “Mine, too.”

Zoe closed her eyes as she rested her head on his chest, but Eli’s eyes remained open wide. He was quiet, studying every crack on the ceiling, when he woke Zoe with a gentle nudge.

“Zo, zo.”

“Mmmhhhm.”

“You never did answer my question.”

“Oh?” She said, sitting up to look him in the eye. “What question is that?”

“What are your thoughts,” he stalled. “About marriage.”

“I answered you, silly,” she grinned. “We had a whole conversation. Don’t you remember?”

“We had a conversation about your thoughts on marriage in general. You never told me how you felt about marriage... for you.”

Zoe’s heart raced as realization washed over her. He wasn’t talking about a concept; he was talking about.... them.

“For... for me?” she stuttered.

“Yeah, for you,” he smiled, perhaps the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. “And me.”

Zoe leaned back a bit, her hand clutching her nightshirt, as her mind filled with more thoughts than she could handle.

“I... I never really thought about it... have... have you?”

“I have,” he smiled, cupping her cheek in his hand. “I know you think it’s unnecessary, and I understand why, but...” he let out a breath. “But I think you and I have the same kind of love that my parents share. It’s something I never, ever thought I’d get to experience, and now that I am, I know it’s the most precious gift I’ve ever received. So yeah, I’d like to marry you, Zoe. I’d like to stand in front of all the people we love and formally declare my love and devotion to you. Then, I want us to spend the rest of our days living our lives in the manner my parents showed me. You and me, side by side, until the end of time.”

Zoe remained silent when he finished, her hands clasped over her mouth as large tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She didn’t move, and for a moment, Eli’s heart sank; perhaps he had overstepped. The silence lasted only moments, but it felt like an eternity when Zoe answered in a broken voice.

“You, you want that... with me?”

“Of course I do,” he grinned. “Zoe, I love you more than anything else in the world. You have no idea how happy I am that we came into each other’s lives.”

“You almost shot me,” she smirked as Eli’s head fell in his hands.

“I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

“Nope, you’re not,” she beamed, then she took on a more serious tone, her voice, barely a whisper. “Eli... you want to marry me?”

“I do,” he nodded earnestly. “More than anything.”

“Oh, Eli,” she whispered, caressing his cheek. “I would absolutely love to marry you! I love you so much."

He pulled her into his arms, and the two embraced for a long, long while. Neither wanted the precious moment to end. When they pulled away, Zoe looked at him with a coy grin.

“So, does this mean we’re engaged?”

“Well,” he laughed. “I think I should propose first. This was just a discussion, I can do better than that for an official prop...”

“No,” Zoe interrupted. “No, you can't. Eli... you could never do better than that. That was... perfect. Just like the love we share."

“Lettin’ me off the hook?” he snickered, causing her to break into laughter.

“I would never if you didn’t do the job right, but... you did. I love you, Eli, and yes, I’ll marry you.”

They looked at each other with tears in their eyes, an electric current surrounding them when he pulled her into a passionate, emotional kiss.

“We’re going to get married,” he whispered when he pulled away.

No other words were necessary as they lay in each other’s arms. In a world filled with so much sadness and pain, they had found something beautiful and pure. Something that belonged only to them, and it made them cherish it all the more.

They couldn’t wait to share the news with their friends and the rest of Olympus, but that could wait until tomorrow. Somehow, they knew the people closest to them were already aware. As they lay entangled in each other’s arms, they could feel their love surrounding them. Eli’s mother, his father, his brother, David, too; Zoe’s dads, and her beloved sister Ana... they knew. Eli & Zoe were confident that they knew, and as they drifted to sleep in each other’s arms, they knew that they were surrounded by their love and that somewhere, someplace, they were all smiling.

@choicesficwriterscreations

Tagging others separately.

#wake the dead #wake the dead choices #choices wake the dead #eli sipes #eli sipes x f!mc #troy hassan #playchoices #playchoices fanfic #choices #choices fanfic #choices the stories you play

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wisteriadaydreams · 2 years ago

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Hello! Hope you’re doing well!

I absolutely loved your Tanjiro x Haganezuka’s daughter piece! It was just too cute!

May I request one with Tanjiro x Urokodaki’s daughter? She’d probably be really strong and train with Tanjiro, finally convincing her dad to let her become a Slayer, only to get lectured after accidentally falling on top of him or something because Urokodaki can just smell the puppy love brewing between the both of them!

Sorry, got a little carried away! 💗 Tanjiro is just too cute!

I’m most likely going to come back here, so if it’s alright, I’d love to be your 🌺 Anon! Sending lots of love and good vibes your way!

TANJIRŌ W/ UROKODAKI’S DAUGHTER!READER

pairing: Kamado Tanjirō x fem!reader

genre: angst in the beginning, mention of canonical character death, fluff later on

Words: 7.5k (buckle up ppl, it's a long one)

a/n: I was so excited when I first read this ask! I’m sorry it took so long for me to get to it! And yes, you can 100% be 🌺anon (≧▽≦)

Urokodaki and his wife have had a hard time conceiving, and as they grew older, they resigned themselves to accepting that they will not have a child of their own, no matter how much it pained them.

In a way, they had tried to fill the void by adopting and taking in orphaned children, but that doesn’t mean they don’t come to love them any less. Some of them eventually leave to forge their own lives when they become adults, while some decided to follow in Urokodaki’s footsteps and become a Demon Slayer.

Knowing the dangerous nature of the job, he vehemently denied the request, but after seeing the relentlessness and determined nature of his child, he finally relented. When it came time to send his first student off to the Final Selection, he and his wife did so with a heavy heart.

When their child never came home no matter how long they wait, they buried their memories and a piece of their heart at Mount Sagiri.

(Urokodaki would refuse to train anyone else for years to come, but there are always those who managed to convince him otherwise.)

Nevertheless, his household is one that always ring with laughter and joy, a household that sticks together through the hard times, holding each other close and wiping away each other’s tears.

So when you came to this world, it was to a home overflowing with love.

You were their miracle baby, a blessing from the gods, the light that makes their world brighter. When the news was announced, there was not one dry eye in the house. Suddenly, everyone became even more overprotective of your mother when she was pregnant with you, and she had to scold her husband and her children several times for coddling her.

When you came into this world, your brothers and sisters take turns holding you, cooing and feeling their hearts bursting from the sight of your smile.

You grew up in a world like that — protected and loved and never lonely.

They would sneak you sweets and gifts they got from the nearby town, and sometimes those training would let you hold their swords for a moment, at the expense of being reprimanded by Urokodaki. You were spoiled beyond compare.

When your mother was taken by a swift but deadly illness while you were still too young to register death, your family did what they always do — mourn in each other’s arms, and slowly piece everyone back together.

If possible, your father became even more protective of you. He has lost too much. His comrades, his friends, his wife, his students and children. It would break him entirely to lose you, too.

You grew up in a home that protected and love you, but also a home that grieves for the lost souls that will never be able to find their way back. Over the years, you’ve watched all of your father’s apprentices leave the safe embrace of Mt. Sagiri, a sword by their hip, a fox mask by the side of their face, and hope shining in their eyes.

“Otou-san.” You tugged your father’s sleeve. “Where are they going?”

“To hopefully make the world a better place.” “When are they coming back?” “Soon, my daughter. I pray every day that it would be soon.”

Many of them promised you that they will come back and play with you. Many of them broke their promises.

One year, your father rescued two boys, Sabito and Giyū, whose families were both eaten by demons. You immediately took to them, constantly trailing behind them and jumping onto their backs. They in turn dote on you, keeping you company whenever they weren’t training. You would sit on the ground to watch them spar with your father, twirling the grass under your fingers and giggling when they were swiftly disarmed.

You didn’t really understand why they were training. You had an inkling of the demons beyond the safe vicinity of the mountain from the stories your other siblings would tell you, but other than that you couldn’t grasp why they were serious about it.

“Sabito-nii, why are you and Giyū-nii training with father?” You asked him one day.

“Because there’s dangerous creatures out there who would stop at nothing to kill humans, and there are only a select few who could deal with them.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, (Y/N)-chan, maybe that’s just the way of the world. We’re no matched for the strength of demons, so we must become stronger.” “But why you and Giyū-nii?”

He patted your head softly, a tender but sad look in his eyes. “So that no one would have to go through what we went through.”

Their training continued, progressing from proper breathing lessons to when their blades are suddenly embraced by foamy, cerulean blue waves that twist around one another. Your eyes would shine with delight whenever you catch their fluid movements.

The day comes when both of your brothers have to leave, just like all the other apprentices before them. Your heart sank to the pits of your stomach the night before, making you unable to sleep even a wink. What if they don’t return as well?

The next morning, you stubbornly cling to them, refusing to let go even when your father scolds you.

“But I don’t want you to go!” You exclaimed.

“Come one, (Y/N)-chan. It’ll only be for a little while. Sabito and I will be back before you know it.”

“Promise?” “Promise.”

About a week went by without any sign of them returning, and you’ve never felt so on edge. You started to stand outside diligently to hopefully catch a glimpse that peach shade of Sabito’s hair and the deep blue of Giyū’s eyes, only coming inside when your father urged you.

Finally, one misty morning, you were out pulling weeds in the garden when you spotted a head of thick jet-black hair from up the road. Your eyes widened when you saw the familiar figure trudging down towards the house.

“Otou-san!” You shouted as you ran towards him. “Giyū-nii is home!!!”

You resisted the urge to tackle him into a hug once you saw his fatigued and wounded state. Nevertheless, your heart soared in happiness.

“Giyū-nii! You’re back! Are you hurt anywhere?” Your eyes roam over him, wincing at the amount of dirt on his clothes. But your brother was unresponsive and dazed, even when your father put a hand on his shoulder. Something itched in the back of your mind, and your stomach twisted unexpectedly when you felt like something was not right.

“Giyū-nii,” you began slowly, your eyes darting all over the place. “Where is Sabito-nii?”

His silence was answer enough.

Nothing was ever the same after that. You’re no stranger to lost, but it didn’t stop your heart from cleaving into two and the tears from running down your face at night. Not when a piece of you seems to die every time you’re met with your father’s silent grieving, or heard the sobs from your brother that he so desperately tried to hide.

You were both just children grasping with death.

When it was time for him to leave and officially embark on his journey, it was pouring like they had never seen before. Perhaps that was best. Perhaps then none of them would notice the tears.

Your home became quieter. Still filled with love, but more somber somehow. Laughter came a little harder for you, and each time you watch the sunset, you can’t help but feel your shoulders become heavier, as if the twilight was a corporeal thing that weighed down on you.

For a while, it was only you, your father, and the silence. But that all changed when a little girl around your age stumbled into your lives.

Like many siblings before, Makomo came to your home unexpectedly, and yet it also felt like fate. She lit up the whole house with her gentle smiles and brightness, restoring some of the warmth that have been lost.

You take to her immediately, spending your days braiding flowers into each other’s hair and running through the mountains until you can draw a map with your eyes closed. You felt your soul healing in the presence of her calming demeanor. She became a sister that you could unconditionally trust to always have your back. Imagine your horror when she too was determined to walk down the same treacherous path.

“Makomo-chan! You can’t!” You tearfully protested. “It’s too dangerous!”

‘What if she doesn’t come back?’ The sentence replayed over and over in your head like a broken mantra, and you were once more squeezed by multiple stabs of fear and anxiety. Your father shared the same sentiments as you, and firmly denied her request.

How could he forgive himself if he let someone as young as her entrench herself into such a cruel world.

But Makomo was resilient and stubborn. She would sneak out and practice with a sword and had even somehow been able to grasp the basics of Total Concentration Breathing. When asked, she only smiled mysteriously and told you that she had some help.

When your father saw that his warnings fell on deaf ears and after seeing how much she improved, he finally caved in and took her as his apprentice.

To say that you were unhappy with the decision would be an understatement. You watched her train and become more graceful and quick on her feet, dread pooling in your stomach with every progress and injuryYou and your father hugged her and sent her on her way, and it felt like goodbye. You prayed to any gods that were willing to listen to protect her and bring her back to you.

You stayed by her side, occasionally offering her tips from what you’ve observed from the other students. You bandaged every single wound, lightly chastising her and telling her to be more careful next time. Her only response was to smile and thank you. The more you did this, the more you couldn’t help but wonder about her willingness to put herself on the line to help fight demons, and whether if there’s anything more that you could do.

As you had expected, she passed your father’s final trial. That night, you sleep in the same bed as Makomo, putting your arms around her and pulling her so close that it was difficult to tell where you end and where she began. You didn’t want to let go.

You and your father hugged her and sent her on her way, and it felt like goodbye. You prayed to any gods that were willing to listen to protect her and bring her back to you.

The gods too, did not answer them.

The pain coursed through your body like a beast made of liquid fire, clawing at your insides and erupting from your throat as you cried in your father’s arms. You cried until you became numb, until every muscle in your body feels like it had been crushed by the weight of your grief. Her grave was marked alongside the others. Wherever she was, she held a piece of your soul with her.

It was you, your father, and the silence, once more.

One afternoon, you return from working in the garden to see your father reading a letter, Giyū’s crow perch on his shoulder. Your spirit lifts momentarily, relieved that he is still doing well.

It’s hard to read your father due to the mask he wears, but from the way he grips the paper tightly and crinkling it, it can’t be good news.

“Otou-san, what is it?”

He lifts his head to look at you, then fold the letter and tucking it into his kimono before going back inside. “I need to go for a bit, (Y/N). Stay here, and prepare for some visitors.”

You only manage to blink a few times before he’s out the door again. Even at his age, he is still as fast as a Demon Slayer at their prime. As you prepare the ingredients for dinner, you wonder who the visitor could be.

You get your answer later that day, when your father comes back with a young boy in tow. Your father looked like he didn’t even break a sweat, but the boy trailing behind him seemed as if though he’s fighting for every breath. With a basket strap to his back, you can understand why that’s the case.

“Otou-san, who is this?” “This is Kamado Tanjirō. He’ll be staying with us for the night,” he says simply. “This is my daughter, (Y/N).”

You bow in greeting as he walks through the door. You watch in curiosity as he unwraps the basket, unveiling a sleeping girl tucked inside.

You would have reacted in horror if not for the fact that your father is being so calm about it, but it doesn’t stop you from wondering what’s going on.

“This is my sister, Nezuko. She’s…um…” Tanjirō looks to your father, asking for help.

“We’ll take care of her,” your father says. You quickly catch on and run inside to fetch a pillow and blanket, temporarily laying her on the ground until you can arrange a futon for her. “But for now, you and I will be climbing the mountain.”

With those words, it dawns on you. Here’s another person hoping to become your father’s student and become a Demon Slayer. All of his prospects go through the same process, and climbing the mountain is only the beginning of the trials they will face.

When your father returns, he fills you in on the situation. Your heart drops in sympathy when you hear that their family was killed by demons, and flinch when it’s revealed that the girl sleeping so peacefully near the crackling hearth is a demon.

“Otou-san, how can this be? She seems nothing like the demons you would tell me about.” “You feel it too,don’t you (Y/N)? She’s different from any demon I’ve encountered before. It’s like she’s still human somewhere in that body of hers.”

You look back down at Nezuko. It’s difficult to reconcile the image of blood-thirsty demons that has been instilled into you since childhood. Those that pillaged villages and killed without mercy. Those that…

You clench your hands into fists. It’s definitely difficult, and if both your father and Giyū are willing to put their trust into her, then you can try as well.

The first threads of dawn are beginning to slip through the horizon, and Tanjirō has yet to return from the mountain. You fidget in your seat, your eyes flickering every few minutes to the door, ears train to see if you can pick up the sound of any footsteps. You’re torn between wanting to see him succeed and fail. If he does, then you’re afraid that he’ll become another lamb on its way to slaughter. But if he doesn’t, then which other path can he walk on to restore his sister’s humanity?

In the midst of battling with yourself, your ears perk up at the sound of heavy footsteps. You whip your head to the door the same time your father does, and a second later it slams open to reveal a dirtied and injured Tanjirō, blood flowing from his head and shoulder.

“I’m…back…” He pants and is only able to utter before he collapses by the door frame. You rush to his side, preparing to carry him inside and treat his wounds. You look to your father, who stands stoic and in silent contemplation. You know that he has made his decision.

Every early morning, even before the sun rises, your father and Tanjirō would make their way up the mountain to begin their training. You would look after the still slumbering Nezuko, and then bring lunch to wherever they are. After having lunch with them, you would stay for a while to watch them train. In the evenings, you would take care of any injuries Tanjirō incurred throughout the day.

Your talks with him are often short, something to fill in the silence while you bandage him up. You’re grateful that he isn’t the type to pry, and instead is content with letting the conversation flow wherever it may. Your heart is still healing, and you’ve yet to recover the strength to open those scars again.

But the more time you spend around him, the more you realize that it’s terrifyingly easy to put your guard down around him. It’s like he has a soothing and warming aura radiating from him, causing you to unable to resist melting in his presence. It feels both familiar and so wildly foreign to you, that at times you’re unsure how to act around him.

Your father is harsher on Tanjirō than with any of his other students, and you can understand why. His improvement is gradual, and it’s clear that he doesn’t have the raw talent that Sabito and Makomo had. But what he lacked in talent, he made it up with determination.

Even on what is supposed to be his rest days, he would be out swinging his sword and working on his breathing. During those times, you would make sure that he’s eating and not neglecting yourself.

“You’re thinking too hard about it,” you say as you watch him try to master Total Concentration Breathing. “You have to be more subtle about it. Here, close your eyes.” You stand up and approach him. “Try to imagine the air as water. Let it enter you.” You close your eyes and breathe along with him. “Imagine it moving through every part of you.” You trail your fingers down his arms. “Feel it in every cell and vein, feel it touch you and flow around you. See the difference?”

“I-I think so.” You open your eyes to smile, and that’s when you realized that his hands are now clasped tightly in yours, and the distance between you two is too close for comfort.

You drop his hands like they’re hot coals, a blush quickly rising to your cheeks. “Sorry!”

“N-no, it’s okay.” As opposed to your worryingly flaming face, his cheeks only had a tinge of pink. “But thank you, (Y/N)-san! I understand now.”

“It’s-it’s nothing. Just something I picked up while watching others train.” “Just from watching? That’s amazing! I’m surprised you’re not training already. You would leave me in the dust.”

“…You think so?” “I know so. Just last week you helped me with my stance and how to properly swing my sword. And you seem to already know how to do Total Concentration Breathing.” He pauses and begins his next sentence tentatively. “Sorry if this is rude of me, but I’m just wondering why you haven’t become Urokodaki-san’s student yet.”

You tilt your head, giving thought to his question. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I guess it’s partly because I know how it feels to be the person on the other side. I don’t think I could bear putting my father through having to worry about me like that. But at the same time, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it before. I don’t know though…”

Can you do it? Can you actually take up a sword and leave everything behind? Knowing that you're risking everything and never come back?

But…maybe then you can go and explore beyond the mountain. Maybe you can help other families sleep better at night. Children won’t have to look behind their back in fear of things creeping in the dark. No one would have to go through what you went through.

“Well, whatever you decide.” Tanjirō pats your shoulder reassuringly. “I believe it’ll be the right decision.”

“No.”

You’ve expected this response from your father, but it didn’t cause you to flinch any less. “But otou-san–”

“No means no, (Y/N). I will not allow you to become a Demon Slayer.” “But I’ve been watching you teach for years! I know how to do Total Concentration Breathing, and I basically know all the stances by heart. If only you would let me try, then I know I can master them!” “And you know perfectly well how dangerous is it.”

“Of course I know!” You can’t help but raise your voice a little. “And how many more have to lose their lives? I’m sick and tired of sitting around and doing nothing, waiting for the next bad news. I want to do something to help!” “And you’re already doing that by staying here and being safe.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be coddled and safe anymore!” Your chest heaves and you turn around, unable to bear looking at his masked face any longer. “I just wish you would believe in your daughter a little more.” With that, you walk out the door, ignoring the words of your father.

Your legs take you to the huge frothing waterfall a distance away from your house, a favorite place of yours when you want some peace and quiet. It’s just you and the sound of rushing water to drown out your thoughts. Or so you thought.

“(Y/N)-san.” Your soul nearly left your body. You wildly turn around to see that Tanjirō had followed you.

“Tanjirō-san! You scared me to death! How did you even find me?” He taps his nose and that’s all you needed to know. “…Right. Well, you’re welcome to sit next to me, since you’re here already.”

He takes your invitation. “I just want to know how you’re doing.” You hug your knees to your chest and sigh. “Thanks. Sorry you had to hear that, by the way. I understand where my father’s coming from, I really do. But at the same time, I can’t help but think he thinks I’m not enough in his eyes, like I’m still a baby that needs to be cocooned. But I’ve been by the sidelines for so long, always watching and worrying and feeling useless. If I have the ability to, I should stand up and do something. Shouldn’t I?”

“Hey.” Tanjirō places a warm hand on your shoulder. “You’re not useless. You take care of the whole household. You cook for us and remind us to take a break. You give me advice, encouragement, and always take care of me when I get injured. I think you’re already incredible as you are. But if you believe you can do something more, then I say go for it! I’ll support you!”

“Really?” You ask, eyes wide in wonder at his words. He nods, and you know it to be true. You feel your fingertips become tingly, and all the water in this world could not wash away the bubble of warmth in your body. “Thank you.”

You scoot a little closer to him, content to be in his presence. Nothing needed to be said that isn’t already felt in the blank spaces of your words.

When you return, your father is waiting for you, his arms crossed. You gulp, knowing that you’re in big trouble, but you stand your ground anyways.

“Tanjirō, go inside. I need to speak to my daughter privately.” “Yes, Urokodaki-san.” He gives you an encouraging look and heads inside, leaving you and your father alone. The tension is so thick you can cut through it with a sword, and your foot fidgets in anticipation of who will be speaking first.

“I made a promise to your mother,” your father begins, and that makes everything you’re going to say go back down your throat. “That I would keep you safe, and make sure no harm comes to you.”

You hang your head, that familiar wisp of sadness creeping up on you. Over the years, you’ve heard many stories about your mother, wanting to know everything about her to fill in the gaps of your memories, selfishly clinging to the last vestiges of her presence that you can remember.

“But I’ve also made another promise to her, that I’ll always make you happy,” he continues. “And if this is truly the path you want to take, then I’ll fulfill your wish.” You whip your head up at his words, surprise overtaking your face. “But just because you’re my daughter doesn’t mean I'll go easy on you, do you understand? If at any point I deem you not suitable, I’ll pull you from training.”

“Yes, otou-san!” “Good, then be up by 4 am tomorrow.”

If he’s already hard on Tanjirō, then he’s hard on you 10 times over. If Tanjirō has to swing his sword 1000 times, you have to do it 2000 times. If he only has to descend the mountain 2 times, you have to do it 5 times. If he has to stay under the waterfall for 5 minutes, you have to do it for 15. But you take it all in stride, finally being able to find an outlet for your pent up energy over the years.

You and Tanjirō becomes closer due to this, bonding over your shared misfortune of being tortured mentored by the former Water Hashira. One some days you would spar with him, eager to see how much you’ve improved.

Today, you’ve managed to disarm him and goes through the motion to pin him to the ground, but a miscalculation quickly cause you to lose your balance. Before you know it, you let out a yelp and is dragged to the ground with him. You brace for impact, but your fall is broken by a soft weight below you. That weight being of course no one else but your sparring partner.

You open your eyes and is mortified to see Tanjirō staring back at you, your noses almost touching one another. From this proximity, you’re able to see the closer the soft gradient of his dark maroon eyes, like embers blazing in the hearth. Your body is pressed against his, his arms settled lightly at your waist no doubt to soften your fall. Your eyes unconsciously travel down to his lips for a brief moment, but enough for you to begin scolding yourself incessantly for the intrusive thought that runs through your mind.

“Kamado Tanjirō!” Your father’s voice booms through the field. “What do you think you’re doing?”

You and him immediately scramble away from one another, faces so red that even a ripe tomato would be jealous. Your father stares down at the both of you, the silence even more unbearable with the menacing aura radiating from him.

“1000 sword swings from you, Tanjirō. And you, (Y/N), I’m going to properly teach you how to stay on your feet.”

You both shiver, the calm way he said it making it sound even more cold to your ears. “Y-yes sir.”

6 months go by, and Nezuko have yet to wake up. Even when the doctor assures that there’s nothing wrong with her, you still can’t help but worry about her. 6 months go by, and your father declare that he has nothing more to teach you.

You and Tanjirō look at each other with surprise. While you know what’s coming next, you’re astonished when instead of leading you up to the mountain towards a boulder like Tanjirō, your father leads you to the waterfall where you’ve spent countless days training.

You look to your father for answers, but he is quiet against the mighty rush of the water.

“This will be your final task. With your sword, part this waterfall in half. Do this, and I will allow you to attend the Final Selection.”

Your eyes nearly pop out of your sockets at what he said. Water in its essence is fluid and flexible, capable of taking any shape or form. It flows wherever it wants, unyielding to the obstacles in its way. How could you hope to conquer it with your blade?

“Otou-san! But–” “Prove yourself to me, my daughter.” With that, he turns around and leave without another word, no matter how many times you shout and urge him.

True to his words, he did not teach you or give you any more explanation. The first time you attempt to do what he wanted, all you got back was a mouthful of foamy water. You’re hit with the realization of how much you still have to learn. For the first 6 months, you devote yourself to honing your knowledge and fortifying your previous training. You work until you feel your arms fall off every night, until all the breathing forms are engraved into your very bones. And still, you make no progress.

There are days when you feel worthless, and the last thing you want to do is hold a sword. During those times, you resign yourself to sit by the river, skipping stones and filling your mind with questions and memories. You wonder how Tanjirō’s doing. Has he made any progress with the boulder yet? You can’t help but miss him. You’ve only realized how much time you spend with him once you’re apart. You miss having him there to encourage you when the training becomes too much, miss laughing whenever both of you would end up on the ground, tired beyond belief. Miss eating meals with him and sharing happier stories about your childhood. Miss tucking him into bed and sitting by him in this very spot even on nights when you’re both yawning.

Your father has forbidden you to go see him to allow both of you to focus on your task, but what’s the harm in one little peek? You know the way by heart, and soon you arrive at that familiar clearing. As you’ve expected, he’s already hard at work, but the person he’s fighting makes your blood turn cold.

You would recognize that peach shade anywhere. You see it every day in the sunset. You open your mouth, but no words leave them. You’re frozen, unable to do anything but watch as Tanjirō and your (dead) brother encircle each other. Blood rushes to your head and you feel like you might faint. Your vision becomes blurry, the dance of their swords become streaks of light. You brace against a tree, and out of the corner of your eyes you see another sight that makes your world tumble and your heart to lurch into your throat.

“...Ma...komo?”

Her smile is as gentle as you remember it. Everything about her is just as you remember it, like a pristine memory come to life. She nods at you and gestures for you to follow her deeper into the woods. Against all reason (of which you have none at this moment), you follow her drowsily. This has to be a dream. You’ve hit your head while making your ascent and now you’re dreaming. This has to be the only reason.

But then she leads to a spot so familiar to the both of you, and for the first time since you’ve seen her you have to wonder if you’re not actually hallucinating. She turns, and her voice is just as you remember it. “Hi, (Y/N)-chan.”

Gods, you feel like throwing up.

“Makomo...how...? How?” You’re only able to mutter. She sits you down and explain everything, about how she’s tied to this mountain, and how countless students before her have also found their way back here.

“So the person who helped train you...” “Was Sabito, yes.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I wanted to, I really did. But Sabito wanted me to focus on my training. And...he didn’t want to stop you and Urokodaki-san from moving on.”

You twist your hands into the grass, sorrow coiling tightly around your stomach. “So...I’m guessing that Sabito-nii is helping Tanjirō grow stronger.” “He is. Tanjirō has a lot of potential, he just has to learn how to unlock it. As do you. We’re all so happy when you began training, you know. You’ve become so strong.” “But not strong enough to finish my father’s trial.”

Makomo sits pensively. “Maybe you’re approaching it the wrong way. Remember what Urokodaki-san told us when we were learning the forms?” “Become one with the water. Do not resist its flow. Embrace it, and it will answer your call.” “I think that’s something to think about.”

You let her words sink into you. “Okay, I’ll give it some thought.” Makomo stands up. “It’s time for me to go back. But (Y/N)-chan, I must ask you a favor. Can you keep the truth from Tanjirō? We don’t want him to be distracted from his progress.”

“But can I see you again?” She shakes her head. “No, (Y/N)-chan. You must also focus on your own self. But know this. We are all watching you, and we will always be by your side.” “...Then this is goodbye.” “Only for now, we will meet again.”

“Tell Sabito-nii I still think of him. That every time I make mushroom nabe I would still remember him, and that there will be a day when I watch the sunset and feel happy.” “I will.” “Goodbye, dear sister.”

A few more months pass, and despite Makomo’s advice, you have still yet to put her words to good use, no matter how much you’ve tried. But you can’t give up now, not when you know you have everyone’s trust in you.

It is near the hour of twilight, and you’re sitting on a rock underneath the waterfall, letting the waves pour down on you. Your eyes are closed, and all the sounds of the world are lost on you. You tune out the sensations of your body, your heart, your mind, every muscle and vein, until they’re nothing but water. You slowly rise to your feet and lift your sword, but instead of resisting, you succumb to the weight. You let it guide you, trusting it to show you the way. It answers your call. You swing.

You open your eyes, and your jaw drops. The current of the waterfall is perfectly split into two, the resulting drops of water flying from your blade like bejeweled dew against a backdrop of pink that extends its darkening arms toward the golden sunset. Entranced by the sight, you only notice your father and Tanjirō when they’re by your side. Tanjirō’s eyes are as wide with wonder as yours, while your father is hard to read as ever.

“I had no intention of sending you or Tanjirō to the Final Selection,” he finally says. “I could not bear to lose any more of my students, nor can I bear to lose my only daughter. But you’ve surpassed all of my expectations. Perhaps it’s time for me to realize you’re not that same little girl who would cling to me anymore.” He takes you into his arms, and no matter what he says, you’ll always feel like a little girl when you hug him. “You’ve become so strong, my daughter.”

That night, you’re barely able to sleep, and even though you should be sick of the waterfall at this point, you can’t help but sneak out to it one more time. It’s not long until you hear a pair of familiar footsteps joining you.

“Hey Tanjirō-kun. Can’t sleep?” “Yeah, I can’t help but feel anxious about tomorrow.” “Me too. Congratulations on completing father’s final challenge, by the way.” “That’s nothing compared to you. You were incredible! How did you do that?” You blush at the compliment. “I had some help.”

You rest your head on his shoulder, the action as normal as breathing. “What do you think will happen tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. But whatever happens, we’ll face it together.” You nod. “Together."

What makes Tanjirō so different to you? Why do you feel so drawn to him? Why does your heart sing when he is near? When did your eyes come to search for him, and why do you crave for these moments like they’re the air that you need to breathe? In the back of your mind, you think you have the answer, but you’ll have all the time in the world to decipher it.

You lift your head and stand up, extending your hand to him. “Come on, let’s go back.”

He slides his hand into yours, and it feels right.

The next morning, you and him are all packed and prepared. You never thought you would be the one on the other side, a sword by your hip and your father’s fox mask by the side of your face, saying a bittersweet goodbye to him.

Just before you two leave, Tanjirō turn back one more time, mentioning Sabito and Makomo in his farewell. You wince, and you can only imagine what your father’s reaction was.

“How come you’ve never mentioned them?” “...You’ve never asked.”

Thankfully, he didn’t pry anymore into the subject, and your journey to Mount Fujikasane is smooth. You’re amazed at the sight of the wisteria blossoms before you, so abundant that it falls like rain. You arrive at the main area, and after hearing the rules, the actual challenge begins.

You and Tanjirō agree that it would be best to head east in order to receive sunlight the quickest. Along the way, you encounter two demons, both of whom you two quickly dealt with. You watch as he prays over the disintegrating corpses, and at times like these you have to wonder how he manages to remain so kind when he has been broken by this world.

You proceed, when suddenly Tanjirō stops you in your path, holding his nose as if he smelled something foul. A scream from the darkness sends chills down your spine. The next thing you see fills you with horror. A demon far too big and monstrous to be considered befitting the level of an amateur slayer trudges through the forest, each of its heavy footsteps thrumming in your ears. Each of its limbs are veiny and as huge as your entire body, twisting and coiling around it like mangled flesh. You can barely make out where its main body is, let alone its neck.

It holds a dead man in one of its horrific hands, devouring him in one motion. Bile rises to your throat at the sight, and you feel your legs tremble and rooted deep to the ground. The demon seizes another man with its extended arm, your breath quickening when it opens its gaping mouth. Fortunately, Tanjirō recovered before you, and rush out to slice its arms with the second form of Water Breathing. You snap out of your fear only a second later, even out your breathing and sprint out to push the man behind you, your swords drawn alongside Tanjirō.

The demon becomes incensed when it spots your fox mask and rages as it curses your father’s name over and over. You listen in horror when it reveals how many humans it has eaten, but that is nothing compared to the fire burning in your blood when he says how many of your father’s students it has devoured.

Thirteen. Thirteen of your brothers and sisters. Thirteen souls that will never come home. Thirteen names that you can recite in your sleep.

The fire blazes into a vengeful inferno when you hear it describes the deaths of Sabito and Makomo with glee, as if they’re as trivial as bugs. As if there are not still those who mourn for them.

You advance with rage and with only one working thought in your mind. Kill.

The demon is even more amused at your reaction, and to your dismay no matter how many arms you and Tanjirō cut down, more would just grow back. One of them lands a hit on Tanjirō, sending him flying and hitting a tree.

“Tanjirō-kun!” You shout, your heart dropping at the blood on his forehead and his unconscious state. You’re left to fend the demon by yourself.

“Control your breathing, (Y/N)-chan. Do not worry about us, focus on saving Tanjirō.” You hear Makomo’s voice inside your head, and only then did you realize how you’ve essentially forgone every lesson your father has drilled into you. You quickly chastise yourself and regulate your breathing, standing your ground and working to divert the demon away from the unconscious boy.

“Tanjirō-kun! Wake up! Please, I need you!” You exclaim as you sliced another limb, your muscles starting to ache from how many times you’ve done so. You couldn’t severe every one of them all alone, and to your terror one of them escaped your attention and is targeting right at him. “Tanjirō!”

As if answering your prayers, he finally opens his eyes and move out the way. But you’re barely able to let out a sigh of relief before more come at you. You dodge and run to his side, your sword brandished and held tight, face-to-face with the enemy. You spare a quick glance to Tanjirō, both of you nodding.

“Together?” “Together.”

You advance, cutting down any obstacle standing in your way. At a warning shout from Tanjirō, you both leap in the air to avoid the arms underground. A limb lashes out to grab Tanjirō, but he’s able to utilizes that hard head of his. You both land on the arm, ready to execute the final attack.

“Tanjirō-kun, I’ll take care of its arms! You aim for the neck!” You carry out the Fourth Form and destroys anything blocking his path, and in a fast flurry of the First Form, it is done.

He is no more.

When there is finally time to rest and you’re done taking care of his forehead injury, you’re left to grasp with the ugly truth displayed right before your very eyes. So many lives lost, all of it fueled by hatred so deep that it makes your heart sinks. What would your father think when he realizes that a small decision of his may have led to his students’ demise?

“I’m sorry for not telling you the truth,” you whisper as you rest under the shade of a tree. Tanjirō turns away from you, and the action makes your stomach twist. He is silent for a moment before speaking. “It’s not your fault. To be honest, I had my suspicions, but I didn’t want to face them and realize that they’re true.” Another pause. “Do you think they’re at peace now?”

You grip your kimono where your heart rests. “Yeah. Yeah, I think they are.” You don’t lie about this, you feel your soul getting lighter.

“Will you tell me about them?” “Later,” you shuffle next to him, curling into his warmth as your eyes become heavy. “I promise.”

You spend your mornings like this, sleeping after a long, arduous night. Moving ever closer until you two fit like puzzle pieces, hands gripped tight in search of the other’s warmth, a confirmation that you both are still alive.

Against all odds, you both survived the 7 days.

Drained of all energy and adrenaline, the trek back home is just as taxing for your weary bodies. You support each other by lifting the other by the shoulder, praying with every step that you’ll soon see that thatched roof that you call home.

Your journey comes to an end when you see the light from that lone house near the mountain. Your shoulders sag in relief, and you would have buckled if not for Tanjirō’s arm around you. Suddenly, the door is kicked down, and out comes the girl that you’ve only ever seen in deep slumber. She looks even more beautiful under the moonlight, and you gasp at the recognition in her still human eyes.

“Nezuko!” Tanjirō rushes down to meet his sister, and at the halfway point she cradles his head into her chest, so gentle that it makes tears well up in your eyes.

You spot your father, his arms full of firewood, and a tired smile makes its way up your face. “Otou-san...”

Uncaring about the wood he just dropped by his feet, he pulls all of you (his children) close, and there is no stopping the torrent of tears from flowing down all of your cheeks.

“You’ve survived. You’ve come back to us.”

The days that followed allow you to recuperate and come to terms with what you have learned at the Final Selection. You all devote an entire day to clean and make offerings to the graves of those that are gone and spend the entire night reminiscing your memories about them.

It also allows you to bond with Nezuko, and once again you’re convicted to help Tanjirō find a way to turn her back into a human.

But those halcyon days are short-lived, and after receiving your Nichirin sword, uniform, and first joint mission, it’s finally time to leave.

("That’s a gorgeous shade of blue, huh Urokodaki?” “Of course, she’s my daughter, after all.”)

You stand on the other side, hugging your father and promising that no matter what, you will come back to him. This is a promise that you intend to keep. He fixes your uniforms, his fingers lingering as if he’s still not ready to let go.

“Take care of her, Tanjirō,” he says, and unexpectedly pulls him closer so that he could whisper something. You don’t know what he said, but whatever it was, Tanjirō becomes deathly pale and shivers uncontrollably. You look at them curiously, but none of them would meet your gaze.

Finally, you take your first few steps down that dirt path, sparing one final look at your world and everything you’ve ever known. But you’re not afraid, for you have Tanjirō by your side.

“We’re in this together.”

“There’s no one else I would rather do this with.”

➺ All of the following works belong to me. Please don’t repost, copy, or steal my content off of Tumblr. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

#kamado tanjiro #tanjiro #tanjiro x reader #tanjiro x y/n #tanjiro headcanons #kny x reader #demon slayer x reader #sunshine of my life #he's my sun #a dream come true #wisty writes

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crazylittlejester · 6 months ago

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i hope this isn’t weird to say, but can i hear you yap about your fiancée? like the little things you love about them? (you don’t have to if neither of you are comfortable with it! ignore this ask if it makes you uncomfortable)

aldkfkdk dw it’s okay!

for starters, no other mother fucker would say shit like this to me and then ACTUALLY give me an explanation:

fr tho, she’s not just my fiancee she’s my best friend and i love her so so much. if no one’s got my back, i know she does, and i have hers. If i need to yap about something, I know she’ll listen and hype me up, and i absolutely do the same for her. She’s truly one of the kindest, most caring people I’ve ever met in my entire life, and I genuinely get very very sad when she goes out of state for college because i miss her 😭

I can text her about a problem or something I’m upset about and she’ll respond with “NTA, divorce” and it’s genuinely the FUNNIEST fucking thing

We have this thing that she’s not allowed to speak while I’m drinking something or have food in my mouth because she chooses the absolute worst moments to say the funniest things and having water come out your nose HURTS, and a few months ago we were getting coffee and she waited until I took a nice big sip before showing me the stupidest tiktok I’ve ever seen and everyone in the coffee shop had to watch me fight for my fucking life. And yes it is a bit annoying to choke and die every time i eat or drink around her, but I do genuinely love the way this mf looks at me like :3 before showing me a meme. istg she does it on purpose /j

every time we play bg3 together she fucking sits there and waits for me to think she wont do it, and then shoves my fucking character or hits them with a sword and then RUNS AWAY AND I CAN NEVER GET HER BACK BECAUSE SHES TOO FAST 😭

she’s also the one who OFFICIALLY got me into Zelda, so without her I probably wouldn’t have gotten into LU. I’d played the og LOZ before when I was 12, but when we were 18 the two of us when to target and she was like “hey man this seems like something you’d like” and had me play the BOTW demo and now I’m here. She gave me the final push and I’ve been yappin’ here ever since. And I think it’s funny that it was my constant yapping that was the final push for HER to get into HER current hyperfixation, bg3. we cursed each other /j

i also love that i’ll go check to see if she got home okay (because i have her location) or im just curious to see what she’s doing, and then I’ll find her in the middle of a fucking lake out of the goddamn country. It never fails to make me laugh 😭

but yeah she’s great, she’s awesome, she’s the funniest person alive, i love her, she’s my best friend, we’re gonna hang a framed photo of autism creature on our wall once we’re able to get an apartment. and there’s no one else who will continue to say “GO PISS GURL!!!” with me in 2024 🫶

#jes talks #jes ask

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chevelleneech · 9 months ago

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Both Buck/Tommy and Buddie shippers are being so dramatic about everything.

On one hand, you have people acting like Buck and Tommy is written in the stars and anyone who dislikes them are being unjust and hateful. On the other, you have people acting as if Buck can’t possibly be in a relationship with a man who isn’t Eddie, and claiming he can is somehow based in racism and hatred of Eddie.

Neither is true! The problem is that prior to 7x04, Evan Buckley was not a canon queer character. He was viewed that way by fans and Oliver Stark was all for it, but that does not change the actual canon history of the character. Therefore, the writers can only fix what they feel fits the current story. They can retcon a few things and so on, but both sides are acting like they’re right, and it makes no sense.

Yes, Buddie shippers have Oliver and Ryan on their side for the most part. Yes, Oliver believes Buck has been queer all along and he thinks a lot of the headcanons about his character’s reaction to things make sense, but he is NOT saying it’s all true. He agrees Buck was likely experiencing some jealousy when Eddie first showed up, but that does not mean Tim Minear is going to make that theory canon. It’s fans and Oliver who think it, but that does not equal canon.

As well, with things being slightly retconned or adjusted to fit the story… Tommy is obviously no longer an asshole by proximity. He was rude to Hen and Chim, but we’ve seen he him interact with the two of them since in civil ways. We know Chim thinks he’s cool. Continuing to demand he apologize on screen is a waste of time. It was five seasons ago, and the story had to change to fit Tim bringing his character back. It happens.

As for Buck/Tommy shippers, y’all have got to get off the high horse of Possibility. At the moment, there are so many ways their relationship can go, and the only reason you all are so high and mighty about it, is because you’re technically never going to be wrong until you’re wrong. Which is annoying.

Yes, Tim could choose to have Tommy stick around for another season. Yeah, Buck and Tommy could be endgame. Yeah, Buck and Tommy could… any and everything is possible, but acting as if Tommy is the love of Buck’s life and deserves fan devotion is crazy. Don’t get me wrong, I like the character. He seems nice if a little cocky, but I like that. I like that he’s written as a grown man who, even though he’s changed, still has a little bit of asshole in him.

Because yes, what he did to Buck on their first date was rude. He didn’t explain anything and left him standing outside the restaurant as if he hadn’t just told him he’s never dated a man before, and as if they hadn’t just run into his best friend. It was a dick move. However, it’s also kinda realistic. So I dug it, but that’s also all we really know about him.

Tommy is an army vet, flies helicopters, was a firefighter, and is gay. Which he struggled to come to terms with, and can be a dick. The way y’all treating him like a savior is insane. Y’all are trying to rub it in people’s face that his relationship with Buck is canon while Buddie isn’t, and I don’t understand that. Buck wasn’t even bisexual three episodes ago, so where is this higher than thou attitude even coming from?

The only thing people should be focused on is the fact that Buck is now canonically bisexual. Tim liked the idea and Oliver loved it, so they finally made it happen. Now, his story has even more potential. I’d even go so far as to say season 7 is going to be a cleaning and re-establishing of all the characters, because so many of them feel a little different.

We’ve got bi!Buck, meaning we’ll get to see him in one or more relationships that he isn’t used to being in. We’ve got a new actor playing Harry, and he’s older, meaning they’re going to have to write to his strengths and build a storyline there that is more mature. Bobby and Athena almost died together for real for real, thus hopefully we’ll get to see their relationship evolve and what if it changes them in any way. Chim and Maddie are finally getting married, so we get to see them kickstart a new chapter together. Hen and Karen have a new child, which will hopefully bring them more storylines and hijinks as a family. And Eddie is dealing with forcing himself to accept a relationship he may not even want to be in. And he’s aware this time, which could result in him ignoring his fears or bowing out, then having to face what bowing out means.

Point is, there is no reason for all this drama.

Buddie is not guaranteed just because it is a popular want for fans, and an accepted theory by the actors and showrunner. They’ve all said it has to fit the overall story without forcibly gearing the writing in that direction. Which means it could happen two episodes from now or two seasons from now. We just have to wait and see.

At the same time, Buck and Tommy are not an established couple yet. They’re going on their second date, and it’s been said Tommy isn’t in the last few episodes of the season. So it’s possible he and Buck are still together, but Lou isn’t a series regular nor regular recurring, so he’s just not contracted to be on set. Which is fine, but acting like a quick breakup is also bad storytelling is ridiculous.

Fans have hated Buck’s relationships with women from the jump, and him breaking up fast isn’t exactly new. So if it happens with the first man he dates… okay. Tommy can become more than a stepping stone, but the writers aren’t obligated to make his first experience with a man something deep and profound. It can be fun and eye-opening and still have mattered, even if it ends fast.

Y’all have got to let the stories play out, and not scream bloody murder if your headcanon doesn’t become canon. Because truth be told, Buck being canon bi is the biggest flex of fan service I’ve ever seen, even if I think it adds to the depth of him. So I can’t imagine how difficult it is to be sure not to continue giving that same group of fans everything they want outright, when there’s so much more story to unfold.

Which means they can’t just make Tommy the love of Buck’s life because Buck/Tommy fans have ditched Buddie or were never Buddie shippers, and want to be right. But they also can’t have Eddie come out and he and Buck start dating, because Buddie shippers have waited five seasons. Just wait to see what happens, and in the meantime, enjoy watching Buck discover more of himself. With Tommy as his current love interest, and Eddie as his best friend.

#911 abc #evan buckley #eddie diaz #tommy kinard #buddie #bucktommy

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sherl-grey · 1 year ago

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dangerous words I fear but I’m craving some OFMD critical but civil discourse… s2 finale spoilers included below the cut. this is incredibly long FYI bc I’m truly desperate to get all my thoughts out

I want to preface by saying I loved S2. I think I loved it more than s1, I think there were some absolute GENIUS moments this season (the entire Calypso episode was *chef’s kiss* my favorite), and I think the cast, crew, and DJ deserve a lot of love and, of course, a renewal for another season.

I know there’s been a lot of anti-finale-critiquing posts out there (and yeah, I also don’t want to see baseless hate or, god forbid, people trying to interact with the cast/crew with anything less than love and respect) but personally, I think the biggest sign that I love a show is me wanting to pick it apart. I think digging into the writing and decision-making and characters of a show means you really appreciate the choices that were made even if you don’t agree with them, because you’re working to understand the story on a level most people only dive to if they’re forced to in an English class. No story is going to be perfect. No story is going to be written specifically for me unless it’s literally by me. But sometimes I still want to study it like a bug under a microscope, you know?

So here we go: I didn’t like the finale, and I didn’t think it fit very well with the rest of the season/show. Weirdly enough I didn’t feel a need to discuss online until I started reading the interviews DJ has been giving about the finale (specifically the choice to kill Izzy and Ed/Stede’s ending) and I’m so curious as to whether others interpreted things the same way. (Yes, they’re DJ’s characters. No, I don’t think all viewers are obligated to interpret things the same way as writers did—that’s half the beauty of storytelling and media consumption.)

Izzy’s Death

Let’s unpack the big one first. I think a lot of what DJ/finale defenders (if I may respectfully call fans who enjoyed s2e8 that) have mentioned is that Izzy’s arc was over and he’d served his narrative purpose. I’ve got a few different issues with this:

1. Part of what I love(d?) about this show is that I did not think this was a show that kills characters once they’ve served their narrative purpose, or a show that kills characters as punishment/retribution for mistakes/earlier actions. To me, OFMD symbolizes the idea that everyone is deserving of love, forgiveness, and second chances. I truly trusted that no one on the Revenge crew would die in this show, and to be proven wrong was a bit disheartening, to say the least. Will talk more on the suicide notion in the next bit because I think it was symbolic, but Izzy also now represents a suicidal character who finds the will to live again. I’d argue that a “full arc” for a character like that should be ending in happiness, not death (and especially not with a line like “I want to go” or whatever the specific words were).

2. DJ seems to describe Izzy’s role as being a mentor to Blackbeard, which I personally struggle to see at all. Despite the Captain/First Mate status difference, I think most signs have pointed towards them being roughly equals—the unrequited love Izzy feels for Ed, the way the two of them stand right up to each other when everyone else would be afraid to, the clear shared history and longevity of their friendship/companionship. (If anything, I’d argue Izzy takes on the mentor mantle for Stede in s2, though it’s a bit glossed over because of how crunched for time everything was.) I certainly have trouble seeing the “father figure” relationship that DJ mentions in interviews, because I think Izzy is the one crew member that puts himself on even ground with his captains.

But even humoring that, Ed’s story has been about shedding Blackbeard. And DJ has a great quote in the Entertainment Weekly interview where he says that Izzy and Ed are both Blackbeard, that the two of them together are what makes Blackbeard “happen.” So in theory, if we’re killing Izzy off to further Ed’s storyline, it’s to ultimately kill Blackbeard, right? Especially since his line at the end is to “just be Ed.”

Except we already have metaphorically killed Blackbeard, several times. I think S2E3 is a really interesting episode because in season 1, it can be argued (and is, by Chauncey Badminton) that Stede kills Blackbeard in his own pirate-y way—with kindness. The crew is also somewhat a part of this, as they all accept and love Ed for who he is and not only because he’s Blackbeard; the crew follows the example of their captain and it changes who Ed is as a person. S2E3 is a crew under Blackbeard, and they also kill Blackbeard following the method of their current captain—violence. And this “death” is, in my mind, the death of Blackbeard while Stede symbolically saves the part of him that is just Ed. (Bonus: we also get Ed trying to sink his leathers, and while it might just be because he’s on a damn boat, it’s interesting that Blackbeard’s clothes are drowned/sunk while Ed’s metaphorical comeback was being saved from drowning by Mer!Stede.)

So Ed’s half of Blackbeard is dead. If we stand by DJ’s idea that Blackbeard is half Izzy, we’ve still got half of Blackbeard left, right? Well, that would’ve been right immediately post-S1, but then they gave Izzy a beautiful arc that seems to be a shadow of Ed’s S1 track. Ed and Izzy are very similar characters, but in S1 Ed is on the receiving end of love, acceptance, and admiration—namely from Stede, but also from the crew. Meanwhile, Izzy is subject to contempt and hostility… once again, namely from Stede, and also from the crew. Ed blossoms under the love during S1 until that’s taken away; Izzy simply moves in the reverse direction. He continues to be an antagonist while being treated like one, but once others start treating him with kindness (Fang hugging him, Jim and Archie amputating his leg while Frenchie lies for him, the whole crew making him the unicorn leg), he too becomes a part of the family. And wouldn’t you know it—Izzy has a near death scene as well, a suicide no less. Izzy is the one who is responsible in S1 for “bringing back Blackbeard,” so the symbolism of him pulling the trigger on himself is huge. This is Izzy killing his half of Blackbeard! Because Izzy Hands continues to live, even if it takes him some time to remember how to live without Blackbeard at first, and his relationship with Ed effectively dies here.

(As a side note, this growth arc and the way Izzy fully transforms into a member of the Revenge crew afterwards—whittling Lucius a shark and talking to him about forgiveness, dressing up in drag and singing to the crew, cracking silly jokes about Ed and Stede’s relationship—are also why I find the “Izzy Hands is the symbol of traditional piracy and his death is symbolic of traditional piracy dying” argument to be weak. In season 1, he was that definition, but we’ve literally watched him grow out of it. He’s no longer symbolic of something stagnant that will remain the same or be destroyed—he’s symbolic of something that grows and adapts to the new situations, that survives when all of the rules change on him.)

And then we have the return of Blackbeard: Pop-Pop pushing Ed to go back to doing “what he’s good at,” Ed fishing his leathers out of the ocean, Ed killing a ton of people because he thinks Stede is likely dead or at minimum in captivity/grave danger. This bit seems to go against everything the season was building towards; Blackbeard was almost entirely gone, but Ed is now the one who brings him back because he thinks Blackbeard is the one who can save Stede. And that’s fair, but what does that have to do with Izzy at this point? Why does he need to die for Ed to put that part of him away again? While we’re not owed a main character having a death that serves a narrative purpose, I’d hope for that to be the case, and I struggle to interpret what happens to Izzy as beneficial to either plot or character.

3. I think the actual core arcs of the show are character arcs and not plots. I get that they might’ve been trying to wrap plots with Zheng and the British in case they aren’t renewed, but I don’t think it was necessary—the pirating has always been secondary to the rom com and the found family, IMO. In S1, we had two main characters, but I’d argue Izzy got enough focus and attention to be a third this season. Which left us with a great character-driven story: we’re watching all 3 of them come into their own and discover who they are individually, while also discovering that the changes in themselves are causing friction between them now that they’re growing into new people. Which is an amazing story to tell, if you ask me, but the fulfillment of that story requires all three characters to be there. The conflict to be resolved is how these characters can become the people they want to be and still coexist together, because on some level they’re family now. Notably each pair combination of these characters grows together or apart (or in Stede/Ed’s case, both) during this season. Ed and Izzy are growing apart because they hold each other back from becoming the person they want/need to be; to complete this narratively, I would’ve expected the next challenge to be finding a way to become friends again as their new selves while letting go of the fact that they used to have a toxic relationship when they used to be different people.

Ed and Stede’s S2 Ending

So Izzy’s death is the big talking point, but I also think DJ’s take on Ed and Stede was interesting. He said that they deserved a happy ending for the work they put in this season. I agree with him in theory, but I’m curious as to whether others agree that they put in a lot of work. I think Stede followed through with his goal to come back and tell Ed how he feels, and to stay instead of running away from his problems. I think Ed followed through with trying to understand who he is and what his needs are while also trying to find the courage to open himself up to love again. But critically, they never talk. E7 makes a point to highlight the miscommunication/lack of communication between them, and then in E8 they still aren’t shown talking.

(I realize part of the issue is the limited amount of time and the amount of plot shoved into episode 8. I get it; personally, I think the plot should’ve been sacrificed for the characters. At this point, we were 7 episodes into a very character/relationship-heavy season. Plot could’ve waited for a potential S3.)

What’s more—there’s a huge, glaring gap between where they left off and where they end up. Ed left in S2E7 after he begins panicking and realizing Stede is becoming deeper entrenched in pirate life just as he’s finally finding his way out of it. Not once do they talk about this, but suddenly they’re retiring together? And right after Ed says Izzy was his only family and Izzy calls the crew his family (which… is also an unearned line, as Ed and the crew have almost no bonding or forgiveness this season, since we focused mainly on Izzy with the crew and Ed with Stede), they leave the crew to do their own thing? They’re all relatively minor things that could be fairly easily addressed by dialogue, but they fact that they’re not only serves to underscore the way that Ed and Stede really aren’t on the same page.

I want them to get their happy ending. They deserve it. I’m just not sure that I agree that they earned it to the degree that it was received, with retirement alone together without their crew, if that makes sense.

Positivity Tax: Calypso Love 😊

I’ve probably got more to say but those were the big ones on my mind after reading the Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly interviews. Just to counterbalance some of the more critical things I’ve said, I wanted to share some loving analysis of the Calypso episode:

1. It’s a minor thing, but the way this episode shows that Ed’s actions as Blackbeard had consequences is amazing. Despite him arguably committing the more grievous wrongs in S1, he’s the one we get the least redemption for in this season (his apology to the crew wasn’t great, and most of his screen time is spent repairing his relationship with Stede), so for him to have to face something that happened because of his past actions is cool, especially because it was done in a way that doesn’t further damage his standing with the crew.

2. The way Stede saves the day is incredible. Competent Stede this season has been an absolute joy to watch, and his success in this episode is twofold: first he wins his way, with signature Gentleman Pirate flair. He listens to Ned’s crew, helps facilitate communication between them, and encourages them to stand up for themselves and demand better treatment. That’s a very classic Stede win. But then he wins in the traditional pirate way, and it’s absolutely glorious; he’s been working towards becoming a better pirate, both in terms of stomaching violence and building up the necessary skills. Ned’s crew can be taken down with kindness, but Ned himself is a pirate and will only be matched by another. I genuinely cannot think of a more perfect way to show that Stede is still himself while also showcasing the newer side of him that he’s been working towards this whole time.

3. Speaking of that newer side of him, the way this episode starts to open up Ed’s insecurities? The combination of seeing his least favorite parts of himself reflected in Stede as well as watching Stede grow into the career that he’s trying to leave? Amazing conflict development.

4. I’ve already talked so much about Izzy but the way this truly caps off the crew’s acceptance of him as part of the family is gorgeous. He’s an entirely new man at this point and there’s no jokes made, no friendly ribbing… just love and acceptance. It highlights both his newfound comfort and familiarity with the others as well as the extent to which they care about him.

5. Less analytical, but it’s also just a really pretty episode.

Considering the fact that I have zero OFMD mutuals and this was a whole essay (I’m on mobile and can’t see how long this is but I’m honestly scared), I would be shocked if someone made it down this far, but if somehow people are here and open to civil discussion… I’d love to know how you felt about this, if you thought DJ was right, if you were a little more on my wavelength and thinking things weren’t adding up, etc. Realistically I’m not sure if anything could change my mind as I’ve done a lot of stewing, particularly about Izzy arc, but new perspectives are always refreshing. Much love to the fandom and of course the creators, who hopefully never see this and get their s3 renewal 🤞🏼

#ofmd spoilers #our flag means death spoilers #our flag means death #sherlgrey.txtea #i am SO going to regret posting this aren’t i #i guess worst case scenario i delete #but I suspect most likely scenario is no one reads this lol

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