#im drowning in a puddle of my own tears

[sawturns]

im not gonna make it through the day i fear.

[chaosinstigator]

just a heads up if you think you’re prepared for the last episode no you’re not

[criminalamnesia]

Not a request but NEW TRAITOR CHAP WHEN??? prioritize urself no rush Pookie just the ppl gotta know

part 7 is here 🙏

ALL PARTS CAN BE FOUND HERE

it was pouring rain as you slid from the taxi, the driver attempting to yell at you to shut the door as thunder rumbled overhead.

you paid him no heed; boots splashed in murky puddles as you pushed the door closed and moved towards the yellow cab’s trunk.

you could barely hear yourself think. the rain was battering the ground as if locked in a viscous war with the cracked pavement— puddles forming as the asphalt resisted with all its might. it wasn’t enough, water seeping into the ground and muddying the grass nearby, drowning it mercilessly.

you grabbed your bag, slinging it over your shoulder before shutting the trunk. you’d barely stepped back from the car before it was speeding off, kicking up water and splashing your legs.

you didn’t mind— you were soaked through to the bone, anyways. besides, you didn’t mind the storm. it was comfort— a distraction from what lay ahead.

your new team. a small, covert operations group made up of the best of the best. two sergeants, a lieutenant, a captain— and they wanted one more soldier.

the opening couldn’t have come at a better time. you’d run your course with your old squad. they’d been fine— until they weren’t. carelessness and ignorance from teammates almost resulted in your untimely death, and laswell hadn’t questioned your transfer request after hearing the tale.

in fact, she’d recommended the one-four-one to you.

you thought you’d be meeting them on base, but the captain had requested you meet them here, instead. a run-down old diner, with its bright, neon pink sign blinking down at you through the rain.

you inhaled, then exhaled. clenched your fists, then unclenched them. it was a habit you’d had since you were a child. it forced you to slow down and think, to overcome the emotions you were lost in.

you blinked. rain ran down your face, creating false tears as it streamed from the corners of your eyes. you were sure you looked a sight.

another inhale, another exhale, and then you moved towards the diner’s door. you pushed it open, stepping inside and wiping your boots on the mat in front of the door.

“I think you’re gonna need to do more than that to dry off, sweetheart” a woman’s voice calls to you, causing you to look up towards the counter. she’s grimacing, looking you up and down. no doubt she’ll be following your path through the building with a mop in hand.

“sorry,” you tell her, trying to brush some water from your jacket. “forgot my umbrella.”

the woman gave a huff, waving her hand before turning and attending to an ancient-looking coffee maker.

you take the time to glance around the diner then, noting the substantial lack of customers. only two booths were occupied, one containing a young couple tangled in each other’s arms, and the other containing a man wearing a baseball cap with the UK flag patched on it.

he looked up from his phone as you approached, seemingly unsurprised based on the grin he gave you.

“glad to see you got here in one piece,” he says as you shrug off your bag, placing it on the floor as you slide into the seat across from him.

“one drenched piece,” you say, and he gives a small chuckle.

“im kyle,” the man tells you. “don’t know what laswell told you,” he clicks off his phone and places it on the table. “but im one of the sergeants.”

you nod. “callsign ‘gaz,’ right?”

he gives a nod of his own. his phone buzzes, the screen lighting up. his eyes glance down, scan the message, then meet yours once more.

“rest of the team got held up. price is in a meeting. johnny and ghost are on assignment, but they’re due back any day now.”

“so you’re the welcome committee by default, huh?” you say, and he laughs.

“guess i am. have i scared you off yet?”

“dunno,” you tell him. “but laswell sings your praises. the captain’s, especially.”

“she sings yours, too.” kyle says.

you give a small nod, your mind racing at what laswell may have told the task force. you weren’t bad at your job— you were great at it. a great shot, a reliable solider, a tireless sentry.

your emotions got the better of you at times, that was all. attachments and bonds that formed, linking you and your fellow soldiers together in the web of warfare. tying you around the wrist and dragging you along, for better or worse. little siblings or lovers evolving from what once had been just another set of boots on the ground.

this job was all you had. you found family where you had too, and it made you all the more loyal. but when you were spurned? when the fire leapt from the pit and scorched your skin?

you weren’t quick to forgive, and you found that reasonable in this line of work. mistakes by teammates could get you killed. who could blame you for holding a grudge against an ally who had almost cost you your life?

it’s why you were here now. a new start with a new team— a team of the best, you included.

kyle’s phone buzzes again. he picks it up, the screen illuminating his face as the lights flicker overhead. the storm wasn’t letting up.

“cap’s on his way— says he’ll be here in less than 30.”

“price, right?” you recall his name. kyle nods.

“don’t tell him I told you,” he leans in, a mischievous look in his eyes, “but he’s been lookin’ forward to meeting you. maybe even more than johnny has.”

“why’s that?”

“said the one-four-one is overdue for someone else who can kick johnny’s ass. wants you to knock him down a few more pegs.”

you laugh at that, giving a small shake of your head. kyle’s lips curl into a smile. “nah, he’s just happy to have some more hands on deck. always helps to have another person that’ll watch your back.”

as kyle starts talking again, you find your nerves settling.

maybe this team could be your new family.

you looked down at your hands, noting the slight shake of them. you don’t think they’d been steady since before everything happened.

your eyes glance to the ugly, scarred stump of the finger you’d lost. simon hadn’t chopped it off prettily, and it’d been stitched up hastily. you couldn’t blame the doctor, there had been more pressing injuries to attend to.

such as the bone-deep cut to one leg, growing infected from your time spent in the chair. the scar was long, stretching from the top of your thigh to your knee. it was still pink, a sign of your body still trying to put itself back together.

your torso wasn’t much better. jagged scars and puckered knots of skin marred your image. both from before and from after.

your eyes met your own in the mirror. you barely recognized yourself. the anger within you still burned, but its flame had reduced to a simmer. exhaustion, apathy, and shame had taken its place.

perhaps that was a good thing. it saved you the energy of fighting the men you inevitably saw every day. despite your numerous pleas and demands for them to simply leave you alone, they seemed to have a hard time listening. it made you want to scream. to hurt them, digging your fingers into skin until they understood the pain behind your words.

a knock sounded at the door. you didn’t move.

a knock again. you could hear the shuffle of feet outside the door. you wished whoever it was would leave you be.

another knock, accompanied by the soft timbre of kyle’s voice.

“love, you alright in there?” he was saying. you still stood before the mirror.

things had been different since you attacked the doctor. it had only been a few days, but word spread quickly through base. if people had avoided you before, you were like the plague now.

and the shame you felt was insurmountable. the pain and regret and fury were building like a tidal wave in your stomach, rising and choking the air from your lungs.

you wanted to leave this place. get away from the men you once called family, the one you once called yours.

but leaving meant the end of your career. you just had to hold out until kate arranged your transfer, that’s all. just a few more days, right?

and then this place and these people wouldn’t be a constant reminder of what had happened to you. of what it had done to you, physically and mentally.

“go, kyle,” you called out to him, breaking from your trance as you reached for the scratchy robe johnny had gifted you one christmas.

“not until i see you breathin’, love.”

you sigh, tying the robe shut and hugging the material to your body. you moved to the door, turning the lock before inching it open.

“breathing,” you tell him, watching as his eyes flick away from yours. god, it made you want to strangle him.

to yell at him, to yell at all of them— "you did this, and you should be able to look me in the eyes and see it.”

“now go.”

he looks at you again, eyebrows furrowed in worry. “will you let me in?” he asks, and you scoff as you move to slam the door.

“fuck off, kyle.”

but he’s quick, and his hand shoots out, grasping the door’s wooden edge and keeping it from closing.

“we need to talk.”

“whatever you need to say, you can say it from there,” you tell him, and he pauses for a minute before he nods.

“doc is asking about you again. she’s up and runnin’ around. said she wants to see you.”

your lips press into a thin line. you didn’t deserve that woman’s kindness, not after what you’d done to her.

you hadn’t been in your right mind, but that didn’t excuse it. you had bloodied your fists; harmed an innocent in the war between you and your own mind.

you didn’t want to see her still worrying about you when you had assured her you were fine. you had left her supervision, and then you’d attacked her. and you hadn’t stopped until simon had pulled you away.

you would’ve killed her, you know that in your heart. you would’ve killed her, thinking she was one of the men who had wanted to kill you.

“tell her im fine,” you said, your hand tightening around the door’s knob.

“i think she’d rather see that for herself,” he says.

“im fine,” you repeat. “i’ll be out of everyone’s hair in a few days, anyways.”

kyle’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “you’re leaving?”

he knew this, they all did. perhaps they just didn’t truly believe it. all of them, every single one, still thought you’d turn around and run back into their arms.

bastards.

“as soon as laswell gives the word,” you reply. “should be soon.”

kyle doesn’t speak. he’s obviously biting his tongue— you’d seen the expression that was on his face enough to know when he was holding back, but you didn’t prod like you would’ve before.

let him keep his secrets, lies, promises, and sorries. you didn’t need them anymore.

“don’t bother me again,” you said before shutting the door in his face.

you hear him sigh on the other side of the wood, then hear the retreat of his steps. you turn back to the mirror, snarl, and grab the alarm clock from your nightstand.

you throw it into the glass, shattering it to pieces. seven years of bad luck, you think.

well, it couldn’t get much worse, could it?

kyle sighs, staring at your door for a second longer before turning away. simon looks down at him from where he was leaning against the wall, hidden from your view, his muscled arms crossed over his chest.

“surprised?” simon asks as the two of them retreat down the hallway. he makes sure they’re far enough from your door before speaking, so that you won’t hear his voice.

“we knew it was happening, price said as much after that whole thing with johnny,” kyle replies, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants. “just thought this might change things.”

“change ‘em how?” simon says. “if anythin’, this speeds it up. they’re a liability now.”

“they’re hurt, ghost,” kyle retorts, his eyes meeting his superior’s. “that’s ptsd. not everyone’s as forgiving as the doc. they attack someone outside and that’s a fucking felony.”

“that’s not our problem, sergeant,” comes simon’s baritone reply, and kyle stops.

“you’re a fuckin’ case yourself, y’know that, LT?” he says, and simon stops. “we all played a part,” kyle continues. “but you? you would’ve killed ‘em if we never knew the truth. i know you would’ve. i’ve seen you do it.”

the men stare at each other. simon’s expression is hidden underneath his balaclava, but kyle knows it’s unreadable regardless.

mean, old ghost. heartless bastard, loyal to the mission only. that’s what the others around base whispered to each other.

kyle had seen proof to the contrary. yes, simon was loyal to the mission. but he was also loyal to his team, his family. you.

he was loyal to you.

“watch yourself, sergeant,” simon speaks, his voice a dangerous rumble.

kyle scoffs and walks off, shaking his head.

simon watches him go, his breath steady.

kyle didn’t understand him, not really. not the way you had begun to. and that was his own fault, he knows it. forever holding those close to him at arms length for fear of the worst.

he’d let you in— let you invade that space he enforced so ruthlessly. and the worst had happened.

kyle doesn’t know this is tearing him in half; none of the team does. they don’t understand that simon wants you to stay because you’re you, but he wants you gone because he can see how this is killing you.

even when he’s the villain in your story, he’s still trying to look out for you— in his own, twisted way.

he doesn’t regret it. that is cemented in his mind. but as he grapples with his own emotions, his mind in its own turmoil, he knows he wants you to be okay.

“im sorry,” he had spoken to deaf ears.

sorry for the ripping apart of your life, but not sorry for what he had done.

deep down, he knew you would never forgive them. he knew that leaving this team would be the best thing for you.

he knew, he knew, he knew.

knowing and accepting are two different things.

hope this was worth the wait! i think the next part will be the end, unless my idea changes 👀

[angelshadowsinger]

Prized Possession

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Azriel x f!reader 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2.3k 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲: fluff!! littlest hint of spice. like a little angst too bc they have a brief fight??? idk

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:

You lose something and Azriel gets it back for you.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞:

im too soft for this pls its too much. i almost made this a smut but i am wholesome and refuse to listen to the little devil on my shoulder. also this is unedited

･ ゜゜・．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･

ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ: ʙʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴇʀᴛɪꜰʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ 18 ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴍɪɴᴏʀ. ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴀʏ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇꜱ. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴅɪꜱᴄʀᴇᴛɪᴏɴ.

･ ゜゜・．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･

The ground shook as the air cleaved and two bodies fell to the floor from the mass of shadow above. A wave of cold river water surged out, slickening the marble tile with a slight greenish tinge. 

You were retching up water on your hands and knees, drenched hair plastered to your face and your neck. A large slice of skin was exposed diagonally across your collar from where the siren had scratched you, a red ring around your wrist quickly turning purple from where it had grabbed you and dragged you under. That was all before Azriel had dove in from the sky, as graceful and lethal as a bullet with his wings tucked tight and limbs flush to his sides. In but a flash of blinding, brilliant blue did he slay the faerie, the life just starting to leave its gaze before firm hands had snatched you and you’d slipped away into the shadows. 

Now the shadowsinger was coughing violently, all the while glaring at you as he braced his scarred hands on his knees, heaved over. His large, dark wings were dripping, a mist showering over you as he shook them free of moisture. You could feel his stony stare fixed on you as the puddle on the floor gradually grew, both your bodies dripping. 

The moment you regained some semblance of control you were up on your feet and jabbing a finger into the male’s broad chest, a vicious growl emitting from your mouth and your eyes ablaze. 

“What the hell is your problem?!”

He had the audacity to look shocked by your outrage, a dark brow scrunching and lips pulling back to snarl something back at you but you were quicker than him.

“I had it, Azriel, what the fuck?” 

“The only thing you had was a watery grave,” he instantly barked back, now standing upright so he loomed over you as usual. 

Somehow he looked even more devastating fully drenched, his clothes sticking to his lean frame, revealing his rippling muscles to you with every movement. His dark locks were pitch black and curling at the tips, heavy, shiny droplets collecting at the very ends. Hazel was lit aglow beneath that darkness, his gaze lit with some unknown wrath that you didn’t quite know how to place. 

It was just plain unfair how good he looked after nearly drowning. 

“Fuck you,” you scoffed, even if he was right. The ache in your lungs remained from your lack of breath, the creature having dragged you underwater so deep that your ears nearly popped with the pressure. 

You turned away from him as your fingers ran over your chest, toward the spot that your necklace usually laid upon. But now there was only a shallow slice where the siren had swiped it from you, and the tattered edges of your top. Tears welled in your eyes at the barren expanse of skin you felt, but you refused to let them fall in front of the shadowsinger, refused to let your anger turn to sorrow before you were in the privacy of your own room. 

“I think gratitude would be more appropriate,” Azriel spoke harshly, still glowering from his position behind you. “You know, for saving your life?” 

You whirled around, fists clenched at your hips. “Would you just shut up!” your hiss morphed into a gasp as you trembled with the effort of curbing the sob that tried to escape. 

The haughty look instantly dropped from Azriel’s face, his eyes flicking over every inch of you to assess you for any sign of physical damage. When all he came up with was the cut on your collar and the bruise around your wrist, his brow furrowed. 

You were shaking, frustration peaking as you ran your fingers through your sopping hair, starting to pace before the male. “I had it, it was right there…” you muttered to yourself, quickly swiping away a rogue tear, praying he hadn’t seen it.

The shadowsinger remained rooted where he stood, watching your display of upset with quiet intensity. After you had paced for a minute, he finally asked, “You had… what?” 

His voice was deep as it sliced the silence in the room. The chill of his chambers was now starting to leech into your bones, your arms crossing over your soaked midsection.

You pinched the spot between your brow and nose bridge, willing any nearly-boiling emotions to relax to a simmer, at least while you were still in front of your long-time crush. “Just forget about it…” 

You weren’t looking at him so you didn’t see the way his plush lips pursed. 

“Forget about what?” he pressed. His persistence forced an annoyed sigh from you, and you shot him a quick glare before continuing your pacing. 

“It’s nothing,” you said, trying to shut him down again. You didn’t know why enlightening him of the true reason you were so upset seemed somehow embarrassing. Maybe it was because the male had never shown profound emotion to you and therefore cueing him in on your own felt… too intimate. 

But Azriel wasn’t having it. 

“If it’s really nothing—”

“You wouldn’t get it.” 

“Try me.” 

You turned again, facing the male before you and gauging his stance. With one look you knew he was not dropping it. Any excuses you would attempt would be futile. 

“It took… my necklace.” 

You held your breath, waiting for him to explode, for him to belittle you and call you stupid and materialistic and any other insult he could produce. But all he did was stand there, and look at you. 

Eventually, he said, “So you’re telling me that you nearly drowned… for some jewelry?” 

Your eyes fell from his to the floor. You knew he wouldn’t understand. 

“Risking your life for such a thing is extremely reckless and I don’t care to entertain it,” he stated, callous. 

“It’s not just some jewelry!” you quipped, standing your ground. You didn’t care if it made you look weak, stupid. Yes, you thought he was cute and funny and usually kind, but this meant a lot to you and you were going to hold your own. 

Azriel sighed, stepping closer to you. “I don’t think you understand the value of your life, or the importance of your existence in others’.” 

You brushed off whatever that meant.

“It’s the only thing I have left from my mother,” you finally revealed, the words fading softer toward the end. You regretted it immediately, but you knew from the emotion that flashed in his eyes that he had heard it, and there was no taking it back now. 

You had never mentioned her to him before, only the fact that she was dead and had been for a long time. And Azriel hadn’t pushed, so you hadn’t felt the desire to give any further detail. 

But now he was looking at you with some sentiment you couldn’t quite place. It seemed like… maybe it was… empathy. 

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have yelled.”

You were surprised by his immediate apology, hadn’t expected it. A somber smile graced your lips and you nodded, gaze drifting down to your feet again, turning to head back to your room to wallow in self-pity. “It’s okay, it’s just a necklace.” 

Three steps into your retreat Azriel cleared his throat. 

When you turned to look at him he was still standing there, but he now had a little smirk on his lips as he held out a clenched fist. He released his grip and out dropped a small, silver-laced heart pendant, the chain bouncing from its coil around his fingers. 

“You mean this necklace?” 

Your breath was genuinely sucked out from your lungs, your eyes tearing up as you blinked furiously, unsure if he was really holding your most prized possession. 

“Az,” you blubbered, choked up and your lip quivering. “That’s…” Two slow steps and then you were flying into his arms, your limbs wrapping around his torso as you clung to him and laughed. 

Azriel stumbled back just slightly, unprepared for your abrupt launch into his embrace. But he quickly recovered, his free arm wrapping around you so your bottom was secured by his elbow, his hand at your waist. He chuckled as you squeezed him, fingers reaching out to stroke the pendant that now lay in his open palm, to make sure it was really here and you hadn’t lost it. Your longtime crush had saved you and somehow managed to sneakily grab your necklace at the same time. 

“Thank you,” you sniffed, tears welling up with relief, “thank you, thank you so much, thank you Az.” You whispered it over and over, tucking your face in against his neck, breathing in that soothing cool cedar scent you loved so much. 

The shadowsinger was blushing with your proximity and your praise, near giddy from your outright gratefulness. He allowed himself to nuzzle your ear just once, not wanting to toe the line. “Of course, sweetheart… anything for you.” 

You sat back so you could look at him, your beaming smile reaching your eyes. Azriel couldn’t help but grin back at you. 

“I can’t believe you got it! You’re the best, Az!” you cheered, fingers now resting on his palm, pleased to find the necklace was indeed there and not lost at the bottom of the river. 

The Illyrian was basically looking at you with heart-eyes now, not used to such overt flattery. You wiggled in his grasp, totally overjoyed. The display of your content was making his heart feel funny, his icy exterior completely melting for you. 

“I’m so happy right now, I could just—” 

You planted your mouth on his, hands coming to cup his strong jaw and hold his face flush to yours.

Azriel went stiff, his eyes widening as his grip on you became steel. But you were undeterred, pulling back to plant a few more swift, equally-firm kisses on his lips and then across his hot cheeks and nose. 

When you pulled back, Azriel was gaping at you, lips now parted and his cheeks and the tips of his ears a soft, warm pink. Your smile faded as you took in his expression, settling into the knowledge that you’d just assaulted him with a barrage of kisses. 

“Shit— I— I’m sorry Az,” you laughed, embarrassment creeping up the back of your neck. “I just— got a bit excited, I guess.”

You shifted so he would let you down but he refused to budge, arm taut around you. His wings were held high and tight behind him, still buffering as he tried to process what you had just done. 

Your cheeks were becoming the same shade as his now, and you swallowed, uncomfortable under his intense stare. You weren’t accustomed to being able to look him head-on like this; he usually towered over you. He was so handsome up close, it made your heart drop into your stomach at the thought that you had just kissed him. About ten times, give or take. 

It seemed like an eternity had passed before the shadowsinger finally blinked and closed his mouth, his eyes falling to linger on your lips. You felt aflame as you watched his tongue dart out, tasting the spot your lips had just claimed. “That’s alright,” he murmured, the hand that was holding the necklace coming to tuck your wet hair behind your ear, fingertips gliding down your jaw, leaving you wanting more. “Seems like a worthy reward for returning your most prized possession to you.”

Then he was setting you down, your ankles suddenly weak as your feet touched the ground. 

“Allow me,” he said and gently placed his hand on your hip, turning you away from him. 

You held your breath as the rough pads of his fingers coasted up your shoulder, the familiar weight of your mother’s pendant heavy against your rapidly-beating chest while he secured the clasp. You tried to calm yourself down but it wasn’t happening, your body leaning back against him on its own. 

Azriel hissed lowly, firm hands grasping the back of your forearms and holding you out, far from where your back had grazed him. “Careful— you’re not the only one excited here.”

Your face burned and your core stirred at the same time. 

“Sorry…” you whispered meekly. 

He sighed a soft laugh, one hand rubbing your arm. “It’s alright. You go and run a hot bath, you’re drenched and I can hear your teeth rattling from here.” 

You turned and smiled smally, grateful he was offering you an escape. You took extra care in keeping your eyes locked with his, no matter how bad you wanted to look down and see just how excited he was. “Thank you again, Az. You have no idea how much this means to me.” 

And with that, you slipped from his chambers, the sound of your wet feet pattering down the hallway. 

Azriel watched the spot where you had disappeared around his door, his shadows now surging out and dancing around him with glee, flickering across his mouth to get a taste of you. He didn’t care that he was still dripping wet as he flopped back onto his bed, his fingers coming to trace his lips. He recalled how your mouth felt on him, closing his eyes as he tried to preserve the feeling as best he could. 

“No sweetheart,” he spoke to no one in particular, a confession only the stars in the sky would hear, “you’ve no idea how much you mean to me.”

･ ゜゜・．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･

[soberlovey]

out of the ashes that burn.

JOHN WICK + F!READER father/daugher. (PLATONIC)

THIS WILL BE A ONGOING SERIES (if continued)

mild cussing, yah yah..

You placed your wet hand on the brick wall, it making a dark hand print where it lied. Your eyes shined in the dark streetlights, tears running down your cheeks while your arms struggled to stay upright while pressing against the rough, white, brick wall.

The streets were emptier than normal, however this was the part of the city where barley anyone was. Especially at night. By a lot of people you knew, this part of the city was called "Dead Of Night"

Your jacket stuck to your skin, humid and wet. Your black long sleeved shirt grey from the streetlight shining on it. The rain pattered against your head, large, heavy droplets descending from the dark clouds in the sky.

Running from a car nearly hitting you because you decided to jay-walk is scary as hell.

Hands off the wall, you took a step back as the weight of the damp sleeves of your shirt weighed your arms down. You took out a sharpie and held it to the wall, eyes searching for any nearby cameras.

Nothing, but thats not a surprise.

Taking a moment to think what to write, the puddles near you splashing from the raindrops, giving the slightest inspiration to you.

"Dont jay-walk. You'll drown in your own blood."

Warning people is fun, hm?

You shoved the marker back in your pocket, then looked back up at the writing on the wall, reading it over and over again.

Then, that loop of reading got interrupted.

Footsteps echoed from the corner of the building you stood near, they were audible, but you couldn't hear them that well.

You figured it was most likely the mailman. You were near a neighborhood afterall.

Dismissing it, you decided to walk off.

Curiosity grew, you were aware this person was behind you. You had to look back.

Your head spun, looking back as the shocked mailman jumped.

"Oh my gosh! Ma'am im so sorry."

The mailman yelped.

The guilt rose from your heart, you felt horrible. You didnt mean to scare the poor guy.

"Oh, dear. Sorry. I thought you were following me."

The mailman's words started to jumble and he stuttered as he tried to explain.

"I-I mean you were heading to a certain address.. I thought."

"No. Its fine."

You were a bit tired from talking to this socially unstable mailman, obviously.

"Listen, Ma'am I have to deliver some mail-"

The drop of a slightly heavy envelope interrupted him mid sentence.

You read the address, a bell rung in your head as the familiar name struck your memory.

"Oh, The Continental? I know where that is."

You picked the envelope, it sounded like a few quarters or something were in there.

"Say, how bout' I do you a favor.. and I drop this off at The Continental."

You smirked as the mailman's expression changed to a look of concern.

"Ma'am. Its my job. I got it."

Really? Well, you did have to stop by the store near that dumb hotel anyway. Why not have something fun to do while you were on your way.

"No, sir. I insist. Just tell your boss you got it, alright!"

You didn't even give him a chance to respond, but it was clear he agreed.

As you walked, the wind gusted against your clothes even though the rain stopped. Your body, still wet sent chills along your back.

The urge to open the envelope grew, well because what seemed to be in that envelope didnt seem like a rent due notice or a letter from the owner.

Some coins and a letter didn't seem like that at all.

"I have to open it"

You whispered under your cold breath, as the transparent gust left your mouth from the coldness of the air.

Using your nail, you opened the envelope for a piece of folded paper and two big, golden, coins to greet you.

The light reflected off them as the light from the reflection glazed your eyes at the slightest.

You grabbed the piece of paper and held it up to your eyes.

"John Wick"

Written across the front of the folded paper in black, bold pen.

Hm, whos that?

Opening up the paper, the dark words seemed as less professional than a eviction notice or anything. This was obviously a letter to John Wick, whoever that is.

Your eyes went back and fourth across the paper as you read the letter.

"Dear Jonathan, I and my crew are aware of the situation you have gotten yourself in over the past few weeks, and fortunately we stand with you. We have made sure to help you the best we can by providing you with ammunition and weaponry. We pray for you and your safety."

"Well, no sincerely? I guess we'll never know how this belongs to. Not my problem. Unless this "John Wick" Becomes my problem."

You whispered with every ounce of pride, it was clear no one could hear you. But it wasn't necessary for anyone to hear your prideful remark.

[lilfoxay]

putting together my final portfolio for my intro to creative writing class and i have to review my stuff to write a reflection about it and honestly? the flash fiction piece i wrote was great before, but i like it even better after my revisions. im not normally super cocky about my writing (cautiously confident at best) but i reserve the right to be cocky about this one. (also pinging @raccoonfallsharder because i can and i don't need to justify it hehehehe)

the theme was "unexpected encounter," it's under the cut :>

Neon lights turned the rain to various shades of red and pink. It reflected in the puddles, in the slick-wet metal of the streetlamps, in your eyes when you recognized me, in my guilt when I recognized you. You stepped off the bus and opened your umbrella against the storm; I felt my grip around my own umbrella handle tighten. The bus rumbled off into the night, leaving us in a downpour of silence broken only by the pitter-patter of raindrops on pavement.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” This was incredibly awkward. At least you spoke first. “Thought you moved out of town?”

“Visiting family.” Your answer was blunt. I felt my insides shrivel up a little.

“Yeah.” Thank God for the rain, you couldn’t hear me gulp. “Look, about what happened-”

“Forget it.” I don’t know what I expected. Anger, violence, ignorance. You greeted me with dismissal instead; I’m not sure what would’ve been worse. “What’s in the past is there. Forever. No matter what happens now.” You continued on your path, but not before setting your hand on my shoulder. The scar peeked out from under the sleeve of your jacket; it’d healed well despite everything. “Just hope you learned something. And that you don’t repeat it.”

My words caught in my throat, your words ran freely around my brain. The white noise of the rain wasn’t enough to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head. A chorus of voices fighting to be heard, blaming me, absolving me, cursing and blessing me in equal measure. One cut in above the rest. A reminder.

I was supposed to catch that damn bus.

Flopping onto the bus stop bench with a sigh, I ignored the cold seeping in and wrapping its claws around my throat. The sting of tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, the constricting of breath left my lungs tight and aching. I saw myself in the growing puddle at my feet; I was the spitting image of a guilty man.

Neon lights flickered off in the night, leaving the rain an appropriately melancholy blue.

[bluewinnerangel]

right back at ya cowboy

Omg ella I'm so sorry I was gonna do this "later" and then it got buried. OK. I clicked. EDIT: I JUST FOUND THIS IN MY DRAFTS IM DOUBLE SORRY lol imma expose my ramble draft

[So in case someone's reading this thinking ???? we sometimes throw a spinning wheel of songs at each other and then just go rambling yelling analysing whatever it gives back. I've kept track with this tag, feel free to copy any of them wheels links and go off or bug someone with it actually pls do]

Oh you mean that song I for some reason like some total idiot put on first thing in the morning and just bawl my eyes out, you know when its so early you're just so vulnerable and everything feels raw and there's no thoughts just something primal happens and it's me drowning myself in this song and then the day can start I guess am I fine nobody knows. It's now my Saturday morning ritual where before coffee I see some sun and I just bawl there's something therapeutic about it. I'd recommend it. Just some sun some coffee brewin some confused pet wondering if you're OK yeah.

Anyway. The song I can place extremely easily in like "1d ended and it sucked" context, but it works with a lot. whatever I can think of him, or anyone, writing about, whatever it means to me. (general Louis' songwriting ramble incoming:) I'm looking at FITF differently compared to Walls and previous work and he's approached it differently, I feel like what he's been saying about his discography fits that as well. I think (this is a mash of what i think to hear in his lyrics and in interviews, so heavy paraphrasing:) before he had this idea he should be writing where the whole thing makes sense to be about this one situation/idea and it has to be about him too and sure perhaps a context might have been written around it, but i think in the past hes been pretty perfectionist on having every single line fit the thing he was thinking of what that song is, and now thats no longer the case. Now it's whatever works, whatever hits, feels, does it. It doesn't matter one thought/situation flows into another.

I guess that was a long rambley way of saying I wanna do line by line lyric analyses of his stuff but I don't know how to make that work as it did previously, for me at least. But on the other by temporarily running with one interpretation and seeing what you can find in the lines can really help see more angles, bring more depth to the line, and consider other meanings and stuff so.. idk not much wrong with it. I wanna do that too I think. This is I guess A Promise I'll do a Holding On To Heartache lyric breakdown. At Some Point. :D

But I think his choices of words and soundscapes and perhaps all them being little references are just wonderful. I cherish it so much. I'm slightly afraid he did the same in Perfect Now (like after seeing a web of possible perfect now lyrical referencing that song did become one of my favs as I love that idea like it gives so much more body depth meaning whatever to a song to me even if not on purpose lol its not even relevant at that point anymore anyway) and long term didn't value it much so now I'm afraid my new little more poppy fav will be his new neglected child but time will tell. Just... have an itch. Rip. EDIT yeah that itch got worse because of the track by track we got now.. it's got that bit about HOTH being a poppy one and the way he's talking about it sigh i feel him but sigh also hes sigh i dont wannt start that discourse over that shit so no. but itch. I uh... luckily don't let how I interpret his reactions to his own songs affect the way I feel about his own songs haha brainpayne this.

ok ok ok last ramble it sounds so fucking liquid? so wet?? how do I explain this why does it sound w e t EDIT: help me he said the sound is like a guitar under water like he's drowning it's flooding we're in a puddle of tears this song, it's what makes me bawl I think, because the song sounds like bawling, and your cheeks are puffed up and we,t and you find a moment of quiet and stare up at the sky with your wet lashes exhausted defeated but you're still here you're still breathing. Also the bridge with the "space between us just comes FLOODING back" at the end of it, it's not the bit that hits the hardest in an obvious way, instead it kinda gets overlooked a way, theres no moment to sit and waddle in the SHIT FLOODING BACK RIGHT THERE it just goes right into the quiet bit again,there's no time given to recover from getting crushed by the wavesm and it just does something to me... I can't leave that bit as the little end of a big thought it sounds like, but the way its sung... time just keeps ticking and we're at the end. I'm almost sure that wasn't intentional and like @ me why focus on this of all the overwhelm that's in this song, but that just feels like a reflection of the feeling I get from this song, you're just fucking sitting there in the middle of this overwhelming ache these waves of hurt and shit just moves on and youre just there stuck there with but i wasn't done? But I guess I should be? Like there's no room for me drowning in this even more but I feel like I need to still?

ramble out.

[utahimeow]

this is ur kin and I carry you everywhere you need to go

im drowning in a puddle of my own tears i hope u know this kendall

send in an ask what my assigned kin is (serious or joke)

[joysmercer]

ok im drowning in a puddle of my own tears now. happy thanksgiving to everyone but that episode (/j) (but it really did make me cry)

[ananyaananyaananya]

a wild saga ravishing youth and love

not a lot has changed since i was nine, most days i feel as if im swinging from a trapeze, i still try to step on gaps of sunlight so they would seep into my flesh and make me warm, i still somehow fit into the jeans i wore then, you can't ask me why i stopped growing, now i know you can't flood a flower with water and then wonder why it's drowning. I didn't know where people went after they died, I didn't know the place I would call home would never be a place at all. I didn't think I would ever forget how I got that moon shaped scar on my ankle or how much it had hurt. I still burst into tears like I did as a child, with my bottom lip puckering out and revealing the cause only after I have cried all the last of my tears.

we held hands 13 days ago and i can still feel your fingers caressing my knuckles

I didn't know being in love would be wearing matching bracelets and one of your pink socks, now I see our reflection on every puddle of rain, grasping your hand tightly when I finally do get that helix piercing, on whichever ear you choose. And I never ever imagined there would be someone from whom I wouldn't have to hide my inhaler and my tourniquet, or my weaknesses. I didn't know I could melt at glances and become liquid light, or that you could spread me as thin as a layer of butter on toast.

i would let you sew your name into my skin if you asked nicely

but i know some things i didn't before, not when i was nine, not until six months ago; there are only so many things i can trace with my bare fingers, your number on my phone, the creases on the palm of your hand, your teeth marks on my neck and the lines on my ribs, the scar it left when you took the shiv out of my back, all the unread books on my shelf, dried flowers and the slices of orange i will peel for you. I am starting to find you everywhere now, in the scent of my bramble lip balm, in the creaks of my bedroom floor, beyond my fears, beyond this writing and this world. In the parking lots where you kissed me and made me your own, not just soft-mouthed bites, I think I would let you sew your secrets (and whispers of babie babie babie against my mouth) into my skin if you asked nicely. And I'm happier now, more so that i was ever before, way more than when i was nine, way more than I was six months ago.

[bluhbluh1234]

I've been doing absolutely nothing but binge watch The 100.

Is that unhealthy?

[gh0stboyirl]

himb.

𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 ✨

[zombunny-06]

[billcwingcloaks]

Just imagine the look of absolute awe that Sev must have had when he first saw Hogwarts.Like imagine him just standing still for a few moments and just taking in the glory of the huge castle, thinking that this is where he belonged. Imagine him just randomly chipping in facts from Hogwarts:A History to Lily like a total nerd. Imagine him seeing Dumbledore for the first time and thinking 'He looks just like how Mum described him!'Imagine him having somewhat of a bittersweet feeling after being sorted into Slytherin because on one hand Lily was not with him but on the other hand this is where he always wanted to be! Imagine Lily telling him what the other Gryffindors have been talking about the Slytherin house and him replying with 'Nonsense! My mum said Slytherin is the best house to be in.' Imagine him just sitting in the Slytherin common room, gazing at the beautiful glowing creatures in the Black Lake with a serene look on his face which would vanish completely in the later years.

[dadbodsarehot]

an enchanted moment and it sees me through it's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you

mgsv era mavuhira by @l1p3k4 !! thank you so much for you hard work, i’m so so happy with how this came out !!

[willowfoot]

sent my dad a single “ :’) ” emoji and apparently he immediately ran to my mom to inform her that “HELP OUR DAUGHTER IS CRYING” lmao