#it’s like I KNOW full well that for some of these teachers it could explode into a full on thing you know

[ryderdire]

If I fucking survive highshcool I should get like idk a dinky little trophy or somthing

[brewstersbru]

Short bkdk because I am SAD and katsuki is DEAD (for a little bit) 💚🧡

The hospital was miserable. Not just because it was chock full of grieving families and people balancing on the knife’s edge between life and death, but because—despite the fact that he survived—Katsuki was still being grieved.

He could see it in Best Jeanist’s eyes when he visited, dropping off some new, incredibly soft clothes for him to wear that weren’t open-backed hospital gowns. Guilt. Regret. Katsuki was alive, sitting right in front of him, and he still couldn’t quite see past the mirage of blood on his face.

Aizawa, too, had barely been able to look at him. Brought the three third years so he didn’t have to be alone with Katsuki. Face what he saw as one of his greatest failures as a teacher. A mentor. At least that’s what Katsuki thought.

The old man brought well wishes from the class. Some flowers. And the black smudges beneath his eyes. Katsuki wondered if he’d slept at all in the aftermath. If he’d ever sleep soundly again. Katsuki sure won’t.

The third years praised his speed, commenting on how dazzling his explosions were, until the very end. Mirio told him he knew he’d be a great hero one day, that he practically already was one. Nejire seconded that and asked if all of his sweat exploded, and if it was inconvenient because of that. He was so viscerally reminded of Izuku, in the moment, that he nearly started bawling.

Amajiki didn’t say much, but he left a small bento with a note: eat up and regain your strength. thank you. you were incredible.

And still, through their attempts at normalcy he could see the way they watched him. As if he were liable to keel over again at any minute. He was fine, goddamnit. He was healing. That didn’t make him weak.

The hag and his old man visited daily. Couldn’t stop touching his face and neck and tilting him every which way to reassure themselves that he really was alive. That was more the hag, but every so often his old man—who generally strayed away from getting physical with him—would cup his cheek and run his thumb over the new scar there, eyes pained. Katsuki always shook him off, told him not to look at him like that, but the memory lingers, as they all do. The hag wouldn’t even smack him anymore, even when he knew he was being a brat. Taking his anger at the world and his body out on them when they did nothing to deserve it.

All of her touches were light, ghosts of things that made him feel uncomfortably unreal. She asked if he wanted to stay at UA, after everything, and something about the tilt of her mouth told him she already knew the answer. Still, when he said yes, without hesitation, she had to excuse herself from the room, eyes shining.

It was maddening. A purgatory of what-ifs that everyone except him was experiencing. The only ‘what-if’ Katsuki was concerned with was whether or not—if he was just a little stronger, had been able to land even just one more hit— Izuku would’ve been able to keep his quirk. But that’s for him. He keeps it close and inside and it’s no one else’s problem.

Now that he’s out—lounging in his dorm room after a less harrowing round of greetings from all the others, who didn’t know the situation and thus couldn’t feel guilty or grieve about it—it’s louder, the way he likes it. Normal.

Kirishima and Kaminari are wrestling somewhere loud enough for him to hear them jeering at each other. Iida’s yelling at someone for leaving a mess in the kitchen. It loosens something that had scabbed over in Katsuki’s chest.

There’s a knock at his door.

Sero? Possibly, but he would’ve thought he was with Kirishima and Kaminari, filming or something ‘for posterity’. It’s not Todoroki, his self-proclaimed ‘best friend’, because he’s at the hospital visiting his brother.

Before he can stand and open the door, it creaks forward and a bright green eye stares at him through the crack.

“Kacchan?”

Izuku.

Katsuki sighs and shakes his head.

“What was the point of knocking if you were just gonna come in anyway?”

He doesn’t say, ‘leave’ or ‘get out’ or ‘beat it, Deku!’. Izuku’s mouth quirks into a half-smile as he opens the door the rest of the way and steps inside.

“I thought you might be sleeping. I know it’s been a hard few weeks.”

Katsuki scoffs. And another one. Fucking- doubting him. Of course he's exhausted, sleeping is almost impossible right now and people haven’t stopped walking on eggshells around him. Doesn’t mean he’s going to be a pussy about it. He’s going to prove to them that he’s just as he’s always been, that he doesn’t need the goddamn kid gloves.

“Don’t start. I don’t need your fucking pity.”

“It’s not pity, Kacchan.” Izuku’s voice hardens. “I’m not here for you.”

And what a bewilderingly contradictory statement. He’s in Katsuki’s room. What else could he possibly be there for?

“What-“

He doesn’t manage to voice his incredulity before Izuku is on top of him, clinging tight, but gingerly, around his sides and burying his face into his neck. Katsuki nearly flinches back into his pillow with the suddenness of it.

“Deku- what the hell-“

Izuku breathes deep and reaches blindly up to clamp a hand over Katsuki’s mouth.

“Shut up. Give me a minute. And call me Izuku, I know you can.”

Katsuki, too shocked with his words and actions to do otherwise, gives him a minute. Izuku simply lies there, curled over him, and breathes. He matches his inhales to Katsuki’s and taps out the slow thrum of his heart against his hip. Hypnotizing. It’s surprisingly peaceful, and before long Katsuki finds himself lulled into a hazy, half-awake state.

Finally, Izuku speaks, voice hushed.

“You don’t- I don’t think you get it, Kacchan. You didn’t have to see yourself.” He shivers, and Katsuki finds himself raising his own arms to pull him closer towards his own heat.

“Your eyes… Empty. Dull. Dead. It was your body, but I knew you weren’t in there anymore. Someone—Shigaraki—had torn you out.” Something wet splashes against Katsuki’s neck, startling him. Izuku is crying.

“But I’m fine, now. I’m back. Edgeshot saved me.” Katsuki says, haltingly. His voice struggles over the word ‘saved’ but it’s the truth. He had to be saved. Because he couldn’t hold his own.

Izuku shakes his head and presses impossibly closer.

“I know that. I just- I just need to make sure.”

And Katsuki understands. More than anyone, he thinks, he knows exactly what’s running through Izuku’s mind right now. The nauseating mix of helplessness and self hatred.

“Okay.” He says. Then, a crackling whisper, so quiet that it’s only because Izuku is so close that he’s able to hear it. “I’m sorry.”

Izuku’s arms tighten, for a fraction of a second, around him before he pushes himself up. Katsuki swears there’s lightning in his eyes when they look at each other.

“Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that. You literally died because of me-“ His voice cuts off into sobs. Katsuki watches, dismayed, as another wave of tears begins cresting down his cheeks. Ah, shit.

Katsuki raises his good hand to hover over Izuku’s teary cheeks. Callously, and without much tact, his thumb smears some of the wetness from beneath his eyes. It doesn’t really do anything, and he curses himself for trying.

“Izuku, look, I-“ He tries to pull his hand back but Izuku snatches it from the air and presses it back against his cheek. There’s a wobbly smile building on his lips. Katsuki can hardly bear to look at it.

“It wasn’t your fault. I should’ve-“

“No.” Izuku says, turning to press Katsuki’s pulse point against his face, where he can feel his heart beat. “If it isn’t my fault, then it isn’t yours.”

Katsuki can’t bring himself to agree, yet. Not verbally. But he wants, desperately, for Izuku to stop crying so he nods, once, very stiffly.

Izuku’s teeth glint as his mouth stretches into a real grinning laugh. It feels like staring directly at the sun. Katsuki can’t look away.

“Alright. I’ll take that.” Izuku settles back onto Katsuki’s chest, ear pressed to his shirt as his hands migrate back to cage Katsuki beneath him. Like a blanket, or armor, his weight is familiar to Katsuki, soothing.

“Don’t move.”

Now it’s Katsuki’s turn to chuckle. As if he could. Izuku cracks an eye open to watch him.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

[nwjws]

howlers of love - ksn 🎐

; pairing - sunoo x gn!reader

; synopsis - in which sunoo starts receiving howlers from an anonymous student, professing their love for him in his face for the whole school to watch.

; tags - one shot, fluff, a teaspoon of angst, hogwarts au, hufflepuff!sunoo, hufflepuff!reader ; warnings - none

; wc - 3.3k

; author's corner! this was requested! i just love hogwarts aus and sunoo

it was a normal morning. it was.

walking down to the great hall with your best friend, sunoo, for breakfast - it was your daily routine. it had been for the past 4 years.

you'd wait for each other in the common room every morning, then make your way to the hall for breakfast. sunoo would be complaining about some teacher or classmate while you speed-run some homework due the other day.

then, you'd leave for your classes, but not without sunoo stuffing some toast up your mouth, because you never actually eat much in the mornings. not when you're completing work you should have done earlier. this morning was just like every other - until an owl dropped a red envelope at sunoo's plate.

suddenly, the other students sitting nearby you guys silenced, eyeing the howler in front of your best friend. howlers were never a good thing to receive. they were often sent by parents to their children who had been particularly naughty.

"are you in trouble?" someone asked, but no one could believe it. after all, sunoo was a good student, great even. he was a ball of sunshine, and did well at school. he had no enemies, not when a smile from him could send anyone melting on the inside.

so what the hell was a howler doing in front of him?

"you should open it soon," you told him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. his eyes remained fixed on the letter. "to get it over with."

it seemed like the whole hall leaned away as sunoo slowly reached for it, confused and afraid of what it might contain.

a moment later, the envelope exploded, and a distorted voice started roaring from it, garnering everyone's attention.

"DEAR SUNOO, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU NOW.

"I LIKE YOU. I HAVE FOR A WHILE NOW, AND IT'S SO HARD KEEPING THESE FEELINGS TO MYSELF. NOT WHEN YOU'RE SO PERFECT, AND AMAZING, AND BRILLIANT, AND TALENTED.

"I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO RECIPROCATE MY FEELINGS, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CARE FOR YOU - LIKE ME.

"SINCERELY, YOUR NOT-SO-SECRET ADMIRER."

a silence fell over the hall, as the howler burst into flames and ashes.

everyone had heard, and everyone was now staring at your best friend - who remained stunned in his seat, a hand over his mouth.

"sunoo?" you asked tentatively. the hand you placed on his shoulder seemed to wake him up.

he was about to say something when everyone burst into chatter about what had just happened, whistles echoing throughout the hall.

"whew!" jake, another of sunoo's friends, clapped his back. "now that's one way to confess." sunghoon nodded with a grin, holding his chuckle in as he stood slightly behind his fellow ravenclaw.

"no," sunoo whined, hiding his face completely behind his hands. "a good way of confessing is telling me who they really are. only cowards hide behind anonymity."

you rubbed his back comfortingly, trying to form words in your head.

"everyone's going to be talking about it for the rest of the day," sunghoon remarks.

"don't remind me," sunoo said, his voice muffled.

"are you okay?" you ask him, bending to try and get a look at his face. he turns his head slightly, and you see his face flushed red.

"oh!" you laugh. "did you like that?"

"of course he did," jake chuckled. "you know our sunoo, he loves the attention." he reached out to ruffle the boy's hair, but sunoo fought his hands away before jake could do anything.

"stop doing that!" he whined. "i'm just a little embarrassed. now everyone's in my business," he mumbled, sitting up and putting his red cheeks on full display.

"i think it's cute," you say, reaching up to comb his hair with your hand. you heard jake grumble about how sunoo only ever lets you touch his hair.

"ah sunoo," sunghoon sighed, patting the younger boy. "ever the lover for grand gestures, aren't you?"

sunoo huffed. "whatever. me and y/n are going to class now. i'm not listening to you two idiots any longer."

and then he up and left, taking you with him by the wrist.

the next week, another howler arrived for sunoo. everyone was curious now.

"DEAR SUNOO, I HOPE YOU'RE SMILING WHEN YOU GET THIS NEXT MESSAGE. IT ALWAYS BRIGHTENS UP MY DAY.

"I HEAR YOU THINK I'M A COWARD FOR REMAINING ANONYMOUS. I THINK SO TOO. BUT, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT ME, I'LL TELL YOU ONE.

"I LIKE YOUR SOFT, FLUFFY HAIR, AND THE WAY YOU STYLE YOURSELF. IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW YOU CAN MAKE OUR BORING UNIFORM INTO YOUR OWN. YOU INSPIRE ME.

"SINCERELY, YOUR NOT-SO-SECRET ADMIRER."

sunoo scoffed, but a smile tugged at his lips anwyay.

"is that even a fact about themself?" he asked you with a pout. "everyone likes my hair!"

the other students resumed their previous chit-chat, some trying to guess who the anonymous sender might be. you just shrugged and continued to eat your food, frantically trying to complete an essay for charms later that day.

"your admirer doesn't seem to have any plans of actually revealing who they are, huh?" sunghoon asked sunoo. him and jake had decided to sit with you two at the hufflepuff table this morning.

"no," sunoo sighed. "cowardly on another level - giving me hope, only to pull that on me!"

"maybe they'll reveal more in their next letter?" you try to comfort him.

"they better," he grumbled. "i need to know who it is."

"maybe it's someone you know!" jake says. "if they feel the need to distort their voice so they won't be recognised, maybe you know them."

"that barely narrows the pool of possibilities down! i know practically everyone at hogwarts," your best friend whined.

"it's only the second letter. you can't exactly guess much from two howlers," you tell him, still focused on your essay. you groan as you scribble out a whole paragraph.

"oh my god," sunghoon gasped, staring at your textbook from the other side of the table. "i totally forgot about that assignment."

"you idiot," jake smacked the taller boy's head. sunghoon reached for your textbook to look at the content, but you pulled it back.

"i can't let you see my textbook - i've written notes all over it," you say, embarrassed. sunghoon wouldn't be able to read much over all the post-it notes you've stuck on the pages.

"more like you've doodled all over it," sunoo laughed.

"listen - drawing cutesy little stars and hearts on the page is more interesting than professor kim drawling on about the goblin rebellion of 1612, okay?" you defended yourself.

jake raised an eyebrow. you could tell he wanted to laugh.

"whatever, just let me finish this essay. i'm almost done."

"i'm not! i haven't even started," sunghoon groaned. the three of you laughed as he leaned on jake's side, dragging his hands down his face with a whine.

over the next few weeks, sunoo would continue to receive howlers, garnering everyone's attention every time the owls swooped into the hall to drop off mail. in fact, it's become something the whole school started looking forward to - the only thing that had them excitedly running for the hall at the beginning of another hellish week of school.

waiting for another red envelope to plop onto sunoo's plate had become regular. the usual screaming into his face had become your normal monday mornings.

you realised that there were now several students sending him howlers, because he would receive 2-3 howlers every week, all with distinctly different voices and handwriting.

"seems like your original sender has got competition," jake giggled as sunoo rubbed his ear.

"i'm going deaf with all these letters screeching at me every week," he rolled his eyes, feeding you some fish from your own plate. you were working on more homework that you'd missed out on recently (what's new?). "and besides, none of them will ever beat the original."

"even riki's?" you asked, laughing. the second year had latched onto sunoo on his first day at hogwarts, and somehow joined the group of boys, despite being a lot younger.

he'd joined the trend of sending sunoo howlers one morning, although it was obviously him without the distorted voice. none of the other senders had bothered to cover up their voices.

"riki's 'confession' was him thanking me- actually, more like exposing me for bringing him some butterbeer from our last hogsmeade weekend!" sunoo cries in exasperation. "i had to put on the biggest puppy eyes i could when professor jeon pulled me aside to ask about it."

"i told you it was a stupid idea," sunghoon said solemnly, but the twitching of his lips betrayed his amusement.

"he threatened me to! that brat."

"i heard that!" riki's voice yelled from the slytherin table, next to hufflepuff's.

"that kid's crazy," you gasped through your laughter.

"he's going to ruin the fun," sunghoon sighed. "after his letter, the professors started talking of banning students from sending howlers to each other."

"what?" sunoo gasped. "how am i going to receive letters from my secret admirer?"

"they can just send you normal, written letters," you suggested.

"but it's way more interesting when their deformed voice is screaming about how much they love me," he pouted.

"oh, he's down bad," jake shook his head.

sunoo ignored him. "i miss them," he sighed instead. the original secret admirer hadn't been able to send a howler in 2 weeks, much to everyone's disappointment.

"look at him! he's missing someone he doesn't even know!" jake gawked in disbelief.

"i'm trying to figure it out."

"really? how?" sunghoon asked.

"i have a list of things they mentioned about themself, and other things i've figured out, on my phone."

"can we see?" you asked, curious.

"no!"

"why not?" jake pouted.

"i don't want you guys to figure it out. i want to be the one to do it," sunoo huffed stubbornly.

"but you'd figure it out sooner with all of us!" sunghoon says.

"with you?" sunoo gaped at the tall boy. "you may be ravenclaw, but you do not have the brains to actually be of any help."

"touche," sunghoon folded his arms and shrugged. "but hey, jake can help! and y/n!"

"the answer is no."

"well, you better figure it out soon, before the school actually bans us from sending howlers to each other," you tell him. he stares at you intently for a moment, then nods.

just then, another red envelope is dropped onto his plate. sunoo sighs as he shifts forward to open it, expecting another confession from a newer sender.

"DEAR SUNOO, I HOPE YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ME YET."

it was the original sender. sunoo switched his full attention onto the howler; everyone else quietened to listen in.

"I'M SORRY I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO YOU THE LAST FEW WEEKS. YOU KNOW SENDING YOU THESE LETTERS ARE MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO.

"YOU SEEM TO BE DOING WELL. I SAW YOU THE OTHER DAY, WITH CUTESY BOWS IN YOUR HAIR THAT YOUR FRIEND HAD PUT IN. THE SMILE ON YOUR FACE WAS HAPPIER THAN I'D EVER SEEN IT. I HOPE ONE DAY TO BE THE CAUSE BEHIND SUCH A PRETTY SMILE.

"ACCORDING TO THE RUMOURS THAT THE SCHOOL IS BANNING HOWLERS, THIS MAY BE MY LAST LETTER. IF IT IS, I'M GLAD THAT I GOT TO TELL YOU HOW I FELT, EVEN IF I'LL NEVER KNOW IF YOU LIKE ME BACK.

"LOVE, YOUR NOT-SO-SECRET ADMIRER."

even after the red letter set on fire and burned to ashes, your best friend's eyes remained fixated on the space in front of him. he stared into nothing, seemingly in a daze after the (possibly) last howler he'd ever get from his favourite anonymous admirer. you wondered what he was thinking.

"sunoo?" you prodded. he turned to look at you, eyes blown wide open.

it's like something clicked. his siren-like eyes pulled you in, engaging you into a staring contest. while the rest of the world continued, you two were stuck in your own timeless little space.

his eyes were always your favourite feature. you wished you could see the world through his beautiful eyes, even if for just a moment.

"hello?" sunghoon tapped you on the shoulder. you finally broke away from the hold sunoo had on you. "we've got to get to class."

"oh, right."

for the rest of the day, you couldn't seem to look directly at your best friend, still replaying the events of that morning.

it was clear sunoo had taken quite a liking to the anonymous sender, no matter how silly it sounded. in the weeks following their first letter, he would talk about them nonstop. his eyes twinkled and his cheeks got especially rosy whenever he did, and he also loved to speculate about who or what the person was like.

you listened whole heartedly, his voice soothing you after a long day of school. even if he was talking about someone else, or at least an illusion of a person he'd created.

sunoo had gotten frustrated with you for avoiding him all day. so he resorted to cornering you in the hufflepuff common room before you two went back up to your dorms.

"y/n. stop it."

"stop what?" you asked innocently.

"don't play dumb. why have you been ignoring me all day?"

"no i haven't."

"you're a terrible liar."

"how would you know?" you crossed your arms.

"you fiddle with your thumbs whenever you lie. you also comb your hair with your hands, fold your arms, stand up straighter, scrunch your nose-"

"okay, okay. i get it," you shook your head. "i'm sorry."

"you should be. i've been missing my best friend all day," he pouted.

you fell apart at his expression, and engulfed him in a hug. "i'm sorry, i didn't mean it. i hope you're okay."

"i would be better if you shared this hot chocolate with me by the fire place. i brought both mugs from the kitchens all by myself - and they're really hot!"

"fine," you laughed, and took a mug from one of his hands.

you two settled into the couches by the warm fire place, and you watched the flickering light from the flames reflect onto his hazel eyes.

"you always look at me like that."

"like what?" you asked.

"like you're obsessed with me," he grinned.

"sounds like you're obsessed with me," you retorted with a giggle. "to the point you even notice the way i look at you."

"why wouldn't i be?"

your smile dropped. you looked down at your cup, your reflection in the drink swirling.

"you can't just say things like that."

"why not?" you stayed silent.

he continued. "why can't i talk about how much i love my best friend? why can't i tell you the little things i notice about you? why can't you just look at me?"

"because!" you exclaimed suddenly. you cleared your throat awkwardly when you garnered a few looks. you spoke again in a lower tone.

"it makes me feel things- things i shouldn't be feeling for a friend."

"well, i would hope not. i'm not just your friend, i'm your best friend."

"but that's the thing, sunoo," you sighed. "sometimes, i feel like i don't want to be just best friends. i look at you and see someone with a sweet smile, and with an even sweeter personality. i've never met someone who's as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside.

"when i look at you, it feels like the world is clearer, easier to bear. when i look at you, i see someone i want to spend the rest of my life with - someone i love."

sunoo was silent for a moment.

and you were so scared that you messed it up, your friendship. you couldn't stand the deafening absence of his voice, overtaken by the crackle of the flames and background voices.

just when you were about to stand up to go hide in your room, he finally spoke up.

"are you the original anonymous sender?"

you froze in place.

"you are, aren't you?"

"how... how did you figure it out?"

"i wasn't entirely sure at first. but like i said earlier, i've been trying to gather details from your previous letters.

"in the second letter you'd sent, you mentioned my hair was soft and fluffy. i don't really let anyone touch my hair, because they'd definitely ruin it," he rolled his eyes. "well, except you. but i figured the sender probably meant it looked soft and fluffy, so i just brushed it off.

"but then things started to add up. one time, the letter smelled like dittany, which we had made in herbology just that previous friday. another time, i noticed that the 'addressed to' writing at the front used navy blue ink, instead of black or blue. you're the only person i know who uses that colour.

"and then, when you fell sick recently, the letters stopped. but i was so worried for you that i didn't even notice, until you mentioned it in your letter today.

"i realised it was most likely you when your letter said the word 'cutesy' in your howler today. i've known you for years, you think i wouldn't have noticed the way you speak?" he laughed quietly.

"so.. you knew this whole time?"

"i suspected it, but not definitely."

"and you never told me."

"i didn't want to force a confession out of you," he admitted. "i wanted you to tell me yourself."

"so now what?" you asked. you still weren't sure where his own feelings lay. sure, he knew that you were the not-so-secret admirer, but did he like you?

every time you saw him smiling at another letter (even if it was howling in his face on a monday morning), you felt even more scared to tell him how you felt. you watched as he came to like the anonymous sender, and not you. he had created his own persona for the sender, and it was definitely not you. you were scared that he would be disappointed to find out it was you after all, and not his dream person.

"you're over thinking again," he said simply.

"can you blame me?"

"for the record, i love you too," he said, setting the cup down and taking your hands in his. "you didn't have to resort to howling at me to get my attention, or something like that. i've only ever looked at you. and i will only ever look at you; in my world, you're the only one in it."

tears leaked out of your eyes. "so i did all of that for nothing?"

sunoo laughed and wiped your cheeks, caressing them with the soft touch of his thumbs. "no, nothing like that! i realised my feelings for you when i got that first howler, because when i pictured who might be behind those red letters, i could only imagine you. the thought of it being anyone else made me cringe."

"what if it wasn't me?" you pouted playfully.

"then i would have rejected them, if they ever confessed to me for real. and i would have loved you with my whole being, even if you never liked me back."

"you would have cried yourself to sleep every night," you laugh, a croak in your voice from crying just moments ago. you know him too well.

"you're right! so thank god that wasn't the case." sunoo hugged you tighter, and you wrapped your arms around his middle. a satisfied sigh escapes your lips.

right then, you also thank whatever being out there let you meet your best friend. and you're grateful that you can give sunoo all of your love without holding back - not-so-secretly anymore.

; taglist - @kflixnet @lovelovelovebts @miyseung

[finn-writes-stuff]

Jack of All Trades (pt 2)

A follow-up to -this- post, with the rest of the party. The Original Request: Hello. If you're willing and have the time, I jumbly request a TLOVM headcannon for the team having an s/o who steals their weapons and tries to figure out to use them. What would their reactions be and would they/how would they teach them to use the weapons?

Percy, Vax, Scanlan & Grog x Reader

Fandom: The Legend of Vox Machina/ Critical Role

Format: Headcanons

Gender Neutral Reader

Masterlist

Some credit to my lovely partner for giving me accurate info about their specific weapons. As well as a discussion on whether or not you can say Percy or Orthax invented Guns. -Finn

Percy

With anyone else in the party, there's a good chance you may have used a weapon like theirs before. But not Percy and his guns. These are his own inventions, new to Tal'Dorei completely.

They are also powered by exploding gunpowder. He is a little bit worried about letting you handle them.

Hearing a gunshot when he isn't causing it is a deep cause of concern for him, please don't steal his guns, just ask.

Percy will absolutely teach you! It's a chance to have his arms around you as he steadies your aim and stance.

He's a very...specific teacher. You have to make sure he doesn't get too wrapped up in the fine details. Keep him on track with how to shoot and he won't get way into the actual mechanics of the hammer of the gun.

Let him watch you shoot after you get the hang of it. He'll start to understand why you like watching him so much.

Vax

This man owns so many knives. He has a full-out collection of daggers. Hugging him is a dangerous prospect because you never know where one is hiding.

And with all the different daggers, it can't be that hard to steal one or two of them. How could he even notice?

Stealing them proves to be surprisingly hard. He doesn't store many of them, they always seem to be on his person.

But once you manage it, it's quite a lot of fun to handle a truly well-made dagger. In a fantasy world like this, every adventurer has held a dagger, but Vax turns it into an art and his tools reflect that.

They are also insanely sharp. Don't get too cocky with them.

He swipes them out of your hands when he finds you with them, and it's obvious just how experienced he is with handling knives. He can twist and spin them without a glance or a nick.

"Well, well, someone's got sticky fingers, hey love?"

He'll teach you how to throw them accurately and how to spin them without hitting your fingers. He will also tease you while you practice before you get the hang of it.

Scanlan

Scanlan doesn't particularly use a weapon! He's fairly strictly a spellcaster.

That being said, his instruments are likely the next best thing, particularly his lute. And that is his baby, best of luck stealing it.

If you ask him, he'll let you play it and he'll teach you during downtime. He will also serenade you for demonstrations.

He'll be annoyed if you take it without asking though. His music is a source of safety for him as much as a source of joy.

Let him teach you songs around the fire at night and serenade him in return. He won't stop smiling for ages.

Grog

Grog has had some...questionable weapons. Perhaps don't borrow Craven's Edge.

But borrowing his axe or his gauntlets is a world of fun. Even if they might not be well weighted for anyone who isn't as strong as he is.

You will quickly realize how much work goes into swinging his axe and it puts his effortless attacks into a very different light for you.

Grog laughs out loud when he sees you using his weapons, but it's full of fondness and affection.

Even if he isn't exactly academically clever, this is his skill set, he knows how to fight and he does it well. So he's a really good teacher as he corrects your stance and grip.

His teaching method also includes encouraging you to just swing at him, so you'll need a bit of courage and faith that you won't hurt him.

[gelpensoncomics]

Guy Gardner: A Study of Heroes and Head Trauma

SO! It's July, which is disability pride month here in the United States where I live! I figured it would be appropriate to kick things off by talking about a character who has a mixed reputation, to say the least: Guy Gardner, Green Lantern. He's been around since the Silver Age of comics, and his characterization has been through some serious ups and downs over the years! But what if I told you that it's not inconsistent writing? What if I told you there is a lens with which to view his shifting behavioral patterns and at times abrasive and offensive personality that makes it all come into focus and make perfect sense, and it's all already there on the page? I'm here to give you that lens, and it's viewing Guy Gardner as a man who has suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries and managed to heal over time. Buckle up, this is probably going to be a long one, and it's pretty image heavy as I try to back up as much as I am claiming that I can.

So the first thing I will start with is establishing Guy's former baseline. This is not the post where I will go incredibly in-depth on Guy's full family history and his education, I'll save that for another time. Here, I simply aim to sum up. Guy Gardner met Hal Jordan for the first time in the 1991 title Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn, a volume that served as an updated backstory for the Silver Age hero after Crisis on Infinite Earths. Hal was in prison to serve a 90 day sentence for drunk driving. Guy Gardner was Hal Jordan's caseworker.

"What? Huh? That's Guy Gardner?" You, the hypothetical reader ask. What happened to him?!

A lot. A lot happened to him, and it took him from a man who gave the advice to "Use your rage! Don't let it use you!" to a man who is known as the rude angry ginger lantern. First off, he got hit by a bus. No, I'm not being metaphorical or making a joke. See, he quit his job as a prison case worker because he didn't like how the job made him feel, especially after he was caught up in a prison riot and threatened with death at the hands of a prisoner there. So he put his second degree to use and he became a teacher. Specifically, he became a physical education teacher for disabled children.And then there was an earthquake, and he was hit by a bus while attempting to rescue one of the students on a field trip he was running, nearly dying in the process.

Now, I will say: he got better. This time. See, no sooner had he recovered from this incident, as he was filling in for Hal as Green Lantern he was exploded in the line of duty and sent to a parallel dimension. In that parallel dimension he was tortured, and Sinestro used a dangerous and severe form of mind control that, when it was finally broken, left Guy... well, the comics call him comatose, but he is conscious, he is just not responsive to the environment around him or able to care for himself.

For years, he remained in this state, with his care at a top-notch hospital paid for by fellow superheros. And then, during the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, a miracle happened. Guy regained consciousness.

But the Guy who came out of that vegetative state wasn't the same man who fell into it. Or at least, not exactly. He was angrier. His fuse was shorter. Perhaps most upsetting of all, one of the first actions he took upon regaining consciousness was attempted grave robbery.

"Gelpens, what the fuck," you ask me. I know. It's a lot. Bear with me here. See, he didn't wake up on his own. The Guardians of Oa woke him up, using their tremendous cosmic powers to attempt to heal his brain damage so they could deploy him to help during the Crisis.

Sure, Guy got his strength back. He was able to function as a Green Lantern. But he still wasn't the same as he was before his coma. He stayed angry, and confrontational, and was frequently known to make inappropriate comments that failed to fit the setting he was in or the bounds of good taste. He had a constant chip on his shoulder, very different from the man who was concerned about controlling his anger so it couldn't use him.

This all came to a head in a series of events that is frankly infamous in comics circles. Almost every fan I know of who knows Guy Gardner knows about the time Batman got fed up with his confrontational rude attitude and laid him out with a single punch to the face.

The thing people don't remember about that punch is that, seeing as it was the 90s, and comics writers had learned a few things about the brain, they decided to use it to make... let's call it a running joke. See, after Guy regained consciousness, he was much more like the guy he was before all that head trauma. He was polite, cared about being a team player and not trying to prove himself, he didn't go for lethal force!

Of course, this didn't last. No, the whole 'joke' here was that Batman punched him hard enough to rattle his brain, and he would occasionally jump from being a sweet, friendly team player to, in the words of the narration box the first time he got hit on the head again, his new old "thoroughly rotten" self (I know). Slowly but surely though, Guy did get better, and start to stay better. His mood stabilized, he gained more self-control, he started making better plans and he was much less angry as a default. And it's kept going! This train keeps chugging along! He isn't so angry anymore! He has it under control!

And honestly? This moment, right here? This is the crowning jewel in my thesis, I think.

Guy has a Red Lantern ring and a Star Sapphire ring. For those of you less familiar with the extended Green Lantern lore, the Red Lanterns run off rage. The Star Sapphires are powered by love. Outside of willpower, the emotions that are the most powerful within him are his rage and anger, and his love for his friends. And what does he fuel them with, when it comes down to the wire? When willpower alone isn't enough? The thing he hates most is being filled with rage. The thing he loves the most is his friends.

So. I don't think Guy was ever just an angry, sexist, rude asshole at his core. Is he the same as he was before the injury, before all that happened to him? Of course not. Nobody goes through life completely unchanged by what happens to them.

I think he injured his brain and lost his ability to regulate his emotions and impulses for a while. The road to recovery was far from smooth. It just took him some time to heal and be in a place to act like the man he wanted to be all along. But in my opinion? I think he's there now.

[cheesysoup-arlo]

Goldfish

Janis x Reader (janis has adhd)

Its study hall the last class before lunch Janis is hyper, she definitely forgot her meds today and energy practically exploding out of her, calm and still are physical not possible for her. “Psst, y/n, hey hey psst” Janis says trying to get your attention, bouncing in her chair a little “hmm?” You say not completely giving her your full attention because you really want to finish this assignment “I’m bored can I borrow one of your fidgets, please?” She asks reaching over your shoulder and pointing to your fidget pouch on your desk “oh yeah of course” you say passing it to her “yay thank you” Janis says looking through it and picking out something. She sits behind you in this class so you don’t know what she’s doing but she’s quiet now so that’s new. You finish your assignment and turn around to check on Janis. “Hey, whatcha doin?” You say with a slight head tilt “nothing just uh drawing” Janis says with a shrug not looking up at you, fidgeting with one of the toys with one hand and drawing with the other, while bouncing her leg a little “nice, want some goldfish?” You ask “Oooo yessss” Janis says excitedly putting down her pencil and giving you her full attention “what’s the magic word?” You ask playfully “if you don’t give me goldfish I’ll bite you?” Janis says in a bright tone “um no the magic word was ‘please’…but I’ll give you some any way because you’re cute” you say with a smirk “yay goldfish” Janis says as you hand her a baggy of goldfish, you always bring extra snacks to share with her. The rest of the period you two draw and eat goldfish. The bell rings and you two pack up then head to lunch. You get to the table and Damian is already there. “Hey gays” he says with a little wave “hi Damian” you say with a laugh plopping down at the table “oh um J are you good? Are you off your meds again?” Damian asks with a little concerned look, Janis fidgeting with her hair “huh?” Janis was completely spaced out not paying attention “I asked if you are off your meds?” Damian said “oh um yeah but just my adhd ones this time, I ran out again and my mom is getting the refill today after her shift” Janis said with a thumbs up “oh ok…so how are you guys doing? any new gossip?” Damian says trying to make conversation “ooo yes I heard Karen and Gretchen got caught making out under the bleachers” you say trying not to be to loud or obvious when looking over at the plastics table seeing Regina talking aggressively at Gretchen and Karen “No fucking way!” Janis says suddenly interested in the conversation “yeah apparently Regina saw them and like lost her mind, my friend shares gym with them and got the whole thing on video” you say tossing a handful of goldfish in your mouth. The rest of the lunch period Damian talks about the theater drama, those theater kids are crazy. “Janis come on, we have art” you say grabbing her backpack “fuck yeah, art, this is gonna be tits” Janis says standing up and holding your hand as the two of you walked to class.

Art class was going well the teacher decided today was free choice so any medium and prompt all up to you, Janis decided to paint and ended up painting on herself instead of the canvas while you worked on a project you’d started a few days ago, “psst, y/n, psst” Janis says trying to get your attention “yeah baby?” You say not realizing what you called her “woah um uh” Janis blushes forgetting what she was going to say “oh shit” you say realizing what you said “J um uh you’re face is a little red” you joke “oh shut up, it’s your fault” she says embarrassed “aw don’t be embarrassed, I know you have a crush on me and now there’s no denying it” you say setting down your project and making your way over to her “woah woah wo-AH” she yelps as she falls off her chair “OH SHIT are you ok?” You say laughing a little “yeah just uh fell…for you” she says with a wink “oh you’re such a dork” you say helping her up “I could be your dork” Janis say with a wink and some new found confidence “oh yeah?” you say pulling her in so your faces are only a few inches apart and the gap could be closed with very little effort…

But the bell rings startling you both and causing you both to looking away from each other “meet at my locker after school?” You suggest “uh yeah” she says, you exchange a quick side hug and grab your stuff before heading to your last period of the day.

Class was going by pretty quickly, you finished your assignment early and were on your phone when Janis texted you

little gay bitch👾: have to talk to my teacher :(

little gay bitch👾: I’ll be out a little late

[gay] snacks (y/n) 🫡: don’t die

[gay] snacks (y/n) 🫡: I’ll meet you at your locker instead 👍

*ring* the bell rings and you head to your locker to grab what you need and leave what you don’t then heading to Janis’ locker to wait for her.

About 10 minutes pass and you see a frustrated janis walking down the hall “J what’s wrong?” You say brows furrowed and a concerned tone in your voice, gently placing your hands on her shoulders “my stupid teacher got mad at me for fidgeting” she said looking down at her hands “what the fuck that’s so stupid, you literally have so much information in your file stating all your accommodations” you say getting upset “I know and I reminded him but he said that I was just making up excuses” janis said tearing up a little “ok that’s it, we’re going to the principal right now and I’m gonna fix this” you say grabbing her hand “wait no, y/n it’s fine, I’ll be fine” janis says wiping away the tears that fell from her eyes “nope I’m gonna fix this, you’re so important to me janis and I’m not gonna let you struggle with an asshole teacher all year, there’s no way you’re gonna make it without your accommodations that’s why you have them, so please let. me. help. you. …please” you say cupping her face “…ok” she says eyes filling with tears again “don’t cry, I’m gonna fix it, I promise” you say pulling her into a hug as she hides her face in your chest.

After a long argument and a little yelling, Janis had a new schedule, no more asshole teacher, and significantly more classes with you, you wanted to be able to protect her and it’s kind of hard to do that in separate classes. “Thank you y/n, I- I really appreciate you” Janis says fidgeting with her sleeves “of course…wanna go get ice cream?” You suggest “um absolutely yes” Janis said, sadness quickly replaced with excitement. The two of you spent the rest of the day together, ice cream then headed back to her place to hang out in her garage, movies snacks cuddles and…

“So about earlier…” Janis starts “mhm earlier” you say turning to give her your full attention “so obviously you know I like you but um…well what I guess I’m trying to say is-“ Janis anxiously fidgets “Jay breathe, I like you too, I just didn’t want to make things weird till I confirmed you felt the same” you responded hoping to ease her anxiety “re-really?” Janis says surprised “Yes Janis ‘Imi’ike, I have a big crush on you” you say with a giggle “holy shit holy shit! This is so fucking tits” she says with a big smile “oh god you’re so adorable I could just-“ you cut yourself off and avoid eye contact “oh?” Janis teases “shut up” you say with a playful smack on the arm “hey!” Janis says poking you…you two are quiet for a bit till you both slowly lean in for a gentle passionate kiss filled with longing and desire, you both pull away after a bit “wow” “wow” you replied with a bit of a giggle “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time” you admit “me too” Janis says looking at you “soo…does this mean we’re like dating now?” Janis asks “mmm if that’s what you want hen I’m absolutely up for it but let’s go slow? I like our friendship a lot so I don’t want to ruin that by rushing into an intense relationship, so slow? Is that ok?” You say a little hesitant “yeah slow is fine, can I kiss you again?” Janis asks you nod, she gives you a quick peak on the lips then just holds you close “this is nice” you say trapped in her embrace, both of you giggle and cuddle closer

What a day… what a day…

AN: it’s been a little while since I’ve written/posted lol, this is also just like a draft I found and finished because I caught the writing bug randomly and couldn’t waste the little motivation I had I hope y’all like it idk if it really has plot but i really wanted to get something out

[lunaloveskpop23]

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Summary: The reader is a girl who loves pink and is a ballerina. Yeonjun is a boy who loves black and wants to be a singer. What happens when they love each other?

Warning: cussing, angst, father not liking Yeonjun.

Genre: angst. fluff.

*PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK*

*THIS IS PURELY FICTION*

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Y/N's POV:

I have known Yeonjun ever since he moved to the neighborhood I grew up in as a child.

I would see him and he would be so different from what I am used too. I am a person who loves ballet and loves pink.

He's different. He paints his nails black. He wears edgy clothes. My dad told me to stay away......but I don't.

Yeonjun....has my heart.

Now, we are in our senior year of high school. We are the opposite, but every time I see him, he makes my heart beat so fast.

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"Alright!! Now don't forget to rehearsal tomorrow and Friday. The big show is next week!!" The teacher tells us happily.

I smile and get excited. This performance is my last one with this teacher, and I'll go to college with my dance degree.

I get a full scholarship, and I'm really excited.

"Alright, now get out of here and go relax." She says and we get up and get our stuff.

I grab my bag and water bottle.

"Bye, Y/N!" I turn and see Lisa wave. I wave back, and I walk out.

I walk and see Yeonjun. Wait? Why is he here? I walk over to him.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"I wanted to drive you home, my lady." He says flirtatiously.

I blush.

"Well, thank you, kind sir."

He smiles and grabs my bag. He puts it in his car. He opens the door for me, and I get in. I put on my seat belt and he gets in. He starts the car and we leave.

"You know you didn't have to do this."

"I know, but I wanted to." He winks at me.

I blush and roll my eyes.

"You're such a flirt, I swear."

"Only to pretty ballerinas." I look at him in shock.

"Oh my God." I blush.

He laughs and smiles.

He puts on music, and it plays "She smiled" by Day6.

"Day6? You like them?"

"I honestly got into them because of you. I know you love them." I blush again. I swear it feels like I'm going to explode from how many times he makes me blush.

I smile and sing a lot to the song. He sings with me. I didn't realize how gorgeous his voice was. I could listen to it for hours. His playlist plays Jeff Satur, The Rose, and Laufey. Wait....these are some of the artists I like.

I look at his phone sneakily and see a playlist called Y/N ❤️🥺.

My name with a heart next to it? Wait...he made a playlist just for me? With artists, he knows I like. I blush even more, and we get to my house.

"Here we are, my lady." He smiles.

"Thank you." I take my seat belt off.

"Hey, um...if you don't have anything going on tomorrow after school, want to hang out with me?" He rubs his neck.

"Oh, um for a little bit, I have another ballerina rehearsal at 5 to 7."

"Cool, we can eat before you go. If that's ok, with you?"

"Sure! I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you!" He says, and I get out of the car. I close his door and unlock the door. I get inside, and I see him driving off.

"Honey, your home!" I hear my mom.

"Hi, mom!" I hug her.

She sits on the couch.

"How was rehearsals?"

"Really good, actually. My teacher says I'm the best one she's ever known."

"Oh, I'm so proud of you!" She says happily.

I smile.

"Where's dad?" I ask.

"In his office. He came back late, then when straight to his office."

I nod.

"Also, I saw Yeonjun's car. Did he drop you off?" She asks.

I blush and nod.

"He did. He made me a playlist even. I wasn't expecting that at all." I blush even more.

"So cute. You see, your father doesn't like him, but I love him. He is a sweetheart. Your father gets worried because you're his daughter. But he's too harsh about that boy."

I nod.

"You have my blessings."

I look at her with wide eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes. I remember when I was young and fell in love with someone whom my father didn't approve of. Which was your father."

"Dad? No way."

"Its true. He even had a leather jacket." She giggles.

I laugh.

"Thank you, mom." I say softly and she smiles at me.

"Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise." I hug her gently.

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I was in my last class of the day. Art. I draw some fruit.

"Oh, that looks amazing, Y/N." I look and see Lily.

I smile.

"Thank you. What did you draw today?"

"Oh, a waterfall." She tells me.

"Oooo looks so pretty," I say.

"Thank you. So, how is it going with Mr. Emo?" She smiles as she asks me this. I blush.

"Well.......Yeonjun is taking me somewhere today before rehearsal." I tell Lily.

She squeals and people in the class look at us. I cover her mouth.

"Lily!" I whisper yell.

"Sorry." She whispers back.

I smile at her.

"It's not a date."

"It should be. Girl, he's head over heels for you." She tells me.

I shake my head and roll my eyes.

"No, he's not."

"You are blind then." I roll my eyes. She giggles. "Have fun on your date." I shake my head.

I start packing my stuff and get ready to leave. I grab my drawing and hand it to the teacher.

"Good job. Very creative." He tells me.

"Thank you, sir." I bow and wave bye. I grab my stuff and leave.

I walk out of the building and see Yeonjun already waiting. He's wearing a black t-shirt with a grey jacket, and black jeans. He's so beautiful.

I look around and see them confused. I already hear people talk and I get nervous. He looks up at me and smiles. I blush.

I walk up to him.

"Here is my lady. I was wondering when you would show up, " he says, smiling at me. I smile.

"You flirt! Let's go already." I say as he opens the door for me and I get in the car.

I put on my seat belt and he gets in the car. He drives away.

"Want to pick a playlist? I have many." He says.

"Sure." I smile and grab his phone and look through his music app. I go through his playlist and see the same one from yesterday. I blush and go through it. Holy shit.... it's most of the groups I enjoy. And artists. He made this one for me?? Just for me? Why?

I press play to it and it plays Jeff Satur like last night. But it's a different song. He knows how much Jeff means to me.

"So, where are we going?" I ask.

"A place I know you'll love." He smiles at me.

"Oh, I am intrigued."

"Oh, just wait, my lady." I blush so much.

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We get to a cat cafe. I gasp.

"A CAT CAFE?!"

He smiles.

"I know how much you love cat cafes."

I get out excited.

"Wait, I was going to open the door for you." I giggle.

"You don't always have to do that."

"I know, but I want to." I get quiet and we go inside.

I look at the menu and I saw the chocolate muffin and hot chocolate combo.

"Order anything. It's on me." I blush.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah go ahead."

"Then a chocolate muffin with hot chocolate please."

"Anything for you." Yeonjun says flirtatiously.

He orders our stuff, and we go to sit down in a booth. I see three cats near the booth. I squeal. A cat walks over to us and plops down on my lap. I smile and pet its head gently.

"Hi little baby."

Yeonjun smiles at me.

"It likes you." I smile.

"Well, I love you too." I say to the cat gently and it looks up at me.

"This cat looks like a cloud with how fluffy it is," Yeonjun says.

I giggle. It was about 10 minutes later that our food and drinks is ready. He gets up and grabs our stuff. I smile as I watch him go get it.

He comes back and puts stuff on the table.

"Ohhh, thank you, Yeonjun." I smile and I drink my hot chocolate.

We sit and chat for a while. We played with cats after we ate and drank our drinks.

We leave happily.

"That was so much fun," I say happily.

Yeonjun opens the door to his car for me and I get in. I put on my seat belt.

He takes me to my rehearsal.

"I'll be here when you get out." He tells me.

"Wait what? It's going be a while."

"I don't mind. I have homework. And my computer and earbuds. I don't mind waiting for you, my lady." This man knows how to melt my heart. I smile.

"Ok, but don't complain to me when you get bored."

"I promise. " I shut the door and go to the building.

I found out I was the first one here, so I put on my outfit and practiced.

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*after rehearsal*

"Y/N! You were amazing today!" Lisa tells me.

"Oh, thank you! I really appreciate it."

"Y/N, I saw Yeonjun's car outside when we came in. Me and Faye. So, did he drop you off?" Tiffany asks me.

"Oh...um yes. He dropped me off."

"Oh my god!" Tiffany squeals.

"I knew he liked you!" Faye says.

"He doesn't! He is just a good friend who takes care of me."

"Yeah, and does stuff that a boyfriend would do," Lisa says.

"And besides....you like him too," Faye says.

I blush.

"I do....but...he's just being nice. Look I gotta go." I grab my stuff and run out.

I look and see Yeonjun writing in his car. He's so pretty....no....i shouldn't think like this...

I go to the back and open the door and put my stuff in. I shut the door and go to the passenger side.

"There's my lady." I close the door and blush.

"Hi, Yeonjun." I smile.

"Ready to go?"

"Yes." I nod and he drives off.

Music plays in the background as he drives me home. We get to my house and I get out of the car.

"Wait!" Yeonjun stops me.

I turn to him.

"Can I drop you off again tomorrow?"

"Again?" I blush.

"Yes." He smiles at me.

I blush and nod.

He smiles at me and waves. I wave back and he leaves. I walk inside the house and gasp and see my dad mad.

"Was that the boy Yeonjun?"

"It was," I say quietly, getting scared.

"I told you to stay away from him."

"But dad-"

"Stay away from him! He is nothing but a no good asshole who will bring nothing but bad things. So I better not see him again! Now go to your room! I don't want even look at you!" He says angry and I start crying and upstairs. I shut my door in my room and I run to my bed crying.

He's such a jerk....

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A week has passed and it is now the day of the performance. I start getting nervous and I feel like crying.

I look out to see the audience, I see my friends and mom. My mom was talking to another mom. I look around and I don't see my father. Not surprised. He's either working or yelling.

I look around some more and in the back I see....Yeonjun....with his group of friends. He looks at me and smiles at me.

I blush and close the curtain.

"Ready ladies?!" My teacher asks.

"Yes!" We all yell.

"Alright! Places!"

We get into our spots.

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*after the performance.*

"Amazing job!" My friends hug me.

"Thank you!" They pull away and I see Yeonjun right behind them.

"Yeonjun..." I say softly. He shows me tulips.....my favorite flowers. I blush and smile. I grab them gently.

"You're as beautiful and as delicate as a tulip." He tells me.

A gasp is heard around me.

"Why don't we give them some space? Come on, girls." My mom tells my friends.

As it becomes me and him, I look into his eyes.

"I know, I'm not a guy who people would claim as no good or dangerous.....but......if you would have me.....can.....i be your boyfriend?"

I smile.

"Yes!" I don't care what anyone says......I'm in love with him....

He hugs me and kisses my cheek repeatedly.

I love him.

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Hi everyone! I'm trying to come up with different themes for these stories. I'm honestly really proud of how far I'm coming along with these stories. I actually have an idea I wanted to talk to you all about. I wanted to write ideas for Christmas stories because it is coming up so quickly. What do you guys think?

- Luna 💜🩷

[cicidarkarts]

Can you list your favorite characters in order? (Aside from Idrees) and explain why you that way about them? Like an explanation on how you feel about them? It’s nice to know there’s other people in the fandom of the breadwinner still talking about it. 💜💙 You fanart is always slaying!

D… Don't talk about Idrees?? fangirl brain short-circuits

Okay but yeah, I do have thoughts on the other characters as well, just not as crazy in-depth headcanons (mostly). I can't really say that any of these characters are in order because I haven't thought to number them.

WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

Shauzia??? ;0; Gurl, can we just talk about how much I love this chaos gremlin? She's the type of mf who is like "have I ever steered you wrong?" knowing 100% she fuckin has. She's somehow even more of a chaotic demon in the book. omg Parvana do you want to be a grave digger?? omg Parvana let's sell our wares in this totally not bizarre arena full of very angry men and then be traumatized when we see another man's hands get cut off.

I love this girl. On one of those Alignment Charts, she would be Chaotic Neutral. Also she's adorable?? Like how, that's illegal.

I do have a headcanon about the girls that involves Shauzia dragging Parvana into the underbelly of Afghanistan where all the debauchery secretly takes place and stumbling upon the metalhead anarchist society. Unfortunately, my headcanons end there because brain is obsessed with Idrees so that's what I'm forced to follow.

(me right before I sneeze)

But yes, Shauzia is my second favorite character. I love that she's so assertive where she can be, despite her circumstances. She really had Parvana's back no matter what, and it pained me that the movie just kinda left her hanging at the end. We truly did NOT have enough time to wrap everything up.

Parvana had some of the greatest parts in the entire movie.

Parvana is a strong character who wants to do what's right. Witnessing the horrors around her could've broken her, but she didn't let it. She didn't let it taint her views of right and wrong, she didn't let it break down her spirit. She fought every day to get what she needed and wanted. Parvana went from shut down and trying to avoid confrontation to confident and independent over the course of this movie. She lost sight of herself a few times but always came back around due to her strong moral compass.

Parvana is a fascinating character, proactive and powerful, and much better in the movie than in the book imo. She was the Mom Friend. She just wanted to comfort people and make them feel better, kiss their wounds where she could, and she would give you the shirt off her back if it didn't reveal that she's actually a girl. She's brave and an amazing MC to follow.

Underrated Queen, hello??? Can we talk about how Fattema was a badass for most of this movie? Her husband was taken away, she had no idea if she would ever see him again, she risked her life going out to try and appeal his case, and then after she got the absolute shit beaten out of her, she still managed to escort Parvana back to the "safety" of their house.

The realism of her depression after this was so sad to witness. How she wanted so badly to be there for her children whom she loves so much but was literally and figuratively beaten down by the system at every turn. Her worry over her daughters and son, how she fought so many times. The end of her arc? Where she stood up for herself and her family, asserted her dominance by proving that she was "insane" to this shitty man, and WON?? Oh my god, I was going feral. What an absolute badass.

(yeah that's right, fafo; this guy is fucking terrified of her I'm dead)

Okay I'm ngl Parvana's sister Soraya was like not even on my radar most of the time, I'm sorry ;-; I feel bad because she was a sweet older sister who supported Parvana. They had a lovely sibling relationship that was full of teasing and affection. But they didn't take the time to give her more than that. So she's more of a footnote in the characters to me, which sucks. :( I didn't even remember her name, I had to look it up, I'm so sorry 😭

If you go into the dictionary and look up the word sweetie pie, you'll find a picture of this man. Don't worry, I'll wait.

Nurullah lived his life considering women as his equals. People who deserved love and respect and education just as much as any man. He's a soft-spoken sweetheart who just wanted to teach his daughters how to think for themselves so they could grow up as strong women (as much as they could be in this environment). He risked his life lying to a member of the Taliban and unfortunately paid the price dearly. His state at the end of the movie was heartbreaking to witness and I can't even imagine the abuse he endured while in Pul-e-Charkhi.

Yet this man still smiles when he is reunited with his family. This man still has his spirit despite the abuse and neglect and the wars he's been through. We don't give him the credit he deserves for being a sweet, kindhearted person in spite of everything this world threw at him. Fattema is a lucky woman to have gotten with this cinnamon bun of a man.

(Zaki) ghiagahiohhrklh;nklj HE'S ADORABLE I'M LITERALLY SHAKING AND CRYING RN 😭😭😭😭 But also he's like 2 years old so there's not much to say about him but holy fuck he's soooo cute I'm gonna cry

Who is this man he's ADORABLE???

how the fuck 😭😭 HOW DID HE GET HERE?? He teleported dude, I'm scared

If you go into the dictionary and look up the word teddy-

Razaq is one of the more interesting characters in this movie. He's very complex and-- what if I just immediately moved onto the next character that would be so

LOOK AT THIS SWEETHEART CINNAMON BUN CUTIE PATOOTIE THERE ARE NO THOUGHTS BEHIND THESE EYES HE HAS TO RUB TWO BRAIN CELLS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HOME BECAUSE HIS THOUGHTS ARE ONLY CANDY WHO ARE YOU UNNAMED CANDY MAN I NEED TO KNOW

Okay I'll be serious, I'm sorry. I actually really enjoy Razaq. He's a jaded man who doesn't seem like he really wants to be serving the Taliban. I wish we could've gotten more into why he's doing it, because he seems like the antithesis of everything the Taliban stands for. I'd like to believe he's only here to stop the young people (like Idrees) from doing extremely stupid things and getting themselves or other people hurt. But we're never given an explanation.

That scene in which Parvana reads him that letter about his wife's death, and he leaves without another word, was a heart-wrenching scene. He was trying so hard not to cry. LOOK AT HIM ;-; Nooooo

Razaq shows us that not every man in Afghanistan wants to beat and oppress women, even though these types of man aren't exactly in the majority, or are perhaps just silent for fear of retaliation (which we see a lot as well). It's such a mind-fuck that Parvana reflects upon it in confusion. "Up until then, she had seen Talibs only as men who beat women and arrested her father. Could they have feelings of sorrow, like other human beings?"

Razaq puts himself in grave danger for Parvana, a young girl he barely knows and owes nothing. This ends up with him getting into a physical altercation with one of the guards at Pul-e-Charkhi, in which Razaq gets shot but survives (as far as we know). He pulled Nurullah out of there to fulfill his promise to Parvana. He lost everything but still gave it his all for this little girl just to see some hope in her eyes.

My name is Suleiman. My mother is a writer. My father is a teacher. And my sisters always fight each other. One day I found a toy on the street. I picked it up. It exploded. I don't remember what happened after that… Because it was the end.

[morgana-larkin]

Alright, it seems I’ve gotten a creative boost for Marilyn. In this chapter you both try and move on but also try to make each other jealous, so have fun with that! Not edited in the slightest and I hope you like it!

Cool Your Fire - Part 5

Warnings: jealousy

Words: 5.1k

Marilyn takes a deep breath, it’s Friday today. She spent all week pretending like you don’t exist and it’s killing her. All she wants is to be next to you and comfort you and tell you that she loves you. She can’t do any of that.

Last week you told her you wanted nothing to do with her and to stay away from you forever. And even if it’s hurting her every time she sees you, she has to respect your decision and boundaries. All she has to do is get through today and then she has 2 days off to do whatever.

She’s in bed right now, not wanting to get up but has too. She can’t help but think over some of the events of the week after Saturday.

On Sunday, Marilyn woke up hoping that what happened yesterday was all a dream but when she saw you and you didn’t even look at her, she knew it wasn’t.

She can’t help but think of what happened over and over again in her head as she tries to keep busy. She knew she should have questioned you more as to why you were distancing yourself. She didn’t though and it seems whatever was going through your mind just exploded along with you figuring out who her family was.

She never came here to kill the outcasts, sure she thought about it after her family died but that’s normal to want revenge. She got curious and wanted to know if the outcasts are really as bad as her family told her. And from what she’s seen, they’re just people trying to live their life like everyone else.

“So what does everyone know about the Venus flytrap?” Sally asks you all. You, Enid, Sally and Nickie are placed in a group to do a project about a carnivorous plant that Ms. Thornhill chooses for each group.

“Just that they eat flies and other things.” You say and everyone else nods in agreement.

You all begin looking up all about the Venus Flytrap and Marilyn keeps glancing over at your group. She sees Sally trying to hit on you as well, and while you ignored it at first, you eventually start to flirt back with her. Marilyn feels the anger start to flare inside of her and she clenches her fist at her desk. She knows she can’t do anything about it and can only watch. Have you really moved on already? If you’ve moved on then she should too. There’s a man in Jericho that’s been trying to hit on her but keeps rejecting him since she was interested in you, but maybe she should accept it when she goes into town this weekend.

The bell finally rings and everyone packs up their stuff and goes to their next class. That leaves Marilyn alone to her thoughts and plants as she has a spare right now. She begins her daily routine of tending to her plants while she begins to think about everything again.

Was she really trying to move on or just make you jealous? Then she thinks that it could be both, making you jealous after you hurting her is perfect.

The day passes slowly but eventually it ends and everyone gets ready for the weekend. In the quad at supper time, you’re walking to the table when Sally comes up to you.

“Hey, Y/N, so I was wondering if you wanted to sit with me today? Just you and me, no one else.” She asks you, face full of hope.

“Oh, um sure.” You say and Sally has a bright smile on her face and then leads you to a free table.

Enid, the fangs and Marilyn all watch you go to another table with Sally, their mouths open in shock. Marilyn gets up and leaves after muttering an excuse to the table and goes to her room. While walking out of the Quad, another teacher purposely bumps into her.

“Watch it Normie!” The teacher says, attracting everyone’s attention to them. Luckily for Marilyn, Enid and the fangs saw it all and they all get up to defend her.

“It’s you who should watch it.” Enid says.

“We saw you do it on purpose. I don’t think principal Weems would appreciate you bullying a fellow faculty member.” Yoko says.

“Girls, it’s alright. No need to get the principal in on this, she already has enough to deal with.” Marilyn tells them.

“Ya, no need to have her waste her time on a Normie.” The teacher says and then before anyone can say anything, smoke starts to rise from behind him. He then feels it and turns around to see his butt on fire and begins padding it down. While he does that, everyone turns to look at you with a smile. You just stay sitting at your spot but your body is turned to everyone.

“I suggest you apologise to her or I won’t put it out.” You say to the teacher and barely has a smile on her face.

“Ok, I’m sorry Ms. Thornhill.” He says and you put the fire out and the teacher walks away. You immediately turn back around to finish eating and the fangs go back to their seat.

“Even if you aren’t friends, Y/N hates discrimination.” Enid says to Marilyn.

“Well tell her I say thank you.” Marilyn says then walks off to her room.

The next day you all get on the shuttle and Enid sits next to Marilyn this time so you don’t have too. Marilyn gets her phone out and shows Enid a picture of a guy.

“What do you think of him?” She asks her.

“Oh, I guess he’s cute, I think I’ve seen him around Jericho.” Enid says, not liking where this might be going.

“Ya he lives there. His name is John and he’s been flirting with me for a couple weeks. I’m thinking of accepting this time when I see him.” Marilyn says with a smile.

“Oh, well, if you like him then you should definitely go for it.” Enid says with a forced smile. Enid and Marilyn continue talking a little bit before the shuttle reaches Jericho and everyone gets off.

You and Enid walk around Jericho a little bit before stopping at the weathervane. The two of you sit down with your drinks and pastries when Marilyn walks in with John. Marilyn sees you sitting there with Enid and avoids contact with you or looking in your direction the entire time, putting all her attention on John. When Marilyn gets her drink, she and John sit down and continue chatting.

That got your attention immediately as soon as you heard someone talking with Marilyn. You watch them chat and flirt the entire time and you’re not liking it one bit. Your first clench around your coffee mug and your knuckles turn white. Enid sees this and thinks you might shatter the mug if you don’t release your hold on it.

“Might want to let go of it or you’ll break it.” Enid tells you and while you do let go off the mug, you’re still clenching your fists. “Why do you look jealous? Thought you were growing up?” Enid says and you turn to look at her.

“He doesn’t seem good enough for her.” You tell her.

“You don’t even know him. You’re just mad because you want it to be you she’s talking too.” Enid says casually and you cross your arms.

“I told you that we aren’t friends anymore because of a decision I made. If I wanted to talk to her then I can go right up to her and do it.”

“You do want to talk to her though and yet you’ve stopped yourself all week. You’re cutting her out of your life and yet she’s still your teacher and dorm mom. There’s gonna be times where you need to talk to her or interact with her.”

“And by then my feelings for her would have already gone away. I’m liking her less and less everyday. In a week I’ll probably think of how crazy I was to have a crush on her.” You tell Enid, who doesn’t believe you in the slightest.

“Why don’t you ask Sally out?” She suddenly says and you open your mouth in shock.

“Why would I do that?”

“She likes you and if you’re over Marilyn then maybe you can go on a date with Sally. Oh maybe you can invite her to Rave’N that’s next weekend.” Enid suggests. Enid got involved in this thing between you and Marilyn and she’s trying to keep the peace. As far as Enid knows, Marilyn showed a bit of interest in you but nothing became of it, and now it looks like Marilyn is dating a normie from Jericho.

“I should. And why should I be jealous if Marilyn is dating some random guy?”

“That’s the spirit. And Marilyn is an attractive woman, it’s not surprising that someone’s been interested in her for a couple weeks.” Enid says and your eyes widen a bit.

“You mean that idiot over there has been interested in her for weeks?” You ask her.

“That’s what Marilyn said, but she kept telling him no, until today.”

Just then Wednesday comes in and joins you both.

“What’s up Wednesday?” You ask her as she hasn’t said anything.

“I’ve just been asked to the Rave’N and for some reason I said yes.” She says and you both stare at her in shock. “Are you guys going with someone?” She asks you both.

“I was going to go with Ajax but he stood me up the other night so I’m on my lonesome.” Enid tells you both.

“I was thinking of asking Sally to go with me.”

“She’s interested in you so she’ll definitely say yes.” Enid tells you. That catches Wednesday's interest as she knows you were going out with Marilyn. “Wait, I see her right there, you can go and ask her right now, come on!” Enid tells you and drags you out the door. Wednesday looks over at the table that Marilyn is at, she sees her date ordering a drink and Marilyn looking at the door in shock. Wednesday suspected that maybe you and Marilyn weren’t going out anymore but it was just confirmed. Wednesday sees Marilyn watching you ask Sally to the Rave’N. She thinks that Sally must have said yes as Marilyn looks upset before telling her date that she has to go and leaving.

“Why are you trying to make Ms. Thornhill jealous?” Wednesday asks you when you’re alone in a corner at a dress shop.

“Wednesday, her and I ended the relationship. I’m not trying to make her jealous, I’m moving on.” You tell her and brush past her.

“Well she’s not over you. She got upset when you asked Sally to go to the dance.” She tells you.

“Oh hi Ms. Thornhill, are you picking out a dress for the Rave’N?” You both hear Enid say across the shop.

“Yes I am. John is going with me, I asked him today and he said yes.” Marilyn said, not knowing you were there. You stay out of her eyesight the entire time you were there. The only time she saw you was when you were paying for the dress and leaving.

You were on your way to your dorm room when you turn a corner and bump right into Marilyn.

“Oh sorry Ms. Thornhill.” You tell her and go to leave but she stops you.

“I guess you’re going to the dance with Sally, I see you’re moving on.” She tells you and you see she looks upset.

“Ya, you’re going with John so I guess you’re moving on as well.”

“Well, being with him is better than being with a student.” She fires at you and you get upset at that.

“I guess you find him better than me cause he’s a normie. You know it was a big mistake to ever go out with you.” You tell her and then walk away to your dorm. Marilyn watches you walk away in disappointment, she shouldn’t have said that to you. She honestly would prefer being with you than with John but she does have to move on at some point.

A week passes by and before you know it, it’s the night of the Rave’N. Enid finishes your makeup and then you go and do Wednesday’s after she puts her dress on. You’re in the middle of putting black eyeshadow on her when there’s a knock at your door. Enid goes to answer it and sees that it’s Sally there.

“Hi Sally, Y/N is just doing Wednesday’s makeup then she’ll be ready to go.” Enid tells her.

“That’s alright, I don’t mind waiting.” She tells Enid and then Enid steps aside to let her in. “Hi Y/N.” She tells you when she sees you.

“Hi Sally.” You turn to her briefly before focusing on finishing Wednesday’s makeup. “Alright, that should do it.”

“What do you think?” Wednesday asks everyone.

“You look positively dark and mysterious.” Enid tells her to which Wednesday nods at you in approval.

You then get up and Sally gets a good look at you. You’re wearing a white dress that goes to your mid thighs. It clings to your top half and then flows down the rest of the way, making it fun to spin around in. It also has a v-dip neckline giving anyone a nice view of your cleavage.

“Wow, you look beautiful.” Sally tells you and you blush at her compliment.

“Thank you, so do you.” Sally chose to go a different route and wear a white pantsuit, and you can’t say that she doesn’t look good in it, because she does look stunning in it.

“Ready to go?” She asks you and you nod.

“Yep, let’s go. I’ll meet you guys there?” You ask Enid and Wednesday and they both nod.

You make it down to the gym with Sally and you see Ms. Thornhill there greeting everyone.

“Oh Sally and…Y/N, don’t you guys look cute together.” Marilyn says with a bit of jealousy in her tone.

“Thank you Ms. Thornhill!” Sally says excitedly.

“Thanks Ms. Thornhill.” You tell her with a fake smile.

An hour later, you and Sally are coming back from the dance floor and you go to get drinks from the punch bowl for both of you. When you’re there, Marilyn comes up to you.

“So you brought the girl that’s been flirting with you for a month, how original.” She tells you and you turn to face her.

“You’re one to talk, you brought the guy that’s been flirting with you for weeks.” You tell her.

“I’m surprised you’re jealous considering you’re the one that ended it.” She says with a quirked eyebrow.

“Well believe it or not, I still care about you. Which is why I asked for you to leave me alone forever. I can see how well you’re following that.” You tell her.

“We still have to interact at some points.” She says and you scoff. “You’re still my student and I’m still your dorm mom as you live in Ophelia Hall.” She tells you. Just then John comes up and introduces himself.

“Oh hi, are you one of Marilyn’s students? She loves her students and can’t stop talking about them. I’m John, Marilyn’s date to the dance.” He tells you and holds out a hand to shake. You pretend to act polite to him even though you don’t like that he’s dating her, and you shake his hand.

“Yes, I’m Y/N. Ms Thornhill is my botany teacher and dorm mom.” You tell him.

“Oh Y/N, she’s mentioned you a few times.” He says and you look at her with interest. “She’s told me that you and your group of friends have been the most welcoming to her.” He adds and you nod.

“The other teachers don’t like normies as much but we don’t care if she’s a normie or not. We don’t like to discriminate.” You tell him.

“Oh wait, are you the one that set that teacher's butt on fire last week.”

“Yep, he was bullying her so I acted accordingly. I’m someone you don’t really want to cross.” You tell him with a darker tone. John doesn’t catch on but Marilyn sure does. “I would love to stay and chat, but I was just getting drinks for me and my date.” You tell them both and leave.

“She seems nice, no wonder you’ve talked about her a couple times.” John tells her and puts an arm around her shoulders. Marilyn gives her best fake smile for him even though she doesn’t want to be touched by him, she’d rather it be you touching her.

Marilyn mostly stayed in one place, sitting at one table, watching just you for most of the night. She tried her best to watch the other kids and to keep up the conversation with John as best she could.

“So do you have a favourite student?” John asks her and she turns her head to her.

“What?”

“Just, I’ve heard that teachers shouldn’t have a favourite student but sometimes it happens. So do you have one?” He asks her and her gaze falls on you.

“I did have one.” She mutters so he wouldn’t hear. “No.” She tells him. “I care about them all equally.” She adds.

“Really? I would have assumed it was Y/N.” He says casually and she whips her head to look at him.

“Why would you think that?”

“Just that she’s the one you mostly talk about.” He tells her and she turns to look at you again. You’ve been too busy dancing and talking to your friends and Sally to notice her staring at you for most of the night.

An hour passes by and the DJ announces that it's the last song and everyone goes out on the dance floor.

You are out on the dance floor dancing with Sally when you notice that Enid’s date, Lucas, isn’t there so you include Enid in the dance. Just then you start to feel something drip on your face and then something red starts pouring down on everyone. You’re caught right in the middle of the dance floor and can’t see the way out as there’s too many people running around and too much paint. You start running in a random direction and then all of a sudden you slip and fall to the ground. Before you hit the ground, someone catches you and pulls you up. You go to thank the person but then you see it’s Marilyn who saved you and you stare at her.

“Come on, we have to get out of here, it’s too slippery here.” She tells you and you nod your head. You then grab her hand and you both carefully run out of the gym. When you make it out of the gym, a pair of arms are around you in a hug.

“Oh thank god. We got separated in the crowd and couldn’t see you.” Enid tells you.

“A prank was played, and not even a good one.” Wednesday says. “They didn’t even use blood, it’s paint.”

“Paint? Who would do such a thing?” You ask.

“Enid, it’s suspicious that your date disappeared right before the prank was played.” Wednesday tells Enid, and then Enid goes and runs to see who did the prank. Wednesday leaves to go to her dorm while you look at the state you're in with the paint all over you.

“Even though you look like you just killed a bunch of people, you still look nice.” Marilyn tells you and you look up at her.

“Thanks, and thank you for saving me in there.” You tell her with a small smile.

“It’s not a problem, I had to make sure all my students were safe.” She tells you and then walks away.

You watch her walk away, disappointed that you didn’t have more time with her. You still want to be around her, but you don’t know if you can even be friends with someone who’s family has been killing outcasts for centuries. You don’t know what she was taught growing up until the death of her family. You then decide to talk to the one person who’s the most neutral as she has no emotions, Wednesday.

“Wednesday can we talk about something?” You ask her as you enter the dorm room and she turns to look at you. “Before I say anything, you have to promise me that you won’t do anything about it or tell anyone. You have to swear.”

“I can I agree to something that I don’t know what’s it about?” She asks you.

“Cause you’re curious.” You tell her and she doesn’t look impressed. “And it’s about Ms. Thornhill.” You add on and that catches her attention.

“Ok, I swear.”

“Alright first of all, you were right, there’s no records of her before 13 because she changed her name. She was both as Laurel Gates.” You tell her.

“Isn’t the Gates related to Joseph Crackstone? The one who slaughtered a bunch of outcasts.” She says and you nod.

“It’s the reason her and I are no longer together, well one of the reasons. I also feared she might be going behind my back and hooking up with someone else, someone older.” You tell her and she looks at you curiously.

“Why are you telling me this?” She asks you with a tilt of her head.

“Because I don’t know what to do, I know you’d probably befriend her as her family are killers and that might intrigue you or something, but you also have no emotional attachment to anything so you’re the best person to tell as you’re neutral.” You tell her.

“I wouldn’t befriend her. While her family may be killers, she isn’t one. She seems like the normal one in the family, the boring one.” She tells you. “In my vision, you both seemed happy, disgustingly happy.” She adds on. “You don’t like discrimination and yet you’re blaming her for her family’s actions.” She tells you and you have to admit that you didn’t see that coming. I mean she did have a point.

“I guess I did at first but then I just think that she’ll get bored or maybe some of those Gates tendencies will come back to her and she’ll hate me. And she’s dating John now anyway.” You tell her.

“I don’t understand why you’re talking about your feelings to me instead of Enid.”

“It’s not my feelings I want to talk about, I want a logical answer. What should I do?” You ask her and she looks at you.

“If I were you, I’d leave her alone. People aren’t worth it, they’ll just hold you back. I know you’ve been trying to do that but she keeps coming back to you. Reminds me a bit of my parents, can’t be separated for long.” She says. “Now I have to get rid of the remnants of a bad prank.” She tells you and goes to take a shower.

You then start to feel the paint beginning to dry on you and you start feeling it stick to you more and more and you really need a shower. You then reluctantly walk over to Marilyn’s room and knock on her door. She opens the door and smiles when she sees it’s you.

“Hey Y/N.” She tells you and her hair is wet and she’s wearing different clothes.

“Hi, I was wondering if I can use your shower? Wednesday is using the one in the dorm and the paint is sticking to me and really starting to bother me.” You tell her and she steps aside.

“Of course, come on in.” She tells you.

Before you walk in, you see John sitting on her new couch and you freeze.

“Oh I didn’t know you had company, I’m sorry to disturb you, I’ll go.” You tell her and she frowns.

“Nonsense, you need a shower. Just use mine.” She tells you and you shake your head and begin to walk away, feeling your eyes start to water. “Hey Y/N, are you alright?” She asks you and puts a hand on your shoulder, and at that moment John gets up.

“Marilyn, I think I’ll go. It’s obvious your student needs you right now.” He tells her and she nods at him. “I’ll call you tomorrow though.” He adds on.

“Ok, thank you, and thanks for tonight.” She says and he gives her a kiss on the cheek then walks out. “Y/N, come in.” She tells you but you stay rooted in your spot.

“No, I think I’ve ruined your night enough.” You tell her and a tear slips down your cheek. You begin to walk away but she grabs your wrist and drags you into her room. “Woah! Marilyn! What the hell!” You yell when you’re in her room.

“What’s wrong? You’re crying and it can’t be just because of the paint.” She tells you and she crosses her arms.

“I didn’t expect to see John in here with you, alone.” You tell her with a sniffle.

“We weren’t doing anything, just talking.” She tells you. “Come on, what’s this about?” She softly nudges you.

“You, it’s about you!” You blurt out and you both look shocked. Well, might as well just continue. “And I don’t know what to do.” You add on.

“Ok, listen, how about you go take a shower and then after we can chat. I think it’s overdue anyway.” She tells you and you nod while a couple tears fall down your cheeks and Marilyn wipes them off. “Alright, I’ll get you a towel and a shirt and pants for after.” She says.

After your shower, you slip on the clothes she gave you to borrow and you feel so much better already. You brush your hair and make sure to get all the tangles out before going back into her room.

“Hey, I made you a hot chocolate.” She tells you when she sees you.

“Oh, thank you. I also see you got a couch like you wanted.” You tell her and she smiles.

“I did, yes, 3 weeks ago.” She tells you as you sit down beside her and grab the hot chocolate from the small table beside the couch. “So what got you upset today?” She asks you.

“Today is when it kinda boiled over, but I’ve been struggling for 3 weeks.” You tell her and she nods. Already knowing that’s when you guys broke up. “I’ve been trying to figure out if I made the right choice. And today I actually asked Wednesday of all people. She had a vision of us kissing a few weeks ago and said she won’t tell anyone, and she’s got no emotions so she’s probably the best person to ask. Anyway, she made me realise that I was punishing you for your family’s actions, while you didn’t do anything. And when I saw John today, sitting on your couch, it made me go over the edge and all I wanted was to run away from you. It got me really upset and knowing that I was right to end it and that I should just let you live your life while I live mine. I mean we only went out for like 2 weeks, so I’ll move on eventually, especially since you have already.” You finish and take a big sip of the hot chocolate to help make you feel better.

“Well first of all, I haven’t moved on but I’m trying too.” She starts and you look up at her. “And second, I understand you wanted to distance yourself after knowing I was related to a line of outcast killers. Your survival instincts took over, and while I may not have liked the outcome, I do understand. I would honestly have done the same if I were you. And third, what do you mean by, you were right to end it?” She asks you and you look at her.

“I knew you’d get bored eventually and just move on.” You tell her. “I’m too young for you and you would realise that right away and just leave. And it would probably be after we have sex as I’ve never done it and you’d want someone who’s experienced. But I understand that I need to move on, but it’s hard when I see you everyday, and also the fact that you were my first kiss and relationship, actually we weren’t even in a relationship, just went on a date and kissed.” You tell her.

“I was your first kiss?” She asks you and you nod. “So in your dorm, that was your first ever kiss?” She asks again and you once again nod. “Oh Y/N, you should have told me, I feel honoured to be your first kiss. And also I think I can decide for myself if you’re too young for me. You may be 17 but you act older than that.” She says to you. “Y/N, while I would love to get back together with you, I think you’re right about one thing.” She says and you look at her. “I was born and raised as a Gates. It might have been for the best that we ended things. I’m new to the whole being around outcasts thing, and while I don’t want to kill any of you, I’m not sure how I feel about all of you, especially dating one.” She says and you nod. You take the last sip of your hot chocolate and place it behind you on the table.

“I guess I’ll go then, I’ll just go change out of these clothes and give them back to you. Will only take a minute.” You tell her.

“Keep them if you want. Those pyjamas don’t fit me anymore anyway. I was about to get rid of them.” She tells you and you nod after a few seconds.

“Ok, thank you, they are comfortable.” You say with a small smile that she returns.

She closes the door behind you and then takes a deep breath before sliding down the door. While she wants to be with you, she also doesn’t want to hurt you or you getting hurt by other normies because of who you are. So she put her feelings aside and told a small lie to keep you safe, she just hopes that you’ll stay safe.

[aralezinspace]

You said that you were taking Sandman fan fiction requests. I hope this one is a good idea: Reader is a preschool teacher who plans to read the Hans Christian Andersen story "Ole Lukoie" to her class, which she mentions to Morpheus since the titular character seems to be a bit similar to him. The day this happens, Morpheus shows up to visit the class to surprise the Reader and answer some of the kids' questions about him.

Storytime

A/N: omg you have NO IDEA how giddy I was to get this request! I work with toddlers and this is TOTALLY the kind of thing I'd do if they were older than 2 or 3 xD my 4 year olds from two years ago would have loved this. Thank you for sending this, hope you enjoy!

Here's a link to the full story of Ole Lukoie

~~Requests for Morpheus and the Doctor (9-13) are open!~~

The floor of my living room looked like a classroom exploded. To be fair, it was kind of true- I was working on my lesson plan for the upcoming week, and all my papers were spread out on the floor around me, my laptop perched on my legs. A mug of black coffee was on the table behind me.

It was almost midnight.

I felt the hairs on my arms stand up along with the rush of air that announced my boyfriend had arrived- as if “boyfriend” could encompass everything that came with being in a relationship with Dream of the Endless.

His eyebrows flew into his hair as he took in the pre-K lesson carnage. “Beloved,” he began slowly, “It is rather late, why are you still working?”

“My lesson plan is due tomorrow for observation. I’m almost done, I just have to get everything organized.” Dream watched me close my laptop and stack the papers in their specific order. No doubt he was ready and waiting to make me rest the minute I zipped up my bag.

I walked back into the living room, where Morpheus immediately pulled me onto the couch next to him. Exhaustion settled over me like a blanket as I curled into his side. “I admire your dedication to your work and your students,” he purred, “But you need rest. I refuse to let you burn yourself out.”

I pouted at him, my mind still whirling with everything I needed to do. “What do you have planned for the little ones?” he asked softly, gently rubbing my back. A smile touched my face.

“We’re learning about different fairytales.” I giggled somewhat nervously as I realized I was about to explain my fairytale lesson to the Prince of Stories. “Do a different one every day for the next two weeks- all the usuals, Goldilocks, Three Little Pigs, Rapunzel…” I giggled again.

“I found one I hadn’t heard of, by Hans Christian Anderson. Ole Lukoie.” It may have been a trick of the light, but I thought I saw a knowing smirk touch Dream’s face. “The main character sounds strangely similar to someone I know- a magical being that controls dreams and helps people fall asleep with sand… You wouldn’t have had anything to do with that, would you?”

A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest. “What ever do you mean, my love?” I gave him a playful smack on his firm chest; the fact that I didn’t break my hand on his immovable form was a sign of just how relaxed he was. “You know exactly what I mean, oh inspirational Dream Lord, he who puts ballads and epics in peoples’ brains.” Morpheus laughed again, this one full and beaming. God he was so beautiful when he laughed.

“And when do you plan to share this tale with your students?”

“Thursday.” I paused, a suspicious little thought taking hold. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” was his almost immediate response. I could see the wheels turning in his mind behind star-dusted eyes. He stared straight ahead for a moment before giving me another mischievous smirk.

“Alright,” I huffed playfully, settling back into his chest with a yawn. “Keep your secrets.” He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead as my eyes fluttered closed.

“Sleep well, beloved.”

~~~

The week passed normally, both in the waking world and the Dreaming, and I had almost forgotten my conversation with Morpheus about fairytales. I was too preoccupied with writing my kids’ report cards and handling the daily chaos. One kid went home with a stomach bug, another was absent with pink eye, they ran wild on the playground, it never ended.

Thursday came, and I woke feeling especially well rested, no doubt Morpheus’ doing. His scent still lingered on my blankets; he must have spent most of the night in the waking. I went through the motions of my morning routine, putting my coffee in a travel mug so I could get to my classroom a little earlier.

My kids started coming in about an hour after I did- time always got away from me when I started prepping and organizing my room. Only a few were home sick, and the rest seemed in good spirits, coughs and runny noses aside.

They played until morning snack, when I usually read a story. All eleven of them sat at the table with a small cup of pretzels, eating and talking loudly to each other. I pulled out a copy of Ole Lukoie I had printed. “Alright my friends!” I called. Eleven pairs of eyes looked up at me, at least for a second before going back to their pretzels. I was about to go into the story when there was a knock on my door. “Oh! I wonder who that is!”

I opened the door to my principal… and my boyfriend, smiling no less. “Hello!” she began with a wave, “This young man said he was visiting your room as a guest reader!” Morpheus stepped into the room and hovered awkwardly by the cubbies.

I choked on my snort of laughter at “young man”; the coughing fit gave me a moment to think of a response. Poor Morpheus looked concerned that I was about to hack up a lung. My principal left with another cheery wave. My kids stared at Morpheus with wide eyes, trying to make him make sense in their four-year-old brains. I took a breath and feel back on the age-old pre-K advice: just roll with it.

I beckoned him to the front of the room and said, “Yes, I forgot to tell you I was bringing in a guest reader today. This, is Mr. Morpheus. Let’s say hello!” He gave them a nod as eleven versions of “Hello Mr. Morpheus” came from pretzel-filled mouths.

I passed him the copy of the story with a beaming, slightly unhinged grin. “Mr. Morpheus is going to read our story today, so let’s show him your best listening ears.” I pulled out one of the tiny plastic chairs and sat with my kids, mirroring their eager anticipation.

Dream looked uncomfortable for only a moment before the Prince of Stories arrived in full glory. He cleared his throat and began to read:

“There is nobody in the world who knows so many stories as Ole-Luk-Oie, or who can relate them so nicely. In the evening, while the children are seated at the table or in their little chairs, he comes up the stairs very softly, for he walks in his socks, then he opens the doors without the slightest noise, and throws a small quantity of very fine dust in their eyes, just enough to prevent them from keeping them open, and so they do not see him.”

His soothing, rumbling voice had them instantly spellbound, hanging on to his every word, pretzels long forgotten. My kids were never this comfortable or well-behaved with guests, but some part of them must have known Morpheus to be the one from their dreams, keeping watch over their sleep.

I was just as entranced, staring at him with a dopey, love-struck smile as he worked his magic. He would occasionally glance up from the page and make eye contact with one or two kids before his gaze landed on me, then returned to the page. He was relaxed, at ease, and dare I say, enjoying himself. His deep blue eyes were practically glittering.

The kids all clapped when he was finished- I have no shame admitting that I did as well. “Right friends, what do we say to Mr. Morpheus for reading us a story?”

“THANK YOOUUU!!”

I laughed and glanced bashfully at Dream as he closed the book. Both corners of his mouth were lifted in a small but genuine smile. I could tell he had that glowing warmth in his chest, the kind that only came from being openly adored by a gaggle of toddlers. He practically glowed under the fluorescent classroom lights, reminding me in that moment that gods and Endless thrived on being shown love and kindness as much as humans did.

I sniffed and got a hold on my emotions that were yelling for me to wrap Dream in my arms and shower him in praise, affection, kisses and adoration. Listening to his voice for ten minutes straight and watching him with the kids I loved like my own had gotten me kind of worked up. “Now then, does anyone have questions for Mr. Morpheus about our story?” A few raised their hands. “Yes, Cody.”

“Mr. Mow-ee-us, guess what! My brother has a sandbox like in the story!” Dream looked perplexed; I stood next to him as backup.

“That’s really cool!” I responded for him. “Sarah, what’s your question?”

“Teacher is Mr. Morbus your boyfriend?”

I froze, feeling his eyes on me. I should have seen this coming. I let out a small sigh. “Yes, Mr. Morpheus is my boyfriend.”

“Are you gonna be married? My mommy’s married-“

I stopped them before that line of inquiry could go any further. “Okay, David you had a question?”

“Do you have a cat? I have two cats at home.”

“No,” Dream began somewhat haltingly. “I do have a raven, a bird. His name is Matthew.”

“That’s a silly name!” one kid shouted. A cup of pretzels clattered to the floor.

“Okay, one more question before recess. Elena?”

“Why do you have a really long coat?”

“Because… I find it comfortable, and it’s part of my job.”

Before another kid could shout a question, there was another knock at the door and Mike, our hall monitor, stuck his head in. “Who’s ready to go outside?” he called with a smile.

“Alright friends, get your coats and go with Mr. Mike, have fun!” A stampede of four-year-olds thundered to the door, some of them shouting goodbye to Morpheus as they left.

Silence descended as the last child left. I took a huge breath and sat on the table, smiling at Dream. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and the gleam in his eye was positively devious. I laughed and said, “You look entirely too pleased with yourself, love.”

Morpheus sat next to me on the table, our shoulders lightly brushing together. His warmth was comforting and helped calm my spike of adrenaline from the transition to recess. He murmured, “Your students are certainly… precocious.” I snorted at his choice of words. “I can see why you love them so much.”

“Yea,” I sighed with an adoring smile. “They drive me up a wall sometimes, but I really do love them.” I gave him a little nudge. “Thank you for coming, the kids really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, listening to you read.” Dream pressed a kiss to my temple and my whole body glowed with warmth.

“It was my pleasure,” he breathed, “And I would be glad to read to you any time you desire.”

“I just may take you up on that.” I heaved myself off the table and started picking up empty cups. “I need to get ready for the afternoon; you can stay if you want, I’ll just be working. But, you know what that’s like.”

Morpheus chuckled and headed to the door. “I would like that very much, but I must return to the Dreaming. I have some work of my own to finish before I see you tonight.”

“Fair enough.” I grabbed his hand and gave him a deep kiss before he could leave. “I love you, see you tonight.”

He took my hand and ghosted his lips over my knuckles, the gesture sending waves of tingles up my arm to my entire body. “Until tonight, my love.”  

[badpancakelol]

“Have a nice day!”

Eddie doesn’t hope he has a nice day. The guy was a dick and tried to short him on credits, despite being so obviously well off. Like, c’mon, man. Not even trying to hide the Nabooian silk robes? Or the Coruscanti accent? Offhandedly mentioning that his girlfriend was a senator? Just because he works in the middle of a shit ship-port on Tatooine doesn’t mean he’s thick. He wipes the grease off his hands onto the already-dirty rag, but there’s no use in using precious water on a midday clean. Instead, Eddie dabs the sweat from his brow, and contemplates buzzing his hair short again.

Nabooian. Silk. Thousand threaded, cool-to-the-touch, Eddie’s-favourite-colour, Nabooian silk. The guy had to be taunting him. Had to be. In this heat? In Eddie’s port? With his favourite colour?

(Does it matter that it wasn’t his favourite colour until a certain someone had shown him in-colour holos of the fields? No. No it does not).

And then he had some wannabe bounty hunter from his block try and threaten him to fix his ship, which? Hello? Does Mr Blonde Mullet really think that threatening Eddie is gonna make him want to fix his shit faster? I’ll break your hand if you so much as put a scratch on her. It’s not like he can even do anything to hurt Eddie. A broken hand slows down the work, as does a fractured leg, or a black eye, or a concussion, or a blaster burn, or a vibro-wound, or a—

Ah. You get the point. All bark and no bite, and, dank farrik did he have a stupid amount of bark. Enough bark to fill the entire four hours it took to fix his hunk of junk. 

So, really, you can’t blame him for the mood that he’s been in all day (or, you could try, but if your engine takes a little bit longer to retune, or your fuel is a little more expensive than normal, well. Have fun trying to trek your way into the shitshow of the other side of town), when he turns to find the stupidly shiny Naboo royal starship spluttering its way in. Because, seriously? What the hell has he done to the people of Naboo to deserve this?

Eddie thumps his head against the makeshift table, shouts before the ramp has even extended to let whoever-the-fuck out of the rich ship, “We’re closed!”

The sharp click of heeled boots grate on Eddie’s brain, and is only dulled when he watches the way they sink slightly into the ground through his curtain of hair. 

“I don’t need any work done.” Rich Naboo Man says, and— 

He knows that voice.

“I just need a place to park for a little while — I’m visiting a friend around here, actually.”

Eddie lifts his head, peeks up at the person in front of him. The person who is very much Naboo royalty, who is wearing those stupid bright red robes, and the stupid headpiece that he said was too heavy and impractical, with makeup that he said highlighted his broken nose too much, is shuffling out of the starship. His head is held high, and there’s a crease in his brow that’s been the same since they were stupid foundlings with Eddie reading out the aurebesh on the flimsi that their teachers handed them.

No. Fucking. Way. 

“Steve?” 

“Eddie?” His head moves so fast that the jewels dangling from the headpiece almost whip him in the face. And then Steve is shuffling forwards, back straight and face smoothed to a soothing smile, before he’s already apologising. “I’m sorry that I didn’t make it on time. There were duties that I had to attend to, and they ran longer than—”

He bolts from his seat, taking long strides in his ratty grey jumpsuit before he’s caught Steve around the middle twirling them around, because he’s waiting fifty-seven rotations for this. Fifty-seven. If Steve says one more damned apology Eddie is quite literally going to explode. The laugh that Steve lets out is so hearty and so full — warmer than both of Tattoooine’s suns — and, Force, if Eddie has to go another almost-two-months without seeing him, he is quite literally going to overthrow Naboo.

“Hey! It’s okay, Hop. You can put the blaster down.” Steve places his hands onto Eddie’s shoulders and— did he hear that right?

“King Harrington—”

“—Please, Hop, not while I’m off-duty—”

“Steve, the guy ran at you and hauled you up.”

Steve turns around, and Eddie feels like, then. His royal robes create a silhouette of patience and strength, and tower over Eddie, if you count in the headpiece. There is a part of Eddie that whispers how he should very much be letting go of Steve, because his guard still has his blaster aimed at the only bits of him that stick out from behind Steve’s ornate dress. But it’s been so long, and there’s a larger part of his soul that says that he never wants to let go.

“Hopper,” Steve says, and Eddie can just feel the commanding tone of voice bleed through his usual casualness. “This is who I was meeting.”

Eddie lifts his head over Steve’s shoulder, and ignores the small huff he gets in return for the grease he undoubtedly just smeared across Steve’s very expensive, thousand thread Nabooian silk robes. Maybe it’ll finally give him a reason to change out of them. Hopper lowers his blaster, shoves it into the holster with too much and too little force without-a-capital-F all at once. If Eddie was a lesser man he would have snorted. Or, if Eddie was a lesser man he would have let the guard hear his snort.

“This is the guy you’re courting?” “Force, you make us sound old.” Eddie sighs at the same time Steve full-heartedly responds “Yes.”

The guard — Hopper — just pinches his brow and adjusts the hat on his head. “Well, I can’t say anything for your taste in men, but at least he has a respectable job. And he gets paid.”

“Stevie’s still dealing with the Naboo’s Royal Pocket Money?”

“Don’t remind me.” Steve says, moving a swift motion so that he holds Eddie’s hand underneath one of the long red sleeves of his gown.

When Eddie turns to look at Steve, he’s already turned. There’s a mellowed out look on his face that Eddie reads as is your work finished? Let’s clean up and lie around and do nothing but be near each other. And who is Eddie to deny such a request?

“Well,” Eddie says, in all the hospitality that a man from Tatooine can muster, “We best not keep you any longer.”

Hop hums in the way that Wayne used to when he knew that Eddie was just trying to weasel his way out of things. Maybe it was just one of those sixth senses that fathers-who-aren’t-biologically-fathers gain when their children start dating. Or maybe Eddie’s just obvious.

“I can give you a rundown of your ship in the morning. I think you’ve dislodged something in your engine — I could hear it rattling before you even landed.”

Steve tugs on Eddie’s arm, lip quirked up at the corners, and crows feet showing through ornate red and white makeup. “Eds, there’s nothing wrong—”

“Stevie, I love you, but you’re terrible at lying.”

[fangirlfrom-hell]

A Day Full Of Emotions (Also the first time Jay sees Becca dance) || Jay Halstead x Healstead Sister || Healstead Sister one shot

*re-posting this because I'm stupid and accidentaly delated my blog 🫠

Summary: There is a big art festival happening in Chicago and Becca will dance a solo for the first time in front of people. Jay has to work as a cop and can't be with her all the time as he wished. A bomb explodes in the event and everything becomes a mess. Bomb references to Season 5, episode 2.

Becca is Halstead sister. Remember she's a theatre girl. I might write something short about Hailey and Kim trying to do Becca's hair, because that's cute.

The song Becca is dancing is In- A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly, but only the part of the drums. Minute 6:29, for a better reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCkHanF4v1w

It was finally Saturday and the weather was perfect to be outside. It seemed like luck was on Becca's side, but she wasn't feeling very happy. In fact, she was feeling sick, nauseated. She laid on bed staring at the ceiling, until someone knocked at the door.

-"Morning, kiddo!" It was Jay. -"I'm sorry to wake you, but it's getting late and I need to get ready to work, so...".

Becca used to sleep in Jay's room whenever she stayed at his place. He always preferred to sleep in the couch, so she could be confortable in a proper bed.

-"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. It didn't crossed my mind". She said while standing up.

-"Don't worry. I'll just grab some clothes and get dressed in the bathroom. You can get ready in here...in fact, why are you still in bed? I have to drop you at your teacher's house on my way to the bullpen".

-"Yeah, about that...". Becca said scratching her eye. -"I don't think I'm going...".

-"What do you mean you are not going?" Jay didn't even let her finish the sentence. -"You've waiting for this day to come".

-"I'm not feeling so good. I have a stomachache and it feels like I'll throw up".

Jay instinctively touched her forehead to feel if she was irritated or had temperature, but everything felt normal. He immediatly knew what was goinng on.

There was a big art carnival happening in Chicago that day and Becca was going to participate in a dance group that would be moving around the park performing in different spots Mobile Dance, they called it. Her teacher gave her a solo and she was ready to do it, but it would be her very first time performing in front of an audience and the idea suddenly freaked her out.

-"You're good. You are just nervous". Jay said smiling.

About an hour later, Jay was helping Becca to put her backpacks inside of the truck, getting ready to leave. She was unusually quiet, but he didn't want to force any conversation.

-"Is Will coming?" Becca asked in the co-pilot seat.

-"I don't think so". Jay sighed. -"He has a shift at the hospital". Jay lied to Becca, not knowing if that last statement was true. He was mad at his brother for always puting their sister aside. He was also tired of lying for him, but he did it to protect Becca's feelings.

There was no reaction from Becca. The silence among them took over again.

-"I'm so sorry I can't go with you through all the stations. Since it is a huge event for the city, Platt asked us to be there patrolling. There's never enough cops for these things".

-"For the millionth time, Jay: don't worry, It's ok. I understand for real".

-"It's just that I don't feel confortable changing plans with you like this". -He continued with guilt.

-"Well, it's not like you won't see me, anyway...".

-"No. I'll be there in the third stop you make, that's the part of the park I'll patrol. I have my event map with the exact place and hour. I'll be in the spot a few minutes after you arrive to make sure to be in the front when people start to gather around".

-"And you won't get in trouble for that?"

-"I asked Platt, she agreed...in fact, she got a bit excited, don't be surprised if you find her among the crowd too". That made Becca blush in embarrassment. She hadn't tought there would be so many known people around. -"I'll be in my uniform, just rememeber that if you look for me".

That made Becca giggle, she always thought her brother looked funny on his police uniform.

-"All right, Bec. We're here". -Jay said while parking the truck. -"Is there any other of your friends coming here before the show?". He tried to ask casually. He didn't like the idea of leaving his little sister alone with someone he barely knew, even though it was her teacher. Anyway, he didn't have any other option, he had to go to work.

Above all, he didn't have the hability to do her artistic make up, nor to comb her hair as it was instructed: to braids up, one on each side. They should stick back to the head forming a circle. The idea was that they looked like horns. He tried, but failed miserably. Kim and Hailey wanted to help and gave it a try but ended up cursing whoever had the idea of that hair style. That's when Becca talked to her teacher and she proposed Jay to take care of her. She knew about Becca's family situation and was genuinely glad to help that little joyful kid.

-"No". Becca answered her brother's question. -"They all are going with their moms". That last piece of information was unnecesary, but she couldn't help it. She had certain grudge inside her chest, though she probably wasn't aware of it. Jay knew better and remained silent, thoughtful.

-"Hey! I will be there!". There was no more he could say.

-"I know". She smiled. That made Becca get out of her own mind.

The carnival was already full of people when Becca and her teacher arrived. They gathered with the dance group a few minutes before it was time to start. She looked around and found Kim among the cops, they waved hello when their eyes met. Burgess immediatly send a text to Jay: I just saw her, everything's ok. She looks fine . As the overprotective brother he was, Jay had his own security plan and the team was helping him to keep on eye on his sister.

As the hour drew near, Jay started to feel a mixure of excitement and nervousness. Involuntarily, he started to approach the place his sister would dance.

-"Isn't a little bit early?" Hailey asked following him.

-"Yeah. I don't know, I guess I don't want to miss it".

-"And you need to make sure she sees you". She guessed.

-"She needs to know someone is here with her, for her".

-"Well, she has a whole elite squad looking after her around the park and waiting to see her perform. She's not precisely alone...but I know what you mean. You are a good brother, she's very lucky to have you".

Jay just stared at Hailey, not knowing how to react or what to say, since he wasn't good dealing with these kind of feelings. The distant voice of a woman caught their attention before the moment became unconfortable. It came from a microphone afar: "...Come, everyone. Follow us to the mobile dance...". She was carrying a speaker.

-"It's them". Jay said looking at the horizon, searching for his sister among the heads of the group that was approaching them. He was nervous and couldn't hide it.

"...We are a dance group created by several institutions, dedicated to spread this art to every corner..."

-"There!" Hailey said pointing at Becca when she found her. -"So that's how the hair was supposed to look, uh". She laughed.

Becca was wearing a black leotard and black tights, nothing more. Her ballerina shoes were color red. She looked relaxed, but Jay didn't buy it, he knew how good she was to hide her feelings and emotions.

A lot of people began to gather while the woman with the microphone invited them to the show. Becca was moving her head from one place to another, eyes wide opened: "He said he would be here!", she said to her teacher. And he was right in front of her, on the other side of the circle that was now formed around the pallet where the dancers would perform. When their eyes met she greeted him effusively.

There was a ballet performance first, something classic with four teen ballerinas; then there was a tap number, a cheerful piece. All of the girls were presented as part of Becca's school, but Jay wasn't really paying attention to any of them, he just applauded by inertia at the end of each song. His anxiety for Becca grew after each number and Hailey noticed, thinking that was a cute gesture coming from a man like him.

-"Now..." -The woman on the microphone spoke. It was time for the third number. -"...presenting a choreography by Martha Bennett...".

-"That's Becca's teacher". Jay tensed up, touching Hailey's shoulder.

-"...Becca Halstead".

Jay's applause was considerably louder than everyone else's while the girl got into position. The music started to play, it was a psychedelic mix with drumbs. She was moving with very precise and abrupt movements, very mesmerizing.

-"Wow!" Hailey expressed. -"I've never seen her like this. She's usually so tiny, cute and shy".

-"I didn't...knew she could do this". Jay answered without taking his eyes off his sister. Many feelings began to form inside of him.

-"She's a whole different person".

When she finished, the public applauded in a normal way. It was Jay and Hailey who did it most effusively, even shouting with excitement. Becca turned to them a little bit embarrased and gave them a forced smile.

"Thank you for staying with us, this is Mobile Dance..." They announced through the microphone when all of the numbers were over. "...Please tag us if you post our dances online...".

As soon as she could, Becca ran to her brother's arms and he hugged her tight, lifting her a little bit.

-"You killed it!" Hailey said to the little girl.

-"Thanks...I actually messed up in like a lot of parts...".

-"Don't be so hard on you! You did great!" Her teacher yelled from a few steps far.

-"I think you were perfect. I'm actually very...impressed". Jay said with pride.

-"You are?"

-"I'm really proud of you". Becca smiled with teary eyes at her brother's statement.

-"Hey! Why don't we take a picture of you two?" Hailey proposed with her cellphone in hand. -"Seems like a day to remember".

Jay and Becca posed to the camera, both showing a bright smile.

-"You should take one with us too". Becca invited her brother's partner.

-"Uh--". She hesitated looking at Jay, who nodded in agreement. -"Sure".

-"There you go!". The lady who helped them take the photo said. -"Sush a beautiful family".

-"I-- should go back to our spot". Hailey said before running away.

At the same time, the dance group was ready to move to the next station. Becca's teacher called her to go.

-"I'll see you later, ok? I'll take you to dinner, whatever you want". He said as Becca was walking to her group. Jay's heart started to beat very fast as he saw his sister depart. -"Be careful, all right?".

The girl just answered with a thumb up. One of the moms in the group noticed the scene and addressed Jay: "Don't worry, Detective. She's not alone. We are taking good care of her!"

At the other side of the festival, Burgess, Atwater and Ruzek were walking the place.

-"So where am I getting these pastries for the boss?" Kim asked with a laugh.

-"Uh, Voight likes Ferrara's". Kevin answered. -"I personally think that Scafuri's better".

-"Is that what you think?"

-"Of course".

-"Ferrara's it is". She concluded.

-"Ferrara's it is". Adam repeated.

Kevin got apart from the group for a few seconds and noticed something strange: a van parking in a closed alley. His instincts told him that something was wrong.

-"Hey, we got a dark van with no plates, 5 o'clock". He said in the radio.

-"All right". Adam answered the call. -"That alley was supposed to be closed to traffic".

Two man got out of the van and started o walk way fom the place.

-"Hey, yo, genteman!" Kevin yelled trying to stop them, but they started to run. The officer ran after them.

-"Kim, you seeing this?" Adam asked.

-"Go! Go!" She said as they reached the van. There was smoke coming from the inside, as soon as they looked out they knew it was a bomb.

-"Son of a bitch! Clear this area and go". Adam ordered. -"I got Kev!".

-"50-21 Eddie. 10-1, 10-1. Roll us a bomb squad. We've a van with a possible explosive device.

Jay and Hailey listened to the call on their radios as an explosion sounded in the distance, alarming averyone around.

-"Shit!". Jay said. -"Let's clear the area".

-"Move! Move! Everybody get out!". Hailey started yelling.

-"Sergeant?" Jay talked to his radio as he was moving people with his free arm. -"My sister was heading to the North part of the park, do you have eyes on her? I need to know if she's ok".

-"Negative" -Platt answered. There was a lot of noise in her background. -"Don't worry, Halstead, I will find her".

As soon as she ended the conversation, she started to look around for the girl, but everything was a mess. People was running around in all directions, it was hard to see their faces. At that point, most of the 21st knew who Becca was, so it was easy for Platt to order some of the cops to be aware in case she crossed their ways.

Minutes later, one of them called on the radio "Sergeant, we found the girl". The crowd had already thinned, as most of the civilians had been evacuated, so it was easy for Platt to find them.

-"Thank God!" She exclaimed when she saw the little Halstead sitting under a tree.

-"We found her on the floor. She's a bit hurt, but nothing to worry about. She must have fallen while running, some people stepped on her". The cop informed. -"She wasn't alone, she was with her teacher. It was hard to convince the lady to go".

-"All right". Platt sighed. -"I'll take care of this now. Thank you, guys!"

-"Becca, it's Trudy. Do you remember me? Your brother sent me to find you. Are you feeling all right? I heard you were a bit hurt".

-"I feel a little bit dizzy, but I'm ok".

-"I think we should go to the hospital to check you, just to make sure everything is really ok".

-"No, I---Where's Jay?"

-Your brother is working right now. They got a heavy case and he needs to be there with the team. He's very worried about you, and I promised him I would find you and take care of you. So, would you let me take you to The Med? I will be right to your side all the time, I promise".

The next thing Becca knew was that she woke up in a different place. She was lying down in a sofa, facing the wall. As her eyes began to slowly open, she heard a distant conversation: "The doctor was worried for the hits in the head, but she said there is no damage, appart from some bruises and scratches she's completely fine. She asked me to call your father to know if he was home, and also to let him know she was fine. She didn't want him to pick her up, tough. She waited for you."

She turned around when she heard a door open and some foot steps approaching. Thet's when she noticed she wasn't wearing her dance clothes anymore. Instead, she was wearing a gray sweater with the CPD logo printed on the front. That's when she realized she was in the bullpen, the coffee room to be precisely, it looked so different at night with the lights off.

-"Hey there, sleepy beauty". Jay said crouching down to her level. -"I was told you were waiting for me. Sorry for the delay".

-"What time is it?" Becca asked standing up.

-"Hey, hey, hey, slow down. You hit your head, you gotta take it easy. How are you feeling?".

-"I'm fine, I'm just sleepy and tired. Sergent Platt took me to the hospital, The Med. Guess what: Will wasn't there". She said simply, while stretching her arms. Jay stared at his sister with sorrow.

-"Come on. I'll take you home, you need to rest properly". He stood up, but the girl didn't follow him. She just stared at the floor, immersed in her toughts.

-"Bec...".

-"Yeah, sure. I'm coming".

It was strange for Becca to see the building that empty. There was not a soul in the reception, except for Trudy, who was already leaving, and Hailey who was waiting for Jay to give her a ride.

-"Look at you, girl. Rocking the CPD sweater". Hailey said hugging her with one arm as they walked to the exit.

-"Can I keep it?"

-"Of course you can, sweetheart. It suits you well". Platt said with a smile.

-"I can't thank you enough for today, Trudy. Really, thanks for taking care of her".

-"Don't worry. It was my pleassure, Jay".

Jay was at the wheel driving unusually slow, Hailey was his co-pilot. Becca was in the back seat, her head agains the window. The road was dead silent. It could be because it was late and everyone was tired, but Jay knew her sister was holding something, that she wanted to say it but didn't know how to.

-"It was a day full of emotions, uh?" Hailey threw the question into the air. She was also feeling the tension between the siblings.

-"Yes it was". Becca answered with a dry tone.

Hailey turned to look at Jay, as he looked at his sister through the mirror.

-"Ok, Bec. Talk to me, what's on your mind?" He asked tenderly, not caring about his partener's presence.

-"He was there, Jay". Becca spit it out.

-"Who?" He was very intrigued.

-"Dad". She answered after a few seconds of silence.

-"Where?"

-"In the park. Dad was in the festival. He saw me dancing, Jay". Becca frowned. She had to wipe away a few tears before they rolled down her cheeks. She didn't want them to see her cry about it.

Without noticing, Jay started to drive even slower, his mind going in circles. Hailey passed her hand to the back part of the truck to touch Becca's knee in a reassuring gesture.

-"Here we are". Jay sighed as he parked the truck in the usual spot, away from the house. -"Hey, today's plans were ruined, but we can have luch tomorrow". He turned to his sister. -"You choose what you want. We can also have a movie day if you wan to".

-"I like that". She smiled. -"Can I stay with you tomorrow?".

-"Sure. Just make sure you grab your uniform. For now, let's go, you shouldn't be out of bed. I'll walk you to the porch". When he got out of the car, he turned to the co-pilot seat: "Sorry for the waiting. It won't take long, Hails".

They were in the middle of the street when the door of the house suddenly opened. Both of the siblings freezed, their dad was there, standing in the door frame. Jay felt a heat inside of him that didn't let him move, he only reacted when Becca touched his hand.

-"It's ok. I can carry my bags". She said as she took them carefully from her brother. -"You don't have to say or explain anything. I know".

Becca hugged her brother goodbye: "See you tomorrow. Don't forget!". And she walked to the entrance, nervously.

Unwittingly, Jay was giving small steps back, until he made sure that the little girl crossed the fence and he turned back straight to the truck. Hailey saw everything, and even when she was not so sure of what was going on, she felt sympathy with his partner.

The two detectives stared to the front, watching how Becca was received by her dad. She stopped in front of him, they were having a small conversation. Jay was in a defensive position, ready to act if he needed to. Unexpectedly, they witnessed how Mr. Halstead hugged his daughter for a fragment of sencond. From the distance, Jay could tell Becca was crying. He was also submerged in a sea of ​​feelings.

-"A day full of emotions indeed, wasn't it?" Hailey broke the silence when the door of the house closed. She had a very strong impulse of hugging him, as if she knew he needed that kind of containment.

-"Yes is was". Jay answered swallowing his tears.

-"Want a beer and talk/not talk about it?" She offered.

-"Yeah. That would be helpful".

Thanks for reading. If you liked it, it would help my soul if you give it a like, comment or share 😌♡

[diskmess]

ABOUT THESE EXPLORATIONS

(This is already posted on the 'about' page, but no one's gonna see that so I'm making it a normal post as well)

I listened to music differently in middle school. My relationship with music was different.

For an amount of reasons, LimeWiring songs had become a sort of non-possibility. This left me at the mercy of whatever I could find on YouTube (circa 2008) and whatever CDs I could get my grubby, nasty little hands on. Single pieces of music meant a lot more to me. Just one entire album of songs would suffice for at least a month’s entertainment. 

In the eighth grade I remember getting a teenage-sized lecture on monthly budgeting. As a basic exercise, we were individually given a monthly budget and several necessities we had to spend that money on. Each necessity had tiers from least to most expensive. For entertainment expenses, the cheapest option was one $10 CD every month. After that, the options got significantly more expensive. Of course, I chose the humble Compact Disk.

The teacher chuckled. “Really? Just one CD a month? No movies or anything?” 

Really. 

Some guy my mom was seeing at the time gave us a portable CD player. I used it almost every night alongside some cheap sound-canceling cans that were originally a gift for my dad, but he never used them. I’d blast the air conditioning, flip on the noise cancellation, push the “2x Bass” button on the CD player and just lay in bed with my eyes closed, listening as the disk spun.  

Which brings me to Now:

I recently threw my Spotify subscription in the Kill Pile. I have been discovering (and rediscovering) other ways to Love music. The first of these discoveries (and rediscoveries) was The Joy of Catching the Radio. Maybe someday I will write about The Joy of Catching the Radio. I will not write about it now.

The second of these discoveries (and rediscoveries) was The Joy of the Compact Disk. 

I like writing it with a K. It feels tougher and chunkier. Maybe calling a smooth, glossy little disk “tough” and “chunky” sounds incorrect. Maybe writing it this way comes across as teaboo posturing. That’s fine. I understand that CDs were once the sleeker and sexier Music Circle, killing vinyl dead. 

Why buy a big, fat, clumsy, skippy-crackly record when you could buy this ultra-convenient little disk that you can even play in your car? 

Some years pass, and it changes: 

Why buy an easily scratch n’ scritchable rotting disc when you could just stream it? 

And the tables turn: 

Why even buy a CD when you could buy a huge record that loudly displays your Deep Love for the music in all of its crackly, analog charm?

The Compact Disk is no longer sleek and sexy. These things hog up valuable real-estate in record stores. One of my local record stores even has a ‘buy three, get one free’ deal for CDs. They line the walls of that store, becoming one with the border that separates the Out There from the In Here. They sit in cardboard trays underneath the neat rows of vinyl and assimilate into the furniture’s sturdy legs.

HENCE:

I insist on using the equally correct, chunkier spelling of the word ‘disc.’ These things, in their pointy-cornered little plastic cases, are proper disks. 

Last month, newly free from the SHACKLES of Spotify, I popped into a record store on a whim. Underneath the shelves of vinyl records, there were boxes full of CDs. I got down on my hands and knees and carefully dug around each and every box, my fingers getting dust-crusted in the process. These things were dirt cheap. I bought about five of ‘em for a piddling fifteen American dollars. I bought some albums I know and Love, some albums I kinda know, and some stuff I’d never heard of in my life. 

The Joy of the Compact Disk turned my blood into gasoline fire. My heart exploded into larger versions of itself.

Finding music this way elicits a sense of exploration and discovery that I never got from just browsing related artists on Spotify. It’s impossible to describe. Even so, I’d like to try, if I can, to share a small morsel of the fruits of these explorations with Whoever Feels Like Reading All This.

Here is the CD player I will be using. It’s actually very similar to the one I had in middle school, although it lacked the swanky Walkman branding. It even has a bass boosting button, cutely labeled “SOUND.” This thing delights me. Beyond the joyful color and wonderfully bubblous design, it also reminds me of a Walkman MP3 player I used to hog from my older brother. I think I hogged it so much that it eventually became mine. I also happen to be borrowing this particular device from my younger sibling. It feels like the most appropriate machine to use on my voyage of music discovery (and rediscovery).

With all that said, I’d like to have these Online Postings be brief, for the most part. I’d like to share the experience of my DISCOVERY, followed by a description of my own EXPLORATION of the disk’s contents. As always and forever: you can read it or don’t. I dare not hang such annoyances upon anyone who doesn’t Want to be annoyed. There is no expectation. I only want to extend an invitation.

I intend to listen to these disks while laying in bed, distraction-free. I intend to become a vessel. I will go wherever I am led. Whatever I find upon arrival, I will describe to the best of my ability.

Thank you.

(I posted the first of these Reports a short while ago. You can read it here if you'd like — and only if you'd like.)

[straightupfreakfordays]

Emily's Revenge

The world of Elarindor stretched out in a dazzling panorama of color and enchantment. Rolling emerald hills were flecked with golden flowers that shimmered like starlight, and towering crystal spires dotted the landscape, pulsing softly with ancient magic. The skies were a riot of ever-shifting hues—lavender melting into indigo, with glittering streaks of aurora-like energy coursing across the heavens. Rivers of liquid silver wound their way through dense forests of trees with leaves as bright as gemstones. This was a realm where magic thrived in every breath of air and every blade of grass. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant land was the illustrious Rosenberg's Academy for Young Witches and Warlocks. The academy stood atop a cliff overlooking a glistening lake, its towers spiraling upward as if trying to touch the magical skies. Its grand stone walls were adorned with ivy that bloomed with luminescent flowers, and its windows shimmered like enchanted mirrors. It was here that young witches and warlocks honed their magical craft under the watchful eyes of their mentors.

That morning, Emily Thornburg breezed through the door of her potion-making class, a wide grin on her freckled face and a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. Her auburn hair, perpetually wild and untamed, caught the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows, making her look like a spark of trouble in human form. Clutched in her hands was a perfectly golden muffin, wrapped in a colorful cloth.

“Good morning, Ms. Spyce!” Emily called, striding up to the front of the classroom.

Ms. Spyce, the eccentric and beloved potion-making instructor, turned around with a dramatic swirl of her vibrant blue robes, her equally vibrant blue hair tumbling in waves around her face. She adjusted her oversized glasses and beamed at Emily with the kind of energy that could only come from someone who truly adored her job—and her students.

“Well, good morning to you, Miss Thornburg!” Ms. Spyce said, her voice warm and full of excitement, “What’s this? A muffin? For me? Oh, you shouldn’t have!” She clasped her hands to her chest theatrically, as if Emily had presented her with a treasure chest of enchanted rubies.

“I insist,” Emily said with a grin, handing over the muffin, “I made it special, just for you.”

“How delightful!” Ms. Spyce cooed, twirling the muffin in her hands like it was a prized artifact, “You’re the sweetest, you know that? Now, find your seat, my little potion prodigies. We’ve got bubbling brews to brew and alchemical wonders to discover!”

Emily sauntered to her desk at the back of the room, tossing her bag onto the floor and settling in with a satisfied smirk. The moment Ms. Spyce took a bite of the muffin, Emily leaned back in her chair, folding her arms as if waiting for a show to begin. The lesson started with Ms. Spyce darting around the room, gesturing wildly as she spoke about the importance of balance in transformation potions.

“Too much dragon’s breath,” she said, waving her hands like a conductor, “and your potion might—cluck!—whoops! Pardon me.”

She blinked, her sentence trailing off into another cluck. The class leaned in, their attention shifting from their notebooks to their teacher.

Ms. Spyce clucked again, louder this time, and then gasped as feathers began to sprout from her sleeves.

“Oh! Oh, my stars! What’s this?!” she exclaimed, laughing nervously as she patted her arms, only to see more feathers bursting forth.

Her nose began to elongate into a sharp yellow beak, and with a final squawk, she flapped her arms—now wings—and transformed into a plump, bewildered chicken. For a moment, there was silence; then the room exploded with laughter. Some students doubled over in their seats, others fell to the floor, howling with glee.

A boy in the back shouted, “How did that happen?!”

Emily stood up dramatically, sweeping her arm out as she bowed to the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, the magic muffin: a breakfast treat with a feathered twist!”

The uproarious laughter echoed down the hall, where it reached the sharp ears of Ms. Lucinda Rosenberg, the academy’s strict and no-nonsense dean and founder of the academy. Her heels clicked sharply on the stone floor as she approached, the sound striking fear into even the boldest students. The door swung open with a bang, and Ms. Rosenberg entered, her blue, ice cold gaze sweeping the room. Her eyes landed first on the bewildered chicken clucking near the chalkboard, and then on Emily, standing at the front of the class with a proud grin.

“What,” Ms. Rosenberg said, her voice like ice, “is going on here?”

The moment the laughing students saw Ms. Rosenberg, they all straightened out, a hush spreading across the classroom. Emily, undeterred, gestured grandly to the chicken.

“Well, Ms. Rosenberg, I may have turned Ms. Spyce into a chicken. Temporarily, of course. All in good fun!”

Ms. Rosenberg arched an eyebrow, her expression colder than the frost spell Emily had botched last semester.

“Miss Thornburg, you and I are going to have a very serious conversation in my office. After I deal with… this,” she gestured to Ms. Spyce, who flapped indignantly and pecked at the chalkboard.

Emily shrugged; her grin unfaltering, “Sounds great. Can I bring another muffin?”

Ms. Rosenberg ignored the comment, and stepped forward with calm precision, her fingertips glowing with vibrant purple light. With a swift flick of her wrist, the magical glow encircled the clucking Ms. Spyce, shimmering briefly before fading away. In a blink, the eccentric teacher stood back in her human form, adjusting her bright blue hair with a huff and brushing off her robes.

“Thank you, Lucinda,” Ms. Spyce said, though her usual cheer was replaced with a scowl as she brushed feathers from her robes. She turned to Emily, hands on her hips, “Miss Thornburg, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Emily leaned back in her chair with a confident grin, “Pretty impressive spell work, right? I didn’t even have to use a wand.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

[corn-fanfiction]

quam amiterre ludum (losing the game) James Moriarty x OC

Chapter Four: inventum

Chapter Three

Description: Anora is given five days. Anora was recruited.

They decide fairly quickly that it would be best to not allow Anora into the interrogation. For one, it seems that her mere presence infuriates Moran. Second, that fury would surely lead to cutting Anora to the quick. No, it will be Holmes and Lestrade in the room with Watson listening in. Anora is given the day.

She returns to her flat, smaller than the last one and that one smaller than the one before. She sorts through yesterday's post and her hand freezes on an envelope clearly signed by her landlord. She doesn't need to open it to know what it says but she does anyway. 

Failure to deliver agreed upon fees and additional fines. Lease terminated and eviction expected within a week of post.

She checks the envelope, which is in fact posted from two days ago, limiting her time to five days until she has to find somewhere new to live. Anora considers visiting the bank to consider her full options but decides against it for now. She needs to study for her classes. That's the wisest way to spend her time.

Anora decides to sit in the library, because there she doesn't have to think about losing another home, or Sebastian Moran across town, likely not giving up a word of information. Her finger glides across the page under the words. She's been working to improve her words per minute. Her free hand fiddles with her locket which hangs between her neck and the table. But then…then she stops. 

It isn't fair. It isn't fair how she can't seem to extract him even though he's gone. Not dead, apparently, but gone from her life.

Until they find him, that is.

Anora unclasps the chain and lays the locket in her palm. It's big, a cameo of a tree against gold. It's the most expensive thing she owns. Really, the only expensive thing. Not that it matters much. She pries the locket open with her thumbnail. Inside are the last photos of Joseph and her parents. The one of her parents was taken well before the shipwreck but Joseph's is only a few days before his death, and she can tell now that she knows what to look for. He's thinner than ever and showing physical signs of fatigue. But he's smiling. 

It isn't fair that this is all she has left. This, and her mind, her memories. And she can't treasure the locket the way she used to. Not without thinking of him.

She makes a decision. She closes the locket and tucks it in the pocket of her trousers. Without it, her hands are free and fidgety, but she can finally focus.

-

They were coming upon their first term paper and Anora was a nervous wreck. She'd taken Professor Moriarty's words to heart and occasionally chose questions during lecture she knew her peers would easily be able to answer. Then, to compensate her own pride, she'd ask something only someone like Lucius or Adam, who sat down the aisle, could answer.

Sometimes, she managed questions only Moriarty could answer. Those were her favorite moments, even more than when she answered his own queries successfully. She didn't have the words to explain it at the time, but she liked the way it made her feel. 

After class, the day before the end of term, Lucius caught her in the hallway. 

“Leeds! How familiar are you with the end of term prank?”

Anora adjusted her bag over her shoulder.

“Not at all, though the name gives it away. What are you up to?”

“Well, Adam, Whitson and I have plotted something for Professor Moriarty. Harmless, don't worry. We're going to rig some ink to explode on him in the teachers lounge but…we could use your help. You're a bit thinner than us and to hang the balloon we need to get into the crawl space. I don't know if you'll fit, but you've got a better chance than us.”

“Oh, I'm not sure…”

“Don't worry! It's tradition. They'll practically be waiting for it.”

As she tossed it back and forth in her head, Adam and Whitson caught up to them.

“Did he say yes?”

“Will he do it?”

“I don't know. Will you, Leeds?”

Anora looked between the three young men. She wanted to say no, to go study and mind her business, but more than that she wanted to secure her place among the ranks. Doing this would lose her some social capital with Moriarty but surely further douse any potential suspicions of her fraud. Social capital she could recover. Being scrutinized would be much more difficult.

“Fine. Yes, that sounds fine. I like being a part of things.”

She tried not to sound so mechanical about it but she doubted they cared much. They walked to the lounge, the room at the end of the mathematics wing, at the end of a hallway, right before the walkway. Adam produced a key, no doubt he'd swiped it from an absent minded professor or aide, and unlocked the door. 

Except, when the door opened and Anora stepped inside, someone shoved her, yanked her bag from her shoulder, and shut the door.

Immediately, Anora spun around and banged on the door with her fists. At first she thought it had to have been a mistake, but the smell of ammonia and the stuffiness of the room told her all the needed to know. She was in a supply cupboard. If there was a practical joke being planned, this was it.

“What's going on? Lucius? Adam! Open the door!”

“We thought maybe you could use some cooling off since you've been on such a hot winning streak. Take time to relax, huff some chemicals, and the custodial staff will let you out around five in the morning!”

She panicked further once their laughter began to die with distance. She beat and beat and beat against the door to no avail. She was trapped with no light, no books, and no way to write a term paper.

Anora decided it was her own fault for not starting the paper sooner as if that made the situation any better. She felt around the small closet, trying desperately to find anything that could help her escape. Brooms, mops, turpentine and paint cans. 

First, she tried to strip the wire from anything she could, likely ruining a lot in the process. It wasn't a workman's closet so there were no hammer or wrenches. She tried the doorknob but it locked from the outside, likely because the room wasn't built for trapped students to escape.

She tried to wire to slip through the crack of the door, maybe to unlock it from the outside but it didn't fit. She tried yelling for help, but she slowly began to realize that the amonia smelled off, that the brooms and mops were covered in dust, and that the doorknob practically screeched with each turn. They hadn't only locked her in a closer, but they'd locked her in an abandoned one. 

Anora wracked her memory for any that she saw maintenance down this way before. Even if this closet was out of use, there had to have been more in the hall. They boys mentioned custodial staff, which meant that someone would have to hear her eventually. But not until the morning.

She couldn't get out, and panicking more would do her no good. So, Anora sat with her back to the door, closed her eyes, and wrote a paper in her head.

She was awake all night on the off chance someone passed the door but to no avail. It wasn't until early morning that she heard the jingling of keys outside and she cried out in a hoarse voice. Some rattling later and the door opened and she fell out into the hall. The custodian tried to help her up, to question her but she scrambled herself to her feet and bolted down the hall to the lecture hall. Outside the door lay her bookbag.

Anora had no time to be furious. She snatched up her bag and ran to the library, slid into a chair, opened her notebook, and began to write.

She skipped her science class. She had to have reread her paper twenty times, marking it, then rewriting it. After the second rewrite, it became second nature. 

The campus clocktower began to chime noon so Anora gathered her books and slipped her final paper into her folio. She trudged into Moriarty's lecture hall, handed the aide her paper, and took a seat towards the back. She knew she'd fall asleep, so she didn't want to be obvious when she did it.

Lucius and Adam gave her smug looks and condescending waves as they sat down. She didn't have the energy to glare at them and express the rage she felt. 

Moriarty greeted the class, made a comment about the papers, then began. Anora did everything she could to keep her head up but it was a ninety minute class and she probably fell asleep fifteen minutes in. She didn't wake up until the lecture hall door opened and students began to file out. 

“How was your night?” Lucius asked from down the steps. Anora fought a yawn and stood. 

“Sleepless, and yet I'm sure I submitted a better paper than you two put together.”

Lucius and Adam laughed. “Only time will tell, Leeds. Maybe a nap would do you some good!”

The boys took to the lecture hall floor and complemented Moriarty on his lecture, likely to make Anora feel even worse. She was the last in the room, which was unintentional, especially since she did not want to be confronted by her professor.

“Mister Leeds, a moment.”

Anora halted by the door and turned, her palms sweating. She realized at that moment that she left her bag in the library and her school books weighed down her arms. Yet, she pulled them close to her chest and turned to address Professor Moriarty.

“Yes, professor?”

He clasped his hands behind his back and strode casually to the chalkboard.

“You fell asleep during my lecture. There really was no place to sit where I wouldn't notice. Especially after we had such an insightful conversation about being in the middle.”

A prick of sweat gathered and dripped down Anora’s back. She cleared her throat.

“I nodded off. I apologize, it won't happen again.”

He gave her a look of blank consideration. He sounded much different than he had before. He was becoming an impossible man to read and that bothered Anora.

“You didn't sleep last night. Why?”

She was taken aback by the forwardness of the question and its demanding nature and tried not to show it, but the blinking that accompanied her processing of that question likely gave her away.

“I was finishing my paper, sir.”

“Was it worth it?”

Anora chuckled to alleviate the anxiety growing within her gut.

“I hope so.”

Professor Moriarty began to erase the board.

“How old are you, Mr. Leeds?”

Anora bit her tongue to hold the honest answer. “Thirty, sir.”

“You've got over ten years on most of your peers.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why did you enter the program so late?”

That was when the truth- or half a truth, began to take an honest form.

“I had to take care of my family.”

“Family?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And did you?”

She hesitated.

“Did I what?”

“Take care of them.”

“They're dead sir. But I took care of them to the end.”

The professor took care to finish with the board before turning back to Anora, whose arms were growing tired. She adjusted her grasp and this caught his eye.

“Set those down for a moment.”

She did, and wiped her sweaty palms on her trousers. Moriarty began to pace the room again.

“It's unusual when a man of thirty stays up all night past the point of sleeping and attends a lecture at noon without so much as a hint of a shadow on his face.”

Anora tried not to recoil at his astute observation but it couldn't be helped. Surely he didn't know. She stuttered out an answer.

“I made time to shave.”

He grew closer.

“You don't use aftershave? Cologne?”

“Sir, is there a particular reason you're interrogating me on my hygiene?”

He smirked. It was quickly becoming a signature, where he showed a few of his teeth. Anora was beginning to wonder if that was supposed to serve as an intimidation tactic. If so, it was effective.

“I'm impressed you've gotten along this far.”

She swallowed thickly.

“In your class?”

She knew he didn't mean the class. He began to roam around the room.

“In this school. Clearly you knew you'd have a better chance by lying. Who was Joseph?”

Her heart plummeted. So, this was it. She had known it was a possibility to be discovered but she didn't think it would happen this soon.

She considered his question once her mind cleared the fog it brought along with it. There was no use pretending now.

“My brother, sir.”

“And what you said about your family…?”

“True. All dead.”

He hummed. “My condolences.”

Anora squeezed her eyes shut as the conversation and lack of sleep made her dizzy. “What gave me away?”

The professor turned back to her and sighed, raising his eyebrows as if he didn't know where to begin.

“A number of things which on their own are innocuous but together can spell danger for someone trying to camouflage themselves. Are you wearing a necklace?”

Anora looked down to make sure it was tucked away properly. He approached her again.

“No, it's not showing. When you answer a question during class you go to fidget with it, but I expect it's too feminine so you divert your attention elsewhere: your nails. Which brings me to my second observation.” Suddenly and with deft movement, he took her hands in his, considering them. The action made her freeze. “Your nails are too short. You cut them as far as you can yet most young men don't pay that much attention so you still see slivers of white on theirs.” Anora pulled her hands away, moving more subtly than the yank she fought the urge to use. The professor cleared his throat and took a moment, as if he recognized his own strange behavior. “Your chest bindings are too tight. I often see you stalling in the staircase to catch your breath, usually around the third landing. The putty that you use on your earlobes to conceal where you've had piercings tends to peel in warmer weather. These are things likely no one notices when they're not looking.”

Anora searched his eyes. “But you are.”

“Yes.”

“Why? I'm one in hundreds. Why bother looking so closely?”

He drew away yet again and moved to the window.

“You'd be wise to pay closer attention to your details, Mr. Leeds. You're good, but if I've noticed then it's only a matter of time before someone else does.”

“Are you going to report me?”

He took too long to respond for Anora's liking but she could tell he was thinking. His fingers flicked against each other where he held his hands behind his back.

“That depends.”

“On?”

“You're here on a scholarship, correct?”

Her responses were beginning to grow more hesitant with each question he asked. “Yes.”

“A scholarship, no family…where does your money come from?”

The audacity of the question stunned Anora. “I- it's not something that I-”

“I apologize for being so blunt but I have another class in ten minutes so I don't want to waste time. I've recently had the position of an assistant vacated. I thought I could do without it but it's rather…delicate work. It takes a certain sort of person.”

Her breath began to grow shallow, her voice quieter. Like she was afraid of the sound. “What sort of person?”

“Someone quick, quiet. Discreet. And a friendly face doesn't hurt.”

His eyes scanned her features quickly but she still noticed. His description of the job began to take hold on her and she realized why he was being so coy.

“Illegal?”

He sat at his desk and steepled his fingers together. 

“Highly, on occasion. In return, I shall do everything in my power to ensure you graduate the program. I will assuage any concerns should they arise and personally see to it that you have a job by the time you leave this school.”

Anora moved for her necklace, then remembered herself, so she went to pick at her nails, then stopped herself again. She dropped her hands at her sides and steeled herself against the knowledge that he had watched the whole ordeal.

“What if I say no?”

He didn't move, but something in his face changed, if only in minute detail. A twitch, or maybe it was his eyes. Whatever the tell, the purpose was clear to Anora. He hadn't expected her to ask.

“We can help each other,” he replied. The response was measured and steady and careful in such a way that he didn't need to really answer her question.

“But if I were to say no…?”

His silence spoke volumes. She cleared her throat. She thought of the help he was offering, and the threats hidden within his words. She weighed the risks. Anora knew that there really was no choice.

“When would I start?”

“When I need you to. Which will likely be soon. I'll let you know.”

Anora stood stock still, waiting for him to say more. He was flipping through a book, then looked at her again.

“You may go.”

“Oh. Alright.”

Anora gathered her books despite the fact that the weight made her feel as though her arms would be pulled from their sockets.

“One moment, I forgot to ask. Your name.”

“Anora, sir.”

“Anora. Carry on.”

Anora made for the door, but paused, and turned back. Perhaps it was the fatigue, but she was feeling emboldened.

“Two things. One, I don't wear bindings. I'm asthmatic. That's why I have to pause on the steps. Secondly, you didn't forget to ask my name, you waited to see if I would give it of my own volition and I didn't. I wouldn't have.”

Moriarty watched her, raised a brow but without moving his mouth. A smile could have meant amusement or condescension but now she had neither. Once she realized he was finished with the conversation, Anora finally left the room. She retrieved her bag and made for home, content to fully forget the conversation for now, or what her new job may entail, and opted for a full day of sleep instead.

[elvenbeard]

thanks for the tag for the WIP game!! man i wanna know about vince as much as the next guy but i also wanna hear more about your fantasy novel! what's it about or could you give your favorite paragraph, (even out of context would be fun to read!)

OOOHHHHH Thanks so much for asking!!! :DDD

Okay okay okay, where do I start... I haven't rambled about this in a while, but this story has like, not let go of me for over ten years now xD I had the first idea in 2012 just after I finished school and before I went to uni, and ever since it's gone through many changes and iterations and grown and developed.

Basically, it's set on this ancient continent that is deeply divided. On the one side you have one nation (vaguely fantasy humans) that came there as settlers, their leader really not a good guy at all. That was around 500 years ago, a long-ass time even for fantasy humans that live longer than we do, and the current generations are slowly beginning to make amends and try to make up on their ancestors' mistakes.

On the other side you have the natives of the land, amongst each other also divided into subgroups (vaguely fantasy elves and such), and they live super long. A lot of them were there when that original invasion happened, remember fighting in all the wars the humans brought them, and they're rightfully distrustful in the humans' intentions of wanting to make amends.

There is two rulers, the official king (human) who is in charge of the nation with his council and controls the larger portion of the land. On an island separate from the mainland is the other leader, not really a king but something a little more of a spiritual (although not religious - it's complicated) leader, who has no true political power but a very high standing and a lot of respect (usually at least... but his situation is special, too, and getting into details would really explode this post XD).

Then there's technically also a whole third nation who also is at home on that same continent, but they grew into their own people independently alongside for worldbuilding and lore reasons and have little contact to the two factions mentioned above - at least until the human king married one of their leader's daughters (and now it's getting really complicated).

So much to the political climate and general state of the world xD I intended it to be all very full of tension and side-eyeing each other, where you never really know whose intentions you can trust, and a lot of people really fear another war for definitive power over the land coming. But man, it's gonna be so much worse :D

As for the actual story, in the first book of the series (yes, this has gotten too complex by now to put it into one book XD) everything is told mostly through the eyes of two characters and their immediate friend groups/families on either side of the main conflict. On one side is Adoven, who is the son of the native spiritual-type leader, and he is basically an angsty teenager who cannot find his place in the world and goes against everything anyone with good intentions tries to tell him. He ends up becoming involved with a group of revolutionaries that want to incite a rebellion against the human king - or so he thinks at least. On the other side is Ricnan, who is a scholar and alchemy teacher at a prestigious school that actually is very inclusive and non-political in its policies. Everyone from all backgrounds is welcome. Ricnan himself is part of a native minority, but he has no problems with the human king (but he also recognizes that he is in a position of privilige compared to many others). All is well and he's leading a very calm and nice life until one day he saves a frightened young woman from some guards and realizes she has immense magical powers - and then, much to the dismay of his parter initially, brings her home and decides to raise her as his protége and daughter really xD

Shit majorly hits the fan the moment Adoven's and Ricnan's stories meet and basically cause a huge explosion and fallout that really threatens the peace substantially 👀

Apart from that I also have a couple of subplots going on, about soulmates, rebirth, ancient mistakes catching up to the present now, illegitimate children threatening thrones, world-shattering magic, shapeshifting, dragons, and all that fun stuff you encounter in fantasy novels occasionally that add to the already existing chaos xD Also, everyone is queer because I say so xD

I can share some paragraphs, maybe from some different characters viewpoints... Here's Ricnan and his partner, Elornan, sitting at the breakfast table and musing about the strange behavior of Neryssa, the young woman they sort of adopted xD

“What on earth was that?” Ricnan asked after a brief moment of silence, but tried to keep his voice low as he slowly turned to Elornan. Elornan took a bite from his bread and smiled at him slyly. “When I got home yesterday I saw her standing by the mailbox, even more red in her face than now,” he said, “I didn’t say anything, she didn’t mention it. But, oh well…” “I… still don’t quite understand I think. It’s too early in the morning,” Ricnan sighed. Elornan laughed. “Well, let’s say it like this,” he said, leaning in a little closer to Ricnan and lowering his voice ever so slightly, “Maybe she’s not hungry because her stomach is too full of butterflies already.” That woke Ricnan up properly. He looked at the door, to where they could hear Neryssa rummaging in her bag in the next room over. Then he turned back to Elornan. “You really think so? I mean… she never mentioned anyone special, she doesn’t seem too fond of the majority of her classmates even…” “I’m fairly sure,” Elornan said, taking another bun, “You know, I had someone else sitting at my table here quite some time ago, similarly bad at hiding his thoughts and feelings. It’s funny, you and Neryssa are not even related, but still alike in a lot of ways.” Now it was Ricnan’s cheeks to flush pink. “‘Quite some time ago’, I beg your pardon…” he mumbled with played offence. “Aaages,” Elornan continued to tease, “Actual Centuries… but time very well spent I’d say. Wouldn’t have wanted to spend it with someone else, either.” Ricnan chuckled as he cut open another warm, soft piece of bread. In the hallway Neryssa scurried past the kitchen door yelling a quick “Bye!” with one foot out the front door already before slamming it shut. Both Elornan and Ricnan couldn’t help but laugh out loud now. “Oh, to be young again, indeed,” Ricnan mused but Elornan shrugged. “Sure, some things are easier when you’re young, but admittedly, most aren’t,” he said, “Not for me at least.” “So you don’t mind me turning officially old tomorrow?” “'Officially old’,” Elornan snickered, “I’m still older than you.” “On paper, in numbers, yes,” Ricnan said, somewhat more sober now, “But physically, one day I’m gonna catch up and surpass you.” “That is still far in the future,” Elornan said, putting a hand on his arm, “and I prefer living in the here and now, not worrying about what might or might not happen someday.” “I like the sound of that,” Ricnan smiled.

And a very dramatic moment for Adoven:

His heart skipped a beat or two, and he felt like he fell forever, as slowly as a feather tossed into an endless abyss. He could only just make out the shock and disbelief on the open-mouthed face of the soldier standing above him, right before he stumbled backwards and disappeared into the office. He could still feel the rope, even though he clearly saw it dangling freely against the wall of the tower, but its sensation, its fibres had burned themselves into his palms. He fell backwards into nothingness, not even the winds able to hold him up anymore, seeming weak and insignificant compared to the violence they used to tear on their clothes, the contents of the office just minutes before. His distance to the wall of the tower grew, and he gained speed, could see his teardrops sparkling in the air above him as he fell further and further, beginning to question if this is how he'll be remembered. The wannabe-revolutionary that fell to his death from the Academy of Saratheas.

If you wanna snoop around a bit more, I have an (as of right now inactive) sideblog @ivendarea for this project with some stuff, and art and writing and everything else that sort of belongs into this world in its own tag on my main blog here: elvenbeard.tumblr.com/tagged/the%20king%20of%20ivendarea ("The King of Ivendarea" was the working title for this for the longest time until some time in 2022 I decided I will split this into several novels and referring to the first one "The Voice of the Voiceless" from there on!)

Thanks again so much for asking!! :D