#it's still my favourite holiday but as with everything else it's not nearly as magical as it used to be when i was a child

[cinnabar-circus]

2024 | 54 | countdown to crisis 13/14

[theroomofreq]

can you give me muggle jily recs pleaaseeee <3 :D

HOW MANY HIGH-QUALITY MUGGLE JILY FICS ARE THERE?? TOO MANY TO COUNT. *cracks knuckles* BUT I am here for the challenge. Jily AUs are my JAM.

Again, shoutout to our amazing @jilyarchive friends who tag every wonderful muggle jily au they come across. here is the link that will take you to their tags page. You'll find links to specific tropes and AUs :')

I've searched through my own AO3 bookmarks and history tabs, and I present to you 28 jily muggle fics that I LOVE. I am THRILLED thinking about all the good things in store for those that read these wonderful stories. This list took me ages to make because I went through and reread most of these brilliant fics. Happy reading !! xx

properly improper by @lizardcookie

“Marry me,” Mr. Potter repeats, closing the distance between them by striding back up towards the sofa, only to stop and crouch to one knee right there at her feet, looking up at her. Burning. “Pick me,” he elaborates. “Pick me, choose me, love me instead.”

- this fic is the reason why I comment the way that I do (spoiler it's because it's amazing)

The Wedding Ring by @mppmaraudergirl

What is undeniably worse than attending your sister's wedding looking as desolate and forgotten as a wilted houseplant? Drunkenly ringing your ex-boyfriend and asking him to be your date.

- SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY AT THE PERFECTION

Oh my god, they were ROOMMATES by @magic-girl-in-a-muggle-world

Silly one-shot, Muggle AU with Fem!Jily as pining roommates and Marlene as their matchmaker.

- the fic that brought me back to jily and inspired my deep obsession of fem!jily

Swipe Right, Swing Left by @downn-in-flames

The unspoken rule of using dating apps in D.C. is that you always start with where you work.

James Potter, it seems, never picked up on that one.

- giddy just thinking about this gem

'Tis the Damn Season by @petalstofish

It doesn't feel like Christmas for Lily Evans, not after losing her parents to COVID before the Holiday season. She anticipates spending Christmas all alone until a boy from her past shows up and offers her a mutually benefiting deal that has her calling him 'babe' just for the weekend. 'Tis the damn season, after all.

- cries in respect for lyrical writing

Watch Me Unwind by @maraudersftw

Lily Evans hates her job, hates the bigoted customers she has to serve as a bartender at the richest club in the city. But the one person who makes bearing all of it worth it has someone else in his arms tonight. (Rated: M)

- obsessed with the way the plot jumps around the time line in this

oil be there for you by @abby10fanfic

Texting/Social Media AU: Lily and James haven't spoken for 2 years. But that's all about to change thanks to Peter and his involvement in an essential oil pyramid scheme. Featuring boss babes, toxin-free lifestyles, binding contracts, and a very oily journey.

- YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW FAB THIS IS

a matchmaking mission by @downn-in-flames

James Potter has a mission: get Sirius Black and Remus Lupin to finally admit that they both fancy the pants off each other by Valentine's Day.

His partner in crime? Lily Evans, Remus' flatmate, who he also happens to be slightly in love with

- DOUBLE the amount of pining idiots in love :")

about time by @jilyss

'sure, yeah, I can accompany you to that black tie event for your work tonight. wait. why are we on a red carpet?'

- this is my emotional comfort fic, your honor

whiskey business by @elanev91

Sirius Black has a (bad?) habit of picking up hobbies that take over his and James' flat -- this most recent one? Homemade vodka that James now has to try and peddle to everyone in the building.

- hysterical! must read!

Fashion Disaster by @maraudersftw

James Potter is roped into an awful dare by his best-mate, which involves him wearing atrocious pieces of clothing for all days until Christmas as dictated by Sirius. If this wasn't terrible enough, he now has to contend with his maddening crush on the beautiful saleswoman at the clothing store.

- classic hijinks that I live for

it wasn't a pity invite by @elanev91

Part of the December "Winter Tropes" Jily challenge. Prompt: my family invites you to join our holiday meal as an obvious setup and omG i’m so sorry

- awkward Christmas date that owns my heart

spice and honey by @clare-with-no-i

tagging along with her food reporter sister to profile James Potter, London's hottest young chef, is not how Lily Evans pictured her Monday going - especially if he's anything like Petunia’s described.

needless to say, she's in for a whirlwind at Chez Maraudeur.

- I'm one re-read away from printing this out and putting it on my bookshelf.

Waffle Wars by @elanev91

There's only one waffle maker in the dining hall and it literally always breaks. So, naturally, the only reasonable course of action is to meticulously map out when it's working and, ultimately, do a heist.

- the witty narration in this fic can not be matched

You Can Hear It In The Silence by @alrightginger

Lily is non-verbal and deaf in a world where the things your soulmate says about you end up written on your skin. She has known about her soulmate since she was seven, but knows they don't have a clue she exists and possibly never will.

- exquisite, cue me sobbing forever

out the window by @displayheartcode

A new family moves to Ottery St Catchpole.

- everything I could ever want in a fic, forever in my mind rent free

The Christmas Guest by @thegodmachine

An Evans Family Christmas: Petunia is bringing her fiancé and Lily is bringing her…Friend…

- petunia pov that gives me WINGS

Football, Calculus, and Cappuccinos by @moonawrites

At eighteen years old, James Potter has a lot going on. He's a rising star navigating the politics of professional football, the pitfalls of sudden fame, the fallout from choosing his dream over his father's company... and a serious crush on the red headed new barista at his favourite coffee shop.

- I'm still working my way through this fic, but trust me when I say its a GEM

if u like pina coladas by @zephyrcove

Lily is desperate for a date to Petunia's wedding, James has been pining, and their friends meddle ;)

- explain to me how characters can be so perfect via texting fics?

Shelf Awareness by @ghostofbambifanfiction

It's too far out of her way and she's wasting so much money, but Lily can't help but return to the bookstore every weekend, where her passion for good literature has, perhaps, been unexpectedly reignited by the messy-haired, pun-making, rather handsome bloke who works there.

- you absolutely must know that I binge read this and then immediately REREAD it

How to win a witch in 10 days by @adenei

“She’s going to find some unsuspecting wizard, get him to fall for her, and then do all the things that turn men away to get him to break things off! Won’t it be the best way to see what witches do that drives men crazy?” But what happens when the man in question is a blast from Lily Evans's past? A Jily Magical AU based on the romantic comedy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

- fic based off of a rom com? YES PLZ :’)

The Fight Before Christmas by @ghostofbambifanfiction

The heartwarming Christmas tale of Lily Evans and James Potter - two plucky kids who hated one other, until the day they really, really didn't.

- complete sucker for this one

All This Time by @thejilyship

James and Lily grew up next door to one another. Their bedroom windows giving them glimpses into the others life, and also offering prime opportunities to argue with each other over every little thing. They never figured out how to be friends when they were kids, but now that they've graduated from college and are home for the summer, they have a second chance to get things right.

- one of my favvvv tropes

Let Me Love You by @thejilyship

With only a month until she's set to take the throne of Gryffindor, Lily is informed that she'll have to get married or choose to give up her throne. She never thought she'd have to even entertain the idea of an arranged marriage. Enter, James Potter.

- cries in princess diares AU

The Fabulous Baker Brothers by @frustratedpoetwrites

Lily walks a different route home from work and stumbles upon a cute little Bakery with an even cuter baker in the window.

- yes yes yes to embarrassed pining.

Marigold Mornings by @mppmaraudergirl

This is a fun game she thinks, as she removes her hand from his side and reaches up to run it down his chest.  He catches her hand in his own, takes a step forward so that her nose nearly brushes against his shirt. She can feel the heat radiating off of him—or maybe it’s from her. He licks his lips and her eyes are drawn to the motion.  She knows it is a bad idea, absolutely knows it.

- incredible storytelling featuring dynamic characters :') a favvv

Welcome to Pettyville by@women-inthe-sequel @alrightginger

When Lily Evans accidentally sends a text to the wrong number, she isn’t expecting to find the right person behind it. She can’t stop talking to Prongs. The only thing is, Prongs can’t stop talking about the girl in his class. What could go wrong, other than the number?

- LOVE SQUARE ANYONE

The Kiss a Stranger Project by @alrightginger

“What’s your name, then?” she asks, realizing they haven’t even properly introduced themselves yet. She nervously crosses her arms.

You shouldn’t kiss a guy without knowing his name first.

Right?

- THIS ONE WILL LIVE IN MY MIND FOREVER

[violet-knox]

1 I would love to request a story for you if it´s still fine to do it, my request is a smut story with a quiet virgin female reader who is popular with opposite gender mostly because of her attractive physical appareance and for that when she confess that she have a romantic interested in him. He thinks is a lie or a joke to hurt him somehow but when she insist that her feelings are honest and she is willing to do anything.

Beauty’s Curse

Pairing: Young!Snape x Half-Veela!Reader

Summary: As Valentine’s day quickly approaches, you find yourself surrounded by more and more people asking to be yours, but you have your eye on someone else.

Warnings: (SPOILERS) Spiked drink, manipulation

Word Count: 6679

A/N: To be honest, I was a bit hesitant with this request because I knew it would be a rather big challenge. I didn’t want to write anything superficial or cliche, but I thought this would be a great opportunity to break the stereotype of “that pretty mean girl” and show that no one should be judged on their looks, even those who are considered attractive. 

I took inspiration from a situation I found myself in more or less recently, so please do read the warnings before reading this even though they are crossed out unless you really don’t want spoilers. 

Nearly six years had passed and the comments from your peers had never once eased. Valentine’s day had become your least favourite holiday from the never-ending line of people asking you to be their Valentine, each year worse than the last as your popularity increased. You knew it wasn’t their fault, not entirely. You were half Veela after all, something you never dare tell a soul. Rumours went around in your fourth year when you hit puberty, an invisible glow seeming to surround you as you walked down the hall, heads turning as they ogled you in amazement. ‘It was a gift’ your mother would always tell you, but you could never see it that way, especially after you’d agreed to go out with that boy a few years above you last year, finding out his charm only extended so far until his true colours showed. Since then, you’d done everything you could to contain your influence over those who yearned for you, knowing you’d never know true love if the man you ended up with only did so from his inability to resist you. 

You wanted to know what love really felt like, real love not the admiration the Slytherin boys chatting you up now were showing. It irked you how they’d suddenly surrounded you like this, three of them, all taller than you, all of whom were doing their best to impress you. One spoke of his father’s status at the Ministry of Magic, offering to take you anywhere you liked on Valentine’s day. Another tried to persuade you with the offer of visiting his mother’s shop in Westminster; the most luxurious dress shop in all of London he claimed, anything you wanted his mother could have you fitted for. The last boy had the nerve to try and hand over a necklace with the most amount of diamonds you’d ever seen, saying he’d offer you anything you liked if you agreed to be his Valentine. You had to hold yourself back from rolling your eyes, the necklace barely managing to snap your attention back to them as your eyes instead wandered to the end of the hall where you saw another Slytherin sitting on the ledge of a window with his nose in a book. 

You could still remember back when that was you sitting alone somewhere in the castle in your first year, everyone passing you by like you didn’t exist, your own nose shoved in the tenth book you’d been reading that week. Of course, that part never changed, you were a proud bookworm, one who’d much rather spend the evening diving into the pages of a good book than surrounded by people gawking at you. The only difference now was it was much harder to find a place where you’d be uninterrupted, but you always found a way, a small corner in this giant castle to call your own and escape the real world if not for a short moment. 

“Sorry, but I can’t be any of your Valentines.” You spewed a quick apology to the Slytherin’s and pushed passed them, only to watch the boy you’d been intrigued by slam his book shut and dramatically swift away down the stairs. 

He’d seen enough, the necklace turning his stomach into knots as he thought about the stupid bet they made before walking over to you, how they each thought they could buy you over with some luxury he could never afford to have. They didn’t even acknowledge his presence as they spoke, didn’t even bother to notice he’d hung back, that he stood by to watch them get rejected by the person who’d been known to reject everyone since first year. You seemed so kind and of course, it probably helped that you were a Hufflepuff, helped your ruse of being everyone’s friend, but he saw through you. He was the only one that did just as he was the only one to see through Potter. Everyone who was popular with the entire school had a dark side, he knew it, even if he hadn’t seen yours. 

“Severus!” He turned around in surprise as he heard his name called out, unable to recognize the voice. His expression immediately turned sour when he realized it was you who’d run after him, calling his name to get his attention. He turned around and began walking away, one hand holding his books tightly as the other formed a tight fist. “Severus, wait!”

You were almost surprised to see someone so bluntly ignore you, shun you like you were nothing and you knew it was an act of dislike towards you, the way he looked at you making it very clear he did not want to speak with you. Yet you couldn’t help but yearn over him all the more. The only person in the entire school that seemed to see you as just another student, the only person who didn’t look at you like you’d blessed the very ground you walked on and he wouldn’t even give you a moment to speak.

“Severus,” you tried again, finally catching up to him as you placed your hand over his shoulder, Severus nearly twisting your wrist as he spun around, acting like your hand had burned the spot where you’d touched him. “I was just wondering, if you’d perhaps like to go out sometime?”

“What?” Severus rose his brow, wondering if he’d heard you correctly. It almost sounded as if you were asking him out, you, the person everyone in his life compared to perfection, the beauty of an angel, kindness comparable to no one else’s. You who’d chatted with the entire school, made friends with everyone, enemies with no one, would choose him?

“It-it doesn’t have to be a date if you don’t want it to be. But I just thought, well I thought it would be nice to have a chat with you some time,” you said, feeling the heat rise to your face as you tried to ease the tension. Severus' expression only darkened with annoyance as his suspicion of you grew. 

“Did Avery put you up to this? Nott? Or Potter?” he blurted out. He couldn’t believe you thought he’d fall for such an obvious ruse. That he’d be desperate enough to accept your deceptive invitation, and when he found out who it was that plotted this interaction, he was going to make sure they never tried something like this again.

“N-no! Why would you say that?” You looked at him with shock, your heart sinking as you felt yourself nearly knock yourself over as you hit that defensive wall he had built around himself. You knew he wasn’t exactly liked by the other students, that he had a much tougher time than he deserved, but you’d never imagined him reacting like this when you finally built up the courage to ask him out. 

“I’m not falling for this,” Severus shook his head as he dismissed your advancements. He turned around and resumed walking down the stairs, leaving you to your own failure though he wasn’t surprised to see you running after him.

“Severus wait!”

“Tell whoever sent you to piss off!” He brushed you off without stopping. Reaching the ground floor, he continued to walk towards the Entrance Hall without so much as glancing your way.

“Severus no one sent me, I swear,” you tried to make him see reason, to show him you were being genuine, but as he spun back around, his hair turning dramatically with him as his strands quickly settled back into place, framing the annoyed look on his face, you could tell he wasn’t willing to let his guard down for even a moment and consider your intentions to be pure. 

“Really? Then why?” His words came out more as demands rather than a question, but you wouldn’t let it scare you away. You didn’t want to give up the one chance you had at a genuine relationship with someone who saw you as more than just a pretty face. 

“Why what?”

“Why in Merlin’s name would you ask me out when you already have the entire school ready to put their heads on the chopping block just for a moment with you?” His tone made you wonder if he was asking the question out of curiosity for your answer or if he’d already made up his mind, that no matter what you said he wouldn’t believe you anyways. You had half a mind to walk away, telling yourself you deserved better, but this was what you wanted wasn’t it? Not to be run after, try to be bought over in some way? You wanted someone to go out with you and love you for who you were, to resist the natural attraction of your Veela DNA.

“Because you’re brilliant and love to read. Because you aren’t like everyone else. Because you make me feel normal.” You poured your heart out to Severus only to have him scoff in your face, rolling his eyes, clearly finding your words less than truthful. You’d never admit it of course, but you did, in a way, lie. You’d admired him for so long now. All you saw was his good sides, but you couldn’t bring yourself to admit such a thing. “Please, Severus, give me a chance.”

Severus stared at you a moment, surprising himself as he actually debated your plea. He wanted nothing more than to believe you, to believe someone would be interested in him in the way you claimed. But it was you. How could he believe the most wanted person in the entire school would choose the most hated? He wanted to get the truth out of you, to embarrass you when you admitted to your real intentions and perhaps that’s exactly what he should do. Perhaps he could get you to blurt out the name of the imbecile that would soon regret trying to mess with him like this.

“Fine. There’s a Hogsmeade trip this weekend. I suppose I can spare a few hours with you.” He agreed to your invitation as he made plans of his own, immediately setting off to the dungeons when you smiled and nodded. You looked almost relieved that he’d finally accepted, almost like you had some other agenda and of course, he’d find out one way or the other. He was tired of the harassment, the humiliation from everyone in this school, tainting it with their insolence and stupidity. This was his home, the one place in the entire world where he could belong, and he wouldn’t let anyone push him around any longer. 

This was the last straw. He was going to make an example out of you and whoever it was pulling your strings. He’d make the entire school regret making him out as a punishing bag, a joke for everyone to laugh at. What more could he lose? His best friend had already abandoned him, his Slytherin peers eager to do the same, only ever defending him out of obligation for their own house. He had no one, nothing to care for except his own reputation. He’d come to Hogwarts wanting to make something of himself, to build himself a future better suited for a Prince than a Snape and that’s what he was going to do one way or the other. 

He made his way to his dorm first, retrieving the stash of potion ingredients he hid under his bed and cross referenced what he needed from the notes he’d taken in the back of his Advanced Potion Making textbook. He had nearly everything he needed, but he knew he could get the rest from the potion’s cupboard before Potion’s class today. It would take some time to brew and he’d probably have to stay up tonight, but he knew he could finish it just in time for his ‘date’ with you. 

 You’d spent all week excited for the weekend. Every day you woke up with a smile until finally the day of the Hogsmeade trip arrived. You were the first to wake, preparing for the day as your nerves grew, your friends questioning why you seemed so happy all of a sudden, but you brushed them all off. You didn’t want anything to ruin this day, knowing they’d laugh if you told them you were going out with Severus. You just wanted to enjoy your date, to be left alone and show Severus there was someone in this school who would love nothing more than to spend every second of the day with him. 

Naturally you’d show up early and of course you were prepared. You sat at a nearby bench with your nose in a book as you usually were when you were alone and despite the crowd that grew with every second that past, Severus had no trouble finding you, rather surprised you weren’t surrounded by people all laughing, waiting to see what would come of your plan to humiliate him today. You were reading Magical Theory, one of the most boring books he’d found in all of Hogwarts’ library, yet there you were, enticed by every word, flipping the pages like you couldn’t go another second without reading. 

“H-hello,” he said, startling you as you shot your attention up from your book to him. He felt his heart racing, his nerves escalating like this was a real date. But it wasn’t, it couldn’t be. He was here for one reason and one reason only; the truth. He shouldn’t be feeling guilty for something he had yet to do, but he did. A sliver of him didn’t want to hurt you, instead hoping that this was real, that you were here because you were genuinely interested in him, but he knew better. How could someone as popular, as liked and as beautiful as you be interested in him?

“Severus, I’m glad you showed.” You gave him the widest smile he’d ever seen anyone give him as you closed your book and stood up.

“I said I would didn’t I?” Severus rose a brow at you, taken back by the enthusiasm in your tone. 

“Yes, but you seemed reluctant the other day.” Truth be told, you half expected to spend the day alone in absolute despair trying to distract yourself in that book as you pretended like you weren’t hurt from being stood up. But he came and he seemed much less defensive than before. 

“Shall we?” He gestured to the group of students making their way down to Hogsmeade. You nodded your head and happily joined him as you walked side by side amongst the crowd. Severus was already suspicious of you and your intentions knowing if he was alone, he would have been called ‘Snivellus’ at least once by now. He felt shielded around you, like no one could touch him and for a moment, he was relieved to feel normal for once. 

“I loved your presentation in Defense last week,” you commented, hoping some light conversation would help ease the mood before you found a place to settle for the day. Severus glared at you in surprise, wondering if you were trying to butter him up or if you had actually paid attention during class unlike the rest of his useless classmates.

“Really? What did you like about it?” Severus questioned your honesty, wondering if he could catch you in a lie before your ‘date’ even started.

“I love how in-depth your research was on cursed objects and your theory of their origin was intriguing,” you said with a smile, holding back your enthusiasm in fear of scaring him away. But you couldn’t help it, you admired Severus and how brilliant he was. You felt the heat rise to your face as you thought about the first time you saw him with his nose in a book, the first time you’d ever found yourself pulled away from your own book. “I noticed you like to hang around the Defense section of the library, is it your favourite subject?”

“You’ve been spying on me?” Your question had the opposite effect that you wanted as you saw his wall rebuild itself around him thicker than before. But you’d never give up knocking and asking him to let you in, to give you a chance and show him he could trust you. 

“N-no, I like to hide in the library at times and I just noticed you were a regular as well,” you said, but you could tell Severus wasn’t convinced. He could almost see the crack in your claims, trying to cover them with some made up weak lie. 

“Why have I never seen you in the library?” The interrogation continued, Severus seeing his victory in his line of sight. He had you cornered and was ready to end the day now when you admitted your true intentions. A smirk began to grow on his face as he thought of the victory at the end of his fingertips. He could almost see the horrific look on the face of whoever is to blame for this day. 

“Pince lets me sit on the second floor overlooking the library, it’s only meant for staff, but she noticed my inability to have a moment to myself and rescued me one day from another mob of people looking to make conversation with me.” 

“That’s kind of her,” he said, gritting his teeth as you slipped away from him, freeing yourself from his near grasp. His lips stretched into a frown as his revenge faded away. The longer he spoke with you the more his hope that this was real grew. You surprised him with your lack of self-absorbent qualities and your interest in what the Hogwarts library had to offer. He never imagined having so much in common with someone with your popularity, always assuming you’d be a lot more like Potter than himself. 

He looked over at you as you nodded, your smile enriching the twinkle in your eye as you gleamed at him with joy. You were so happy to speak with him, to have a casual and light conversation, to share things with him you’d never shared with anyone before. It felt good to open up a bit, to show that other side of you that stayed hidden away when you spoke to your friends or classmates. It was almost freeing, and you only hoped with time, Severus could feel the same with you.

“So, where should we go?” You asked, unsure of what his favourite places at Hogsmeade was. He didn’t seem the type to enjoy a trip to Honeydukes and you knew he didn’t have enough money for the bookstore. 

“We could grab a table at The Three Broomsticks?” Severus suggested as he gestured towards the pub. You nodded your head and made your way over, opening the door and began to make your way to the first empty table you saw. You smiled when Severus pulled on your arm and pointed to the booth in the back instead. He was always such a loner, though you couldn’t help but wonder if he preferred the seclusion now because he didn’t want to be seen with you. You wouldn’t blame him for being skeptical and you were thankful he was giving you a chance, but trust was so important in a relationship and you didn’t want to start it off with an inability to trust one another. 

“Go ahead, I’ll grab us some drinks.” You nodded and made your way to the booth, making yourself comfortable as Severus walked over to the bar. As you slide to the middle of the booth, you began to appreciate Severus' choice in seating, realizing how well hidden you were from everyone, not wanting your day interrupted by someone who thought Severus had kidnapped you and forced you into a date because they thought someone like you shouldn’t be out with someone like him. 

Severus didn’t take long to bring you your drinks, setting them down before shuffling into the booth beside you, grabbing his drink and taking a few gulps. His nerves had finally settled in and he almost wished he’d ordered something stronger for himself. The moment of truth had nearly come and at any moment now he’d get what he came here for, but he was afraid. He feared what the truth may bring him, that if by some small chance you were being honest before, he was about to ruin a love that could have been.

“Thank you,” you said as you reached for your own drink and took a sip. “Not just for the drink, but for giving me a chance as well.”

Severus gulped down the guilt that grew in his chest. There was no going back now. He had to find out the truth, even if you seemed genuine with your feelings towards him. “I was curious to know why you’d want to go out with me.”

He dipped his toes in the water as you both continued to enjoy your drinks and as he hoped, you began to open up to him, though perhaps not in the way he would have thought. “I’ve admired you for quite some time and have been trying to build up the courage to talk to you for a while.”

You put your drink down in shock by your sudden outburst of words. You hadn’t meant to say all that, even if it was on the tip of your tongue. Furrowing your brows, you pressed your lips together, unsure of how you’d lost control so suddenly. You felt like someone was pulling your strings, like they had slapped you on the back so hard, the words just flew out of your mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say all that.”

Severus narrowed his eyes at you, doubting his own abilities and wondered how this could possibly be. He was so sure this was a trick, that you were being deceitful, put up by someone else to embarrass him, but your truth was far from what he was expecting. You were real, you were interested in him, and he’d made a terrible mistake. “S-so no one put you up to asking me out?”

“No of course not. You’re the only person I’ve ever met I felt like I could truly fall in lo-” You clapped your hands over your mouth before you could say anymore. Your eyes widened as you bit down on your tongue, muffling the words you could not believe were about to be heard by him. You looked at him in fear, feeling completely helpless. Your freewill had been stripped away from you and you found yourself unable to control what came out of your mouth. “W-what’s going on?!”

“I-I’m so sorry (Y/N). This was not how I imagined things would go,” he said, his sympathetic tone making it harder for you to stay calm as your heart pounded angrily against your chest. Every fiber in your body told you something was wrong, that you should run, but you couldn’t, you didn’t want to. You’d waited so long to be here, to be in this moment alone with Severus, you didn’t want it ruined.

“What are you talking about?” You let yourself speak just enough to ask for clarification, to give Severus the chance to explain himself, to give you the explanation you needed to stay here with him. 

“I-I slipped Veritaserum into your drink. I thought I could get you to admit this was a trick. I didn’t expect this. I’m so sorry.” You looked at him with absolute horror, your heart breaking into a million pieces as his betrayal sunk in. He’d manipulated you, used you like a puppet when you’d done nothing but open yourself up to him. You’d trusted him like you’d done with no one before, and he tossed that away like it meant nothing. Your eyes swelled with tears, unable to look at him any longer. Your legs immediately swept you from your seat as you glued your mouth shut, trying to escape the prison Severus had trapped you in

“(Y/N) wait!” Severus cried after you in desperation, unable to believe how he’d messed up something he could only dream of having. You were an angel that anyone would have felt lucky to be with and he was the demon you’d chose instead. The demon who’d scared you away from love, from happiness, from a good and honest relationship. He tried to grab your wrist, but his hand failed to hold onto you as your skin, your oh so perfect skin grazed his fingertips. You ran out the door with tears dripping down your face and a hand over your mouth, leaving him deserted. His eyes followed you until you were no longer within his line of sight, running to get as far away from the monster who’d broken your trust, your faith in him. 

Slumping back in his seat, he stared blankly at his hands, the hands that had spent all week brewing a potion that was meant to bring him peace, a sense of power and control over his own life, yet it brought him nothing but an empty heart and crushed aspirations. Your words rang in his ears, the kind tone you took with him, the loving look you gave him all sinking in much differently now that he knew for certain they were real. He looked up at the drink that had ruined his second chance, the chance at a happy life, a life where he no longer had to be alone and swung his arm at it in anger.

The pub fell silent as glass shattered, the drink spilling all over the floor as Severus pushed himself up and began storming out the door, ignoring the calls of the angry bartender who stood over the mess he’d made. Severus ran in the same direction he’d seen you head, but found no sight of you. He had no idea what he’d say or why he so suddenly ran after you without thinking. He just knew he had to find you. He couldn’t give up on the miracle he’d been asking for all his life, someone who truly cared for him, who liked him for who he was and could look past his flaws.  

He looked around and found himself in a lost haze, unsure of what to do next. You were gone, vanished like a figment of his imagination and he was left here to wonder how he’d managed to get so lucky to have the one person the entire school was after fall for him. He looked back at the road back to Hogwarts before he found his legs suddenly jolting him forward as if his body knew exactly where to go. He couldn’t understand what was happening, how he felt like he had no control over himself. His mind was cycling as it tried to comprehend what was happening, how he could be driven on nothing but emotions, his feelings for you pushing him to run as fast as he could back to the castle and up those flights of stairs. 

By the time he got to his destination, his hair was sticking to the sides of his face, his lungs gasping for air as he felt his entire body heat up. His heart pounded angrily against his chest, shouting at him to keep going, that he wasn’t done until he’d found you, but he’d never run so much in his life, never felt so unable to breath, even after the massive panic attrack he had the night after the Whomping Willow incident. 

Looking around the library, he found his way to the door he knew only staff were allowed to open. His hand bolted for the doorknob, tugging on it to find it locked. Pulling out his wand, he tried to unlock it with no luck. His fists pounded on the door in frustration, he needed to get in there, he knew you were in there, he could feel it. You’d trusted him enough to tell him about this place and as much as he was aware you didn’t want to see him, he needed to see you. “(Y/N)! (Y/N)! Please open the door! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t think- I didn’t know!”

Severus hung his head low as he pressed himself to the door. This was as close to you as he knew he’d ever get again. He’d ruined any chance of a relationship with you and you were right to hide away from him. He was destructive, ruining anything he touched, anyone who spoke with him or dare come near him and perhaps that was why Potter felt the need to hex and curse him every time they saw one another. He couldn’t let it go on, he had to try and mend things, if not to at least make up for what he’d done.

“Please, at least let me undo what I’ve done. I can cure you and if you don’t want to hear what I have to say then I’ll leave. But please let me fix this.” Severus shut his eyes, tears threatening to fall as his forehead met the door. He stood there in silence, wondering if he’d hurt you so bad you’d abandoned the one place you felt safe in this school, if he’d done to you what Potter had to him. He’d become what he hated and was about ready to retreat to his dorm when he heard the doorknob turning, the door slowly opening as he took a step back, his eyes wide as he wiped away the tears that rolled down his cheeks. 

Your eyes met his and you felt your disappointment melt into anger. Your jaw hardened as you locked your teeth together, doing everything you could to keep from speaking another word to Severus. You watched him snap out of your gaze and begin to fumble with his robes, pulling out a small stone and presenting it to you. You stared down at it confused, wondering what kind of apology this was meant to be. 

“It’s a bezoar. I know it’s not the most comfortable solution, but it’s all I have,” Severus offered it to you, hoping you’d take it, that he could try and regain your trust once again. He held out hope as he watched your posture relax the slightest bit, your hand hesitantly reaching for the stone. He wouldn’t dare speak a word or move a muscle until you indicated what it was you wished of him next. From this moment forward, he would do nothing you didn’t ask for, say nothing you didn’t demand. 

Tossing the stone into your mouth, you swallowed hard and groaned at the feeling of its rough texture travelling down your throat. You heaved for air, but for the first time since you ran out of The Three Broomsticks, you found yourself able to relax your jaw, your fear of spilling your guts disappearing. Straightening your back, you looked at Severus who seemed unable to move or breath, waiting for your command to do so as his wide eyes stared desperately into yours. You’d never felt so conflicted, your feelings for him clouding your instinct to slap him for what he’d done to you. You never felt so humiliated, so used in your life. Severus had gone from the person who’d treated you like a normal human being to the one person in your life who’d hurt you worse than you ever thought you could be hurt. But you still couldn’t find it in you to shove him away and lock him out of your life. So instead, you closed the door behind you and stood your ground with your arms crossed, waiting for Severus to explain himself. 

“I-I’m so sorry.” He nearly choked on his words as they came out when he saw the look on your face, the frown you wore. No word would ever be large enough to truly depict how he felt right now and as much as he wanted to say more, all he could do was apologize.

“You already said that,” you mumbled in a whisper, speaking against your own trauma from the truth serum that Severus had given you. He looked so sincere, so desperate for your forgiveness. You’d never seen him like this before, clawing at someone else for something only they could give. He’d always been such a strong person even if others would disagree. He wasn’t presumptuous as he was proud of himself and his achievements, but the person who stood before you now had no pride left to show. He had nothing but regret and torment in his eyes.

“And I can never say it enough. I should never have put that potion in your drink and I wish I could take it back. I didn’t think you were being genuine. I was so sure you were lying to me.” He spoke honestly, hoping you’d have faith he was being truthful with every word he spoke, that you could at least put the trust in him he failed to put in you. 

“Why?” You couldn’t let go of the sheer stupidity of what he’d done. His reasoning didn’t make the slightest bit of sense to you, and if you could understand why he did it, maybe you could begin to forgive him.

“Why? Because you’re you and I’m me and why would I ever believe you of all people would be interested in me?” Severus went on as if the question was an absurd one to ask, the answer so obvious, even a house elf could see it. He wondered how you couldn’t see his hesitation, why you’d ever think he’d simply accept the fact you were interested in him.

“Because I said that I did!” you said bluntly, rather offended he questioned your intentions at all. Never had anyone second guessed you to this extreme before and you didn’t appreciate it in the slightest.

“I know, I just-”

“Didn’t trust my word?” You looked completely heart broken, more so then when you realized he’d slipped truth serum into your drink. He could see trust was something you cherished between those you let close to you and he’d completely ruined his chance at gaining it from you.

“No, I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not after the way the school decided to brand me all those years ago.” Severus had no hope of convincing you what he did was justifiable because even he knew it wasn’t. All he could hope for was for you to understand his hesitation, to understand why he had to do something when you approached him to see if you were genuine in your intentions.

“I’ve never treated you that way,” you retorted.

“I know. I’m sorry and I’ll understand if you’ll never want to speak with me again.” He put the ball in your court, completely at your mercy. Whatever it was you decided to do, he would respect it, but every inch of him begged you to give him another chance, to let him have a proper opportunity to have someone in his life that would care for him, to have a happy ending. But as Severus stared into your blank eyes, he could tell he hadn’t swayed you in any way. It was his fault and as he had nothing more to say, all he could do was turn around to walk away from everything that could have been.

“That’s it?” Severus stopped as you called after him, turning around in surprise as he stared at you blankly. 

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re just going to walk away? You’re not going to try and fight? For-for this?” You gestured between yourselves with a sliver of hope in your eyes. You knew you shouldn’t have expected much from him, but a part of you hoped he’d be a little more resilient to giving up on you, especially after all that time you’d spent admiring him from afar. 

“I-I didn’t think there was anything to fight for,” he said truthfully, looking at you with wide eyes as he walked back to you. He stared at you intently, trying to read you, to figure you out with all these mysteries surrounding you. How could someone so beautiful fall for him, want to be with him enough you’d be willing to give him a chance at redemption when his own best friend wouldn’t give him such a thing?

You took a step forward, wanting so badly to have all those talks with him you’d dreamed of having, to enjoy spending time with him if not to simply read together and find comfort in each other's company. You wanted to go back and give him a chance to redo the evening, to have it end much differently than yours and if it were anyone else, you would never have given him the chance to explain himself. But it wasn’t someone else, it was him. It was the one person in this whole world who you thought could break your curse, who seemed immune to it.

“Severus, why don’t you treat me like everyone else in this school?”

Severus stood in silence a moment as he thought back to how easily everyone worshipped the ground you walked on, how you always seemed to have a trail of people behind you, admiring you for no reason other than your looks. His thoughts wandered to Lily and how Potter seemed just as enchanted with her as the rest of the school did to you, how he’d only become intrigued with Lily after finding out she was a kind witch who lived in Cokeworth.

“I just-I suppose I just never thought of you in that way because I didn’t know you, and I never thought you’d be interested in knowing me.” Severus tried to be as honest as he could, watching you with hope. He held onto the fact you hadn’t run away, that you’d given him the chance to speak, to hear him and understand him. You were so kind, nothing like he would have ever imagined and he knew if he was ever so lucky as to get a second chance with you, he would never take it for granted again.

“Well, I am,” you said with a smile. You’d always been rather talented at reading people after the absurdity you’d seen from others, and Severus had truly wanted to make amends. You prayed your faith in him wasn’t misplaced, that he meant every word he said and that he saw what you saw. “If you are.”

“I am.” The words flew out of his mouth faster than he could process. He jumped at the chance you offered, beyond excited for the happy life he saw ahead of him. “Would you perhaps like to try again?” 

You nodded your head eagerly, excited for your do-over date. You almost wanted to forget what had happened today, to approach things with him from a fresh perspective. “Valentine’s day is coming up. Would you care to share a cup of tea with me at Madam Puddifoot’s tea shop?”

“Really?” Severus couldn’t believe how kind hearted you were, how willing you were to see the good in others and how tremendously lucky he was to have found you, or more accurately, have you find him. 

“So long as I’m buying this time,” you nodded with a laugh, eliciting a smile from Severus as you began making your way out of the library. You smiled as you finally got to see the real him, the person you grew infatuated with, the boy who you saw hope for love with. For the first time in your life, you felt content, excited for the spark you felt growing inside your heart. You could experience love for the first time in your life, real, pure love and you couldn’t wait to see what more it had in store for you.

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Snowy Favours

i wrote this for one of my favourite humans in the entire world! @queen-of-demons-and-hell i just kind of forgot to post it on here oops

masterlist; my links

[image has alt text]

She smells coffee. And then pancakes, and then freshly squeezed orange juice. And suddenly she's three days into a Indonesian island holiday and there's sun streaming through her windows and the sheets draped over her bared skin are cool and if she opens her eyes she'll be met with ruffling lace curtains and the sight of the ocean just over the deck.

Annabeth Chase wakes up to silence. To darkness. To New York plunged into winter as if Khione had taken her rage out on the city over night. Snow covers the concrete buildings, already turning sloppy and muddied with the trek of never ending people. She is nowhere near Indonesia, nor in a villa overlooking blue waters. She is in her grungy apartment in her more-mattress-than-bed bed and the single window in her bedroom looks out onto the brick of the building next to her. In short its just another Monday morning.

The disappointment that floods through her is breathtaking. She feels her life swallow her up, wrapping around her lungs and squeezing as if it had taken lessons from a python. Her fingers curl around the duvet pulled over her as she stares at the wall, at the pictures littering it. She takes a deep breath, another, another. Slowly the python loosens, her heart returns to it's normal rhythm.

Glancing at the small pink clock on her bedside table she almost groans as she sees the time. Three minutes till her alarm rings. Not enough to dive back into bed but enough to consider it anyway. She forces herself to get up, feeling the cool of the wood under her feet and traipses to the bathroom where she is met with tile, the sudden cold pulls a hiss from her.

With a zombied look in her eyes she goes about her morning routine: pee, teeth, shower, change, scrounge around in empty cupboards for something at least half edible, scarf another energy bar when nothing better makes itself known, and then finally pack her bag and make her way out. She can do it with her eyes closed by now, sometimes she even does.

Still as she steps into the biting air that comes with snow her body wakes up considerably. With a curse that middles Greek and English, she twists her scarf tighter around her neck and pulls her beanie over her ears. She decides she can spare a moment to go to her favourite coffee shop this morning just to throw down a hot drink that hopefully scorches her insides.

With a determined step she sets off to the subway, earbuds shoved into her ears blaring "do re mi" by blackbear. A violent song for this early in the morning but one she mumbles along to all the same.

The coffee shop, as she so lovingly calls it, is more like a caravan sized hole wedged between two skyscrapers. It fits maybe five people comfortably, ten if you're looking to be smothered. But the coffee is beyond magical and they have the most decadent blueberry muffins she's ever had the pleasure to eat. Besides her best friend works here and really if anyone can turn her from bruised-eyed zombie to semi-human it's Percy Jackson.

The door creaks as she steps through, announcing her presence. She's too busy basking in the warmth of the little hovel to worry about the greeting thrown her way.

"Gods it's cold out there." She sucks in a breath, feeling her lungs defrost.

"Yes," Percy grins, "I suppose someone pissed off Khione again."

She rolls her eyes, as her body collapses against the black marble counter. "Khione gets pissed off about everything that's hardly an excuse to give us all frostbite."

"I suggest you take that up with her, because I cannot see any of us coming out alive after that conversation."

"Just give me a coffee you menace," She scrunches her nose in distaste, but cannot keep the playfulness out of her voice.

"Want a blueb?" He shakes a paper bag, something thumping inside. "On the house." The accompanying wink sets her cold skin on fire.

Her eyes narrow as she surveys him. His unruly black curls are kept back by three butterfly shaped clips, bright pink and probably Estelle's, and his skin browner— like dark roast coffee— from the weekend his family had taken in Spain three weeks before glows softly under the warm yellow light hanging above then. The black polo neck he wears under his "Holed Up" company t-shirt, makes his eyes look darker than normal. His jeans, faded blue, stand stark against the rest of his outfit. Even like this, in work appropriate clothes, he looks beautiful. Looks like the beginning of spring, and the happily ever after of stories, and the change of tides.

"What are you planning?" His look of incredulity almost makes her laugh.

"Why would you think I'm up to anything?"

"I've known you since we were twelve Jackson," She scoffs, as if his question is ridiculous in itself. "I know every face, every expression, every movement of your body. I know when you're up to something." She finishes off with a glare for good measure.

His green eyes are bright as he studies her, emotions warring across his face. To spill or not to spill. He pushes her coffee across the counter and she looks at him expectantly as she grabs the cup with both hands. Her numb fingers instantly start to sting with the sudden change in temperature.

"Fine." He sighs, looking at her through his lashes as if maybe be could get away with not telling her. She raises a brow. He curses under his breath and flops down on a chair hidden behind the counter.

"I need your help with something—"

Yes, of course, is on the tip of her tongue. She would do it. No hesitation. There's not much, not anything, she wouldn't do for him.

"But before you say no or worse get mad you have to hear me out." He finishes quickly. And then his eyes are big and pleading and she doesn't know if she wants to turn away or lean in closer, study that captivating green like it's the newest find in her paleontology class.

Instead she clears her throat, "What is it Percy?"

"I need you to be my fake girlfriend." He says it in one breath.

She almost asks him to repeat in case she hadn't heard right. But she knows she did. She knows she couldn't have heard anything else

He swallows. She blinks. He drops his head to his hands, a sigh already on his lips. She opens her mouth, snaps it shut.

"Okay I know it's...odd," He starts, "But I kind of got roped into going to a mixer with some people from my class and this one guy asked if we could go together but I don't really like him so I said no." Percy was rambling but she was too speechless to stop him. "But then he looked really hurt and I felt really bad so I kind of said I already had a partner which made him look less hurt but then Piper, the girl hosting the mixer, over heard me and said I should bring my partner along, since a few of them were bringing their partners, and you know I couldn't exactly back out of the lie after that so I said I would and well..." He gestures between them. "Then this happened."

Annabeth takes a sip of her coffee. And another, she downs almost half the cup before she has the ability to talk. "Why don't you just say your partner is sick on the day?"

It's her first question and instantly she wants to take it back. Because the flinch Percy tries to hide is enough to have her scrambling for a way to take back the words. Because it's not that she won't be Percy's (fake) partner, or even that she doesn't want to.

It's more that she doesnt know if she'll be able to draw the line between fake gestures and her very real feelings. Having a crush on someone for the better part of eight years tends to tug at her emotional side in a way that overules her logical one. Yes she can be Percy's fake girlfriend. No her heart won't believe the lopsided grin he gives her when he makes a bad joke will be 'just for show'. Yes she can hold hands with him and meet his friends. No she can't help the jump in her stomach as she sees the interlaced fingers.

"You don't have to." He says quietly. "I'll think of something." He waves it off, a small smile already finding its way onto his face. She knows, even without careful study, that it doesn't quite reach his eyes. She has to fix this.

"No." It comes out in a snap of rushed regret. "I will, I want to."

He looks at her, gaze wide, hesitant. "You do?"

She nods and then, as if the gesture isn't good enough stumbles through her words. "Yes, I want to." Her smile is shy, but the beam she's rewarded with nearly knocks her off her feet. "I think it'll be fun."

He scoffs at her, waving a hand. "Everything we do is fun. We're Percy and Annabeth."

And he says it's like there's no other way their names could be said. Like if someone says his hers must follow. Like if someone says hers his cannot possibly be far behind. He says it like they belong.

Her heart does a giddy sort of flip that spreads warmth through her chest and in her stomach, better than the coffee ever could.

"Okay Percy Jackson." She holds out her hand, to shake on. "Let's pretend to be madly in love."

With a wink, that causes her brain to explode, he takes her hand in his and turns it over before placing a delicate kiss on her knuckles.

She becomes the air itself. And as she floats to lectures she decides maybe it's not just another Monday. Maybe she did wake up in a paradise of sorts. Maybe life isn't so dull. She laughs to herself.

It can never be dull if Percy is there. It never has.

[the-young-and-forgotten]

A Glimpse Through the Years - 2nd Year

| Masterlist |

1st of September 1992 - 2nd Year:

The summer holidays had been even more boring than the christmas ones (and that was saying something). There were loads of formal parties and not nearly enough fun to be had.  You never thought you would admit it but you were glad school was back but also… it was Hogwarts. 

Waving off your brother and mum, you step through the barrier once again. You close your eyes and tilt your face up as a feeling of relief and extreme nervousness washes over you. 

You hear the faint sound of your name being called, then you felt persistent tapping on your shoulder. You spin around and come face to face with a… paper bag? 

“I took care of my face!” the bag says. You slowly realise who it was and burst into laughter. Draco was standing there, a paper brown bag over his head. You lift it off and smile at his blushing face.  You turn the bag over in your hands, it was distinctly muggle.  “How the heck did you even get one of these?” He does jazz hands and puts on an over-excited smile “MaGiC!!” 

You shake your head at his antics, grabbing his arm and pulling him along beside you. “Lets go before someone steals our compartment.” You weave your way through the crowd, tripping up a lot of people and apologising every second. 

It took forever to get on that train and by the time you actually got on it, Draco looked extremely aggravated. Not knowing what else to do, you start to apologise. “If i hear you say sorry one more time. You are unfriended once again.” “Who said we were ever friends?” you tease, before running down the train laughing your head off. He charges after you, looking like an angry bull.  You decide to irk him further, which is probably not a good idea. “Woah there Draco! You look a bit Gryffindorrish to me!” 

He catches up to you and pulls you to a stop just outside the compartment you wanted. “Oh? to be a Slytherin I must have no emotions?” “Well I mean, your ‘family’ will be proud”  He makes a disgusted face and pulls open the compartment door then turns to face you, “But are you proud of me?” “More than anything Dray!” You laugh, pulling him in. 

You resist the urge to roll your eyes at Draco questioning why Potter wasn’t at the Feast. You couldn’t help but be a little curious as well. Where was he? Is he expelled? Missed the train? Or worse? 

Draco notices the look on your face and frowns in disgust. “Don’t tell me you are worrying about Potter.” “Says the boy who just asked me where he was. How am i supposed to know?”

He opens his mouth and closes it, a little confused. “Fair point… At least Potter missed Dumble-bore’s speech. Lucky him.” You stab a fork into your meat and wave it around and answer. “Some of us have all the luck.”

With your mouth full of meat you stand and pull Draco along with you. “Since you are so concerned about Potter, let’s go find him.” “What? Just go searching around the castle?” “Yeah!” You stop for a second and look back at him “why, are you scared?” He scoffs and pushes past you “Of course not! I’m Draco Malfoy, a pureblood slytherin. What would I be scared of?”

The two of you creep along the corridor, trying to look for anything that hinted at Potter. It was going for so long that you had started to give up and were about to suggest going back when Draco suddenly pulled you behind an armoured guard just as Mcgonagall, Ron and Harry came past. Not believing your luck, you both look at each other in shock before scrambling after the three Gryffindors. 

You couldn’t have gone more than 100 meters before a drawling voice from behind you made you stop in your tracks “What… in the world… do you think you are… doing?” Heart in your throat, you slowly spin around, wracked with fear.  “Ahh Professor Snape!” Draco pipes up, seemingly perfectly at ease. “We were just taking a nice walk around the castle!” “In the dark? ...Alone?”  He nods earnestly, still showing no fear towards being caught. Snape sighs and gestures towards the dungeons. “I suggest that the two of you... hurry back to the common room… the feast is over..” He spun around, swishing his cloak and walked back to his office. 

Draco grins at you and grabs your hand, pulling you towards the dungeons. You pass a couple of paintings more strange than the last before speaking. “You know what’s not fair?” You say, rather huffily. “That you’re Snape’s favourite.”  He laughs “Well if i wasn’t Snape’s favourite can you imagine how it would’ve gone? You would have had to kiss any free afternoons that you had goodbye.” 

When you get into the common room, almost everyone except yourselves were already up in their dorms. The only people sitting around were Crabba and Goyle. You felt the shift in Dracos demeanor and rolled your eyes before he even realised what he was doing.

He strode up to them and struck up a conversation as you stood awkwardly off to one side. After a little bit you gave up on the pretense that he would leave the conversation to talk to you and walked up to the dorms, hearing snippets of the conversation in which he was invested in so adamantly.  

The first few months of school flew by in a blur. You drew closer to Theo and Blaise even though you still believed you were best friends with draco even if it was nearly impossible to even talk to him nowadays. 

It was the night of the Halloween feast. You had just come down from the dorm after spending a tantalizing long time cleaning up after Pansy after she threw around everything in her wardrobe. You suppress a yawn. No matter how much you love this feast, you have a feeling it’s going to drag on a little too long for your liking. 

Just as you round the corner, Harry and his friends bolt past like bats out of hell, making the split second decision to follow them, you spin around and stumble after them.  

You hear shouts just as you round the corner and jump back with a scream. There, on the wall hung Mrs Norris and a message with what seemed to be inscribed in blood was "THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE." You cover your mouth in absolute horror, before speaking “did… did one of you do this?” You say cautiously. Ron bristled up, his face turning red “Us? How typical of a slytherin to blame it on someone else! It was probably you trying to fr-”After

“Shut up Ronald” Hermione says stiffly. “she has a reason to think that.  all, we are here at a rather unfortunate time..” “Y/n?” A voice calls out from the other end of the corridor. An unmistakable voice. “Is that you? I heard you scream as I was heading back to the feast and came to see wha…” Draco stops short and looks at the wall. You could see his lips moving as he read the message and registered the cat. In a blink of an eye, his gaze is on Harry. Before he could get a word out, tons of students came pouring in from every direction and just like you, they stood and read the message before it all erupted into chaos. Filch was cradling his frozen cat and students were desperately trying to work out what was happening. Out of the noise came a loud, snobbish voice “Enemies of the Heir, beware! You’ll be next, Mudbloods!” 

You go to stop him just as Albus Dumbledore himself came along. He ordered Gilderoy, Snape, Mcgonagall, Filch, Potter and his friends to accompany him, leaving it up to the prefects to establish some order within this chaos. 

By the time you got back to the common room, rumours were circling already of the writing on the wall. You threw yourself onto your bed, too exhausted to think about it. You woke up and were hit with the events of last night. Groaning, you fell back into your bed, stuffing a pillow over your face. Eventually, you had to get up and eat something, desperately wishing you knew where the kitchens were located.

Throughout the next few weeks, you received the dirtiest looks possible from the three other houses. Everyone either thought it was one of the slytherins or Harry Potter. Which was why you were receiving such glares, also since Draco had shouted the M-slur, everyone was taking out their anger on you, since you were his best friend, so double glare. 

Draco. You hadn’t spoken to him for a little while. You were angry at him for shouting that since your mother is a muggleborn. He had tried - on numerous occasions - to strike up a conversation, but you had blatantly ignored him, only feeling white hot anger at each encounter. 

But the more time you spent apart, left you feeling sadder. No matter what he did, you couldn’t stay angry at him for more than a day, but this took the cake. As more petrifications happened, you grew terrified. Not even the worst Slytherin could do this, right? ‘Right’ you decided. ‘A talk with Draco is long overdue.’

A few days later, you managed to catch him on his own. He was running down the corridors, obviously late for Charms class. “Hey Draco wait!” you called out! Catching up to him and grabbing his arm to stop him. He turned around and a flurry of emotions ran over his face. Relief, happiness and confusion. “Y/n hey! What's wrong?” he said, trying to get rid of the awkward air. “I - um I’ve been better… these attacks are freaking me out a bit…” He laughs “The Heir won't attack us. We’re Slytherins!” “R-right anyways, I came to ask two things.” He looks a bit apprehensive at this but gestures for you to continue. You take a deep breath and begin “One. Why did you shout out mudbloods you’ll be next? You know my mums a muggle-born and it’s a seriously rude thing to say.” He tries to look sorry but you can tell he was having a hard time. “It wasn’t meant towards your mum. You know I love her and I was only meaning that mudblood Hermione. Next question.” “Dray, you can’t go around calling people slurs for god's sake! Two. Do you know who the Heir could be…?” He narrows his eyes and studies your face before realising what you were implying. “You think I’m the Heir don’t you?” You say nothing, confirming his suspicions. His face grows cold with anger. “As delighted as my father would be if i were, I’m not. I don’t know about you but don’t particularly like our school being in danger.” You raise your eyebrow at him, going on the defensive. 

“You certainly don’t show it. You always look amused at the next attack” 

He ignores what you just said, his eyes growing distant as he shook like a leaf. “7 years of friendship and you think I’m capable of this. Really shows what you actually think of me.” 

“Then maybe don’t look so delighted when people are getting petrified left, right and centre.” You snap back. “Maybe stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. It’s not like you’re gonna be hurt anytime soon.” He sneered. 

You push past him. Tired of it. “Stop trying to be someone you’re not Dray, stuck-up rude snob isn’t a good colour on you.” 

*Dracos POV*

He grasped his hair as you turned the corner, filled with hurt and anger. Fat chance he was going to Charms now, he didn’t feel like getting stared at with daggers. He knew he should apologise but he didn’t feel like it right now. 

He had missed hanging out with you so much and the moment you chose to talk, he had blown it. 

He leant against the wall and slid down to the floor. Closing his eyes, sulking. He grew bored after a while and stumbled back to the library, having nothing better to do. On the way he passed the bulletin and looked to see if anything good was happening.

‘Next weekend at Hogsmeade’ no, ‘Firecrackers for 5 galleons each’ no, ‘Dueling Club’ no- his eyes went back to it and he picked up a pamphlet interested. 

“Dueling Club tonight! All are Welcome! ~ Gilderoy Lockhart” 

Draco shrugged. He might go… just for laughs. 

It was finally time for the Dueling Club. He sauntered through the Great Hall’s doors, a cocky grin on his face as Crabba and Goyle flanked him like bodyguards. A long singular table had been set up where Lockhart was harassing students near him. 

He walked up to the stage with his followers, sneering at everyone around him, but in turn just keeping an eye out for you. He finally spots you at the front, looking uncomfortable from Lockhart asking you question after question. He storms up to Lockhart and interrupts him “Sorry Professor, but me and y/n need to practise” he takes you by the arm and leads you away, before Lockhart could say anything. He signals for crabbe and Goyle to remain behind, wanting to keep this between you and him. 

*Your POV* You glare at him, still hurt from before. He places a hand behind his neck looking awkward 

“Look, Y/n” He stares at you, his eyes holding anguish and genuine guilt. “I’m sorry for being a prick just today and back in October. You’re my… closest friend and I couldn’t bear not talking. You mean too much to me.” You deflate a little, smiling weakly. You had hoped for this, you had barely taken it either. 

Words failing you, you took a step forward and hugged him ferociously, catching him off guard. Moments later he hugs you back, blinking through unshed tears, burying his face into your shoulder. Both of you suffer through the disastrous Dueling Club together. Stifling your laughter at Lockhart and being so shocked when Harry started speaking parseltongue? Both of you walked back to the common room, being the two of many students whispering about Harry’s ‘gift’. 

The rest of the year wore on and it was discovered that even a ghost could be petrified. The golden trio were constantly giving you looks that confused you. Harry wore a worried face, where Ron was just angry but he looked that way toward every Slytherin nowadays and Hermione? Hermione just looked thoughtful. Which unnerved you the most. You liked Hermione, - she reminded you a lot of yourself - but she was scary when it came to figuring out something. Which was why you couldn’t help but put your guard up when you passed her in the corridor, looking anywhere but at her. 

Which was why it surprised you when both Hermione and a prefect were petrified. Out of all the muggle borns in the school, she wasn’t on your list of ‘likely to be petrified’. 

Days went by and you both watched Ron and Harry grow more and more aggravated. They seemed to be lost in painful thought more often than not and (not that you would ever admit this aloud) you hoped they would find the Heir soon and defeat them.

It was two weeks until the end of school and the situation was at a standstill. Everyone was on edge, thinking this was the quiet before the storm. And they weren’t wrong. A week later, the second Writing on the Wall happened, everyone was shocked no matter how many times they had predicted it. Even Draco was shocked “Okay, i'm sure that no slytherins could do that” he had said, wide eyed. 

You had spent the next few days anxiously biting your nails, hoping, praying, something would happen. And something did.

It was a late night and you stormed out of the common room, angry at yourself for developing a horrible sleep schedule from the recent turn of events. At that moment you heard a crash and a few angry whispered shouts consisting of “shut the bloody hell up” and unmistakable “sorry”. You bit back a gasp. 

It was Ron and Harry. You shuffled along the corridor and peeked around the corner, hiding once again once you saw what was happening. Dumbledore was escorting a stunned Lockhart while Ron and Harry carried Ginny between them, absolutely filthy. You peeked your head around the corner once more, watching as Dumbledore looked out straight at you and winked, with his familiar twinkle in his eye. 

It was the last feast of the school year and you watched as the Gryffindor was showered in points as Slytherin started up their typical booing. You rubbed your temples, just glad that the whole headache had passed. Draco patted your back with sympathy, thinking you were just mourning over Slytherins loss. “Come off it y/n, we’ll win next year.” you smile at him, just glad he isn’t too upset. “Yeah i know. We’ll wipe the floor with them.” You grin at each other before laughing, heading off to finish packing. 

You throw your luggage into the compartment above you, huffing in exhaustion. As you swing it, you almost knock out Draco, clipping his shoulder. You couldn’t help but laugh as he fell to the floor and stayed there for a good hour, teasing to no end. 

When he finally gets up, he drapes himself over you, plucking the book out of your hands and as payback, made fun of every character he came across. 

You groan as the whistle signaling the arrival into Kings Cross Station. You push Draco off your lap and reluctantly grab your luggage (almost knocking him out again for good measure) heading off the train. 

You took in the bustling atmosphere and wild crowd, trying to spot your parents. Once you had located them, you turn to Draco who had found his a long time ago but had waited for you. “So.. until next year Dray..” you say sadly. “Heh. Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair smiling sweetly. He seemed to make up his mind about something and gave you a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, whispering in your ear “I’m gonna miss you.” You smile at him and run off to your parents, waving just as you leave for the muggle world. 

If you had only stuck around for a second longer, you might have seen the deep blush that grew across Dracos cheeks.

taglist: @loonyvee​ @just-a-belgian-girl​ @kashishwrites @hahee154hq @adrianpuceyishot @naviation-xx x @abitofeverythinggg

[pluviophile-bookworm]

HSMTMTS 2x9: so dreaded, so exciting, 'Sword!' (yeah, I went there, I've been thinking about this scene - you know the one - since yesterday for some reason)

After two computer malfunctions and a very tough, very sleepless night, here I am with a third attempt to write this post. The universe is against me today. Is Mercury in retrograde or something? Ugh, I just want to get this over with already. And I haven't even managed to see half the episode yet. You better like this cursed post because it's taken me two hours at this point, and will probably take another to finish - and that is if nothing goes wrong this time. Please bear with me. This is my reaction to HSMTMTS 2x9, take 3. Let's hope and pray it's the last one.

I'm normally [unpopular opinion alert] a very spoiler-positive person (it's the combination of anxiety and ADHD and a bunch of other stuff, I suppose), but for this one I've been refraining from looking at the tag all morning, so by now I'm simply bursting with impatience. But before we dive in, I need to get some stuff off my chest.

Some pre-watch thoughts and feelings (let's see how well they will have aged by the end of the episode):

Seriously, what is with whoever writes this show? I know it's impossible, but I feel like they've been toying with my emotions specifically all season. Like:

Ah, so you were a Rini shipper last season? Great, now we'll make them obnoxious and borderline toxic to the point where you actually want them to break up, but then their old chemistry will be back just for the breakup scene so that you can cry your eyes out over the one couple you couldn't stand - even though you can't seem to relate to a single song from Sour, we'll make you feel like you do for a hot second. At least it will remind you that you loved Ricky.

So you say Redlyn own your heart and soul? Great, we'll make you dread something going wrong with them for a week straight, and mess up your sleep schedule beyond repair over it. You're welcome!

We heard you said Rodfini give you life? Perfect, how about a big Seblos fight? And would you like a side of questioning your choice to stan Carlos with that? Because what is life without a little anxiety, a bit of doubt of your ability to read people, and a pinch of existential dread, right?

Ah, so you claimed not to ship Portwell romantically, is that right? Brilliant, we'll make you ship them and then we'll use that to torture you, too.

You've been excited about ABF and Asher Angel guest-starring ever since they were announced? Magnificent! We'll make you hate ABF's character to the point where you can't even look at him, and we'll make you call him names you thought yourself incapable of uttering. And as for Asher, you'll be left waiting for him until the last third of the season, and then you'll dread the possibility of hating his character, too. Do you love us yet?

Oof! Right then, I've got that out of my system. Time to dive in.

Miss Jenn playing around with the backgrounds is, like, 90% of the people who had online school this year, and honestly, I love that for her.

Wait, why is Nini first on this call? Are they going through with the Rose thing? Cos like, the song is nice and all (and, might I add, much more to my taste than nearly all of Sour, don't @ me), but if they use it, it will get them disqualified. They’ve been told that! Gosh, please let me be wrong about this.

We get it, Carlito, rich and fancy and over-the-top is kind of your thing, but have you stopped for a second to think about how others will feel about this? Especially Seb, whom you claim to care about. Seriously, though, I love Carlos and would not hesitate to die for him, but I’m getting the feeling that, unlike my other favourite (you know the one), he wouldn’t do the same for me. Oh well, he’ll figure it out. He’s just a kid. Give him time.

Wait, Milky White? Is that an Into the Woods reference I smell? Cool! If I had a cow, I’d totally name her Milky White (or Gertrude, but don’t ask me why). I just hope they don’t have to, like, take her to the market and exchange her for magic beans, if you catch my drift.

Ahhhhh, Caswell cousins content! We love to see it!

‘You guys are watching, like, old old movies’ WTH, Nini (or is it Nina)? Scary Movie is literally younger than me. But what do you know about it, you 21st-century baby! Ugh, I don’t know why I’m being so hostile today... must be the lack of sleep. Hope it doesn’t influence my reactions to the episode so dramatically as to make me forget how much I love this series. Because I do.

Yay! Big Red is here! I can finally smile. And did Ash just say they’re soulmates? Because yes they are! Ahhh my heart is going to explode.

‘Nini, have you heard from [Ricky]?’ Yikes, awkward... but of course, Big Red can be counted on to save the day here, too.

Ok, so that was a cool cold open. Time for some nice in-person scenes, though. I did not spend all of three semesters doing online school just to have the characters of my favourite series do the same.

Wow, Gina is really embracing that French accent thing! And I really don’t want to think about, erm, ‘Napoleon over here’ right now, but I really think the fact that she’s doing it better than him will be another piece of evidence towards my theory of fake-French!Antoine... ugh, I said his name. Oh well. Back to Gina. Too bad the French thing didn’t work out for her.

Ahhhh, Portwell with Ash in the background! And Ash is going to paint EJ’s nails! I feel like he’s going to end up loving that, despite what he says right now. But seriously, I just love how comfortable these two are with each other. Can you blame me now for shipping them as friends? Well, I mean, it’s obvious they will be more than friends, and somehow, despite the amatonormativity of it all, I’m here for it.

Wait, was that Asher? That was Asher, I’m 100% sure of it. And Gina said ‘a sign’ and then looked at him, even from the back... what am I supposed to think and feel here? I’m confused. Moving on.

Ahh, poor Ricky being a burrito... good thing that breakup scene last time reminded me that I love him, because the entirety of the season before that was very good at making me forget that.

Wait, did she say ‘the Bean’? As in, that Bean? The infamous Bean? LOL.

‘So the only time you two talk to each other is to gossip about me’ Boy, did I feel that. I once got my hands on my dad’s mobile and I... kind of went through his texts with mum. Yep, all about me and my brother. At this point I feel like they’re only together because of us. But this is getting too personal. I’m here about the episode, not to rant about my family. Moving on.

Yikes, looks like Nini’s got writer’s block all over again. Am I supposed to feel sorry for her? Because I kind of don’t. I mean, no hate towards her, none at all, but that entire scene just felt awkward and unnecessary. And not just because it’s her first time going live. That I can understand. What I don’t understand is why the writers can’t seem to do anything creative and interesting with Nini. Olivia is being wasted there. Idk, that’s just how I feel. Again, no hate.

Ahhhhh it’s Asher! And well, he’s not Jonah, but I kind of really like him as Jack. I wonder if that will last.

So is it just me, or is anyone else not quite sure how to feel about Ricky’s mum? I mean, their interactions seem kind of awkward and strained, but that’s how it’s supposed to be given their recent history, and yet something just doesn’t sit quite right with me.

‘You there, Muse? It’s me, Nini!’ Ah, so it’s Nini again? I didn’t get the memo. Gosh, this episode is kind of really underwhelming. The most exciting thing so far (but not nearly as exciting in practice as it was in theory) – Asher and Sofia’s on-screen reunion. The second most exciting thing? The thought of Ash painting EJ’s nails. Everything else? Kind of ‘whatever’. Is this what I tossed and turned about all night? Totally not worth it. This episode better get, like, 300% better right this instant. It’s just not worth all the frustration and excitement and dread so far.

Looks like my prayers from just now have been heard! That improv scene was hilarious! Guess it was lucky that Miss Jenn had them do improv before this moment. But I need to know more of Jack’s backstory now.

Ok, so that was awkward! So Kourtney is talking to Howie again, I guess. And I guess I know now what Carlos did that was all public and no subtle. Still, what’s wrong with posting photos from your holiday? Guess I don’t exactly know yet what Carlos did to piss the others off so much.

Great, now I’m tempted to google butterfly faces. Good thing I’m not eating anymore. *** Ughhhhh this was a mistake! Please don’t ever look a butterfly in the face if you want to stay sane. Don’t be like me.

Ahhh the Duke sweater! ‘Is that your boyfriend’s?’ Well, not quite yet, it’s not... *screams in Portwell*

Oh, now we’re talking! But seriously, Ricky? The ‘my friends think’ card? Why don’t you just say ‘I think’? It’s clearly something you’ve thought about a lot. I feel like I’m going to love this scene or cry over it or both.

Ooh, therapy. It’s not just... basically the entire fandom... who says it now. Please tell me that means Ricky will be going to therapy at some point. Says the girl who is currently firmly refusing to go to therapy in favour of hyperfixating on HSMTMTS and getting back into the good old practice of having imaginary friends... yeah, I’m one to talk.

My, my, my! Seb has really had it now. I mean, it was about time, but... not quite like this. My heart is starting to do some weird stuff, I can feel it. I might need to lie down.

Ok, so as much as I envy North High for getting to see so many shows on BWay – basically living out my dream – stalking East High on Instagram and being shady about them taking a well-deserved break... just goes beyond all limits. I mean, if you’re so into Broadway shows, you should know as well as I do what happened the last time a certain founding father did not take a break. Maybe you’re the ones in need of a break here.

Nini on the call with the Caswell cousins, though... ‘I’m obsessed with both of you’ – first relatable thing she’s said or done all season. And EJ playing with old toys is pure gold.

Oh, so Jack’s dad is a pilot. Makes sense, I guess. I’m kind of intrigued by this guy. Just as long as he doesn’t try to come between Portwell before they’ve had the chance to happen, you know...

Ashlyn might need to stop swooning over Nini’s songwriting or Big Red might get jealous... I mean, I would not have pinned him as the jealous type before 2x7, but ever since then... I guess insecure + dating a girl like Ash = the jealous type. And although that looks good on him, I’d bet anything it doesn’t feel particularly pleasant on his side. So... wait, why am I talking about Big Red? He hasn’t even got anything to do with the scene at hand. But then again, there’s been so little Big Red content in this episode that I seem to be trying to make up for it. Still. Stay focused.

Ooh, so Big Red did edit that video! Is there anything my boy can’t do? Ok, now I feel like he’s even more criminally underappreciated than he was before. But let’s look at the video. I’m curious to see the whole thing because that sneak peek from yesterday simply hasn’t been enough.

That was... really, really cool! I love how they took the ‘when they go low, we go high’ line from last time and run with it. Now if only they were putting as much effort into BATB... North High wouldn’t know what hit them.

Hmmmm... I guess Gina and Jack could be what I originally wanted Portwell to be... really cool friends. Unless it’s one of those ‘airport magic’ things. Oh well. It probably is. Was that all we’re seeing of Asher here? I did not wait 2/3 of the season for this. Though it was nice.

Ooh, Ricky’s solo song... why is there more Rini chemistry in this song than there was in all the season? Not counting the breakup scene, of course. Also, I feel like it’s just as much about him and his mum as it is about Nini. Some say music is the best therapy. I think they might be right. And no, I’m not crying. You are.

The granola bar, though... this episode might have been very underwhelming in the first half, but... it delivered in the Portwell front, and the music was *chef’s kiss*, so I’m willing to let it slide that the advertised Seblos ‘big fight’ was not touched upon nearly enough. Maybe next week...

Ok, now that we’re done watching the episode, let’s see how my feelings from the beginning have aged:

The Rini breakup: apparently, along with reminding me that I love Ricky, it has rendered me unable to look at Nini. What’s up with that? If this is some sort of tactic along the lines of ‘Olivia might be leaving the show so we’re making you hate her character so that you won’t miss her’, it’s not really working. Because I don’t want to hate Nini. Believe me, I don’t.

Redlyn: ok, so there’s nothing wrong with them whatsoever - we even got a ‘soulmates’, which I loved - but first they’re being swept under the rug, and then the antis come at us with that ‘their relationship is underdeveloped’ nonsense. Individually, though, I liked them in this episode (even if there was a significant shortage of Big Red), and Ashlyn collaborating with Nini again was cool, but... what I really wanted to see was her painting EJ’s nails. Did she even get the chance to actually do it? Maybe next week.

Seblos: I’m still failing to understand exactly what Seb thinks Carlos did wrong (please enlighten me if you did catch that, I’m kind of slow), but he (Seb) does have reasons to be mad at him (Carlos)... and at other people, too. Still, if you want to have a fight between two people in a relationship, you could do much better than whatever this episode was. Maybe next week. I notice I’m saying that a lot. Guess I’m putting a lot of hopes on 2x10. I just pray it doesn’t disappoint.

Portwell: boy, am I happy that my frustration on this front did not age well! What I mean is, apparently they’ve decided to bless us, not torture us for once. Even a rather disappointing episode like this one had to have some sort of silver lining. And Portwell is it.

Asher as Jack: well, luckily I didn’t hate him, but... it’s kind of the opposite problem. I loved him and now they’re taking him away from me. Guess I just can’t win here. Oh well. At least he didn’t have the screen time to get in between Portwell...

All in all: 2x10, my hopes and prayers are with you!

[taiblogcomics]

Mon-test of Champions

Hey there, fabric faces. Well, it's quite nearly Halloween. As such, I see no reason to spoil the nice holiday with a Red Hood comic. Instead, let's follow what's become something of a tradition for this blog the last couple years. Alas, due to pandemic, I did not return to that used bookstore and pick up more Bailey School Kids like I promised last year. But I do have another excellent treat for you. While this particular book wasn't a major part of my childhood, its author was: Bruce Coville.

I don't think this guy ever wrote a stinker of a book. Maybe some of the Space Brat series, but I think they were directed at a younger audience. But others were really good. The My Teacher is an Alien books were about humanity's place in the universe and their worth as a species. The Aliens Ate My Homework series was ultimately about the importance of being kind. The Magic Shop books were always about self-improvement. The point is, they were great books. I highly encourage you to pick up a few if you've never read any of his work. Now, as for the one we're covering today, it's not really as deep as his other works. But it does suit the season, and that's what's important~

Here's the cover, as photographed by me, because it's really hard to find a decent one on Google:

Oh boy, you can really tell by their jeans and high-tops that this is the '80s. Not to mention the audience's haircuts. And indeed, this book was published in 1989. It's actually one of his earlier books. Anyway, the Count here has something to declare, Frankenstein is supportive, and the Mummy's just happy to be here. The Wolfman, however, is looking directly into the camera like a jerk. He's also brought his dinner onstage with him, which is pretty rude. Don't get me started on this tentacle monster, who does not actually appear in the book proper. And thank god for that~

So our protagonist today is Mike McGraw. His mom runs an advertising firm, and his stepdad is a science-fiction author. Mike, however, is your typical teen, bored during the summer. His stepdad suggests he get a job, and furthermore encourages the job to be at his mom's workplace. Mike's actually into it, but his mom needs to be talked into it, so Mike excuses himself to the basement to bring up more drinks. In the basement, Mike is suddenly attacked. But it's okay, it's just his best friend, the unlikely-named Kevver Smith. Mike and Kevver have been friends since early childhood, and even share the same birthday. Kevver's also one up on Mike on their prank war now. Oh boy, just wait until Youtube happens, guys.

The boys return from the basement, and Mom has decided to give the boys a shot at being the office gofers. Kevver is included mostly so Mike doesn't get bored. The book skips a bit to get to their first day, where they meet Wendy Moon, the firm's major artist. She's also extremely dramatic, posing on the floor with an "Art is Dead" sign affixed to her chest. See, their current client wants a very boring design, and Wendy objects because, like, why do you even hire a graphic designer if you're not going to take their suggestions? Also working at the firm is Pete, who is the muscle, I guess. The book is unclear on his actual duties. It's not important.

Anyway, time passes and the pair get used to their new job. Everything seems fine until it isn't. Ed the Plumber, the client Wendy was complaining about, has decided to cancel the contract. He's been talked into it by Myrna Smud, a local activist who runs BAM: Billboards Are Monstrous. Get this: she's not against them for, like, aesthetic reasons. If she thought billboards were an eyesore, I could at least understand that. No, it's because she thinks billboards are too creative. They overstimulate children's imaginations and lead to criminal behaviour. And yes, she's serious. So the firm's in a bad mood because a blank billboard is a drain on the company.

The boys' birthday is coming up, and when asked for present ideas, Mike only has one thought in his head: he wants that billboard. It's going unused now, so why not let him do a goof with it? As usual, Stepdad Jeff talks Mom into it. Taking inspiration from Ms. Smud's ranting, Mike and Kevver collaborate with Wendy to design them a monster billboard. After a long brainstorming session, they come up with something not unlike the cover, inviting people to "Enter the Monster of the Year Contest Today!" With the design created, they reproduce it onto panels, and Pete helps them put it up on display. This has been a good third of the book already, which might be even slower pace than some Goosebumps books~

Fortunately, things do start to kick off now. With the billboard up, people begin to wonder who set it up. They contact the firm, and since the boys aren't trying to keep it a secret, they cop to it immediately. This gets them an invite to be on the radio with their favourite early morning DJ, Skip Toomaloo. And as unlikely a name as that is, you could get away with thinking it's just a radio persona. But no, when they actually go on the show, turns out Skip has a daughter named Lulu. Let me repeat that for you: Lulu Toomaloo. Saddled with a name like this, is it any wonder little Lulu turned into kind of a complete brat, planning revenge on her father at every waking moment? Worse yet, she's also a walking fat joke, since her wrath can be bought off with food. It was still the '80s, and that's what we did with fat characters. Seriously, though, nearly all her lines are her announcing she's hungry. There's probably a reason why this isn't one of Bruce Coville's more beloved books~

Anyway, the real meat of the story starts shortly after they find a cloud of bats conspicuously hanging around the billboard. A day or two later, they start to receive telegrams from Transylvania. Someone's now actively sponsoring the contest, and another someone is coming to enter. After confirming that Transylvania is, in fact, a real place, they decide to humour whoever sent the telegram, just in case it turns out to be true. They head to the airport at the stated time, though the flight ends up delayed, coming in at midnight. How appropriate~

The man who comes to meet them is a little hunchbacked fellow in a labcoat, who introduces himself as Igor. He's a bit harried, and rushes them all off to the baggage claim as quickly as possible. It's a good thing, too, since the plane crew has just unloaded an enormous crate for him. Before they can move it, though, the crate begins to shake. Suddenly a huge green fist smashes through one surface, threatening to burst out of the crate entirely. Either Igor's got a monster in the box, or his illegal Hulk Hands smuggling job is going poorly. Igor springs ahead and uses a syringe of some kind on the open hole in the crate. You can tell this is the '80s, since he managed to get that on the plane with him. The crate calms down and allows itself to be transported out to their car.

They try taking Igor to a hotel (conspicuously named the Karloff Inn), but Igor throws a fit when they won't take his Transylvanian money. Dude, I know your flight got in late, but you should've visited the currency exchange. That's on you, man. Since the hotel won't take him, they agree to put him and his crate up at their house. Igor insists on taking the crate up to the guest room with him. Fortunately, he's strong enough to make it an easy task. They all go to bed, and when they get up, there's a seven-foot green-skinned fellow at the breakfast table. Sounds like a typical Wednesday to me~

So this green fellow. He's exactly who you think he is, but what to call him? Well, this one is named Sigmund, but the brain is from a fellow named Fred. So he's called Sigmund Fred. Mostly the book just calls him Siggie, so that's what this review will do as well. But I will never, ever, ever, ever make a song about the Siggie. DJ Skip drops by, and he lets Igor and Siggie on his radio show so they can rant about how they were treated at the hotel. So at this point they're still debating how much of this is real or a publicity stunt. Even Mike's not sure--at least, until the enormous bat turns up in his room that night.

The bat, of course, quickly turns into a tall, pale man in a neat tuxedo. He introduces himself as "The Count" (and it's always just "the Count"), and assures Mike that he's not here to drink his blood. No, he's looking for hospitality. While Mike goes to clear it with his parents, the Count's coffin is delivered to the house. This is one of the funniest jokes in the whole book, because Stepdad Jeff thinks that vampires are more believable than a delivery service that operates at 3 AM. They set the Count up with a partitioned space in the basement.

At breakfast, it turns out that Siggie/Igor and the Count have a bit of a rivalry. They begin to fight at the breakfast table, both leading up to arguments of whose movies were worse. It only gets interrupted when the doorbell rings and the Creture from the Yucky Lagoon is standing there. We'll just be calling him Goony. Goony's appearance is a bit too convincing for anyone to think it's a costume anymore. (He even confesses they used to put a fake zipper on him for his movies.) And shortly after Goony moves in, someone else comes to the door. He's a perfectly ordinary-looking man, except for his large unibrow. After a comment from Igor, Mike realises he must be a werewolf. Where wolf? Here wolf.

The Mummy shows up overnight and off-screen, and Quasimodo (or "the Quaz" as the book decides to nickname him) also joins them further in the day. Skip invites the group out to dinner at a semi-formal restaurant called Chez Stadium. I see what you did there, Bruce. Anyway, as the group makes a toast to Mike and Kevver for hosting and judging the contest, and that's when Mike suddenly realises he's in deep shit. He's got to pick one of these monsters to make happy--and make the rest of them very angry. Mike tries to steer the conversation to their movies instead. This turns out to be a very bad idea.

Goony is a very sensitive sort and begins crying when teased at how bad his movies are (it's sadly true, one of them was even on Mystery Science Theater). This starts a long discussion and argument. The argument quickly turns physical, with all of the monsters rough-housing and throwing food. And of course, Myrna Smud is also at the restaurant, and she gets a faceful of it. Eventually, the police come and break it up. By the next day, Myrna has changed her BAM! campaign from "Billboards Are Monstrous" to "Ban All Monsters". Wasn't that a Godzilla film?

Hey, speaking of Godzilla, the doorbell rings again and delivers another package to Mike. Inside this one is a miniature, fire-breathing Tyrannosaurus. This is Gadzinga, star of those Japanese monster movies. Everyone knows they use miniatures in those films, right? Gadzinga talks very roughly, but fortunately not anything I would mark as stereotypical or racist. More of a Joey Wheeler Brooklyn accent, really. Which is... weird, but not questionable. They also make mention of a masked phantom in this scene, which is I think the only time it's mentioned. Anyway, to bolster their reputation, they decide to put in some appearances at the local schools.

This goes about as well as you're expecting. Actually, most of it goes pretty good. The Mummy talks to the history classes, Goony sits in on biology, and so forth. But then suddenly, all hell breaks loose. One classroom has cornered Igor, and he's not even a participant in the contest. He's more like Siggie's manager. Nevertheless, the kids are gonzo for Igor, mobbing him like a rockstar and demanding he sign stuff. I dunno, as a kid, I'd've gone for the Count myself. They manage to extricate him from the action, but the news crew catches it on film, leading Myrna Smud to talk more about "corrupting the youth" and "overstimulating the imagination".

And yet, it's finally time for the day of the contest. And of course, on the way there, there's a minor riot by Myrna Smud and her BAM squad. Lulu Toomaloo (who has been a major secondary character throughout, just not interesting enough to mention) actually grabs a megaphone and begins her own counter-protest. Essentially you have two sides shouting "we love monsters" or "ban all monsters" at each other. Eventually it boils over, and only ends up resolved when Kevver whips out their finale show-stopper: a mechanical flag that pops up and plays "The Star-Spangled Banner". Everyone's patriotism is stirred and resolves the issue. Nowadays, you'd think that'd only make things worse~

And now Mike has to make a decision. Struck with sudden inspiration, Mike begins a long speech about what it means to be a monster and how he's gotten to know each of these monsters and understand them over the course of the contest. But there's only one person present tonight to really exemplify what it means to be a monster, to have that ugliness inside and out. And that person is... Myrna Smud! Yes, who else is deserving enough of the title of Monster of the Year than someone who calls to ban a group of people from public appearances and declare they're ruining the children's minds. The other monsters look taken aback, but amusingly give their approval after a moment.

The book wraps up pretty quickly from there. Everyone decides not to sue each other. The monsters depart, keeping in touch with Mike and Kevver by mail. Turns out the whole contest did get them some publicity, and they're pulling in some new endorsement deals. Okay, boys, but if anyone tries to talk you into a "Dark Universe" series of movies, turn them down. It won't end well, I assure you. And the monsters themselves had so much fun tha they're willing to get together for a convention again each year. So watch out, because you never know if they'll host it in your town next~

This book is, honestly, pretty good. It’s one of Bruce Coville’s sillier works, which might also come from being one of his earlier works as well. And if you get down to it, it’s ultimately a story about treating folks with respect. It’s pretty much what all the monsters wanted, and why Myrna ended up worse than the lot of them. You could even argue Lulu fits a bit into that, in that no one likes her because she’s a terrible brat. I gave a very short summary of each scene because honestly it’s mostly a lot of back-and-forth dialogue, and that might be worth reading on your own~

And this Halloween, may you also open your home to the monsters that mean the most to you~

[sserpente]

A/N: Requests from anon, @lunajones24 and @manager-of-mischief. Side note—family became the Avengers because that simply worked better for a Reader Insert! I hope you all spend a lovely Christmas Eve with your loved ones! ♥

Words: 1811 Warnings: fluff, mentions of smut

Nervous didn’t nearly describe how you felt when you knocked on the highly secured door of the Avengers compound, your free hand clutching Loki‘s so tightly you feared he would complain. Perhaps it was a bad idea to let them all know on Christmas that you were in love. Tony as well as Clint hadn’t exactly taken the God of Mischief into their heart, let alone the rest of the Avengers. The only people you could see accepting your relationship were Thor and Peter—but then again a plastic plant could delight that joyful spider kid.

You quickly let go of his hand when the door opened.

“(Y/N), finally, come… in.” Tony stopped himself the moment he spotted Loki standing beside you. His face fell. “What is he doing here?”

“Consider him my plus one.” You snapped as you pushed past the billionaire and into the warmth of the compound where the Avengers were already waiting for you in the living room, chatting to one another around a massive Christmas tree with dozens of presents underneath.

“Merry Christmas, everyone!” You yelled into the room when you entered, quickly getting rid of your winter attire. Loki did the same using magic, leaving him in the sweetest and most ridiculous Christmas sweater you had ever laid your eyes upon.

You had gotten him the pullover for Tony’s Christmas party theme—wear a Christmas sweater or else. If anything, the God of Mischief had been reluctant to wear a piece of clothing that had three reindeer with bright red and blinking noses on it, all of which exclaimed “Oh deer!”. But you swore that he looked adorable and eventually, he had believed you.

“Merry Christmas, (Y/N)…” The response was unusually quiet and you knew without looking up when you placed your presents under the tree which you had brought in a green tote bag that all eyes were on Loki.

“Brother, you came!” Thor suddenly roared. “Merry Christmas. I put a present under the tree for you, you will like it!”

“Thor…” The God of Mischief nodded coolly. It was hard to tell whether the situation amused, irked or hurt him but you were unwilling to let them treat him badly on Christmas Day.

“When are you going to tell them?” He whispered into your ear when you returned to him. Shrugging apologetically, you bit your lower lip.

“Later…”

“So, (Y/N), don’t forget your presents before we get to lunch. Just… dive in. We all waited for you.” Tony wriggled his eyebrows when he entered the living room. “We didn’t get you a present, Reindeer Games.” He added sadistically.

Loki’s smile was downright bitter when he replied.

“Do you truly think I would accept a gift from someone like you?”

Shit. This was getting out of hand already. You had expected a little bickering, maybe an almost-fight to begin with but the tension in the room was outright toxic. None of them would hesitate to lunge at Loki should he utter one more insulting word. You might as well jump in at the deep end now.

“Okay… guys. Listen up, there is something I need to tell you.” You exclaimed, clearing your throat so everyone would turn their attention to you. And so they did, expecting a mind-blowing announcement. Well… they were not wrong.

“I… okay. Shit. How do I even start? I… have a new boyfriend, I-I mean… I’m in a relationship.” Loki didn’t exactly like the term boyfriend. Either way, you could practically feel him tensing up behind you, his blue gaze boring into your back.

“That so? You’re gonna have to introduce us to the lucky fellow.” Tony replied with a wink. “Is that the big news then? I mean, it’s not like you’re dating Loki, right?”

Silence. One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Taking a step closer to the God of Mischief, you breathed in sharply and reached for his hand. Tony’s face fell—and so did everyone else’s.

“(Y/N), you can’t be serious.” Steve began unbelievingly.

You were about to respond when Thor interrupted, thundering. “Wait… brother… you’re dating (Y/N)? Dating?”

Loki sighed. “Yes, brother. We are dating.”

“Is this a Christmas joke?” Tony tossed in sarcastically. It was the moment he caused uproar. Everyone thought adding their downright negative opinion would be necessary with a start.

“He is a criminal, (Y/N).” Bruce bellowed.

“My friends…” Thor.

“You remember what happened in New York, right? Do you need a reminder?” Tony snapped, referring to his PTSD.

“Perhaps he’s mind controlling her. Wouldn’t be the first time.” Clint muttered.

“No! Loki is not controlling my mind and no, I have not forgotten what happened in New York. But there was more to it than that and you know that. We all know that. You needed a culprit and you needed someone to blame. It’s over. Thor has told you that Loki has changed and I saw that. I saw that because I fell in love with him.”

“Yeah? I was disappointed when Thor broke the news that he hadn’t died after all.” Tony retorted.

“You’ve lost your mind, (Y/N).” Natasha mumbled.

Your heart shattered.

Last night… last night had been so magical—your first Christmas with the God of Mischief. You had exchanged early Christmas presents (a beautiful golden necklace accented with a green emerald and a green and gold silk scarf which Loki now swore never to take off again when he was on Midgard), cuddled by the fire, watched a Christmas movie together, munched on delicious cookies and then made sweet love before going to bed.

Everything had be so perfect and now… now all of that was about to be ruined because of the Avengers’ grudges despite Thor’s and your endless explaining of how what Loki had done in New York had been but Thanos’ doing—not his.

“Okay, you know what? I’m leaving. We’re leaving. I wanted spend a nice Christmas with you and finally tell you h-how happy I am but you… you are terrible, all of you! Keep your stupid presents.” Turning on your heel, you reached for your winter coat and slipped it on again.

“I’m so sorry, this was such a bad idea. Let’s go somewhere… somewhere else.”

Loki was fuming. You could tell he was about to draw his daggers and drive them into each and everyone’s heart, yet at the very same time you had no doubt it was what he felt himself—rejection, judgement, hatred… like an ice cold blade right into his chest.

Silence spread in the living room when you both stormed out and you finally burst out in tears.

“Loki… I’m so sorry… I didn’t think they would react this badly… the things they said… I-I’m sure they didn’t mean it, I…”

“Oh, I am.” He responded coldly, tenderly folding you into his arms and resting his chin on top of your head. “Don’t cry, my love. I did not expect them to accept me as part of the family.”

“But they should! Loki… you can be so kind and warm and… you have a big heart, I know that. I… I want them to see that.”

The God of Mischief closed his eyes, revelling in the sound of your words.

“There is no need. I do not care what they think of me. But I do care what you think of me. I will not let our Christmas be ruined by those self-proclaimed would-be superheroes.”

“Y-you’re not mad at me for… for doing this?”

Loki smiled—genuinely. You were, so it seemed, the only person in this world who ever got to see this kind of smile.

“No. I am not.”

For a while, neither of you said anything, not until the Uber driver you had called arrived at the doorstep and took you away from the Avengers compound.

“Wherever are we going now? Home?” Loki asked once you had both gotten into the car.

“No… you’ll see.” This was New York. The commercial aspect of Christmas in this big city was almost more important than the meaning of the holiday itself. There was no doubt one of the many Christmas markets would be open today, which was why you asked the driver to bring you straight to Central Park.

Grinning wildly, you thanked the driver when you arrived, reaching for Loki’s hand when you both got out of the car and dragging him towards the market. The many lights were breath-taking, glittering and shining away in the dark night.

“Where are we?” The God of Mischief mumbled. You knew he was working his magic on you. One of his spells heated your clothes up a bit and kept you warm whenever you were outside. You smiled.

“Thank you… this is a Christmas market. I thought maybe we’d spend some time here before going back home?”

Loki sniffed. “Do I smell food?”

Your stomach was growling too. You had left before lunch, after all. You nodded, deciding to introduce Loki to one of your favourite Christmas treats—chocolate fruit.

It didn’t take you long to find a stall that sold them which left you both soon munching on chocolate strawberries—which, as Loki teased, had inspired him for future activities in bed…

After, you decided to take a walk and admire the many trinkets people sold. Baubles, wooden ornaments, wool scarves, gloves and hats, handmade jewellery… a whole hour went by, the cold utterly bearable thanks to Loki’s spell. Soon, you had both forgotten the unpleasant encounter with the Avengers and their negative reaction. Knowing both that you would have to face them again after Christmas and work on them accepting Loki as your lover became all but unimportant. It was just the two of you, peaceful quiet, beautiful Christmas lights and more delicious food and mulled wine.

“Shall we head home?” Loki asked after a while.

Nodding, you leaned against him.

“I may or may not have another present for you. But we’ll need a bedroom for that.” His blue eyes lit up, lust and desire reflecting in them as he began to smirk at you. It prompted you to play with his raven hair.

“I hope I could make up for this… disaster today.”

“Do not apologise on their behalf. It matters not. However, I am still quite uncertain whether I will be able to forgive you. After all, you already made me wear this hideous sweater.”

Giggling, you pressed your cheek against his chest. “I told you it looks cute on you. It matches your helmet, you know.”

Loki rolled his eyes. You were about the only person he allowed to tease him about his armour—if anything because he was very well aware of the impact he made on you… especially on your lower regions.

“Merry Christmas, Loki. I love you.”

Smiling, he caressed your cheek with his knuckles.

“And I love you.”

A/N: Guys, if you liked this story, I would appreciate so much if you could support me on KoFi! YOU can help me publish my first novel! It’s easy, it’s anonymous, you can do it from all over the world and it’s just 3€! Your help counts too, I’d appreciate it so much if you helped me fulfil my dream! ♥ ko-fi.com/sserpente

[everly-kindred]

Everly’s Diary - Entry #38

Synopsis: Eve details the festivities of the past few weeks - the Winter Fete, her birthday, the Yule Ball, and the return home!

Words: 1,881

Date: 17th of December, 2026

Dear Diary, 

Can you believe it's already been a year since I first started writing these? I know I can't! So much has happened since then, it almost feels like a year is too long and yet also not long enough! 

I'm writing this from my bed. Ruby is sound asleep in the other room. I hope he’s comfortable, I worry that the space is too small for him. 

I haven’t really had much time to write. I know I say that a lot, but it’s true… And when I do have time, I feel too exhausted, like I’ve run out of… spell slots or something. So I know it’s been awhile and I have a lot to catch you up on, but not to fear! I’ve been keeping a list of the things that have happened since my last entry! 

So, I found out that on the first of December, the keeper of keys brings Christmas trees into the Great Hall, and we watch them all get lit up once decorations are done. That day was also the day of the fete that the prefects threw for everyone. 

It was so stunning to see the Great Hall filled with that light from the Christmas trees. Honestly, Christmas trees give off the best lighting, and I have no idea why we don’t just keep them all year ‘round. I guess that’s what faerie lights are for, and I’m quite fond of those, but anyways...

The prefect’s fete was absolutely brilliant! They had completely transformed the long gallery and filled it with booths and activities and snacks… Elaine, an older Hufflepuff girl, convinced me to do this kissing booth thing with that Slytherin Prefect, Persephone Vitrac. Basically she waits under the mistletoe for anyone who dares approach her for a kiss on the cheek. Elaine claimed it’d be my first kiss, but I don’t think it counts! I mean… I got all flustered after and ended up running face first into a pile of snow that was being used for snowball fights, but still! I mean, maybe it counts… Doesn’t it only count if it’s mutual? Is it a real kiss?

Anyways, yes, I got my ‘first kiss’ from a werewolf girl who is actually very nice thank you very much, I still remember when she helped me and Bonnie with making that laughing potion which I thankfully haven’t had to use. The boggart is still running around apparently but I’ve managed to avoid it. But anyways, back to the kiss! I was so nervous at first, but Elaine assured me that it’s fine and that Persephone wouldn’t hurt me and whatnot. I feel like I should learn more about werewolves because of it, honestly, and I’ve made a note to ask Vikander or Lane about them, later. 

Like I had mentioned, there was also snowball fights, ice skating, and Vikander was up on a chair dressed as Santa, taking everyone’s Christmas wishes! I’d write what my wish was, but I don’t think… I mean, you are only a diary after all, but isn’t it bad to say what you wished for? Well, it’s not like it could really happen anyways. Alright, so I wished that I could be a faerie, just once. Shrink down to six inches tall with pretty wings on my back! Fly around, sleep in flowers, that kind of thing. Oh, and also for my very own broom for quidditch, though first years can’t really have that. And love and joy for all my friends and family, of course. 

And then there was what was probably my favourite part of the evening, which was the sleigh ride. It was so… magical, romantic, exhilarating, dreamy… Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. We all got into this sleigh and flew around the castle in the night! It was perfectly fantastical! I don’t think I have the proper words to describe it, though I tried, I’m just… Not sure if it is something you can put into words, truly. I do think it caused me to get a bit of a cold, though, because I was sick for a couple of days after, until the matrons in the hospital wing fixed me up with some pepper-up potion. 

I believe it was the next day that we Hufflepuffs had our meeting, and we all went out to Dracheblume’s hut and had a snowball fight! I tried to hide in the pumpkins, and was able to hit Elaine and Roisin a few times, and I even climbed up on the roof, but Elaine pulled me down by summoning my cloak. I landed in a snowbank, though, so I didn’t hurt anything! 

End of term exams started for the last week of school, and when I wasn’t studying for those or practicing quidditch, I was writing and drawing Maxine. I can’t tell if I wish she existed and was really my friend, or if I simply wish I was her… She helps me when I feel lonely, which has been often, lately. I feel like there’s an awkwardness between me and my friends, and perhaps it’s because I’ve been hiding so much in my dorm that I don’t see them anymore. I hope I’ll have more time to see them over break and in the next term. 

A weird thing that happened was that two Slytherins apparently burnt up one of the Christmas trees. The Ravenclaw one, I think. It was even written about in the Owl Post. I don’t know if they got punished for it or not, though. I hope the Ravenclaws got a replacement tree! 

The Slytherins also had their first quidditch game, against Gryffindor. But apparently there was an issue with the snitch or something, so even though Gryffindor caught the snitch first, it’s being investigated? I’m not really sure what happened with that. 

The full moon happened recently, too. On the 12th, I think. The castle was locked up at 3 p.m. and professors and prefects were set to patrol, which I found both scary and exciting. Nothing happened that I know of, though.

Hufflepuff finally had a party and a secret santa gift exchange. My secret santa was Cheryl, so I made her some biscuits iced and shaped to look like badgers and mushrooms. They turned out quite well, if I do say so myself! She said she liked the colour black and sweets, so hopefully she approved!

My secret santa got me a new snow globe with a pretty tree inside, a crystal ball, and some other things, so I can definitely say that whoever it was knows me very well! I always welcome more snow globes and crystals for my collection. The crystal ball is orange, too, so it looks like a fire trapped in a ball. 

It was also my birthday that weekend, the 8th of December. I didn’t really do anything about it, except take the day to actually relax. My family sent me some birthday wishes, some sweets and a few presents, but I’ve decided I wanted to wait until I was home to throw a true party. I want my parents there for it, you know? 

I actually just sent out all the invitations yesterday, when we got home. Our owl has been very busy lately! I also sent a letter to the Headmistress regarding that letter she had sent me about wanting to meet, and I invited her and Deputy Headmistress Blightly for tea with me and my parents. Oh! And I must say, they both looked absolutely stunning at the prefect fete, and the Yule Ball! I hope that one day I can look that beautiful and elegant. 

My dress was more plain in comparison. But at least I was able to get Bonnie’s help with it, because she helped me make lace faerie wings that were enchanted to flutter, and she also coloured my hair pink! I wanted to be the sugar plum faerie, so I guess in a way, I got one of the things I’d wished for at the fete! I was so inspired, that I wrote a poem about the sugar plum faerie:

“Twirling in a flurry of snowflakes

Dreaming in a starry haze

The sugar plum faerie with glittering wings

Sweetens the snow on these wintry days”

Anyways, back to the Yule Ball. I must write everything about that, so I remember it forever! Firstly, everyone got to vote on these awards that they give out at the beginning of the dance. I voted Bonnie for four different things, and she actually won two of them! She won the awards for best spellcaster and for most likely to become minister of magic! I was so proud! 

Also, Professor Gallo won the award for most inspiring professor, which was named after Headmaster Fox! I nearly cried at that! I love so many of the professors here, but Gallo has been one of my absolute favourites since I first met him. Also, Marigold won the award for most uh… Congenial, I think was the word, which means she’s very friendly to everyone and has a lovely smile (I think that’s what it means, anyways) and I found that to be very fitting, too. Persephone Vitrac won the Grand Sorceress award, and Ruby’s… Cousin, I think? Won Grand Sorcerer.

Ruby and I danced for most of the night, and ate sweets. He tried to show me how to dance, but I was terrified of messing up and hurting him or myself or even someone else with my clumsiness. Ruby says he’ll teach me how to do ballet like he does. I have my doubts that it’ll be successful, I think I’m pretty hopeless, but he seems to believe in me!

He wore pretty white flowers in his hair and white and grey suit that looked sort of vintage. Snow was enchanted to sort of float off from the flowers, which I thought looked very pretty. Oh, and the great hall looked stunning, also!  Everything was frosty and white, and there were penguins everywhere, wobbling around and sliding across ice! 

A girl named Charlotte who is a Gryffindor Alumni sung for all of us. She was gorgeous! She wore a sparkling costume and had a voice like honey wine... not that I know what honey wine is, mind, I’ve just heard good singing voices described that way. The night sort of flew by, I couldn’t believe how quickly it ended.

And then, it was time to get back on the Hogwarts Express and go home. One of these years, I’d like to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays, but… Not this year. I miss home, and I miss my family, and I got to bring Ruby with me! 

On the train ride home, the Owl Post sent out an article filled with candygrams which were basically nice messages people gave to each other for the Owl Post to share, and I guess you also give a candy cane to whomever you wrote to. I feel bad that I forgot to do it! It’s just as well, though, no one wrote to me, so I guess I don’t have to feel guilty about it. 

When we got home, I found out that dad has a new girlfriend! Her name is Genevieve. She’s also a witch, but I forgot to ask her what her house was. She has very long, pretty red hair that sort of fades into a soft blonde, and I’m honestly quite envious of her hair colour. She always wears sparkly makeup, and she has a lot of freckles which I love! I love freckles and dimples. She is very nice, I like her a lot! I look forward to getting to know her better. Apparently, she knows a lot about faeries!

Once we were settled, I talked to Genevieve and dad about school and I showed them Venus and told them about how I found her in the dungeons. Dad was actually quite annoyed with me that I now had three pets instead of just the one, so we compromised and decided to keep Venus at home. Dad doesn’t like her because she’s a rat, but Genevieve loves her! So that works out. I get to keep Puck and Cornelius, and bring them back to school whenever we return to Hogwarts, since Puck kind of does his own thing in the castle and I can keep Cornelius in my bag or pocket. 

I think that’s just about everything there is to catch up on! My birthday party will be in two days - on Thursday, and I’ve been trying to find and make the perfect things for it. You know, it doesn’t really feel like my birthday, maybe because everything around the house is green instead of white and snowy, from my dad keeping things warm with weather charms. That’ll work for the party at least, so my guests won’t be cold! Anyways, I hear Ruby stirring, so I think it’s time to wake up and make breakfast. 

Much love, Everly

About the Character: Everlina Rosemary Kindred is an imaginative Hufflepuff attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She keeps up with her magical journey through a series of diary entries, dream journals, and tarot readings, all documented for future reflection. Her diary is a small glimpse into her enchanted life, and her adventure into the wizarding world and all its splendors. If you’d like more information about Eve, visit her wiki page. 

About the Author: My name is Katherine! I am a 21-year-old Hufflepuff & Pukwudgie from Louisville, Kentucky. This page is my creative journey into the magical world, through the lenses of Second Life. Here I post diary entries, dream journals, and tarot readings all from my character’s perspective. If you’d like more information about me, visit my Flickr! 

[astronomical-fog]

born to sweet delight

Carry On Countdown Day 5: Carry On Prequel

Read it on AO3

Summary: It’s fifth year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon Snow and Agatha Wellbelove have just started dating.

No one is exactly happy about it.

AGATHA

When I was eleven years old, I told my parents that I didn’t want to go to Watford. That I’d rather go to a Normal secondary school with my Normal friends, than learn to be a mage. They were horrified, of course, and I obviously didn’t get my way. I’ve been trying for four years not to be bitter about that, because if I got angry with my parents over every bad decision they made that they thought was right for me, I’d never be done being angry with them.

I’m fifteen now, and in my fifth year at Watford, and I still think I had the right decision when I was eleven. But I suppose it could be worse--I can still see Minty and all my other Normal friends when I go home for the holidays. And she isn’t the same, but I suppose I have Penny.

And Simon. Simon Snow, the Chosen One, the Saviour of the entire World of Mages.

Simon who, as of about a week and a half ago, is my boyfriend. And, really, I should be ecstatic about that, right? That alone should be enough to make up for everything that going away to Watford forced me to leave behind. Simon is the most powerful mage in the world, and he’s brave and selfless and noble and everything a fairytale hero should be. And who wouldn’t want to be loved by a hero? I know many girls (and a few boys) who would scramble to take my place.

But should I let them? I don’t know. I don’t love Simon, but I do like him. It could just be that love will come later. But I do know that Simon loves me. Or, rather he doesn’t yet, but he could and he wants to. And we just started dating and Simon has done everything he’s supposed to--I can’t break up with him for that.

I also know the reason I said yes to Simon when he asked me out. It’s because although I don’t know if I can love Simon the way he deserves to be loved, I believe that he deserves to be with someone who can love him with everything they are.

And if I care for Simon, and I’m the one he wants to be with, don’t I owe it to him to at least try?

A big part of the reason Simon and I got together is that my parents have been letting him stay with us over the Christmas holidays since we were eleven. As a result, my mother has been overly invested in our relationship since forever. Both of my parents adore Simon. (And not just because he’s the Chosen One and the Mage’s Heir--he’s also the perfect golden hero, remember?) Our one-month anniversary falls just a few days before the start of term break, and I know both of my parents are thrilled to have him over again, this time as my boyfriend.

I’m not. Thrilled, that is. And I don’t really think that Simon is either, which makes me feel better and worse at the same time.

As I wake up on the day we all leave for the holidays and go down to breakfast only to be greeted by a haze of Simon’s nervous magic, it’s definitely leaning towards worse.

“Simon, take a deep breath please. You’re going to go off if you don’t calm down.”

Judging by the reproachful look Penelope aims my way, this wasn’t the right thing to say. Simon winces and drops his butter knife onto his plate with a loud clatter, but his magic does retreat some. I can’t stop myself from glaring at Penelope. She doesn’t even attempt to look apologetic.

“S-Sorry, Agatha,” Simon says, attempting to smile.

I look away. “It’s just my parents. You’ve met my parents before.”

“I--y-yeah, but not as your boyfriend,” he blusters. “What if they decide that I’m not good enough for you?”

I know what I should say. That he’s being ridiculous--that of course my parents aren’t going to decide that they dislike him. They love him, and they’ve been waiting for us to get together for years.

Penelope, I know, would take me not saying so as just another chance to be cross with me. And it isn’t even like disbelief is the thing holding me back--I know my parents will be nothing but thrilled with Simon.

Also, the question isn’t ever going to be if he’s good enough for me. It’s always going to be the other way around. And the fact that I don’t know the answer to that question for sure is bothering me a lot less than I think maybe it should.

I don’t give Penny the chance to glare at me again. I very obviously check my watch, then gather my plate and push my chair back as I stand. “It’ll be fine, Simon. Now, let’s go. We’re supposed to meet my parents in twenty minutes.”

Simon nearly knocks his own chair to the floor in his attempts to follow me. There’s a snicker from across the hall, and my heart catches in my throat, because I know who it was from.

Simon is glaring, and I don’t even have to turn to imagine the look on Basilton Pitch’s face right now.

I turn anyway. And just as I thought, he isn’t glaring or snarling like Simon is. (Snarling, honestly.) His face is blank, and I can’t tell what’s going on behind his eyes.

Once he sees me looking, he breaks away from his staring contest with Simon to glance at me. It’s only a glance, though--fleeting, like he can’t make himself look away from Simon for more than a second.

I don’t know why I’m disappointed. It isn’t like I want for Simon and Basilton Pitch to fight over me. (They don’t need any excuses to do that.) But right now, the two of them are so focused on each other that it’s like they’ve forgotten that everything else exists.

Basil had been spooning sugar into his tea, and now the sugar’s falling from the teaspoon onto the table because he’s forgotten that he’s holding it. And Simon has forgotten that he’s standing in the middle of the dining hall and making a scene when we’re supposed to be meeting my parents.

With a sigh and an exasperated, “Come on, Simon!”, I grab his arm and yank him forward. He jumps as he breaks from his trance, and starts blustering through an apology as he dashes after me.

Right before I go through the door of the dining hall, I glance back at Basil. He looks away as soon as my eyes find his, but he had been glaring at me.

I’m still trying to figure out what that means when I meet Simon outside on the Great Lawn. He’s got a bag slung haphazardly over his shoulder, the jumper he’s wearing is bunched, and he’s breathing heavily like he ran all the way from the Weeping Tower to Mummers House to here.

Judging by how long he stood there antagonising Baz, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d had to run in order to make it on time. I try not to let it bother me. I was right, before, that he won’t be able to make my parents dislike him. But based off of what he’d said, I’d hoped that he would put in a bit more effort, for once.

Mum and Dad, of course, don’t care one bit. My mother steps out of the Volvo, and she’s hardly finished hugging me before she’s rushing at Simon.

“Oh Simon, you look so handsome,” she coos. She hugs him tight, and he’s back to looking supremely uncomfortable.

“U-um, hi, Mrs. Wellbelove,” he stutters back, and I turn away to hug Dad. (He only offers Simon a smile and claps his shoulder, and I think we’re both relieved.)

A few minutes later, my parents have stowed Simon and I’s bags in the boot, and we’re sitting side-by-side in the backseat as we head towards the motorway. My mother asks Simon a few questions about his summer, but that’s a topic he never likes to talk on. Eventually, she gives up in favour of talking to my father, leaving the two of us in silence.

Simon gets carsick when he has to sit in the back, so he’s turned his upper body determinedly towards the window. I’m relieved at the chance for quiet.

I think he can tell. He turns away from the window for just long enough to offer me his hand, and he’s smiling softly.

It’s my favourite smile of his. I’m smiling back before I even realise it, and I reach out and take his hand.

We each turn back to our respective windows, and we stay like that for the rest of the ride.

BAZ

“Simon Snow. Really? Him? Why’d it have to be him of all people?”

For the past twenty minutes, my dear cousin has been outlining for me in excruciating detail the absolute tragedy that is the relationship that’s sure to become Watford’s new Golden Couple. I’ve wanted to throttle him since the beginning of this adventure, of course. But since I’m disturbed, there’s a part of me that can’t help but take amusement from Dev’s rant.

“Couldn’t Agatha have chosen to fall in love with literally anyone else?”

Because replace Agatha with you, and it’s the same question I’ve been asking myself for weeks now.

I’m in love with Simon Snow. I figured it out a few miserable weeks ago, and I’d give anything to go back to the time before. The time before I realised, that is. I don’t think there was a time before I both knew him and loved him.

And isn’t that the bigger tragedy?

“I don’t think that one can choose who they fall in love with, Dev. That’s the whole point.”

It’s comical, almost, the way he gapes at me. He stands there for a long time before saying, “Baz… are you defending Simon Snow and Agatha Wellbelove?”

Fuck. I’d forgotten, for a moment, where I am. Who I’m with. That there’s nowhere I can be, and no one I can be with, where I won’t have to hide this.

“Of course not. But if W-Agatha could choose who she fell in love with, do you really think she’d pick Snow?”

Dev laughs, and just like that, everything is forgotten. “You’re right. She definitely wouldn’t. Who would?”

Me, I don’t say. Even though I’d like to. Just once. Just to see what would happen.

Although I suppose it isn’t true. Simon Snow is golden and noble and deserves to be loved more than anyone. But if it had been my choice, he wouldn’t have been by me. I can’t think of anyone who would want to love or be loved by their enemy. (Other than me, of course.) As if being gay weren’t enough of a slight against my station.

Not, of course, that any of my family knows this about me. I’ve thought about telling Niall and Dev before. I probably will eventually. As I stand and listen to Dev moon over Agatha Wellbelove and throw barbs at the boy I love, I’ve rarely thought about it more.

I’m almost glad when my father comes to pull me away. If I’d been kept there much longer, I’d be liable to confess my being gay in front of my cousin and every influential member of the Families that’s at the club’s holiday party.

Glad, that is, until Father leads me away from Dev and I get a look at the expression on his face. He looks visibly disproving, which for a man who almost never makes it clear what he’s thinking, is everything.

I do an excellent job, in my own opinion, of not letting the terror I feel show on my face.

“How may I help you, Father?”

His eyes narrow. “I couldn’t help but overhear, Basilton, your conversation with your cousin.”

Something about the tone of his voice immediately sets me on edge, but I’m not sure, yet, why I’m nervous. “Oh?”

“About Simon Snow and Agatha Wellbelove.”

I’m still not sure where this conversation is going, but the way he says my Simon’s name makes the swirling anxiety in my gut worse.

“Yes. It is rather unfortunate that someone such as her made the poor decision to pick him,” I somehow manage to say.

But my answer seems to please my father. His stance relaxes, a little. “I agree. Doctor Wellbelove is on the Coven, so it would be beneficial to have them on our side. If we could sway Agatha Wellbelove, we might be able to convince her father. And that brings me to another concern I have for you.”

By now, I think I know what he’s going to say. It isn’t the first time he has. Like all the other times, I picture Simon Snow’s face in my mind. Only this time, I know why I’m doing it.

“You are the last living heir to the Pitch line, Basilton,” Father says. “It is important that you pass on your mother’s name. You only have three and a half years left at Watford--it’s time for you to start looking for a wife. And I would like for you to consider Agatha Wellbelove. If you marry her and unite our two lines, it would be very beneficial to our family’s cause against the Mage.”

Minus the part about marrying Snow’s girlfriend, I’ve heard this speech before. In the past, I’ve held the image of blue eyes and bronze curls in my mind and told my father that I’m too focused on schoolwork to look for a relationship. So far, he’s accepted that answer--he knows how important academics were to my mother. But with Snow’s tragic display of his pathological heterosexuality, I know that excuse won’t work now.

Just for a moment, I imagine it. Not even a moment--a split second. But I imagine giving my father a dramatic sigh and saying, “Apologies, Father. I would, except not only am I too focused on schoolwork, but also am I flamingly homosexual and deeply in love with Simon Snow, the Chosen One, the Mage’s Heir, and the boy you have been grooming me to kill since I was eleven. Not that I have any intention of doing so, you understand.”

What I do say is, “Of course, Father. I understand. I shall keep that in mind.”

He nods, looking like I’d done the only thing he ever bothered to consider me doing. “I shall leave you to the festivities.”

He walks away, and I watch him. Once he disappears into the crowd, I take another moment to picture the smiling face of the boy I know I can never have.

And then, with a deep breath, I plunge back into the depths.

SIMON

Normally, spending Christmas with the Wellbeloves is one of my favourite things. I get to spend time one-on-one with Agatha, receive gifts, eat good food, and watch as many reruns of Doctor Who as I want. Watford is my home, but their house over the holidays was the first place I ever felt like someone cared for me.

I’d expected it to be even better once Agatha and I started dating. We’d get to do all the same things as before, only now I’d have an actual claim to be there. I’d really, truly, belong, instead of just playing at it the way I do with everything else in my life.

I think that the only reason it isn’t actually better is because there’s something wrong with me. There must be--no one else has done anything wrong.

I was afraid that Agatha’s parents wouldn’t think I’m good enough for her, and that I might have to prove my intentions to win back their favour. As it turns out, I needn’t have worried about that--they seem happy about our relationship.

I’d expected hostility, and I’d made a list of things I could do in response to it. I did not make a list of what I could do in any other circumstance. I hope that my nerves about being thrown into something I didn’t expect are a big part of what’s making this harder.

Every year, the Wellbeloves and some of their neighbours put on a travelling Christmas party. It isn’t Christmas yet, of course, but it’s close enough to that people keep popping in and out of their house to help Mrs. Wellbelove get ready. On top of the people like me that the Wellbeloves always invite into their home for the holidays, it’s a kind of organised chaos that reminds me of the homes, except that I’m warm and happy instead of cold and scared.

Over the years, I’ve met most of the neighbours, even though Agatha and I usually stay in the den for most of the party. When we arrive, I stop to give a hug to the Wellbeloves’ housekeeper, Helen, and in that time, several of them descend on me.

Most everyone seems happy to see me and while I’m sure that some of it is because of what I am, I think some of it is genuine. I get pulled away from Agatha as I hug and shake hands and for a while, I forget that I’m nervous.

“Simon, I’ve heard that you and Agatha are dating now! That’s absolutely wonderful, dear. I always knew you two were perfect together!”

At least, until that happens.

It isn’t disapproval either. Obviously. The only person I know who actually disproves is Baz, and it makes sense that he does, because he’s Baz and this is something good that’s happening to me.

No one who I actually care about has responded with anything other than support. I’d prepared for if they hadn’t, and in some ways, I almost wish that they hadn’t. I remember fighting about Agatha with Baz, and the nervous, itchy feeling I’d get when he told me I’m not good enough for her is similar to how I’m feeling now.

It doesn’t make sense. I know I should be thrilled. On the drive, I’d spent time convincing myself that being nervous was fine, because obviously it’s fine when you’re faced with people who are reacting badly. And because I didn’t know what was going to happen. Now I do, so I can’t say that. Now, I need to figure out a way to fix whatever’s wrong with me and making me see things this way.

But I don’t know what’s causing it, so I don’t know how to fix it. Instead, I do what I always do. I stop thinking about it.

It doesn’t take me very long to realise that that was a bad decision. Maybe I should have expected that it would be--I’m a shite liar, after all. Which isn’t helped by knowing that this isn’t something I should be lying about.

It takes me almost an hour before I’m able to get away from all the Wellbeloves’ neighbours. I just want to watch some Doctor Who with Agatha, so I’m wandering around the house looking for her when I run into Doctor Wellbelove.

He didn’t speak all that much on the drive out here, and I’ve not seen him since then. But right now, Agatha’s mum is out with Helen and another woman, so it’s just him and me in the kitchen. I immediately want to leave, but I also don’t want to be rude.

We stand in silence for several minutes. I focus on the nearly-empty glass of water that I came in here to get. When Doctor Wellbelove suddenly clears his throat, it startles me.

He looks almost as uncomfortable as I feel, but he still says, “Simon. Would it be okay if I speak with you for a minute about my daughter?”

I think it’s the wrong reaction, but his question relaxes me. I’m expecting that now’s when he asks me about my intentions towards Agatha. If he does, we’re back on familiar ground.

My voice is steady when I reply, “Of course, sir.”

But what he does say is, again, not what I was expecting.

“I just wanted to let you know how glad I am that you and Agatha are together now. You’re a very good person, Simon, and I know you’re capable of loving my daughter the way she deserves to be loved. I just wanted to make sure you know you have my approval.”

Instantly, any semblance of calm evaporates. My chest suddenly feels like someone is standing on it. (Or like Baz has pinned me up against the wall and is crushing my sternum with his arm.) I can’t think about anything except air and how much I need to get out.

But Doctor Wellbelove is still here, and he’s staring at me expecting an answer. I spit out something that I intend to be grateful and about going to find Agatha, but am afraid comes out closer to a jumble of nothing, and run from the room.

Instead of going to find Agatha, I race from the kitchen down the hall to the loo and throw the door open. I don’t even take the time to flick on the light before closing the door and sliding down against it.

The very first time I saw Agatha, I wanted her. She’s beautiful to the point that it doesn’t even feel real, sometimes. There was a part of me that was afraid I’d break her if I got too close, but a bigger part of me that was determined to protect her from other people who might try and do the same. I’m supposed to be the Chosen One--something like that should be the least I’ll have to do.

When Penny and her boyfriend, Micah, started dating last year, he was all she could talk about from the beginning. And being around him made her happier--she even let me go on about Baz and his plots for way more than 10 percent of our conversations, sometimes. Agatha and I have barely been dating a month, but that isn’t how I am about her, I don’t think.

But Micah left to go back to America at the end of last year. Penny hasn’t seen him for months. I see Agatha every day. It makes sense that I’d talk about her less in that case, right? Plus, it’d be weird to talk about her when she’s right there. And unlike with Baz, I don’t want to do so anyway to make her angry.

I���m not in love with Agatha, I don’t think. It’s definitely not like the way Penny feels about Micah. But that’s okay, right? I don’t have to fall in love right away. That hardly ever happens, anyway. And Agatha and I have been friends for years, but that’s different from being together. I can still learn to love her.

I killed a dragon when I was eleven. Falling in love with my beautiful girlfriend should be easy in comparison.

I can do it. I will do it. Because no matter what Baz or anyone else thinks, we’re meant to be together. It’s destiny.

Everyone I’ve spoken with agrees, even Agatha’s parents. That’s enough, right? Someday, if Baz or the Humdrum don’t kill me, the two of us will ride off into the sunset and have our happily ever after.

I repeat this to myself in my head until I’m finally calm enough to rise to my feet and leave the loo.

And if there’s a small part of my brain that doesn’t quite believe it, it’s easy enough to ignore.

[homenum-revelio-hq]

Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix, Amos!

You have been accepted for the role of non-biography character FABIAN PREWETT with the faceclaim of Sam Heughan! Your application was so much fun to read! I loved how much attention you gave to the various layers that make up Fabian, who he is and how he’s ended up where he is now. I look forward to seeing him try and balance his problems against the greater needs of the Order. I am so excited to have you as part of this roleplay!

Please take a look at the new member checklist and send in your account within 24 hours! Thank you for joining the fight against Voldemort!

OUT OF CHARACTER:

NAME: Amos AGE: 22 TIMEZONE: GMT ACTIVITY LEVEL: It’s hard to say. I’m a freelancer working in theatre, so some weeks are hell and I work 70 hours, and others are 9-5 so I could be on in the evenings and weekends. Other weeks I might be on show call in the evenings and so could be on during the day. I’ll definitely be able to do 1 reply a week to keep up with activity, but I really want to do more than that, so if I can I will! ANYTHING ELSE: No triggers really. As for experience, I’ve been rping on tumblr for maybe 8ish years on and off, mostly Harry Potter, Fabian is one of my most played muses, I love him to pieces.

CHARACTER DETAILS:

NAME: Fabian Prewett AGE: 30 (willing to change this to fit with Molly and Gideon’s ages when/if they become taken characters) GENDER, PRONOUNS, and SEXUALITY: Fabian is a cis man and uses he/him pronouns. To differ from this course has never occurred to him. He is very comfortable in his gender, he doesn’t so much as revel in his masculinity as let it naturally steer him. He doesn’t shy away from laddish encounters in pubs, or rowdy sports events, but he isn’t what you’d call aggressive or arrogant. He (somewhat subconsciously) considers the role of protector and provider a man’s role, despite having many females in his life that contradict that line of thinking. He has a desire to fill these roles, and every failure to do so is a knock to his confidence. He has never had a problem with his body or the way he looks, further than being teased for his ginger hair, or the insecurity that typically accompanies puberty. As far as he’s concerned his body matches perfectly with the way he sees himself in his mind’s eyes, he has never wanted to alter anything about it that couldn’t be achieved by working out or good hygiene.  

Sexuality is slightly more of a grey area for Fabian. He liked girls just as much as any other guy he went to Hogwarts with. He had girlfriends and flings, enjoyed the sex and the summer romances, fell head over heels for his first love and had his heart broken, just like most other guys he knew. The problem was he also tended to fall head over heels for guys too, except he didn’t get an opportunity to explore that side of things nearly as openly or frequently as he did with women. Some days Fabian is 100% accepting of himself and his attraction to men, he’s ready to shout it from the rooftops, tell his friends and family, step fully out of the closet. But most days he is unwilling to admit that side of himself. He’ll hear a comment from a stranger, or read an article in the newspaper, see something that makes him believe there could be nothing worse that openly sharing his sexuality with the world. Maybe someday he’ll get around to confiding with those closest to him, although he suspects they already have their suspicions, and actually, that suits him just fine, as long as they never confront him about it.

BLOOD STATUS: Pure Blood HOUSE ALUMNI: Gryffindor ANY CHANGES: None

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

PERSONALITY:

Fabian is an intelligent guy, although his grades at Hogwarts wouldn’t necessarily reflect that. Fabian is not a books smart, he struggled with the subjects that were largely reading and writing, memorising dates or formulae. But when he could get his hands dirty, something clicked in his brain and it all made sense. For this reason, he excelled in Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. He did well with the practical elements of DADA and potions, but struggled with the theory, and absolutely flunked subjects like History of Magic.

Fabian is also pretty good at reading people. He can tell if someone is uncomfortable or hesitant to engage and can usually put them at ease. If someone is upset, he’s often the first to notice, and when someone has good news he can tell by the look on their face before they’ve even said a word. This is more of an unconscious skill, not something he works on deliberately, but a natural gift. However, he isn’t quite so in tune with his own emotions. In denial about a lot of things in his life, Fabian will ignore his own feeling and lock them away until they either disappear or he can deal with them conveniently.

He is of course, courageous and brave, he will unthinkingly put himself in the direct line of danger if it means he’s protecting somebody else, especially someone he loves. Unfortunately, this means he tends to act before he thinks. Sometimes, in battle, that’s the line between life and death, the split second of hesitation before throwing a hex could cost him his life. But most of the time it just means he gets himself into trouble.

He also has a great sense of humour. Fabian loves a joke or a prank, even if he ends up being the victim of it. In these dark times, he whole heartedly believes laughter is the best medicine. He knows it can’t fix everything, but at least it can patch up the wounds until tomorrow. If he can make someone laugh in their darkest hour, then he considers his job done. Fabian’s tendency to goof around also means that he masks his true feelings with jokes and gags, rarely letting on if he’s having a tough time or struggling with something. He hates to show weakness, and jokes are a good way of distracting people.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF FAMILY:

(These are my headcanons but very willing to talk to the writer of Molly and Gideon and come to group decisions about what their family is like)

Fabian has always felt loved and safe in his family. It came unconditionally and in abundance. I see Fab as the middle child, Gideon being the oldest sibling, then Fab, and Molly being their younger sister. Whatever the order, I always see Fab as the younger twin. I don’t think he ever had to fight for attention from his parents, but his boisterous nature and endless jokes probably came as a way to ensure at least one parent was giving him their undivided attention. I think the twins got in trouble a lot, not seriously, but just day to day misbehavings that seemed like the end of the world when they were 5, but now seem trivial. I think they would fight to take the blame to save the other, which of course resulted in both of them being told off anyway.

I think he was sheltered in a lot of ways. He had two parents who loved him and loved each other. They kept him safe from the evils of the world for as long as they could. Any fights his parents had would happen in hushed tones after all the children were asleep. Any financial issues they were having were never made apparent to the children, they had their favourite snacks and the desired birthday presents every year, even if it meant their parents had to tighten their belts. The fact that they were purebloods was rarely discussed. The Prewett parents didn’t buy into the whole ‘sacred 28’ philosophy and so it wasn’t important other than to recognise that they were exceptionally privileged to live as purebloods in a world that was likely to favour them, and that some people weren’t as lucky. It wasn’t until Hogwarts that Fabian properly realised the impact of blood status and the injustice of it all.

I see Fabian’s father as a tough man with a stern face, rarely discussing emotions, never saying the ‘I love you’s out loud, but rather showing it by working long hours to provide for his family, by turning up to every quidditch game, by quietly boasting about his children’s achievements to his co-workers, by the worn photo in his wallet: his three children and his beautiful wife, in the garden underneath the summer sun, giggling at some long forgotten joke. He was a humble man, handsome in a weathered kind of way, and absolutely devoted to his family.

His mother was soft in all the places his father was hard. Always a hand to stroke Fabian’s hair as he fell asleep, a lap to curl up in, a kiss on the cheek to embarrass him in front of his friends. She was a wonderful cook, even with the sparsest ingredients. When she baked the children always got to lick the spoon. She would indulge them in their silly made up games for hours, and then read them stories after they had finally worn themselves out. She had a hard time saying no to any of their desires, which is where their father had to step in. I don’t think she was necessarily stunningly beautiful, but beautiful in a way all loving mothers are in their children’s eyes.

So I think they had a very happy childhood, and were free to be children. They had the kind of happy home that they got homesick for when they were at Hogwarts, and were excited to return to at the holidays.

One of my big headcanons is that their mother died a few years back, maybe just after Fab and Gid graduated Hogwarts, so their late teens/early twenties. I think it was illness, not a gracious one that leaves you frail and elegant and lets you drift off in the night, but the harsh aggressive type that robs you of everything and still won’t let you go. I think it would have broken the family; a set of perfectly balanced scales left swinging wildly trying to find a new equilibrium. The three children learned to heal, with each new marriage and birth, the mourning for their mother getting easier to bare, but for their father I think it stayed fresh no matter how many years passed. He became reclusive and depressed and now only attends the most important family functions with a lot of pestering from them all.

OCCUPATION:

Fabian currently works as the conductor on the Knight Bus. It is a bit of a fall from grace for him, but for anyone who asks, he’ll just tell them he wanted to escape the office, meet more people, less paperwork and less pressure. The truth is he was fired from his last job in the Department for Magical Transportation. After months of minor offences such as coming in late, filing the wrong forms, or turning up to the wrong room for the wrong meeting, Fabian finally broke the last straw when he splinched himself whilst teach an apparition course at Hogwarts. Besides giving a few teenagers nightmares, he ended up in hospital for a few days and his boss made the decision to let him go. The reason for all the fuck ups is that Fabian has slowly become more and more dependent on alcohol. It started, as it usually does, as getting trashed at the weekends to wind down from a hard week, and then that turned to drinking on weekday evenings, and then to slipping some fire whiskey into his coffee in the morning, a then of course he couldn’t turn down a pint at lunch times on slow days. At this point Fabian is very rarely not intoxicated to some degree, and his boss noticed. He was fired and now he works in a job where no-one really notices if he’s been drinking if he’s careful about it. With the way Ernie drives, everyone else is just as likely to fall over as he is.

ROLE WITHIN THE ORDER/THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ORDER:

Fabian didn’t think twice about joining the Order. At first it felt great, a secret organisation of rebels, fighting for all that was good and right. But after years of fighting, the hope drained away and it became a grinding business. He soon realised his naivety that the Order would be all about adventures and swinging in to save the day, that after a little while they’d defeat the death eaters and be regarded as heroes. He would never leave, it’s barely even an option for him. If he’s hardly keeping it together while he’s part of the Order, knowing he’s doing all he can to defend his world and the people he loves, he would fall to pieces entirely without it. But when the good days get fewer and further between, it gets harder to keep his head above the water.

He was against the ranking at first, but he sees the sense in it now, especially with the whispers of double agents. They aren’t going to win this war as a bunch of rag tag optimists, they need to fight and organise like any other army would. I think Fab would probably be mid-level, he’s older than a lot of the members and so been there longer. He might have been higher up if he could be trusted more, but the alcoholism means he slips up, even if he’s trying to keep his dependency a secret.

SURVIVAL: 

Since losing his job at the department of magical transportation Fabian has been able to fly under the radar with more ease.It also means he has a lot less money. He is currently in between permanent bases. Sometimes he’ll rent a room in London, and more often than not it’s a tiny, run down, room with leaks in the ceiling and no heating, but it’s all he can afford. As soon as he gets paranoid he’s been followed home, or being watched by someone across the street, he’ll pack his bags and move on. He spends a lot of nights on the Knight Bus anyway, and he can sleep there when he’s not working, and every so often he’ll spend a couple of nights at the Burrow.

He is also low on money because a lot of his salary goes on booze. If he’s not working on the Knight Bus, for the Order, or visiting the Burrow, he’s likely at a pub or bar getting smashed. And even when he is working, he’ll have bought the cheapest bottle of alcohol he can find from the nearest off-licence and be stealing sips of it whenever he can. But it all adds up and some months he can barely make rent on whatever squat he’s holed up in at the time.

He survives out of sheer stubbornness some days; others he can see the last glimmers of hope and knows it’ll be worth it if he can just press on. He visits the Burrow and see his nephews and realises that failure simply isn’t an option. Unfortunately, right now his survival methods might also be the death of him.

RELATIONSHIPS: 

Some of the strongest relationships he had before the war are now some of the most tense, probably because they mean the most to him. Gideon, Molly, Arthur and the boys will always be the most important people in his life, and he loves them with his whole heart, but it’s fair to say the war has strained even the strongest bonds. He is terrified of losing them, terrified he won’t be able to protect them when it comes down to it. He won’t admit to himself that his alcoholism makes him a danger to them, he’s hoping they haven’t noticed, but the difference in him must be obvious to anyone who truly knows him.

Some of his best relationships now lie in the people he has become close to because of the war. Members of the Order who are always up for a laugh and a drink at the end of a long night’s watch. Who understand the horrors of the war, but haven’t had to witness the change from a carefree young man, to a haunted husk of a person. If they can pretend for a few hours that the nightmares don’t exist, then what’s the harm? These are the people Fabian will spend most of his free time with. He might not confide in them, but at the moment, they are getting the best of him.

Romantically Fabian is terrified of starting anything serious. He’ll have one-night stands, short flings, especially with people outside of the war effort, but nothing more than that. Apart from anything else, he’s still struggling with his sexuality. It’s true that he could still have open and loving relationships with women, but the knowledge that he’s hiding such a big part of himself, makes every relationship feel disingenuous and so all romantic relationships suffer as a consequence.

OOC EXPLORATION:

SHIPS/ANTI-SHIPS: I don’t really have any anti-ships for Fabian, I’m open to anything with chemistry. I’m really interested in exploring his closeted bisexuality, and so I’d love to see him romantically involved with another guy, but I’m not excluding any hetro ships at this point.

WHAT PRIVILEGES AND BIASES DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE?

I think Fabian grew up incredibly privileged and sometimes he doesn’t realise that until someone points it out to him. He’s getting better at seeing it and using it to help others. Now he’s a blood traitor it’s not so much of a privilege, but he can still see that he has it better than muggleborns.

Most of the time his biases are similar to the general populations’, views he’s picked up because they are generally accepted, and he’s never thought to challenge them. So yes, he probably doesn’t like werewolves, because as far as he knows he’s never met one and all the stories he’s heard are bad. And he probably thinks house elves don’t deserve any more rights than they have because having an entire race as your personal slaves hasn’t registered as something that might be wrong. He definitely has some internalised homophobia. He couldn’t pin down exactly what his problems with it are, because if he met a person who was openly gay, he would accept them immediately, but he can’t accept it in himself yet. Anything more complicated than being gay in the LGBTQ world is probably beyond him and would take a little minute for him to understand.

I think generally as soon someone pointed out why his prejudices are wrong; he would accept it instantly. He wouldn’t hold on to these old views, he is extremely versatile in this manner, and almost eager for his ignorance to be corrected.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?  After I left my last rp I fell out of the habit of writing everyday and I really miss it. I love the marauder era and I really missed writing it as part of an rp community. Plus, I am super into the fact that this is an AU rp where the ending isn’t set in stone.

PLOT DROP IDEAS (OPTIONAL): You know I love a good masquerade ball, not sure how it would fit into the plot, but they are super fun. I would love to see Fab’s connections at the department for magical transport come into play. I’d also love to explore him really fucking up on a mission because he was drunk. Maybe some undercover work for him. Kidnappings are always fun, either kidnapping death eaters or members of the Order being kidnapped.

ANYTHING ELSE? Not that I can think of.

EXTRA FOR NON-BIO CHARACTERS:

PAST. 

Fabian had a pretty sheltered and privileged upbringing as a pureblood male, the war made this vibrantly obvious to him incredibly quickly. He joined the Order as soon as he could, not one to sit around and let others put themselves in danger for the things he believed in and the future he wanted. But years at war takes its toll on everyone. Fabian, like many, turned to alcohol. Although it numbed the day to day pain of the war, it made him sloppy and careless with his own safety. He lost his job at the ministry and ruined a number of his relationships.

PRESENT.

Fabian’s day to day life now consists of a number of things. Working as a conductor on the Knight Bus. The shifts are flexible, the responsibilities are few and that suits him fine. It means he can devote more time to the Order, the second thing that consumes his waking hours. The daily grind of the war effort may be getting him down, but he would literally have to be dead before he surrendered. In between work and the Order comes his family and friends, the main reason he fights at all. Seeing his nephews can be the highlight of his month, Gideon and Molly are the rocks he so desperately needs. Accompanying all these things is the alcohol. He drinks in the evening with friends, then has a night cap at home, a splash of whiskey in his morning coffee to tide him over to his lunch time pint. One day it’s all going to catch up with him and ‘one day’ might not be as far away as it once was.

FC CHOICES: Top choice: Sam Heughan. Other choices: James McAvoy, Sam Claflin

[lashydsdomain]

1-154. you wont

bitch

bet i will

1: Full name

lashy. das all you get

2: Age

19

3: 3 Fears

stairs, glass breaking, not being able to get ahold of someone

4: 3 things I love

my ocs uwu, my friends, my fucking tablet goddamn

5: 4 turns on

not comfy sharing on tumblr

6: 4 turns off

ill say ill come back to this one then leave this in the post

7: My best friend

rn i would say it’s probably blitztrolls

8: Sexual orientation

pan uwu

9: My best first date

ahh.... i havent had an in person first date still ;u;

10: How tall am I

5′5″

11: What do I miss

not being stressed eue;;;

12: What time were I born

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

13: Favourite color

pale blu

14: Do I have a crush

ye u//w//u

15: Favourite quote

you know these things are asked and my mind goes blank

16: Favourite place

the woods just after it’s rained

17: Favourite food

im a basic bitch and just gonna say mac n cheese

18: Do I use sarcasm

no absolutely not. nope.

19: What am I listening to right now

ambles playlist- it’s on ocean eyes by billie elish rn

20: First thing I notice in new person

prooooobably like. their face? typing style if it’s online

21: Shoe size

uhhhhhh i think like a womens 10?

22: Eye color

blue/green

23: Hair color

dark brown

24: Favourite style of clothing

loose and baggy because if i cant be comfortable what’s the point

25: Ever done a prank call?

HELL YEAH

27: Meaning behind my URL

lashyd was one of my first fantrolls and i liked the way it sounded

28: Favourite movie

mmmmm either labyrinth, princess mononoke or annihilation

29: Favourite song

no clue my friend im bad at picking

30: Favourite band

same as above sweats

31: How I feel right now

excited but tired

32: Someone I love

passivetrolls u//w//u/

33: My current relationship status

in a relationship!

34: My relationship with my parents

love my dad, kinda dislike my mom

35: Favourite holiday

christ mass

36: Tattoos and piercing i have

none, im so scared of needles ;u;

37: Tattoos and piercing i want

mmmmmaybe something stupid and simple on like my ankle?? i dunno what tho sweats

38: The reason I joined Tumblr

another fandom and i got bored with homeschooling lmao

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?

i dislike them but they have tried to contact me a few times before i blocked them

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?

not usually

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?

i dont text so ill go w discord and no i have not the last person i messaged was you shenk gdi

42: When did I last hold hands?

the 2nd ;u;

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?

7ish minutes

44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?

hellllllllllll no

45: Where am I right now?

room

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?

prooooobably my bf or my dad. hate alcohol tho

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?

loud but only w speakers

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad?

only da

49: Am I excited for anything?

absolutely motherfucker im making new friends left and right

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?

i got two uwu

51: How often do I wear a fake smile?

:))))))) irl most of the time tbh

52: When was the last time I hugged someone?

last night

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?

i would probably cry ugnfldkjfgslfdjg the last person i kissed was my bf wheezes

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?

i mean probably.

55: What is something I disliked about today?

ehhhh nothing bad has really happened today

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

probably my friend from serbia uwu

57: What do I think about most?

ocs probably sweats

58: What’s my strangest talent?

burping on command? i dunno

59: Do I have any strange phobias?

glass shattering ouo;;;

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

beh ind

61: What was the last lie I told?

calling myself a basic bitch lmao

62: Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

phone probably? video calls make me nervous

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

hell yeah to both

64: Do I believe in magic?

hell yeah i yell tossing salt on all my rocks

65: Do I believe in luck?

yeee

66: What’s the weather like right now?

uhhh clear i think

67: What was the last book I’ve read?

Shibuya Goldfish

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?

nop

69: Do I have any nicknames?

lash, lashy, gremlin and then stupid relationship nicknames gldsfgjfgs

70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?

prooobably almost falling down some stairs at a con and chipping my shin and probably partly pulling my shoulder out of the socket

71: Do I spend money or save it?

i try to save but end up spending it ouo;;;;

72: Can I touch my nose with a tounge?

nearly

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feets from me?

there are some half customized MH dolls so i guess yeah

74: Favourite animal?

cat uwu

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?

drawing ambles trollcall pick

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?

satan stan obviously

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?

Here - Ancient Magus' Bride OP

78: How can you win my heart?

art of my ocs ngl

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?

fuck if i knew

80: What is my favorite word?

probably fuck if you would ask my phone lmao

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr

passivetrollsblitztrollstavvys-trollsfilibusterfrogwe-are-the-legion

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?

hey fuckers lets rumble

83: Do I have any relatives in jail?

not that i know of

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?

teleportation ngl

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?

probably 87

86: What is my current desktop picture?

87: Had sex?

sweats how about we move on

88: Bought condoms?

ye

89: Gotten pregnant?

hell no

90: Failed a class?

i think yeah

91: Kissed a boy?

yeeeeeeee

92: Kissed a girl?

nop

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?

does it count if we were indoors

94: Had job?

not yet wheezes

95: Left the house without my wallet?

ye

96: Bullied someone on the internet?

i dont think so i mgiht have when i was younger

97: Had sex in public?

n o

98: Played on a sports team?

ye!

99: Smoked weed?

ye.

100: Did drugs?

only weedles

101: Smoked cigarettes?

nop

102: Drank alcohol?

yes and i hated it

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?

nop

104: Been overweight?

ye

105: Been underweight?

nop

106: Been to a wedding?

nop

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?

 every day p much

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?

nop

109: Been outside my home country?

ye!

110: Gotten my heart broken?

;;;; yeah

111: Been to a professional sports game?

ye

112: Broken a bone?

possibly?

113: Cut myself?

if this is on accident then ya

114: Been to prom?

prom is a waste of time ngl just go to arbys

115: Been in airplane?

yeye

116: Fly by helicopter?

n o

117: What concerts have I been to?

blueman group and the 4th of july ones that play around here

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?

yeeee

119: Learned another language?

bits and pieces

120: Wore make up?

yeah

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?

nop

122: Had oral sex?

lets just skip the sex questions

123: Dyed my hair?

yeee

124: Voted in a presidential election?

ee

125: Rode in an ambulance?

nop

126: Had a surgery?

nop

127: Met someone famous?

yeye

128: Stalked someone on a social network?

god no

129: Peed outside?

this question is weird

130: Been fishing?

hell the fuck yeah

131: Helped with charity?

prrrrobaby?

132: Been rejected by a crush?

yeah ;u;

133: Broken a mirror?

i dont think so

134: What do I want for birthday?

money

135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?

NO

136: Was I named after anyone?

i was named after two people uwu

137: Do I like my handwriting?

i can barely read it lmao i hate it

138: What was my favourite toy as a child?

my stuffed tigger uwu

139: Favourite Tv Show?

fuck i dunno probably cyberchase or fetch i dont watch tv anymore lmao

140: Where do I want to live when older?

somewhere quiet but convenient

141: Play any musical instrument?

flute and violin

142: One of my scars, how did I get it?

i have a scar on my knuckle from making garlic bread ;u; wasnt even good

143: Favourite pizza toping?

banana peppers

144: Am I afraid of the dark?

nah

145: Am I afraid of heights?

mmmm at times

146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?

yeah >w>;;;

147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?

all the mc fuckin time

148: What I’m really bad at

telling people when im not up for something

149: What my greatest achievments are

being alive you fuckers cant beat me i won over hundreds of other fuckers and im here

150: The meanest thing somebody has ever said to me

Lets Not, Kids

151: What I’d do if I won in a lottery

buy so much cosplay shit and helping friends get what they need

152: What do I like about myself

im getting better uwu

153: My closest Tumblr friend

passivetrolls or blitztrolls wheezes

154: Something I fantasize about

being able to help my friends out of the places they are right now QuQ

155: Any question you’d like?

more questions for amble and my other girls!

[wtfholland]

hi! could i get like a protective peter or tom imagine with 6 & 14? 💛💛 love your writing!

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!!!!😚💜

*requests are closed as of february 24th!* thank you so much to everyone who made requests❤️ they are in the process of being written, thanks for being so patient☺️

listen to this while reading♫

~Peter’s POV~

I was beaming as I skipped down the empty hallway. I was finished with all of my exams for this semester. An upbeat, repetitive tune was playing in my head as I shuffled down towards my locker to collect my jacket and backpack. To add onto my eventful day, I was planning on finally asking Y/N out on a date. I don’t know, for some odd reason, just the fact alone that I was done exams and didn’t have to study for anything for a good chunk of time, put me in such a positive mindset, boosting my confidence by a couple hundreds. I swung my locker door open, my face lighting up at the sight of the photo that greeted me. It was of Y/N, Ned, MJ and I at the Midtown Science Fair last year. Michelle and Y/N’s faces were covered in green splotches, MJ looking irritated, Y/N was laughing (and looking absolutely beautiful), Ned was mid-sneeze and I, well…was just staring at Y/N in awe.

She was quite frankly the most gorgeous creature in all of Midtown, Queens, New York, the whole goddamn world. She was my favourite person, my best friend, my safe haven; I was damn well obsessed with her. She knew everything about me, including my secret identity. “Ayo, Parker!” I heard someone shout at the end of the hallway, in an exaggerated gang accent. I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the possibility of rejection or a punch in the face. I peeked out from behind my locker door to see Y/N juggling all of her textbooks, the ones on top of the stack nearly tipping over, already wearing her jacket. I rushed over to her and took them out of her arms. “I’ve got it. I feel bad for you because you’re not done all of your exams.” I chuckled as she playfully slapped my arm.

“Whatever, Petey. Don’t rub it in.” she scoffed. I gasped at the nickname and Y/N laughed at my stunned expression as I continued walking back to my locker, her beside me. I set the textbooks down by my feet and wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. Okay, Peter, here we go. You’ve got this, man. You’ve got this. I sucked in a big gulp of air and puffed my chest out. “So, uh…do you still need me to help you with Chemistry or do you think you have it under control?” I asked, trying to act cool and collected. I did one last scan of my locker before shutting and locking it. I turned back to Y/N, propping on arm against the metal, trying to look like a big shot. Her eyes were glued to her phone, thumbs frantically beating in the screen. “Y/N?” I chanted, attempting to steal her attention away. She averted her eyes from the glowing screen to look at me, as smile stitched onto her face. Her pretty face.

“Sorry, Pete. I was texting Duncan.” she said, the smile growing wider. Whoa, whoa, whoa…The blood ran from my face, my arm dropping down in an instant. My face meshed into itself and my entire demeanour changed; I knew I must’ve looked extremely uncomfortable. “Are you okay?” Y/N asked, examining my posture. This immediately shook me out of it. I cleared my throat and tried to ignore my conscience dying of laughter. “Who’s Duncan?” I whimpered, clearing my throat for a second time. Y/N giggled lightly and ruffled my hair. Before I could really absorb and enjoy the feeling of her gentle fingers in my hair, they were gone. “He’s that guy I went out with a week ago. Remember? The one with the Volvo? You and Ned were over when he pulled up in front of my house and I asked you guys to lock up before you left.” Y/N explained. What in the hell? That guy looked…off to me, from the way we watched his face when Y/N got in the car, the lack of expression to the sudden dirty look he was throwing in Ned and I’s direction all the way from the car before he sped off, not giving Y/N any time to put on her seatbelt and his tires leaving haunting black streaks on the road.

“W-what? You’re going out with that guy again?” I stuttered, looking unsure. She knotted her eyebrows as she bent down to pick up the leaning tower of textbooks. “Well, yeah! Our last date was pretty ‘dope’, as he had put it and that he wants to take me out again tonight to meet some of his friends!” Y/N gushed, the smile that could light fireworks never leaving her face. I tried to mask my disappointment. Of course I was happy for Y/N, but the selfish monster in me wanted me to be the one who was making her happy, not that creep Duncan. I mean, his Volvo is pretty cool, but it’s not that cool; And from what I saw that day, that guy has some stupid hair. “Well, alright…” I muttered, tugging on my jacket. Y/N touched my shoulder, my entire body jolted at her touch, wanting more of it. “I still need you to help me with Chemistry, by the way.” she whispered, grinning widely at me. I returned the gesture and zipped up my jacket. “We’ll go to that little café by your house and I’ll buy you that Pumpkin Spice hot chocolate stuff you love way too much.” I declared. I swung my backpack over my shoulder and shoved my right arm through the hanging strap. Y/N shot me a warm smile, looking more adorable than ever. “Oh, goodie, Peter Pan.” she teased. 

We stood there for what seemed like a century, just looking into each other’s eyes. Her e/c orbs were so magical, they were like liquid lights; They pulled me in and god, I never wanted to escape. I saw a spark of some sorts, something I’ve seem a couple times with Y/N. She quickly cleared her throat and scratched the back of her neck. “I should probably get going. I have to give these back to the book room and get my textbooks for next sem’.” she stated, raising the pile of books a little higher. “Oh, yeah, for sure! Uh, I’ll see you tomorrow then? Be careful when you go with Duncan tonight. Make sure you give me a call when you get home afterwards and if you need anything, just signal your old friend Spidey.” I instructed, taking a few small steps backwards. “Aye aye, Mr. Parker. I’ll be fine, I’m a big girl. I’ll make good decisions and stay in one piece for you, baby.” Y/N sing-songed. That name shook me to my core. It sounded so…hot coming from her, even if she was playing around. Oh, god, Peter! Calm yourself, she’s going out with somebody else. I rolled my eyes, both at Y/N and my conscience. “Text me so I know you’re safe!” I called to her as we parted ways. She threw up a peace sign and a mouthwatering smile, her hand quickly shooting back underneath the books, bound to tumble over within seconds. She cackled loudly and disappeared out of the hallway. I dropped my head and sighed. “Great, just wonderful. Just fucking peachy.” I groaned. I started in the direction Y/N just marched down until I felt a vibration in my pocket. I tugged my phone out and opened a text from Ned.

“She’s being ridiculous! Going out with that guy again tonight? I don’t think so. I have such a bad feeling about that guy, Ned! You don’t understand. He looks like one of those guys who would follow you around the mall and try to sell you crack.” I gasped, snatching a bag of Jolly Ranchers of the shelf in front of me, some other candies falling to the floor in the process. “Isn’t he like…three years older than Y/N?” Ned asked, bending down to pick up the bags. I furrowed my eyebrows at him. “No, no, no. Y/N’s only 16 so I think that’d be against the law. He’s like…17, I’m not sure.” I reassured him as we made our way over to the Slurpee station. “This clown seems to have a couple of screws loose, if I’m being honest.” I chuckled. I grabbed two medium sized cups and handed one to Ned, immediately filling mine to the brim with a mix of Coke and Cream Soda.

“Well, Y/N seems happy. How’d they meet anyways?” Ned commented, absentmindedly. “Dude! Not helping!” I screeched, my head whipping towards him. Ned recoiled, his hand halting on the pump for Orange Crush. “Sorry, man. I know how much you like her.” he said, his voice threaded with sympathy. I groaned, reaching for a lid. “I think I more than like her, Ned.” I admitted, keeping my eyes focused on the plastic tops. When I didn’t hear a response from Ned, I turned to look at him; His jaw was practically touching the floor, his cup overflowing with the frosty treat. I quickly manoeuvred his hand off of the pump and grabbed some napkins for his hands. “I knew it! I knew it!  I—Michelle owes me thirty bucks!” my friend beamed before sucking some of the Slurpee off from the top of his cup. “You guys made a bet in regards to my feelings for Y/N?” I exclaimed, gawking at him in disbelief. “Well, actually, the deal was that you’d at least admit to one of us before or after Halloween. In my case, I said you’d crack before; MJ, after.” Ned explained. He pushed past me, dancing his way over to the lids. “I just got myself thirty big ones!”

I stabbed my straw into my drink and took a big gulp, being mindful of the possibility of a brain freeze. “Why Halloween? What relevance is that? I know it’s Y/N’s favourite holiday, but out of all times of the year…oh…I get it! It’s her favourite holiday and I know she loves having us all over for Fright Night!” I gasped. Jeez Louise, I really need to get Y/N away from this Duncan fellow, my feelings are eating me alive at this point. “There you go, Petey!” Ned teased, using the nickname Y/N gave me. I chuckled and bumped his arm. “Alright, I’ll figure out some way to tell her and since you are my guy in the chair, I need you to give me a hand with wha—”

“Give me all the money you have in the register or I’ll blow your brains out!” a groggy voice roared from the front of the store. Ned and I froze, our blood ran cold and our treats slipped out of our hands, collecting into a mess on the floor. Oh shit! There is no way this is happening right now! I gestured Ned to duck down and move quickly behind the farthest shelf from the register. I followed him and I cautiously peeked up over the top of the shelf. There is no way in hell this is happening right now! Over at the front of the cash register, holding Mr. Delmar at gun point, was Duncan. Y/N’s kind of-not really boyfriend. Of course it was him, of all people! What the hell was he doing? I got back down and stared at Ned with wide eyes. “Dude, that’s Duncan robbing the store!” I moved the palm of my hand towards the floor, signalling him to stay very quiet.

“No way! What?! This is insane! What are we gon—” Ned was cut off by the screams of a gun, the sounds of rounds going off, all around us. Rectangular black boxes fell from the ceiling and came crashing down on the floor, leaving them in smithereens. I could hear Duncan mumbling to Mr. Delmar, something about how his last visit to the store ‘didn’t go as planned’ and how he was ‘back for revenge’. Ned began tapping on my arm and I averted my attention to him. "You have your suit, right? You can fight him!” Ned pumped his fist in mid-air. “Right! Why didn’t I think of that myself?” I said, shrugging off my backpack. I tugged the zipper quickly, my hand shooting inside and fishing for my suit. My fingers grazed against a soft fabric and I knew I was in luck; I quickly pulled it out just for my face to fall. This has got to be a joke! “My gym shorts?! Where’s my su—ah, no!” I exclaimed, trying to stay as quiet as I could. “What? Where is it, Peter?” Ned gasped, his turn to carefully look over the shelf towards the activity at the front of the store. He dropped back down after a few seconds as I continued shuffling through my bag. “I think May took it out to do laundry. I told her I’d do it myself but, you know her. Shit, what am I gonna do?!” I frantically swivelled my head around. I looked down at my chest and unzipped my jacket, quickly removing my Midtown crew neck. “Look! You could wear one of these!” Ned suggested, thrusting floppy rubber in my face; I gazed at the hideous thing. It’ll have to do! No more wasting time! I slipped it over my head and Ned gave me a thumbs up. “Wait, the web shooters?” he asked as we crawled to the edge of the shelf. “I need to make more web fluid so they’re empty. Whatever, I can’t waste anymore time.” I amped myself up. Ned grabbed my arm before I showed myself to Duncan, whispering a quick ‘good luck’. I nodded in acknowledgement. I’m gonna need it, especially right now. Here we go…

“Hey, you! Stop right there!” I announced, thrusting myself in the view of Duncan and Mr. Delmar. Both of their heads turned to look at me, and almost like an alarm went off in the criminal’s head, he burst out laughing. I knew exactly what he was pissing himself at too: My make shift Spidey costume. I was sporting one of the cheap Halloween masks that were on display in the back of the store, leaving me in just my jeans and old converse. I just cleared my throat as he continued to laugh, his gun locked in the direction of Mr. Delmar. “You shouldn’t be stealing money, it’s bad.” I declared as bluntly as I could. I just…still couldn’t believe it was Duncan. The guy that Y/N is supposed to going on a date with tonight. I need to tell her, regardless of how it could hurt her. This guy will be the one who gets her killed and I will never let that happen; I’ll protect her with me life, no question about it.

“And who the fuck are you supposed to be? You fucking freak!” he cackled, hunching over a bit. To my horror, he turned the gun towards me and without having so much as a millisecond to take cover, he fired the gun in my direction. The bullet smashed into one of the refrigerators along the wall behind me with a loud smash. White liquid began to pool around my feet and onto the floor, which I assumed was milk. “Fuckin’ hell, I don’t have time for this bullshit.” Duncan said, almost too casually turning the gun back to Mr. Delmar. I had to think fast; the only things around me were bagged loaves of bread and instant mashed potatoes. “What the hell are you looking at him for? You should be loading up the bag—” Duncan began, gesturing at the large black duffel that was on the counter, “—with my fucking money! Now get to it or I’ll put a nice, clean hole right between your eyes, old man! Move it!” The sinister voice that erupted from Duncan’s throat frightened me.

Poor Mr. Delmar punched some buttons into the register and the cash drawer flew open. He began frantically scooping every single dollar out of the register and forced it into the bag. “That’s right, that’s right. Everything you’ve got in there.” Duncan swooned. I could see small droplets of tears flowing down Mr. Delmar’s face. Out of all days not to have my suit or my web shooters…Nice going, dumb ass. In the corner of my eye, I could see Ned waving his hand at me. I turned my head and he tossed me a can of extra strong bug spray. I caught it and glared at him. “What the hell is this gonna do?!” I mentally asked him. His fingers pointed towards his eyes and then in the direction of Duncan. I caught on quickly and without a second thought, ran up to Duncan. “Hey, Mr. Trigger Happy!” I called out before grabbing his shoulder and yanking him to face me and without a second to spare, I held the can up and lined it up with his eyes and let a rip. “Gah!” he exclaimed, his hand that held the gun came down towards his face, the back of it furiously rubbing his eyes. Blindly, he began firing the gun at me, but I dodged every single one of the bullets. Holy shit, I just did that! I quickly flipped in the air and landed on his hunched back and grabbed the gun with both of my hands and tugged the bastard out of his grasp. 

I tossed it over to Mr. Delmar who stood there dumbstruck; Thankfully, he managed to catch it without accidentally setting it off. “Call the police!” I yelled, struggling as Duncan’s arms swung at me. He inflicted harsh blows on my stomach, ribs and legs. Suddenly, I was soaring through the air except not willingly. The beast threw me off of him and I landed in the puddle of milk and glass, the solid floor adding to the mix of the red hot pain I felt in all my muscles. I groaned in agony, feeling little shards of glass piercing my bare upper body while the milk soaked my pants; The masks eye holes were torn open wider. Duncan, who was still rubbing his eyes aggressively, snatched the duffel bag, three quarters full, and dashed out the door without looking back. I just tucked my head into my chest, groaning out in pain as I tried to get up. Dammit!

I heard the sound of tires screeching and that’s when Ned was by my side, taking hold of my arms gently and standing me up. I hopped on my leg that hurt a lot less than the other until I could put weight on my other, trying to overlooking the throbbing in my calf. “Shit…” I mumbled, “that really hurt. Thanks for the bug spray though, that definitely did some damage.” I turned to look at him, his face full of concern. “I already called the cops when I was hiding. I just spoke as quietly as I possibly could.” he described. A whimper broke the both of us out of our trance. Mr. Delmar was silently sobbing, which struck something in me. Mr. Delmar was one of the nicest men I’ve ever met; He was selfless, kind hearted and just overall didn’t deserve this. I needed to stop Duncan. I needed to warn Y/N and tell her what he was doing. I need to keep her away from him. 

“Ned, I need you to stay here and calm Mr. Delmar down. If the cops ask, tell them that you didn’t know me a-and that the suspect fled.” I instructed desperately. Ned just nodded blankly. “Dude, there’s security cameras. Your plan is garbage.” I grumbled, trying to think of something that the cops would buy. “Ugh, nothing’s coming to me right now! I need to go save Y/N! Just…keep Mr. Delmar calm.” I concluded before I made my way to the store. “I’ll get your money back, sir. All of it.” I vowed. Just when I was about to run out the door, I turned back the sobbing man. “I’ll, uh…also pay for this mask a bit later.” And with that, I booked it out of the store to save the girl I loved.

I’ll just swing around the city until I see Y/N. That’ll work, right? I made a pit stop to the apartment, busting in through the door. Good thing May wasn’t home because I was still cut up, shirtless, and wearing the stupid Halloween mask. Why am I still wearing it? I tore it off my head and threw it to the floor, leaving it there to be forgotten…until May sees it and scares herself half to death. I grabbed all of my materials I needed to make the web fluid and set them down over the papers and study guides on my work desk, not giving them a second thought to whether they’d get ruined or not. I rapidly combined the chemicals, still being careful to get the formula precise. While I let it set, I stood in front of my mirror and carelessly plucked out the tiny shards of glass out of my skin, wincing at the slight sting. I was sure I missed a few but I discarded what I got into the trash, tugged off my jeans and changed into my homemade suit. Nearly tripping over one of the legs of my bed, I snatched my web shooters and brought them to my work space. I looked back and forth between my cell phone and the beaker holding the web fluid, hoping Y/N would text me. Call me. Anything. 

But still nothing. I felt a bead of sweat run down the side of my face as I carefully poured the web fluid into the slots built into the web shooters. After I gave it a test, I was good to go. I’ll clean this mess up later. I shoved my phone into the pocket of my blue sweatpants and made my way to the window. I opened it up and quickly checked around to see if anyone could see me swooping out. Nope, we are good to go! And without looking back or bothering to close the window, I threw myself out, spinning my first web, setting off on my mission to find Y/N.

“Hello?” a silky voice greeted cheerfully. “Y/N! Why weren’t you answering before?! Whatever, thank god you answered now! I have to tell you something really important!” I sounded frantic and almost completely out of breath from all the swinging, climbing and running. “Hang on, I’m gonna leave the room so I can have a little more privacy.” she said. I could hear shuffling in the background and a loud cackled of laughter coming from someone there with Y/N. I was resting my legs, and arms, and my entire body on the roof of the school, using it as some sort of temporary sanctuary. Ned texted me not too long ago and told me it turns out that Duncan ended up shooting the security cameras; That was what those block boxes were. We didn’t have to worry about the footage but the police informed Ned that this guy had been in custody previously but was released for a false report. Ned didn’t hesitate to mention that his friend was supposed to be going on a date with Duncan later on. The police promised Ned that Y/N would be safe and brought home and that they will catch Duncan. But not if I can first. 

“Hey, Petey. What’s up? I can’t talk for very long, I’m out with Dunc—”

“He’s a criminal Y/N!” I yelled into the phone, scaring a couple of birds that landed on the roof away. “What? What the hell are you talking about, Peter?” she replied. I could hear the aggressive house music booming through the phone which scared me a little. May always told Y/N and I to stay away from people who made us uneasy and ever since I laid eyes on Duncan for the first time, I’ve felt uneasy. I didn’t know how Y/N couldn’t see his true motives. I didn’t want to get off the phone with her in case something happened. 

“I was in Mr. Delmar’s shop today with Ned after school because you told me that you were going out with Duncan so I lost my chance to ask you out, and then Ned and I were talking about how much we…well actually it was more of me…how I didn’t trust this guy, and then we were getting candy and Slurpees and snacks to binge watch Star Wars, and then all of a sudden, someone busted into the store and started yelling at Mr. Delmar to give him all the money that was in the cash register, but it wasn’t just anyone, it was Duncan! And he had a gun! A-and a duffel bag! And he was pointing it at Mr. Delmar a-and then, told him to give him all the money, and then—” 

“Peter, slow down! Shut up for a second! Take a breath, would you?” Y/N cut me off abruptly. I took shaky breaths, realizing that I was talking pretty fast. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, just…please. I need you to believe me. Where are you? I’ll come and get you!” I proposed, my voice uneasy. “Petey, you…you were gonna ask me out?” she whispered. My god, I couldn’t catch a break today. “Is that all you got out of what I told you?” I asked, chuckling nervously. She was silent for a couple seconds before I heard a whimper. “Peter…you dummy! You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out! I…I was really just with Duncan to make you jealous.” she admitted. It was like someone slugged me with a bag of bricks. No way! “Does that mean…you like me too?” I tested. “Yes, of course. Who wouldn’t like Peter Pan?” she giggled. I smiled in absolute relief and bliss. Yes, yes, yes! This is the best. I took in my surroundings, forgetting for a second why I was here. I immediately snapped back into focus, grasping the situation at hand.

“Y/N, I need you tell me where you are right now. I’m coming to get you.” I instructed sternly. I was already getting up, dusting my legs off and moving my phone to my right ear. “We’re by that creepy warehouse that’s by the school, you know the one right?” she asked nervously. My eyes lit up, I knew exactly where that is. “Yes, I’ll be right there. Just hang tight and I’ll be th—”

“Peter, when Duncan picked me up from my house, his eyes were kind of red so I asked if he was smoking weed or something and he…pulled a gun out of his glove compartment…a-and when we got here, all of his friends were either drunk or stoned out of their minds. Duncan kept talking about killing someone slowly and he…he wouldn’t put the gun away. He kept waving it in my face, basically threatening me. I’m so scared. I can’t leave or anything, there are people everywhere. Please, cal the cops and get here quickly before somethi—”

“Talking to your little Peter now, are yah? You might as well say buh bye to your little lover boy, bitch!” 

Duncan. 

“Don’t touch her! Don’t you dare hurt her! I’ll kill you! I won’t hold back, I’ll kill you!” I growled into the phone, almost scaring myself at the words that came out of my mouth. The last thing I heard was Y/N’s ear piercing, horrific scream and the line went dead.

I didn’t waste a second; I soared through the sky, hanging tightly onto the webs. My skin was cold, my eyes glossy, my heart pounding out of my chest. What did he do to her? Why did she scream? I’ll kill him, I swear. If he touches one hair on her head, he’s a dead man. I briskly shook the thought of ending his life out of my head. As much as I wanted to hurt him, I could never kill someone. I’m only a kid, but he had Y/N. I wouldn’t kill him, no. I’m a hero, I save people, I kick asses of villains and this guy was gonna get the worst beating of his life.

I thrusted my body in the air, the overwhelming amount of wind being thrown in my face and punching me in the gut was almost too much to bear but I eventually made it, landing on top of the roof. I quickly ducked behind an old air vent when I saw some of Duncan’s “friends” walk not too far from me. When the coast was clear, I leaped into action. I sprinted towards the doors on the roof, sure in my mind that they would lead to the root of the building and eventually to Y/N. I dug my phone out of my pocket and punched in Ned’s number. 

“Hel—”

“Ned! I need you to call the cops and tell them to come to the old warehouse by Midtown as soon as possible. That’s where Y/N, Duncan and all of his friends are! I’ll call you when this is over but just call the cops now!” Without giving Ned a chance to answer, I hung up, slipping the device back in my pocket. I turned back to the doors and braced myself for the outcome of all of this, only wanting Y/N to be okay and get out of here alive. 

I quickly found my way to what seemed to the main area of the building; The stench of garbage and fuel invaded my nostrils. The walls were covered in graffiti and there were cigarette butts everywhere. I did one last check behind me before averting my vision back to the crowd in front of me. I was sure everyone was here, perfect. My eyes trailed over every single crook that was standing on the stained, concrete floor, unaware, only to be met with Y/N, a terrified look plastered on her face. She was sitting down on a couch, Duncan beside her with a different gun from Mr. Delmar’s store, pressed snuggly up against her abdomen.

To my horror, just like the incident in the Deli, a bullet flew past my face, puncturing the big metal drum behind me. My head whipped around to examine the damage until I heard footsteps approaching me. I shot up from my squatting position and stood my ground. “Wow, you really delivered, didn’t you? Coming to save your girl? Well…” Duncan turned and gestured to his henchmen. They all began to slump forwards, coming right for me; Cracking knuckles, punching palms, twirling guns. “You’re gonna have to get through all these tough sons of bitches to get to yours.” he cackled, turning on his heel and walking back towards Y/N. Her eyes were locked onto the bulky lenses of my mask, mentally telling me to be careful. That was it.

Without a warning, one of the henchmen lunged towards me; I dodged quickly and he ran into two of the other crooks. Some of them set their guns but I quickly webbed them up. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to bring a gun to a fist fight?” I taunted, encasing the weapons and webbing them to the ceiling, way out of reach. Eight of them ran towards me at once, all ready to throw punches. I ducked, swung, kicked, dodged, flipped, webbed, swung, taunted, kicked, and webbed; I was satisfied with my little system. Alright, ten down, five more to go. Three of them drew knives from their belts while the other two settled on using their fists. “Really guys? Those tiny plastic forks you’ve got are no match for my…” I blasted three of them in the face, skewing their vision heavily. They walked aimlessly around, bumping into each other. My Spidey sense tingled, the two others were right behind me. I quickly flipped in the air, grabbing ahold of the top of their heads and smashing them together, knocking them out cold. The rest of them that weren’t trapped anywhere were webbed down to the closest surface. I looked around, admiring my work until something blunt came and hit the back of my head, juggling my brain and I’m pretty sure, giving me a minor concussion.

I collapsed, the aches from my last encounter with a hard floor still fresh and not the least bit healed. I raised my head to see Duncan standing over me with a rotting plank of wood. He threw it to the side carelessly, before coming up and booting me in the stomach. I hunched forward and shrieked in sizzling pain. 

“Well, this is it, you idiot. Why would you waste time trying to save that little slut, huh? She doesn’t think I know that she used me. Man, you have a bad taste in woman. Unfortunately for her…” he trailed off, raising his gun, pointing it directly to my head. “…nothing slips past me.” 

BANG! 

I had my eyes squeezed shut, only to hear something fall to the floor in a loud thud. I slowly opened my eyes to drink in my surroundings. Y/N stood before me, hovering over Duncan’s now unconscious body. She held a plank in her hands, identical to the one Duncan used on me. Y/N dropped to her knees, letting go of the wood, tears running wildly down her face but smiling. “Peter! You did it! You saved me!” She pulled me into her, being mindful of my head. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you, Peter. I swear I do and I’m so, so sorry I did something as stupid as try to make you jealous. Duncan isn’t worth jack shit. You’re nothing like him, you’re perfect.” she concluded.

“Hey, look at me.” I whispered before pushing her away a little but still holding my grip on her arms. “You’re safe. Everything is gonna be okay. I’m here, Y/N. You’ll never have to see him again, not after today. I love you, I’m here. I love you, Y/N. I’ll never let anything happen to you.” I pulled her back into me and rocked her back and forth. After about a minute, Y/N pulled away from me and tugged my mask off, and she wasted no time in pressing her lips against mine. I was on cloud nine; She was so sweet. The feel of her soft, plump lips was something I could definitely not part with, ever. “C’mon, beautiful. Let’s get you home.” I said, tucking her into my side, her arms instinctively wrapping around my torso as we both stood up.

I quickly webbed Duncan up to a metal beam in the middle of the room, he was not waking up any time soon. Y/N and I limped out of the building and back onto the roof. She kissed me one last time before handing me back my mask. I slipped it over my face, before snaking my right arm around her waist. She took hold of my sides, locking her arms into place as I hopped off the edge of the warehouse. We swung swiftly through the air. Y/N’s grip on me had my heart racing, I’ve never felt so high. Knowing now that she had feelings for me from the very start made me feel the upmost happiness I’ve ever felt. I loved her and she loved me, it was perfect. With her, I felt at home; She was my home. 

A while later, our feet came in contact with the Earth again. A hero never breaks his promises. “Where are we?” Y/N squeaked. “I had to make a pit stop.” I replied as I knocked on the door, placed the bag on the step before scooping Y/N back up and swinging into the night. 

Mr. Delmar opened the door, confusion twisting up his features. He stuck his head out of the door frame and looked around; No one was in eye sight. He took a step out, his feet colliding with something soft. He dropped his head down and was taken aback when he saw a duffel bag with a note attached to it. Hesitantly, Mr. Delmar kneeled and slid the zipper down, his eyes meeting with the sight of the money that was stolen from him earlier that day. He smiled brightly, bursting with happiness and thankfulness. Mr. Delmar picked up the note that had fallen onto the pavement and read out loud:

“I promised I’d bring back your money, didn’t I? There’s an extra thirty in there for the Halloween mask, the snacks, the bug spray and the busted jug of milk. You will be hearing from Tony Stark soon in regards to fixing up the condition of your store. Thanks for the great sandwiches.

Courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man”

this is not my best writing and i’m really sorry about that. i’ve been having some major writers block lately but i really wanted to get these requests filled. it’s going on 2am right now, i hope you all like this one :)

[peaky-yamyam]

Fighting Fit - John Shelby

Can I get a #26 with John Shelby? Also I love your writing!!

“You’re holding back.”

Part Two | Part Three

The blood, screams and death I had prepared myself for, etched into memory every image from every medical textbook I could find before I even volunteered to be sent to the front. What I hadn’t prepared myself for was the cold. Even in the makeshift hospital with fires burning in every available space, the cold seems to seep through the brickwork and into your bones.

I remember my trip to Paris as a child being almost unbearable hot, copious amounts of ice-cream from the street vendors the only way to keep cool. Although now it seems almost wishful thinking, my memory tinted through the sheets of ice that cover the ground in front of me. The veteran nurses have explained that this is the coldest winter yet, that the men in the trenches, unable to light fires for fear of being spotted, are killing themselves because of the unbearable cold. Heartbreaking, but as I take a final drag from my cigarette clasped in fingers that shake so violently I’m surprised I even get it to my mouth, I understand.

Another thing I hadn’t prepared for, couldn’t, was when the men lost hope. It’s easy to treat a patient who wants to get better, who can see a way past their broken bones and can summon to will to fight infections, because they want to be out of bed. But when the men are wheeled in here broken and wailing for it to end, treating them is impossible. Too many times I’ve watched as soldiers, young and old, lie looking at the ceiling of the hospital waiting for their lives to end. Willing it’s arrival, even.

But then there are the men that bring them round, their spirit and humour unbreakable despite the cold, the damp and the pain. The men whose sole aim seems to be bringing smiles to those around them. In the sea of broken faces there’s always one, and right now it’s John Shelby. Brought in a month ago with fairly superficial wounds compared to the disfigurements and amputations the rest of his regiment had been suffered with, he’d spent that past month trying to rally their spirits and keep them going.

My shoes seem to make deafening clacks as I hurry back to my ward, hoping to avoid the watchful eye of the Matron on duty.

“Cold out?” Nurse Margaret whispers as I shake off her cape I’d borrowed to help stifle off the cold.

“A little.”

“Nurse Juliette came looking for you, told her you had to go shit and she let up.”

I narrow my eyes and press my freezing hands to her cheeks as punimshment.

“Fuck off and do some work, you’re bastard freezing. I’ve saved the left half for you,” she says, gesturing the beds of sleeping men running the length of the room. “Just general checks.”

She goes back to reading whatever book it was she was engrossed in before my entrance and I warm my hands over the small fire before making my checks on the men. With the time it is and the crude apparatus we’re equipped with, its more about checking they’re still alive than anything and that bandages aren’t too bloody, but I make sure to check their temperatures and source a few more blankets for the men at the far end of the room where the fires heat fails to reach.

“Oi.”

I know whose hushed voice it is before I even turn. “Yes Mr Shelby?”

“Come here.”

“I’m busy. Are you in pain?”

“No…”

“Do you need assistance?”

“Umm, yeah. Why not.”

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath, although I don’t dread going over to his bedside. “I swear if you make some crude request-“

“Would I ever?” he says, holding a hand to his chest.

“Yes,” I hiss. “All the time.”

“Well it’s only because you’re my favourite.”

Over at his bedside I busy myself with the checks; temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and I fluff the pillows so he can sit up. “Well unfortunately I can’t say the same about you because I have rather taken a liking to Mr Walters over there.”

He smiles, one of his infectious smiles that lights his whole face, and shifts higher up the bed so I can perch by his feet. Not strictly allowed, but the rest of the men are asleep and it’s hardly like Margaret will care.

“Hmm, well I know that’s not true because I heard him shout at you that you nurses were only a step above barmaids, just here to make us feel a bit better,” he says.

“He soon changed his tune when he realised it was me who was in charge of his pain relief though didn’t he.”

“I bet…” John trails off, turning a little to get a better view out the window, not that it’s possible to see much through the dirt tinted glass. “What will you do after the war?”

The question surprises me, but what shocks me more is the sombre tone it’s spoken with - a tone that, before now, I couldn’t imagine ever leaving John’s mouth. “Excuse me?”

“When it’s all over, what will you do?”

“Probably carry on being a nurse, I don’t have much else to offer.”

“That’s a lie. You have plenty to offer. You’re clever and funny and beautiful, and you’ve got these magic hands,” he says, grabbing my wrist from the bed to hold by hand up.

“And you’ll go back to your wife won’t you John?” I say, brows raised and with a smirk.

He lets go of my wrist with a chuckle and reclines further back into his pillows. “You have to ruin everything don’t you?”

“I have to keep you in check, is what I do.”

“Just one time.”

“John…” I warn.

“Come on. I’m at full working order now, you’ll enjoy it, I promise.”

I can’t help but smile. He means no harm by it and if I didn’t know he spent his morphine induced hallucinations longing for his wife, I’d be tempted by his offer. In fact there’s been many a night lay in bed alone that my thoughts have turned to John Shelby; handsome, funny and kind, but I could never bring myself to act upon those desires.

“You’re very confident in yourself Mr Shelby.”

“You’re a tease you know that? You know what it does to me when you call me Mr Shelby in your posh voice.”

“Fine. You’re very confident in yourself John,” I correct, trying my best to imitate his Brummie accent.

“Well that was fucking shocking,” he teases. “But that’s besides the point, look.”

John tugs at the covers with his feet and I stand up, allowing him to free the leg that for the longest time I’d only seen bandaged and supported at the knee. But the bandage has gone and he bends it towards his chest before straightening it out into the air and back again.

“See, fighting fit now.”

His wording turns my stomach as I take in the rest of his appearance; his arms that too were once scattered with bandages are bare, pink lines the only trace of the wounds inflicted by shrapnel, his cheeks are pink and he’s clearly restless being stuck in bed all day. A sure sign he’s ready for the front again.

“The things I could now this knee is sorted. You wouldn’t believe it. I could have you in positions you didn’t even know existed love,” he jokes but I can’t bring myself to speak, and the playful smile fades from his face as he watches for my reaction. “Ahh come on, you’re holding back. Normally you’d be threatening my bollocks for a comment like that, what’s the matter.”

I point to his leg. “You’re fighting fit.”

“Yeah.”

“When the doctors make their rounds tomorrow you’ll be discharged and declared suitable to return to the front.”

“Yeah. Hey, maybe the regiment are in reserves and I can have a few more days holiday ey?”

“John…” I whisper, unconvinced by his forced joke.

He sighs and takes my hand in his, his fingers warm against mine. “It was always going to happen, I think I’ve pushed my luck with the cripple act as long as I can. It’s time for me to go back.”

It’s true, and I should be grateful that it’s another man back out fighting rather than being sent back to Blighty in a wheelchair or a box, but there always seems to be a certain hypocrisy in helping men get fit only to send them back into the eye of the storm where next time they might not be so lucky. My worry must read in clear in my knitted brow and he rubs his thumb across the back of my hand.

“Anyway, I’m John Shelby. The war can’t touch me.”

I scoff at his arrogance. “The war nearly blew your bloody leg off!”

“Didn’t though did it? I’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll be fine,” he says, releasing my hand and straightening out the sheets over his legs.

Despite his show of confidence, I’m not sure whether he’s trying to convince me or himself, but I see no point in arguing any further; he needs hope dished out to him as he does to others and I won’t be the one to take that away.

“Well you best not come back here because I won’t be impressed. I’ll be glad to have you and your vulgar remarks out of here,” I say, hoping the jestful tone isn’t lost through the tears that sting my eyes.

I turn my attention to the pillows behind him, leaning him forward with my shoulder despite knowing he’s fully capable himself and fluff them further down the bed. When he leans back he’s lying down and I urge him to get some sleep in a decent bed while he can.

“You know when I’m back out there I’m going to tell everyone I fucked a nurse. The prettiest one in the hospital,” he mumbles, his eyes closed but a barely contained smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

When the war is over all will be forgotten, I will become a distant memory, ‘that nurse from that time’ that will be locked away in the back of his head along with the rest of the war. In fact, I hope I am. I hope that the men who lie here recover and can return home unchanged to continue with their lives. That they’ll be able to look their wives and children in the eyes and joke with their friends while they work. The blind hope that John clings to, that he’ll return home unscathed, is the same hope I hold onto and as the cold wind whistles through every crack in the building, it’s a warm embrace that neither of us can relinquish.

“Sleep well John,” I reply, neatening my skirt and preparing myself to return to my duties.

[thehonoraryamerican]

America 2018: California!

So, as promised, here’s the first part of my writeup about my trip! I’ll stick mainly to highlights/funny stories/whatever crosses my mind first, so if you want to know anything else that I may not mention, feel free to ask!

The first stop on my whirlwind (pretty sure I passed through 22 states in eight weeks) USA trip was, as is usual for many Aussies travelling to the US, Los Angeles. We left Perth on the midnight flight to Melbourne, Tuesday April 10th, and connected with Qantas flight 93 to LA in Melbourne on Wednesday morning. This was a big moment for me as a plane nerd because QF93 is operated by one of Qantas’ Airbus A380s, and I had never flown on an A380 before. It’s one I’ve wanted to fly on since I was 10 years old, and now almost 12 years later, I’ve finally done it!

We landed in LA at 6:30am on Wednesday the 11th of April after a monstrous 14 hour slog across the Pacific. Naturally we were all exhausted and some of us were feeling a little unwell, but we had made it! The trip two years in the making was finally happening! Most of our first day was driving tours, and then we all crashed hard when we got to the hotel in mid afternoon.

The first major highlight from California was obviously Disneyland. Not only did we have five days to explore both Disneyland and California Adventure at our leisure, we also got to perform in the Fantasyland Theatre, do workshops with Disney teachers, and most amazing of all? We performed in the Disneyland parade to “Take on the World” from Girl Meets World. My studio was chosen to be third in line for the parade out of about 20 studios which was AMAZING. We were so thrilled. And I can’t even begin to describe how it felt to be part of that parade. Magical doesn’t even scrape the surface. Kids were dancing on the sidelines with us, and one little girl got excited when I caught her eye halfway down and smiled at her. I would absolutely go back to Disneyland JUST to do the parade again.

Another highlight of the trip was seeing Sharon (our studio owner) experiencing it all with us. She was so stressed and very skeptical about the whole thing before we left, and she had never travelled further than Singapore (5 hour flight from Perth). She’s 65 years old and I will never forget the look of wonder on her face when we walked into Disneyland again. She had such a wonderful time that she is taking another group in 2020.

California also included a day at Universal (another performance) and a day touring Hollywood and Santa Monica. Both of those days were massively outstripped by other parts of my trip so I’m not going to go into details there.

On the 19th of April, roughly half of our group flew out back for Australia, while the rest of us stayed on for our extended holidays, albeit all separately. I continued on with my friend Steph. We spent a weekend in Venice Beach, and we were due to fly to San Francisco on Monday. While in Venice Beach, I took a gamble and got an Uber down to Hermosa Beach. I say gamble because I had probably a 1 in 1000 chance of bumping into my favourite actress down there, and what do you know... I DID!

AJ was so friendly and so lovely, and SO excited to learn I was from Australia. She introduced me to her family and I spent about 5-10 minutes chatting with them. It was surreal. If I had had to pick just one person to meet while I was in the USA, it hands down would have been AJ. Being from Australia, I never actually thought I would get to meet her, but I did, and even now, nearly four months later, I still can’t believe it!

After this encounter, unfortunately, Steph took a turn for the worse. She’d been battling an upset stomach and an ear infection for the better part of a week, and on Sunday she decided to pack it in and fly back home, two months earlier than she was supposed to. So on Monday, I got my Uber to the airport on my own, and Steph went to stay with one of the other families from dancing who was still in LA until she could get a flight home.

In San Francisco, I very quickly found that this whole solo travel thing is super easy! I never once felt scared or lonely. People were more than happy to point me in the right direction, and as it turned out, one of the dancing girls was also there! So we had dinner together the first night. The second day, I met up with my cousin from Scotland (we coincidentally flew in on the same day, how nuts is that), and we did Muir Woods National Monument, which was so beautiful. Wednesday was SF tour and Alcatraz day. Alcatraz was pretty amazing, the stories were so eerie! And the tour was with this awesome guy who loved Aussies - lucky because the entire bus was full of us! He took us to see anything and everything we wanted.

My last day in San Francisco was my first online friendship meetup! I met up with a friend from Twitter, Sierra, who shares my love of Criminal Minds. She showed me around Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, and we got lunch. It was so awesome to finally spend time in person, and I’m glad she was happy to show me around!

Friday was flyout day for Toronto, Canada! If there’s a specific part of my trip you want me to write first, let me know, otherwise that will be it!

[plastic-daisyy]

This Is Not A Love Letter

Once upon a time, there was a girl, and she fell in love. She did not know how she fell in love, it was just sort of there one day and never really left. They would share inside jokes. As time progressed and they both grew, they grew to love each other, admitting it every so often at stupid hours in the morning.

That girl was me. But oh, how I wish I got my fairytale ending.

At the beginning of Year 11 - The Big Year. The year everybody had spent the past two of studying and preparing for our GCSE examinations in the summer. I was very passionate about my Textiles - I adored it. I made the most progress in late October - after a concert of my favourite artist. That concert is still what keeps me going.

I can vividly remember messaging you when he was about to appear on stage - my heart was beating so fast I feared I might die. This was when I believe things began to fall apart for me and you, Darling.

Several days later, you just stopped replying. When I found out the reason - you didn’t want to speak to me anymore because I always brought negativity - I was distraught. I didn’t even find this out from you - one of your friends told me. I called you a coward. I despised you. Yet I was so much happier and felt free for once - I enjoyed Christmas day with my family much more than I would have if I was still speaking to you. I was perkier, and I felt like everything was going right. But something still bugged me.

It was February 9th - a Friday. We started speaking again, and it was like falling in love all over again. All of those feelings of hatred turned into... something else. Right there. On the spot. In our brief face-to-face conversation, I nearly told you I had missed you. I could feel myself falling, but I didn’t quite know yet into what. After that, we spoke almost every day.

Then, one early April morning when I was on a London trip with my family, we were speaking late into the night over text. We were getting a little flirty, and you wanted me to be your girlfriend and make it official and so on. I didn’t want any of that. I felt obliged to say yes - but I didn’t want to. The next day you were sorry for feeling like you’d pressured me and so on. It was all well and good, until about a month later.

My family welcomed you with open arms into our home to celebrate my Sweet 16th. The evening went really well - we spent a lot of time just chatting. I remember I was wearing a red dress which now lies forgotten at the bottom of my wardrobe. At one point, I brought up that night in April, and you denied any of it had happened. I didn’t know what to think or what to do. Maybe you had completely forgotten about it. But I didn’t. Instead, I now have to carry it around with me like a medal. At this point in the night, I wanted nothing more than for this night to come to an end. This is where things started to go downhill, even more so than they were before.

June flashed before my eyes. My days were juggled between work, studying and focusing on my Media, which I was also very passionate about. The 4th turned into the 15th - everybody’s final exam. Ten weeks is a very long time to be off school for. A few days later was our Leaver’s Assembly, and some pupils received awards. I received one for my passion for Textiles. You received an ‘in honour of’ award for your work in Engineering. I didn’t even know you loved the subject that much. Maybe you did. This raised a Big Red Flag of Second Thoughts and Unfamiliarity.

In early July, in the handful of days leading up to our Year 11 Prom, I went to Manchester with my sister, her friend and boyfriend. It was a lovely time, and lots of fun was had. On one particularly hot day, I got very annoyed and asked if I could vent to you. Several paragraphs were sent about feeling ignored and unwanted and a burden to my sister and co. in Manchester. Your replies? Half-assed and all consisting of less than around 20 words collectively. Yes, I understand you were going through shit (and also watching Game of Thrones for the first time) but if anything, the knowledge you were paying more attention to a fictional TV show (which contains lots of blood, which you evidently don’t like) than somebody who has loved you for longer than she can remember was appalling. Call me clingy, but who else close to my heart could I turn to?

At Prom, I had had enough. My big night - my Cinderella moment, quite literally - was all ruined by you. My mother wanted a picture of the pair of us at the school, so I texted you and asked politely if you might consider coming outside. Eventually you did, and we chatted for a bit. Then my friend pulled me aside, as I was getting my picture taken with people whom I now know to be my real and true friends. Out of the corner of my eye, I see your charming blue suit wandering back inside. I’ve never felt betrayal like it. During the evening, at the actual prom venue, I felt as though you didn’t want to acknowledge my existence. I have never felt more undervalued and unwanted in my 16 years of being on this Earth. That night was the point where I realised - “What’s the point of being in love if they don’t even want to know you?” I didn’t even know it was possible to fall out of love.

.

Two weeks after this, as I am writing this at present, I have never felt so alive. The sun seems to be shining brighter, food tastes better, and life seems easier. I am so much more confident in myself and my friends, and in those two weeks I have seen many great and wonderful things. My big sister graduated, I went on an almost magical holiday, and I finally realised what I want to do when I grow up. 

In one of my favourite films, a girl called Sophie tells her magician lover that “A heart’s a heavy burden”. They really are, and more so when they are broken. To quote another favourite film of mine, a man called Christian says “Thank you for curing me of my ridiculous obsession with Love”. Love does not equal success, or happiness. Coco Chanel achieved great things without love. She had loved once, but “in Capel, she lost everything.” I feel that may just be the way with you, Darling.

Without you in my life, I am maturing and becoming more and more confident. I’m growing up, and becoming exactly the woman I want to be.