#just had to close my eyes remembering they're technically the same person and not different characters

[bugoutreviewgirlie]

not to tussle, but I actually really love evil!Marinette's style transformation by the end of the Paris special. She wanted to become just like the Ladybug from the idealized world, so of course she'd try to emulate the "better" Ladybug as much as possible. The slight changes to the suit are nice and subtle, and the red streak in her bangs look fantastic. The animation really carries because I think redeemed Marinette looks absolutely gorgeous.

[pttucker]

⸢And everyone lived happily ever after.⸥ I always hated that phrase. However, the current me dearly wished for that phrase to become true. [Constellation, 'Demon King of Salvation' has reached his ■■.] [You have become the 'Oldest Dream'.] The disappearing lights in the distance resembled the Constellations that still remembered me. And with that, my endless voyage got underway. [Your ■■ is 'Eternity'.]

I was this close to making a reaction post about the supposed "miracle" that happened and why the worldline wasn't collapsing despite Oldest Dream no longer dreaming.

I mean, I was certain it was because Dokja was maintaining the dream and maybe he himself hadn't realized it yet, what with him literally being Oldest Dream. Guess he had one final trick up his sleeve.

I will say that I'm super amused that my theory of him being an avatar and not knowing it was apparently 100% correct but in a manner I completely did not expect. If I have to pick, I wanna say that the moment he chose to break himself apart was right here:

That left only three people behind. "Kim Dokja." It was unknown who among Han Sooyoung and Yoo Joonghyuk called that name out first. The former asked with a questioning pair of eyes. "We are getting off together, right?" [Someone has activated 'Lie Detection Lv… '] That prompted Kim Dokja to smirk softly. "Of course. We should." ['Lie Detection' has confirmed 'Kim Dokja's' words as truth.] "Let's go."

Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. Dokja scheming until the very last second. Sacrificing himself for his companions One. Last. Time.

Though not as much of a sacrifice as before; he'll still get to "read" about them just like he loves and technically he will also get to live with everybody in a big house just like he wanted. So while part of me is clenching my heart, it's overall a happy ending.

And I looooove that we've circled back to Dokja's ■■ and why it has both the meaning of Eternity and Final Chapter.

I'll admit that I'm still a little fuzzy on what exactly happened with Secretive Plotter, the 999ths and Oldest Dream. I guess they reached the epilogue of their stories and this is the epilogue of Dokja's story? So now they're off in an entirely different worldline once again?

And it seems we have 34 chapters of epilogues to go through now! As well as ongoing side stories! The latter of which I still need to figure out if anyone is currently translating into English.

I'll admit when I heard that ORV had ongoing side stories I wasn't certain what exactly they'd be about but it appears we've still got a lot to wrap up even after the happy ending and you can't tell me that at least in one future side story (or maybe one of these epilogues) Dokja doesn't meet himself again or at least realize that he's missing half his memories.

...Or perhaps his companions will realize something fishy is going on, what with living right beside him and Dokja not remembering a whole 50% of his life. Hmmm.

A tale of this new world continued to flow on. But then, just as the subway's doors closed, Han Sooyoung looked behind her with a slightly unsure, hard-to-read face of someone that left something behind. Even Yoo Joonghyuk looked back, too. The only person who didn't was Kim Dokja. Han Sooyoung and Yoo Joonghyuk's gazes ran into each other, and they began growling at the same time. "What you looking at?!" "I should ask you that, you basta…"

Well, if nothing else, I do dearly wish to see more of these three idiots together. I love that both of them refused to get off the train until they were certain Dokja was coming with them and they both seemed to sense that they'd just lost something.

And I do wonder how exactly the world is going to go on after all of this mess and if they really will try to take Joonghyuk's sword from him. (Not a good idea.)

I mean, they seem to still have all of their abilities and stats? I think? So they're just supposed to live in normal, modern day Korea as if nothing happened while having superpowers??? And I assume most of the world's population is gone unless that was miraculously rewritten.

Or...???

Guess I'll find out.

[dema-heart]

☆♡☆♡☆♡Dream boy♡☆♡☆♡☆♡

Hobie x gn reader

Just a lil blurb thing not a whole story technically

Hobie calls you starlet or little star. I just loved the nickname starlet or anything star related when writing this.

Not edited I wrote this in between customers at work so sorry for any errors I'll edit later!

Random spider person: So what are you two?

You: Nothing! I don't even know him!?

Hobie at the same time: I'm the man of their dreams *winks as his arm comes around your shoulder*

You: NO you're not get off me! *huffing as you throw his arm off and he laughs* I keep telling you just beacuse I'm dreaming and you keep showing up doesn't mean you're the "man of my dreams" *rolling your eyes as he looks at you with that sexy ass smirk and that cute, playful glint in his eyes*

Hobie: Mhm I'll believe it...when you stop popping up in front of me during your so called "dreams" *his goofy boy next door smile definitely doesn't have you grining back as you shove at him*

You: I don't! For some reason, every time I dream up this spider people filled clubhouse, you come yelling my name and following me around trying to sweet talk me. *your eyes narrow at him but your smile doesn't fall 'man does your brain know how to pick em'*

Hobie: *smile faltering as a portal the color of purple sunsets opens up behind you* Time to go.... *his hands pull you to him by your waist before coming to rest on your cheeks, making you look at him. longing and sadness in his eyes as he gives you a sad smile* try to remember me this time,yeah?

You: of course how could i forget "the man of my dreams" *your eyes search his not sure why the mood of your dream had turned somber like this. Your hands on his hips as he refuses to let go of you*

Hobie: *gives a sad chuckle* Whatever you say,doll. I'll make you love me all over again next time, regardless. Goodbye,starlet *He kisses your forehead as your eyes close the portal pulling you in*

You: *wakes up to the sound of your alarm going off. Head pounding, chest rising and falling heavily with your uneven breaths, and heart hurting. You squeeze your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. All you remember were gentle hands and.... 'goodbye, starlet' another pang to the head as the affectionate words and glitchy images came rolling through. You groan rolling over to grab your water bottle and dream journal hopeful that writing what little of the dream you remembered down would ease the ache*

You: Starlet, huh... *you whispered into the empty room touching your face expecting to feel hands holding your cheeks...not sure why..before shaking your head and getting ready for the day.* These dreams are getting out of hand.

This is based off a story I was working on but haven't finished (it was gonna be long ;^; and it was just for me so i slacked). Basically I came up with the whole idea of being a different worlds "M.J." (the characters name starts with a J and in the story everyone calls her M.J. aka Ms.jay as she's a nurse at her old high-school). She's best friends/roomates with her worlds Peter Parker (doesn't know he's spider man but jokingly calls him spidey cause hes always acting all heroic and getting himself hurt even tho he's a clumsy nerd *nudge nudge* ). He recently saved her from doc ock but something went wrong during the rescue and she's been mutiverse jumping in her sleep but doesn't know it and always ends up in the spider society beacuse that's where her Peter,the person she feels safest with (for now) aka her anchor is. There's no love between Peter and M.j beacuse they're basically family and he has Gwen that they're both also best friends with.

[childotkw]

So I’m assuming this will be addressed in Fractured Hearts but are Riddles followers aware of how deep the relationship is (besides Barty)? I’m assuming not but I’d be interested to see how many of them react to it besides that little snippet you gave us awhile ago of Bellatrix, Snape, and Lucius. Not just them but others as well seeing how anytime a relationship between them has been mentioned or suggested (at the top of my head I believe those times have been Sirius and Tonks when Hadrian spat back at Dumbledore about Riddle wanting to Fuck him, Riddle telling Lily that Hadrian in his bed looked splendid, Pettigrew mentioning the age difference, and the Lady when she was told they had fucked) it’s met with revulsion one because Riddles a Dark Lord and two because Hadrian is still a minor , the minor thing especially because I think many people disregard there even being a relationship because of the age gap and then are disgusted that it’s even a thing when they find out, also because peoples versions of what the Dark lord looks like varies in who you talk to so the general public might think of Riddle as his Voldemort persona if it ever gets out. I think it’ll be really fun when Hadrian is older in Fractured Hearts and rumors surface at some point of him “Fraternizing with a dark lord” as Riddle put it, when he was younger and it affecting his standing in the French political world. I’d be interested if when people do find out whether they think Hadrian was fucking Tom Riddle the professor (which, yikes favoritism), the Dark Lord, or what he actually looks like or alternatively the secret of them all being the same person and Riddle looking completely different to the first two surfaces. I’m assuming there’s going to be a lot of pity for Hadrian from those who don’t know him about it being a possible grooming situation if people thing it’s Riddle the professor. Also side bar, is Erebus the vampire that nodded to Hadrian in chapter 35 as he was getting ingredients for the doppelgänger spell to save Lily? Take as much time as you need for the chapter I’ll wait a million months if they keep coming out with the quality they have been. Have a good night/day <3

It will be explored!

You're right in that most of them haven't a clue. They might suspect that Voldemort is interested in Hadrian, but they think it's purely a recruitment thing to gain a foothold in France.

The only ones that know are Lucius, Barty, Narcissa and Bellatrix. They've been up close and personal to many of the story's events and have put it together - Barty has outright caught them making out, so he definitely knows what's up.

The general vibe from the Death Eaters not already aware would be either: confusion, jealousy, disgust or acceptance. Confusion because Voldemort's never really had a partner before, jealousy because they want it to be them, disgust because Hadrian's a 'muggleborn' in their eyes and not worthy, or acceptance because they're sycophants and Voldemort can do no wrong so Hadrian as his partner is just something they fold into their world-view.

The revulsion many people have when reacting to Hadrian and Riddle being together is less to do with the age thing (remember, Hadrian is seventeen so in the HP world he's technically an adult, regardless of IRL standards), and more to do with just how morally dubious it seems to an outsider.

There's the power imbalance most immediately find suspicious and think Hadrian's being coerced / blackmailed / forced (which is where the worry about the age gap issue connects into). There's the fact that Voldemort murdered his father and forced Lily and him to be on the run and live in fear. And there's the inherent assumption that Voldemort = evil, Hadrian = good, so therefore they shouldn't be allowed to be together least Hadrian be 'corrupted'.

But you're right in that if their relationship became public in Fractured Hearts, it would absolutely tank Hadrian's reputation in his home country. There'd be whispers that he's a puppet for Voldemort, there'd be a lot of concern over any policies he introduced and if they even somewhat reflected Voldemort's agenda. Corruption allegations would run rampant, and there'd probably be calls for an investigation / inquiry into their past with each other.

A lot of secrets would come to light - not least being the whole Harry Potter thing, which would explode into an even bigger mess for everyone. There'd definitely be a sect of people who would be very worried over Hadrian himself, and what being 'in a relationship' with Riddle while he was seventeen could have done to him, mentally, emotionally and physically. Which Hadrian would hate - the pity, the coddling, the taking away of his agency...it would be a nightmare for him to deal with having such private aspects of his life blasted across the global news and having to deal with everyone's opinion.

Basically, it'd be a total clusterfuck (pardon my language).

And yes, Erebus was the vampire that nodded at Hadrian! He's a sneaky-sneak.

[yayforocs]

Day 7- Personality

i hadn't actually posted this yet and i realized this would work pretty well for today's prompt :V

this is a lil drabble i wrote out to kinda feel out the twins' characters after i drew em :0 so it technically fits the prompt i think!

anyway here's the twins \o/

---

Not that one.

Not that one.

That one might be worth it. He clicked it open in a new tab and then kept scrolling.

Not that one.

That one looked good, but was way too far of a commute, unless he didn't actually go back home after graduation and moved closer to the job. By himself.

Not that one.

Not that-

Russ didn't react as his door was abruptly burst open, knowing full well by the loud steps that it was his sister- who promptly slammed her phone down on the desk by his laptop.

He glanced over at it, screen dark. He looked up at her.

"Ok...?"

"I got-" Her eyes then darted down to her phone screen, and she jerked it back up. "Wait holdon I accidentally-" A second later she put it back down, albeit a little gentler, and holding it differently so as to not turn the screen off again. "I found something!"

Now when he looked at it, he saw what he was meant to see: a listing of available positions at the old Freddy's back home. He raised an eyebrow but didn't ask anything until he read over all of it.

Zoe beat him to it, anyway. "There's an opening for a technician and they're even offering training. There's also a couple other spots- one's a cook, which I guess I could do, but I'd much rather be a cast member, which is also available. Look, we can both go and do something together! Sort of! Might have different shifts, assuming we both get hired, but it'd be the same place. I don't think it'd be hard to get in, though, fresh graduates and all," she finished, inclining her head in an intentional look.

He stared at it for a few seconds more before giving in. "Alright, send me the link," he sighed, pulling up his messenger app. Her phone was back in her hands for barely two seconds before the notification popped up, and he clicked on it.

"Cool, if you're good with that I'll go send in mine, too." And as quickly as she came, Zoe left.

Russ pushed his mouth to one side as he re-read the information. Awfully convenient, if he had to be honest, but it was at Freddy's. ...Granted, last he'd heard anything of it, it was under new management and going well, or at least well enough. This opening though was specifically for upkeep of the big stuff- not just arcade games, but the lights and sound of the whole place, as well as... the infamous animatronic performers. He grew up there, he and Zoe went to Freddy's as kids, and he remembered liking it well enough, but then he got older and learned about all the stories and rumors and possibly/probably very real tragedies that happened there. Or if not there, at least in the franchise's history.

He opened a new tab, and searched up the place by itself. There was the first result, with all the business information- open hours and such- and reviews. He clicked. Three and a half star average, decent amount of reviews. He scrolled. Mother whose kids loved the place, babysitter who commented on how clean it was, someone upset that they didn't get a refund on pizza they decided they didn't want after eating half of, another mom that said she felt her kids were safe there- a bit of an on-the-nose review, considering, but it worked- a dad whose girls loved Foxy, and someone that praised a Mr. Schmidt. He supposed that was the new management. The reviews continued similarly. So mostly good, as the average said. Lots of blank reviews, but the ones that were written in provided what he was looking for.

He closed the tab and pulled up his resumé.

---

Across the hall and a door down, Zoe had already submitted hers and posted a motion-blurred picture of her laptop screen on her social media's stories tab, captioned "Just sent off my first job applications!!!" with several emojis accompanying, including some crossed fingers and prayer hands. There was a whole batch she'd sent out, but only the Freddy's one was something that'd actually keep the twins together, and bad history or not, she wanted that one to be the one that worked out the most.

Her phone dinged with a reply to her story.

< Did you do it? 👀

She laughed to herself.

Yeah girl ofc!! A jobs a job n I intend to get paid 👀 > < Wym a jobs a job????? Don't die over a dare pls I do not trust that place worth anything That was all years ago, doesn't matter. Besides have u seen the guy running it now 👀👌 > < Ong do not 💀💀💀 he'll sic the robots on u and you'll deserve it Nah he won't. Rusty'll get em to like me n then they won't do anything > < You covince him?? < Convinced Yeah I didn't even need to really he just took it, so fingers crossed for the both of us🤞🤞🤞 > Covince > < Shut up I corrected it :) > Fr tho nah idc bout him he's prolly like forty or smth I'm not abt that > < I thought you meant Russ at first 🤣 I > Am not going to comment on that > < And then I read the rest of it chill out!!! Do I even wanna know what u thought before u read the rest of it or no > < I thought you were calling him old idk!!!! < Anyway unimportant < If u get it u gotta give me updates I already told you I'm not actually interested in him > < Stoppppp :) > Lol yeah I'll let you know 🤞 > < Gl!!! 🤞

The online indicator grayed out, and she locked her phone screen. After a moment, her eyes wandered to the calendar pinned on the wall. Two weeks. In two weeks, they could be back home, with fancy bachelor's degrees that could mean nothing or everything, doing who-knows-what. Looking for apartments, probably. But they'd need a job for that, first. Proof of income and all.

She looked back over the twenty still-open tabs of sent applications, and crossed her fingers.

[ffxivbabey]

Tempest

Veronyka has a dilemma.

Major Dawntrail spoilers ahead!

Veronyka almost felt like she could breathe again when she reached the hideout. Almost. In truth, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, her heart a tempest of emotions. Lyse was alive, yes, and she could reunite with her, yes, but... but it had been so long, thirty years if her count was correct (and even if it wasn't, Cahciua's was always correct, and the mortals who resided with them), and so much had changed and happened since then, heck, she had changed, she wasn't even mortal anymore, this wasn't her body, and...

A small floating device thumped against Veronyka's chest, stilling her pacing, and she looked down to see digital white eyes staring up at her from a square 'face'.

"Girl, you have been pacing back and forth like a couerl since you got back here," said Cahciua. "What's up?" Veronyka paused, her tail lashing behind her. Breathed in. Spoke, the words coming out in a rush.

"Lyse and my friends showed up and they're all completely unchanged like I just met them yesterday and they don't know that I'm technically dead and I don't know how to tell them either and my babies are apparently still babies but I know that I can't leave because the portal's influence won't reach beyond the dome remember how I started to fade when I got close to the edge and-"

"Shh, one thing at  time," said Cahciua, pressing a little hand against Veronyka's lips. "So your wife is here? In the storm?"

"Uh huh," said Veronyka. "And now I feel bad for moving on with you."

"Now, now, you didn't know that she was still out there, you had no way of knowing," said Cahciua. "I do think that you should tell her though, I'm sure she'll understand."

"Yes she'll understand but that's just how Lyse is!" said Veronyka, throwing her hands in the air. "She's okay with everything because she loves me so much and I... I..." She trailed off, her heart aching, lower lip quivering, tears pooling in her eyes. "How do I tell her that her wife as she knew her is gone? That I'm just... memories of the person I was?"

"The same way I'll have to tell my son eventually," said Cahciua. "He's here too, I saw him with my own eyes." The face on the screen grinned, the bot twirling around, but Veronyka could hear the emotion in her voice. "I don't think I can tell him, honestly."

"Erenville's smart, he'll figure it out, figure you out," said Veronyka. "My friends are smart too, they'll know something's up."

"Only your friends?" Cahciua asked. "Wouldn't your wife know you better than anyone? I feel like I do."

"No," said Veronyka, shaking her head. "Lyse isn't... I love her but even she will say that it was her sister who was the smart one, not her. She'll notice that I'm different, but she won't guess at the truth."

"Until they ask someone about you," said Cahciua. Veronyka froze, tail lashing behind her.

"Fuck," said Veronyka, raking her hands through her hair. "What am I going to do?"

"Spend time with them," said Cahciua. "Unlike me, you're not a wanted fugitive, you're actually very close with the queen, remember?" Veronyka hummed, nodding.

"Yeah," said Veronyka. "Yeah, okay, I'll... try to act like everything's normal and if everything does come out, it's for the best."

"Good luck," said Cahciua, and her little hands patted Veronyka's back as her face pressed against her chest in a hug that Veronyka gladly returned.

"Thank you," said Veronyka, and straightened up, sniffling. "Well, nothing for it I guess. Time to head back out into the storm."

[cirusthecitrus]

From what we saw in the s4 finale, for Prime to be able to just read a disconnected clone's mind he needs to touch them or at least be in a close range with him. Which means that there's no way he can use the hive or his abilities to track a disconnected clone down, so if he really needed to get a rogue clone back, he'd probably use regular methods and simply send his drones and other clones to hunt him down. Oh, what if clone brothers are able to recognize one another by scent and for that they could be used as hounds? 🤔

There was something about the Mystery Woods being considered a very dangerous place among the Horde members, right? Perhaps even if Hordak did try to follow the signals he might've had an unfortunate encounter with the Light Hope who didnt want him there for one reason or another. If i remember correctly she was pretty hostile towards anyone who wasn't She Ra. Btw, same here, would be interesting to read about these two interacting! I wonder if there's already a story like this

An average clone possess a lifespan of an iphone, actually 😂

Omg i'm still obsessed with that storyboard, like Wrong Hordak, honey, what did you do??? I'm so upset that this detail was either forgotten about or scrapped down, because it'd make him a much more intriguing and serious character. Either WH always had a rebellious spirit, or he was deemed defected for a small mistake or a sign of "imperfection", just like Hordak. In any case, there's a STORY here

And yeah, just from looking at how many pods there were in that one room, reprogramming might've been a common accurance. Which is... interesting, to say the least. And I wonder what makes a clone worthy of reprogramming in Prime's eyes, since it's not a "every soldier counts" situation in the Galactic Horde, he can just kill anyone who inconveniences him and replace them within seconds. So was Wrong Hordak, in any way, special? 👀

Wait really?gfgpdpgofp so cool to know that this idea is actually utulized in fanfiction c:

I headcanon that most of the time the clones can only passively hear the thoughts of those near them, but if they get far away from the others the voices quiet down. But, for example, when they're given instuctions/a mission or something sudden happens or Prime contacts them through the hive its like an emergency call - they can never miss it. Again, its just like different voice channels, some can be muted, some cannot, some are only used when a clone requires certain information

Prime was acting so off in that scene, actually. No way Hordak could hide his thoughts so well, considered how strongy he felt in those moments, it must've been an explosion of emotions and thoughts in his head. So, Prime might in fact mute the hive at that time. Cause he didnt even contacted Hordak via hivemind, he literally made all that way to find and approach Hordak himself and give him his orders, which was quite strange

Or Prime did read Hordak's thoughts, but didnt want to bring it up for some reason, maybe to give Hordak a false hope and then use it against him some time later. I also personally headcanon that Prime was stressed and conflicted when he had to search through his past memories, for reasons might or might not related to my AU 🤭 and thus he was too overwhelmed to care for Hordak and his thoughts in that moment

Wait nooo, so if Hordak was technically the reason why the new clones were created in the first place, he's going to be hit with sooo much guilt (among other things) once he regains his memories :(

Oh, interesting idea with Hordak actually learning from Prime and using the skills his brother taught him on Etheria (and maybe also using them to fight against Prime?) i like it

God, when you said Hordak couldn't approach them through the hivemind so they wont be able to hear his rebellious ideas my mind immidiately drew an image of a person who got their tongue cut off for saying too much. But in their case, I guess, its more like these drone-clones were made deaf and mute so no blasphemous thought could ever reach or escape their minds. Horrible, absolutely horrible

I was chatting about Hordak's flashback with a few people, and my observation was drawn to Prime's hairdo. It's similar to Hordak's and flaunts no cables.

If one relies on Hordak's memories being correct, the style and structure of the Horde really did change during his absence. Prime furthermore might have appeared something akin to this around the time of his banishment. Another pencil sketch, as I haven't had the opportunity to draw digitally for a couple of weeks.

I don't know what to think about mohawk!Prime yet. 😂

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

COSMIC - S1:E2; Chapter Two, The Weirdo On Maple Street - [Pt. 2]

A Will Byers x Male!Reader Series

𝘠/𝘯, 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴, 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯.

|| 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ||

Lucas, Dustin and I take our seats once we get to class.

"Oh, that can't be good." I sigh, gesturing to Mike's empty seat.

"Yeah, he's never this late," Dustin added.

"I'm telling you, his stupid plan failed," Lucas stated.

"I thought you liked his plan?"

"Yeah, but obviously it's stupid, or he'd be here."

"If his mom found out a girl spent the night—" Dustin began.

"He's in deep shit right about now."

Dustin shifted in his seat, and leaned forward, whispering loud enough for us to hear. "Hey, what if she slept naked?"

"Ugh!" My face screws into a sour, disgusted look aimed at my brother, unintentionally speaking at the same time as Lucas. "Why would she do that, Dustin?"

"Oh, my God, she didn't."

"Oh, if Mrs. Wheeler tells our parents..."

The thought of Mom finding out was enough to elicit an anxious groan from me, and I let my forehead fall against desk where I buried my face.

"No way. Mike would never rat us out."

I hesitantly looked up, making eye contact with Lucas. He gave me a reassuring smile, knowing I worry easily.

"I don't know." Dustin said warily.

"All that matters is, after school, the freak will be back in the loony bin, and we can focus on what really matters, finding Will." I frown at his specific choice of words for El, thinking back on how scared she seemed last night. I desperately want to say something, but decided against it, not wanting to get in a fight. Fighting won't get us any closer to finding Will.

|| 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ||

Mike Wheeler rides his bike down the small slope of grass towards his front yard. When El refused to let Mike's mom know she was there, Mike had no choice but to resort to plan b. He had led his mom to believe that he had ridden to school when in reality he had stopped around the corner until both his parents were gone.

When he got to the driveway, he dismounted his bike and led it into the garage, however something caught his eye. He stared in awe as the once withered and frankly the most miserable looking plant he had ever seen in his life, was now a beautiful lush green and stood as tall his knees. 'How had Y/n done it?'

It took a solid moment for Mike to gather his thoughts and focus on the task at hand. He parked his bike and made his way inside.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"You want anything to drink?" Mike decided to take advantage of the empty house so that he could show El around. "We have OJ, skim milk... What else? Um, we have..."

Mike trailed off when he saw that El was more fascinated with the things in his living room, mostly his TV set.

"Oh, this is my living room. It's mostly just for watching TV."

El lightly traced her fingers around the frame of the TV as she examined it.

"Nice, right? It's a 22-inch.

That's, like, ten times bigger than Dustin's."

El turned her head and said quietly.

"Y/n."

"Well, yeah of course. Y/n too."

"Y/n. Brother?" She asked, making sure she remembered correctly.

"Yeah!" Mike smiled, then lightly shrugged. "Well, technically adopted. But yeah, they're still brothers."

El's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Ad-adopted?"

"Yeah, um, it means that he came from different parents. Mrs. Henderson adopted him because his parents were unable to take care of him. It's funny actually, Y/n is from Hawkins. Or at least that's where they found him. They didn't used to live in Hawkins; I don't know much about it cause Dustin was so young he doesn't remember any of it, but I think him and his mom were visiting family here and they just... found him, I think? I'm pretty sure that's why they moved here, or something."

El seemed to understand as she thought about it. She then turned to look at the all the pictures on top of the fireplace. She slowly walks to the fireplace and steps up onto the brick platform. She gazes at all the family photos. Particularly, the photo beside the one of Mike; of a smiling girl, a little older than herself, with long brown hair and a pink sweater.

She smiles longingly and speaks in a soft voice. "Pretty."

"I guess." Mike's face is contorted in confusion and a little in disgust.

"That's my sister Nancy. And that's baby Holly." He said as she moved to the slightly larger photo of a young baby. She then moved along to a photo with Mike, Nancy, and Holly, along with two other people she didn't recognize.

"And those are my parents. What are your parents like?" As usual, El says nothing and she steps down from the fireplace and walks up to a large green chair.

"Do they live close?" Mike continued. He notices El run her hand along the top of the plush green chair. "That's our La-Z-Boy. It's where my dad sleeps. You can try it if you want." He offers. El looked up at him, intrigued. "Yeah." He assured her, with a warm smile on his face. She cautiously sits down as Mike kneels down beside the chair. "It's fun!"

She looked to Mike, wondering what he is up to.

"Just trust me, okay?" She gives a quick nod, and braces herself, not knowing what to expect. She is taken aback by the sudden collapse of the chair, she is now laying down and the chair is rocking back and forth. She lets out a gasp, and then a nervous chuckle.

"See? Fun, right?"

With one hand on the back of the chair, and the other on the front, he brings the chair back into its default position. "Now you try."

With a small smile on her face, and feeling more confident she leans over the side and pulls the handle, letting her entire body go flying backward into a slow rock. Mike and El both look at each other and laugh gleefully.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Some random rock song on the radio that Jonathan barely recognized came to an end as Jonathan Byers drove to his dad's house. His eyes darted to the radio unit in his car for a moment as his heart fell when the familiar sound of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" rang throughout the car.

- 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

"Darlin', you got to let me know"

Jonathan is sat on the edge of the bed next to his younger brother Will. The two of them are in Will's room, bobbing their heads along to 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' by The Clash.

"Should I stay or should I go?"

"You like it?" Jonathan had to raise his voice so he could be heard over the loud song. Will looks to his older brother and grins.

"Yeah, it's cool!"

"All right, you can keep the mix if you want."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. All the best stuff's on there. Joy Division, Bowie, Television, The Smith's... It'll totally change your life."

"Yeah, totally," Will says with a smile. However, the smile is quick to leave when the two boys hear their mother yelling on the phone.

"Where the hell are you, Lonnie?"

Will slowly turns his head to the door, listening to his mother yell at his absent father.

"I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it." Jonathan mimics his brother's actions and looks to the door. Finally, he gets up and walks towards the door.

"This is ridiculous! I'm so sick of your excuses.

"One day is fine and next is black"

Before Jonathan sits down, he lowers the volume on the stereo.

"He's not coming, is he?"

"Do you even like baseball?" Jonathan asks softly.

"No, but... I don't know." He shrugs sadly. "It's fun to go with him sometimes."

"Come on. Has he ever done anything with you that you actually like? You know, like the arcade or something?"

Will shrugs his shoulders weakly. "I don't know."

"No, all right? He hasn't. He's trying to force you to like normal things. And you shouldn't like things because people tell you you're supposed to. Okay?"

Will only looks down at his feet sadly.

"Especially not him."

Will silently nods his head in understanding.

Jonathan decided to change the subject.

"But you like The Clash? For real?"

Will nods his head eagerly with a smile. "For real. Definitely."

"So... is Y/n a fan of The Clash?" Jonathan asks, genuinely curious.

A faint blush dusts Will's cheeks as he looks down at his hands. "Um, yeah, I think so."

"Maybe you should show this to him. I bet he'll like it."

"Maybe. You think?"

"Yeah, from what I know, he has great taste. He's pretty cool."

A loving smile spreads across Will's face. "Yeah, he is pretty cool."

There's a small pause filled only with the now dulled melody of drums and guitar drifting through the air. They had talked about it before, but only vaguely, never fully addressing it and it dawned on Jonathan that there was probably still loads of fear for Will because of it. He looks down at his brother who he loved more than anything and sent him an encouraging, honest smile.

"Will, you guys are best friends. You two are just too close to ruin the friendship. Why don't you think about asking him to the arcade or something? Just the two of you, maybe come back here for some mac and cheese or something if that'd make you feel safer, and you could " he shrugs. "let him know how you feel?"

Will looked up at his brother, shocked. But his body was flushed with relief, he could feel the air in the room hitting his sweaty and clammey skin giving him chills. Not quite knowing how to handle his brothers reaction, his eyes simply fall to his hands where they fidgeting in his lap.

"But what if that does ruin the friendship? What if he doesn't feel the same way, and decides to stop hanging out with me. Or if someone finds out- I just- I just can't. I'm not ready."

"That's okay. All I'm saying is, he is way too nice to be the kind of person who would do that. And you are way too important to him. And hey, if you ever do feel ready, or you guys do go out in the future..." Jonathan trails off, sensing the awkwardness creep up. He chuckles and looks back to his brother.

"All I'm trying to say is, I'm here for you. Always."

Will smiles gratefully and Jonathan leans forward to the volume back up.

"Should I stay or should I go? So you gotta let me know, should I stay or should I go?"

- 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

[the-bau-quinjet]

Hey Stevie

Summary: Someone switches your karaoke song, revealing your feelings for Steve.

Warnings: none! Just the fluffiest fluff.

Word Count: 879

a/n: Another blurb! In honor of Fearless (Taylor's Version) I present another karaoke fic. I have an obsession. I am not sorry. The song is "Hey Stephen" by Taylor Swift :)

Masterlist

"Y/N, it's your turn! Get your pretty ass up there." Wanda called to you from across the bar, slightly tipsy.

You yourself were slightly tipsy, the only way you would ever agree to karaoke.

"Wan, I don't even remember the song I picked." You whined right back, still walked towards her.

"You picked a Taylor Swift song. You know all of them. Just go!" She shooed you onto the stage as the music started.

She was right. You recognized the song immediately, although you seriously did not remember picking it.

Either way, you started humming when you were supposed to, dancing around the small bar stage.

"Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving but I know I saw a light in you."

You were almost certain you vowed, specifically to Wanda, to never sing this song at karaoke, no matter how drunk you were, but you couldn't remember why for the life of you.

So you carried on, thoroughly enjoying the performance.

"And as we walked, we were talking. I didn't say half the things I wanted to."

You let your mind wander as you sang, having had this song memorized since the original came out in 2009.

You mostly thought about Steve and how in love with him you were.

"Hey Stephen, boy you might have me believing I don't always have to be alone."

You laughed to yourself. Steve. Stephen. Steve. Stephen. Suddenly you remembered why you swore not to sing this song.

Your eyes widened as you stared at Wanda, wondering how this song was chosen.

"'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel. Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so, come feel this magic I been feeling since I met you. Can't help it if there's no one else. Mhmm I can't help myself."

Wanda smirked as you sang, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. You glared daggers at her, but it did nothing to deter her triumphant attitude.

You cringed internally at just how frequently you had to say Stephen. Even if it's technically spelt differently, it still sounds the same.

"Hey Stephen I've been holding back this feeling. So, I got some things to say to you."

Nat walked up to Wanda, an obvious smirk on her face as well. The two whispered to each other, clearly congratulating themselves on getting you to sing this song.

"I've seen it all. So, I thought, but I never seen nobody shine the way you do."

You switched your glare to Nat, knowing it wouldn't do anything to deter her either. You just couldn't bare the thought of looking at anyone else, not when you were singing this song.

"The way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name. It's beautiful wonderful, don't you ever change."

You gave up on your fruitless glaring, choosing instead to close your eyes and think happier thoughts than "I want to murder my best friends."

Even though you tried to think of literally anything else, Steve popped into your head again. His smile. His blue eyes. Everything you were singing about him.

"They're dimming the street lights. You're perfect for me. Why aren't you here tonight?"

Your eyes involuntarily sought him out. you made eye contact right in time for the next few lines.

"I'm waiting alone now. So, come on and come out and pull me near. And shine, shine, shine."

You couldn't tell what he was feeling. His was clearly shocked, but you couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing. You tore your eyes from him long enough to glance at Sam and Bucky. Unsurprisingly, they were also smirking.

With one more glance at Steve, you decided to take a bit of a chance.

You looked right at him, altering the words a bit to make it more personal.

"Hey Stevie, I could give you fifty reasons why I should be the one you choose. All those other girls, well they're beautiful, but would they sing this song for you."

It was your turn to smirk as you took in the shocked expressions of all of your friends. Bucky and Sam's jaws were nearly on the floor. Wanda was squealing. Nat still wore her signature smirk. Tony looked impressed.

Steve though, his reaction was the most important. He was clearly blushing, but the smile on his face was just as prominent.

The second you finished the song, you not-so-gracefully jumped off the stage. Everyone clapped for you, but you were on a mission.

You walked up to Steve, who was still blushing, with a new found confidence.

Once you got there though, you panicked again. "Hi." You muttered, unsure of what else to say.

"Hi." He whispered back, still absorbing your performance.

"Just kiss her, punk." Bucky said, standing right next to you but sounding like he was a million miles away.

You moved your hands around his neck, pulling his face closer to yours, but not quite closing the distance. You wanted to leave him with the choice. Your feelings were already pretty obvious.

He moved one hand to your cheek, the other taking up residence on your waist.

"It's always been you." He whispered, right before pulling you in for a kiss.

[paceplace]

finished it

notes under cut because there is a lot going on and i want to yap about some of it:

i had to change the colors of like, 3 of the keys bc my eyes are not friends with my brain and couldn't differentiate between them.

i added in jennifer & judy in the chart myself because i Love Them and think it's criminal that they're slept on this much. i also realized halfway through making this i didn't add in atticus or redd to which i say i'm sorry i promise i like them i just forgot and by the time i realized it was too late.

as always opinions are my own and this is a chart i made for fun. if you want me to elaborate more on something i havent touched on then feel free to ask idm

//

multisetter / raindiver / jennjudy / brubuck / firesaw = ultimate OTPS. i was 👌 this close (fingers are hairs away from touching) to making mistchip part of that category as well before deciding against it but just know i like them A Lot

i like the fandom consensus of vp and cfo being divorced and in some cases having been re-married i think it's funny. this also technically means multislacker and cfo are family bc of this but i cba to edit this chart anymore there's already so much shit going on

i like the idea of vp sorta messing around with ceo in good fun/as an attempt to try to get him to loosen up a bit whereas ceo thinks hes annoying for it. i can see how their different personalities can cause a lot of clashing but ultimately after working in the same company for as long as they have they learned to respect each other in a way

i forgot to add this in the chart but i can see the ceo and clo being good friends. they can complain to each other about their inept co-workers and how robert sucks at being a boss LMHO

firesetter's cute but the more i thought about it the more i realized i'm more interested in their dynamic as exes who broke up on good terms and are best friends rather than like, an endgame thing LOL i'll still rb content of them if i like it bc, again, it's cute but atp i prefer them w/ other ppl

kinda wish i wasn't neutral on rainkeeper and clopiece bc this fandom is lacking in wlw pairings but it can't be helped 😔. additionally duckpond is such a cute ship-name and i wish i was into it bc of that.

duck shuffler and prethinkers dynamic with each other is slept on for NO reason. also whats up with cogs inc placing mgrs that dislike each other within the same playground. whats wrong with them.

treekiller and duck shuffler friendship has the potential to be the most chaotic thing ever. fuck around and find out what happens when you put two suits with 0 impulse control and half a braincell in a situation together

i remember awhile back someone shared their hc about derrick man and derrick hand having a one-sided friendship/hatred thing w/ each other and honestly i really like that. in general i like the idea of the counterparts interacting with each other in some way yet having wildly differing opinions on each other i think it makes their dynamic more interesting!

erfit disliking payser tests got me thinking they have some sort of history together. maybe they were rivals or something? idk

kinda wanna fill out that cog shipping chart thing i saw floating around some time ago for the fun of it but i can't seem to find it anywhere.... ofc i could just make my own version of it but… augh… too much work

[missymurphy1985]

The Return

It's been 2 years since you were last in Dublin. 2 years since you up and left without warning, saying goodbye to your life there and restarting somewhere completely new. Sometimes, you have to go backwards in order to move forwards.

Requested by @noctvrnalmoth I hope you like it!

*Featuring Jim from the Delinquent Season*

Stepping off the train into the platform, you sighed. It all looked the same, and yet so different. Pulling the buggy open, you gently strapped your sleeping son in and made your way to the taxi rank, your suitcase trailing behind you. A kind lady helped you with your bags and waited with you for an available taxi.

"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders there, are you okay?" She sat next to you on the bench as your son murmured adorably in his sleep. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry..."

"No don't be sorry.. just been a long time since I came back here is all. Few loose ends to tie up." You glanced at your son's sleepy features as his eyes started to open. Beautiful, ocean blue eyes alongside his dark hair, growing more every day... The memories of that night flooding back before you took a large gulp of water from the bottle in your bag, forcing them back down. You'd done so well... 2 years and you'd built a new life in London. New friends, amazing new job allowing you to put that degree in marketing to good use - you were finally making a complete fresh start. But the secrets you had buried deep inside kept coming to the surface the more your son grew. He deserved to know his roots, who his father was, you knew that, but you couldn't do it.

Choking a tear back, you thanked the kind lady for helping you as a taxi pulled up and she helped you to get in.

Pulling up outside your cousin Natalie's townhouse in the city centre, she was waiting for you at the gate to help with Jackson and your bags. Grinning from ear to ear she pulled you in for a huge hug once you'd got inside and settled on her couch as Jackson sat in this new lady's lap tugging at her earrings.

"I can't believe I'm only just meeting him y/n.. he's the image of you!!" She kissed his cheek, bringing him up to look at him properly for the first time not over Skype.

"I never see it, I just see.... I just see him I guess..." You mind wandered to the man you actually saw, but you didn't let it slip.

"Those EYES!!! So blue and vibrant, just beautiful!" Natalie was swooning now, she'd never seen eyes that blue on a baby. Your eyes were brown, so he clearly inherited them from his father, although you had never revealed his identity - just a drunken one night stand and he wasn't involved. You weren't lying, technically...

After catching up properly, Natalie told you she'd planned a few people coming over to welcome you back that evening - nothing major, just a few friends from years ago that were keen to see you after so long away.

"Oh.. yes, that would be nice... Um, who's coming?"

"Well I think David and Amanda, possibly Caroline.. I think Liam is asking Jim too but I'm not sure if he's up for it - he's been through a tough time lately.." you caught a gasp in your throat at the sound of his name. Last you heard, through Natalie, he and Danielle were going through a rough patch. Cheating accusations on both sides, they'd agreed to a trial separation. "Apparently she isn't as broken hearted as once thought - already shacked up with someone new, fancy house on the coast, new Jag on the driveway, she's doing quite well for herself!" Your chin began to wobble, not unnoticed by Natalie, who placed Jackson in his bouncer on the floor and moved to place a hand on your shoulder.

"I'm fine Nat, honestly I'm good. It was a long time ago, things have changed. I'm not that silly little girl with a crush anymore..." Natalie looked into your eyes. Nothing ever got past her.

"Y/n.. when I said I'd never seen eyes that blue, I meant on a baby. Only one person I know has eyes like that, and I think you know too. Tell me the truth, please?" You were frozen, until tears escaped and you couldn't stop them. Jackson looked to see his mum crying and began crying too. Scooping him up, you held him close.

"It happened once... Just once Nat... And he doesn't know and he doesn't need to know, let's just leave it there, yeah?"

"What?? This is Jim's son? I was almost kidding y/n... How could you keep this from him for 2 years??" She was stood up now in complete shock. Jim wasn't just her friend, he was her husband's brother - this made things even more intense. The atmosphere could be cut with a knife.

"Please Nat... This wasn't easy okay? I was 21, I slept with a married man, and I got pregnant... Then mum died.. I had to go back to London to sort out the funeral and the will... I didn't want to be seen as the homewrecker that got herself knocked up..."

"And what about Jackson? Doesn't he deserve to know his father?"

"Of course... And he would.. when I was ready Nat. And I'm not ready..."

"Not ready for what?" Liam, Natalie's husband was stood in the doorway, as you heard the front door close. Now standing next to him was the man you were desperately trying to avoid... Jim stood behind him, eyes wide at the sight of you with a baby in your arms.

"Baby, we need to go pick up that delivery from the post office, remember the one we missed last week?" Natalie pulled a confused Liam out of the room, leaving his brother and you alone.

"Y/n... Hey.. um.. how are you?" You tried to smile in response but your heart was pounding in your chest, you could barely breathe.

"I.. yeah.. um, yeah I'm okay.." you glanced down at his hand.. the wedding ring was gone. "I'm sorry to hear about you and Olivia..."

"Probably for the best eh... We weren't exactly getting along, just stayed together for the kids I think. They're older now though, they're fine. Y/n.. where did you go? Why did you go?"

"My mum was ill... She'd had a stroke and they couldn't save her, I had to go... I just stayed.. and things happened.."

"You had a baby..." He looked at the little boy in your arms, feeling extremely nervous now. "He must be just over a year old, right?" You nodded.

"13 months.."

"And we... We had sex y/n.. the day before you left..." His own breath was faltering now as the dates in his mind started to catch up. Again, you nodded, tears rolling down your cheeks. The realisation of what was happening dawned on Jim. He started to back away, before shaking his head and storming out of the house, the door slamming behind him making you and your son jump.

Your sobs came out in full force now, Liam and Natalie coming back into the room. Liam took Jackson into the kitchen to find him something to eat as Natalie held you.

"It's okay y/n... Give him time yeah? Poor guys just had the shock of his life, he'll come round." Your heart was sinking.. you hadn't meant for any of this to happen, but here it was. The memory of that afternoon had never left you, you hadn't even been able to move on - your son, for starters, looked just like him, how could you find love with anyone with the constant reminder of the man you'd never have around you 24/7.

Flashback

"I'm so sorry Jim, I didn't know who else to call..." You climbed into his car, cheeks burning as he picked you up from outside the pharmacy. You'd been walking along the road when a pothole in the pavement took you by surprise and you'd tripped, your ankle turning funny - the pain was horrific, but no one seemed to be answering your phone calls when you rang around for someone to come pick you up. Reluctantly, you'd dialled Jim's number, your cousin's brother in law. He'd given you his number the previous week, after offering to help you move into your new apartment later that month.

"No problem, I was just dropping the kids at school so I was only round the corner." He helped you into the car and drove you back to his house. "I figured your place is in boxes, no chance of a first aid kit either, I'm guessing?"

"No," You laughed. "Thank you so much.." you grimaced as you turned your foot round, trying to ease the pain.

"Definitely not broken, just need to rest it. I'll put the kettle on." Jim led you into the kitchen and sat you down at the kitchen table, and grabbed an ice pack from the fridge. Lifting your leg onto the chair opposite, he placed the ice pack onto your ankle. "Feeling okay?" He asked, flicking the kettle on and preparing two mugs of coffee.

"Much better.. thank you." Definitely better.. the physical contact from him was driving you insane, you had to swallow the blushes in your cheeks, praying he hadn't noticed.

"I've only got instant coffee... Hope that's okay - Danielle won't let me buy a coffee machine." He rolled his eyes. His wife was one of the tightest women he'd ever met.

"It's fine, thank you.. and I honestly can't thank you enough for coming to get me.. I can't believe how clumsy I am!"

"Hey those pavements are a nightmare - I'm surprised no one's broken a leg yet! Don't you be moving now, I'll take you back home once that swelling has gone down."

"How did you know how to fix it all?"

"I have a son, y/n, who at one stage a few years ago thought he was an actual superhero and would fling himself off anything to check if he could fly.. you learn the difference between a broken ankle and a twisted one pretty quick!" He laughed, remembering the time his son climbed the tallest tree in the park, giving him a heart attack before throwing himself from the top - luckily Jim caught him before he hit the floor.

"I think it's better now, Jim, I can try and walk." You said, after chatting for a while in the large kitchen.

"Let me help you.." he held your hands and guided you upright, your chests now pressed together as you placed your foot gingerly on the floor, testing it's strength. Stumbling slightly, Jim caught you, your bodies now even closer together. You could feel his heart racing, could he feel yours? His hands wrapping around yours, holding you up, an arm snaking round your waist. You looked up and found him looking right back at you, your face inches from his. Before you had time to think, you kissed him, before quickly pulling back.

"Shit I'm sorry... Oh god.. no... I'm sorry..." He took your hand in his and pulled you back to him, pressing his lips back to yours. This time you didn't pull back, your mouth opening allowing his tongue to dance against yours. Lifting you up, he sat you on top of the counter, his hands roaming your body hungrily.

"I can't... I shouldn't..." He murmured against your neck, the vibrations driving you wild with need. "You're so fucking beautiful y/n..." He ground your hips against yours, you could feel his erection through his jeans as you reached down to cup it through them, kneading it slightly. He growled, pulling your hand up to his chest, his heart hammering underneath his shirt. "You feel that? Feel how fast that's going?" Silently you took his hand and placed against your chest.

"Feel mine...." You pushed his hand down lower.. over your breast... Down your stomach and under the waistband of your skirt. His fingers found your folds, and he gasped your name. "I'm wet... I'm so fucking wet..." Lifting your skirt up, he pulled your underwear down. You relieved him of his jeans and they fell to the floor, revealing no underwear, just his huge, hard cock already leaking.

"I see you are too..." You ran a finger along the slit, taking some of the precum and lifting it to your mouth. "You taste good..."

"You want this...?" He asked, lining himself up against you. You nodded, and he pushed in easily, you gasped his name and threw your head back as he filled you completely. Pulling on your hips, he rocked you against him as he moved his own hips back and forth, fucking you against the countertop. You legs wrapped round his waist as his thrusts came harder, deeper, faster.

"Fuck... Right there... Jim... Oh god...." He bit down on your exposed neck, hands pushing against your still covered breasts, he moaned.

"Feels so good y/n... You feel so good... That's it baby, I need to feel you... Cum for me..." You leaned back, and eyes locked with his you drew a hand down to circle your clit as he moved inside you.

"Gonna make myself cum on you... Gonna cum hard for you... Faster Jim..." He pounded into you now, your moans echoing through the kitchen as you came over him, his release following seconds later. Both of you leaned your heads together as your worlds came back into focus.

Present Day

"Hey."

"Hey.." you'd agreed to meet Jim for a coffee a few days later. He'd called you the evening before, slightly tipsy which made you chuckle. Liam and Natalie were watching Jackson while the two of you caught up.

"How's the hangover?" You smiled, he grimaced.

"Well I've definitely felt fresher.. it was a bit of a shock y/n..."

"Listen.. for what it's worth.. I'm sorry. I didn't know I was pregnant until I was nearly 20weeks. With the stress of losing mum and the funeral, I hadn't had a period for a while but I thought it was just the stress.. then my friend convinced me to take a test and the doctors confirming it.. it was too late to do anything about it.. then I heard you and Danielle were trying for another baby and I just couldn't do it Jim.. I couldn't destroy your life like that.." your hands were shaking. He leaned over and took your hands in his.

"I understand y/n.. I do. I spent most of this week thinking about it. I don't blame you for what you did.. but I do wish you'd told me."

"I'd done enough damage Jim, sleeping with a married man? On his kitchen counter where he makes his kids breakfast? Where his wife makes her coffee in the morning? I couldn't face you.. I couldn't face what I'd done.."

"You know where my wife was, that morning?" He leaned back, smiling a little. "At her office, bent over the desk while her boss fucked her from behind. She called my number by accident while it happened. I didn't answer, obviously, I was busy.. but my voicemail picked up the whole thing. I'd had my suspicions for a long time, but that confirmed it. We were never trying for another baby - that's just what she told people to distract them from the fact we were clearly falling apart at the seams. Couldn't exactly be mad at her after what I'd done with you though."

"Did you tell her?"

"Yes, but she didn't know it was you. Then you up and left.. I thought there was no need to tell her who it was. I guess now we kinda have to, right?"

"Jim, I don't expect anything from you, okay? I have an inheritance from my mum, I'm fine for money, there's no need to be involved if it'll cause you problems.."

"No. You've kept him from me for nearly 2 years y/n, don't do this again, please? I'm not asking you to move in, I'm not asking for a relationship, I just want to get to know our boy.. that's all.. please?" You saw it in his eyes. It was there, for all to see. Was it love?

"I'll call Nat.. ask her to bring him over, maybe we could go for a walk?" Jim smiled, nodding. You made the call, and an hour later you were walking to the local park, Jim pushing the stroller. He took Jackson out of the buggy and placed him inside a baby swing, pushing him gently while pulling silly faces making him giggle. Your heart swelled watching them.

"He's incredible.. those eyes.."

"Your eyes, Jim." He looked up at you and smiled listening to his son's giggle, before he started becoming grouchy again.

"He's teething... Come on little man, let's get you back shall we?" Jim lifted him from the swing and placed his little finger in Jackson's mouth. He responded by sucking his gums along it, finding relief. You smiled, watching Him soothe your son's whimpers of pain as his teeth came through.

Making your way inside Natalie's house, you were surprised to find it empty. A note on the kitchen counter read that they'd gone out for the afternoon, they wouldn't be home until the evening. You warmed a bottle of milk for Jackson as Jim gave him some Calpol. Taking the bottle from you, he fed his son, as you watched, heart pounding as you watched the man you were still in love with take such good care of your baby. Within 15 minutes, Jackson was fed and had been rocked to sleep in his father's arms, you took him and placed him upstairs in his cot to nap. You knew he'd be out for at least an hour after all that fresh air. Walking back into the lounge, you found Jim sat on the sofa waiting for you.

"Come here, y/n..." You sat next to him as he turned to face you, hand gently caressing your cheek. "What are we going to do now?"

"I'm heading back to London tomorrow Jim..." His eyes glistened slightly. He'd just found his son, and now he was going again. He'd just got you back in his life, and now you were disappearing again...

"What can I do to make you stay?" His question took you by surprise. Stay?

"Jim, I..."

"I haven't stopped thinking about you.. about what happened 2 years ago. How long I'd wanted you, how long I'd dreamt of you, how I still dream of you even now.. and we share a son y/n.. I can't let you go again, it'd break me.."

"I'm half your age Jim! I'm barely older than your eldest child, how can this possibly work?" He answered with a kiss. Leaning forward to take your mouth against his, without thinking you returned it, linking your fingers with his as he pulled you into his lap.

"It'll work because we'll make it work.. nothing else matters.. all of that other stuff is irrelevant.." he felt you grind your hips against his and his erection was burning against his jeans. He needed you, now.

"And Danielle?"

"Is fucking a man old enough to be her own father - opinion invalid. I don't care about her, I care about you.. please.." he was aware of how desperate he sounded but he didn't care. He had his hand under your t-shirt against your breast, no bra in the way this time. Lifting you up, he carried you upstairs to the guest room you were staying in, and laid you down softly on the bed underneath him.

"Birth control?" He looked at you, smiling.

"The coil - don't worry, I'm covered this time.." You smiled back as he lifted your t-shirt over your head and kissed you again. The reason for being at the pharmacy 2 years ago was to collect your prescription for the pill - you'd not taken it for a couple of days after running out suddenly. After Jackson was born, you switched to a more efficient form of birth control.

Pulling your skirt down and off, along with your underwear, he nestled his face between your thighs, now parted by his hands.

"I want you to watch me y/n... Watch me as I make you cum..." Your core burning, you raised yourself up on your elbows as he blew a hot breath against your wet folds, causing you to shiver under him. He parted your lips with his fingers, before licking from your pulsing hole up to your clit, finding a rhythm that made you cry out and shudder underneath his tongue. Smiling, groaning into you, you tried to keep your eyes on him as he licked and sucked your throbbing clit in his mouth.

"Jim.. don't stop.. oh god..." You hadn't had sex since that afternoon 2 year ago, no one being good enough to compete with the man currently buried between your legs. No pleasure you'd given yourself since was a patch on this, and you felt that burning feeling in your stomach starting to rise. "I'm close... Mm... Fuck I'm close..." Your words barely a whisper but he heard them, pushing harder with his tongue as a finger entered you, hooking upwards to find that spot inside, the one you didn't think actually existed, but there it was.. you bucked against his mouth, coming hard and fast - you felt your liquids gush over his chin, there was no stopping them... "Aha... Oh god Jim... Fuck... Stop, it's too much..." He smiled, blowing another warm breath over you before moving back to your mouth. You could taste yourself on his lips, turning you on even more.

Flipping him onto his back, you lifted his clothes off him and kissed down his chest. Your core needed a breather before you took him inside you. Licking the top of his now rock hard cock, you slowly sank your lips down, taking him fully inside your mouth. You'd never had a strong gag reflex, and you enjoyed the feeling of his cock hitting the back of your throat.

"Holy fuck... Jesus y/n... That's it baby..." Up and down your head bobbed, swapping between hard and light sucks, your teeth gently scraping the underside of his cock and your fingers lightly playing with his balls underneath you. Every time you felt them tighten, you'd ease off, allowing him to catch his breath, before bringing him into your mouth again. After a few near explosions, he couldn't take anymore and lifted you off motioning for you to sit on him. "Ride me y/n..." You smiled, and sank your pussy onto him, allowing him to fill you. Slowly so as to adjust to his length, your hips moved, back and forth, up and down, finding the right rhythm for you both. He sat up, chests together and his hands under your thighs as he rotated his hips from underneath, driving his cock against that magical spot again.

"Yes... God that feels good... Jim..."

"I'm not gonna last long y/n..."

"That's okay.. we've got plenty of time to make up for this... Cum in me, give me all of you..." You felt his cock twitch inside you as he moved your hips faster. Leaning back, you rode him hard, the bed frame squeaking underneath as you both cried out, your climaxes arriving simultaneously. Coming back to rest your head against his, you clenched your core once more causing him to gasp as you drew yourself off him slowly. Lay down next to each other, he pulled you into his arms.

"Did you mean what you said?" He asked, kissing your head gently. "Plenty of time?"

"I meant it, Jim... I need to get back to London to sort a few things, put my flat up for sale.. my job... But yes. If you'll have us, we'll come back.." you looked into his eyes. He lifted your head to kiss you and you felt it. All the love you thought you'd never find, in the man you thought you'd never find it with.

Everything was going to be fine, you couldn't wait to start your life over again, this time for the last time.

@margoo0 @queenshelby @peakyscillian @cloudofdisney @ntmynouis @being-worthy

[mercy-burning]

Say You’ll Remember Me (Songbird Chapter 1)

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader Summary: After performing at open mic night at a bar downtown, Reader meets someone that could change everything for her. Rating: 18+ Warnings: Smut (oral sex - male and female receiving, fingering, male masturbation, cockwarming, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, creampie), Language Word Count: 7.1k

SERIES MASTERLIST SERIES PLAYLIST (new songs added with the release of each chapter)

***

Love never came easy to me. Truth be told, a lot of things never came easy to me, and I was okay with that, but love was probably the one thing I wish I could just let myself feel with no problem.

For as long as I could remember, I've wanted to be in love with someone as much as I'd seen my parents love each other. My older sister got a boyfriend when she was 17 and I was 11, and they've been together ever since. They're married with two children now, and just as in love now as they'd been when they met.

I've never seen anyone love the way I've seen my family love, but for some reason I was never able to give as much as them. I mean, I felt love obviously, but it was never that all-consuming, life-changing love that was supposed to make your head spin and your soul ache.

Maybe I just never found the right person, but every relationship I've ever been in ended because of my inability to give out as much love as I was given. And that's not to say that I didn't care about the people I've dated, they were all really great people in fact... But I could never fully be in it, you know? Some people give their all to another person, would do anything and everything for them if it meant they got to spend the rest of their lives together, but I never felt that. Sure, I could have settled in any of my relationships, but if I was going to actually spend my time building a life with another person, I was going to really feel like I needed it to survive. Or, like I deserved it, if I was going to go that far.

For the past few years I've pretty much given up on relationships. I've been on a few dates, had a few hookups here and there, but at this point I was almost certain that love wouldn't find me any time soon.

However, the one thing that filled that love-shaped void in my soul was music. Words, melodies, stories... It all made me feel the way I was convinced love was supposed to make you feel. Even if I never wrote songs about my (positive) experiences with love, I loved love songs, and most music in general. That was the one thing I was sure of. Music was the one and only love I knew I could count on. It kept me safe, it ensured that I wasn't alone, and it hugged me in a way where I've never felt more at home.

Which would explain why I was here on a Friday night, singing in front of an entire crowded bar. Performing and sharing my music with people was the best way I knew how to outwardly show... well, anything about myself, really. I didn't go to open mic nights often, but when I did it felt better than anything in the world.

Tonight was... different, though. Not in a bad way, of course, but there was something in the air that made me feel like something great was going to happen.

It was the same feeling I got whenever I knew I was about to get laid.

Now, say what you want about it, about me, but even if I sucked at finding love I sure knew how to have one-night stands. I loved sex. It was another way I was able to get that happy rush of feelings while being with another person without actually having to be in love with them. Truly, sex was the perfect outlet for me, and my music was a great tool that helped me get it. Not that I needed help—if I wanted sex bad enough I could easily look for it—but the fact that I could play several instruments and sing well definitely made things easier.

And tonight I wanted it bad.

I hadn't realized it until I tried to figure out what song to sing for open mic night, and in turn came to the conclusion that I hadn't had sex with another human being in about a month. Which wasn't a bad thing by any means, but it didn't change the fact that I wanted someone else to help me out in chasing that high this time.

So I opted to go with a cover of a song I knew would do the job no matter what. I brought my electric guitar with me and mirrored the Wildest Dreams performance that Taylor Swift did from the GRAMMY Museum. The song itself was sexy and sweet, but with the electric guitar and the electric guitar only, it made for less sweet and more sexy. I'd always loved that performance from the second I saw it, so as soon as I was able, I bought an electric guitar and taught myself to play it. It was a hit every time I performed it.

I was wearing a maroon, long sleeved turtle-neck crop top that exposed my belly-button ring (which was sparkling silver and caught the light in the bar beautifully, if I were to say so myself), a pair of tight jeans, and black glittery heels that I only ever pulled out when I was feeling brave. My hair was half-up and half-down, leaving a good amount of my face exposed which donned silver eyeliner, sheer lip gloss, and my eyebrow ring. Paired all together with my black and white guitar and shiny nail polish that matched the deep maroon of my shirt, I felt hot as hell. Better than I'd felt in a while if I was being honest.

It felt even better when I was performing. I was confident in my abilities as a musician, to which I considered myself fortunate. If only I could have been that confident in other departments, I feel like I would have been dead-set for life.

But tonight I didn't want to think about that.

I played the song just as well as I had every other time. Probably even better, if only for the fact that I was working to get myself a lay. But whatever the scenario, I was feeling good and that's all I'd ever wanted to accomplish.

I saw him immediately after I sang the last note and the final chord of my guitar faded out into the applause.

He's just... where my eyes decided to wander, I guess. I don't know exactly what it was, but I was thankful for it, even though I almost forgot to breathe with the way he looked back at me. I couldn't tell what color his eyes were because of how far away he was, but I'd have bet on my life that they were some shade of brown. He bit his lip rather nervously when he noticed me staring at him, unable to tear my eyes way, but nevertheless he kept his gaze trained on me. It was so strong I could have sworn they burned holes into my soul.

Or, more likely, my libido.

Either way, I knew it then, when I packed up my guitar and walked through the crowd to find him, that I wasn't going home alone for the first night in weeks.

That was a good feeling.

So good, in fact, that I allowed myself to be a little more vulnerable than normal. It wasn't anything huge, but it also wasn't like me at all.

While generally, guys are more notorious to be the ones kicking out the women after a one-night stand, I always found it the opposite. I hated waking up in the morning and having to kick some dude out of my apartment. They always put up some sort of fight when it came time to leave, and I didn't get why. All the women I've hooked up with were easier to communicate with on that front, so I didn't mind as much, but still made it a point to be the one coming and going no matter who I slept with.

There was something different about this guy, though. Again, my sex drive was probably getting the better of me, so it maybe wasn't the best idea to let him come to my apartment, but I truly believe that a part of me wanted this man to see where I lived. I... don't know what it was, or why it happened, but it felt exciting. It felt new. It sparked some newfound adventure in me that I didn't really know I craved until I had it.

That being said, I could almost tell immediately within minutes of talking to him that he was going to be a hard one to get to leave. But the thing is...

I didn't mind that.

Something deep inside me wanted to feel what it was like to wrap this man around my finger, to have him so invested in me that he didn't want to leave me, and it was a weird feeling. I didn't know what to do with it, exactly, other than test the waters and see what was going to come of it.

He was about to tell me his name. That's when I started to realize it was a bad idea, and I was already in a vulnerable position. So I held my hand out to his face, pressing my pointer finger to his lips and seductively licking my own.

"No names. Is that okay?"

Something in those brown eyes (I was right) practically begged me to let him say his name, and a part of me wanted to know what it was just so I could scream it. But I knew that if I knew his name, I was ultimately going to be in trouble.

Like I said, there was something different about him. I didn't know what it was, and I didn't want to know because if I did, then I was going to be even deeper in uncharted territory. Besides, if anything the mystery of having no names would make this even sexier. Right?

Reluctantly he nodded, and I slid my finger down his lips and under his chin, then over his throat. I saw the goosebumps form on his skin as I went lower, lightly over the navy blue sweater he was wearing and stopping at his lower stomach. I grabbed one of his belt loops and pulled him close to me, smiling softly as his eyes never stopped searching mine.

"You ready to show me a good time, Pretty Boy?"

He exhaled at the nickname , but I couldn't tell if it was from nerves or what... Either way, he said, "Yes," and I twisted his belt loop tighter with a wink.

***

She was the most captivating woman I think I'd ever seen.

She commanded every room she was in, made everyone pay attention to her, and even if she couldn't sing or play the guitar the effect would have been the same. Granted, I only ever saw her in the bar. So, technically only one room.

But it was about to be two.

I didn't even want to be in the bar, and I was going to leave since Derek, Emily, and Penelope ditched me for their own endeavors, but at the very last second a voice in the speakers cut through the radio-generated music announced that someone would be performing, officially kicking off open mic night.

It wasn't that that stopped me. But it was her name.

Y/N.

I had to wonder if, when she said, 'No names," she remembered or even knew that I'd already known it. Or maybe she just didn't want to know my name. Whatever that meant, it didn't deter me in any way from trying to take up any space or time that she had. After she locked eyes with me on stage, I sent out so many signals, hoping to whatever higher power was up there, if any, that she would come to me. I just... needed to know her. To see her up close.

Truthfully I don't know what made me think I had the right amount of confidence or skill to do anything other than babble incoherently or just stare in her presence, but thankfully she didn't have much of a knack for talking.

When she finally stood in front of me, I didn't know where to look. I knew ultimately that I should look at her face, but damn it if I couldn't help but look at all of her, my stomach naturally doing flips when I caught sight of her belly-button ring, and... Her hands... Good God, I couldn't stop staring at her hands. I realized once she was closer that that's mainly what I looked at while she was on stage. The way her fingers worked the guitar, making it look like it was the easiest thing in the world, it was enough to send me into a tailspin.

Truthfully I don't think there was one single flaw about her. Naturally all human beings have flaws, but as far as I could tell, from this first meeting, this woman was nothing but an angel sent from Heaven, specifically to destroy me.

My favorite part about her, though, was by far her voice. I didn't listen to much mainstream music, but if it sounded anything like that, then I wanted to hear all of it.

Forget angel... She was a siren.

Yeah. That was the perfect way to describe her.

And when she touched me...

I'm pretty sure I blacked out.

I say pretty sure, because I distinctly remember telling her, "Yes," when she'd asked me indirectly to leave with her, but everything else only came in one-second flashes. A moment where I was in her car, and more clearly a moment when she pulled me out of it and shoved me against the door after she closed it, running her glorious hands through my hair and attacking my neck with harsh, sloppy, butterfly-inducing kisses.

But I made myself remember when we were actually in the apartment, because there was no way I was going to let myself forget that moment.

So I was completely well-aware of everything around me when she unlocked the door, pulled me inside, and shoved me against another door for a second time that night. This time she kissed my lips, and I all but melted into her. Her tongue didn't waste any time slipping into my mouth, but I didn't waste any time trying to fight it. I would have given her anything she wanted, she didn't even have to ask for it.

That being said, she broke away from me, looked me dead in the eye, and asked, "Can I take your pants off?"

I nodded eagerly, choking out a breathy, "God, yes," as best as I could.

That seemed to be what she was looking for, because she all but groaned as she squatted on the floor and worked at my belt. I didn't know what to do with myself, my hands seeming to wander aimlessly before settling behind me on the door. Once she got my pants down, she looked up at me through those silver-painted eyelids and leaned forward, pressing a hot, wet kiss to my dick through my underwear.

Any other time in this sort of situation, I most likely would have felt embarrassed by whimpering the way I did, but seeing the primal lust widen her eyes as I did it completely erased any doubt I ever had. By the time she pulled my boxers down and licked a large, slow line up the underside of my dick, those doubts were completely wiped off the board, no evidence of them ever having been there.

I wanted to look at her more than anything, to memorize the way she looked wrapped around me, but my eyes wouldn't stay open. Everything I was feeling, every sensation that ran through my veins, every hot lick of her tongue as it swirled around my tip, every small stroke of her hand when she took a break to whisper filthy things to me... It all rendered me completely unable to think straight.

At one point I was almost at the breaking point, and she knew it, too, because she pulled away from me completely and stood straight, running one of her hands along the inside of my thigh as she went up. I opened my eyes to meet her, her mouth slick with a smear of her lip gloss and her saliva. She looked like she was on the brink of tears, but none of them had fallen. But the gleam in her eye, that's what stood out to me. She was so utterly consumed with burning desire that I would have done anything to satiate every need she had.

She waited a beat, studying my face and the way my lips were no doubt still smeared with her lip gloss. And then she grabbed one of my hands and brought it to cup her crotch, tilting her head to the side and practically sighing at the touch.

"Aren't you going to return the favor, Pretty Boy?"

My first instinct was to tell her I needed a second to breathe. But somehow I knew I wouldn't be breathing well regardless of what happened. I stumbled out of my shoes and pants as quickly as I could, using my hand to lightly rub along the seam of her jeans. As soon as I was free of constraints, I made a point to turn us around so she was the one with her back against the door. I helped her pull her pants off, and once they were, along with her heels, I draped one of her legs around my shoulder so the process would be easier for the both of us.

I've only ever gone down on a woman a few times, so it was safe to say I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to satisfy her. But even if I hadn't had much practice, I knew I was a good listener. I practically read people for a living, and I knew how to read behavior and body language. So I knew that that would be my strong suit here.

That being said, I did have some idea of where to start. So I looked up at her while I brought my tongue out to her panties, lightly dragging the tip of it along the seam that met the corner of  her thigh. On my way to the other side I pressed the lightest of kisses to where her clit would be through the fabric, and then repeated the process a few times, feeling her squirm beneath me. Once I could tell she was getting close to frustrated, I made it a point to drag my tongue upwards in a long swipe until I reached her clit. I kissed it again before using one of my fingers to come up and slide under the fabric, though not pushing it entirely aside.

She sighed out as my finger ran along the very tops of her lips. When I pushed it in just the slightest, gathering her wetness as my tongue still gently worked at her clit through her panties, I took the moment to look up at her.

If she wasn't already the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, and in that moment she was even more perfect, her lip bit and her eyes on the verge of fluttering closed, I could only imagine what she would look like when I was inside of her.

I almost collapsed thinking about it, but went back to my task quickly, knowing that if I stopped thinking for once in my life then I wouldn't have to imagine it, and I could experience it instead.

So I finally pulled her panties aside and used the tip of my tongue again to taste her, just as lightly as I'd done it before. Only rather than fabric I was met with the smooth, slick taste of her pussy. I think I could actually hear her tremble under me as I flicked my tongue over her clit a few times, though everything I was feeling in that moment was so strong that it was more likely that I was losing every ability to think straight.

As time progressed I deepened my every movement, bringing my tongue deeper and harder through her gradually until the point where I was practically eating her out like a man starved. You could argue that I was starved for her in every sense of the word, but that moment wasn't about me. I was focused solely on making her feel good, paying attention to how tightly she gripped my hair when I briefly sucked on her clit, or the way she bucked her hips forward whenever I pushed my tongue inside of her as far as I could will it.

She seemed to like it best, though, when my fingers pumped slowly in and out of her in tandem with each swirl of my tongue around her clit. I took my time, savoring every second I could as my eyes stayed shut. I could barely keep them open.

When I finally did look up her, that seemed to finally be the thing that pushed her over the edge. Well, started to, anyway.

"Wait," she breathed, and for a second I thought maybe I'd done something wrong. I pulled away from her and raised an eyebrow, and all she did was look down at me, her eyes just as lust blown as they'd been before, if not even more. "I want you to edge me, can you do that? Just... keep bringing me there, but don't give me what I want. Not until I tell you to."

"Anything," I told her truthfully, keeping my eyes locked with hers as I brought my tongue to her once more. She shuddered under my touch as I worked at her clit again, quickly flicking over it as my fingers came up to hold her hips. It wasn't long before I brought her to the edge for the second time that night, and this time when I pulled away, I leaned my head into her thigh, pressing soft kisses to the inside. She was so focused on watching my face that she must not have noticed my fingers coming to slide into her again. She fluttered her eyes closed and leaned her head against the door with a soft thud as I fingered her, quickly picking up the pace as my tongue came out to lick at her thigh before I bit into it softly.

"Fuck, you're so fucking good with your hands," she managed to say through a moan.

I laughed a little, glancing over at her hands briefly and just letting the words fly from my mouth. "You're one to talk. The way you played that guitar? The way you touch me? Good God..."

She hummed hungrily, opening her eyes and pulling me up by my hair to pull me away from her. Her leg dropped from my shoulder and I stood up to meet her, towering over her by a good four to five inches.

For a moment we just stood there and stared at each other, both pants-less and desperate for each other but unwilling to do anything about it.

Until she pulled at my hair, craning my head to the side so she had access to my neck before running one of her hands down the side of my face, neck, and finding purchase gripping my shoulder. Her nails lightly scratched at my skin, sending a mess of goosebumps down my whole body, right before she took the other one and grabbed my bare ass.

"Baby, I've barely even touched you, yet."

I don't know what it was that made me so bold, but I smirked as both of her hands squeezed, causing her fingernails to leave indents into the skin on my right shoulder and my left ass cheek. "Touch me, then."

She was more than happy to oblige. Within seconds, both of her hands were slipping up my sweater and roaming my back and stomach as she leaned up and kissed me again. I met her lips happily, allowing her all the access she wanted to my tongue. At this point I was growing restless, wanting more than anything in the world to have her push me onto the bed, or the couch, or even the floor, and do to me whatever she saw fit.

My desperation must have broke the surface somehow, manifested in a way I hadn't noticed, because she laughed against my mouth, pushing me away and ripping off her shirt in one fluid motion. Which left her in only a grey bra that matched her panties.

"Take off your shirt," she said.

I didn't hesitate, doing as I was told and tossing it on the floor with our other clothes.

"Go sit on the couch."

I went there as quickly as I could, only feeling slightly embarrassed being the only one completely naked. But almost as soon as I sat down on her couch—truthfully one of the most comfortable ones I'd ever been on—she'd come up behind me and started massaging my scalp. I closed my eyes at the way it almost lolled me to sleep. If she did that any longer, I'm sure I would have.

Eventually, though, she slid her fingers down my neck and over my shoulders, resting them finally on my bare chest and drawing circles. She brought her lips down to my right ear and grazed it with her teeth before whispering, "Touch yourself for me? Go slow."

I didn't have to be told twice. As I'd quickly learned, I was pretty sure this woman could have done anything she wanted to me and I wouldn't have rejected her.

My hand firmly gripped my dick and went slow, just like she'd asked. With every long, meaningful stroke, she mirrored it with a swipe of her tongue along my neck. Her hands remained at my chest, reaching down to circle my nipples in very light, goosebump-inducing motions.

"Faster," she told me, and I listened. Each stroke of my hand was met with even faster, sloppier kisses along my neck and jawline, and I could have sworn I felt her fingernails digging themselves harshly into my chest.

"Faster."

By this point I was occasionally bucking my hips forward to meet my hand, and Y/N laughed lowly against my jaw, mumbling against it. "You wanna cum, Pretty Boy?"

"Not... Not yet," I stuttered truthfully.

"Aww," she cooed, tilting my head to the side and giving me a kiss on the mouth. It was probably the sweetest kiss we shared that night. "You want to cum inside me, don't you?"

She kissed me again immediately after she said it, and I moaned into her mouth, my hand working faster. If she didn't stop me, I was going to be done for, and I knew I wouldn't be able to go again. Not for a few hours at least. And I didn't know how long she'd want me to stay, or what we would even do while we waited.

Thankfully she seemed to take some semblance of pity on me, because she brought her hands away from my body, pulling back completely and telling me to stop.

I removed my hand and practically sighed in relief. I waited for further instruction, a sound, a touch, anything... But I almost had the wind knocked out of me when she appeared in front of me, having taken off her bra and underwear. What I found shouldn't have surprised me, but somehow it did. This woman was just full of surprises.

She had nipple piercings that matched the silver color of her eyebrow ring, not sparkly like the belly-button ring, but it was the cherry on top to what I'd already found practically perfect in every way.

As she sauntered to me, I couldn't decide where to look. Much like before. So I started from the bottom and worked my way up, eventually meeting her eyes when she straddled me on the couch and took my face in her hands.

"You clean?"

"Yes," I stated clearly, not wanting any signals to get crossed. I even nodded to accentuate my point.

"Good. Me, too. And I happen to be on birth control, so..." She leaned into my ear again and ground her hips into mine, the hot wetness of her pussy slightly grazing my dick. I almost fainted right there. "You can cum inside me all you want..."

She bit down on my shoulder then, and I groaned, bringing my hands to rest at her hips.

Then she pulled back and looked me in the eye again, grabbing my dick and lifting her hips to hover above it. She sunk down completely and quickly, letting me adjust to the feeling for all of two seconds before she gripped my chin in her right hand and smiled, batting her eyelashes. "But only when I tell you. You can't cum without my permission, got it?"

I breathed out a weak, "Yes," and then she got up and sank right back down, setting a quick and steady pace right away.

Both of her hands gripped my shoulders while mine stayed planted firmly around her waist, and if they were too tight she didn't say. In fact, by the look on her face I judged she probably enjoyed how tightly I was gripping her. So I decided to test it out. And sure enough, every time I let up my grip on her waist she would clench around me and move a little faster, making my grip tighten, and then she hummed, digging her nails into my shoulders.

Every high moan and whimper she let out as she rode me was just as melodic and beautiful as her voice when she sang. Added to the way she moved and the way she worked her hands, she was a rhythm all her own, constantly creating some sort of song, some piece of art that begged to be heard, to be felt in the deepest part of any soul that would embrace it...

I wanted it to last forever. I wanted to drown in her song forever.

Maybe that was a little dramatic. I mean, I only just met this woman under two hours ago at least (I wasn't sure how much time had passed truthfully), didn't know a single thing about her other than her first name, her musical ability, and her body. And all she knew about me was... well, my body.

Regardless, I was determined to make this last as long as I could, so I let go of her hips and brought my fingers to comb lightly through her hair, bringing her head up from the crook of my neck to meet mine, our foreheads touched together.

As if she knew what I was thinking, she slowed her hips, and then pressed her lips to mine gently. I'm pretty sure I felt my heart melt.

"What's wrong? Not gonna last much longer?"

I couldn't tell if it was a taunt or a genuine question. Either way, I shook my head and cradled her face. "I don't think so... But I want this to last."

"Hmm," she contemplated, but not for long, because seconds later she stopped moving her hips altogether and stayed sitting on my dick. She leaned back a little, bringing her hands to rest on her thighs as she took me in. "Well, then I guess I'll have to get creative."

I genuinely had no clue what she was about to do, but when she moved one of her hands to her breast and pinched at her nipple, I didn't care one way or the other. I was curious, sure, but ultimately I knew I would welcome whatever she did.

"I noticed you've been eyeing my piercings all night," she said sweetly, continuing to play with her nipples. She bit her lip softly before grinding down onto me and making me suck in a breath. "But I have to say, these two are my favorites... Aren't they pretty?"

"Fuck, they're beautiful," I breathed, splaying my hands over her stomach. "You're beautiful..."

"Aww,” she drawled. “Thanks."

Then she promptly removed her hands from herself, grabbed my wrists, and brought them to her breasts. My hands instinctively squeezed, feeling the contrast of soft skin and cold metal in my palms. I licked my lips before flicking my eyes up to meet hers. "Can I?"

"You can do whatever you want, baby," she purred, grinding her hips once more. A groan ripped from my throat before I leaned forward and brought her right nipple into my mouth, immediately swirling my tongue around the metal of her piercing. I think she might have groaned also, but I was so caught up in the way she grinded onto me and the feel of her skin on my tongue that I couldn't tell you for sure.

I kissed across her chest until I reached her other nipple, and gave it the same careful attention. Meanwhile I suddenly felt her hand slip down between our bodies so she could touch her clit. I brought my head up and peppered kisses up her neck.

"Let me help," I whispered against her skin, bringing one of my hands to replace hers.

She grabbed my wrist before I could get there. "No, keep doing what you're doing. Please..."

And that was that. I moved my mouth back down her neck, down the slope of her breast, and went back to flicking and swirling my tongue over her nipples. Eventually I took one and just slightly tugged at it with my teeth, causing her to buck her hips forward and send a shockwave of energy through me. At that point I was pretty sure I was almost feral with need, not caring how long it took anymore.

So right after she brought herself to orgasm, the movements on her clit slowing to a stop, I shifted our weight and pinned her to the couch so that her back was arched off the armrest. With an amused laugh, she wrapped her legs around my waist as I held one of my hands to the back of her head, the other on her waist, and pushed into her with one, long, fluid thrust forward.

I didn't waste any time with adjustments. I didn't care that my knee was only slightly hurting at the angle it was placed in. The only thing I cared about right then was fucking this woman so good she'd have to remember me. Which wasn't like me at all, but I didn't care.

So that's what I did. My hips set a ruthless, quick pace that had her sliding back until she was almost off the couch, the only thing keeping her anchored being my arm cradling her neck and head and her legs wrapping around my waist. Her heels dug brutally into my lower back, and if I had to guess, they were probably going to leave bruises. Not to mention her hands were clawing desperately at my shoulders to hold on, grabbing any skin she could as I pounded her into the arm of the couch.

I tried to keep my head up, but I was falling into oblivion. And I think she knew it, too, because she used her hands to keep me upwards, even doing so much as looking down between our bodies as best as she could to see me drilling my hips forward. The sight seemed to send her into a tailspin, because she bit her lip and groaned out.

"Fuuuuck, baby, just like that, don't stop, don't stopdon'tstopdon'tst—"

She came hard and fast, trying her best to keep her eyes open, right before looking up at my face. She clenched around me, and I knew I was done for. Any second now and I would finish. Just before it happened, she slid her hands up my neck, brushed the hair from my face, and brought me down to kiss her.

I moaned in her mouth as I came, keeping my hips pressed flush to hers and holding myself deep inside her. She moaned right back, swiping her tongue against mine as she squeezed her whole body around me and pulled me impossibly closer to her. In that moment, I didn't feel like it was just an orgasm... Which might sound cheesy and kind of stupid in retrospect, but it really felt that way. Right then, with her whole body holding mine and daring itself not to let go, it felt like every sense I had was stripped away and all that was left of me was her. As good as it felt to cum, it felt even better just being wrapped up in her in every capacity.

And that was why—even after we were finished and exhausted—we stayed just like that, wrapped up together on the couch with our lips moving lazily together until I felt myself start to drift off.

At that point, she'd somehow managed to pull me off of her and lean me back into the position I'd been in before, and my eyes struggled to stay open.

"I'm gonna go clean up," I thought I heard her say, and I wondered how she had the energy and stamina to stand up and walk around. But then again, I was so exhausted that I wasn't sure if anything that happened after we came down from our highs was even a coherent experience.

That being said, I managed to mutter an "Okay," while she disappeared and I tried to catch my breath. It only took about a minute before I realized that I was alone, and that she'd left to clean up the mess that I made. That seemed to snap me out of it, though not by much; I was still a little light-headed when I got up from the couch and started to collect my clothes from the floor.

I almost had my pants all the way on when I heard her voice from behind me.

"You don't have to leave... if you don't want."

I turned to face her, noticing that she was wearing a large nightshirt and probably nothing else. Even after she'd just gotten obliterated on the couch she still managed to look like the most angelic thing I'd ever seen. Or maybe I hadn't actually done as well as I thought, and she was the one who'd obliterated me... Either way, I felt bad for staying, especially knowing that she didn't even want to know my name.

So I shrugged, stifling a yawn. "No, it's fine, I... I should go. I don't want to intrude or anything, I—"

"Oh, please," she scoffed, walking up to me and placing a soft hand on my forearm. "As far as intrusion goes, I think we're way past apologies, don't you think?"

I smiled at that, admittedly leaning into her touch as her hand drifted up and to my cheek. "Okay. But only if you let me sleep on the couch."

"Don't be silly. You just fucked me on said couch, it's okay if you sleep in my bed with me."

I only shook my head, placing my hand on top of hers. "You didn't even want to know my name, which tells me that you probably aren't the type of woman to let men sleep in your bed with you after sex. Which is fine, don't get me wrong, but... I don't want to make you uncomfortable. And, I... I feel bad enough, I didn't help you clean up, I should have—"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," she said, removing her hand from my cheek and placing it on my bare chest instead. "That right there is why I don't mind if you sleep in my bed. Plus, it's late, you don't have a ride, and I can tell you're sleepy because you've been nodding off as we've been standing here. You can barely stand straight."

I didn't know what to say. Probably because she was right and I was nodding off right now.

She spoke again. "At least stay and rest for a few hours before you leave. And if it'll convince you to stay... You can have the couch."

I smiled lazily, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be gone before you wake up."

"Well... In that case, can... Can I kiss you one more time?"

"You can do anything you want to me," I told her truthfully, and not even a second passed before she pressed her lips to mine.

Despite everything we'd just done and the fact that I was almost asleep, it was the hottest kiss we shared that night. I was sure of it. It was lazy and wet, and so filled with the aftermath of all that we'd experienced together that I almost fell to my knees, and not because I was tired. Her tongue grazed mine in the most purposeful way I'd ever felt in a kiss my entire life. The way she held me to her, her hands weaved in my hair and mine pressed firmly to the small of her back, had me tingling from head to toe.

To this day, it's still the best kiss I've ever had.

I swore to myself I would never forget that kiss, and I never have. I couldn't have, even if I tried.

When she pulled away, I almost chased her, but I let her go, opening my eyes to stare deeply into hers. She didn't move for the longest time before clearing her throat and taking a small step back.

"Goodnight," she whispered softly. She looked almost as dazed as I felt.

"Goodnight," I whispered back as she turned around and padded into the darkness.

***

As I stood at her kitchen counter four hours later, a pen in hand and hovering over the back of a receipt she'd had crumpled on it, I tried to think of what to write, even though I knew it probably didn't matter to her one way or another if I said anything at all...

At the very least I wanted her to know just how much that night meant to me, even if she didn't feel the same way. Even if she didn't want to remember my name, I needed her to at least remember my face, remember what we did... Remember me...

I recalled the song she sang. And then I wrote it down.

I had the best night, thank you. Say you'll remember me... —S.

***

"Nothing lasts forever But this is gonna take me down."

—Taylor Swift, Wildest Dreams

***

TAGLIST:

@bluesunrise02 @meowiemari @teenwolfgirl90

[whump-captain]

Febuwhump Day 4

Nightmares (2100 words)

day and a half late on account on the injustice of me having to actually work at my job instead of writing. but it's a Trauma Episode™ so i had a great time

---

CN: self-harm (scratching), nightmares, flashbacks, minor manhandling

---

They all have different words for the evening's plans: Elaine called it a stakeout, because they were to wait in hiding at the warehouse until the ghost showed itself; Cutter said it was a sleepover because it was overnight and, in his words, "quality time". Joy, as the only one with any regard for the law, knows that what they're doing is technically called trespassing.

She sits with her back against the cold concrete wall, a vibration of some distant machine filling her head with a low hum that she feels as much as she hears. Elaine is somewhere outside, soundlessly stalking the perimeter for any paranormal threats - and also the police. Joy volunteered for the first indoor watch, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to sleep in an industrial warehouse that she's not supposed to be in, and that also happens to be haunted at this very moment. She's not regretting coming along in search of photo ops just yet, but she suspects she will start soon.

In grating contrast, Cutter doesn't seem to be having any of those issues. He pulled his hood up and went to sleep five minutes after Joy offered to take watch; now he's comfortably leaning against a crate opposite her, legs crossed in front of him and arms folded, his head nodding down as he sleeps as soundly as a normal person would on a train.

Or so she thinks until, quieter than a breath, she hears him mutter:

"Stop."

Her heart skips a beat. Immediately she remembers when she last saw him asleep before, feverish and caught in a nightmare. Now he has the same frown slowly falling over his features, the same whispered words rustle the stale air of the warehouse:

"Let go," he repeats. "Let go."

Joy reaches over and kicks him in the heel. "Hey," she hisses.

Cutter jerks slightly, but his eyes remain closed. His breathing evens out though, and he falls silent again, his head dipping slightly to the side into the shadow of his hood.

Joy lets out a breath and lets it morph into a long, deep sigh. If she wasn't on edge before, she certainly is now. She doesn't need a reminder that there might be stuff of nightmares in this building; she feels it in everything around her, the sense of unease crawling under her skin and sending her eyes darting around. Her camping torch casts a circle of light on the cold concrete floor and beyond it, there aren't even shadows. Just impenetrable pitch black like a velvet curtain hiding the rest of the warehouse.

All there is is sound, the whispering industrial symphony of sleeping machinery. The low hum persists, reaching now into her bones and mixing with the shiver of cold that runs through her. Something drips somewhere. The odd high pitched creak of settling metal puts her on edge. It's exactly what she would imagine a monster to sound like.

Then, a rustle of fabric. She only doesn't start because she's already bracing for something to scare her. She drags her gaze back from the darkness and with it her thoughts: nothing's here to get her just yet. It's just Cutter shifting in his sleep; he fixes the high collar of his coat, pushes aside the hood.

Then his hands wander and pull at the fabric. He opens his coat with a sharp tug, and his movements grow faster as he grabs at the neck of his hoodie. He mutters something again and Joy leans in closer, heart suddenly pounding. She can't make out the words, just that he's repeating them again.

Suddenly he twitches, throws his head back against the crate. Joy starts backwards. Both of Cutter's hands yank at his collar and stitches rip with a dry crack. His fists close with unrestrained, convulsive force and twist into the fabric as his face sets into an anguished grimace. He gasps once and then his breath catches, grows rapid and fragmented.

"Hey!" Joy calls again. Half-rising, she comes closer and shakes his shoulder. "Hey! Wake up!"

He doesn't even flinch from the touch. His body goes rigid and now only his hands move, clawing their way up to his throat. Hooked fingers dig into skin and he rakes them down: short, jerky motions in complete silence of held breath. Joy leans in closer and her heart again picks up the pace. Even in the dark she can see the scratches his fingernails leave behind, angry marks all the way down his neck. He keeps tracing the same lines over and over, deeper and deeper red.

Joy shakes him again. He takes a wheezing breath, curls in on himself. "Wake up!" she yells.

She grabs his hands and yanks them away. With a shout, he lunges forward but Joy pushes him back down, pinning his swinging arms to his chest. His eyes are wide now and filled with such frantic fear that Joy doubts if he can even see her. With his wrists still in a death grip, she brings her face close to his and says: "Calm down. Breathe."

He does. He closes his eyes and lets out a long, hissing breath, until he has to gasp again. Then once more. It doesn't take long; his body relaxes, his expression smooths out and when he looks back at her, he just seems confused. He moves his arms tentatively and Joy quickly releases him.

"Sorry," she says. She sits back on her heels and Cutter crooks his head at her, looking almost amused.

"What's that all about?"

She just stares at him. It's like whiplash; hearing his casual tone and looking at his usual easy smile, it suddenly feels like the past few minutes didn't happen at all. Some tiny, cowardly voice inside squeaks at her to forget them.

But she'd be a different person entirely if she ever listened to that voice.

She takes a breath.

"You were hurting yourself," she says. His face doesn't change, but his body betrays him: he reaches up to his neck. "Yeah," she confirms and then she sees it, the slight sideways flick of his eyes. It was real, then. She asks: "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he answers lightly, almost incredulously. "It's just a dream. It's fine."

Joy frowns. "No, it's not. Your neck-"

He waves his hand to cut her off. "It's fine. It's not like it's deep or anything-"

"That doesn't matter!" she bursts out and at that he grimaces. Joy pulls back. His words sit so wrong with her, she feels her cheeks flushing and she doesn't even know what it is that burns inside of her. There's anger there at such flippant dismissal of something so serious; there's deep discomfort at living through a moment that was not meant for her. But there's something simpler, too, and sitting much heavier on her lungs when she brings her voice down and says: "Cutter, what's going on?"

"Nothing." He shrugs and his smile is reassuring now, earnest. Almost. "It's just a nightmare, happens all the time."

Joy opens her mouth, but quickly he adds:

"To everyone. In this industry, at least; and definitely in a place like this." He chuckles, looking out into the darkness. "Isn't that why you called dibs on the first watch?"

It's like watching a master craftsman. Joy remembers all the times that they ran into security, or police, or a short-tempered rival hunter; seeing Cutter flip some internal switch and, in the blink of an eye, slip into a brand new personality, exactly the one needed to diffuse the situation. And through those memories, she recognizes him doing the same now; except now she can see the edges between the lies that he cycles through, the moments he realizes one approach isn't working and moves on to another.

The shadow that passes over his features in those moments stabs a tiny needle somewhere into her heart. So she sets her mind on not letting any of his approaches work at all.

"What do you mean by "all the time"?" She ignores his question. "How often does this happen?"

He grimaces again, his gaze still lost somewhere beyond the circle of light. He also knows her well, enough to know that she isn't going to give up.

"A few times a week?" he concedes and this time his shrug almost looks like he's bracing. "Maybe? I don't really keep-"

The feeling in Joy's chest grips tighter. She speaks slowly to control her volume: "You hurt yourself in your sleep a few times a week?"

"No, it's not- always that bad." He turns his head away. "It's fine."

"You should talk to someone about this."

"I'm talking to you."

"You know what I mean." She rolls her eyes slightly. But before he can voice the rebuttal he clearly has ready, she adds: "And no, you're not talking to me. You're deflecting. And I don't understand why."

Cutter sticks his hands into his pockets and it becomes clear she has achieved the impossible: she made him uncomfortable. But she doesn't let the pang of guilt take hold in her mind: all she's doing is being honest, or even simpler - open. Discomfort born from that is unhealthy on the best of days. So she doesn't budge, waiting in silence as he avoids her eyes and as a mixture of half-concealed emotions plays on his face.

If she didn't know him, she'd be hurt that he doesn't trust her. But she knows that he does and so seeing the effort it takes him to speak just makes her deeply, helplessly sad.

"No use dwelling on it, is there?" he says finally, only a hint of tension in his voice. "It's not going to change anything whether I talk about it or not. It's just a dream. It happens and it's over."

"But wouldn't you rather not have them?" she asks quietly.

"I mean, yeah, of course." He shrugs again. "But that's not really an option, is it?"

"I-" Joy stutters, then says forcefully: "Yes. Yes, it is. You're not going to feel like this forever." Her voice softens. She's beginning to understand, just slightly, so she tries to sound neutral. Casual. "And talking does help, sometimes. Even just to me, just about… what you saw. Just so somebody else knows."

Distant scraping somewhere in the dark fills the moment of silence. Then Cutter lets out a long breath, one he must have been holding as she spoke. He finally meets her gaze and from behind the layers of conflict in his eyes, a small spark of fear glints through.

"Well, you already know." He smiles, forced. "You were there."

She nods. A memory wisps its way to the front of her mind: a voice screeching inhuman words, the grinding noise of crushed glass gathering into shape. Beautiful rainbow reflections glittering on crumbling walls. Blood.

"Yeah," she says. "I dreamt about that too." It's strange how easily she can say that, even as her memory still plays back the sound of screaming. "And I tried… well, remembering that we survived. I made myself remember that before going to sleep, I kind of… retold the dream to make it less bad." It's her turn to shrug. What took her such effort years ago now seems so simple. "It didn't always work. But sometimes it did. And now I get them less often."

She knows he trusts her. But from how still he is, from what finally crystallises on his conflicted expression, she can also see that he doesn't believe her.

Despite that, when he smiles again it's genuine.

"You're smart," he says.

"Yeah," she agrees. "Because I go to therapy. So I know how to tell when your brain is being stupid." She leans over and flicks his forehead at the last word. He sputters incredulously, a sound that then turns into a low chuckle.

"You should try it," Joy adds.

"I'd have to lie to them so much." He stretches out his arms. "I can take the next watch."

"I'll stay up with you." She shuffles backwards and leans against the cold wall. Cutter doesn't protest. "Call me next time you get that dream," she says lightly. "You don't have to tell me about it, we can just chill. Even if it's like three A.M."

"Are you sure?" He smiles slightly. "Three A.M. is when my Tekken skills are at their most impressive."

"I'll wipe the floor with you, don't think I won't."

"Did you learn that in therapy, too?"

"All the more reason for you to go, too, maybe you can finally get good."

Cutter huffs in amused offence. "I have the screenshots of our leaderboard, you know."

"I have my Switch with me if you wanna go," she points her thumb at her backpack with a taunting grin.

They share this comfort zone of playful mockery. Joy's camping torch paints the looming walls orange and beyond its light, the warehouse hums its song in darkness.

"You brought a Switch to a ghost hunting stakeout?"

"You're the one who called it a sleepover."

[that--unusual-person]

(Harry Potter crossover) How about the Pillar men with a muggleborn wizard/witch reader who's from the british magic community and who's got heavy PTSD from the whole "Voldemort mess" and from the abuse they were victim from students at Hogwart and from the british magic community 'cause they are muggleborn ? How would the Pillar men react the first time reader told them they were a wizard/witch ?(since the Pillar men are technically "mystical beings" reader would not have violated the secrety statut) How would they react when learning about what reader has been gone through and would have done when reader had mental breackdown because of their PTSD ? And how would they react if a witch/wizard is being rude/threatening to reader because they're a muggleborn ?

I had to go back and read some Harry Potter since it’s been years, I hope I wrote all this right.

-

The Pillar Men were shocked to find someone like you, and you were just as surprised finding these strange beings in the middle of an abandoned woods.  Your meeting was purely by accident, you were stumbling across an open cave hoping to find shelter before the dangers of the woods find you after the cold begins to rise and the sun falls.  You found yourself in what seems to be the center of the cave and you got more than you bargained for, finding what seems like a small group of the deadliest predators in miles.  Strangely enough, they seem almost human, though, upon a closer look you discovered some odd features they possessed such as the horns that protruded their heads or the way their body structure is formed.  Not to mention the strange markings on each of their faces alongside the clothes they wore… well, what’s ever left the clothes they were wearing.  They noticed your smaller form standing in the hall of the cave, the fire in the center of the large opening giving light to the creatures that stand before you but you were sure they couldn’t see you since the light of the fire couldn’t reach you.  As you turn on your foot ready to make a break for it and head out the way you came in before these creatures could lay a hand on you a booming voice calls out, “Stop.  You... intruder.”  The sound of the musky and rough voice brings you to a halt and slowly twisting your head back to them you noticed the one with blonde hair was the one speaking to you.  “Why have you enter entered our home.”  As you open your mouth to speak, the one with an X across their face speaks up seemingly louder, “And step forward into the light.”  Hesitantly, you step forward as they keep close eyes on you.  As you step further into the fire’s glow you explained you were finding a place to rest for the night and in your search, you happened to stumble into their cave for shelter.  You began apologizing and for entering their home without knowing they lived here, hoping they would forgive you.  They were silent for sometime before the man with the X speaks again, “they speak the truth.”  “... Their presence is… powerful.  Familiar to… a witch/wizard,” you notice the man with red hair and two horns speak up while moving closer to you.  You take a step back as his face is inches away from yours, he places his hands on your shoulders and keeps you in place as he studies your face and clothing.  It’s almost like he’s reading you like a book, it is until he speaks again your stomach drops, “They are… born of non-magical parents.”  You’re a muggleborn, and you wished to keep it secret but the thing in front of you ratted you out without even blinking an eye.  The being lets go of your shoulders and pushes his hand on the lower of your back ushering you towards the creature who stands out above the others.  His hair is messy yet looks silky to the touch, purple curls reaching past his waist and the look in his eyes is as calm as any predator before going in for the kill.  “Master Kars… this being… have you any… knowledge… of their kind?  I have never met… an offspring who possess magic born from… magicless parents.”  The purple-haired man stared at you without a word, eyes moving up and down taking in your features.  Out of the corner of your eye, you see the other two begin to close in gazing at you before turning to the man named Kars, waiting for what seems an answer.  “I do not know the origins of their family tree or their relations with magic… it seems I am too the first to meet a... muggle-born, in person.”  Your sweating waterfalls at this point.  If the witches/wizards back in your town never respect you and treat you lower than dirt, you have no clue how these being would handle you.

“Fascinating…”  Your ears perk up as your eyes meet the reds of the being in front of you, his hand on his chin and a small smirk on his face, “A little creature who has the capability of using magic without a single trace of witch/wizard parents in their bloodline… such a curious sight to see.”  “I agree, Lord Kars, this human seems capable of using magic with no problem at all despite their Muggle parentage.”  “And they definitely look far weak… I can tell this one can put up quite the fight.”  “This… muggleborn is very… special… indeed.”  They all started mumbling about your bloodline and use of magic as you stand there just as confused as the second you stepped into their home.  Suddenly they were silenced by Kars, he faces towards you sharp eyes barring into yours, “Tell me, little muggleborn… are you treated equally?”  All eyes on you now as you slowly look between every one of them, shock and nervousness on your face as your shoulders tense up and your hands fall into fists.  Suddenly Kars chuckles, “Where are my manners, asking such questions without you knowing who we are.  I am Kars, leader of the Pillar Men and creator of the most superior beings of all mythic creatures.  The man with white hair is Esidisi, next to him is a man named Wamuu… and to your side is Santana.”  Santana gives you a small wave of his hand, you shyly return the gesture as Wamuu nods his head greeting you while Esidisi gives a broad smile.  They all seem very friendly despite being such strange mythical creatures, you never expected them to be so calm.  Your history with mythical beings has always ended up in knots and very crude endings, so this was certainly a somewhat pleasant surprise.  And you never heard of a race named the Pillar Men… they must be extinct.  “Back to the question at hand…”  Kars’s voice breaks you from your thoughts, “Are you treated equally among your human race?”  You look into his eyes once more before taking a breath and giving the most honest answer you could.  Treated unfairly, lower than dirt, cast out, and shamed for your heritage.  Explaining made you very upset and Kars seem to notice this, raising a hand to stop you, “You need not speak anymore, human.  I understand your struggle… if you wish to not continue, speak up and we will change the course of the topic.”  Letting out the breath you’ve been holding, you’re relieved they aren’t degrading you about your heritage behind a muggle-born.  “How dare they treat such a powerful witch/wizard with such disgusting ways,” Wamuu suddenly booms.  “If I had the chance I would finish them off without a second glaze.  No being of your power deserves to be treated in such a way.”  Esidisi nods his head in agreement.  “These pathetic humans don’t know a gifted witch/wizard when they meet one.  Such a terrible display, you deserve far better than this.”  “I would… consume them… never to be seen… again.  You do not need… to hear their words… or feel their actions towards you, human,” Santana pats your head lightly as he tries his best to comfort you.  Kars hums quietly, “It is a shame, it very much is.  Oh, what I would do to those who see your kind as such.  They do not deserve to live with that fake superiority of theirs.”  Okay, strange way of saying ‘wish I could’ve been there to stick up for you when you were being bullied’, but you take it kindly non-the-less.  Aside from all that, they seem to see you as any other witch/wizard they know.  In fact, it seems quite the opposite of seeing you at the bottom of the food chain… they seem almost infinitely curious about you and far from seeing you any different from other witches/wizards.  “Lord Kars… if I may be allowed to ask the human a question.”  Glancing at Wamuu you can see he’s been waiting to ask you something for quite a while now.  “You may ask them your quarry.”  With a nod of his head once more Wamuu faces you, “How is it possible you are such a strong witch/wizard despite all the trouble and hardships you are put through?”  Esidisi suddenly leans in close next to Wamuu.  It looks like they share the same curiosity, their eyes practically shining bright even with the fire’s early glow.  Starting your story you tell them how every day you push yourself to prove you are just as powerful as any other witch/wizard no matter what, muggleborn or not.  Your story seems to touch Wamuus hard as his gaze becomes full of hope and wonder listening to your story, almost like a child listening to a fairytale.  As you finish, you feel Santana lightly tap your shoulder.  “Can you… show us… your magical abilities?”  Now it was your turn to beam.  Your eyes light up at the request, never having someone or some being ask you to show off your skills and talents, it warms your heart.  With a firm nod of your head and a proud smile on your face, the mythical creatures known as the Pillar Men watch as you cast as many spells as you can remember and show your mastery.  They loved the show you put on for them, and for the knowledge of your presentation, they offer you to say for the night, and for any that may follow in your need.  Muggleborn or not, you’re always welcome into the Pillar Men’s home with open arms.

“Now that’s a lot of hocus-pocus.” - Von

[milasartblog]

Value of the messenger

Sometimes there is a moment where we have to stop and think about all the things we did, all the things we achieved, all the people we've met and all the decisions we chose. For some of them we feel pride and happiness, to others - sadness and regret, to some even a confusion and feeling of emptiness that we can't explain. It can take a day or even a week to analyse ourselves and make some conclusion. Today was such a day for angel Anoli. It's been a long time since she and Chris became a couple and are in a relationship, since she gain friends and began to take care of nephilim. Time flew fast, and yet slow at the same time. During such period of time, one question was still bothering the messenger. How long will all of this last? How long will her relationship with Chris last? She is not a mortal anymore. Before all of this, things were simple for her: she was just an angel wandering around and sending positive messages to people that need it. But now....she can't help but think about what if one day...her beloved one dies? Is there a way to prevent it? If yes, what price is required? How high is the price? How much time does it require? How painful will it be? If there is no way...does it mean that she became an angel for nothing? Does it mean that she has to break up with him, even if it makes both of them suffer emotionally? So many questions and almost no answer. She didn't want to worry her boyfriend and friends, but at the same time she couldn't handle such questions on her own. And so, she decided to organise a meeting with her guardian, Michael. Anoli was sitting on one of the building's roof, waiting for archangel to show, while watching the beautiful sunset and enjoying the cool wind caressing her hair and wings. The waiting was not so long as Michael finally appeared.

Michael: Good evening, Anoli. You called me?

Anoli: Good evening, Michael. Yeah, I was wondering if-...You're in human clothes?

She examined Michael's outfit as the archangel giggled awkwardly.

Michael: Sorry, I was just on my way to Lucifer.

Anoli: Oh, I see. Sorry if I interrupted your meeting.

Michael: Don't be. If you need help with something, I will do my best. Besides, knowing Lucifer he will definitely find something to do. I will apologise to him later.

Anoli: Hehe, true.

They smiled and giggled as Michael walked closer and stood next to Anoli, watching at the sunset for a couple of minutes.

Michael: So, about what did you want to talk with me? Is Liya causing troubles again?

Anoli: Oh, no, it's not like that. I mean, she sure still does her pranks and stuff, but less. Plus, she is teaching Nazeel how to use fire magic.

Michael: Umm, won't it cause the fire at home?

Anoli: Yeah, but not trusting her is also not right. She is one of my friends after all, and not allowing her to grow up and become wiser will be not right from me. Plus, with Lucifer it would be much greater fire than with Liya.

Michael: Hehe, true. I'm glad that you can do such decisions. You become wiser and wiser, Anoli. I'm so proud of you.

Anoli: Thank you, Michael. But I called you for...another reason.

She looked down sadly, which made Michael be concern a bit.

Michael: What is it, Anoli?

Anoli: I....You know that I'm in a relationship with Chris, right?

Michael: Yeah, I do. You told me a lot about him. Did something happen between you two?

Anoli: Oh no, it's not like that. It's just....can an angel live with a human? I mean, as a couple, as a family.

The archangel didn’t expect such question to be, which made him think for a moment. 

Michael: Well, as a rule, angels are not supposed to be in a relationship with a human. They're guardian angels, they guard and guide human to the right path. Any physical contact with human can cause some troubles, and-

Anoli: So I was not supposed to be in a relationship?

The messenger was stunned. Realising what he just said, Michael tried to get the situation under control.

Michael: No no no, dear, you still can be with Chris. Just with you it's different and...kinda complicated. Since you were a human before, it's understandable that you want to be in a relationship with him.

Anoli: But that's the problem. I'm no longer a human, Michael. You resurrected me as an angel, gave me a new life, new goal. And as an angel I was supposed to follow the rules, right?

Michael: Well, technically yeah, but-

Anoli: Then does it mean....that I have to break up with Chris? Make him forget about me? About others?

Michael: What? No, you don't have to. Like i said, as a rule it should be like this, in practice anything can happen.

Anoli: But aren’t angels supposed to follow the rules and laws? I have already broken this rule and now....now i'm having the sense of anxiety. A feeling that....one day I will lose my angel disguise and that I will not be able to be with Chris anymore.

She looked at Michael with upset and crystal from upcoming tears eyes. Realising what he just said, the archangel was lost for a moment, words couldn't put themselves together. And yet he couldn't admit that as an angel she did broke the rule of being with mortal. But no big consequences followed yet, right? Moreover he gave her new life outside of the Heaven, so basically he broke the rule too, right? He looked down with upset look, while Anoli looked at him with the question she was hoping to get the solution from it.

Anoli: You must have seen situations like this before, right? Maybe there were angels like me who also were in love with their humans and whom you have helped them be together, right?

But Michael only shook his head sadly. Angel’s face was now hopeless.

Michael: I’m sorry, Anoli, but...most of angels have followed their rules and even if they had feelings to the mortal, they had to erase their memories about them in order to not burden them and not to spell out the secrets of Heaven. I’m not even talking about giving the immortality to the mortals they have interest in. I hope you know why.

Anoli: ...Because of the balance between life and death.

He nodded as Anoli looked down. Tears were coming right away. Anoli tried to hold them, but her soft nature prevented her from doing it. The guilt crawled on Michael’s back to the every inch of the feather. But what could he do? This is something that no divinity dares to do. He felt that Anoli realises the consequences of such actions and yet he knew that it was not something she wanted to hear.

Anoli: Sometimes I even ask myself if it was worth to become a messenger, if it was worth to agree with you. No matter what I do, it’s always not enough. Was it really worth if you can’t even enjoy the life fully, can’t be in love with the dearest person to you, can’t be...free?

She sat down on the edge of the roof, hugging her knees and burying her face into her arms and knees. For a couple of minutes they were like this, silent. Suddenly Michael remembered one thing that his brother Gabriel told him, about Sybil and her decision to be with human she is supposed to guard. It was so controversial for them, but in the end he and his brothers had to accept Sybil’s choise. Taking someone’s freedom of speech and action away is not according to the angel. But would such example help in this situation? It’s not a secret that times in Heaven have change, but not that drastically like in Hell. And yet, it was worth a try, he thought. Michael sat down next to her, carefully putting his hand on her shoulder. Anoli flinched, but...didn’t push it away.

Michael: Look, Anoli, I admit that...my action towards you was not right. But it’s not technically right also according to angel’s rules.

Anoli:...Really?

Michael: Yes. You see, I saved you from an unfair death out of...my own will. And THIS is something that was not written in the rules. So, technically, I broke the rule too. Do you want to know why?

Anoli: I...I think you told me before, but it won’t hurt to remind.

Michael: I did it because when I was watching over you, I noticed a spark in your soul. No matter what happened in your life, you did your best to stay positive. You wanted to bring this positivity to everyone, which is not possible for everyone. Of course right now you realise that sometimes there are “not really” nice people, and yet you didn’t give up on it. That was something that...made me feel like getting close to mortals, to learn something from them too. And because of this and thanks to demons’ influence, not only me, but some other angels began to be interested in mortal realm too.

Anoli: Really? But what about the rules? 

Michael: Like in mortal realm, Heaven laws sooner or later also face some changes. It’s inevitable. Just it took us a long time to realise it. Some of them tho are still active, like the immortality one.

Anoli: I see....So, my resurrection as an angel made a push to the changes?

Michael: Your situation was one of those that helped us to move from the dead point. Plus, there is only few messengers that can bring the light even if there is no hope. They’re little helpers that value even more than just a simple guarding task. And I’m saying the truth. Plus, who knows what Liya would do without an angel like you.

He smiled to Anoli sincerely, drying her tears kindly. Anoli thought for a moment, then smiled.

Anoli: You’re right. Even if I’m not able to bring happiness to everyone, I still have dearest people to me. But it still didn’t answer my question.

Michael: About that....I...will try my best to search for a solution, but no immortality.

Anoli: Really? You will...really look for other way?

Michael: However, all this is still up to your partner. When the time comes, you two should think about it carefully, and only then I can do something. 

Anoli: But won’t it cause troubles for you? You’re an archangel, the face of Heaven.

Michael: I...I know. But not helping my ward is also not right from me. So, I will see what I can do, but it’s all up to you and your partner.

Anoli: I see...Heaven’s laws are sure complicated.

Michael: Hehe, agree. 

They looked into the horizon for a moment. The sun almost disappeared under the blanket of the night, promising to come back another day. 

Anoli: Thank you, Michael.

Michael: Huh? For what? I didn’t do anything.

Anoli: And yet, you gave me a hope that we still can do something. Together. As friends and as a family.

Michael was surprised for a moment, but smiled too as they looked at the horizon again. It was getting darker and darker and soon it was time for Michael to go to the meeting. He looked at Anoli as offered a hug. The angel looked at Michael and after a couple of seconds hugged him.

Anoli: You need to go now?

Michael: Yeah, Anoli. Even if Lucifer has enough patience to wait for me, I still have other duties to do. But don’t worry, even if I don’t have the solution now, I will do my best to help you. No matter what?

Anoli: Promise?

Michael:...Promise.

They kept hugging for one more minute before saying goodbyes to each other and come back to their casual routines. Even if the problem is still in the air, there is still a light of hope at the end of the tunnel.

----------------------------------

And that's another story for the universe^^ A little update on our universe, to show that it's still alive XD Hope you will like it^^

Anoli and Michael belong to @wildstarfan and @milasartblog (both me)

Sybil belongs to @captainthane

Okaria et Feria belongs to @wildstarfan and @captainthane

[deliverydefresas]

another aeroplane, another sunny place

AKA, the final bonus part of shape of you that wasn't posted here, but on wp. very much inspired by michael bublé's song 'home' back in 2017 that i finally finished writing a while ago. technically it can be read as a standalone os since that's how it was originally written as, but it also makes sense in the sofy universe. (just like another os i will post sometime next week that i *also* posted on wp but not on here)

ANYWAYS feel free to ignore if you've read it already, since i'm mostly just posting it here in case i need to reference it later!

may be surrounded by a million people i still feel alone, i just wanna go home

oh, i miss you, you know

He'd been on the road for eight months now.

He was grateful of all the success the Rollerband was getting; a worldwide sold-out tour, thousands of records sold, a renewed signing contract for another three years. He knew he was lucky, and he couldn't deny it.

Career-wise, he was happy, living his rock-star dream. His personal life was a whole different thing.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. And it was true, honestly. If he thought he loved his girlfriend before, he knew for sure now that he was ten thousand kilometers away. However, what they don't tell you, it's how hard it can get when such a distance is formed. He hadn't talked to Ámbar, like really talked, in two months.

Their relationship had gotten to an only-texting communication, with hello's and goodnight's texts received every day. The phone calls had reduced to once a week, if that.

It hadn't started that way, though. The first three months consisted of daily three-hours-long video calls, with the occasional visit if uni and her schedule allowed her, then they passed to a one-hour daily cellphone call... now they were lucky they even remembered to put 'i love you' at the end of their texts.

He didn't like it, not one bit. He knew where they were leading; he'd seen it first with Jim and Nico years ago (which was a reason he tried not to date anyone seriously), and then a few months later with Delfi and Pedro. Simón didn't want that for Ámbar and himself.

He checked the time; almost midnight where he was, so it'd only be around 7 PM in Buenos Aires. Her uni classes ended at three, so either she was at the J&R or doing homework.

Deciding he didn't have anything to lose, he pressed 'call' on his phone. Five rings later, she picked up, her beaming face appearing on his screen. Gosh, how he'd missed her.

"Aló, Simón?!" Her voice sounded a little breathy, but overall excited. He had to smile when he heard her. "How are you? I miss you," she sighed wistfully on the other side of the line. The hand she wasn't using to hold the phone went to her hair, twirling a lock away from her face.

"I miss you too," Simón answered, a small smile gracing his lips, "I'm coming home soon, only a couple of weeks more, little gem."

"It feels like too long, but at least it's sooner than eight months," she mumbled, sighing again, "how's Spain? Didn't you have a show tonight?"

"Spain's great, full of life," he remembered the crowd, screaming and singing along, "the show ended an hour ago. I'm feeling a little homesick, I guess," he admitted, "I wish I was there with you."

"Don't," she reprimanded him, shaking her head a little, "you'll be here soon, enjoy tour life while you can."

"That's the thing... I'm not enjoying it anymore." Ámbar went still at this. If it weren't for the tenue sound of music she was listening on her side and that he could hear through the phone, he'd have thought it's freezed on him; when he realized that wasn't the case, he continued. "It's been too long. I miss our bed, I miss waking up next to you, hugging you, kissing you... I miss our dog and I miss our friends. This life... it feels so empty, little gem." He wasn't ashamed to say he was close to tears. He loved touring, giving concerts in different parts of the world, meeting fans all over the globe... those were heavy pros. Simón just wished he'd have more time for his family.

"Don't think like that, Simón, please." She begged him, the little tremble in her voice gave away her emotions, her face had barely moved. Simón knew it was more for his sake than for hers. "I miss you too, so much it hurts sometimes. But this is your dream, love, this is what you've worked so hard for; don't let homesickness stop you from finding joy in what you love the most."

"I'll try, I promise I will. I just... I don't know..."

"I get it, I'm the same sometimes. But you must understand; we're not them, Simón." Her voice turned softer, understanding, and soothing. He loved that about her, that she seemed to know what to say and how to say it without a prompt given. "Do you know why they didn't work out? It's not because they loved each other less, or because the distance was too much. It was the pressure of feeling that if they weren't near each other, if they didn't talk to the other 24/7, their bond would break. It was too much, and it ended up leaving them strained."

"Is this your way of telling me you don't want to talk to me anymore?" he joked, his smile growing as she rolled her eyes.

"You're an idiot." She deadpanned, changing her position on the bed to recline her back on their bedrest. "Seriously, though, do you get what I'm saying?"

"Yes, love. I know I shouldn't care too much about how much we talk as it does not define our relationship but what can I say? I miss you." She grinned at him.

"I miss you, too. I'm always a call away," she promised him, but then she frowned, "unless I'm at class, then sorry, you'll have to talk to my voicemail."

He laughed, "I see how it is, a boring class is way more important than funny me. How's everything over there? How's my princess?"

"Always." She winked at him. "Everything's fine. I had lunch with my mom today, she made mushroom lasagna, I told her already that mushrooms taste like nothing, but she swears they're flavorful; I might go visit my dad tomorrow as well; he's been bugging me about having dinner with him and his family," he absentmindedly scrunched his nose at the mention of the fungi, he hated them, "Toppy is here, I can put you on speaker so you can talk to her, if you want. I can't promise she'll answer, though, she's been giving me an attitude lately."

"An attitude? You're rubbing on her, aren't you? When I get home, I'll come back to two Ámbar's instead of one." He teased her, earning a huff from his girl. "Let me talk to her, I bet she doesn't even recognize my voice anymore."

"You've always been her favorite, she will." She replied softly, and then it was quiet for a couple of seconds, while she took off the earphones' plug from her phone. "Okay, you're on speaker now. Toppy, babe, come greet daddy." Simón waited until he heard a 'thud' – followed by Ámbar adjusting her phone's camera so he could see both his girl and their pet- to speak again.

"Toppy?" Not a sound.

Before he could get sad he got no response, Ámbar spoke. "She's smelling my phone, talk again." She sounded amused, so Simón complied, cheerier this time.

"How's my favorite puppet doing? I heard you're giving mommy a bit of trouble. What happened to my good girl?" He wasn't done with his first question when the barking started, his pup's little whines sounded almost as if she was reprimanding his absence.

"She's missed you." His girlfriend exclaimed over the barking, chuckling at the way Toppy's tail swat rapidly.

"I miss her too." He sighed again, "I miss you both a lot."

"Just a few more weeks." She reminded him, her smile and tone wistful as she tried to contain the pup's wriggling body. He had to smile at that.

"Just a few more weeks." He echoed, the underlying promise loud to their ears. "I love you."

"I love you too." She paused for a second, before speaking again, "now please go to sleep, you look like you died a week ago." Simón laughed at that, but he knew better than to fight her when she was trying to take care of him.

"I'll call you tomorrow, alright?"

His words were met with a grin. "Not if I text you first. I love you so much, Simón."

"I love you more, little gem. Take care, okay? I'll see you as soon as I can." She sent him a kiss through the phone, before disconnecting the call. He stared at the screen for a couple of minutes, before the 'low battery' notification popped up and he had to charge it. The call left him feeling much better, so he decided to go to bed already.

Just a few more weeks ran like a mantra trough his mind, soothing his fears and anxiety. Just a few more weeks and I'll be home.