#le just a jump to the left and then a step to the right has arrived

[beardedmrbean]

[annwrites]

⸻ a call to arms. part five. ⸻

· pairing: jacaerys velaryon x dragonseed!reader · type: part of a series · summary: you & jace hide yourselves away in a familiar alcove after a morning tiff. · word count: 3,286

When you wake the next morn, you feel in at least slightly better spirits.

You’d, after your 'incident' with Jace, sent the coin he’d given you to your family in King’s Landing, writing for them to send notice to you as soon as possible, informing you that they've received it.

Once you’ve broken your fast and dressed, you emerge from your chambers, wanting for an early-morning walk along the beach…only to be greeted by an unfamiliar guard outside your door.

“Where…where is Ser Myles?”

He bows his head to you. “I believe he has been reassigned, My Lady.”

You blink up at the strange man before you, anger quickly flooding your every sense.

You head directly for Jacaerys’ room.

Jace is interrupted from breaking his fast by a loud pounding on his door.

He panics, immediately worried that, mayhaps, it is Baela. 

What if she knows of last night—what nearly occurred between the two of you? What if she has come to call off their betrothal? Gods, what in Seven fucking Hells had he been thinking? What has he been since your first meeting but a couple of nights ago?

When you’re near, he finds himself unable to think straight. You cloud his judgements. Rather, force him to think with only one part of himself—and it is most certainly not with what sits between his ears, but rather his legs.

He stands, walking toward the door—lightly jumping when the pounding begins again. He wrenches it open—ready to loose his sharp tongue on whomever has forgotten their manners so early in the morn, only to be immediately cut off by you barging into his chambers.

“Where is he?” You ask acidically, swiftly swinging round to him, your loose silver hair falling over your shoulders. 

His mouth tugs into a frown.

The pleasant girl from last night has clearly fled him once again, instead replaced by one filled with fire.

“You’ll need be more specific, I’m afraid,” he replies cooly.

You take a step closer, your hands balled into tight fists at your sides, your nostrils flared. “Ser Myles, my guard. Where is he?”

He grits his teeth. “He has been reassigned.”

“To whom?” You spit.

“Not to whom, but to where,” he states flatly.

You seethe. “You sent him away.”

“I did. He was no longer suited to his role here as your protector.”

“Because he dared touch me, as if I did not do it back?” You ask with a raised brow and a hammering heart.

He takes a small step toward you, and then another. “You barely knew him. Why does it matter?”

His brow twitches in irritation. “Unless it was more than just a few ‘innocent’ touches which were shared. Mayhaps...”

He grins then, chuckling darkly, shaking his head.

“What?” You bark with vehemence. 

He steps closer, followed by another step and another, while you back up, glancing behind you, the wall on the right side of the room growing ever-closer.

“It is just your nature, isn’t it? I should’ve known as much the night last when you encouraged me to…to dishonor my betrothed.”

Your jaw falls slightly open. 

“You can’t help yourself. A wanton woman who can think only with that which is between her le—”

You slap him.

Slowly, he turns back in your direction, watching silently as tears slip down your cheeks and your chin wobbles.

“I am not the only one to blame,” you say between sobs.

His face falls slightly at the state of you. Of his own causing, no less.

“He was my friend. He was like me: lowborn. I’d found someone to talk to, and you took him away from me. Leaving me left with only the likes of you. If you wish for someone to blame for what we did, you should first take a look in the mirror, and remember whom it was who summoned whom to sup with them.”

He remains silent, only breathing steadily as he continues to stare at you.

“Jealousy and pride is no excuse to treat people as you do: disposable, lesser than, inconsequential.”

You step closer, jutting your chin upward as you stare into his brown eyes. “We are many. It is all of you who is few. You should remember that for when you are one day king, and inevitably go a step too far.”

You turn, heading for the door, slamming it behind you.

You find a quiet spot on the beach where you turn your back to your new guard and cry. 

You refuse to even speak to him. Not because you do not wish to, but because you are afraid of what may happen to him if you try.

No place is safe here.

You are filled with immeasurable guilt. For Myles—losing his position here is all your fault. Had the two of you never met, he would still be in his position. And for Baela. 

You could see it yesterday when she looked at the two of you, could hear it in her tone—the worry that Jacaerys looks upon you in a way he should not. 

She deserves better than someone like him, you’re sure. Then again, she, too, is highborn. Most like, she sees you just as he does.

As they all do.

You hate it here.

You don’t bother coming in, even when you begin to shiver from being cold. You merely sit and stare at the endless expanse of sea that lies before you.

You know your guard must be growing tired, but when you had tried telling him that if he would like to go inside he may, he’d merely told you his post was protecting you.

So you drift away in your thoughts, returning to your small abode in King's Landing, pretending you are sat upon a rocking chair, your little girl in your lap as she snacks on pastries you've made for her as you tell her stories.

Mayhaps you should instead steal away on Silverwing, as opposed to remaining here. Offer yourself to the Greens. At least that way, you will be closer to home.

You cannot support a family such as this. Neither of them deserve that which they fight for.

You wrap your arms round yourself, debating.

Jacaerys had given you a bit of time after your morning tiff in hopes that you would cool down.

He, himself, has felt in a daze in the hours since—your heated words going round and round within his mind.

And the heartbroken look he had instilled upon your face... His own had deserved to sting in return when you repaid him for his offensive accusations.

And now he treads the beach in search of you.

He is unsure what he means to do when he finds you.

More lessons in High Valyrian? Gods know you need further tutoring.

Another flying lesson upon Silverwing? He is sure you do not wish to be so close to him again.

Not today, at the very least.

Just as he begins to consider turning round and going back inside, he spots you sitting atop a small boulder, your guard at your back as you stare at the sea that lies before you with a solemn, blank expression.

You look...pale. And you shiver from the cold.

Now he has driven you even from feeling welcome in the castle where you should instead be, finding warmth.

Not that he's sure you ever did feel welcome to begin with.

All his fault...

When he meets your guard's eyes, he motions for him to return to the castle, and the man bows his head in return before turning round to leave.

You do not even notice his sudden absence.

Nor do you notice as Jacaerys stalks ever-closer.

Not until he is draping a warm cloak round your shoulders do you realize his presence.

Your head shoots up, and you quickly scowl, promptly standing.

You throw off his metaphorical olive branch, quickly marching in the other direction.

"Stop," he calls to you, retrieving his cloak, jogging to catch up to you.

You keep your mouth clamped firmly shut, refusing to speak to him.

"Please stop. I only wish to—"

You skip ahead a few steps, nearly tripping over your skirts you're so eager to create distance between you and he.

He lets out a low curse, spots an opportunity off to the side, then swiftly reaches forward, taking your hand in an iron-tight grip as he pulls you alongside him into a familiar alcove.

"Let go of me!" You shout, trying desperately to yank yourself free of him.

He holds firm, refusing to let you escape him as he hides the two of you away round a corner.

He pushes you back against a stone wall, desperate to make you listen, until you slap his face again, tears running down your own.

"I hate you! I cannot stand the sight of you! Being near you is unbearable! You royal arse!"

You begin pounding tiny fists against his chest, trying to push him away, until he has reached his limit, and he pins your arms to the wall behind you, just the same as before.

"I'm sorry!" He shouts.

You quiet then, staring up at him with vehemence.

"For all of it. My beastly behavior since we met. It has been..." He shakes his head. "Un-princely of me. I just..."

He cannot say it—that he both envies your looks, while they are also simultaneously the reason he lusts after you. And that you have figured him out with ease time and again. His insecurities over someone like you claiming a dragon, which he had thought made him special to have. And someone like you somehow being more worldly than he—a royal prince.

You know more than him, and it had stoked his ire time and again with how...mature you seem. Making him feel a child in return.

But that same maturity... Gods, how he longs to see you exemplify it again and again.

"You just what?" You spit, pushing back against him, though it does you little good.

There is a brief silence which hangs between you, until he comes closer, the familiar feel of his erection becoming present as he presses it to your abdomen.

"I want you."

You roll your eyes. "As I am well-aware. The feeling is not returned, I assure you. Now, let me—"

"Gods, you're fucking impossible, aren't you?"

"Me?! You've no idea what you want. Me, or Baela, or—"

He crushes his lips to yours while you squeal and squirm against him. And then you clamp down on his lower lip, drawing blood.

He wrenches himself away, but still holds firm to you.

"You just...you just bit me!" He cries in shock.

"Try that again and I'll do it again," you seethe.

He sneers, squeezing your wrists impossibly tighter.

"Fine. Then I shall..." He pauses.

Is he truly about to do this?

He glances to the side—the direction of where the alcove's entrance lies—then back to you.

He releases you, kneeling.

"What're you—"

"Teach me," he says, blinking up at you.

And you stare down at him, taken aback, quickly cooling.

"Teach..."

He reaches beneath your skirts, sliding a warm hand up your calf.

"Teach me how to please you. Allow me to show you how truly sorry I am in this...other way," he says with a slight smirk.

"I have taught you much these last few days. It is time, mayhaps, you return the favor."

He slides his hand higher. "It will, after all, be for your own benefit, at least."

He presses a soft kiss to your stomach, over your dress. "Allow me to please you."

You swallow nervously. "Jace..."

His face slowly falls and he glances away, softly shaking his head. "Foolish," he whispers. "Forgive me—"

You shakes your head, not wishing to humiliate him. Not when it comes to this. Even if he mayhaps deserves to be hurt in return for how he did the same just this morn.

"No, it's just... How am I to trust that I...consent, and you do not, once again, throw it back in my face, just as you did with what occurred between us last night?"

He slides his hand up the back of your thigh. "You have me on my knees. Begging you to allow me to pleasure you. You need more reassurance that you have me at your mercy now?"

Your lip twitches. Oh, Gods, this is so very strange.

"What do you... I mean, there are many things..." You stumble over your words, searching for that which you mean to ask.

His eyes trail down your body before settling on that which is directly before him—hidden beneath skirts of his own selection.

"I would use my mouth, Y/N, if it please you."

"What of...Baela? Or... If this is your first experience, are you sure you—"

"I know what I want. And I know that it is you. Here. Now. Will you not allow me this most singular indulgence?"

Your heart pounds between your breasts and all sensations of cold have fled your body, instead replaced by a blooming warmth spreading across your electrified skin.

Finally, you nod.

And he smiles.

He reaches to the hem of your skirt, pushing it upwards, and you take it from him, holding it above your waist as he hooks his fingers under the waistband of your smallclothes, easing them down your thighs until they're pooled round your shoes.

You step out of them and he tucks them into his pocket before taking your bare hips in either of his hands, staring at your glistening cunt with wide eyes.

He licks his lips, swallowing thickly.

He gazes up at you once again. "How do I... What do I do, exactly?"

You nearly burst into a fit of nervous giggles, but use all your strength to fight the feeling down.

"Do you see...um...that small, fleshy hood—so to speak?"

He reaches forward, pulling it upwards, nodding, revealing a small pink pearl beneath.

"That—what you've just...revealed is what gives a woman her...pleasure."

He grins. "I believe I know all I need for the moment being."

And with that, he dives between your thighs, planting his full mouth openly against your sex, beginning to suck and run his tongue between your hot folds.

You throw your head back, sucking in a sharp gasp as your eyes flutter closed.

You quickly thread your fingers tightly in his dark curls, tugging his face impossibly closer to your sex.

You release a shuddering breath, sighing his name. "Jace..."

He reaches up, throwing one of your legs over his shoulder before he bends his neck to the side, diving ever-deeper with his tongue, desperate to fuck you with it.

He spreads your lips with his fingers, running his tongue along your dripping entrance, moaning against your heat.

"Gods, Jace, just like that."

His lip twitches, glad for your approval.

He kisses you sloppily, making loud, wet, smacking noises against your cunt—his cock straining painfully against his breeches all the while.

Palming himself over them only serves to makes the pain all the worse.

He breaks from you, staring up at you from under hooded lids—his face now slick from your arousal.

"May I untie my breeches, My Lady?"

Your brow twitches? He...he wants your permission to give himself relief?

"Y-yes, of course."

He nods, just once. "Thank you."

Your brows shoot up at his reply, watching as he tugs desperately against black leather strings. Finally, he reveals himself: long and hard, and the pink tip weeping with seed.

He does not stroke himself even once before he returns his full attentions, instead, to you.

And it is with fervor that he does.

He slurps and gasps and moans loudly in the back of his throat as he dines upon the most delectable part of you.

"Gods," he mutters against your mound. "You're so beautiful. Mm, and delicious."

He spreads your labia again, kneeling even lower as he flicks his tongue repeatedly against your pulsating entrance—dragging his speared tip back and forth, back and forth...

You gasp, clenching his curls tightly in both of your fists before pushing his face back against where you most want his mouth to be: against your clit.

"My clit—that...part I—"

He finds it instantly.

"Oh, Gods, good boy, Jace!"

He growls against you, his ministrations turning animalistic as he sucks and sucks against it, flicking his tongue, doing his utmost to please and tease.

You release his hair, tugging down the top of your gown, revealing your naked breasts before gathering your skirts again just as they've begun to slip over his head.

You want to see him.

Want to watch what he's doing to you.

Or, mayhaps, you are doing to him.

"Your fingers...slip two of them inside of me."

He does as instructed, easing them between your tight walls. The sensation he finds to be most unexpected: they are hot as fire, warm and wet and squishy, and utterly delightful.

Now he sees what all the fuss is about.

"Curl them upwards," you say between sighs.

He does.

"Now massage."

Slowly, he makes a beckoning motion with them and you gasp loudly, your eyes popping open.

"Yes, just like that. Good, you're doing so well!"

He pushes his face against your stomach—his nose pressed so hard into it that he can hardly breathe. So, he instead gasps for breath between your legs between long sucks and pleasant licks.

You bite your lower lip and Jace assumes he's most-certainly doing something right when those velvet walls begin to clench quickly around his soaked digits—your arousal so much that it's now running down his palm.

"Yes, yes, Jace, just like—oh, Gods, good boy—yes!"

He hums in contentment, glad to know he is doing right—is pleasing you so well in this way.

Your fingers tremble against his scalp, your breaths cause your body to shudder, and your thighs shake, but you do all you can to remain upright as you grow ever-closer.

He continually flicks his tongue against your too-sensitive bundle and you begin to whine in response.

"So close. You're doing so well... Gods, just a bit—just a bit more, My Prince"

He eases a third finger inside you, continuing to gently coax, and you gasp loudly.

"Yes! Yes! Nearly—"

He swirls his tongue round and round, on both his knees still, one of his hands tightly gripping your ankle for balance as he works fervently in your favor.

"Jace, oh Gods, I can't—I—Yes! Yes! Good boy! Yes!"

You finish against his face—against his tongue—giggling and gasping and whimpering all the while as your orgasm overtakes you.

You could swear you hear dragons roaring in the distance, but cannot know in your current state.

Eventually, you calm and when you look down, Jace is nearly on all fours, staring up at you with such a look as you have never before seen: lustful and wanton and overtaken with desire.

His face and hairline is slick, as well as his right hand.

Finally, he stands on wobbly legs, and it's then that you notice his cock is absolutely covered in his thick, white seed.

"Did...did you...?"

He crushes his lips to yours—his wet erection pressing against your bare stomach, leaving its own kiss in its wake as he pulls back after allowing you to taste yourself.

"I did not need even touch myself to finish at your hand," he mumbles with a pleased smirk, returning his lips to your own.

— tagging list: @emilynissangtr @tvangelism @aemondwhoresworld @cecestea @daisyhxsh

@burningwitchobject @zizouu23 @baybaybear1 @sugyomama @dracaryxzs

@hayloftxxo @gentlejoy @darlingcharling-blog @s0urw00lf @usaguisenpaisblog

@kqlopsia @marvel-at-stucky

[pomefioredove]

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Cauldron of the Reborn: Escape from Black Castle

a fanwritten Halloween event

summary: when Malleus receives an invite from a distant relative to a historic castle in Briar Valley, he can't refuse characters: malleus, lilia, sebek, silver, vil, rook, epel, jamil, kalim additional info: reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu

[I needed a break from requests. no idea if I'll continue this or not, I figure most aren't too interested in this sort of thing, but I love halloween events and wanted to write one]

Main Street - Evening

"A little lower," Crowley says, standing with a hand on his hip as you rebalance yourself on the rickety step ladder.

Grim is beneath you both, grumbling about being woken from a nap to help with the annual Halloween event.

"Like this?" you ask, lowering the black crepe banner an inch or two.

Crowley hums, his hand on his chin. And then he nods. "Well enough. I'll have more work for you to volunteer for soon, so keep lively, Prefect!"

You climb down from the ladder, shaking your head. That man...

"Well," you sigh, hands on your hips. "What do you want to do now?"

Grim scratches his head. "Eat?"

"You just did,"

"Ehh, I'm outta ideas. Let's not bother 'lookin for anyone. I don't wanna get dragged into helping. Let's just go home,"

You sigh, but you can't argue with him; you've been decorating since classes had ended for the day, and it's almost dark.

On your chilly walk back to Ramshackle, though, someone comes looking for you.

"Prefect!" a voice calls from behind you on the beaten path.

Grim sighs. "Oh, brother. Here we go..."

Jamil Viper stops behind you, and gives Grim an unamused look. "I heard that, you know. I wasn't looking for any favors. I simply wanted to know if either of you have seen Kalim,"

"Kalim?" you and Grim share a look. "You lost him?"

"Lost? Certainly not," Jamil crosses his arms. "He has relatives visiting for the weekend, and he left to purchase more food for their party a few hours ago. I haven't seen him since."

Grim sighs. "So... you lost him?"

Jamil glares at the direbeast, though his eyes soften when he looks at you.

"He insisted on going himself, and I foolishly let him. But he's not at Sam's, and no one has seen him. Kalim has a tendency to wander, and I'm afraid something might have happened,"

Grim tugs at your coat sleeve, trying to pull you towards Ramshackle, but your feet stay firmly planted on the dirt path.

"We'll help you look for him," you say, ignoring Grim's groaning.

Jamil sighs. "If it's not too much trouble... I would appreciate that,"

Pomefiore Lounge - Evening

"I really doubt he's in here," Grim mutters, clinging to your leg.

Jamil sighs again as you all wipe off your feet before entering the dorm. "We've checked the library, the halls, the courtyards, the cafeteria, Sam's again, and Scarabia twice. Trey Clover, Jack Howl, Azul Ashengrotto, Ortho Shroud, Sebek Zigvolt and Silver have all confirmed he is not at their respective dorms. This is the last place he'd..."

He trails off, and you follow his eyes to a head of white hair and a blinding smile.

And then a frown. "Took you all long enough," Vil Schoenheit says, waving Kalim al-Asim away from a length of lace.

Jamil's dark circles suddenly look much darker.

"Jamil!!" Kalim exclaims, jumping over an expensive couch (to Vil's dismay) and stumbling to the three of you. "You have to see this! It's the best thing in the world!"

"Kalim... what are you... how long have you been here?"

"Two hours and fourteen minutes," Vil mumbles, smoothing out the delicate black skirt he's in.

Jamil grimaces. "Kalim, did you even go to Sam's at all?"

"Huh?" Kalim's smile drops, and he crosses his arms in thought. "...Oh, right. I forgot all about that."

You place a reassuring hand on Jamil's shoulder.

"But- look, I ran into Vil earlier, and he said he needed help!"

"I did not say that,"

"So I had to!"

"Kalim," Jamil pinches the bridge of his nose. "Your cousins will be here in mere hours. We have not the least amount of food to host them."

Vil rolls his eyes and returns to collecting the black lace, pins, and thread strewn across the floor, no doubt the aftermath of Kalim's "help".

"But it was an emergency!" the boy protests. "A fashion emergency!"

You raise an eyebrow. "A what?"

Jamil sets a hand on your shoulder, but when you turn to him, his arms are crossed and close to his chest, which-

"Une urgence couture, Trickster,"

You jump, and the light, merry sound of Rook Hunt's laughter fills your ear. He circles around to your front, Epel Felmier following, mouthing a quick "sorry" for his upperclassman's behavior.

"Pomefiore will be hosting a magnifique fashion spectacle the weekend after this, courtesy of our own Roi du Poison!"

"Yes, yes," Vil waves him off and looks at you. "I was planning on surprising you with invitations at the Halloween event, but I may as well just give them to you now."

He leaves the room to retrieve your invites, leaving you with a chatty Kalim, an exhausted Jamil, a smiling Rook, a whiny Grim, and... Epel.

"You doing okay?" you ask him, and he sighs.

"Vil's 'havin me 'an Rook in the fashion show, so he's cut all processed sugar from our diet for a month,"

"A month?!" Grim exclaims. "What about Halloween treats?!"

Epel shakes his head, sadly, and Rook grins.

"For the best, Monsieur Pommette. As I recall, you have a penchant for stomach aches when you indulge,"

Epel blushes and crosses his arms. He looks about ready to argue, but then Vil returns with invites for yourself and Grim, and so he keeps his mouth shut.

"I hope to see you both there," Vil says. Epel rolls his eyes.

The upperclassmen leave to talk, Jamil drags Kalim outside, and Grim sniffs the scented envelopes Vil had given them.

You smile at Epel. "Hey, at least it's almost over, right?"

He sighs, sulking a little.

"I guess... I just wish there was some way I could enjoy Halloween this year, without Vil knowing a thing..."

Diasomnia Lounge - Evening

"Mail's here,"

The imposing doors of Diasomnia swing open and Sebek Zigvolt and Silver return to the dark lounge with a stack of letters in each hand.

"You know, I really don't know why more fae don't switch to emailing. It's much faster," Lilia Vanrouge says, draped over the arm of a couch as the boys hand out the scrolls and envelopes.

"Or instant messaging. I hear "sliding into DMs" are all the rage nowadays."

Silver rolls his eyes.

"For you, oh... this one is mine, and another one for me..." Sebek says, smiling. "And another, from grandfather... and this one-"

He pales, and his eyes widen. Silver stops between letters and raises an eyebrow.

"Sebek? What is it?"

His hands are shaking. "It... it's for OUR LIEGE!"

"Volume, Sebek," Lilia says merrily, kicking his feet up on the couch.

"B-BUT... IT'S AN INVITATION... FOR LORD MALLEUS!"

"An invitation?" Silver walks to him and reads the yellowed paper. "Is it from the Prefect?"

"CERTAINLY NOT! OBSERVE THE PENMANSHIP! THE PAPER! THIS IS BRIAR VALLEY QUALITY!"

"There's no name on it," he remarks, handing it to Lilia.

Lilia squints, reading the fine calligraphy aloud.

"To the Prince Malleus Draconia,

I, blood relative of the Draconia line, would be honored to host yourself and an entourage of your choice for the holiday week-end at my family's ancient castle. Food, drink, music, and tours of local ruins and wildlife will be provided at no cost. Yours."

Silver and Sebek wait in silence as Lilia reads it, reads it again, and then smiles.

"No name. How peculiar. I recognize the coat of arms here, though- this is certainly a distant relative of Malleus, but I can't remember which family it belongs to... no matter,"

"And the castle?" Sebek asks. "I've never heard of it."

The elder fae hums. "Oh, yes. Black Castle is thousands of years old. I thought it had been abandoned a millennia ago, but I haven't been keeping up with politics," he smiles. "This part of Briar Valley is rather isolated, after all."

Silver crosses his arms. "You're sure this is a relative of Malleus?"

"Positive. It's far too obscure to be an impersonator. Not even the Senate has records from Black Castle,"

"What's this about a castle?"

The three go silent and look towards the mouth of the room, where Malleus Draconia is standing, arms crossed. Silver still looks wary, and Sebek is restless, but Lilia is smiling.

"Oh, Malleus- it's the strangest thing. You've been invited by a distant relative for a weekend getaway,"

"A getaway?" Silver mumbles under his breath at the word choice.

Malleus' eyes widen, and he comes into the room and takes the letter from Lilia's outstretched hand.

He reads the cracked, yellow paper... and then he smiles.

"...My. How kind. We should accept, should we not?"

[russos-one]

Jessie Fleming x Reader

Let her believe I never loved her (Part 1)

Inspired by Cigarettes Out The Window x Dangerously Yours - TV girl/That tiktok audio that goes “let her think I never loved her”

Summary- R has been hopelessly in love with Jessie ever since she joined Chelsea but has never had the courage to tell her and then it's too late

Warnings- Magda yelling in Swedish, R, Niamh and Sam being little shits, Jessie being a cutie pie, Fluff

Word count- 1783

A/N- Pretend Pernille and Magda never left because I miss them and that Sam never did her forbidden 3 letters

A/N- All the Swedish and Danish are from Google Translate and I have no idea if it is right or not

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Just tell her! What's the worst that could happen?” Niamh urged.

“Well, I don’t know—maybe she doesn’t like me back, and I’d lose three and a half years of friendship!” you replied.

“That wouldn’t happen; she obviously likes you back!”

“You don’t know that! Just let it go,” you said, turning back to your bag.

“You can’t avoid it forever!” you sighed, zipping it up.

“Fine, yes I ca—” Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of your shared hotel room.

“Just drop it, Niamh,” you said as you opened the door.

You were met with a smiling Jessie. “Jessie! Hi!” Niamh poked her head out from behind you. “Hey, Jessie!”

Jessie made eye contact with you and smiled. “Hello, Y/N.” Niamh sighed loudly. “Okay, just act like I'm not here, I guess,” she joked, rolling her eyes.

Jessie broke eye contact with you to look at Niamh. “Hello to you too, Niamh,” she said.

“Do you want to come in?” you asked, opening the door wider and stepping aside.

“Unfortunately, I can't. Emma sent me up here because you two are taking too long, and the coach is about to leave.”

You turned to Niamh. “Look what you did! Now Emma is mad at us, and she's going to make us run extra laps!”

Niamh gasped. “It's not my fault you were too busy arguing with me about how in love with Je—jumping jacks! How in love you are with jumping jacks!”

“Jumping jacks?” Jessie turned back to you.

“Yeah, I just love jumping jacks in a workout,” You said, looking confused.

“Okay then! We need to get going.”

“Right,” you replied, grabbing your bag and dragging Niamh by her arm out of the hotel room, with Jessie following behind you, giggling at your antics.

The three of you reached the coach, where an irritated Emma Hayes was waiting. “What were you two doing!? You know what, who cares, just get in!” she said, dragging you and Niamh inside while Jessie followed closely behind.

“Y/N!” Magda called, waving you over. “You're sitting with me, come.” She patted the seat next to her. You parted ways with Jessie and Niamh and made your way to Magda.

“I’m surprised you’re not sitting with Pernille,” you said.

“Choose her over you? Never. So, how’s the love life going?”

You sighed rather dramatically. “It's non-existent.”

Magda raised an eyebrow. “So we’re pretending your massive crush on Jessie doesn’t exist?”

You instantly turned red and glanced at Jessie, who was fast asleep, cuddled into her neck pillow. You turned back to Magda, scolding her. “What if she hears?!”

“She’s the deepest sleeper in the world! I honestly don’t know how she fell asleep so fast. The chances of her hearing that are smaller than your chances of actually telling her you have a crush on her.”

Just then, you heard two gasps from behind your seat. Millie and Sam butted their heads in between yours and Magda’s. “Are we finally addressing Y/N’s huge crush on baby Canada?”

“Shhhh! What if she hears?” you hissed.

“As if she's going to hear; she sleeps like a bear during hibernation.”

“How do you know what hibernation means?”

“I just do! Now stop changing the subject!”

You sighed. “This conversation isn’t worth continuing.” You rolled your eyes and leaned further into your seat.

“Please, for the love of God, just let me sleep! I get enough of this from Niamh, and now you three?”

Niamh turned to look at you all. “Hey! I heard my name! What are you four planning?”

You groaned. “Nothing, Niamh! Now go back to fantasizing about your body pillow.”

Niamh looked stunned, and the whole coach erupted in giggles. “Y/N’s lying! I don’t have a body pillow!” she announced dramatically.

“Sure you don’t!” Sam said sarcastically.

After some teasing, everyone finally calmed down, and you were able to relax. You turned to Jessie, taking in her features: the freckles sprinkled across her beautiful face, the way she let out soft snores as she slept, and even the tiny drool on her pillow. She looked so peaceful.

Your trance was broken by Magda's voice: “You’re staring, creep.”

“I’m not staring! I’m just appreciating beauty.”

“Mhmm, sureee.”

“Just leave me alone; I'm going to sleep.”

Sam chimed in again. “Mhmm, so you can dream about your girlfriend.”

“Ooh la la,” Millie added.

You sighed, slowly succumbing to sleep.

“Y/n? Y/n, wake up!” someone said, shaking your shoulder. You groaned and leaned further into your chair.

“Just let me sleep, please.” You heard footsteps approaching and someone say, “Here, this will work.” Giggles followed, but you didn’t bother to open your eyes; you simply kept them closed.

Out of nowhere, you felt cold water hit your face, and you jolted upright. As you opened your eyes, you saw the culprit

“Niamh! You bastard!”

She started giggling. “You weren’t waking up! It was either that or a slap to the face.”

“I’d rather have a slap to the face because you’re weak.”

Niamh gasped. “I am not weak!”

From behind Niamh, you saw an angry Emma Hayes approaching. “Ladies! What are you doing? We have a game to play in a few hours, and one of you is soaking wet while the other is yelling that she’s not weak! And then there’s Jessie…” Jessie offered an awkward smile.

After some arguing and Emma dragging Niamh and I out of the coach, with Jessie following closely behind, we finally made it inside the stadium.

“So where are we going?” you asked, turning to Niamh.

“Jessie, where are we going?” Niamh echoed, looking at her.

“Do you two ever listen?” Sam chimed in from behind us. “I truly don't know what you expect from dumb and dumber,” she said, draping her arms over Niamh's and your shoulders.

Jessie groaned. “As if you can talk.”

“Blah, blah, blah. Anyway, Jessie, do you know where we’re going? I was doing media with Emma, and I got lost,” Jessie let out a breath. “Children surround me.”

Sam gasped. “I’m actually older than you, so that makes you the child. These two, though…” She messed up Niamh’s and I's hair. “They are children!”

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. “Sam, shut up; someone’s calling me.” I pulled my phone out and saw it was Magda calling. I answered and put her on speaker.

“Hey Magdaaa! My favorite teammate!”

“I thought I was your favorite teammate?” Jessie mumbled.

“Where are you three? And have you seen Sam?”

“Hi, Magda,” Sam said. “You four are in so much trouble!”

“Sam made us get lost!” Niamh quickly protested.

“Whoa, okay, so blame it on me? You guys were lost before I even showed up!”

“Just shut up and get here!”

“And where exactly would ‘here’ be?” I asked.

“The changing room!” Magda yelled before ending the call.

“Anyone know where the changing room is?” you said.

“Oh my God, just follow me and don’t get lost,” Jessie said as she led you, Sam, and Niamh to the changing room.

We entered to find an angry Magda, Millie barely containing her laughter, and Zecira filming us.

“Vi har ett spel att spela om mindre än en timme och vad gör ni tre? gå vilse! Dumma, dummaste och dummaste!” She pointed at me, Niamh, and Sam. "Jessie you did nothing, but these three are terrible"

We have a game to play in less than an hour and what are you three doing? getting lost! Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest!

Zecira collapsed on the floor, laughing uncontrollably. Sam leaned over and whispered, “Yo, what the heck did she just say?” I shrugged.

Pernille stepped in from behind Magda, pulling her back from us while giggling. “Min elskede, they can't understand you.”

Magda looked like a ticking time bomb. “Just go get dressed!” she snapped, pointing to our cubbies.

The four of us headed to our cubbies to change. As we got ready, Magda came up from behind Sam and lightly slapped her on the back of the neck. “Stop getting the children lost!”

Sam looked offended. “Firstly, ow! Secondly, they were lost when I found them!”

We changed into our training kits and made our way to the pitch for warm-ups. We were paired up, and I got Jessie as my partner. I draped my arm over her shoulders. “Why hello there, pretty lady.” Jessie turned red, though it was probably just the cold. “Hello, Y/n.”

We found a free space on the pitch. “Are you ready to dominate warm-ups?” I asked.

“Obviously,” Jessie replied.

“High five!” I said, putting my hand up.

“Seriously?” she responded.

“Yes, seriously.”

“Are you going to trick me?” Jessie asked skeptically.

I gasped, “Never!” She gave me a high five.

“See? I told you I wasn't gonna trick you.”

“Surprisingly. Time to warm up before you get in trouble with Magda again.” We faced each other, using one another for stability, like that TikTok of McFoord training together.

“So, how’s the love life going?” Jessie asked.

I let out a breath. “The love life is non-existent,” I replied, switching legs.

“What about Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Misa? I saw you two talking after the game last week,” she questioned.

“Ooo, getting jealous are we?” I teased.

She lightly punched my shoulder. “Ow!” I yelped.

“That wasn't even hard! And I was just asking a question.”

“Nothing is going on between me and Misa. We’ve been friends ever since Alexia introduced us before the World Cup final. Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” she replied.

“Mhmmm, sure,” I said sarcastically.

“What do you mean ‘Mhmmm sure’? And why did you say it like that?” she asked.

“No reason,” I shot back with a grin.

[conceptofjoy]

[The doorbell rings and Dirk warps on to the transportalizer right next to the front door because walking is for chumps, and also because he lives in a fuck off massive mansion that he and Jake decided it was a swell idea to live in at the tender age of 16.]

[He sees a glimpse of bleached blond hair and purple and instinctively goes to close the door despite knowing who the fuck it is because this is Dirk Strider, of course he's got the best home security of all the other Gods of Earth C. A foot comes between his half-hearted attempt and he lets up just as fast.] [Rose and Dirk stare at each other appraisingly for a moment. His gaze flits over to the shoddy bindle she's holding, then to car parked directly on top of the mailbox out front. It wasn't seeing any use due to the fact he lives in the middle of fucking nowhere, an ironic gesture more than anything, but because of that same fact, it would seem that Rose had uncaptchalogued the car there on purpose and just flew here.] DIRK: Who's car is that? ROSE: My wife kicked me out. DIRK: Okay. ROSE: You don't think I have a car? DIRK: I respect the fact you alchemized a car just for the banished husband shtick. ROSE: The seats came pre-stained with cigarette residue and burns all over. I thought about camping there for the night parked at a motel, but the energy was too depressing. ROSE: Thought maybe a drastic change of natural scenery be more fitting of an crisis. DIRK: Isn't the point of exile as a punitive measure that you are supposed to reflect on your actions? ROSE: They put Napoleon on ST. Helena, did they not? DIRK: Are you comparing my house to a remote island right now? ROSE: I wasn't, but perhaps there is a point to be made here about your choice in local. DIRK: Not a great way to ask someone for a favor. ROSE: ROSE: I- [He steps away from the door and turns around, expecting her to follow in. She does, hesitantly.] DIRK: Call her tomorrow, it's best to clear the air as soon as you can. ROSE: I wasn't expecting a therapy camp. [He shrugs, points down a hall when she's close enough.] DIRK: Take a left then the fourth door down should have a clean room. ROSE: What's in all the other doors? DIRK: Stuff. ROSE: Oh, I see. DIRK: I'm coming by tomorrow morning. ROSE: Highly unnecessary, I'll be leaving by noon. DIRK: Where to? ROSE: I fail to see how that is any of your concern. DIRK: Perhaps. [He doesn't say anything more, and she takes it as a cue for her to leave. Her steps stutter when he speaks again.] DIRK: Don't immediately expect people to not want you around as soon as they show frustration. ROSE: Wonderful, well I'll be sure to pass that fortune cookie tidbit to the next person... [She turns around to find he isn't there anymore, peeved that she wasn't able to get the last word in.] [The walk there is stuffed with random objects, like if a geek store barfed all it's merchandise stock into an 8 foot wide hallway. She has to shimmy past a bust of Spiderman's head on the way, but she makes it to a plain room and a bed with orange sheets.] [She tosses the stick to the ground, and unties the cloth to fetch the small photo book she didn't have an opportunity to use as a prop for. She pointedly does not flip through the pictures she has of Kanaya and captchalogues it for safe keeping.] [Against her better judgement, she checks her phone messages and it opens to her last text with Kanaya saying she's going out to cool off, her text responded to with a single thumbs up. She contemplates jumping out of the window before opening the new texts from Dirk.] TT: http:/goo.gl/WjfJ2 TT: Marked everything you would need on the floor plan. TT: What's the large obstructed section on the bottom right? TT: Horse statue. TT: Naturally. TT: I'll be at your room by 9 AM. TT: Le sign.

[small-sinclair]

I has some prompts for you 😊

How about either 59. "Why are you crying? Aren't you happy to be with me?" With Vincent

Or

76: "Why weren't you there? You should have been there!" With Bo or Lester

Ooooo I like these :3 I'll do 76! Hope you like vampires...

Fear

Vampire!Bo x reader

Tw: Car crash, blood, yelling, fighting, somber ending?

You limped as you made your way from the car crash. How you lived through that was something short of a blip in the universe. It didn't feel like a blessing or a miracle. A deer jump in front of your car late in the storm, making you turn too hard to have your car flip. You remembered fire and kicking the glass out to get away. Now, you limped away in the night in the thunder storm, but you had somewhere you needed to be, someone was waiting for you to come back from your little trip.

Ambrose was just through the trees and on the other side of the washed out road. Bo always told you to be aware of the road and surrounding trees when it rains. It makes it hard for him to find you if you don't leave a track for him to follow. Louisiana had plenty of things: werewolves, ghosts, and vampires. Bo is one of the three along with his brothers. Well... not Lester. Lester didn't want to be a vampire like his brothers, but it wouldn't hurt to become one.

To be honest, he was closest to you than the town. It doesn't hurt to see if you could sleep there for the night, right?

Your shaking legs brought you in front of Lester's cabin by the road, and you went up the steps to knock. You didn't see his truck, so you thought he parked it in the garage, which sat in the dark on the right. Hopefully, he was home because you didn't know how much pain you could take. Your leg burned like hell and your shoulder hand glass shards sticking out of your skin.

Going up the steps felt like labor. Every step you took only made you want to throw-up, but you kept trucking on. You made it to the door and raised your shaking hand. At first, nothing. Then you tried again and again, but your hand was losing strength. Your knees buckled and you slid next to the door, leaning against it for warmth. The storm brought noting but cold winds and wisps of what would bring. You brought your legs to your chest and closed your eyes...

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

"What are you doing?" Bo asked you in the kitchen.

You looked back at him and smiled. "I found a good recipe! Cherry pie with little vanilla stems." You tuned back to the cherries in your mixing bowl. You felt him come behind you, his boots heavy as he walked, the smell of oil and smoke coming off his shirt. His arms wrap around your waist with his head on your shoulder. His eyes lingered over the note card as you mixed the cherries with crushed vanilla stems. "Vincent gave me a small bag of blood, too! So you can eat it." You looked at him and kissed his cheek. "Making two: one for me and Les, one for you and Vincent."

"Bless 'at bleedin' heart of yours," he hummed, nuzzling into your neck. You felt his fangs ghost over a soft spot before he planted a kiss, causing you to shiver. "Reckon 'at's the nicest thin' someone's done fer me and my brother." You giggled as he placed little kisses down your shoulder. "Best be setting the table, huh?"

"Gotta wash up, too, fruit bat," you teased. I know you didn't wash up after work." Then you shook your head. "And I know you didn't just walk over the clean floor with your boots. Because if I turn around and see a trail of mud, Bo Sinclair, you're going to wake up with a stake down your throat."

He laughed, rolling his eyes. "Do ya promise, sweetheart?"

You swat at his chest as he left kisses over your cheeks. "Wash up and get your brothers."

"Alright, sugar cube." He hugged your waist and kissed your lips quickly. "Be back in five." Bo flashed you a smile and left the room, heading to get his brothers to bring them back for dinner.

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

By the time Lester came back from the town over, your lips were turning blue. He dropped the blood bags, splattering them over his pants as he raced towards you. He knew you were driving home tonight from work, but you told them not to worry about driving home in the rain. You promised you'll be safe.

He was careful when he scooped you up and brought you inside. He was panicking when you started shivering. When your hand grasps his, his heart broke. he took you to the tub, helped you undressed, and carefully placed you in the warm water. Once you were in, he pulled out his phone and dialed his brother.

It ranged and ranged and ranged then--

"'S Bo."

"Bo, hey, um..." Lester looked over his shoulder then back at the rain outside. The darkness seemed to have eyes, but he knew better. He knew it didn't have it. "Come to my house," he swallowed hard and closed his eyes. "It's y/n. They're hurt--"

The phone call ended without Bo saying another word. He stood in his house and waited for the worst. He didn't need to get blood bags for his brothers tonight, but he was near the blood bank and the backdoor was open... what did he do? What has he done to you? Bo's beloved is cold and...

Bo didn't even knock when he entered the cabin. He kicked it in and looked wildly around the room until he say Lester. His once blue ocean eyes turned to a blood red, and his body stronger and stiffer. He looked at Lester then down at his pants. He took in a deep breath through the nose then eyed him.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't--"

In a blink, Lester was thrown across the room, his back going through his bedroom wall. Bo was on top of him as he pinned him to the floor, fangs noticeable. "T'hell did ya do, Lester?" Bo hissed through grit teeth. "What did ya do?" His grip around his brother was deadly, and Lester felt like he was one of Bo's victims.

"Bo, git off!" Lester was afraid. He hasn't seen his brother like this in a long time. No matter how mad he made Bo, he's never used his full strength to scare him, to threaten him. He hasn't seen him like this before and it scared him. "Y/n is in the tub!"

Bo pushed down on his brother violently, breaking his shoulder. Lester cried out in pain as he rolled on to his side. He held his shoulder as he cried on the wooden floor.

Bo hurried to the bathroom and almost threw-up. Your shoulder was badly bruised as dry blood stuck to your skin. The glass shimmered on the title floor next to your wet and dirtied clothes. Some color as returned to you, but it wasn't enough to make you look alive. You were weak and tire, and Bo couldn't do anything to make it better.

He knelt next to you on the side of the tub and pushed your hair away. He leaned into his touch as your glazed eyes met his. You forced a grin but it fell as your eyes rolled back. Bo felt your pain, your heartbeat, your blood rushing time and time over. The more he looked over your bruised body, the angrier he got. He leaned down and kissed the crown of your head.

"Be righ' back, honey," he whispered. "Promise."

He stood from the tub and turned to find Lester holding his broken arm, tears falling. He didn't feel anything for Lester as he stepped out of the bathroom, making Lester coward away.

"What happened?"

Lester swallowed hard. "Was in town an'--"

"And what?" Bo spat, his red eyes burning in flames. "What were ya doin'?" He looked at Lester's pants. "'At's not their blood." His eyes snapped at Lester's. "I tol' ya we didn' need more blood! What's th' matter wit' ya?!"

"I-I thought you an' Vince needed more!" Lester said, his voice shaking. "So I's went an-an got more. Just two bags!"

"Yeah," Bo scoffed. Thunder rumbled outside the house. "And what happened? Came home an' then?"

Lester's heart was beating in his throat like a hammer to a nail. "I found 'em at t'door! They-they must've been 'ere for a while!" Then his voice went low. "Maybe two hours."

"Why weren't you there?" Bo's hands grabbed his shoulders roughly before pushing his younger brother back. "You should have been there! Ya didn't need t'get us anythin'!"

Lest stumbled back, but he regained himself. "I was only tryin' t'help!"

"Yeah, I c'n tell!"

Lester opened his mouth to respond, to defend himself, but he was met with a hard punch to the gut. Lester lurched forward as he felt to his knees, holding his stomach, gasping for air. He looked up at his brother to find some type of forgiveness, but he was met with a hard slap across the face strong enough to make his head hit the floor. He let out a yelp a she tried to scramble away from his older brother, but Bo's hand caught his ankle and pulled him back. He towered over his little brother as he whimpered to himself, chocking back tears.

"'M sorry, Bo! 'M sorry!"

"Tol' ya we didn' need it!" Bo forced him to looked up. "Why don' ya listen? Huh?" Lester let out a sob, and that made Bo angrier. "Wha'? Ya lookin' fer a death wish? Tol' ya if anythin' happened to y/n on y'er watch or Vincent's, 'll kill ya where ya stand! Didn't I say 'at?"

Lester let out another sob. "I-I'm sorry! I-I jus' wanted ta help!" He struggled against his brother's grasp, trying to push back. He didn't like this Bo. He didn't like his brother like this. Brothers fight, but this? This wasn't his brother! It wasn't him! "Bo, 'm sorry! I-I should've been home! I'll do betta! I swear! I-I'll do betta!" His words strung out in sobs and deep breaths. Bo promised never to be like this towards him. He promised! "Bo! Please!"

Bo took in the sight of his brother under him. He felt powerful, strong, better than his brother! But the high left once he realized who he was talking to. His baby brother looked up at him as if he was monster, the same gaze his victims had before Bo took their lives. The same gaze you had when he first tried to kill you. Bo looked behind him at the bathroom as he looked back down at Lester. The blood that fell from his brother's nose made him sick. He did this. He made his brother bleed and scared.

Bo pulled away from his little brother and stood, hands shaking. He need to kill, fight, hunt, but he needed to make sure you were okay. He looked back at his brother then pain circled his body. His little brother was curled into a ball as he coward away from his older brother, sobbing into the floor, as he apologized over and over until his body shook violently in panic and fear.

Bo enjoyed the smell of fear, but he didn't like it coming from Lester. He didn't like it one bit, but what was he to do? He can't take back what he did! He's too hurt to be held in his arms!

The thunder faded as it rained lightly on the tin roof when Bo turned and left his brother there on the floor to find you again. He knelt next to you and gently washed your shoulder with soap. Your eyes fluttered open to meet his blue eyes.

"What happened?" He asked lowly.

"Car crash."

"Made it here?"

"Yeah, but Les wasn't home."

He swallowed hard. "Yeah..." He closed his eyes and kissed your head. "Yer safe now."

Your eyes lingered over him then past his shoulder. "Where's Les? Is he okay?"

The lies he tells you, y/n, was enough to flood the Nile.

"He's okay," he whispered. "Just restin'."

"Okay," you said, believing him. You leaned your head against his shoulder. "Can you carry me home, Bo? My leg's busted good."

He swallowed hard. "Yeah, I reckon I c'n. Le'me finish washin' y'er arms then we c'n go." Then he thought to himself and nodded at it. "We c'n take Les home, too. Don't want him t'be alone."

He'll never be forgiven; that's what Bo wants from Lester. Don't forgive the monster that he is, the monster his mother made him and Vincent to be.

His finished washing you up and helped you getting dress. He gave you his shirt instead of your wet shirt. He kissed your hurt shoulder then your lips. Bo led you to the living room, and you noticed the broken down door. What in the world did Bo do?

He left for a moment and went to his brother, finding him passed out on the floor from pain. Bo searched his pants and found the truck keys. Carefully, he threw his brother over his shoulder and found you again. With his other arm, he helped you out of the house, holding you up as you walked to Lester's truck.

[v3nusxsky]

Hi so this is based of a pov i just watched. But could you do Lady Lesso x reader platonic. Where r is hearing voices it could be over thinking or an unknown ability but she cracked and lesso found her about to junp of something like a bridge or tower. And she says ‘i’m hearing voices all the time and their not mine, i’m hearing voices and there haunting my mind’.

X

It's the voices

*Authors note~ based of some of my own experiences so please keep in mind these aren't everyone's experiences. Not everyone has an understanding Nora *

(The thought feels hard to control. Intrusive thoughts are often repetitive and won't go away. )

And I love this idea smmm yes Harley Quinn pops into my mind here for the title. *

Trigger warnings~ intrusive thoughts, mental health, possible trigger of suicide or attempted suicide swearing? Panic attacks

Prompt~ see ask^^^^

The first time it happened you honestly thought you'd misheard someone's conversation but the thought wouldn't leave, you couldn't make it stop, which in turn made you so anxious you had a panic attack. You felt like your whole lungs were completely collapsed. No air could enter or leave the vital organ which in turn made you panic more. But once you'd somehow managed to calm yourself back down you realised one massive thing. You were alone. But you had hope that it was just a bad day.

It wasn't a bad day though. These thoughts began to come and go more often, you found yourself thinking and saying the most horrid things, sometimes about you, sometimes about others and it always made you feel so terribly guilty. Truly, you didn't want to hurt yourself or anyone else but you can't control them. They were loud and overwhelming and so realistic, all you could do was surrender to them until they passed.

Exhaustion seemed to be a permanent fixture of your life these days and the headaches didn't help what so ever. You noticed how withdrawn you were and how irritable people were finding you to be. One by one you watched people give up on you now. It was like you were too much to deal with and not worth the air you're breathing. Immediately you knew what you needed to do to fix the problem. To fix you. You were numb as you made your way to the top of the tower, you didn't care you were skipping class, or what you were going to do. You didn't feel sad or scared, the voices loudly guiding you through your journey. They were right, you couldn't fight them any longer than you have.

Standing on the edge of the tower the first thing you noticed was the beautiful sunset glowing over the trees in the horizon. It was truly something magical and a fitting send of for you. Yet you didn't want to miss a single thing of the sun setting. As the sun set you said goodbye to all you knew and attempted to calm your mind by imagining what your after life would be like. You didn't want to give too much thought on who would find you, or if you'd even be worth a funeral, you already knew you weren't. Your thoughts agreeing with you and encouraging you to jump. The thoughts were horrid and they promised the only way they'd stop is if you'd just step over the edge. Blindly you stepped out expecting to fall only to be grabbed by the last moment and tugged backwards to safety.

"Let me go" you whined trying to get back to the edge, "let me go! I want them to go away" your temper was flaring as the voices got louder. "Y/n, stop" lesso boomed in her regal dean voice and you immediately halted. "L-ady Le-sso?" You stuttered in  your evident shock. "Now little dove, why don't you step back into my arms and we can talk about this?" You could tell she let a kind edge seep into her voice but there was still no room left for arguments so you allowed the red headed dean to pull you into a hug.

One thing you forgot in the whole process is Leonora loves you more than life itself. She views you as her own.  She didn't know you would hear voices and you'd pulled away from her, she wanted to give you space but hearing you skipped you lesson and knowing how lost and alone you'd seemed recently she had to follow you. Just to make sure you were okay, thankfully she found you just in time. And for that she'd always be grateful to anyone out there who helped her save her dove.

"I'm hearing voices all the time, I'm hearing voices that aren't mine" you mumbled into the woman's neck, red hot tears burning her skin. "Oh my darling, you could've come to me darling, they aren't real dove I promise you that" she tried to reassure but the voices grew louder in an attempt to block her out. "Stop please fucking stop. I don't want to do this anymore. Shut up, shut up. Shut the fuck up" you ranted through ragged breaths, Leonora knew you well enough to know this was a panic attack now and you weren't really seeing hearing or feeling the real world.

"Shhh dove, can you follow my voice? I know there's lots of loud ones in your head but you know which one is your Nora's?" She murmured a hand gently rubbing circles in your back. "Nora" you whimpered clutching at your chest, "can't breathe, help me." If you could've seen her heart you would've saw it break at that but luckily you couldn't and now she could remain strong on the outside even if her heart ached for you. "Shh dove I'm here, I'm here and you're safe love, come let's go inside yes? Your much to cold my little bird. Let nora mend that broken wing of yours, so then you can go fly again." Leonora always had a way with words, it's one of the many reasons you love her, and it's one of the skills she's thankful for as she managed to coax you into your bed. You hadn't t noticed the sunset had faded into an onyx sky, but you did notice being in your chosen mothers arms and hearing her heart beating quietened the voices.

Word count~ 1058

[dollfxcx]

hey!! could I ask for a pennywise smut where he just... fucks reader's mouth? and moving them around like a ragdoll and shit? (only if you're comfortable with that!!!)

[this was honestly so fun to write (him moving me around like a fucking toy is my biggest dream so I was happy to fulfill your wishes🙌🏻). I used she/her pronouns only once (literally), I hope it's okay, if not lemme know and I'll fix it right away<3]

TW: nsfw, emotional manipulation, food gore (? does that even exist), hate sex.

context: reader tried to leave neibolt house dozens of times yet she always comes back. yet this time penny's a little pissed at how long it took you. oh shucks what is he gon do😔🤭

word count: (1.7k +)

The house no longer looks like the one you left a few months ago. It's ruined, decadent, dead. It slopes perilously to one side and the once gleaming wood is now rotten and dusty. The lawn around has no longer been taken care of, tall blades of grass reach about a meter in height, yet they are not of a beautiful bright green, but yellow and dry, with curled and sharp edges. There is no trace of the hammock, as well as the small vases of flowers that used to rest on the balconies next to the main door. You place the heavy backpack on the ground, in front of the entrance, and take out the set of house keys. You try to insert them in the lock, but the door is already open. It invites you in, subtly, as if it wants you there. You place your hand on the handle, a shaking grip just begging you to step back and run. Yet you don't, perhaps stupidly, you keep your feet firmly on the ground. You lower the doorknob, the palm of your hand wet from the raindrops that were resting there, and you enter the house. Against all odds, everything is as you left it, in total contrast to the conditions outside. Everything is almost too tidy, to be honest.

"Is that you, Y/n, darling?" Your heart begins to beat almost spasmodically when you hear his voice, it seems like a gentle singsong that caresses your ear, sweet and familiar timbre. It comes from the kitchen, so you walk towards it, almost stealthily. He's facing the counter, tinkering with a steaming baking tray, but when he turns around, he is exactly as your best memories depict him, no claws or abominable razor-sharp teeth, just his sweet painted nose and buck teeth peeking through his full lips. Your legs feel feeble when he turns to look at you, sky blue eyes you've dreamed of seeing again for too long and an almost feline smile on your face.

"I made you lasagna." he points out to you as he places two plates on the dining table, his hands, beautifully gloved, comically undoing his apron. With still a shroud of suspicion, you sit down at the table, watching his every move. Pennywise grabs the baking tray where the lasagna should be, but, for a second, you can swear you saw something else altogether, something mushy, something throbbing. Something red, slimy. Alive. You blink and everything is as before, the lasagna gives off a hot and inviting steam and Pennywise looks happier than when you set foot in the house. He sits across from you and serves you a piece of lunch, a watchful and expectant gaze as he watches the movement of your fork as it approaches your lips. And when the first bite tickles your taste buds, you feel like puking, the rotting taste of raw 

(human)

meat coating your tongue. You jump up, not even noticing the slight smile on his lips, and run to the bathroom.

***

"Doll, is everything okay?" You hear him speaking through the thick bathroom door, but you can't take your eyes off the mirror, your reflection, your (blood) red-stained lips, a metallic taste on them. You turn on the tap grudgingly and moisten the towel to clean yourself, but when you're about to bring it to your face, the stain is gone in the blink of an eye. Pennywise knocks on the door again, an insistence typical of him and, with an exasperated snort, you open it, the vision that appears in front of you makes your legs feel weak. His chest rises and falls slowly, straining the fabric of the silk grey costume he's wearing, a tuft of ginger hair dangles merrily in front of his eyes, very cheekily, full and plump lips slightly parted, and he's handsome as hell.

(The eyes cannot see what the heart sees

The mind cannot know what the heart knows

The ears cannot hear what the heart hears

The hands cannot give what the heart gives

There's a storm coming

There's a storm coming, feel the electricity

There is a storm coming to my city

It brings novelty, it brings novelty)

One of his hands gently grips your hair, tilting your head back so his lips, warm and slightly moist, like wax, can rest on the skin of your throat, the other grips your side, fingertips digging into your flesh.

"What took you so long?" he hums, sucking at the skin of your neck, tugging at your hair harshly for more access. You recoil from the jerk against the wall, one of his knees makes room between your legs for you to grind against it, his breath tickling the shell of your ear in a soothing tone.

"But you're back now, yes! Beautiful, beautiful

(fear)

Y/n, she always comes back to me, mh?" Pennywise bites your earlobe, his finger caresses your collarbone with butterfly-like lightness. You melt at his words and sigh, trying to convince yourself that this is the real him, that everything that has happened in the previous months has been all imagination, that maybe you are just schizophrenic, or that you dreamed it all up.

(And my mind is split inside one body)

His lips barely touch yours, you feel a slight smirk on your skin.

“You could be so good for me…” he comments, as if he's sorry that, until now, you haven't been able to be like that, yet. His hands move to your shoulders, yanking you down harshly, and it should hurt to land so hard on the floor, but you can't even feel it, too focused on his eyes gleaming golden when they meet yours. He gently takes your chin between his fingers, stroking your lips with his thumb, a little smile peers down at you.

"Can you be good for me now? You can give ol' Pennywise a reason why he should keep you, yes?" You don't quite understand why he said keep you, but you honestly don't care right now, you can only nod slightly under his light caresses. He hums appreciatively and spreads his legs slightly as his hand reluctantly leaves your face to fly to the hem of his pantaloons.

(Life is much broader than a definition

And everyone's waiting for something to happen

That will remove the veil of dust from reality)

You don't realize you breathe a sigh of relief when, pants around his ankles, his cock is freed from the garment's grip. The last time you dealt with it, you didn't get a chance to see it, it all happened too fast and the way you felt it inside you didn't seem human at all. What you are facing now, indeed, isn't human in the slightest, it's hard and it wriggles with tentacle-like enthusiasm, tip flushed and somehow already wet, eager. One of his hands is on his hip, the other is leaning against the wall behind you for support.

"Come on" he smiles, accommodating, reassuring, so loving you can't help but obey. You part your lips, palm open to grab his cock and lift it slightly, tongue flattened to caress the entire length. You hear him hissing above you, his hand moves from the wall to run through your hair, pulling it lightly, as if he's trying to hold back.

(And everything we know is not true

The origins are lost in the void of time

But everything is preserved in the depths)

You take it in your mouth slowly, without going too deep, teasing the tip to make soft pleased moans come out of his mouth. The taste is unexpectedly sweet, like 

(rotten meat)

cotton candy, so you suck on it harder, tongue concentrated in passing through each slick crease to savor the sweetness of its pre-cum. He moans softly, you look up to see how his eyes have rolled into his skull in pleasure, slightly parted lips quivering, Adam's apple rising and falling as he swallows, a slight streak of drool dripping from his corner of the mouth.

"Yeah, like that..." he murmurs softly, his hand pressing against the back of your neck to push himself deeper. The feeling of gagging that starts building up in your throat can't be helped, even if you try to back away there's the wall behind you, so, with tears starting to sting your eyes, you allow him to fuck your mouth, his cock so deep that your nose presses, at one point, against his crotch. His movements go from rhythmic to spasmodic, carelessly thrusting in your mouth like an rabid animal and while it's not entirely pleasant, you hope it doesn't end. May this be what awaits you tomorrow too. And the next day. And the one after that. Pennywise cums in your mouth with an intensity you didn't expect, but his hand doesn't release from your hair, preventing you from moving, as if not even a drop could be wasted.

"Swallow." he orders hoarsely, voice not his

(I have found memories that are not mine

I have only one name but at least a hundred identities)

but you do it anyway, as it's the only solution for you to be able to breathe normally again. You hear him giggling almost maniacally, but it doesn't last long because then he lowers himself to your height, stroking the skin of your cheek with

(hunger)

sweetness, a lopsided smile on his lips.

"Bet you liked it, huh? Sooooo greedy, my Y/n." he takes your chin between his fingers again, this time squeezing harder than before, with less care, the tip of his tongue, which for a moment seems you strangely pointed, emerges between his lips when he moistens them in anticipation.

"You're gonna try to be loyal to me, yeah? You can do it, doll. I will give you all that you need, just say you'll serve me. Say you will sell your soul to me and I won't leave you alone... Do you like the idea? Yes?" he gets up, tugging his pants up and leaving you on the floor like a wet and used rag. Without even giving you time to speak. The both of you already know what your answer would have been. You realize only now that, since when have you set foot in the house, you still haven't said a single word to him.

—

feedbacks always appreciated

[requests open for headcanons too!!]

[eveandtheturtles]

Started with a Kiss Chapter 12: Forgiveness

Summary: Kara and Seth have a lot of catching up to do.

Pairing: Donnie x OC

Rating: T for siblings.

<<Previous All ChapterS Next>>

A/N: This chapter was also co-written with @singinghands Seth is also Kay's character and it has been a pleasure to have him here. Beta Read this time by Topazpearl on Discord who came to my aid in my time of need lol. As usual it can also be read on AO3. AO3 has also a little bonus content in the Notes! (sorry it took me ages to post).

Distracted by the game and the food, Seth didn’t notice how quickly the time went by. Too quickly. He planned to duck out of sight and surprise his sister, but her sudden appearance ruined it. Instead, it was him who jumped when an unfamiliar voice rang through the lair. As he stood up quickly he dropped his controller, ignoring the screen as his character veered off the track. 

Like Kara, he was just as surprised, though for different reasons. Part of him, irrationally, expected her to still look like she did when she'd left home. Thirteen years old and frozen in time. Obviously, that couldn't be the case, and he was silent for a moment, hands empty but still. His sister grew up. 

<Hi?> Seth finally managed once the freeze wore off, knowing that was hardly enough of a greeting or explanation for him being here.

Kara's eyes immediately switched to look at Cheryl. Her friend had enough decency to look apologetic as she signed <Sorry.>

Nevermind that. She could deal with Cheryl another time. 

With a few leaps she got to Seth, nearly tackling him, as she hugged him. There would be time for shame and guilt later. Right now her brother was there. And she had missed him. 

Stumbling back, Seth had to fight to keep his balance. There was no hesitation before he was hugging Kara back, his own eyes welled up seeing his sister again.

<You ass, you are so much taller now!> She grinned as she pulled back, taking a few steps backwards, ignoring the tears gathering in her eyes. 

Her complaint about his height got a bark of silent laughter shortly before Seth stuck his tongue out mockingly. <I am not, you just shrunk.>

She snorted, wiped her tears and lightly punched his side. <Ass.> She took a deep breath and smiled.

Light punch or not, Seth was still acting like it hurt. He watched Kara with mock pain on his face and a barely hidden amusement beneath it. <How could you say that, huh?> Not waiting for an answer he just shrugged it off with another short, silent laugh. He had missed this; the old habit of teasing was as easy to slip into as a forgotten jacket that still fit.

Despite Cheryl's explanations earlier, he still wanted to hear it from Kara too. <Everything okay?> Adding to that was a quick look around the (admittedly more homey than expected when he'd first heard about the lair) room.

Both siblings noticed Cheryl and Donnie trying to discreetly shoo Raph and Mikey out of the entertainment area to give them space. Cheryl smiled at the duo and gave them thumbs up. The two kind of needed to be alone for this.

<Yeah, I'm good,> Kara told Seth. <Do you wanna sit down? I need to know everything about you now.>

<Good. And yeah. This is a lot. I probably should.>

To Kara it was a relief he wanted to talk.She wouldn't be surprised that once the shock and excitement of meeting again wore off he would get angry at her. She fully expected that.

They sat down, and now the awkwardness set in. Without the distraction of video games, the fact of where they were and with whom was unavoidable now. Kara took a deep breath in, rubbing her hands over her legs, wondering what to say.

<Maybe then let's start with just…,> she wiggled her fingers trying to find the words, <are you here for long? Do you study in New York?>

<No, but it's semester break. I have a bit.> Not long, but hopefully enough to catch up. Though Seth doubted there would ever be enough time for that; so much had happened, both of them having missed years of the other's life.

Seth leaned forward a bit, getting comfortable before beginning to talk again. <Found a place kinda close to home, a couple hours out.> Far enough away that he had space and more of a heads up before their mom dropped in, but still close enough that he could get back home if he needed to.

<What about you guys? All, uh, all of you?>

Kara nodded. Right, the semester break. It was almost Christmas time. God, the time really got away from her. 

<You mean the turtles too?> She snorted. <They're okay. We are missing one at the moment.> She looked at the crowd that was trying hard to pretend they weren't interested in what was going on. She could see the orange bandana snapping back into Splinter’s room 

<Cheryl's fine, but she probably told you that.> She sent a sharp look at the dark blonde head poking out. It immediately disappeared as well. None of them were slick. <And I am okay, for now.> She gave him a brave smile, despite worry squeezing her stomach like a vice. <How much did she tell you?>

<Oh, enough.> He could guess what Kara might have been hinting toward, but it was always easier for both of them to default to teasing. The more serious parts of all this could wait, for both him and Kara to feel ready to talk about it. With that in mind, there was a spark of mischief lurking in Seth's eyes as he waited for her full attention again.

His attempt at a neutral-to-serious expression kept not quite getting there, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. <What's your fursona, sis?>

At first she thought he meant the whole situation with the mob and/or ex problems but one look at his face told her otherwise. 

She felt her face heating up. <I am not a furry!> She huffed and slapped his arm again with the back of her hand.

It got her another look of mock pain as Seth pretended to test the arm for injury. 

<You sure about that? Looks like it to me,> he teased further.

Kara gasped in faked offense and started poking his sides to tickle him in revenge.

Squirming away, Seth's sudden need to get out of Kara's reach had him unbalanced on the sofa. Suddenly he was on the floor, palms stinging from catching himself.<Weaknesses are a low blow!> 

<Suffer!> She grinned evilly. <I have the high ground, Anakin!>

Seth couldn't help his snort of laughter at that familiar line, deliberately looking her in the eyes to keep her guessing about his retaliation.

<You underestimate my power, Kar-bi Wan!> It was her only warning before her legs were under tickle attack.

She squeaked and kicked her legs, with one accidentally flinging at his head.

He tried to dodge, but Seth's realization came a hair too late; at least it wasn't a full kick, but the side of his head was going to feel that for a bit. <Still a kicker?> he teases, albeit weakly, the eye on that side watering.

Kara gasped this time in concern but snorted at his joke. <Are you okay?> She checked his head then reached one hand to him to help him up. 

<Will be. You lost your edge.> The offered help was welcomed though, and he was glad to take it. <Thanks.>

She snorted. <We should get that checked out before you leave though.> 

She helped him sit down. There wasn’t much of a warning for her next move. As she held his hand, she grabbed a pillow with the other hand and smacked it into his face.

The split second between that annoyingly familiar grin and his face being full of pillow wasn't enough this time to react, and Seth needed a second longer still to come to terms with what just happened.

As soon as he did, he was quick to put a mock wounded expression on when the pillow dropped. <First you kick me, now this?>

She laughed, she laughed so hard. This familiarity was nostalgic. The past just dropping right into her lap. It was overwhelming. She started crying. The tears started flowing, and she couldn’t stop them. It was like something unlocked inside her, and she couldn’t stop. It was an ugly cry, and she sniffled trying to stop. She raised her hands to sign, but her words weren’t coming out, they were shaking so badly. She just reached out to her brother. 

As soon as Kara started crying, the teasing stopped. Her seeking comfort was all it took for Seth to reach out as well. Even as a child, it wasn't often that she got like this. Kara rarely let her emotions out. He still was her brother, her first best friend. He quickly recognized of what was going on came quickly.

She couldn’t see what he was saying like this, but he was still spelling <okay> against her back. It still took her a moment to register him doing that.

She held on tight, letting it all flow out. All the repressed emotions. Once they stopped she remained still for a few moments, until she knew it was over. Until she felt safe enough to face him again. Only then she took a deep, shaky breath and pulled away. <I am so sorry,> she said. <I didn't mean to ever leave you behind. You must hate me, huh?>

<You're my sister. You know I don't.> Even if she was hard to get along with sometimes, that was just how things worked. At least, for their definition of sibling. <You're okay, right?>

Her lips quivered in a weak smile and she nodded. <I'm okay. You?>

<Yeah. Still getting used to my sister being a furry.> Seth adds, not willing to resist the tease.

She looked at him with a glare. <I can still absolutely whack you with that pillow again.> She puffed her cheeks in annoyance.

<Sure you can still do that if my glasses are on?> He wiggled his eyebrows at her. 

Kara rolled her eyes. <He's nice. We're friends. And not dating!> 

<Oh, he's still single then?> The question wasn't in the least serious. Seth was not even hiding the continued sibling mockery in it. 

She deployed the pillow again, smacking him over the shoulder. <Keep going and I am coming for your kneecaps.> 

<Hey!> The protest is weak, and one Seth drops immediately. <You can try, if you can reach them.>

She stuck her tongue at him. <What about you? No bears in your life you try to seduce?>

Sticking his tongue out in return, the gesture on his side is brief. <No, I wouldn't say there was.> Not that there wasn't someone, but the category didn't apply.

She ignored the taunt and narrowed her eyes, reading his expression. <But there is someone,> she stretched the signs, teasing him with a grin. There might have been almost ten years, but his face was just as open as ever.

Seth couldn't help it, feeling his face heat up with a blush in response to the teasing. <Maybe there is, maybe not.> he hedged, looking to one side instead of directly at Kara.

HA! She got him. Her grin got wide. She moved her whole body to put herself in his line of sight. <There iiiiiissssss. Who is it? Do you need a wingman? I totally can wingman for you. Or kick their ass as your sister! Do they need shovel talk?>

<No. Nope.> The denial came quickly. Seth was more than aware of what normally happened when Kara started on that particular line of thinking. The highschool experience was more than enough. <You're too late anyway.> Which was lucky, at least in his opinion. Of course, now that this was her train of thought that admission would only move her onto a slightly different related track.

Her eyes sparkled, face stretched in a smile. <My bro has a boyfriend!> Damn, her brother had a boyfriend! Shit… she missed so much… But she didn’t let herself get down again. <What’s his name? What does he look like?>

<Nope, don't know what you're talking about. They aren't.> He's playing word games and knows it, but that was part of the fun. <I'll ask if I can show you later okay? And you better not.> Some protectiveness sneaks onto the words as Seth signs them, along with stubbornness, both similar enough to the way he acted about family that Kara might recognize the expression he has now.

She giggled. <Please do. I am dying of curiosity.> She winked but then sighed. This was good. Really good. It was familiar. Comforting even. 

<I will. Promise.> To show his sincerity, Seth used for the word ‘promise’ their own homesign the two came up with as children. It was nearly a reflex to do so as well.

She nodded, trusting him on that. But there was an itch of discomfort at the edge of her mind. Best to jump to the meat of things, now that the tears were out of the way.

<Seth do you hate me? Aren't you mad at me?> She asked again. 

Seth dropped his earlier teasing when the mood shifted. <I don't hate you. You're my sister.> He pushes a hand through his hair, sighs. <Maybe when you first disappeared? But I didn't know why. And that was years ago. It wasn't your choice, whatever it was.> Cheryl had shared some, but he hadn't pressed for more than what she felt able to say.

She sighed and dropped her hands learning that he knew some things. It brought up more shame and guilt and some annoyance. Mostly at Cheryl, but she also understood. Her friend probably had to calm Seth down before they could meet. It takes a moment to swallow it. Her mouth turned into a thin line as she processed that.

<How much do you know?> She finally asked.

<The hospital. And someone breaking into your place. Nothing more specific.> He wanted, needed, to know. For his peace of mind in some sense, at least. Though Seth doubted it would bring much of that. <It's your business, right? Your decision on how much to tell.> Something serious like this? That wasn't anything to insist on prying into when the people involved might not want you to. Even if he wanted to.

Kara wrung her hands and bit her lips. Okay, so nothing too specific. That's good. Wait, no. She rubbed her face, annoyed at herself. Why were secrets her default? She did share some stuff with Donnie recently and…. She didn't feel like recounting the events again but… this was Seth, and he deserved to know some things. 

She shook her hands, trying to shake some of the nerves and fear of judgment. 

<I have an ex. His name is Ryan,> she started slowly. <And yeah. It was very bad. Really bad. I didn't notice when–.> When what? When she cut off almost all her support system? She still felt like it was her fault. She shouldn't have done that and yet. <After the hospital, I won the court case. Barely.> She sighed and rolled her eyes. <I may or may not have had some less than savory help in it. He got released early for 'good behavior'.> She grimaced at the words. <Somehow got in touch with one of the crime lords and I don't know, convinced him to help make my life difficult again?> She paused, drumming her fingers together. <I may or may not have been doing some not entirely legal stuff on the internet, and Donnie found me out. They offered me protection, and I got a deal with the Chief of Organized Crime so I have been here for now. So, that's me. In a nutshell.> She gave him an awkward smile.

The amount of information had Seth quiet for a moment to process. A name, but one that, now that this person was out of the picture, he would set aside until it was needed. Trouble he didn't know about, danger she'd had to deal with on her own.

The legality of what she had done aside, she was still his sister. Maybe not the right mindset for someone on the career track Seth hoped for, but he'd never been the best at heeding the letter when not doing so was the more right choice.

<He's for sure gone?>

<Working on that, the guys are taking down the organization and yeah.> She smiled awkwardly. <Your turn now. How's…. Everyone? What are you doing these days and uh… how's- how's mom?> She had a couple years to catch on.

Sighing, Seth rubs his neck while working out how to reply to that. <Working, a little. Studying the rest of the time. Getting some outside interaction with people when I can. Glad everyone's patient when I'm out of reach.> He grimaces, but briefly. <Mom's mom. You know how that is.> Her insistence on focusing on him and ignoring Kara still itched.

Unlike with Cheryl there wasn't the urge to sugarcoat things, moreso when doing that would hurt worse later.

Ah, it did sting and annoyed Kara as well. It’d been years and she just wouldn't- okay, deep breaths, no time for ranting. 

<Right, can't say I am not surprised.> Her face was twisted in a bitter expression. Fine, if she didn't want to acknowledge she had a child, then Kara wasn't going to think about her either. 

It wasn't his thing to say it for, but… <I'm sorry.>. The apology was reflexive, one he'd made before, and prompted by the familiar look of pain on Kara's face.

<Hey, it's not your fault.> She gave him exactly the same reply as back then as well. She decided to focus on him more. <What do you study? And where? Said you work? Do you need any cash?>

<The local back home, and I'm good on cash.> Seth looks sheepish to admit just what, with everything that Kara's shared, but she did ask. <Answer to the first one is law.> 

She giggled. <Great, next time I'm in deep shit I'm gonna call you instead of my lawyer.> She grinned and nudged him. 

<Conflict of interest, sis.> Seth teases automatically, the shift in her mood to something less jagged welcomed compared to earlier. 

She stuck her tongue at him. <Mean.>

He smiled. <You're safe here, right? Comfortable?>

She slowly nodded. <Aside of it being the sewers and> she raised her hands higher making her signs louder knowing the audience behind them, <Raph's gigantic fart bombs!> She dropped her hands again. What she didn't hear were the loud protests and laughs from the brothers that resulted from it. <Yeah. I'm good. I just can't wait to go topside. From what I heard it won't be long now. I will invite you over. You'll love it.>

Seth was relieved to hear that Kara would be safe enough soon to go back to her apartment, and he nodded in return. <Must be pretty bad if you can smell them down here.> he teased, though Raph wasn't around to be in on it. <You have a new cell number right?> After everything else that was hopefully a given, and getting it would make staying in touch easier.

She snickered and pulled her phone out. She had to get a new number after all that went down with Ryan. She should have saved Seth's number, but she didn't think of it when she should have. Too late for should haves now though. Now was what was important.

She quickly told Seth her number and waited for him to send her a text. As soon as her screen lit up with his number she saved it as 'Stinky Bro'. She also sent him back her home address.

Seth had hers saved under a sibling nickname of his own, one that had him grinning behind his free hand. If she saw her name was set to "small annoyance", the lifespan of his phone would be in question.

Only when he hears the sound of a text arriving does Seth look settled. It being able to send properly down here had been questionable.

She recognised the small flash of brief surprise. <It's all Donnie Tech. He is really smart.> She praised the turtle. Her face lit up a little, badly hiding feelings she didn't want to fully acknowledge.

Hiding his grin on seeing how proud she was of Donnie's work was difficult enough that Seth didn't bother with the effort. <Are you absolutely sure you’re not a furry?> he teased, unable to resist the barb.

She narrowed her eyes at him and chucked a pillow on his face.

Taking the smack full in the face, once the pillow fell away there was a look of mock anger and mischief mixed on Seth's face. <No fair attacking an unarmed man.> he reminded, holding a hand out then expectantly for his own pillow.

<Oh you think, I would give you an ammunition, fool?> She stood up on the sofa, holding the pillow under her arm and balancing shakily. There were of course other pillows around. <Again – I have the higher ground!!> she signed dramatically, stretching her signs. 

"So you guys are playing or what?" Mikey suddenly popped behind Seth, signing as he spoke. 

His sudden appearance caused Kara to lose balance and she fell, caught by Donnie last second. 

Seth yelped and whirled around. How someone that tall and bulky could be so quiet was a mystery! He slipped on one of the pillows from earlier and had to fight for his own balance, a fight he only half-wins.

Blinking up at the turtle, it takes him a minute to recover. <Uh, yeah? Sort of?>

"Mikey," Donnie hissed, scolding the younger brother. He set a blushing, a bit stunned Kara down. He then moved away, clearing his throat.

"Whoops, my bad," Mikey shrugged, with a not-so-innocent smile. 

It only took one look at that smile to recognize it, once Seth was fully sure of his balance again. A comrade in arms, he assumed, and he had to force his expression back to neutral despite the flicker of a grin threatening to appear.

Turning his attention to Kara and Donnie, he equally feigned innocence. <You okay, sis?>

Kara looked at her brother. Her eyes quickly narrowed, recognizing the twitches in his face. He hadn't changed all that much since they were 13.

<I am okay,> she signed slowly. She looked at Donnie. <Seth, this is Donnie. Donnie this is my brother, Seth.>

Donnie looked a bit confused at Kara for a moment as she introduced them. <Oh! Nice to meet you, S-,> he paused and looked at Kara, who was biting her lips trying to hide in an impish grin. 

Did she just use a middle finger to name her brother?

Seth for his part doesn't look surprised, forgetting that they're not around people in the know before flashing a return bird in Kara's direction. Then he's back to including Donnie in the conversation.

<Sorry, she forgets her social training sometimes. Good to meet you too.> With that jab he was purposely avoiding looking at Kara in a way that Seth hoped gets under her skin the way their teasing used to.

With that display Kara fake gasped silently. She then tried to position herself in front of Seth, even jumping a little to get into his field of vision. 

<I know that too well,> Donnie replied, amused at her bouncing. 'She is adorable,' he thought but tried not to show it. Which wasn't working very well judging by the grin Mikey was giving him.

Seth was trying and failing at keeping his expression straight while continuing to pretend he couldn't see Kara. <So that hasn't changed, huh?>

As he spotted the fond look (or what Seth assumed was a fond look) hiding in Donnie's amusement, there was a spark of mischief equal to Mikey's grin in his eyes. <You’ve been keeping her safe?>

<Trying our best, but I think she has been causing at least 60% more headaches to Leo than what normally Raph does,> Donnie replied, either missing Seth's intention or purposefully evading it. <They are a team.> He sent a look towards Raph who huffed in response, not hiding his smirk very well. 

Meanwhile, Kara, annoyed with being ignored, jabbed her brother in the stomach.

‘<Only sixty? That's lucky. Used to be ninety per–> And then the jab, catching Seth off guard. <See?> he signed while giving Kara a look of 'excuse me?’ that hadn't changed even after growing up. <And there's two of her trying, too, she's gone soft.>

With that last sentence he deliberately angles himself so both Donnie and Kara were included in the conversation. If she was going to elbow him, it would be for a reason this time.

Donnie tried to hide his smile from the sibling duo. He met Kara the Hacker, worked with Kara the Scientist, the Friend and the Mischief Maker. This was Kara the Sibling.

<90%? I am really sorry and thank you for your service,> he joked.

Meanwhile Kara seemed placated with her inclusion. She snorted at Donnie’s response and shook her head.

She stuck her tongue back at him then snorted and grinned. <You rehashed that idea when we were 11 and shoved a whole plate of ‘pie’ in my face.>

<Don't feel sorry for him! When we were younger he shoved me into a washer!>

<Your attitude stunk, that was the fastest way to deal with it.> Seth shoots back, grinning at the memory even as his nose wrinkles. <She used up half a jar of Vicks on my pillow; the smell never did get out. It had to be replaced, and my hair stunk the entire time until we did. She still doing that?> Now it was funny, but at the time having to deal with their classmates and parent's friends asking if he was sick for weeks afterwards had been infuriating.

<No, not that I know of,> Donnie bit his lips to not laugh.

<That was because you framed me for eating all of the mini jalapeño cheesecakes mom made for a garden party!> Kara tried to defend herself. <I didn't even like those.> She pouted. <And I was the one to get grounded!>

<I'd do it again, they were delicious.> With that he stuck his tongue out at Kara, not caring how childish the gesture was. <You would have done the same thing if she made your favorite. Tasted better than the shaving cream you told me was whipped cream anyway, had to get rid of it with something.>

<Hey, nobody said we couldn't copy each other,> Seth answered with an exaggerated shrug, hands palm up as if asking 'what can you do?’ as he does so. <Good to know you kept it going.>

Donnie turned his head to look at Raph and Mikey. It was hard to imagine being separated from his siblings for as long as Kara and Seth were. Even if they infuriated each other to no end…

Their prank wars were ridiculous in eye of time. Thinking up what to do next, waiting for the reactions, both of them had enjoyed that even if their parents had gotten tired of it not long after they'd started. It was after their dad… wasn't around anymore. The good ol’ prank wars were to cheer each other up.

<Good to have you back, ass.> Kara chuckled and bumped her fist over Seth’s arm. <Beware though, I will find a way to get you.>

<Hey, don’t want to ruin the happy reunion, but there’s pizza with yours and Donnie’s name on it, unless you are fine with Mikey hoovering those in,> Cheryl joined them, standing at Donnie’s side.

<Oh, I better go get it then,> Donnie jumped up at that a little. There was no joking with pizza and Mikey involved. <It was nice meeting you Seth,> he said and offered his hand for a shake to Kara’s brother.

In the middle of trying to squirm away from Kara's poking, batting her hands away, Seth gives her a look she'd recognize that she better wait a minute for him to talk. <You too,> he returns, hesitating a second before accepting the handshake.

The obvious aside, as a person Donnie seemed alright.

That wouldn't keep him from his brotherly duties, however, but Seth hoped it wouldn't come to that for multiple reasons, the clear strength difference being one of them.

Kara looked between him and Donnie. With a small smile she bumped lighty into him. <Thank you,> she signed. 

Seth shook his head. <Don’t mention it.>

She was probably going to say more but this time her stomach protested, reminding her it was time to go eat. <Let’s talk later. Maybe Mario Kart? Been a while since I destroyed you in a game.>

Seth laughed soundlessly. <You’re on.>

Tag list: @madammuffins @leosgirl82 @m1dnyt3-w0lf @pheradream-15 @kikithedreamerwriter @fyreball66 @tinkabelle24 @dilucsflame33 @raphsmuneca

(lemme know if you want to be removed! or added! Thank you for reading! Leave me a comment! Reblogs are super welcomed!)

[butterflyintochains]

Le Nouveau Regime

A kind of successor to 'Of All They Survey'. Basically, Sid and Geno retire together after their 2025 Cup run. Leaving Pittsburgh down a captain and their longest serving Alternate. Of course, they stay in the city for their first season as retired players, their family still needs them, right? But, little does the team and city itself know, Sid has chosen his successor, and the organisation could not agree more. There is still a member of their trio active on the team. His husband is also right there. As is the outgoing captain's eldest son.

Welcome, to Le Nouveau Regime, Pittsburgh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two AM, and he still can't fucking sleep. He really envies his husband right now, fast asleep with nothing on his mind. For Kris Letang, everything changes tomorrow evening. He knew about Sid and Geno retiring together, that was a long discussion they had over summer, he'll miss them more than he can say. But, they're still going to be in the building everyday, working with Kyle to guide the team into a better future after their sixth cup run. It's not that, it's the decision Sid made last week. Kris is deeply honoured to be doing this, and he wants to do as well as he can for as long as he has left. But, he'll be damned if it doesn't terrify him on a cosmic level. He turns over in bed again, rousing Erik from his sleep. ''Kris...'' Erik asks, blinking a few times.

Kris leans over to kiss his husband's forehead. ''Sorry, Erik, can't sleep, that's all. Go back to sleep, I'm okay.'' Erik raises an eyebrow, and flicks his lamp on. ''Well, what kind of husband would I be if I left you in your head like this? Talk to me, hjartat, what's going on in that beautiful head?''

Kris says, taking a deep breath as Erik clasps their hands together. ''The handover, amour, the captaincy. I've not been a captain since Val D'Or, and I'm just... worried that I'm not worthy of it.'' Kris confesses to his other half in the safety of their bedroom, he'd not dare voice this in front of the boys tomorrow. ''It's just... I'm not Sid, I'm not Mario. I'm all fire, and passion, and different.''

Erik tears up, he hates hearing his husband be all insecure like this, he knows the wonderful man he married. ''Someday, I hope you can see the you I see, you know? No, you're not Sid or Mario. You're you. Passionate, strong, determined, the conscience of this city.'' Erik says, reminding his beloved of 2015. ''Remember when I was made captain in Ottawa? After Jason left it to me? I called you up before that game, remember how scared I was? Scared of not being good enough because I'm not Canadian?''

Kris nods, massaging Erik's hand with his thumb. ''Yeah, I do.'' Erik asks him. ''Who do you think got me on that rink?'' Kris shrugs, Erik kisses his nose. ''You did, sweetheart.'' Erik continues. ''You will be our captain, Sid trusts you, Geno trusts you, so does Mario. You, Kris Letang, are my best friend, my husband, my soulmate... and my captain. I am so proud to be your Alternate tomorrow. Rusty and I will be with you every step of the way.'' Kris sniffles, what stars aligned to give him this man? ''I love you, Erik Karlsson.''

Erik kisses him. ''I love you too. Sleep now?'' Kris nods, Erik turns his light off, and they finally get some sleep together. Kris wrapped in the safe arms of his husband.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day of their first home game against the Sabres, Kris and Erik dress into their gameday suits after their pre-game nap. Erik laces up his shoes, and grabs his keys. Kris gives one last glance up to his four cup rings, and joins him at the front door. They jump in the car together, and get going to PPG Paints. They drive in silence, a comfortable quiet in the car as they drive down to the arena, they've never needed to talk much. Erik drives, and Kris tries not to have another anxiety attack about what he's taking on. He contents himself with the knowledge that he's got his husband and nephew with him. Sid and Geno will be with Kyle for the game after the ceremony. Flower has even moved back to town for Kris' first season as captain. He's not doing this alone, thank God. Finally, they arrive at the arena. Erik looks to Kris, and asks him. ''Ready, sweetheart?''

Kris nods, and says. ''Come what may, darling.'' They get out of the car, and head inside hand in hand. Meeting up with Lars and Marcus as they head to get out of their suits. They grab something to eat, somehow Kris convinced Erik to drop the raw onions from his pre-game meal. ''Excited for tonight, captain?'' Drew innocently asks. Erik rolls his eyes, and says. ''Drew, maybe don't say that? He's been anxious for a week about this.''

Kris finishes eating, and says. ''I'm just treating this as any other game, Drew.''

Jack asks his surrogate dad, Kris has parented all of the young defencemen on the team for years, and done an amazing job at it too. ''How? You're gonna be the captain soon!'' Kris clears his dishes away, and says. ''I've been in this league for my whole adult life, Ivy, this is just another night.'' He kisses Erik's cheek, and goes for some quiet time in an empty media room, trying desperately to keep himself calm. Then, the call to get suited up for the ceremony comes. Kris holds his jersey in his hands, the A will be going on for the last time, he's grown so attached to it. He pulls the jersey over his head, and waits for the team's signal to get out onto the ice. Geno will be giving the Alternate jerseys out, Sid will be giving the Captain's jersey. The team gather at the bench, the incoming core ready to receive their new letters. After a presentation of the past captains, Sid and Geno come out onto the rink to a roar of applause, the new jerseys in their hands. ''With three cups as a Penguin, and a King Clancy nomination, we present to you, Alternate Captain - Bryan Rust!'' The announcer says. Rusty skates up to receive his new jersey from Geno. Both Sid and Geno embrace their surrogate son. ''The winner of three Norris Trophies and a long-awaited Stanley Cup, Alternate Captain - Erik Karlsson!'' Erik squeezes Kris' hand, and skates up to exchange his plain jersey for his new one. ''Finally, our longest tenured player. Four time Stanley Cup winner and 2023 Masterton Trophy winner. Your new Captain - Kris Letang!'' Kris skates up to Sid to receive his new jersey, the name an number the same, just a C where the A once was. ''I'll not let you both down, I promise.'' He says.

Geno hugs him. ''We know you won't, Legend.'' Sid places his hands on Kris' shoulders, and says to him. ''That's why I chose you for this, Tanger.''

Kris looks to his team, who are all applauding him, He takes a breath, and faces the fans with his new letter. He's pleasantly surprised at the wave of cheers he gets, maybe Erik was right last night? Maybe this won't be so bad?

After warmups, Kris is taken for a ceremonial faceoff against Sabres Captain, Alex Tuch. Then, they get on with the game. Which they win 3-1 to get their season started. Kris, Erik, and Rusty are the last off the ice. Back in the dressing room, Sully says. ''Very pleased with tonight, boys, to our new leadership - amazing job tonight. Johnny, Zuck - welcome home.'' He picks up the new helmet, and says. ''I think this has to go to our new captain.'' He hands it to Kris. Kris stands, and says. ''Good to be back, proud to be the captain, let's keep this up. Bunts, Glasser, Drew - good job on the goals. I'll not let you guys down, I promise.''

After media, Kris and Erik get home, and collapse on the couch together with something to eat. Then, it's time for bed, they're both thankful they're beginning this new era of the team with a five game homestay. For a change, Kris is out like a light, the rush of today catching up to him. Erik rests his head on Kris' chest, and joins him in sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few slower days pass, the team are hard at work in training for their game against Calgary. The third game of their homestay, they won in a shootout against Columbus in the second game. After this comes a four game roadtrip to Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Winnipeg before coming home for two. Kris finds that the anxiety of being captain is lessening over time, the fans seem to be taking to it at any rate. Having one of his boys back does kind of help, he's missed Olli, Johnny, and PO more than he thought he would. Having Johnny back helps ease that worry. Rusty is every bit the leader for the forwards he's been raised to be. And, having Erik with him is all he's ever dreamed of. Sully and Quinn gather the troops around for a discussion about the powerplay and penalty kill units for the season. ''Alright, for the powerplay unit we're running with: Rust, Eller, O'Connor, Karlsson, and Letang.'' Sully says. Three fifths of the veterans unit from last season's cup run, the unit worked like clockwork. ''For the PK, we're going: Acciari, Hayes, Pettersson, and Zucker.'' Quinn says.

The top powerplay unit gets to work refining some drills and formations. Already, Kris and Erik are being given a nickname together by the rest of the team. Sid and Geno are and were the Two Headed Monster that will never change. But, the team took to calling Kris and Erik the Twin Terrors during last season's playoffs, and the name has stuck into Kris' captaincy. Drew wires a shot to Rusty, who sends it past Tristan's ear. ''Good work, boys, PK up next!'' Quinn says.

The powerplay unit take a sit down, and the penalty kill unit go over some drills together. ''How have you been lately, Kris?'' Sully asks after training.

Kris towels his hair dry. ''Good, actually, feels weird being the captain and on the PA, but I wear both with pride.''

Kyle asks him about his work with the PA. ''Do you want us to give that job to someone else, Kris?''

Kris shakes his head, he's been the team's representative for almost a decade now, and he'd love to keep that up. ''No, I'm happy to keep on with both positions. Erik thinks I take on too much, but I'm fine. I would love a backup rep, though.''

Kyle nods, noting that down onto his phone. ''I'll bring that up at the next team meeting.'' Kris goes for lunch with the rest of the team, glad nobody has been treating him differently with this whole captaincy thing. In any other world, he'd have never wanted that C on his jersey, and part of him still finds it weird, but Sid wanted him to have this, so he wears it with pride.

The team gets in for the game against Calgary, they suit up together in their stalls. The ballot for Kris' backup PA representative is narrowed down to: Bunting, Beauvillier, Pettersson, or Jarry. The team are talking about their plans for the roadtrip across Eastern Canada when Sully comes in for the read. He addresses the troops, the slip of paper in his hand. ''Here we go for tonight, let's make this count, boys. Up front, we've got: O'Connor, Glass, and Rusty.'' The room cheers. ''Up back, we've got: Letang and Marino.'' Johnny looks to Kris, his middle boy come home at last. ''In net, Ned! Let's get going!''

The game starts strong, Beauvillier netting an early goal on his first shot of his first shift of the game for 1-0. Acciari stealing the puck from a corner scrum and making off with it puts them up 2-0 going into first intermission. ''We're doing good, mes amis, let's keep this up. We stay together, and stay calm. The Flames are an annoying team, they will try and get on our nerves, we don't let them.'' Kris addresses the room, taking a leaf from Sid's book of a captain's address between periods. ''Owen, how are you doing these past couple of games?'' Kris asks the rookie, Owen Pickering, who he personally drafted. ''Good, thank you for drafting me, captain.'' Kris says, a big smile on his face. ''You're very welcome, kid.''

The second is scoreless, Kris directing the team whenever he's on the ice. But, to their credit, Calgary are holding onto their line. Midway through the third period, Kris gets the puck on his stick during a powerplay for the team, he passes to Erik, who dekes out Kadri, passing to Drew. Drew fires the puck past Vladar's elbow. The first goal in almost forty minutes puts them up 3-0. That ends up being the last goal of the game, their third win in a row to open the new season. Kris is among those taken for media after the game. ''Three games, six points picked up, how pleased are you with this, as the new captain?''

Kris says, sliding his wedding ring back onto his finger with a smile. ''I'm very happy with the results so far, still early days yet, I'm glad we're picking up these early wins, gives us some breathing room for the opening stretch.''

Another journalist asks him. ''How are you feeling having Marino back this season?''

Kris says, sifting in his stall. ''Great, good to have one of my boys back. I always thought Olli, Johnny, and PO fled the nest too early. It's good having him and Ivy.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They beat the Hurricanes 2-1 in overtime to finish their homestay, with Owen getting his first goal of his career. Then, comes the roadtrip across eastern Canada. Kris was more than a little bit terrified of the game in Montreal, coming home as captain for the first time. But, he got to sleep in his own bed with his husband, so it balanced out. They even won that game! 5-4 in a shootout with Kris netting two goals, his first goals as captain. They've got three free days between the Montreal and Ottawa games when they land in Ottawa. The first real stretch of days off of the season so far, and Sully has them on rest orders for the first day off. This is going to be a long season, they're defending Stanley Cup winners, so they need their rest as much as they need to play well. Erik gets his husband up early for a walk along the Rideau Canal after breakfast. They so rarely get true alone time during the season, even now as teammates, there's always someone poking around, especially with their two surrogate sons around. Johnny and Jack are wonderful, but they need some alone time. They set off into the chilly morning, arm in arm. For today, they're not the Captain and his top Alternate, or Letang and Karlsson, they are Kris and Erik, and that's okay with them. ''Never realised how beautiful Ottawa was until we got in yesterday evening.'' Kris says. He's only ever come here for work, and to spend time with Erik. ''Sweetheart, I played here for a long time, most of it you were with me.''

Kris says, gently nudging his shoulder. ''Back then, the attraction of this place was you, not the city, darling.'' Kris adds. ''Same goes for San Jose, actually.''

Erik laughs, some things never change. ''I guess I felt the same for Pittsburgh. Back then, the city was fine, I guess? But, you were there, so it became the best city on earth. Now, it's home.'' They keep on walking in silence, listening to the city around them, they've never needed to be constantly talking to each other, even back when they first got together. This comfortable quiet is something they've found in each other. In the loudest sport in the world, two franchise defencemen have found calm in each other somehow. ''Sid told me he's planning a trip to Russia with Geno for the summer. Says it's a surprise.'' Kris says.

Erik chuckles, and asks. ''Has his Russian improved any?'' He can't imagine Sid won't have done his homework ahead of time, but it always pays to speak the local language. ''Yeah, he's at sentences unaided, or rather back at sentences unaided.'' Kris says.

Erik asks, furrowing his brows at that, there's still so much he doesn't know. ''Back at that? What d'you mean?'' Kris laughs, it's funny how these events coincide really. ''It's funny, actually. The same time I was learning Swedish for you, and you were studying French for me. Sid was learning Russian for Geno.'' He smiles fondly at the memory of the books spread out on dining tables, and Geno drilling Sid on Cyrillic. ''Yeah? Tell me more.'' Erik says, intrigued.

Kris says, dusting off his coat. ''He was studying Russian, doing a pretty good job at it too. Kinda tripped himself up by trying to read Dostoevsky right away, but he was getting really good. Then, he just... stopped, for some reason.'' Kris has never known why, perhaps the duties he was tasked with got in the way? Geno's English got too good? The kids came along and took up time? Either way, Kris is proud of himself for keeping up on his Swedish, even with the leadership stuff, hockey, PA, and his own boys coming along.

Erik asks, sitting down on a bench next to the canal. ''Is that why he got all weird at us speaking each other's languages?'' Kris nods, and sits down next to his husband. ''Yeah, I guess he just wasn't ready for us being trilingual.'' Kris remarks, linking their arms again. ''That said, you're sexy when you speak French.''

Erik leans over to kiss Kris on the cheek. ''Likewise for you in Swedish.''

There's a comfortable lull in conversation again, Erik can feel that Kris wants to ask him something, but he leaves it be, Kris never responds well to being cornered. Neither does Erik himself for that matter. ''Erik, can I ask you something, captain to captain?'' Kris asks. Erik says, meeting his gaze. ''Yeah, always, Kris.''

Kris clears his throat. ''How am I doing? Am I doing a good job so far?''

Erik smiles softly, and nods. ''Yeah, you're doing so well. We're doing well as a team, you've got the room, the city, and the media. The kids are in the palm of your hand.'' Erik adds, he's biased, this is his husband after all. ''I'm a very proud Alternate, and husband right now.''

Kris nods, pressing a kiss to Erik's lips, if Erik is happy with him, that's worth a thousand Stanley Cups. ''Good, I'm glad.''

They come out of the Ottawa game with only their second loss of the season, a close run 4-3 shootout loss. Then, they get on the road to Toronto. Their first game back against the Leafs since game six of the eastern Conference Final. Kris has had an idea, he thinks Rusty could do with some help on the front end, so he calls a leadership meeting before they play the Leafs. ''What's going on, Kris?'' Rusty asks.

Kris says, pulling up a chair at the table they're using. ''I'm going to ask Kyle to give Lars an A, you need some help up front, I just want to know how you feel about that.''

Rusty looks delighted, he has been kinda lonely up front, especially with how Kris has Erik up back. ''I'd love that, Kris. Karl, how d'you feel about that?''

Erik nods, taking his hair down from its ponytail for the game. ''I'm good to add to the core. Anything you feel is best for us, Kris, do it.'' Kris nods, and says. ''Thank you so much, both of you. I'll talk to him after the game with Lars.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the third period, they're tied 5-5 with a hattrick duel from Marner and Rusty in the second. Reminding Kris of the hattrick duel between Sid and Ovi back in the day. Sully deploys the Veterans Trio for overtime, the trio share a look and a nod. Wes drops the puck, Lars wins the faceoff, passes back to Kris. ''Darling!'' Kris passes to Erik, who fires the puck past Woll's ear to end the game. ''That's how we do it, darling!'' Kris says, wrapping his arms around Erik. Erik kisses Kris, and hugs Lars. ''Thank you both for the assists.''

After media, Kris goes to Kyle and Lars with his idea, explaining. ''Rusty is kind of by himself for leading the forwards, I think having Lars promoted would help him. Rusty and Erik approve of this, by the way.''

Kyle nods, and fires a text off to Tags. ''I like how you three think, consider it done. Lars, are you good with this?''

Lars nods, he helped Ovi in Washington, so he's used to leading teams. ''I'm honoured, can't wait to get started.''

The A goes on his away jersey for their final roadtrip game against Winnipeg. Which is a dominant win, 5-0 with a shutout for Ned. Then, they fly home to Pittsburgh for their four days off before a shorter homestay. On the plane, during a card game with Erik, Lars, and Marcus, Kris gets a call from Sid. ''Salut, mon frere, what's up?'' He asks.

Sid says. ''Not much, Geno and I are just out of the office, and heading home. Friedman wants to interview you and Erik.'' Oh, does he now? Kris puts the call to speaker, this concerns them both now. ''What's the interview about?''

Sid sighs, and explains. ''The same shit Geno and I used to get interviewed about, being a married couple leading an NHL team.'' Both of them roll their eyes, this was why they didn't wanna tell anyone about them until 2023, they wanted to escape the media frenzy. ''Can we turn the interview down?'' Erik asks.

Sid says. ''Yes, you can, or I can on your behalf as Advisor to The GM.'' Erik looks to Kris, gets the nod, and says. ''Can you tell him no interview, please, Sid?''

Sid hums, and says. ''Thought you'd say that. Will do. See you at Cranberry.''

Kris says. ''See you soon, Sid.'' He hangs up, and puts his phone away, Kris rolls his eyes, the last thing he needs right now is more dumb media. The team's press pack is more than enough. He also refuses to subject Erik to it, they've come this far without the media, and they'll be just fine keeping their home life private. Erik deserves better than that. ''You good, Kris?'' Jack asks him from the table across the aisle. Kris sighs, and says. ''Erik and I have been together for almost fifteen years, now all of a sudden the media gives a shit?'' Erik says, shuffling the deck again. ''They don't, sweetheart, they just want a story, and we're not giving it to them.''

Bunting says. ''God, fifteen years? Most of us haven't even been in the league for that long!''

Drew asks them. ''How the hell have you two kept this up? Like, Sid and Geno we get, same team and stuff. But, the long distance stuff?'' Kris says, turning his wedding ring on his finger. ''When you love someone that much, OC, you make it work, even if it gets difficult, because it's worth it.''

Erik nods, and adds. ''For us, we were born for each other, we are each other's first real everything. First love, first kisses, all of it.'' Raks seems curious at Erik's use of kisses in the plural form. ''First kisses? Plural, Karl?''

Erik counts on his fingers. ''Our proper first kiss was when we got together in 2011, our second first kiss was when we got back together in 2019, and our third first kiss was at our wedding in 2021.'' Kris nods, smiling with nostalgia, the plane falls back into that comfortable quiet. They're almost home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The early stretch moves along well for the team, they're second in the Metro division by late November. Just three points off the Rangers, same teams topping the division, just a different season. They've got their first stage of the infamous Battle of Pennsylvania in a couple of days. For Kris, this is the biggest moment of his captaincy so far. He's mostly taken everything in stride, but games against the Flyers are always more important than any other game he plays. But, for right now, it's a rest day, and Kris and Erik have Johnny and Jack over watching some Premier League highlights. Rusty and Drew are spending the day with Sid and Geno. The team elected Marcus to be Kris' backup for the PA, and Kris is currently going over some stuff discussed in their last meeting. ''Erik, are you going to Italy for the Olympics?'' Kris asks.

Erik shrugs. ''No idea, that'll be our anniversary fortnight.'' Johnny says to his surrogate step-dad. ''If Team Sweden don't pick you, they're idiots.''

Erik laughs, he's not known Marino long, but he already likes the kid. ''Glad you think so, Johnny.''

Jack adds, looking to Kris. ''If Team Canada don't pick you, they're crazy.''

Kris gives his younger boy a small smile. ''Thank you for saying so, Ivy.''

The Battle of Pennsylvania game comes all too quickly for Kris' liking. He's oddly nervous for tonight, they're hosting, six points up on the Flyers, and Rusty is lighting up the score sheets lately. But, these games always mean more to him than any other. With both Sid and Claude gone from the rivalry, it's not going to be what it once was, but, that hatred between the two teams will probably never die. He and Erik turn up to the arena in their Pittsburgh suits, the same ones they wore to game seven against the Avalanche this past spring. Sid comes in to do the read after the team suit up. ''Okay, gents, up front: OC, Eller, and Rusty.'' Lars has been bumped up for what they're expecting to be a physical battle. ''On the blueline: The Twin Terrors.'' Erik and Kris share an excited look, they don't get to share the ice often, so this is going to be fun. ''In net: Jarry!''

The Penguins take to the ice, and get off to an amazing start, scoring four goals in the first period alone. Lars, Drew, Tito, and Ivy all getting them 4-0 up, and Jarry performing daylight robbery on Konecny and Hathaway more than once. ''Okay, boys, we're doing really well so far, but we've got 40 minutes of hockey left, so we stay alert.'' Kris addresses the room. Geno and Sid share an aside glance, they definitely made the right choice.

Philadelphia take over in the second period, Couturier netting a lucky goal early on for 4-1. Hathaway gets two a minute apart, seriously annoying the shit out of the very partisan Pittsburgh crowd. Late on in the period, Konecny gets a lucky breakaway for 4-4. There's a brief scrum when the third pair and fourth line are up for the final shift. ''Hey! Ivy! Seb! Fall back! Now!'' Kris orders the two younger defencemen. They both retreat, Kris and Erik go to calm things down. Strangely, Kris hasn't been in the box all that much this season. ''Kev, Blake, Cookie - enough.'' Erik says.

The third is even more of a battle of attrition. No goals until very late. Kris gets a goal to put the team up 5-4. Not to be outdone, Couturier nets his second of the game to tie it up again 5-5. On a rush in the dying minute of the game, Marino dekes out three Flyers, and scores the winner, ending the game at 7-5. ''Amazing effort tonight, boys, depth game, love to see it.'' Rusty says, and passes the helmet to Jarry. ''Let's not do that again, hard-earned two points, but let's not earn them like that again, please.'' This gets a big laugh from the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The midpoint of the season arrives in no time, Erik learns that he won't be going to Italy for the Olympics in February. Neither will Kris. If Erik's honest with himself, he's more disappointed that Kris isn't going to the games than anything. Sid will be going for one last shot at gold, but he'll be the only one of the quartet going to Italy for hockey purposes. Geno will be going with him for support. However, it does give him and Kris their anniversary without work getting in the way, the only real annoying thing about having a January anniversary. Sully and Quinn hold an optional skate ahead of the last couple of weeks before Christmas. They've got a Central division roadtrip to St Louis, Minnesota, and Chicago to prepare for. They're still second in the division, and third in the conference, on top of being fifth in the whole league. ''Right, boys, nothing stressful today, we're just tightening things up for the midseason grind, we've got Vegas and Dallas coming into town this week, so we've gotta be ready.'' Quinn says.

They run some relays, do a mini skills competition, and Owen proposes a capture the flag game. Then, it's back to the dressing room. Kris asks everyone to stick around after showers and changing into casual clothes. ''What's up, captain?'' Tito asks.

Kris asks his team, it's still not entirely sunk in yet that he's the captain, and he's always vigilant about doing a good job with whatever time is left to him. ''I just wanna get the temperature in the room. How am I doing? Is there anything you all need from me?'' Noel says. ''Tanger, you're doing an amazing job, Sid chose you for a reason, right?''

Sebastian says, pushing his hoodie sleeves up. ''You've got us ticking like a clock, Tanger, we've had two fantastic captains in the last two seasons.''

Ned chimes in, putting a baseball cap on. ''One of the best captains I've played under, that's for sure.''

Sully speaks up, he's nursed all three of the trio through their various insecurities. Be it Sid's fears of not being tough enough on ice, Geno's grasp of English, Kris' worries about not being good enough at all, Flower's playoff yips, or Erik's late arrival. ''Kris, son, listen. We basically had three captains for the longest time, all three of you, Flower, and then Erik have all been captains in your own ways. We're incredibly lucky to still have you.''

Rusty asks his surrogate uncle. ''Is there anything you need from us, Kris?''

Kris nods, and says. ''Keep playing the way you are, help me keep this ship sailing, and help me keep my head quiet.'' He smiles, and adds a little request to Erik. ''And, darling, keep being the best husband on Earth.'' He can't do this without Erik, that's the simple truth of this new era of his life as a Penguin.

Erik beams at him, and kisses his cheek. ''I will, sweetheart, and you'll do the same.''

Kris nods, and kisses Erik on the lips gently. ''Always.''

They head for some lunch, Kris and Erik go over some tentative plans for their fifteenth anniversary. They're both free that fortnight, so they can theoretically do whatever they want with it. They spent their first, fifth, and eighth anniversaries at All Star Games. Their eleventh in San Jose. Their tenth apart, but planning their wedding. And, their last two at home. ''Where did we spend our third anniversary?'' Erik asks.

Kris thinks, he vaguely remembers spending that one in the fucking hospital after his first stroke. ''We had that late, over the summer break in Montreal. I was in hospital for our actual anniversary.'' Geno swans in, suited up from a meeting with Jason. ''What's going on?'' Erik says to Geno. ''Well, we had training, a team meeting, and now we're trying to plan our anniversary.''

Geno proposes. ''Fifteen, yeah? How about a big team party?'' Kris' eyes blow wide. ''No, no thanks, G. Besides, you and Sid are gonna be in Italy, you'd miss it.''

Erik finally has a revelation, the most obvious ideas seem to always come last for some dumb reason. ''How about we go to Sweden, just us, and stay at our place there for the two weeks?'' Kris takes Erik's hand over the table. ''I'd love that, amour, just to get out of here for a bit.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The team come out of the Christmas break strong, with four wins in a row against: Carolina, Columbus, San Jose, and Utah. The run only hampered a bit by two losses back to back against Vancouver and Edmonton. In all, January goes really well for the Penguins under what's now being called 'Le Nouveau Regime' in the media. Olympic break comes altogether too quickly, and five of the team will be going to Italy. Jarry and Sid for Canada and the US, Rusty for the US, Ricky for Sweden, and Lars will be captaining Denmark. Kris and Erik are packed up for their trip to Vetlanda for their anniversary. Kris is excited for this trip, even if it's just for two weeks, he's been longing to get back to their happy place, and get out of the constant fishbowl of North America for a bit. They leave the morning after their overtime win against Buffalo. Flying privately to Sweden together.

It takes them a couple of days to rest off the jet lag, but, they decide to take it easy for the short time they're here. It's funny how so many of their memories trace back to this small town in Sweden, Erik muses while they're getting dinner ready one night. Their first major holiday together in 2012, they spent the lockout here as well, that summer after they got back together, and their wedding. ''You good, amour?'' Kris asks.

Erik nods, and says. ''Yeah, hjartat, I was just thinking of how many of our big milestones have happened here, that's all.''

They sit down with dinner, Kris says. ''Yeah, it's kind of crazy, isn't it?'' Kris admits to his husband. ''I'm surprised at how much I've come to love this country.''

Erik chuckles, sometimes it does slip them by that they've also married two whole countries to each other, just as Sid and Geno did with Canada and Russia. ''Same for Montreal, whenever we go there, it's like coming home.''

On the day of their anniversary, it's far too cold for the picnic dinner they had been planning, it snowed through the night. So, thinking on their feet, they dress warm for a walk in the snow. The town is dead quiet today, nobody is out and about, it's almost like the whole place has been abandoned overnight. ''What the hell?'' Kris asks as they walk down the street arm in arm. ''I think Sweden play Slovakia today, hjartat.'' Kris nods, he almost forgot that the Olympics started today, to wrapped up in this little getaway with Erik to care. ''Oh, that makes sense, amour, yeah.'' Some might say the way they get lost in each other might be more than a tad unhealthy, but they've never given a damn about it. If anyone has an issue with that, they can take it up with Bettman for sending them to that 2011 All Star Game. ''Hope they win, I'd like to see Sweden get a medal.'' Erik says, dusting off his red coat.

Kris says, adjusting his scarf, the gold one. ''A Canada-Sweden gold medal match would be great. Even if we're not going to be in it.'' The snow comes back in, and they get going home to get warm. That night, they have dinner by the fire, and exchange gifts. They seem of the same mind, since they both commissioned artists to paint them from the 2011 All Star Game to their Cup win together. ''Happy anniversary, mon amour.'' Kris leans over to kiss his husband. Erik kisses back with equal passion. ''Happy anniversary, hjartat mitt.'' Fifteen years, there were times they never dared to imagine they'd be here, but here they are. Partners, best friends, soulmates, Captain and Alternate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A big game comes in the third week of March, the biggest game of Kris' captaincy so far. A game against Vancouver in Rogers Arena that could potentially see them clinch a playoff spot if they win either way, or lose in overtime or a shootout. The team get in, get ready, and suit up together. Sully gives the read for the top unit, and they get out for warmups. Then, opening faceoff. Glass stares down the gun of Calder winner Elias Pettersson. Drew is matched up with Jake DeBrusk, and Rusty against Daniel Sprong. Staring Kris down is his fellow captain, Quinn Hughes. The DPS line has been tearing the west up for two seasons now. Cody wins the drop, and it's off to the races for the Penguins. Pettersson gets the Canucks up early 1-0, and that's the only goal for the next fifteen minutes. ''Hughes and Hronek are fucking deadly together.'' Erik observes, coming back from a shift out of breath.

Kris nods, downing some water. ''I know, it's like looking in a mirror too.'' He's never seen someone who reminds him more of himself. The third unit are up, and Tito scores a tying goal in the dying minute of the period against his old team. ''Good work, Tito.'' Kris says once they're back in the room for first intermission. Anthony is panting, leaning his head back in his stall. ''Thanks, captain.''

The second period is all Vancouver, the west's best team have one hand on the President's Trophy. Boeser turns on the jets to outskate both Kris and Erik to put his team up 2-1, and Nils Hoglander follows up with another goal from the circle for 3-1. Kris judges a puck battle between Myers and Marcus to steal the puck, and run off with it, he goes five hole on Demko, and salvages the scoreline to 3-2. They're gonna need at least two more goals to clinch their playoff spot. ''Alright, boys, we're holding on well, no panic mode yet, okay? We need at least two more goals to get this done. Tanger, any words?'' Sully addresses the room during second intermission.

Kris nods, fixing his newly short hair, he and Erik both got haircuts in Sweden. ''We stay calm, and we stay together.''

They come out for third period, and there's no scoring until halfway in, Owen reads a play quickly, and passes to Ricky, who fires a wrist shot past Demko's head to tie the game 3-3. ''Good job, boys, keep it up!'' Kris says as the second line come off their shift. The back half of the period goes scoreless, so into overtime they go. Sully gives the read for overtime. ''Up front: Glass and Bunting. Back end: St.Ivany. Deploying the kids.''

They get out for the five minute overtime period, Glass wins the drop against probable Hart Winner JT Miller, and passes back to Jack. Ivy winds up, and takes the shot. It goes in. They're back in the playoffs. They'll not be celebrating this, that's never went well in the past. ''Well done boys. Huge win, very happy with that. We're in the playoffs again, still loads of work left to do.'' Jack gets the helmet, and says. ''Never once dreamed of scoring a goal like that, thanks for the pass, Cody. Uhm, let's keep this going!'' Kris applauds his youngest, Jack has been the shy one of the d-corps all season, and he's happy that he's coming out of his shell a bit. ''Boys, captain's word of advice, we've got an 8AM flight home tomorrow, I want us all rested, no funny stuff tonight.'' Kris says, stepping right into captain-mode. He wants his troops rested for the final stretch, just because they've made it now, doesn't mean these last games don't matter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their first round opponent in the playoffs ends up being the Devils. The division's wildcard. They get rid of them pretty quickly, in just five games. Kris' first ever playoff wins as captain. They've got a couple of days off between the rounds, Sid and Geno come over for lunch. It's either going to be the Rangers or the Flyers next. That series is definitely going seven, and has been every bit as physical as it was billed as. The quartet have lunch in the living room, watching back some highlights of the Rangers-Flyers series. Seems as though there was a massive line brawl in game two during period one. ''Well... I'd say I didn't expect that, but... I'd be lying to my family.'' Sid says, looking shellshocked. Geno nurses some coffee in his hand. ''Hope they tire each other out, actually.''

Kris laughs, fiddling with his wedding ring. ''Same, makes my job easier to lead our team against a tired team.'' They watch as another fight breaks out in the third period of game two. This time between Konecny and Trouba. ''What did Captain Elbows do this time?'' Erik asks, returning from the kitchen.

Geno says. ''Trouba elbowed Hathaway, and TK got angry at him.'' Sid says to Geno, cringing from the armchair. ''What's it the kids say, honey? 'Fork found in kitchen?' Is that it?''

Geno shrugs. ''I dunno, solnishko.''

Kris nods, he's had to figure out more than his fair share of modern idioms these days. ''Yeah, that's the phrase, heard Ivy say it earlier this year, and had to ask what it meant.''

They switch to game three, which seems to be more civilized. The Flyers clawing back the 2-0 series deficit with a 3-1 win. Game four seemed to be a huge battle of attrition, the Flyers winning 1-0 in overtime. ''I don't think I've ever seen a more toxic playoff series in my life, mon coeur.'' Erik says.

Kris nods, whatever doubts he had about being captain here, he's a whole lot better than either Trouba or Couturier right now. ''I know, alskad, I'd never let this shit slide with us, or in Val D'Or back in the day.''

Sid gives his brother a shit eating grin, as though Kris has finally come to the conclusion Sid wanted him to six months ago. ''Good to see you've finally caught on to why I chose you, mon frere.'' Sid says, Kris smirks and rolls his eyes. ''Alright, no need to rub it in, mon frere.'' Geno nods in agreement with Kris. ''I know, Legend. Trouba is acting like a child, and Couturier is invisible.''

Erik leans up to kiss his husband's bearded cheek. ''Glad to be your Alt, and not theirs, sweetheart.''

Kris kisses Erik's temple. ''Glad to have you, darling.'' They watch up to game six which was last night as the Penguins eliminated the Devils. Game seven will be tomorrow night, and Kris can sense that it's going to be every bit as physical as the preceding six games have been.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They somehow use the fatigue the Rangers are playing on, and Trouba's suspension for elbowing Hathaway, to sweep the Rangers in the second round. Kris thinks that it kind of serves them right, the playoffs are no time or excuse for being assholes to other players. Like his coach in Val D'Or said: 'Play like idiots, lose like idiots.' He and Luc took that advice and ran with it, and it got Kris his first captaincy, and them both drafted into the NHL, even if Luc died well before his time. So now, the Penguins are waiting on the winner of the Boston-Toronto series, which will probably go six at minimum. Sully and Quinn have the boys in for a training scrimmage. Kris and Erik walk into the dressing room hand in hand, and see that they've been split up for scrimmage today. ''Uh, Sully... what's this for?'' Kris asks, pointing to his name under Team Black, and Erik's under Team White. Sully just chuckles, and says. ''Just a little experiment, captain, that's all.''

Rusty jokes. ''They're tryin' to stop you making out every time you score together.''

Erik says, lacing up his skates. ''Well, what if that's how we get the Wales? Have they considered that?''

Kris finishes suiting up for training, and kisses Erik before saying. ''We'll be fine, we've been together long enough, right?'' Erik nods, and follows Kris out to the ice. Team Black go up 6-5 after the first period and a half, before Lars ties it up for Team White in the last minute of the game. ''Alright, boys, good job. Let's run a shootout drill. Then, break up for lunch.'' Quinn says.

The teams are tied 7-7 in the shootout, next goal wins. Rusty goes up for Team Black. ''Go for it, Rusty!'' Drew shouts from the bench. Rusty gets the puck on his stick, facing down against Ned, he dangles, and sneaks it through to win the shootout 8-7. ''Good job, Rusty. Shower up and grab some lunch, boys!'' Sully orders the troops.

The team shower up, change, and grab lunch together. Eminently aware of what's to come ahead of them soon. But, they're the defending champions for a reason, right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto get the better of them in seven closely fought games, and will face the Canucks for the Stanley Cup. The Canucks mowed through Dallas in four to reach the final. Kris is proud of himself for leading these guys this far in his first season as captain. Le Nouveau Regime held up incredibly well this season, despite the media's doubts about having him as captain with three alternates. Toronto were simply too good to be beaten in that game seven, Kris and Erik are happy to have the extra resting time at any rate. The team decide to stick around to watch the cup final. Vancouver are already 2-0 up in the series on both of their home games. The DPS, Lotto, and Life Lines are working like a clock against Toronto's weakened defence. ''God, Demko is a force of nature.'' Jarry says as they watch the Canucks dominate game three in Toronto.

Ned nods in agreement, he says. ''If he doesn't win the Vezina, I'll be pissed off. He and Silovs deserve the Jennings too.''

Erik adds. ''Miller should definitely get the Hart and the Conn Smythe.''

The team are somewhat divided on who they're rooting for. Jarry is backing Vancouver because he's from there, Ned is right there with him for goalie solidarity. Erik is also backing the Canucks, reasoning to Kris last night. ''There's still a part of me that's a Senators Captain.'' Kris can't argue with that, he does find it funny how morally opposed to backing the Leafs his husband is though. ''Who are you backing, captain?'' Tito asks, wearing one of his old Canucks hoodies, supporting his friends.

Kris says, that's easy. ''Vancouver, always Vancouver.'' Erik puts a loving hand on his thigh as Rusty - backing the Leafs - asks. ''Why's that?''

Kris just sniffles, and says. ''For Luc, he was a Canuck.'' He points to one of his earliest tattoos, Luc's name and the guitar. The Canucks do go onto win game three, 4-1. He wonders how Sid and Geno's trip to Magnitogorsk is going, they'll have landed yesterday. It's been weird, not having them on the ice anymore. But, the three of them are bound for life regardless, and Kris is so proud that they trusted him enough to make him captain. He has no idea how much longer he's got left, he does want to retire with Erik, he does know that much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Canucks do go on to win the whole thing in five games, their first ever Stanley Cup. Kris and Erik use their first day in Montreal to go deliver the news to Luc about the team that drafted him. As well as the news of Le Nouveau Regime. They'd have loved to come back here with the cup as they did last summer, but they're both incredibly proud of the Canucks. ''Luc, you'll never believe it, but your guys did it!'' Erik says, and adds. ''And, your best friend is our new captain in Pittsburgh too!'' Kris laughs, these visits never get any easier, he's been without Luc longer than he knew him. That stupid fucking motorbike. But, doing this every year with the man he loves makes it feel lighter if not better. ''Sid trusted me with it, and I think I'm doing okay at it.''

Erik says. ''He's doing an amazing job, take it from his husband.'' Kris also says. ''Sid won his third Olympic gold medal too. While we were in Sweden for our anniversary.''

After their visit, they head home. Ready for a few weeks to be Kris and Erik, the married men. Ready to shed Letang and Karlsson, the captain and his alternate, until training camp. Sid and Geno said that's the most important part of being a leadership couple. Kris and Erik have been doing it for fifteen years, and that part does get easier. Somehow, they've found sanctuary in each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, really pleased with this one! Been going through a bit of a burnout on top of a bout of insomnia, so this took ages to get done. Kinda wanted to explore a hypothetical season where Sid and Geno retire together. In real life, all three of the core will retire together. But, here, Kris stays in the league. Mostly because he wants to play alongside his husband for as long as he's able to. So, I felt as though Kris would be the captain in the case of Sid and Geno both retiring at the same time. All of the guys say he's basically the brain and conscience of the whole team, and holds the whole thing together. So, he'd be a natural pick for the job in this scenario.

Been really nervous about this fic, but I got it done! Please, nobody take this fic as an insult to Sid and Geno, I love them to bits! Just wanted to explore something.

Enjoy!

Also: 800th post!

[idontwanttowhy]

Review: Autumn's Concerto (2009)

AKA Next Stop Happiness, AKA the reason that I don't hate time jumps anymore

Synopsis

Liang Mu Cheng has had a tough life. Between her parents dying young, having to give up her passion for playing the piano, and being forced to live in a house with her step-mother's predator boyfriend, she can't seem to catch a break. When fate forces her in the path of one Ren Guang Xi, a law-school-flunking rich kid with anger management issues, things only seem to get worse. Meanwhile, Guang Xi, though he appears to have it all, is being torn apart from the inside--physically and emotionally. The accidental meeting sets in motion a drama that takes place over the span of years, complete with political intrigue, amnesia, courtroom trials, and of course, beef and carrot stew.

MZ Overview: 11/10, can't wait to watch it again!

I watched this at the recommendation of one of my friends who said it was a good entry into the world of Taiwanese dramas, and she was absolutely right! Each one of the 34 episodes was a treat where I was left wanting more. I went into this knowing nothing about the plot, so I was confused at first at the pacing of the show. Surely, I said, there isn't anywhere to go from here? But reader, there WAS. In the best way possible. One major component was a time jump, which was done so well and with so much story afterward that I didn't even mind. Hell, I even liked it! The cast of characters in the second half are so endearing that I kept forgetting that they weren't there the whole time. Don't even get me started on Liang Xiao Le.... one word: ADORABLE. I will most definitely be watching it again, especially when I need to constantly ask "WILL THEY JUST GET TOGETHER ALREADY?" (Because that's a thing I need in life, apparently) Be prepared for major second lead syndrome!

MZ Review (spoilers): I'm not crying YOU'RE crying

CW: Sexual Assault

We meet our heroine, Liang Mu Cheng, as she is trying to transport an expensive fish back to her family, who have designs to use it in a VIP's lunch. The VIP, of course, is none other than the president of the university where Mu Cheng's family now runs the cafeteria. She is warned as she sets out on her journey that the fish needs to be brought home in a certain time, otherwise it will go bad and will not be suitable to be served to such an important person.

With this warning she hops on the bus to her house, which is stopped dead in its tracks by a couple in a fancy sports car ahead of them. Desperate to arrive home on time, Mu Cheng decides to intervene. That is when Ren Guang Xi, the driver of the sports car, is introduced.

What ensues from this point on is in turn touching and traumatic, yet it manages to toe the balance between them, as any good drama does. Yet I do have to say that if I didn't love the characters I would have major issues with the plot lines in this show. Mostly because of the use of sexual assault/trauma over and over again.

I would say its definitely worth watching even with this in mind. The characters are SO GOOD. Not so much in a character development way, but in an exaggerated personality way. Take Mu Cheng for example-- she is the ultimate martyr. Time and time again through the show, she makes the decision to sacrifice for others over herself. While this could get annoying, I appreciated that she was consistent. You know what to expect from her, which is a lot more than you can say for a lot of other main leads.

The best (or worst) part of the love triangle was that I had MAJOR second-lead syndrome from the jump. Hua Tuo Ye is so cute and wholesome, despite the hard edge he tries to portray as a farmer who isn't afraid to throw hands when necessary. We should really call him Hua "I'm his human dad while his alien dad isn't here" Tuo Ye. When he said that to Liang Xiao Le, my heart MELTED. I knew the entire time there was no chance for him and Mu Cheng to end up together, especially since he was already the "big boss" of the house, but I HOPED. At the same time, I couldn't be too mad about this development, because SIX YEARS? Dude, you have to make a move in that time. C'mon.

Everything between Ren Guang Xi and Liang Mu Cheng developed as I expected, so it was nice to watch their love overcome the multiple hurdles that were placed in their way. The only thing that I hadn't really predicted was the way Guang Xi's mom would develop. She starts off as your typical chaebol mom who wants to control the life of her kids, but ends up a loving grandma. I was surprised since I thought she was going to be evil the whole time. So it's not 100% true none of the characters had any development, but I'd say its still pretty accurate.

I'm really glad I watched this show! It was a journey from beginning to end, and as promised the next stop is happiness!

[trikruismybitch]

Angst Prompts

* “Imagine the worst things you think about yourself. Now how would you feel when the one person you trusted most in the world, not only thinks them too, but actually used them as reasons not to be with you.”

* “I know I’ve hurt you, but I still love you” “Well, excuse me if I don’t fall for that or you ever again.”

* "well at least she treats me like im somebody!" "Yeah will she love you if you were nobody!?" "Nobody loved me when i was nobody!" "i did"

* “Does she make you laugh?” “She doesn’t make me cry”

* “I feel like I’m in the wrong world. ‘Cause I don’t belong in a world where we don’t end up together. I don’t..there are parallel universes out there where this didn’t happen. Where I was with you, and you were with me. And whatever universe that is, that’s the one my heart lives in.”

* “You took a piece of me, and I let you. And that will never happen again.”

* “The worst thing I ever did. The darkest thought I ever had. You said you would stand by me through anything. This Y/n is anything” “I never thought that the worst thing you’d ever do, would be to me.”

* “You and I loved each other. And then you broke me heart.”

* “I can’t keep being your second choice. Not when your my first.”

* “Oh this is nothing” “You’ve had worse” “Have you ever loved someone that didn’t love you back?”

* “All I’ve ever wanted to be is loved.”

* “My mother thought I was a monster, she was right, of course, but it still hurt.”

* “I love you” “then prove it”

* “She’s not worth it” “yeah she is”

* “I wish I had done everything on earth with you.”

* “I wish I knew how to quit you.”

* “But the hearts not like a box that gets filled up, it expands the more you love.”

* “I would rather die tomorrow, then live a hundred years without you.”

* “Your so stupid (name)! Why did you do that! Why?” “You jump I jump right?”

* “Can’t you see? Every step I have taken, since I was that child on a bridge, has been to bring myself a step closer to you.”

* “I’m also just a girl standing in-front of (gender), asking (gender) to love her.”

* “You were my new dream” “And you were mine”

* “This, this part of you, don’t destroy it.”

* “I don’t want to be worshipped I want to be loved.”

* “And the last thing you will ever see will be me because I love you.”

* “You stole what was left of my heart and now I have lost you forever. I swear, no harm will come to you as long as I live. And not a day shall past, that I don’t miss your smile.”

* “Because I want you! All of you. forever.”

* “You can rest now.”

* “You have your mothers eyes.”

* “I waited for you for seven years, and now it’s too late.”

* “All of you, liars. You’re only happy when you can see something die.”

* “But I am, so lonely.”

* “(Name)? (Name) come on, you got to get up.”

* “I will never let go, I promise.”

* “Take her to the moon for me.”

* “Don’t put me in the dark. I’m afraid of the dark.”

* “Stop crying.”

* “Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere.”

* “You still go to bed every night, going over every detail, and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood.”

* “Well I am fine, I will be fine, really.”

* “You are the saddest girl I’ve ever met” “your the first person who has ever said that. I am usually told how happy I am.”

* “I want to be great or nothing.”

* “And all the while, I feel I am, standing in a crowded room screaming at the top of my lungs and no one even looks up.”

* “I don’t know that I find myself anywhere.”

* “Trust is for fool. Fear is the only reliable way.”

* “Most of the time, most days I feel nothing. I don’t feel anything. It is so boring, I wake up and I think, again? Really? I have to do this again?”

* “If your going to let one stupid prick ruin your life.”

* “Now you respect me because I’m a threat.”

* “Because that’s what you are, that’s what you’ll always be.”

* “Why do we fall in love with the wrong people?” “We accept the love we think we deserve.”

* “You have to let me go, you have to let me let you go. I need you to do that for me.”

* “You know, ever since we were little I would get this feeling like, like I’m floating outside of my body looking down on myself and I hate what I see, how I’m acting, the way I sound, and I don’t know how to change it and I’m so scared that, that feeling is never going to go away.

* “I know a lot of you probably hate me right now and I get it. If I could be a different person, I promise you I would. Not because I want it, but because they do.”

* “There’s all of this pressure to be all of these things to be fucking perfect but I’m not. I’m not fucking perfect.”

* “I’m fine, yeah besides from the not sleeping, the jumpiness, the constant overwhelming crushing fear that something terrible’s about to happen.”

* “I’ll always love you cus’ we grew up together and you helped make me who I am. I just wanted you to know there will be a piece of you in me always and I’m grateful for that.”

* “I will not be the person you settle for just because you can’t have her.”

* “I used to think you were the best thing that happened, but now I think you might maybe be the worst thing.”

* “I told my story and you judged me?”

* “You are afraid to be alive. You're afraid to live. You're a conformist. You're a liar. I opened up to you and you judged me. You're an asshole. You're an asshole!”

* “I don’t want to survive. I want to live.”

* “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.”

* “Love cannot be found where it doesn’t exist, nor can it be hidden where it truly does.”

* “Only if you find peace within yourself will you find true connection with others.”

* “I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly."

* “I love her. She breaks my heart again and again, but I love her.”

* “I love every broken bone in your body.”

* “I miss you. I miss not touching each other. Not seeing each other, not breathing in each other. I want you all the time—no one else.”

* "I want to tell you with my remaining strength that I love you. I always have. I'll drift next to you every day as a ghost just to be with you. Even if I was banished to the darkest place, my love will keep me from being a lonely spirit."

* “To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves."

* "You are the love that came without warning; you had my heart before I could say no."

* You never loved me. You just loved how much I loved you.”

* “You always have a choice.”

* “You don't have any idea what I have or haven't done to get to where I am.”

* “I keep thinking about all the things I never said because I was so sure, there would be other days to say them.”

* “The greatest gift, what truly sets people apart. Is the ability to feel.”

* “I never wanted you to come back to (place), I always knew there was nothing here for you but pain and tragedy and I wanted something more for you then that.”

* “What happened to us?”

* “You abandoned me” “I needed you”

* “Why didn’t you just tell me that?” “Right, because when things go wrong you do the horrible thing, you do the ugly thing.”

* “So that’s it then? Your writing me off?”

* “I can’t wait around every time to pick up the pieces, every time you freak out!”

* “Don’t this, ok? Don’t leave me again.”

* “We are done, ok? No more surprises. No more excuses. No more chances, we’re done.”

* “They’re never going to understand me they would’ve even try.” What’s the point? I haven’t got anything” “everybody I love I lose.”

* “I am a crap person. I’m damaged, it’s no wonder everyone wants to leave me. I destroy everybody I love.”

* “I think you should go. You see I love you so much I just want you to be happy, even if that happiness no longer includes me.”

* “I don’t love you anymore.” “Since when?” “Now. Just now. Now please go.” “Don’t do this. Talk to me.”

* “Life is pain! I wake up every morning I’m in pain. I go to work in pain. You know how many times I wanted to just give up? How many times I’ve thought about ending it?”

* “The worst day of loving someone is losing them.”

* “What difference does it make? Because in the end, when you lose somebody, every candle, every prayer is not going to make up for the fact that the only thing you have left is a hole in your life where that somebody that you cared about used to be.”

* “What happens when the one who broke your heart is the only one who can fix it?” 

* “One day you’re going to have to stop pretending everything’s okay.”

* “You don’t know what it’s like being in love with you. You know, when you and I were together, every single atom in my body told me that it was the right thing, that we were a perfect fit. And that kind of love, it can change your whole life.”

* “I don’t want to face my future without you.”

* “All I needed was for you to tell me you felt something…and you didn’t.”

* “You don’t know what I look like, when I’m not in love with you.”

* “When you lose someone, it stays with you forever. Always reminding you of how easy it is to get hurt.”

* “I’m scared that if I let myself be happy for just one moment, the world’s just gonna come crashing down. And I don’t know if I can survive.”

* “My nightmares are usually about losing you.”

* “I don’t wanna hate you. Because if I hate you, then I have nothing left.”

* “The truth is you’re better of without me.”

* “I wake up everyday and I feel okay, but there’s something missing. Like a hole. Some people they fit in life, or whatever. I don’t.”

* “You know you’re making the wrong choice, yet you make it anyways.”

* “Truth is I’ve tried to stop thinking about you. But I can’t.”

* "Just say that you missed me as much as I missed you."

* “I need to say it once. You need to hear it. I love you, (name).”

* “Despite all that we've done, all those we've lost, we're still here. You're not alone.”

* “If you lay even a finger on her I swear I will make you suffer in ways even your evil mind can't imagine.”

* “No, you don't get to ignore me for days and then suddenly act like you're concerned, (name). Just for once, would you please trust me that when I say I will do something and it’ll get done?”

* “You came back” “I always come back”

* “Why are you trying to put together your family when it's so clear that one part of it is broken?” “The definition of the word broken suggests that something can be fixed.”

* “If I’m gonna die might as well make it epic.”

* “(Name), you may think that I don't care about you, but you're wrong. I know what it's like to have your life stripped away from you because of other people's bad decisions. How do you think I became a vampire?”

* “I...let this person in. I let her in. I don't let people in. You knew this, and you've taken her from me. I needed her and you've broken me.”

* “You're scared. Because the people you love are angry with you.”

* “Deal with your jealousy. Deal with your shortcomings. Don’t put your crap on me.”

* “You never think that the last time is the last time. You think there will be more. You think you have forever but you don’t.”

* “Maybe we like the pain. Maybe we’re wired that way. Because without it, I don’t know; maybe we just wouldn’t feel real. What that saying? Why do I keep hitting himself with a hammer.”

* “I’m not in love with you, I’m in love with not being alone.”

* “I want so much for you. For both of us. So much more than this. More then being stuck with someone who feels stuck. I want you to feel free.”

* “Don’t look at me like that. Like I’m damaged goods. I’m still me. I’m still here.”

* “Don’t let what (gender) wants eclipse what you need. (Gender) is very dreamy, but he’s not the sun. You are.”

* “It’ll hurt every time you think of her. But over time, it will hurt less and less. And eventually you’ll remember her and it will only hurt a little.”

* “Grief may be a thing we all have in common but it looks different on everyone. It isn’t just death we have to grieve. It’s life, it’s loss, it’s change. And when we wonder why it has to suck so much sometimes, it has to hurt bad.”

* “If you love two people at the same time, choose the second one. Because if you truly loved the first one, you wouldn’t have fallen for the second.”

* “I want you, I choose you!” “If you truly loved me you would have never fallen in love with someone else. I shouldn’t be a choose, I have enough respect for myself to not get back with you no matter how much you mean to me.”

* “Isn’t it frustrating. Wanting someone who doesn’t want you back.”

* “I want you to be happy even though we’re not together. Though I’m no longer part of that happiness, I’m so happy that you were part of my life.”

* “It's okay. We met and we talked and it was epic, but then the sun came up and reality set in.”

* “Tell me it isn’t true. Please. Tell me I heard wrong.”

* “Please tell me your joking.”

* “What did I do?” “Doesn’t matter it’s done, we’re done.” “Wait, what are you talking about?” “Did you feel sorry for me? Was I your charity case is that why you asked me out?” “What does that even mean” “You figured you could toy with me until someone better came along and I wouldn’t mind.” “You know what sucks about falling for a (gender) you know you're not right for? You fall anyway 'cause you think (gender) might turn out to be different”

* “I could’ve held you in my arms forever, still wouldn’t have been enough.”

* “Don’t do that, please don’t do that! You do not know how I feel!”

* “You gotta let go of that stuff from the past because it just doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now.” “You’re right.”

* “Some days I can’t stop thinking about you and other days I wonder why I’m wasting my time.”

👇 optional

* “Then leave! I don’t care if you leave, I was doing fine without you once. I can do it again.”

* “Love is just not enough. You need space so that you can be fully you.”

* “You are my first love And I want-more than anything, for you to be my last..But I can’t do this anymore.”

* “I want you to hear you say you don’t love me. Because if you say that-Than I won’t call you and I won’t be in your life.” “I don’t love you.”

* “Act normal, mom (or other). I wanna be normal!”

* “You still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how....you could have misunderstood

* “But mostly i hate the way, I don’t hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.”

* “You know ever since we were little, I would get this feeling like, like I’m floating outside of my body looking down on myself, and I have what I see, how I’m acting, the way I sound and I don’t know how to change it, and I’m scared that feeling is never going to go away.”

* “Words cut deeper then any blade.”

* “The longer you love the more you realize that reality is just made of pain, suffering and emptiness.” “What about love?” “Love brings pain and suffering and you left with emptiness.” “But the memories of those you love. Aren’t they better then never loving?”

* “Do you regret what you did?” “Yes of course-!” “Then learn from it and move on. There’s no point of looking back.”

* “Be strong and move on! It’s for you you to be happy again!”

* “If you push me away I promise you, you won’t find me where you left me. My hearts big but not big enough to deal with people, who only decide to love me when it’s convenient.”

* “Things end. People change. And you know what? Life moves on.”

* “My heart shattered in pieces when I see the way you look at him-the way you used to look at me.”

* “You won’t know real pain until you watch the person you love most in this world slowly give up on you...and all you can do is watch as they leave you stranded to deal with all the pain on your own while they already found someone to replace you with (or they’ve already moved on).”

* “Shhh it’s okay.” “Crying is how your heart speaks, when you lips can’t explain the pain you feel.”

* “You didn’t lie to me because you didn’t want to hurt my feelings, you lied because you knew I would’ve never stood for it!” (Implied cheatin)

* “This can’t be happening, this can’t be it.” “Then how come it is.”

* “A relationship that starts with a breakup ends is doomed to end with a breakup.”

* “Your back” “Yeah, I just got back. You’ve changed.” “A lot can change in a year.” “What can change in a year?” “Everything.” “Even the people you love?” “Especially the people you love.”

* "Hurts, Doesn't It? Being Lied To. Being Told You're One Thing And Then Learning It's All A Fiction."

* “I am not the villain in this story, I do what I do because there is no choice.”

* "Sometimes the person you'd take a bullet for is behind the gun."

[shelly-ya]

Le comte de st Germaine 2

I'm so sorry for not being able to post lately. I had to take a mental and physical break from life. My depression has been acting up lately due to personal reasons but I am back and hoping my mental health will not hold be back again.

NSFW

Chubby female with insecurity. Continuation from previous part. Please enjoy. Sorry for the late post of this.

You were aroused by the raucous outside your door. You could hear Leonardo tell for someone to stop. Dragging yourself from your bed you approached the door cautiously.

"My friend, calm down. Please, you will upset the younger ones." Leonardo's smooth soothing voice compelled someone to calm down.

"Stand down my friend. I need to deal with this one right now." You heard le comte' s voice. Although it was it's usual calmness his voice seemed to possess menace and venom. Taking a step back with your shock you wanted to run away and give from the world.

"Ab... no comte please according to Arthur we should let her rest. We can deal with whatever this is in the morning" Leonardo tried reasoning with the angry vampire again.

"Leonardo I beg you please I need to fix this now. I can't let this continue. It is very harmful for her" comte begged "please retire to your room I will take charge of this and fix it properly" you heard him say as you watched your door knob turning. Panicking you were about to go to lock the door. "Don't think about it and also no matter where you hide I will find you." Comte warned as though he had x ray vision and knew every move you were about to make. The door swing open slowly as it revealed the two pure blood vampires standing in the doorway.

"Good luck cara mia. I don't know what is happening but this one is very angry. May whatever higher being that exists be with you" Leonardo sighed turning to leave before stopping to give another warning not to you but his friend "don't you dare try to hurt the bambina. Just like you I know everything that happens in this house."

"Very well" le comte said stepping inside your room closing the door shut behind him. You tried backing up quietly accessing all escape routes of your own room. "I did tell you that will not work didn't I" your concentration broken by his sensual voice. Turning your back to him you hear shuffling of clothing and the soft thump of it falling on your sofa.

"You know what I heard at the party today?" He was directly behind you making you jump in your own skin. You braced on the pole of your bed frame.

"No what did you hear my good monsieur?" Fingers brushing your robe clothes waist pressing forward to grab the tie on your robe. Remembering you were only in a night shift.

"I heard that i happen to leave my good for nothing slave home." Tugging the knot loose letting the front of your robe hang open "now who in my household could be a slave.?" He asked gently sliding the silk fabric from your shoulders earning you a shiver from the cold. *kisses exposed shoulder*

"I'm sorry bien-aimé didn't want to tell you about it because I didn't want you to trouble yourself over someone like me." *nibbling and kisses your neck. Hands dropping the robe finally to the ground and now running up your body. Left hand on hip rubbing circles and right hand going to your breast to massage and pinch your nipple* you were rambling not realising you moved your head allowing him access to your neck and placing your left Hand on his bracing on his thigh with your right hand.

"My most precious Cherie I never considered you a slave. You are my most precious one. My lover a part of my family. Cherie." His hot breathe whispered on your skin. His minstrations not stopping any time soon but only becoming faster and harder. "Do I need permission from my fiance to make love her now or should I take you by force like a master would his slave?" He asked moving to hike your dress up. Instead he stopped gasping you spun around looking to him to know why he did. He was shirtless only his dress pants on. Moving to your bed he sat on the edge. "That's not such a bad idea. He said setting himself free of the confines of his pants his manhood bounced up semi proud. Spreading his legs open and bracing himself up on your bed. "Come pleasure me with that mouth of yours." He commanded and you followed orders dropping down on your knees between his legs you held him in your cold hands earning a sharp hiss from him.

"Sorry"

"Continue" his voice edged with impatience and anger. You gave his angry tip a test lick. Then fully engulfed him bobbing your head up and down. You felt his hand run though you hair and pushed down with more force making you gag roughly around him. You felt him tense and loosen up but then regained his power over you. You felt his body tense as he was about to release his precious seed in your mouth. You were about to prepare yourself for it but he yanked your head back a bit to roughly. He stopped mid yank looking you over to ensure you were ok before he bark the order to straddle him and insert his manhood in you. You did as you were told, raising the hem of your night shift but not entirely removing it. Straddling and inserting him into yourself as you slowly and clumsily slid down gasping at the stretch he gave you. Hands on his shoulders you pressed on. Your head rested on his shoulder, gave no assistance to help you. As though this whole ordeal was a lesson you had to learn. Finally bottoming him out you were gasping for air.

"I don't think I need to tell you what to do" you heard the smirk in voice. Yes this was punishment. You began slowly at first riding his manhood as you began a steady pace. Chasing your own high. He gave some moans and groans while you were more of a mess. He still made no attempts at helping you bounce on him.

"Please. Please cum" you almost begged. Hearing him click his tongue and feeling you roughly land on the bed with no time to breathe as he erratically pounded into you. You felt the bed move and your whole body hummed at the pleasure he gave. This is where you felt his fangs grazing your pulse points on your neck. He never sank them in your flesh. He never gave to the temptation to turn you with out permission.

"I love you. I love you and only you. You are mine. My woman. Flaws and all. I love how you breast bounce while you move. I love the chocolate of you skin. I love how you wrap around me. I love how your arse jiggles when You walk. You are so soft and inviting to me. To good to me. I love you ma cherie. Cum for me. Cum around my c***" he demanded as he continued to pound into you at times not making any sense in what he was saying so lost in your plush folds. You almost felt like the bed would break. That you would break. Not being able to contain yourself anymore you let out a scream of pleasure releasing your sweet nectar around him a few more roll of his hips and he filled you to the brim till his seed spilled out of you. Bout of you gasping for breathe. "Stop stop thinking that you are my slave. I love the way you smile when you find something you love. I love the way your eyes twinkle when you get things you love. The way you you close your eyes and savor the taste of the things you like to eat. Never ever think like that again. We all appreciate you." You felt the wetness on your shoulder where his head took residence to rest. He was crying. Was it because you kept this insecurity or because you refuse to seek his attention when things were rough. He made you feel loved and made you feel as though you belong at his side.

"Make love to me. The way you always do. The way you show me your love." You whispered hugging him "I love you to bien-aimé" the rest of the night and the other day was spent on comte showering you with love. And making it known to the world who you belonged to.

The end

[proudaussieboomer1957]

so just through the end of act 3 and some way into the intermission thing

I still don't understand what the fuck is going on with the future thing with the desert-y type mail lady and the assault rifle dude and the Mayor of Beans and how that interfaces with the kids in the "present". And it's been weird because my brain places it as a reference to Journey, which didn't release on ps3 till like 2 or 3 years later than this? It happens, there's that shael riley and the double ice backfire song that nominally predicts the underlying idea of like, Ingress and then pokemon go by a few years.

idk. It's deliberately obtuse and it feels kind of good to understand the little things that do filter through to me, a lot of it is just seeing NONSENSE WORDS that are CAPITALISED and glossing right over them. Every joke is still every joke from Kingdom of Loathing. The feel is tangibly, palpably le epic bacon era, with all the ~isms very much intact.

What I enjoyed from this chunk of reading was the inkling of John having a character arc, and taking a couple of steps towards resolving it.

As it is, the 4 main (?) protagonists have largely been used as vehicles for references and jokes (oh hey this girl who lives on the JURASSIC PARK island with her HUNTER FROM JUMANJI [1995] Grandpa (a ghost? I already can't remember) is a FURRY, has (mental health conditions outlined in the then-contemporary DSM-4) etc etc so it was nice to see some movement at the station regarding his feelings around his relationship with his dad.

Also I don't know how I feel about this intermission thing. I already have to try and remember so much half-explained stuff to keep up to date with the main story and now you're dropping all this shit on me about following past trails and future trails? We can't jump to hearts McGee or we try to jump to spades in the shades but can't and we have to actually go back to seal clubber lang? Who the fuck is who? What the fuck is going on? Are they trying to kill the Lord English guy or destroy all the clocks or steal something in a vault?

If there's not a "catch-up" thing for the main story at the end of this I'm going to have to read back through the last couple of acts again just to fucking remind myself about what the fuck was going on. I also might go back to act 1 at some point and go back over it now that I grasp what a "captchalogue" is and why it's called that and who the other kids are etc etc.

I only have so many braincells left at my advanced age and I don't know how beneficial it is to have so many of them filled with the phrase "I FUCKEN WARNED YOU ABOUT THOSE STAIRS, BRO"

Still confused about where the grey body paint cosplay comes into all of this.

[lesfeldickbiblestudy]

  Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 69 FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS – PART 4 Book of Esther Okay, good to see everybody in again for program number four this afternoon.  I guess my television audience should know by now that we put four of these together at one time. This is number four, and then we’ll be on our way home. Again, we like to welcome our TV audience. We always want to thank you for everything you do - your financial help, your prayers, and your letters of encouragement.  For those of you here in the studio, we always appreciate the fact that you come in and spend the afternoon with us. Well, we’re going to wind up the Book of Esther in the first part of the program. We constantly get phone calls, well, where are you going next?  Our next series, we’re going to finally do the twelve Minor Prophets.  We’ve had a lot of requests for them. The only reason they’re called Minor is not because they’re not important, but because they’re short.  They’re not sixty-six chapters long like Isaiah. So, if we have a little time left yet on this program, we’ll jump over to Hosea for just a few minutes. For the next several tapings then, we’ll do studies on the twelve Minor Prophets. But for now, we’re going to stay in Esther and finish the little book.  Hopefully you’ll get it implanted on your mind how that Satan is always trying to disrupt God’s program, and the number one way to do that would be to get rid of the Jew.  Because, I trust you all realize, that because of the Nation of Israel we have this Book.  I maintain that every word of this book from cover to cover was written by Jews, including Luke.  I get a little opposition on that once in a while, but I have to go back to Romans 3 verse 2 where Paul asks the question in verse 1 - What advantage then hath the Jew?  Then he answers it in verse 2 - Much every way, but chiefly because unto them, the Jew, was committed the Word of God. Now I maintain, if Luke was a Gentile, then that verse would have had to say - for unto the Jews and one Gentile was committed the Word of God.  But it doesn’t say that.  It says that unto the Jew, unto them, was committed the Word of God.  I’m a stickler for language, because I know that if the Lord wanted us to realize that Luke was a Gentile, it would have been explicitly stated as such. But anyway, through the Nation of Israel, then, has come our whole Bible. Through the Nation of Israel has come our Savior, our Redeemer, and the Head of the Body, Jesus of Nazareth.  Through the Nation of Israel will come all the end-time prophecy.  Now, of course, there’s no secret anymore that our programs are rerun from time to time.  I think the date usually goes up on the program.  So, I’m not quite as cautious about dating. Right now we realize that the Middle East is in tremendous turmoil.  Everybody calls and asks what’s going on?  Well, all I know is, it’s just one step closer to the end.  Anybody with any common sense should be able to realize why there is all this turmoil in the Middle East?  Why isn’t it in Africa?  Why isn’t it in Europe?  Why isn’t it over in the Western Hemisphere?  But see, it’s all in the Middle East.  Of course, we know that’s where all the end-time events will take place.  So, all we can say about the whole thing is, it is part of the end-time scenario. In fact, before we go back to Esther, while we’re talking about this, come back with me to Matthew 24 a moment.  I didn’t intend to do this.  I think most of my listeners realize that I’m impetuous that way.  But Matthew 24 and you pray for the Jewish people.  They have got some awful, horrible days ahead of them.  As I said in the last program, you pray that our America will stand with them until the end.  But the time will come when even America will no longer stand with Israel. Matthew 24 and we’ll drop down to verse 8.  The Lord is speaking.  He’s referring to the events of the Tribulation, prophecy of course, but they’re going to happen.  Like I said before, if it’s written, it has to happen.

  All right, from the words of the Lord Jesus Himself, verse 8, oh well, let’s look at verse 7. Matthew 24:7-8 “For nation shall rise against nation, (Now, we’re not in the Tribulation, not by any stretch, but we’re getting previews of it.) and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.  8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  This is just the beginning.  Then verse 9. Matthew 24:9-11 “Then shall they deliver you (Now remember, who is Jesus speaking to?  Jews.  So it’s the Jews that we’re referring to here.) up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” My, I read an article the other day where the guy had listed I don’t know how many false prophets already out there proclaiming themselves as the Messiah.  It’s unbelievable.  But, it’s prophecy. Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”  Well, that’s all part of the prophetic program that is still going to have to be consummated in the Nation of Israel. It can’t consummate in Israel if they’re not there.  So, they’re not going to drive them into the sea.  And, I do not see another dispersion. All the things that are happening are in fulfillment of our end-time events.  How close we are?  I don’t know.  But I think we’re getting closer every day.  I think I’m safe in saying that. All right, let’s go back to the Book of Esther. Keep in mind that what we’re seeing today is just a repeat of what happened back here 500 and some years before Christ, when Haman the Amalekite tried to obliterate the Jew to every last little boy and girl.  All right, but it got turned on him. As we saw in our last program, Haman and his whole family came to their fateful end. The Jews, on the other hand, come into a place of favor and rejoicing. All right, Chapter 9 verse 20, we’ll finish it. Then I’m thinking that we’ll go on, like I said, into the Minor Prophets.  So, if we’ve got time, we’ll slip over to Hosea before the program is over. Esther 9:20 “And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king .Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, ”  Now remember, this takes constant reminding, the Jews were brought up out of Jerusalem and the area of Israel out to the east. You’re all aware of the present day geography, I trust. First, of course, to Babylon, and then from Babylon they began to migrate out into all the areas of the Babylonian empire.  Evidently, they had freedom to do that.  So, that was the beginning of Jews ending up all over the then known world.  As a result of that you see, even when you get up to the ministry of the Apostle Paul, no matter where he went, where could he begin his ministry? In a Synagogue of the Jews.  They had become scattered throughout the whole then known world. Well, it all started with the captivities brought about by Nebuchadnezzar and then on into the Mede and Persian.  Now I didn’t realize, until I started studying the Book of Esther, that all these kings and queens were related.  Nebuchadnezzar was an uncle of this Ahasuerus, and Ahasuerus in turn becomes the father of Cyrus.   I’m going to refer to that at the end of the Book of Esther.  So, all these Middle-Eastern kings back there in the Medes and the Persians and the Babylonians were really relatives.  They were intermarried and everything else. All right, so the Jews are scattered throughout the Mede and Persian Empire near and far.  Now verse 21, his message was: Esther 9:21-22 “To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly. (In other words, the two days in a row) 22. As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto

them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” Esther 9:23-24 “And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai has written unto them; 24. Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, (Which was already a day in the Mede and Persian social calendar.) that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;”  Esther 9:25  “But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.” Now, here it comes.  If you know anything about the Jewish calendar, they still celebrate traditionally the two days of Purim.  Here it comes. Esther 9:26-27 “Wherefore they called these days (the 14th and the 15th day of March) Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, which had come unto them, 27. The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;” That’s where tradition comes in.  Everybody knows what it is to be steeped in tradition.  I say this with no malice, with no unkindness.  But just to show you how deep tradition can run, a couple of tapings ago we had a girl in our audience, a visitor from up north someplace.  She was a converted Jew.  She had a tremendous testimony. Her family was still playing Jews, but they were agnostic.  They didn’t believe in God.  They invited her to their home for Passover last spring.  So, she went down to Passover.  They had done just like the Jews in their Orthodoxy do.  They clean the house from top to bottom so that there was no leaven.  They did all the right things of using the right dishes and everything.  And she said, “Dad, why do you do all this?  You don’t believe in God.”  He says, “Tradition.” I was rehearsing this with Iris and she says, well, what about the world today with Christmas?  How many totally unbelieving people have a big Christmas dinner?  Go in and ask those people, why do you celebrate Christmas? You don’t believe in Christ?  What will their answer be?  Tradition.  And it’s an awful thing, because it is so hard to get people that are in the wrong tradition to come out of it.  You can just about bet what that could be.  All right, but Purim is still being celebrated in the Jewish religious system and even in the secular, all going back to a memorial of Mordecai and Queen Esther.  Okay, so they keep these two days every year, now verse 28. Esther 9:28 “And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.” All right, now I’m thinking, I didn’t intend to do this, but I can’t help it.  Come back with me to Exodus. If this isn’t almost the same language that God gave Israel concerning what I just referred to, the Passover.  That’s why a good Jew to this day, whether he’s a believer or not, he may be a total atheist, but because of tradition they keep Passover.  I think it’s been the glue that has held the Jewish people together down through the centuries of being scattered into every nation under heaven.  They’re still Jews. All right, here it is back in Exodus chapter 12 and, oh, my goodness, verse 24.  It’s the night of the Passover. Death is striking the firstborn of every home in Egypt, except in Goshen where the Jews are. Exodus 12:24-26 “And (God says) ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever. (In other words, till the end of time.

) 25. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. (Now, that’s a commandment from God.) 26. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?” I think I explained this when the Jewish lady was in our midst, because I remember asking her if I wasn’t right.  The very Passover service involves the kids.  They hide something. I don’t remember what it was, but they hid it throughout the house and the kids go and find it.  It becomes almost a game.  All right, so it says, “When your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?” Exodus 12:27 “That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered (or spared) our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.”  Passover, the same way like Purim, has become one of the traditional days of celebration in Israel’s calendar year.    All right, come back to Esther for a little bit, verse 29. Esther 9:29-30 “So then Esther the queen, (Now remember, she’s in a Gentile pagan palace of the Mede and Persians.) the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30. And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth.” So, he sent the letters to all the Jews in all the provinces - now verse 31. Esther 9:31-32 “To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. 32. And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.”  Now chapter 10 verse 1. Esther 10:1-2a “And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. 2. And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai,…” Who was second, remember, unto the king.  Now, just stop and think again.  How often has that happened?  My, just think back in biblical history.  How many times did a Jew end up second in the kingdom?  Well, I think the first one was probably Joseph, when he was put in charge of preparing the land for seven years of famine and seven years of plenty.  Joseph became second in the kingdom. The next one is Daniel. Daniel becomes the second in the kingdom under Nebuchadnezzar and the rest of them. Over and over we see this. So, here again, Mordecai ends up as the second man in this Gentile empire. Esther 10:2 “And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?”  Now, that’s where I’ve been picking up some of my information.  I’ve been reading the last few days of these records of these ancient chronicles. Esther 10:3 “For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.”  All right, Sharon wants to know how to spell the word, and so do the rest of you!  It’s A-s-t-y-a-g-e-s.  Astyages is the way I pronounce it.  He, of course, was the husband of Esther.  According to this history that I was reading, out of that union came King Cyrus. All right, now I’ve got to show you a little bit about Cyrus and how all of this fits together.  Turn with me to Isaiah chapter 44 and verse 28.  Now remember, Esther is in the area of the late 500 BC.  Isaiah writes 700 and some BC.  Almost 200 years earlier.  Look what Isaiah writes.  Now, this is what we talk about being the inspiration of Scripture and how unique that our Bible can foretell even the names of kings 200 years.

Josiah, one of the kings of Israel, was named 300 years before he was born.  All right, so here’s Isaiah prophesying of a coming king who won’t be born for 200 years. Isaiah 44:28 “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: (Now, this is God speaking through the prophet.) even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, thy foundation shall be laid.”  But what’s the reference?  Well, not too long after Isaiah writes all this, what happened to Jerusalem and the temple?  They were utterly destroyed by the Babylonians.  But, this King Cyrus will give the decree to go back and rebuild.  This was prophesied by Isaiah 200 years before he’s born.  All right, now drop into chapter 45 verse 1. Isaiah 45:1 “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, (to His chosen one) to Cyrus, (a Gentile) whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;” and so on and so forth. All right, now let’s go back and see where that prophecy is fulfilled.  Now remember, according to this one line of history, this Cyrus was the son of Esther.  All right, come all the way back to Ezra chapter 1 verse 1.  Now, that’s what you get when you start studying. You just jump back and forth. Now, here the prophecy written by Isaiah is fulfilled. Ezra 1:1a “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,…” You haven’t all found it yet, have you?  Well, Ezra is back in front of Esther.  Actually, like someone said, the Book of Esther should have been ahead of Ezra and Nehemiah time-wise, but they put it up there. It’s been that way for the Jews forever, simply because it’s connected with the historical books rather than the books of poetry. Ezra 1:1-2 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia (the son of Esther) that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,  2. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, the LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” Now, I’d never thought of it before, because I’d never studied Esther before, but you see what’s happening here?  Now, I’m just surmising.  I’m not proving anything from Scripture, per se.   I’m surmising.  Where do you suppose Cyrus first got the inkling of the importance of the temple in Jerusalem?  I think from his mother, who was a Jew.  Esther.��  Then it all fits.  I’m not taking anything away from the supernatural work of God, but on the other hand, God always does things in a logical way.  So, this is exactly how I think it happened. Esther was not only in a divine appointment to save the Nation of Israel from its destruction.  Not only was she instrumental in bringing about the end of the tribe of the Amalekites, which King Saul should have accomplished.  But Esther also, I think, is a major player in bringing about the decree of Cyrus, if indeed he was her son.  That he sends the proclamation to rebuild the city and the temple - verse 2 again. Ezra 1:2-3 “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house (the temple) at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3. Who is there among you of all his people?  his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.”  Now, we have to feel then that Cyrus was a believer in the God of Abraham.   Verse 4. Ezra 1:4 “And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill-offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” All these things have always been needed.

  Nobody has ever been able to do anything without what?  Money.  Now, you know I have to be amazed at the political structure of nations.  For example, the fall of the Russians back in the ‘90’s, what prompted it?  Well, their economy crashed.  Their economy went down.  Well, you’d think a nation as big as Russia wouldn’t have to worry about an economy.  All they’d have to do is print money and tell people to do this.  Hey, it doesn’t work that way.  That’s why they can sanction people. They can shut off their money supply. When you shut off the money supply, they can’t do anything.  It’s been a hard pill for me to swallow. My goodness, you’d think that if a nation has their own natural resources, they can just create their own wealth.  They can’t do it.  They have to work with the world’s money system.  All right, now it is the same way back here.  What does Cyrus provide?  Money!  You can’t do anything without it.  Even way back here in antiquity, nothing could be done unless there was financing behind it.  You can’t just simply decree, go out and do this and go out and do that.  No, it has to be paid for.   You watch for that even in your everyday world affairs.  How a nation’s economies can take them off the scene overnight, because you can’t do anything without being able to pay for it.  I don’t care who you are.  It’s just a fact of life.  All the way back in antiquity it was the same thing. Next taping we’ll start a study of the Minor Prophets and begin with the Book of Hosea.

[harley-sunday]

World without End

Summary: After the 2022 French Grand Prix it seems like Charles no longer has luck on his side but of course Lourdes is already waiting for him. 

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x reader

Warnings: None, except the trauma today caused.

Word count: 1.7k

AN: Yes I know I said I didn’t have time to write but Jesus, that scream over the radio? It will never not haunt me. The pain, the frustration, the anger- Oof. It hurts. It took me back to last year’s Sochi Grand Prix and how I wrote Lourdes after that, and so this is sort of a continuation of that story. You could read this as a standalone but I think Lourdes might give you the backstory needed to at least understand the theme I was going for this time... Love to hear what you think ♥

Part of Rituals

"So yeah, if we lose the championship at the end of the season by 32 points I will know where they are coming from and it's unacceptable. I- I just need to uh- Yeah, get on top of those things."

It- Your chest tightens and your heart aches and the tears you've been trying to fight ever since you saw him crash into the barrier earlier this afternoon are starting to spill over, running hot down your cheeks. You turn the TV off, nothing wanting to see the rest of the interview because God, it hurts. 

It hurts to see him like this, emotions raw and clearly visible in the way his shoulders are sagging and his eyes are glossed over, his entire demeanour screaming defeat in a way you've become all too familiar with this season. It hurts that there's nothing you can do to help lift whatever spell or- Whatever he's under right now. It hurts that there's nothing you can do to make this better. Most of all it hurts that you're not there with him and instead are here, alone, with at least two hours and a hundred miles between you. 

It hurts and you're crying and Freddy drops his head in your lap with a whine to let you know he's hurting too. 

XXX

It's been two hours since the race finished, two hours since you've made your way outside, desperate for some fresh air.

Sitting on the top step on the stairs that lead from the porch into the garden you want to hug your knees close to your chest but you can't anymore and so instead you lean back and close your eyes against the low-hanging evening sun as you feel Freddy sit down next to you. He nudges your stomach with his nose, letting out a whimper as if he wants you to know he gets it. Maybe he does, you think, because don't dogs feel these kinds of things? You reach out and scratch him behind his ears, "It's ok."

You're not sure whether it's the dog or yourself you're trying to comfort although it seems to be to no avail either way because next to you Freddy howls just as you let out a frustrated sigh. The dog seems restless, keeps on whimpering quietly as if he's still hurting too and you guess maybe he is because when Charles' voice came through the speakers after the crash, Freddy jumped up from where he was laying next to you on the couch and rushed to the TV, frantically searching for his other human, barking when he heard Charles' scream before he let out a wounded howl when he saw Charles climb out of his car. 

"It's ok, boy," you tell Freddy again as you lay down your hand, palm up, and wait until he puts his paw on top. "He'll be here soon."

It's a lie.

The drive from Le Castellet to Nice takes a little over two hours and you're not even sure Charles has left the track yet. Because even though the race ended a while ago there's press to speak to and a team debrief to attend and- You shake your head and take a deep breath, now even more determined than before to wait for him here, no matter how long it takes, like some sort of penance. 

Charles' scream echoing through your mind like a curse. 

XXX

"Loulou?"

The voice of your neighbour pulls you out of your thoughts and it's then you notice the sun has long disappeared behind the trees in your garden. Freddy's curled up next to you, quietly snoring, and you figure you must have been out here waiting longer than you thought. 

"Loulou?" Thierry says again and he sounds- 

He sounds worried and so when you look up to where he's standing on his balcony you try your hardest to smile, "Salut, Thierry."

"You ok, ma puce?" 

"Yeah-" it sounds unconvincing at best but Thierry seems to understand it might be best not to push it. 

"I saw the race," he says, as if that explains it all. Then again, it kind of does.

You nod and have to bite your lip to keep from crying again.

"It was not his fault," Thierry simply states.

"I know," you reply, not sure if he's heard you because your voice is barely above a whisper. You clear your throat and try again, "Thank you."

It's then Colette, Thierry's wife, pops up next to him, a worried look on her face, "You've been sitting there for a long time already, sweetheart. Why don't you come up for some tea and something to eat?" 

You shake your head, "I'm ok." Colette eyes you suspiciously but doesn't say anything else. Thierry looks equally as worried but also keeps quiet and so you quickly add, "He should be here soon." 

"Ok," Colette agrees quietly even though she doesn't look convinced. "We're here if you need us."

"Thank you," you call out and watch as both of them make their way back inside. It's when they close the door that a fresh set of tears spills over and you try your hardest to blink them away but it's a losing battle and you can't help the sob that escapes you. Next to you Freddy stirs awake as a result and lets out a yawn before he gets up and nudges your cheek with his nose. You put your arm under his chin and scratch his cheek, whispering a quiet, "Hi boy."

Freddy lets out a quiet whine and you can't help but agree, "I know."

XXX

It's getting colder now that it's almost dark but you're still in the same spot, Freddy sitting in between your legs and your hands running through the fur of his chest absentmindedly as you rest your chin on top of his head, a chorus of, "He'll be here soon," stuck on repeat in your head, almost like a prayer.

XXX

Freddy's ears perk up not much later and when he stands up he's wagging his tail and even though you don't hear anything yet you just know Charles is almost here. You run a quick hand under your eyes, trying to get rid of whatever's left of your earlier tears and stand up then, Freddy almost bouncing at your feet.

Sure enough, the familiar faint glow of his Ferrari's pale yellow headlights illuminates your driveway not much later and as he pulls up and parks his car you take a deep breath and try to ground yourself, not bothering with a smile because you know he'll see right through it. 

The car door opens then and you watch as Freddy rushes at his human, letting out an excited yelp as he jumps into the car and onto Charles' lap.

"Hi boy," you hear Charles whisper as he buries his face in Freddy's neck, arms wrapped tightly around the dog's body. Freddy puts his head on Charles' shoulder then and your heart, oh your heart feels like it's about to explode.

You wait until Charles tells Freddy to get down before you hold out your hand to him and pull him out of the car and straight into your arms, whatever you wanted to say stuck in your throat.

He doesn't say anything either but you can feel the way he leans against you, almost as if he has the weight of the world on his shoulders and wants you to take some of this burden from him. 

You wish you could.

XXX

"I love you," you say, as if that's enough.

Maybe it is.

What if it isn’t? 

XXX

"I love you," you say again, much later, in the quiet dark of your bedroom. Charles is wrapped around you, one leg draped over yours and his face buried in the crook of your neck. Your fingers are running through his hair as you tell him you love him over and over again, the repetitive motion reminding you of praying a rosary and then all of a sudden a Hail Mary rolls off your tongue and into existence.

XXX

"I'm sorry about yesterday," Charles whispers against your lips the next morning, his alarm waking both of you moments earlier.

You shake your head ever so slightly, willing him to understand that there's nothing to be sorry about. Not on track, not on the radio, not in the press pen, but most of all not here. You deepen the kiss, trying to push yourself against him when you taste him on your tongue and letting out a frustrating groan when you can't get closer. 

Charles smiles into the kiss and sneaks his hand between you, his fingers ghosting over your stomach, before he settles the palm of his hand over your belly button.

You cover his hand with yours and move it a little higher, pressing down gently, "Here. Just wait."

He pulls back a little and watches you intently, holding his breath until- His eyes widen, a smile breaking through and immediately he seems lighter, as if yesterday is just a distant memory now. Charles captures your mouth with his, an admiration behind the kiss that makes your heart burst at the seams. When he pulls back he lets his forehead rest against yours, "I forget it sometimes."

You don't say anything, trusting he'll explain.

He does. 

His voice is barely above a whisper but still you hear him loud and clear, "I forget sometimes that what happens on track does not matter when I'm with you. That you will never judge. That you will always be my safe place. My lady luck. Now even more than ever." He takes a deep breath and something changes, as if the weight of the world is finally lifted off his shoulders, "Je t'aime, ma belle."

The first rays of morning sun break through the window then and when you look at Charles, pressing down his hand even more so he can feel your little one moving around, there's another well-aimed kick that makes him laugh. A real laugh this time. It's at that moment you realise just how blessed you are and the belief that everything is going to be alright is stronger than ever, a quiet Glory Be running through your mind. 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

You lean in and let your lips brush against Charles', "We love you too, papa."