#let’s bring some sun to a cloudy day

[peachsukii]

Calling all Bakugo girlies!!! Let’s indulge in our selfships to make the day brighter. 💕✨

Show me your favorite art (the sky’s the limit, the more the merrier!) of the two of you and tell me what your favorite thing is about him.💥

[rebelliousstories]

Not Like The Movies

Relationship: Cooper “The Ghoul” Howard x Reader

Fandom: Fallout

Request: Yes by Anon

Warnings: Fluff, Angst, Violence

Word Count: 1,688

Main Masterlist: Here

Fallout Masterlist: Here

Summary: How Cooper got landed with someone of her sunny disposition, he will never now. And it does not help that she knows his films.

“Good morning, you cutie. Oh who’s the best little girl ever?” A feminine voice brought Cooper out of his deep slumber. His eyes had to adjust to the bright light outside that flooded the building they had stayed the night in. He looked around for the source of the noise and was relieved to see it was just his partner playing with DogMeat. The man sat up from the bed that was miraculously in the building that probably used to be someone’s house and began to roll the sleep from his muscles and bones.

“Well, good morning to you, cowpoke.” She greeted, allowing the dog to roam around wherever she pleased.

“Mornin’ sweetheart. Whatcha doin’ up this early?” He asked, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His boots hit the floor right next to where his partner was, as she sat up on her knees to pull him in close. Physical affection was something Cooper was still not used to after all this time, but he was slowly coming around to it. All of the affection happened behind closed doors, or in this case, a closed house. He still had an image to maintain after all.

“Couldn’t sleep, so I spent some time with Bella.” She said cheerfully into his chest. Cooper just sighed and rubbed his eyes.

“Don’t go naming the thing. Then you’ll get too attached and then you’ll be depressed when it dies.” He groaned out, shifting their bodies so their eyes met.

“But she can’t be named ‘DogMeat’. That’s not a proper name,” came her cry. She laid on the puppy eyes really thick.

“DogMeat is a proper name because that’s what it is.” He argued back, tilting her head up by her chin.

“Fine,” she relented, and smushed her face back into his chest. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

“Well, gotta head into town now. Stock up on some supplies, gather a new bounty hopefully.” Cooper pressed a kiss to her hair, and shuffled so that he could pull both of them up to stand.

“You gonna behave when we get into town?” He drawled, voice leaning into dangerous territory. His partner giggled and nodded her head.

“Of course, Coop. When am I not?” She inquired, biting her lower lip. That woman knew the easiest way to get Cooper riled up was to do just that motion right there. Because, in an instant, his eyes were locked on to her lips.

“What about back in Filly where you kept smilin’ at folks, leaving me to save you from someone’s fist in your face? Huh?” Howard recalled, watching her shift in his arms as she, too, recounted their last adventure into town.

“How was I supposed to know?” Her whimper made Cooper weak, but he had a job to do today.

“Just tone down the sun a little bit, alright? Maybe a nice cloudy day instead of bright ass sunshine.” He offered, bringing her face back up to his. She nodded and stood on her toes to reach his face. Cooperate, ever the gentleman, met her halfway and locked their lips together. They moved as one, letting their lips slide across the other’s. Hands roamed freely, and it was starting to look like they were not going to be making it to town soon. That is, of course, until DogMeat came back in the room with a dead iguana in her mouth. She dropped it on the floor, and pawed at the man and woman who were locked in their embrace. The Ghoul groaned as his partner detached them in favor of tending to the dog he claimed he did not want.

“Good girl. Such a good hunter.” The baby voice was back. Seeing that the dog was getting the attention now, Cooper moved to grab all of his effects from where they were strewn about the room. His duster sat upon his shoulders, while his hat found its spot on his scarred head.

“Come on. Let’s get goin’.” He stated definitely. His saddle bag was slung across his shoulder, and his hand helped navigate his partner through the abandoned house.

They began their trek into town, which thankfully was not too long of a walk. DogMeat followed on the other side of Cooper, hot on his heels. He kept his eyes peeled as they drew further and further into the town. There was a pharmacy, a trader’s hut, several food stalls, and even a mechanics repair shop. Plenty for the two of them. Turning to his partner, he passed her some caps and pointed towards a couple stalls.

“Go get you some dried meat, and get a box of ammunition. Don’t smile so much, alright?” Cooper stressed. She nodded in return and patted his arm as she left with DogMeat.

The Ghoul made his way into the trader’s hut first to find a new bounty that was around. Thankfully, the woman behind the counter had one, and it was simple enough. Someone had not paid her what she was owed, and now she had a hat out on the man. He accepted half of the caps upfront, before moving on to the pharmacy next door. Cooper’s eyes caught his partner and DogMeat traversing the stalls, already having several pouches of meat in her bag.

Which is why he was not afraid to leave her alone while he took his time getting his chems from the pharmacy. Being a ghoul certainly had its drawbacks; the stares, reputation, and fear. But it also held some positives; the stares, reputation, and fear. It certainly helped when acquiring what he needed for a reasonable price. A commotion caught his ears from outside, but he was not afraid that it was his partner.

Until he stepped outside. Cooper saw his partner being crowded against a pile of sheet metal while DogMeat kept barking up a fuss. The dog ran over immediately to the man and began to drag him by his duster over to the woman.

“Come on, sweetheart. Don’t play hard to get.” Some man crept into her space, making her cower down even further. Based on what he could see, and the description the trader gave, this must have been the bounty. She did mention that he tended to go where he pleased like he owned it all.

“Please. Let me go.” She whimpered. Her voice was full of fear and worry, and Cooper was not about to let that stand.

“Everyone’s got a price. I can pay whatever your price is.” He continued, placing his hand on the woman’s waist.

“I do believe the lady asked you to let her go.” Cooper finally made his way over. The man turned around, and smiled with blackened teeth.

“Don’t worry, Ghoul. Once I’m done with her, I’m sure you can have a turn. Certainly don’t wanna do it the other way around.” He laughed, as if what he said was the funniest thing in the world. Cooper began to chuckle lowly as he peeked his eyes out from the lip of his hat. Catching his partner’s eyes, she felt relief as she saw her savior in western gear.

“See, she might be bein’ nice and askin’ you to let her go. But I ain’t that nice. So now I’m tellin’ you to let her go. Now.” Cooper growled, feeling his patience wear thin.

“Or what, Ghoul?” The man never got to hear another response. In a flash, Howard had aimed his gun and fired on his legs. Blowing both of them off, the not-so-tough man now crumbled to the ground, screaming and crying, pleading for the ghoul to have mercy on him.

“Well, ain’t that some shit.” The Ghoul growled, tying a rope around the torso of the man, and began to drag him to the trader’s hut. He focused on the task at hand, knowing that DogMeat would take care of anyone else that had dared get close to her owner.

Walking out of the trader’s hut, Cooper’s eyes scanned the town as he tried to find her partner. He found her, hugging her lugs, stuck in the same place that she was being held. DogMeat was chowing down on the legs that were left. His pocket felt heavy with the weight of the caps, but all that mattered now was taking care of her.

“You alright there, sweetheart?” Howard held a hand out for her to grab onto, and she did. Eagerly shoving her face into his chest and letting out a shaky breath as she processed the events that had just unfolded.

“I’m good. Can we go please?” Her words were muffled in his shirt, but he understood them plenty. Calling for DogMeat, Cooper led the three of them out of the town and into somewhere more secluded. Once they were there, tears fell from her eyes as the weight of what happened fully caught up to her. He set her down on something resembling a chair, and squatted down in front to check her over.

“You saved me.” She whispered, letting her partner do what he needed to do.

“Course I did. What’d you expect? Me to leave you with that man?” He countered with a ridiculous tone.

“It’s like one of your old sheriff films.” Her giggles matched his groan as he dropped his head.

“This ain’t the movies, darlin’.” Cooper looked up at her.

“It’s kinda like the movies.” She replied, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to bring him in close.

“I can always take you back to that town and leave you there.” He stated in her shoulder. She giggled again.

“That’s not very sheriff-y of you.” Every time he thought he had won, she proved him wrong.

“Alright,” he stood up and took her with him, “let’s get moving. Maybe if we’re lucky we can find another house to sleep in.”

“Ooo, do you think we could find one with a television and a few films?” She teased, already walking off away from town. Cooper groaned, but caught up to her and kept her underneath his arm as they walked away from that town.

[reminiscingtonight]

Pretending (Pt. 2)

Aitana Bonmatí x Reader

Word Count: 986

Part One

[WOSO Masterlist]

“Do you want to get married?”

You’re soaking in the sun, a welcome change from the cloudy skies of Manchester when Aitana pops the question.

You crack open an eye. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else would I be talking to?”

She says it with the most serious face that you start questioning if you’re the crazy one here.

“Are you asking me what my thoughts are about marriage in general or marriage between us?”

Aitana doesn’t have to say anything, she only gives you a look. 

You sigh, propping yourself up on an arm so you can face Aitana when having this conversation. “We’re not even dating.”

Aitana shrugs. “If it matters that much to you we can give it a day.”

It’s such a ridiculous proposition that you can’t do anything but laugh. “So what? We can tell our children we dated for a day before we got married?”

This time she grins, finger drifting to hook around your own. “Time doesn’t matter. We both know whatever this is, whatever we are, it’s been going on far longer than a day.”

You’ve been back in Barcelona for close to a year now. The two of you picked up right where you left off, spending almost all of your waking moments with one another. Even when night comes round, it’s rare to find you sleeping apart. 

Ona calls you both codependent idiots, Ingrid calls it something sweet, all you know is that it works for the two of you and although you’re not dating, it’s a life you can find yourself getting used to.

When the break came around and Ona announced she was going somewhere tropical with Lucy, Aitana was quick to make some plans for just the two of you. 

You didn’t question it much, happy to just spend time with the girl you’ve been pining after for years. 

At first everything was normal. Sure, Aitana’s been a bit more sentimental than usual, opting to reminisce about your childhood adventures or bring up the unofficial first dates of yours from all those years ago. But you don’t think too much about it, choosing instead to focus on not ogling all of the skin on display as Aitana’s primary activity these past couple days have consisted of nothing but sunbathing.

It’s not like you haven’t caught Aitana eyeing you up and down a couple of times too, but it’s different between the two of you. You’re still patiently waiting for Aitana to drop the pretense that you’re anything more than just friends, hence the respect you’ve been giving (though if she continues wearing two-pieces and hanging off your arm all day every day you might have to catch an early flight home before you combust). Aitana on the other hand… well you’re not really sure what she’s doing.

Though you can probably conclude that she’s not pretending anything anymore if she’s asking for your hand in marriage.

“I love you.”

Though her words fill you with warmth, you can’t help but frown at her sudden change in demeanor. Just three days ago when you were still surrounded by your teammates in Barcelona, Aitana cracked a joke about loving you when hell froze over --- though you probably deserved that comment after you let Mapi convince you to dunk her socks in the ice bucket. Although she’s affectionate with you, she’s never this affectionate.

“Aita, what’s going on?” you sit up, taking care to scoop Aitana’s hand into yours.

The smile slips off her face as her eyes drop, fingers nervously tapping by her side.

It’s automatic, the way your free hand rises, rubbing at the furrow between her brows.

Aitana melts into your touch, face leaning forward until your hand has no choice but to cup her cheek.

“It’s just me. Nothing to be afraid of,” you murmur, trying to prompt Aitana to speak her mind.

Aitana looks lost in thought for a moment. She bites at her lip before letting out the longest sigh known to man. “Aren’t you ever going to get tired waiting for me?”

You’re not able to stop the laugh that bubbles past your lips. “If that’s what you’re afraid of, you have nothing to worry about. I’m in this for the long run, even if that means waiting for you until we’re gray and old. I’m happy with what we are right now as long as you’re happy too.”

“But what if I’m ready now?” 

You blink, not expecting the sureness behind her voice. There’s a slight fire in Aitana’s eyes, the midfielder looking like she’d move mountains just for you to understand how serious she is. 

“I know I’ve always put football first but you have always been the one thing I’ve wanted to commit to. You’ve been so patient with me, loving me when I never gave you a reason to. You bring me up when I’m sad, give me reasons to smile when I just want to cry, you’re what I love falling asleep to every night, and seeing your face when I wake up just fills me up with joy.”

Your eyes flutter shut when she leans forward to press her head against yours. You can feel her breath running hot against your lips and it takes everything in you to not bridge the gap. 

“I love the way you know me and I love the way you’re you.”

When your lips finally meet there’s no other way to describe the kiss than perfect. It’s short and sweet but it’s everything you’ve been waiting for. 

“I love you. So much.”

Aitana’s giving you a teary grin when you open your eyes, and you can’t do anything but smile right back at her. 

“So will you marry me?”

---

Ona’s eyes nearly fall out of her head when she sees the matching bands on your fingers when you stroll into the locker room a week later.

[chibsandchill]

See me

Fandom: Saltburn 

Pairing: Felix x AFAB!Reader 

Summary: Each room in Saltburn is bursting at the seam with memories with you, and Felix remembers some of his favorite moments as he makes his way to his prize. 

Warnings: Felix, Mentions and descriptions of acts of violence and murder, NSFW content, MDNI, 18+, unreliable narrator (Felix), toxic relationship, obsessive tendencies, grammatical and spelling errors, p in v sex, oral sex (m receiving), Felix is a creep, themes of violence - self-harm and equivalent themes are prevalent through the imagine, some parts of their dynamic takes inspiration from Hannigram but with my spin on obsession

I am not responsible for your media consumption. Read the tags. 

MDNI

Masterlist

:-:-:-:-:-:-:

It’s a cloudy day when Felix first saw you,

but with you came the sun, 

warmth, empathy, love. 

Oh, how he loved your heart. But, oh, how careless you were with it. It was a gift, 

one meant for him, 

from you. 

Then why did you waste it on those beneath you? You chipped away at it to mend sobbing students, tore at it until it bled and thick scars rose like mountains. You took on their pain with a blindingly bright smile, 

only Felix saw how their burdens weighed you down. 

The sun was meant to warm, to burn from far away, 

but they tore you down from your place in the sky so that they might leech your warmth until you are left barren. Their sorrows were cold as ice against you. 

They stole you from him. Piece by piece they ripped at you with filthy nails. You became known on campus as someone who’d listen. Who wouldn’t judge. How could you when you felt their problems as if they were your own? The more they spoke those words dripping with poison, the more they tainted the very blood in your veins with their darkness. 

‘Walk in their shoes’. 

You didn’t need to. You could walk in their skin, feel their emotions as if they were yours. Heartbreak plagued you, sorrow fell on you like an ever present shadow. The death of a family not yours turned your face gray and your eyes misty.

Until Felix put a stop to it all. How could he stand by and watch it happen? The slow destruction of a bright star, who burned so bright that all envied it. 

Jenny from history of art, Carl from math, Robert from physics, Matilda from psychology, Caroline, Jeremy, Han, Thomas, Harry, Derek, Henry, Linda, Nico, Mark, John, Hans, William, Frederic. All turned away at your door. 

“Yes, I’ll tell her.”

“I’ll let her know.”

“Sure thing, buddy.”

Oh, how they believed his lies. Sweet, sweet, Felix Catton wouldn’t lie to them. Surely not. 

But lie, he did. It spewed from his lips like honey. All to have his sun beam at him again. To wash away the taint of the others from your skin, your heart, your eyes. He would have you look at him with soft, relaxed eyes. 

Him. Him. Him. Him.

Your protector. Even if you didn’t know it yet. 

“Felix.” 

He hummed. 

Your eyes are heavy with sleep when you look up at him, but the affection is hard to miss. It makes you glow. Felix curled his arm further around you, bringing you closer to him. But even then it is not close enough. He aches. It’s a want deeper than skin, deeper than bones or even his soul. It was as if his very being was made of want, of longing so intense he was blinded by it. If God was indeed real then he had created Felix with a thread laced with obsession, with love transcending all else. 

Even thinking about you made his heart race, pound. 

“Can I braid your hair?” 

“‘Course.” He said against your skin. 

As if you needed to ask. All of him was yours. 

You try to sit up but Felix isn’t ready to break the contact yet. He feels like a battery, no matter how bizarre a comparison it is, constantly needing to be recharged so that he might survive when you part. He’s constantly cold without you, he feels empty; hollow. His hands are too light with the lack of you, he breathes too easy without the weight of you on his chest. If he could he’d carve his heart out so that you could carry it with you, for that was how he felt anyway. He’d gouge himself hollow so that he could fit you inside. Never to be parted again, joined together by shared blood, flesh and bone. 

It’s not easy with his hold on you, but you manage to shift so that you sit in his lap instead. It’s not ideal if you mean to truly braid his hair but Felix won’t complain. He pushed his head into your touch when your fingers hover over him. 

“Patience.” You half-heartedly scold him. 

Your fingers weave through his hair, nails scratching just right against his scalp. With deft hands you untangle the mess you’d created during the night. There’s not much to braid but more than enough for you to wrap around your fingers and tug. The action pulls a low groan from his throat. 

He grabs your hips. Felix wonders if you’ve noticed how he’s caged you in. You probably don’t, as sweet and trusting a being as you surely wouldn’t peel back his layers to gasp at the thriving darkness beneath. With you he was his truest self. Could you see him? Would you run if he were to cast off the layers? Let you see him? 

Maybe you already could. You had seen the others. Even the empty ones, the ones who had gouged themselves hollow and shoved the essence of what they thought he wanted until it spilled from every hole in their body. 

Felix wasn’t hollow. He was bursting at the seams with life, same as you. And yet you stayed. Surely you knew. You had to. You and he were one. Two pieces of a whole finally reunited. 

He breaths in your scent, noses along your throat before allowing his head to rest in the crook of your neck. There’s a bruise there hidden on your shoulder blade. Late one night when you’d already fallen asleep he mouthed it into your skin with the moon as his witness, 

only, 

it had started to fade. 

He’d have to do it again. Closer. Marking you under the cover of darkness wasn’t enough anymore. An unspoken claim didn’t satisfy him anymore. It wasn’t enough. He was beginning to think it never would be. He could bruise every inch of your skin with his love and his skin would still itch to do more – to prove himself more to you.  

Just as his hands slide down to rest on the curve of your ass the scene slips through his fingers like sand. 

He blinks it away. He’s standing in the driveway of Saltburn. Your favorite statue is left in shambles on the gravel with his blood splattered across the white marble. 

“What the fuck.” Felix’s hand shakes and burns with pain. His knuckles are split open. 

It had been a slip of a thought he had once when you first came to Saltburn and you’d taken to leaning on the statues, the furniture, walls, pillars. He’d wanted them all gone. He’d be your pillar. He wouldn’t crumble with age, would never make you think they stood strong only for the core to be riddled with holes from pests.

Felix was whole and strong, had made himself such, 

for you. 

He’d burnt the tendrils of influence his mother had dug into him since childhood. Torn the threads of her darkness right out of the tapestry. Oh, how she cried when she noticed. ‘Felix,’ she’d whispered, a rare show of emotion plastered across her face, ‘what have you done?’. 

She shouldn’t have worried about what he had done. No, she should’ve worried about what he was going to do. 

He watched you for weeks before approaching you. He noticed what made you laugh, what made you smile, frown, scowl. And so he took that too. Cut out the parts of himself that would drop the smile from your face and sewed on the parts that he lacked until he was left a patch-work version of perfecting befitting a Mary Shelley novel. Pus and blood seeped from the stitches. The sight was unseemly. So he waited until he’d perfected himself, until the stolen was assimilated, until it was like another Felix had never existed. 

Felix throws the heavy doors open and the maids scurry away from his sight. 

Duncan emerges from the pack. Even after all he’d seen, his adoration for Felix remained. “Welcome back, Felix.” 

He nods. 

And then he’s off. 

The route he takes is reminiscent of your first tour of the mansion. He’s even nodding along as if hearing himself introduce it all. The staircase where he “fingered” his cousin. As if. Your face had reddened with equal parts jealousy and sheer disbelief of ‘what the fuck’. 

One of the smaller sitting rooms. The green one. He fucking hates that room. But you love it. He went down on you for the first time there. Right on the couch with his granny’s ghost knocking down a shelf of antique plates over his head. The blood had driven you crazy. 

The thought alone made him hard. 

But this was also the first room you’d held him properly in. He’d been crying. 

“What's wrong?” You ask when he threw the door open. 

You’d been doing some summer reading for uni, but your fingers clutched the opening pages with strength that betrayed your pounding headache. 

“Fucking Ollie.” 

Your brows furrow “Oliver?”

Felix lay down on the couch with his head in your lap. You smell good. And you’re soft. 

“Yeah.” He sigh. “He was lying to us this whole time. Turns out poor Oliver Quick has both a dad and mum who loves him. Even siblings! They live in a lovely house in a picture perfect neighborhood.”

‘I just need you to understand how much I fucking love you!’

As if there was even a sliver of Felix that didn’t belong to you, that didn’t scream out for you every second you were apart. Had Oliver not been paying attention? Could he not see the need that permated him? It ran so deep, was so all-consuming that he couldn’t contain it all. He breathed desire, cried longing, even fucking pissed envy. Envy even over the very air you breathed, the clothing that hugged you, the sheets for the audacity to imply he wasn’t enough to keep you warm. 

You hum as your fingers drift down to cup his face. 

“He was in love with me.” 

“Isn’t everyone?” You joke. 

Felix’s eyes opened (he hadn’t realized he closed them). “You love me?”

“Of course.” You trace a scar on his cheekbone. 

“Say it.” 

“I love you, Felix.”

Even that memory fades, but your words linger. 

I love you, Felix. 

You always linger. Your kisses burn his skin and he wishes it left a scar so that he could look upon it and relive it all. 

The green room is abandoned quickly, and he’s off. 

“A blue room!” You exclaim, and to Felix’s displeasure you let go of him to take it all in. 

“Yeah. It’s… blue.” 

“What? No ghosts? No artifacts?”

Felix shakes his head. “Nope. Just blue.”

Felix sees himself leaning against the door while you spin around the room. It’s like a movie, almost. Only it’s his memories and he can remember every second he’s ever spent in your presence. Including this one. And the next one. 

The one where you’re on your knees.

You’re pressing soft kisses to the tip of his cock, pressing your love into every inch of skin you can find as if you wanted to stay there, to have your love replace the tar that ran through his veins. 

It’s odd. He can almost feel the tingles left by your touch, but he’s untouched. Felix’s hands form fists at the sight. Was it possible to be jealous even of himself? The envy boiling in his stomach certainly said so. He would not share you even with himself. 

Felix strides forward and sinks into the place his past self sits. He unbuckles his jeans and frees his cock from his underwear. If he were not so deep in madness he might’ve felt the cold of the room, but he was, and so he felt the warmth of your hands, the wetness of your mouth as you wrap your lips around his tip. 

He moans. He didn’t know what he liked the most about it. The vulnerability, the act itself, your presence, or that it left you with a part of him inside you. You’d kneel in front of him for as long as it took, but Felix would not have you be uncomfortable and so he slid a pillow under your knees. 

Your hands cup his balls. He twitches. You take more of him into you. It feels like heaven to have you wrap yourself around him. Wet, warm, silky heaven. All for him. 

Him. Him. Him. Him. His. 

You moan around him. It sends vibrations straight through him. It pulls a low groan straight from his chest, one that makes you moan. His pleasure is your pleasure, and your pleasure is his, and so the circle begins. 

His eyes roll into the back of his head when you begin bobbing your head up and down. You slurp. Electricity runs down his spine. It’s wet. Sloppy. Saliva drips down your mouth as you press your nose into his abdomen. 

Someone drops a plate somewhere in the house and the spell is broken. Not unlike a reflection in a lake is the memory distorted, wrong. You’re on your knees without the pillow. He’s standing above you, not sitting. Your knees are bruised and bleeding. You’re crying. 

Some small part of him, one that he’d allowed to fester for far too long, enjoys the scene. Enjoys the submission, thrives in the knowledge that it is not only he that longs and wants and would press and press until nothing remains if only to bring you a sliver of happiness. You smile around his cock. It’s not the pain that brings you to tears. 

This isn’t right. This isn’t him. It’s Elspeth messing with his head. It’s Oliver whispering his lies in his ear. 

He wants to vomit. Why would they punish him so? To make him see you hurt, 

to force him to see himself hurt you, brutalize you, 

humiliate you. 

Why, when he adored you, worshiped you. If there was a puddle he’d lay himself down to let you walk over him. He’d drown himself so that you would not have to dirty yourself. Like a tumor he’d performed surgery after surgery to remove what you didn’t like. 

And you did the same. 

The image is restored, but he’s already on his feet. 

He would wait no longer. 

Felix runs up the stairs but is forced to a halt by the moans coming from the king’s bedroom. Another memory? The door is already open. 

“Tell me your vows again.” 

You’ve got your legs up in the air behind you, head resting in your hands as you stare at him. 

“Dear,” Felix turns around from where he stood by the window. Your name sounds like prayer on his lips. “I’ve never been alone. People have flocked to me since before I can remember. But they didn’t see me. But you… you, I let you see me. It’s a rare gift. And it’s one that I’ve never regretted giving you. I’ve never felt more loved than in your arms. Do I need to continue, Mrs Catton?” 

You laugh. 

“Come to bed, Felix.”

The memory changes before he can enjoy the sight of you in your wedding dress. The happiest day of his life. Gone in a blink. 

You’re no longer on the bed. You’re in his arms, crying yet again. There’s blood on his shirt. No finger graces your finger. Felix closes his eyes. He knows this memory. KNows very well what he’d have to endure to get back to you. 

“Y-you killed him!” You shudder. 

Felix shushes you. “There was no other way.”

“There’s always another way.”

“Not this time." 

Truly, there wasn’t. You saw much, but Oliver was so good at pretending to be someone else that he even fooled himself into believing his own lies. And so, you thought nothing of it when Oliver offered you his bottle of wine. Had no idea of the drugs that he’d shoved in there. 

“Are you scared of me?” Felix asks you. His voice shakes. He remembers his own fear, how his stomach churned. He could write a thousand words and not even chip at the surface of the emotions he felt. A thrill at the thought of you finally seeing the deepest deepest parts of him? Disgust that he’d slipped and revealed a crack in his mask? Such fear that it clung to his very bones, stopped his lungs from working and had his own eyes water with tears? All true. And yet all of them are false. There wasn’t a single emotion he could place, they all blended together to form a concoction of heart-wrenching pain and fear. 

The memory fades away. He doesn’t remember the rest. All he remembers is how it ended. 

The headboard bangs against the wall with the force of his thrusts. His hands are cradling your face, kissing away the tears of pleasure. You push your legs up higher on his back where you’ve hitched them, your own hands pressing against his own face to bring him closer. He’s inside you but he’s not close enough. 

Felix leans down to cover your whole body with his. You squeak at the change. 

“Oh god,” you throw your head back with a moan. 

He moves a deft finger down to press down on your clit. He experimented with pressure, directions, even spelled out his own name with your pleasure. Felix feels as though he’s on fire, but still he wants more. He wants to be closer. Closer. Closer. Closer. 

You clench around his cock, and he stutters. 

The love in your eyes makes him falter, before he drives into you faster than before. The bed squeaks, one hard thrust away from breaking. Fitting. So is he. Your right hand moved up his cheekbone, past his ear and to the back of his head. Your touch is gentle, barely-there pressure as you guide him down to slant your mouth over his. His heart aches with love, adoration, you. You’ve made it your home. 

Yet again he is denied release as the memory is gone. The room is empty. 

“Fuck.”

It’s not graceful the way he stalks out of the room. No more interruptions, he thinks. 

The last door in the corridor. Yours. And his. Your marital chambers, as Duncan would call it. Old fashioned bastard. 

He pushes it open without as much as a knock. And there you are. 

“Felix!” You cross the room in seconds and then you’ve thrown yourself in his arms. “We missed you!”

Your rounded stomach presses into him. He rests his forehead on yours, pressing long, soft kisses against your lips, even as you giggle and try to move away. When you do, he chases after you. He’s not done. Never done. 

His legs feel like jelly, his soul is on fire, 

but he finally found you.

In a house full of memories and vengeful ghosts he found you. 

And you saw him, as you always do, and he’s tugged back into bed with the comforting weight of you pressing him down into the mattress. 

And he’s almost content. 

Almost. 

Taglist:

@fedyascoffin

[cheri-2047]

Genshin date headcanons (venti, lyney, ga ming, kaveh)

if i accidentally mischaracterized them i deeply apologize

warnings: nothing it’s mostly fluff, btw it’s established relationship already

VENTI:

He would love to take you on a picnic up on a hill. somewhere where the sun is in the perfect position and where the winds feel nice.

he would have a basket of all your favorites and a bottle or two of wine. (If you dislike wine, he will bring your favorite drink)

you guys would talk and just do whatever and have fun! This man loves to make you laugh, it makes him feel really happy.

afterwards, you guys go on a gliding date. Going down the hill and going around mondstadt wherever you guys please.

At night, he brings you to the tavern to drink (but then again if you dislike drinking, he will take you out to a romantic dinner).

afterwards when he brings you home, he leaves a flower in your hair and gives you a kiss

LYNEY:

this MF would greet you at your house doing a magic trick for you to get a rainbow rose on your hair. He would also say smth flirty as his first greeting like “it was a cloudy day before you, my light has appeared!” Or smth like that

he would take you to his favorite cafe in Fontaine, to have breakfast with you there.

whenever a kid approaches him and asks him to do a magic trick, he would go “alright! But only one okay? I’m on a date with this (if ure a girl, beautiful lady, if ure a guy, handsome man. If ure a diff gender he says with my dearest) and afterwards starts rambling on to the kid about how much he loves you. This man would show you off every single moment he gets.

he would walk you around the streets of Fontaine until he reaches his home. He brings you there and cooks lunch for you, somehow he knows your favorites even if he never told u. This man is strange 😭

after you guys eat he cleans up (and if you offer to help, he would not let you) and you guys cuddle on the couch watching a movie until both of you fall asleep.

GA MING:

He would take you on a dim sum and street food date, all with him paying for it ofc! He would bring you to his favorite street food stalls and you guys get to try the most delicious foods ever.

whenever he sees fellow co-workers, he loves Telling them “I’m on a date!!” He’s really happy and excited you guys are together.

whenever he sees any of his relatives he tells you to run, which actually becomes pretty fun for both of you since ou guys treat it like a heist 😭

When it gets dark, he brings you to a special area in Liyue Harbor. He then performs you a dance that he himself made specifically for you. Obviously this attracts some people so at the end he proudly announces that he made it for his beloved.

He brings you to your home and before you guys part, he hugs you tightly saying “Thank you..I had the best day today my love”

KAVEH:

He’d take you to the palace of Alcazarzaray, showing you around. Hed talk about his experiences in making it too.

you guys hang out there for awhile, talking about yourselves and getting to know one another even more

afterwards, he’d take you to an art museum. Both of you then jokingly judge modern art 😭😭😭😭 and just have fun

afterwards HED invite you to his and haithams home. He payed haitham to let him have the date there and for haitham not to interrupt because this man knows haitham would interrupt you guys 😭

he cooks for you and you guys eat together

afterwards you guys play bored games. You personally invite haitham so that you’d have more players and you’d get good entertainment whenever haitham and kaveh are beating each other

when it reaches night, kaveh invites you to stay. You two cuddle on his bed and sleep in each others arms.

sorry this was not proofread at all and that venti’s part is so short 😭 I tried.

[broomsick]

Self-care & connecting with nature deities during the wintertime

Is it still possible to connect with harvest and nature deities such as Freyr during the cold season?

Long answer short, yes. Obviously, absolutely. But you all saw that answer coming, right? So I’m here to give you some ideas, as the person who’s favorite season is winter and who made it their mission to help everybody like winter just a little more. And since I feel especially close to Yngvi-Freyr when it comes to the Gods, I will use him as an example throughout this post, though a lot of the following could apply to most nature deities.

Let us first examine a common misconception before we get to the bottom of this topic: the fields don’t die when the sun sets on the 31st of October. The earth still lives under thick layers of snow. The process of dormancy is absolutely crucial to the cycles of nature. And if, like me, you find Freyr to be a sort of guardian of these cycles, then you’ll know he manifests himself in so many ways, even where you might not think to look.

Have you heard about the holly and ivy tradition? It was common during the European Medieval times to decorate houses and halls using holly and ivy, because they were the two plants with leaves that stayed green, even in the dark and cold of winter. This type of practice is often referred to as "bringing the outside in", and it's something I'm quite fond of. I've no doubt it could be a great help if you're the type to feel depressed during the winter time. It's a way to remind oneself of how everpresent nature actually is. Lots of greenery remains despite the snow! And to ackowledge this fact and to work with it is such a great way to connect with nature Gods in general! It goes to show that you appreciate their blessings all year round, not just during spring and summer. While it's true that in many cases, the presence of deities such as Freyr may feel somehow "dimmed" during the winter time, I assure you, they don't disappear once the first snow falls! On the contrary, they are every bit as present and active as when spring comes! They simply manifest themselves in a different manner.

When winter comes, I love to work with evergreen spirits. I incorporate spruce, fir and cedar into my practice and in my offerings. I won't go into too much detail for this topic however, because I've written posts that pertained to it in the past (namely, this post on tree work and this one on land spirits). Since I don't have easy access to holly or ivy, I make due with evergreen! Not with any actual branches, except when I'm lucky enough to find some that were torn away by the wind. But rather, using representations of it. In the same manner, and in the spirit of "bringing the outside in", it's also possible to decorate using representations of the sun! Harvest deities such as Freyr are often associated with it due to its crucial role in the cycles of plant growth. Candles also make for great solar symbols, and to place them around the home is like lighting a handful of little suns to bring much needed light and warmth inside. What's more, lighting candles on the winter solstice night is a widespread practice among pagans today! It serves to symbolize the return of the sun, as the days start to grow longer again. Until then however, it can be soothing for one to light a candle every morning before school or work, and to call upon any harvest, nature or solar deity of their choice to ask for strength and motivation throught the day. Even when it's difficult for us to feel their presence, they always hear us.

Now, how to actually feel more connected to nature? Oftentimes, connecting with nature and connecting with Yngvi-Freyr are one and the same. And on a more personal note, a lot of the advice I received from him pertained exactly to that: I believe he's often urged me to go spend more time in nature when I am going through rough patches. I know the cold and the cloudy weather can make it depressing for a lot of people to go out. My advice on this is to take it step by step: no need to go on long, four-hour long hikes right away! After all, there is already much beauty to be seen close to home. And I can't put enough emphasis on that: dress warmly! Also, as a tool for motivation, prepare a treat for yourself to enjoy after you've gone out. Part of what makes me enjoy winter so much is the thought of the warmth and light which await inside after I’ve gone out into the cold. The home is as sacred as the outside world! So why not buy, or prepare a batch of cookies, a cup of hot chocolate or a spicy dinner! It's something I love to do as a way to motivate myself to go out more often. And I like to offer part of these to local land spirits and to the Vanir, to show my appreciation for the beauty of this season. Just as an aside, I find snow water to be a great such offering as well!

I know that I’m not revolutionizing the pagan scene with this post, as there’s only so many ways to connect with nature during winter. I think it’s important to keep in mind that the snow, rain and cold that this season brings is just as much part of nature as the greens and lively colors of spring and summer. For this reason, they are just as much a part of nature deities and what they represent. Deities have so many facets and depth, and it can be so fulfilling to explore these different aspects, and the way we perceive them. While it’s true that spiritually speaking, it often feels to us heathens as if Skaði is somehow “taking” Freyr’s place in the order of things for the time being— much like the Holly King takes the Oak King’s place in Celtic folklore. This doesn’t make it so he disappears! In my experience, he presides over the cycle of seasons as a whole, and he is every bit as present for his followers as he is during the winter. I can connect with Skaði during the summer in a similar manner. And I’m sure that the same can be said for so many other harvest deities.

[pjoxreader]

can you do something with jason, leo, and percy where they turn on the reader or something and they have to kill their s/o because someone told them that they were evil??

Reader Gets Betrayed by Their SO

TW (Death, Blood, Broken bones)

Jason Grace

-There you stood looking up at your boyfriend in the raging rain storm. Rain was pelting you as if it was hail. Thunder claps above the two of you illuminating his blonde hair and making his blue eyes seemingly glow in the cloudy gray storm clouds as he stares down at you coldly. -”Jason! Please!” You beg him, voice cracking as you plead. You couldn’t believe it, your boyfriend, the person you had trusted the most had turned against you. You wanted to believe he was being controlled, that this was some cruel monster forcing him to do this…

-But it wasn’t. You knew deep down that he wasn’t. Jason lands in front of you, flicking out his coin and summoning his sword. “Jason you don’t understand…” You try. But the look in his eye… He… He was determined to kill you. You never once imagined what it was like to be a monster…

-Yet now you felt bad for them, being forced to stare down these cruel eyes before their death. You force yourself to draw your sword as he charges you, the two of you clashing swords, you’re barely able to keep your defense up as your feet dig into the ground.

-Tears were forming in your eyes as you kicked him back to try and get space. But he kneels getting ready for a lunge. You… You didn’t have time to move. The same move you had spent hours in training to avoid… Would be your downfall? You could only gasp pathetically grabbing at his shirt in a last desperate attempt to get to him as you feel the blade enter your stomach. You barely manage to grab hold of his shirt looking down and seeing the blade impaled you through your stomach blood seeping down his blade. 

-You fall to your knees looking up at the sky as the rain pelts you, helping wash away your tears as you could only helplessly look at the one you used to love. “I… Love… You…” you manage to choke out through the blood before you lose all your energy collapsing to the ground. Jason lets out a feral yell of anguish into the storm as thunder roars above him as the lone survivor. 

Leo Valdez

-Oh how the fates were cruel. The only thing you wanted in this world was for someone to love you. And they granted you that. For two wonderful years you had dated your boyfriend enjoying every second of it.

-But the fates are restless. You were exhausted, trying to catch your breath as you stared down your boyfriend. “Leo… please… Please at least hear me out.” you beg him between breaths. Leo had his hammer at the ready, a few tears in his eyes as he stayed ready in his fighting stance. 

-”I don’t want to hear it, How could you… How could you betray camp…? How… How could you betray me?” his voice cracks at the end as he grips his hammer so tightly his knuckles turn white. With that he moves in closer to you raising the hammer high and bringing it down full force.

-You barely manage to block the attack with your sword, but it breaks in half the rest of Leo’s strike landing fully on your arm with a sick snap. You cry out in anguish falling back as you cling to your surely broken arm. -You try to move but you can't. You were just too tired to… You pant weakly looking up at the sky as you try to catch your breath. At least it was a beautiful day… Leo blocks your sight, tears going down his face as he lifts the hammer blocking the sun from your eyes.

-”I love you...” you say, giving him a last smile before the hammer swings down. You feel an anguished pain, dizziness but… But then the pain starts to fade. You could hear Leo sobbing but it was too far. You try to reach for him despite the fact you couldn’t see but to no avail, your hand goes limp before you could. 

Percy Jackson

-The beach had so many fond memories for you. Where you and percy first kissed, where he asked you out and you even had your first date here… But… But now you were trying to stand your ground against your boyfriend.

-You had seen percy lose himself in rage before but nothing like this. “No more… How… How many people are going to betray me!” he roars in anguish water raising to life behind him. You could only try to leap out of the way to avoid a blast of water that takes down a pine tree not far from you.

-”Percy please! I didn’t betray you! I wouldn’t!” you try to reason, barely avoiding another blast. It took everything you had to keep avoiding the strikes, but then your body tenses up as he holds his hand to you. You could feel every vein in your body clench. Was… Was he controlling your blood…?

-”Percy… Percy please…” you choke out feeling yourself fall under his control only barely able to plead him. “No more… No more!” He yells water rushing you in an intense flurry trapping you in a swirling vortex in a bubble.

-You gain control of your body, struggling to get free but you are spiraling inside the bubble unable to even reach out.Tears form in your eyes as you feel your lungs burning desperately clawing at your throat as you attempt to breathe.

-You pathetically reach out to Percy in a last silent plea but he only stares at you, those cold eyes as cruel and dark as the ocean stare into your soul as your vision starts to fade. The last bubbles of air leaving your throat with those eyes being the last sight you ever see.

 

~Masterlist & Rules~

Like my writing? Please consider sending me a Ko-fi! ☕

[tough-n-dumb]

lullabies

this ficlet is shamelessly inspired by the ending of No Reason to Be Afraid by @insignificant457 because i couldn't get inej wishing kaz a goodnight out of my head. thank you for writing this beautiful pre-canon fic—all credit goes to you!

“Goodnight,” she calls after him, then winces. Goodnight? You’ve just joined a gang, Inej, have a little dignity. He pauses, already halfway out of view, then leans back to look around the doorframe, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “Goodnight,” he says stiffly. She gives him a weak smile, which he registers before leaving without further comment.

Read below or read on AO3

It becomes a habit; a nightly routine. A goodnight, Kaz her closing remarks of most evenings—or sometimes in the dark and early hours of the morning, depending on the day. More often than not, he’ll murmur it back. If he doesn’t, she’ll give him a little tsk and a hushed, chiding manners before slipping out the window. 

They spend more time together than she thought they would—probably more than he thought as well. But after jobs, she begins to linger, the windowsill in his attic rooms now her designated perch. From it, she can watch both him and the city like the spy he’s crafting her into. She likes to dangle her feet into the cool air and observe the stars that burst through Ketterdam’s cloudy sky. They’re in different places in the night sky here than in the Ravkan plains and mountains, but the constellations are familiar. She is so far from home, but the longer she spends in the Slat, in her perch in this dangerous boy’s room, the more the definition of home starts to change (though for her, home has always been other people). 

She sometimes uses variations like sleep well or sweet dreams though she knows he’ll most likely have neither. She tries not to worry about that; tries not to listen to his pacing above her, the way his bed will creak in the middle of the night from him tossing and turning. She can only imagine what he sees when he closes his eyes in the dark. She understands what it’s like to face your demons even in sleep. 

When she uses these softer variations, he’ll often smirk and offer a wry remark in return. Something along the lines of, “What’s next Wraith, you’ll sing me lullabies?”

“Maybe if you ask nicely,” she shoots back. She gets comfortable, teasing him like this, and it pleases her that he doesn’t seem to let anyone else get away with it. 

But what neither of them know—and how could they?—is that years down the line when those same nightmares come knocking she will do just that, lending him the lilting words her parents sang to lull her to sleep whispered into his hair, the rich Suli consonants curling around them in the darkness. Their voices, they find, are one of the best ways to bring each other back from the crumbling ledge of their memories—though they’ve always known to some degree that that was the case. 

One night, she’s reclined on the sill, legs stretched out and head tilted back, the warmth of summer bathing over her even after the sun has set. She yawns and rubs her eyes, and when she opens them, Kaz is staring at her. He clears his throat and looks away, shuffling some papers on his desk in a manner she knows is just for show. 

“Go rest, Inej.” It’s a dismissal, but not an unkind one. Simply a directive. She nods, rubs her eyes once more and sits up all the way, about to wish him a goodnight when—

“Goodnight. Sleep well.” He mumbles it while still staring down at his mess of papers. 

She freezes and lowers her hands, a big smile spreading on her face. 

“What was that?”

“Go to bed, Inej.”

“Oh, no, that’s not what you said.” She is absolutely grinning now, much too pleased that she’s taught her Barrel boy niceties. She thinks his face is slowly turning pink, the tips of his ears bright with color. 

When he finally looks up at her, she feels her chest tighten at the sight. His eyes are so dark they’re nearly black in the room’s low light. The shadows crease his face into hard lines, but yes, there it is—a high blush spreading across his sharp cheeks. 

“Goodnight,” he finally repeats. “And have the sweetest of dreams, darling.” He’s injected a gratuitous amount of sarcasm into the words, but the way his eyes dart over her face—and, she thinks, settle on her lips before he looks back down at his desk—gives him away. 

“Goodnight, Kaz,” she says before slipping into the night. Tonight, she isn’t plagued with her usual nightmares. Tonight, she dreams of a leather-clad hand in hers, warmed by the sun, and sea breeze in her hair.

[strawberrykisseslia]

Kitty!

Amy Hughes x f! reader

Tw: none, just fluff

a/n: i used to have a kitty named lemon, she is still alive and well but she is with my brother not with me :c i miss herrr, do you have a kitty? If yes tell me it's name and type in the comments /nf !!

a/n#2: it's a bit rushed bc i have like 14 hours of work tmrw 😭 but i really wanted to write a cute ff with her and with a kitty<3

This doesn't follow the series, so there's no spoilers in it for those who haven't watched it yet! :3

~~~

"Ah... there you are!"

You looked behind yourself and found Amy standing there with a reliefed smile on her face as she keeps her hands on her waist. "I have been looking everywhere for you... what are you doing out here alone?" You turned around and faced her with a cat in your arms. "I found a kitty out here." A childish smile were on your face as you cuddle the little pet. Amy stepped closer and took a good look at the cat. "We should bring it back to the camp!" Her voice was full of joy. She really seemed to like the little buddy. You nodded in agreement, keeping your smile.

As you two walked back to the camp the cat started to fell asleep in your arms and you came up with an idea. "Look at it... we shouldn't wake it up." You looked at Amy then looked towards the lake. "Wanna sit down there?" The blonde nodded and begin to walk towards the lake.

You both sat down and stared at the beautiful clear water as the sun was setting down. The kitty was still sleeping in your comforting arms. You looked towards Amy as she admiring the sunset. She looked absolutely gorgeous in the sun's shining. Her beautiful golden wavy hair and her forest green eyes... You found yourself blushing and looked down to check up on the cat... who was still sleeping. "Do you like sunsets?" You asked Amy as you slowly looked at her again.

She smiled and made eye contact with you. She nodded. "I do... They're just so relaxing." She sighed and she looked down at the cat as well and pet it gently, carefully not to wake it up. "How about you? How do you feel about them?" You chuckled. "I think they are really pretty." And again, you found yourself staring at Amy. Gosh, you really had a crush on her. You always found her really pretty, since the first day of camp. She was so silent but she eventually got comfortable... especially with you. She kinda reminded you of yourself when you first get into camp. You weren't the really social type of person.

You looked back the lake and smiled. It has been quite some minutes since you guys sat down to rest a little bit. "Should we head back?" You asked Amy and your eyes shifted to the cat who was now waking up. "What about the little kitty?" She looked at you with a slightly sad face. "Well... How about we talk with Deb if we can keep it? It still looks so small... it probably doesn't have an owner..." You flashed Amy a small smile. Her smile just got bigger and she nodded in agreement. "Yes! That's a good idea!"

Surprisingly after some time of begging Deb to keep the cat she eventually let you and Amy but only if you keep a good eye on it and take very good care of it. Well, you guys were the best owner for that poor lonely kitty! You found out she was a girl back in your cabin.

You guys took the little girl out again to the lake. She surprisingly liked the water! She played with it while you were sitting down on your usual sitting place. Amy broke the silence and asked. "What should we name it?" She looked at you. "Hmm..." You looked at the kitty as you were thinking about the perfect name for her. Then a name idea hit you! "How about Cloudy? Since her furr is just as soft and white as the clouds look!" When you turned your head to look at Amy, you could tell she loved the idea.

After some days you eventually confessed your love towards Amy and she accepted and said she felt the same way for some time. This was probably the best summer camp you ever had and the most memorable. You had a lovely girlfriend and a cute little kitten.

Couple goals.

[shay-the-writer]

October Writing Prompts

After the repeated fails of the last several months, what possesses me to make this month's prompt thing ... fuck if I know. But, let's go with it. It's a long one.

The prompts are both Halloween and Autumn-themed.

Playing a game of Trick or Treat. It's a bit like Truth or Dare with the Trick being like Dare. The type of story rating is up to you.

Trick-or-Treating with the kid(s). Nice, wholesome content.

Costume Party.

Going to a haunted house (a real one or a set up). <> Person A says haunted houses don't scare them but they end up freaking out at every turn and Person B holds onto them.

Raking up leaves and having fun in them.

A trip to the cider mill/apple orchard, pumpkin patch, Fall Festival. Apple-picking, cider and donuts, hay bale rides, hay bale/cornstalk mazes.

Hay bale/cornstalk maze adventure. (family event / Horror-themed and set at night / a couple getting lost [intentional or not] and taking advantage of a dead end or secluded spot).

Carving/painting pumpkins.

Pumpkin Spice food/beverage items. Person A loves it. Person B hates it with a passion.

Taking a walk through the park where the air is crisp but not too cold, it's cloudy but a bit of sun peeks out and makes the color of the leaves stand out. Leaves are falling around them, and the ones on the ground make a rustling/crunching sound when they walk over them.

The smell of cinnamon. This is usually a Christmas thing for me, but some places I've been to recently have had cinnamon-scented things in their fall decor, so I guess it works here, too.

Halloween night always seems to bring out the crazies. This one is probably crime show-specific.

Person A decided to take a walk with Person B, thinking it wasn't too cold outside to wear a coat, but Person B notices A is looking cold and gives them their coat because B planned ahead with their wardrobe.

INSPIRED-THE-PLOT: Adaptation of Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow. (this story freaks me out, even a kids book I once had, with innocent kid-friendly illustrations, scared the crap out of me.)

INSPIRED-THE-PLOT: Surviving scary moments/disasters together. Alien invasions/attacks (Independence Day), natural disasters like tornadoes/volcanoes/earthquakes/etc. (Twister/Dante's Peak/etc.), dinosaurs run amok (Jurassic Park/World), or something supernatural (ghosts, demons, vampires), or psycho maniac serial killers.

Relationships between a human and a: Alien, Monster, Warlock, Witch, Sorcerer/Sorceress, Vampire, Ghost, Werewolf (or any animal-specific shapeshifter), Demon, Devil/Satan, Dark Creature (Fae, Imp, etc.).

Relationships between: Aliens, Monsters, Warlocks, Witches, Sorcerers/Sorceresses, Vampires, Ghosts, Werewolves/Animal Shapeshifters, Demons, Dark Creatures, a demon/devil/Satan with an angel/a God or Goddess.

MOVIE QUOTES

These are random and not necessarily Halloween-themed, but when put into a Halloween context, gives them a whole new meaning.

Rapunzel: Do you have magic hair? / Vanellope: No. (Ralph Breaks the Internet)

Principal Carol Newman: I want you to look into my eyes. What do you see? / Student: It's dark ... and it's cold. (The Santa Clause 2)

Lilly: Satan has finally left my body. (Pitch Perfect 3)

Billy Butcherson: Go to Hell! / Winifred Sanderson: Oh! I've been there, thank you. I found it quite lovely. (Hocus Pocus)

Gordo: Wow, evil and smart. / Kate: Embrace it. Fear it. (The Lizzie McGuire Movie)

Dorothy Gale: How can you talk if you haven't got a brain? (The Wizard of Oz)

Patty Tolan: Okay, room full of nightmares. (Ghostbusters [2016])

A.J. MacInerney: I feel a nightmare coming on. (The American President)

Sophie Piper: It's the bad thing. (Halloweentown)

Olaf: Hands down, this is the best day of my life, [he begins to melt] and, quite possibly, the last. (Frozen)

Olaf: Oh, look at that. I've been impaled. (Frozen)

TV QUOTES

Like the movie quotes, these ones change meaning when put in a Halloween-context.

Regina Mills: She got sucked up by a vortex of evil. (Once Upon a Time)

Chilli Heeler: (after Bluey and Bingo's fight led to a broken gnome) This is what happens when you're unhappy with what you've got. Someone's husband [the gnome] eventually gets it! [killed] (Bluey)

Gnome: Hee-hee-hee. I'm flammable! (Big City Greens)

Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold: To the end of the world. (Once Upon a Time)

Spike: If you tell anyone we had this conversation, I'll bite you. (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

John Munch: (while playing a video game) Damn it, I died. (Law & Order: SVU)

Princess Anna: What a funny-looking world. / Queen Elsa: Right?! (Once Upon a Time)

Lorelai Gilmore: That's the last time I buy anything just because it's furry. (Gilmore Girls)

Cyber Knight: Respawn, you fool! Respawn! (Big City Greens)

Bluey Heeler: He was not a funny clown. (Bluey)

Olivia Benson: It could use a splash of color. [Elliot Stabler points to a painting with blood on it] Blood red wasn't what I had in mind. (Law & Order: SVU)

Alice Green: Oh, an ominous message written in red liquid. (Big City Greens)

Vicki Nelson: Well, unless you have a demon GPS around here somewhere, this is all we have. (Blood Ties)

Vicki Nelson: You actually have a demon GPS? (Blood Ties)

Tilly Green: I have seen danger. And, I love it. (Big City Greens)

Casey Novak: I've had this nightmare before, only I was naked. (Law & Order: SVU)

Melinda Warner: If you bite me, I'll hurt you. (Law & Order: SVU)

Oz: (about a zombie cat) It looks dead. It smells dead. Yet, it's moving around ... That's interesting. (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Angela Montenegro: Things in a toilet bowl should not move. (Bones)

Raymond Ettinger [guest character]: I can't find my head. (Law & Order: SVU)

Fin Tutuola: Your heart's bleeding all over my shoes. (Law & Order: SVU)

Fin Tutuola: I don't see a cat. / John Munch: They're freaky little creatures. They lurk. (Law & Order: SVU)

Rafael Barba: Cue the apocalypse. (Law & Order: SVU)

Weezy: Cryptids give me the creep-tids. (Big City Greens)

C.C. Babcock: Good God, it's multiplying. (The Nanny)

Alice Green: Go back from whence you came, Prince of Darkness! The girl's soul is mine! (Big City Greens)

Karen Walker: I'm not good or real. I'm evil and imaginary. (Will & Grace)

John Munch: Oh, there you are, you demonic little furball. (Law & Order: SVU)

Kate O'Brien: Well, that takes care of the heebies, but I still got the jeebies. (The Drew Carey Show)

Peter Griffin: (during a Brit cut-away) Oh, dear ... I've spontaneously combusted. (Family Guy)

Dorothy Zbornak: (to Sophia) You're a furry little gnome and we feed you too much. (The Golden Girls)

Yakko Warner: Wait, you're forgetting something. / Umlatt: What? / Yakko Warrner: Well, being an evil villain, you are contractually required to explain your plan before you get rid of us. (Animaniacs)

[galaxyshine24-7]

The Silver Bullet🥃

Chapter 5 Scotch On the Rocks

Tw: Bombs, Death, Gang violence

The phone rings breaking Yuu out of their trance. The outside world looks so apocalyptic it's hard to imagine how peaceful it was before. Yuu picks up their phone from the nightstand doing their best to not shake too much as they answer.

“Oh Yuu are you okay?!” Crowley screams from the other line. “Don’t panic I am sending someone over right away!” Yuu can hear things breaking in the background as the man fumbles over himself. 

“I’m fine Crowley.” Yuu sighs. “I need to go access the damage to the bar.” 

“Okay, be careful and try not to step outside. Nobody knows what happened.” He commands. 

“Yes, I will.” Yuu looks around their home to see that is is debris and a few things on the floor, but it isn’t too bad. They are more worried about the bar with all those glasses and equipment. After making sure Grim is fine and the apartment has no spare glass around Yuu heads downstairs to take care of the mess in the bar. A few glasses have fallen, and some tables and chairs have been knocked over. Yuu gets to work quickly peeking their head outside once in a while to talk to neighbors trying to figure out what’s going on. The sound of a magic wheel reaches Yuu’s ears as they see Deuce racing down the street to stop at their bar. Behind him is Ace doing a lot better now with his wounds. 

“Deuce do you have to drive like a manic?!” Ace hops off of the vehicle. 

“I panicked okay,” Deuce argues. 

They look up to see Yuu standing outside the bar sweeping up loose debris. 

“Yuu!” They both yell rushing over to the bartender. 

“Are you okay?” Deuce asks. 

“Yeah, I’m fine just shakn,” Yuu answers. “Do you know what happened?” Yuu looks over at the smoke clouds as Ace and Deuce share concerned looks.  

“No we all just started getting ready for the day.” Ace rubs the back of his neck. 

“Riddle is furious everyone is staying clear of him until Trey can calm him down.” Deuce adds. Yuu motions for the two to come inside letting Deuce park his magic wheel in the alley. 

Yuu gets the two a glass of water as they ponder over the recent events. 

“How have you been since the party?” Deuce takes a sip of his glass. 

“Fine I was excited for the pay raise, but it seems now that has been put on hold.” Yuu sighs. The sound of a loud stomach gurgle breaks the silence as Deuce blushes. Yuu can’t help but laugh getting up from the table. 

“I see you two raced out so quickly you forgot to eat.” Yuu goes behind the bar putting on their apron. 

“I don’t mean to bother you.” Deuce looks down. 

“It’s fine it gives me something to do?” Yuu waves away his concern. “So what are you two feeling?” 

“I would love to try your pancakes again. Don’t tell Trey, but I find yours better.” Ace leans back resting his arms behind his head. 

“Ouch, don’t let Trey hear you say that.” Yuu gets to work whipping up some eggs and toast for the two. They also forgot to eat during all the chaos. Once Yuu is done they all help bring the food to the table sitting down and eating. They share pleasant conversation, a stark contrast from the scene outside. 

The sound of cars makes its way towards the bar as Yuu looks up with realization. Shoot, they forgot Crowley was sending someone over to check on them. They stand cleaning up their plate as Ace and Deuce look on with confusion. A red limo parks outside the bar as a man with a muzzle on his face gets out the driver's side to open the passenger door. Out steps, a red-heeled boot and two Dalmatians as Divus Crewl steps onto the street. His sunglasses reflect the light of what little sun they have on this cloudy day waiting for the man to open the bar door. 

“Yuu who’s that?” Ace stops stuffing his mouth full of food. 

“A benefactor of the bar, he’s seeing how the damage is.” It’s not technically a lie. The man opens the door, as Yuu initially brushes off their apron. 

“Puppy!” Divus outstretches his arms. Yuu rushes over to greet the man.

“Hello, Mr. Crewel.” Yuu smiles. The two dogs sniff and lick at Yuu’s hands. Yuu can’t help but give them some pets, it’s been a long time since they last seen them.

“Duchess, Colonel down.” With that order, the two dogs sit on Crewel’s side. He hands the man their leashes as he goes to grab Yuu’s chin shifting them left to right.

“Hm, not too bad.” He lifts Yuu’s arms to see any scratches or injuries. 

“I’ve seen you’ve gotten thinner, I’ll tell that old crow to raise your budget.” He looks around the bar spotting Ace and Deuce. His nose upturns in a disapproving stance looking at the two with disgust. Colonel and Duchess growl at their master’s displeasure.

“Heartslyabul I presume.” He points toward the two. 

“Y-yes sir.” Deuce stands in attention. 

“Hm, I see.” Crewel rolls his eyes. “So this is what the new generation brought in.” He looks over at Yuu shaking his head. 

“Remember what I said about strays dear.” He walks up to Yuu brushing off any dirt off their shoulders. “Once you feed them they never leave.” He whispers into Yuu’s ear. They can only nod as he takes a glance around the bar. 

“It seems nothing is too damaged. I’ll report this to the others.” He pats Yuu on the head. “Call if you need anything pup.” With that, he gets ready to leave grabbing the dog’s leashes. 

“Yes sir.” Yuu opens the door for them. Divus gives Yuu one last look before getting in the car. Yuu watches as the car drives off before closing the door. 

“Man, that guy was intense.” Ace sighs. 

“Does he come around often?” Deuce sits back down. 

“No,” Yuu shakes their head. Hopefully, it will be quick on their teachers’ end for the time being. 

The morning goes on as Ace and Deuce soon get called back to Heartslayabul. They wave Yuu goodbye as the bartender wishes them well. Yuu gets back to work stocking up on food and helping out neighbors. The evening comes sooner than expected as Yuu gets ready to close early for today. The sound of the bell catches their attention looking toward the door. 

“We meet again darling bartender.” The silvery tone of Azul reaches Yuu’s ears. He stocks up to the bar with two tall twins at his side. 

“Hey Azul, this place looks cool. Will we be meeting here?” One twin wears a long smile looking around the bar. 

Yuu raises a brow, staring at Azul to answer his question. 

“Excuse us, please.” Azul coughs, glaring at the twins as they go sit down at a table. 

“Dear Yuu as you know recent events have left…a rather bad taste in everyone's mouths. Today all of the gangs' headquarters have been sadly disposed of. So we need a neutral territory to talk things over.” Azul explains. 

“So you want to use my bar as a gang meeting place.” Yuu glares at him.

“You catch on quick.” Azul chuckles. 

“I-”

“Before you decline. I believe it would be beneficial for everyone for you to accept. Riddle put in a high word for you. I would hate to see those on the receiving end of his anger.” He lets out a dramatic sigh. 

Yuu’s hand curls into a fist. They can see what he is getting at. With a deep sigh, Yuu looks away for a minute tapping their finger on the counter. 

“Fine, but there are rules you all have to follow if you are going to be in my bar.” Yuu crosses their arms. 

“Of course, we wouldn’t dream of causing you any trouble at your establishment.” Azul smirks. “Now do you have a menu I can possibly look at?” 

Yuu rolls their eyes finding him a makeshift menu that they made. 

“Why thank you.” Azul turns around to go sit with the twins leaving Yuu to regret their decision. It wasn’t long before the other leaders start flooding in. Riddle is the first accompanied by Trey and Cater. 

“Yuu we would like to use your establishment-”

“Don’t worry Riddle I already had a pleasant talk with the bartender, and they agreed,” Azul says off into the distance. 

Riddle looks over surprised at Azul’s arrival. He rubs his temple with exhaustion. 

“I was supposed to inform them first Ashengrotto.” Riddle growls. 

“Well I came here rather early, I simply didn’t want to waste time.” Azul crosses his legs. 

“It's okay Riddle.” Yuu doesn’t want anything to exculate. “How about I start making everyone some drinks? The house special.” Yuu puts on their customer service smile. 

“Why that sounds wonderful, right Riddle?” Azul claps. 

Riddle just glares at Azul as he goes to take a seat. There is a space in the back where the leaders can have some privacy. It's like a sitting room, that Yuu spent most of the day cleaning. It wasn’t long for the other leaders to join as well. Yuu leads them to the sitting room in the back bringing them glasses of drinks. 

“So what’s the report of damage?” Riddle starts. 

“All our headquarters have been destroyed.” Vil rubs out his worry lines. Rook heads him a cup of tea. “The damage has put a dent in our operations not to mention the causalities.” 

Yuu tries their best not to react at that. What was this all for? 

“Enough with this sitting around we need to strike now!” Leona slams the table causing some of the drinks to spill. Yuu gets to cleaning keeping their head down as the conversation ensues. 

“W-we don’t know for sure if it was them.” Kamil sniffs as Jamil heads him another tissue. 

“This has RSA written all over it,” Leona growls. 

“This attack really isn’t their MO.” Idia comments from the corner covering his face with his hood. It's the first time Yuu has ever seen the gang leader and his appearance is not what they were expecting. Flaming blue hair sticks out of his hoodie as yellow eyes peek out from the darkness once in a while. Yuu tried to hand him a drink before all this, but he just cowered away. 

“Maybe they got tired of being goody two shoes.” Leona’s right hand, Ruggie leans against the wall. 

“Let’s look at the evidence.” Riddle cuts in. “At each location, a person with an overblot snuck into each building and caused damage. All of these people were from RSA.” 

Yuu stops cleaning, that makes no sense. 

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Trey speaks up. 

“Exactly, what would they gain by harming their own people.” Azul ponders. 

“Someone to put the blame on. The magic drug comes from NRC who’s to say they didn’t plant people to cause a scene so that they now have an excuse to get involved.” Leona takes out a newspaper from his pocket. 

“They’re already blaming us.” The newspaper slaps onto the table as Yuu reads the big headline. ‘NRC drugs cause explosive overblots!’ Yuu stares at the paper afraid to pick it up. 

“So it's already out.” Azul mumbles. 

“It won’t be long until RSA makes their move on us. We need to agree on a strategy and fast.” Riddle leans back in the chair. 

Yuu gets up from the table after cleaning up what they could, no one was paying them any mind. 

“First we need to distribute aid to the areas most affected and raise funds.” Azul takes off his glasses wiping them off on a cloth. Yuu goes around to refill drinks. 

“We all can handle our own raising of funds, but the other matter must be our focus.” Vil leans forward. “It would be wonderful if we could have everyone here for this.” Vil looks around the room. 

“Of course that damn lizard doesn’t show up.” Leona huffs. 

“Well, we can’t decide on anything unless everyone is accounted for. I shall contact Lilia to make sure things are alright on their end.” Riddle suggests. 

“I’m not standing around doing nothing while those pests start to gather on our territory. If I see any of them on my streets they will be six feet in the ground.” Leona stands leaving the room with Ruggie following close behind. 

“Such impatience for a so-called leader.” Vil frowns getting up as well. 

With that, everyone starts to leave. Riddle is the last one to depart as rain starts to fall from the sky. 

“Yuu the Heartslybaul district will be holding a charity event for the recent disaster, I expect to see you there tending the bar.” Riddle doesn’t even look at Yuu. It’s an order, not a suggestion.

“Okay…” Yuu trails looking over at Cater and Trey as the two give them a pitiful look. The door soon closes leaving Yuu alone in the bar. With a heavy sigh, they start to clean. 

The rain sounds against the glass as it comes down heavy. Yuu takes their time thinking about what was discussed during the meeting. They don’t realize how late it is until they see the sky is now pitch black, putting the broom back in the cabinet Yuu starts to head up the stairs to check on Grim. That is until they hear the ding of the door chime. Did they forget to lock the door? They turned off all the lights, this place should look closed. Yuu quickly turns around peeking their head around the corner to see a tall man standing in the center of the bar. 

“I know you’re there.” A deep voice makes a chill run down their spine. 

Yuu timidly steps out from around the corner inching closer to the bar. There they have a security button, along with a compartment with a hidden gun. 

“The bar is closed,” Yuu states watching the man turn around to reveal a pale face with two horns protruding out of his head. He wears a long dark cloak with emerald eyes that scan over the bar. 

“I was told a meeting would take place here.” He pouts. 

Yuu raises a brow at that. Is he talking about the meeting of the gang leaders? 

“I’m afraid that meeting already happened.” Yuu hovers their finger over the button. They now can see the long sword sheathed along his waist as he comes to take a seat at the bar. 

“I see, how unfortunate. I had prior business to attend to and was late.” He rests his elbows on the counter. His head rests in his hands letting out a sigh. 

Is he sulking? Yuu tilts their head. Upon the man getting closer they can now see his features a lot more. Hair as black as the night with long nails that tap against the counter. It’s almost like looking at a sculpture. His eyes reach Yuu’s once more as they stare at each other. 

“Well, sorry to say this but the bar is closed,” Yuu states calmly not retracting his gaze. 

“Oh, is it?” His eyes look over to the windows. 

What is with this guy?

“Yes, it is.” Yuu places a wash towel on their shoulder. 

“Can I have a drink?” He closes his eyes. 

“Huh?”

“Can I please trouble you for a drink, I’m very tired.” He sighs. 

Yuu thinks about their options soon letting out an exhausted huff. 

“Fine, fine, It’s not like I get paid overtime. What do you want?” They place their hands on their hips. 

“Suprise me child of man.” He lets out a low chuckle. 

“For someone so tired you sure have enough energy to play games.” Yuu gets to work making the mysterious customer something to drink. Yuu goes for something light and sweet. A vanilla milkshake with some mint for that refreshing taste. Yuu takes notice of how the man watches them work their magic, finding the energy to give him a few tricks. With the final topping of whipped cream, Yuu slides the drink over to him. The man inspects the drink taking a small sip and then another.

“This is excellent, child of man.” His eyes widen as he takes a few more sips. 

“My name is Yuu.” They laugh at his excitement, it's like a little kid. “So what’s your name?” 

The man pauses and thinks for a second. 

“So you don’t know who I am? How fascinating.” He smirks. “It is best you don’t know my true identity just yet.” He hums. “I will let you call me by a name of your choosing for now.” He smiles. 

“Okay Tsunotarou,” Yuu watches a man’s eyes widen in surprise almost spitting out his drink. Yuu gives him a shit-eating grin as they enter a staring contest. 

“You are a very bold child of man.” He laughs. “I shall allow the name.” He gets up from the counter. “I will be taking the glass with me, I hope this covers the cost.” He plops down a cloth bag on the counter. Yuu takes a look to see dozens of solid gold coins inside the bag.

“Wait! What?!” Yuu shouts. 

The man leaves without a word as the bell chimes behind him. 

[harleyshahas]

If you're taking requests - Blackice for the touch prompts? 👀

33. Tasting their smile Or 45. Feeling their temperature

(Or 58. "Forever Mine" kisses from the kiss list, I'm indecisive and like giving options lol)

(Also I (platonically) love you too ♡)

33. Tasting their smile for @gilly-moon

Jack's smile was always so bright, so welcoming, so warm.

Maybe that didn't really make sense for a creature of ice and snow, but he was warm. His eyes sparkled like the rising sun with his fun and mischief, and his smile was just as blinding.

It pissed Pitch off.

It pissed him off because he had watched Jack from the shadows, had seen that smile waver and fall, had seen those eyes grow hazy with tears that never fell, had seen the cloudy storm of emotions play out, and it was all just as beautiful. Jack's moods could affect his winter if he wasn't careful, and more often than not, especially in the beginning, Jack would forget this. He would bring his fun and snow, the children would play, but the moment a child walked through him that fun would shift, darken. Clouds would roll in, and what had once been a soft flurry perfect for sledding would grow and grow until fat flakes nearly blinded all who were caught in the blizzard. Parents were left confused, children fearful, and Pitch loved nearly every second of it.

But that damn smile always came back.

Even before Pitch attacked the Guardians he wanted to see that smile wiped off that pale face, wanted Jack to let loose with his power, watch the world be covered in ice. But instead he had to watch Jack prance around with those damned Guardians, had to watch as they took his best chance at reclaiming his power, had to watch as Jack smiled and laughed with them.

It made him sick.

Even now, after three years of quiet exile, he watched as Jack played with the children in the little town they shared, smiling and laughing and throwing snowballs. The kids here actually saw him, they played with him, going so far as to tackle him to the ground and pile snow on his head. Jack laughed all the while.

Pitch watched. He watched every day that Jack was around, tasting his deeply buried fears ofThis won't last andThe next time they'll walk through me like the rest andWhen will they leave?

Jack's fear continued to sustain him even after all these years. Pitch wasn't sure how he felt about that.

It wasn't until one day close to Christmas after a rather exciting snowball fight that Jack finally noticed him. The sun was setting, casting an orange and fiery glow to the snow and Pitch marveled at the way it didn't melt. The children said their good-byes to Jack as their parents called them home, all of them giving the winter spirit a hug as Jack gave them a near teary smile. As the last one left, the boy who had stood against Pitch that fateful Easter weekend, Pitch had sneered, his low growl echoing in the following silence. Jack whirled around.

He saw Pitch at the base of a nearby oak tree, Pitch contemplating briefly if he should run, but he decided against it. This confrontation had to happen sooner or later, so why not sooner? With that in mind, he stepped out of the shadows, crossing his arms as he leant against the tree.

Jack's eyes were wide as he stared at him, mouth dropping open slightly.

Pitch smirked. "What's the matter, Jack? The rabbit got your tongue?"

The younger spirit shook his head, but his eyes remained wide. "You're alive..."

Pitch snorted. "Course I'm alive. It takes more than some Nightmares to kill me. Did you really think you'd seen the last of me?"

"No - I didn't..." Jack trailed off. His staff was held loose in his hands in his shock.

"Fear is a powerful thing, Jack," Pitch continued. "If left to itself, it grows and festers. It survives."

"Is that what you do?" Jack asked. His bright eyes cleared, his brow rose, but still he did not raise his staff. He took a step towards Pitch.

"It's what I've always done," Pitch stated quietly. He watched as Jack came to a stop barely three feet from him, watched as Jack watched him. "There will always be fear, therefore there will always be me. I didn't lie about that."

Jack's brow furrowed and his grip finally tightened on his staff. Pitch did not move. "Then what did you lie about?"

"What use did I have in lying?" Pitch said. He pushed off the tree, Jack tensed his grip, but the Boogieman only placed his hands behind his back, gripping one wrist with the other hand as he brushed past the small spirit. "I laid all my cards on the table that day and everything I said, everything I offered, was true. It's your choice to believe it."

"Choice..." Jack muttered. Pitch glanced over his shoulder. Jack stared down at the snow with a bitter twist to his lips. "You chose to attack the Guardians, the kids, even if you can never fade away?"

"What use is living if you can't share your life with someone?" Pitch watched as Jack's head jerked up, staring at him once more with wide eyes and mouth open. Pitch took a step to half turn to him.

"Family..." Jack whispered near brokenly and Pitch could only nod.

"I definitely didn't lie about that."

Silence fell over them. Jack watched him with that heartaching expression, his eyes hazy with tears that could not fall, and Pitch didn't comment on it. He stared down at Jack, gripping his wrist so tight his nails were starting to break through his skin.

Jack was... achingly beautiful, even in his melancholy. He had seen the rage, the bitter anger and resentment, the fearful turmoil, every time those bright eyes looked at him back then, and every time he was so, so beautiful. All the love and light and laughter was meant for everyone else, but this, Jack's most deeply buried feelings, all the ugly faces he wouldn't dare show the children, those were meant for him.

Pitch turned away. Something bitter and vile was clawing up his throat, his nails digging into his skin. Shadows roiled around him, the darkening night darkening further.

He didn't want those ugly feelings. But he did deserve them.

He took a step away, the nearest shadow wrapping around his foot as he prepared to return to his lair.

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Pitch stopped. Jack darted forward on the wind, stepping down just in front of him. He chewed his lower lip between his teeth, something shining in his eyes Pitch had never seen before, not to him.

"What?" he asked. Pitch wasn't sure if he sounded tired... or confused.

Jack chewed his lip some more. His grip tightened and loosened on his staff. "Do you wanna... I don't know, have some fun?"

More silence was swallowed up by the snow around them.

"What?" Pitch was definitely confused.

Jack snorted lightly, covering his mouth. Pitch blinked down at him. "Sorry! I mean, you just... seem like you could use some fun in your life, I guess." His eyes were sparkling in a way they never had before at Pitch.

Pitch loosened his grip on his wrist. "I think your idea and my idea of fun are two very different things, Jack Frost."

Jack was definitely grinning behind his hand. "Maybe, but I think there's a way we can meet in the middle. There's a Christmas horror movie playing at the local theater." His hand dropped and his grin was mischievous. He looked up at Pitch from under his lashes. "Wanna help me scare some humans?"

The smile that tugged at Pitch's lips was slow, menacing, and positively delighted. He bowed with a flourish, holding a hand out dramatically. "Lead the way."

Jack laughed and hopped in the air, Pitch followed from the shadows. He was led to a cinema, popping up from the shadows behind a small crowd of humans already in their seats and waiting for the show to start. Jack landed next to him. He gestured to the back row where no one was sitting, and Pitch followed him. From there, they had a decent view of the movie goers. The audience was silent with anticipation, the title card played, and the tension was palpable.

Jack leaned in close to him, as if anyone could hear him, and Pitch indulged him, leaning down to meet him. "Wait for my signal," was all he said. Pitch nodded, then sat back to enjoy the show.

The first five to ten minutes of the movie took place indoors, but any time a character stepped outside Jack would tap his staff to the floor. The temperature in the theater dropped, and the audience visibly shivered. Some looked around themselves, their nerves lighting up and Pitch breathed it all in. Pitch caught on quickly, his shadows roiling in the dark corners of the theater everytime a character entered a dark room. Tension rose as the humans muttered amongst themselves. One even pointed at his shadows.

As the movie went on, Jack worked a breeze through the room. Someone yelped. At another point, Pitch encouraged his shadows to dance at peoples feet. More than one person jumped. At the next jump scare, a shadow tugged on a woman's hair and she screamed. The rest of the audience jumped and the tension had reached the ceiling by the time the third act had started.

Jack was shaking in his seat. Pitch glanced over, worried for half a second that this wasn't actually what he'd had in mind, that he had messed this up somehow, that he was scaring Jack away.

To his absolute shock, Jack was laughing. He was laughing so hard he was shaking, near doubled over with a hand clamped over his mouth. Delighted tears clung to his lashes and his feet practically stamped the floor through his giggles. A smile twitched at Pitch's lips.

Jack had never laughed for him before.

He leaned down. "Ready for the big finish?" he whispered against a pale ear, his voice husky with the power he had fed on, and maybe with something else he didn't want to name just yet. Jack looked up at him with shining blue eyes, sparkling like the sun on a chilly winter morning, hand still clamped over his mouth as he nodded vigorously. Pitch smirked back. "Then watch the master at work," he preened.

He instructed the shadows to calm a little, relegating them back to the corners. The audience seemed to calm with them, the tension still high, but enough to make them relax and enjoy the final moments of the movie. As they watched, Pitch moved his shadows out of their sight, snaking them up through the aisles to wait at unsuspecting feet. Pitch lifted a finger, tapping Jack's staff and Jack got the hint, providing a final chilly breeze that immediately had the audience on edge. Anticipation was thick.

And then, as the music swelled and the killer was revealed, the hero screamed and the audience screamed with him as shadows brushed against revealed skin, pulling on hair and brushing against cheeks and hands, tugging feet and poking their backs sharply. Pitch cackled as someone broke down into sobs.

As the credits rolled, the humans cheered, clapping and laughing and crying in equal measure. Pitch shadow traveled to the front of the room, standing before the humans on a pedestal of shadows, and taking a low bow. When he looked up, not a one of them was looking at him, and he expected that, and he expected the hurt that inevitably came with it, but he did not feel it. Instead, he felt warmth as there in the back, perched upon the tip of his staff, was Jack Frost, clapping wildly along with the audience and smiling that blindingly bright smile right down at him.

Jack had never smiled at him like that.

But there he was, clapping and cheering and smiling just for him and Pitch felt warmth fill his insides, felt a lump lodge in his throat. He looked away as the audience left, followed them out quickly through the shadows. Jack joined him not too long after.

"That was amazing!" the younger man cheered excitedly. "That was so cool, I've never been able to get a reaction like that! I can usually get a few shivers and some laughs, but man! I've never gotten them to scream like that! You have to teach me how to do that! How do you know how to time it so well? I've seen that movie like five times now and I still can't get it right, but you - that... that was awesome!" Jack continued to ramble, arms waving wildly as he gestured back to the theater, to Pitch, to the humans who walked by still gushing about their experience. His smile was so bright, so welcoming, so warm, and Pitch couldn't stop himself from leaning down, from tasting that warm cold with the barest brush of lips against the corner of Jack's mouth.

Jack froze.

Pitch pulled away. He looked down at Jack with a softness he hadn't felt in eons, smiling gently down at the now wide eyes gazing back at him. "I had... fun, Jack," Pitch muttered. "I'd love to do this again sometime. If you'd like."

Jack swallowed, his throat visibly bobbing with the action and Pitch wanted to taste that too. "Um... okay... Yeah, we should - we should definitely do this again..." He smiled again, slowly, softer this time, his cheeks flushing a pale purple. "Thanks, Pitch..."

Pitch smiled back. "Anytime, Jack. See you around." And then he sunk into shadow.

From a darkened alley nearby, he watched as Jack stood there a moment longer. The boy reached up, pressing his fingers to his lips. Another smile tugged at them slowly, bright and happy, and he laughed in a way Pitch had never heard him laugh before. It was gentle. It was shy. There was a joy in it that didn't come from snowball fights and sledding with children or from spending time with the Guardians. Pitch smiled.

That was his laugh. That laugh was for Pitch and for Pitch alone.

And he couldn't wait to find out what it tasted like.

---

I've never done a prompt like this before so I hope I did it right!! Thank you for the ask, you're always so good to me so I hope you like it!!

I am accepting title ideas!

[everglazes]

My Vesper is doneee!!!

just finished playing Keir's route and I'm LOVING the attitude and personality given to Vesper. And as always, i have to make fanart so of course i went the character i love most (and distract myself from the startling realisation of the fact that chap 2 and 3 is not f2p friendly.....But whatever I'll deal with that later)

I've read all those fan theories to an unhealthy degree and i love the little easter eggs hidden anywhere. i blame u @rottenraccoons for making such a great MC that rlly stands out. and of course i had to add my own into my AU's MC.

Here she is!!

meet my version of Vesper! u will have to excuse the clothing for now, i got lazy and I'm VERY bad with clothes. I've got a proper shaded one and i will be posting it later.

As u read above, u would know that i left some of my own easter eggs to reflect my MC and AU in mine. They are below the cut if u wanna know. Prepare urself, its long.

Now, my entire design is based on Vesper’s sickness, “Fractum Anima” which means “broken soul”. Now let’s start on the mask - I'm rather proud of it.

Mask:

I did some research and I found out Vesper means “evening” in latin. So I based the mask on the night sky, hence the blue and a cloudy sky in the background.

Constellations:

Next is the stars on the mask, i'm a real sucker for constellations and added 2. Both with meaning. 

Firstly, the one that cuts diagonally across the face is the Corvus, Crater and Hydra constellation. 

This has a unique backstory that follows Corvus, which is a crow, was sent by Apollo to fetch water using the Crater - a chalice. The crow gets distracted by a fig tree and spends a few days waiting for the figs to ripen. He finally brings the water-filled cup to Apollo along with a water snake as an excuse for being late. Apollo sees through his lies and in a fit of anger casts all three, the cup, the crow, and the snake, into the sky to become the constellations Crater, Corvus, and Hydra. 

My AU is that a group of people, including Vesper’s ancestor, had offended the sun god. The god then cursed them and their ancestors with “Fractum Amina” to teach them a lesson. At first, at least one child from every generation would contract the disease. But as time went on, the curse weakened and less people got it, which is why ordinary folk have long-forgotten it. Sadly, Vesper got the curse and she’s looking for lunar inchor to combat the curse of the sun using the blood of the night.

In this context,

The crow represents the people who offended the god

The snake represents the ancestors who had to shoulder the weight of the punishments 

The chalice is the terrible deed that the people did to offend the gods  

Next is the little constellation at the forehead, that's Cygnus.

The Cygnus constellation has been represented in many different ways throughout history, and has been seen as a symbol of transformation, rebirth, and enlightenment. 

This one is pretty simple, it marks the beginning of Vesper’s journey into the mountains and her new identity.

Lastly is the little gold accents where the mask has cracked

The broken mask is another way of showing Vesper’s curse and how broken she is.

The gold accents are derived from Kintsugi, also known as kintsukuroi, is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. 

This marks Vesper’s self-healing or her quest for the cure to finally heal her. But the lingering memories of her pain will still remain.

Mark on the neck:

One tell-tale sign that the individual has the curse is via the little line marked upon their neck at birth. At first, the line would be far too tiny to notice, but as they age, the line will slowly grow, branching out and increasing in length - much like cracks on glass.

The bigger and longer the crack, the closer you are to death. the cracks will spread everywhere, often diagonally across the face first. The moment the cracks touch the ends of your fingertips and the tip of your toes - it's done. You are dead

And that's all! thanks for staying until here and i hope you liked my work!

[miaatiny]

Dazzling- P.SH

Chapter 1

You were of sun and warmth… he was from ice and cold. How has people from completely different kingdoms been brought together in marriage? Could you learn to love Seonghwa and his kingdom, or would you let your family down?

Genre: angst, fluff, eventual smut, mdni! Do not read if you are under 18!

Warning: Seonghwa is a hoe, reader says goodbye to her kingdom to marry said hoe

Your lungs hurt. Burned. You were running as fast as you can. You were running to the meadow behind your family’s castle. Tree branches hit your face, thorns ripped your dress. Finally you made it to the clearing. You walked through the meadow as the tall grass danced around you in the soft wind. You walked to the top of the hill. This was all of yours. You were free. No one would take it away from you.

You were going to miss Calor. Calor was your home, your birthplace. It was where your friends, your family and the people of the village you loved resided. The land of Aurora was split into four kingdoms. Calor, the hot and sunny. Evergreen, the plentiful. That where most of your produce came from. Terra, known for it rainy and cloudy weather, and the land you were being wed to, Azure. Azure was known for its icy harbor and harsh, cold climate. The people inn Calor. were all you knew of. Your heart hurt to know that in just four short days you were being taken away from it. It was your duty that when you turned eighteen you would find a husband of a wealthy kingdom that could bring an alliance between Calor and theirs. Your parents found you a noble match, and you were leaving to live with him. You had only met him once, during a ball your parents had hosted. He was handsome, a complete gentleman. You had no problem with him, in fact you found him quit charming. You just didn’t want to be married. You wanted to be free to do whatever you wanted. You felt like marriage was a prison. You wanted to rule Calor on your own. But alas, that could not be. Your elder brother Hyunwoo was the heir to the throne.

You heard the trumpets at the gates sounding below you from the balcony. You looked down to see there was a carriage approaching. The cariage shown colors of blue and silver that were growing familiar to you. It was the royal colors of Azure, the kingdom your soon to be husband was from. Your soon to be home. You heard footsteps behind you to see it was Lia, your lady in waiting.

"Your highness, your parents have requested for you at the dinner table. You need to prepare to see the prince." Lia gave you a kind smile. You had been friends since childhood. Always sneaking out to the village to attend festivals late at night, hiding from your parents so you didn't have to attend royal dinners and balls that you thought were boring. It made you feel better that she was going to be able to go with you to Azure. At least you would have some piece of home there.

"Of course," you smiled back to your dear friend, "Lead the way."

You walked down the long staircase in your fanciest dress. It was a white satin gown with gold embroidery. The colors of your kingdom. The staircase led into the dining hall where your family and the family of your soon to be husband were waiting for you appearance. You heard them stand up, awaiting your arrival. You took one last step before you turned the bend and you came into view. Your father was seated at the head of the table, with your mother to his left, and your brother next to her. Seonghwa’s parents were to his right, and there was Seonghwa. He wore a dark blue suit with a silver sash. Azure’s colors. You took a deep breath before being led to the table by your handmaid and sat across from Seonghwa. Everyone sat at the table and your father started to speak.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Park family to Calor. It is an honor to join alliances with Azure.” You and your brother paid no mind to the speech your father was making, and you kicked each other under the table. You both were trying your hardest not to laugh. Your mother heard you both snicker and gave you both a harsh glare which made you both straighten up in your seats. You looked up at Seonghwa and seen he was looking at you with complete seriousness. Obviously not impressed with your sense of humor. You finally stop laughing just in time for the meal to begin. You haven’t ate today since you had been practicing horse riding, a vital thing for you to know in Azure. It was asked by your soon to be husband you learn. Your father then made sure you spent most of your morning practicing.

“What foods do you like to eat, y/n? So, we can be sure to have them made for you.” Your future mother-in-law asks you. You give her a tight-lipped smile. “Oh, I like all foods."

"Except fish." Your brother chimed in. You sent him a serious look as to tell him to be quiet.

"Well, that's too bad. Azure is known for ice fishing. In fact, it's a big sport in Azure. Perhaps you would adapt." Your future father-in-law suggested. This made you slump down in your seat in embarrassment. You looked up at Seonghwa and realized he was watching one of your maids, Lily, pour drinks around the table with dark eyes. No one else seemed to notice but you. When he finally turned his attention to you, he had a look of annoyance on his face. You looked away and continued conversing with his and your family for the rest of the meal.

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Dinner could have gone much better. Seonghwa was almost completely quiet and excused himself early. In a way, you hoped your father would realize he wasn't a suitable match for you and call off the wedding. Unfortunately, your father wanted the alliance with Azure desperately. They had the one thing Calor did not, and that was water routes. Calor sat in a inland moor with thick forests surrounding the kingdom. Azure sat on the cold and windy coast, very accessible for ships to carry goods in and out. Calor would get supplies much faster with Azure's alliance. You were just very grateful the Parks were fond of you and your families got along great. Lady Park has even offered to give you mentoring to rule Azure one day. Azure was known to be a harsh a cruel kingdom. Crimes were harshly punished, whereas and Calor they were not. To say you were nervous would be an understatement. If one day you were to rule Azure, you would need all the help you could get.

You were currently walking back to your room when you heard soft moans coming from one of the maids' chambers. You stopped in your tracks and realized it was Lily's chambers this noise was coming from. You gently leaned against the door and your eyes blew wide and your stomach knotted when you heard a certain name.

"Nngh, Seonghwa. It feels so good." The audible grunts and groans from your fiancé were apparent of what was happening behind the door. Quickly, you rushed down the hall to your chambers. You couldn't believe that he was here fucking one of your maids when he was set to wed you in three days. Did he really not care about any of this that much? Anger filled you as you stripped yourself of your dress and into your night clothes. As angry as you were, there was a part of you deep down that was heartbroken. He will never love you as his wife...

It kept repeating throughout your head until you silently cried yourself to sleep.

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The next day, you spent horse riding around the courtyard. You were lucky your trainer was your childhood friend, Yunho. He was excellent at horse riding and was even training to become a carrier for goods across the kingdoms. You were so proud of his accomplishments. You would miss him probably most of all. You dismounted your horse to take a quick break so you could have lunch. Yunho led you to the gardens where he set down a basket full of prepared food for the both of you to enjoy.

"How do you feel since your wedding is in a week?” Yunho asked as he bit into his sandwich. You weren't really sure how to answer his question, especially since what you experienced last night.

"I wish my father would find another way to make Azure our ally." Yunho chucked beside you. "It can't be that bad, y/n. Just think, it will be a whole new experience for you." You took a bite of your sandwich and looked around at the beauty around you. Calor is all you would ever want. Nothing will change that.

"But I don't really want that Yuyu. Calor is my home. I belong here. With all of you." Tears welled in your eyes as you looked at your best friend. He wrapped his arm around you and gave you a small hug. "It will be okay, princess. You can always come visit. It will still always be your home." Yunho made you smile as he wiped your tears away. "I'm going to miss you so much Yunho." You said, hugging him back. "As will I, princess." This will always be your home. No matter what.

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The day you dreaded most had arrived. Your maids were currently loading your stuff into the Park family's carriage. Seonghwa’s parents had left the next day after the dinner so it was just Seonghwa escorting you to Azure. Seonghwa stayed behind to to settle some final details in the alliance. You were taking one final walk around your palace before you said goodbye to your family and citizens. You were standing on the balcony overlooking Calor when you heard footsteps approach you from behind. You turned to look and seen it was Seonghwa. He stood beside you on the balcony and looked out over the kingdom. He let out a deep sigh before speaking.

"I'm sorry there's no way out of this. Believe me, I've tried." You didn't look at him. Tears formed in your eyes because in just one hour, you would be leaving your home and moving from your paradise of warm sunny days to a kingdom of freezing ice and snow. Seonghwa gently touched your arm, pulling you out of your trance. It was the first time he has ever touched you besides when he placed a ring on your finger at your engagement ceremony. "It's time to go, y/n."

You and Seonghwa walked down the royal staircase. At the bottom, your family was waiting by the door. Outside of the royal gates, citizens of Calor lined up to bid you farewell. You looked towards your mother who had tears in her eyes. She reached for you and hugged you tightly.

"Be safe, my darling girl." You mother said to you.

"I will, mother. I will come home soon." She touched your cheek gently and you looked towards your brother. He had a sad smile on his face.

"I always wanted to get rid of you. I guess now's my chance." He said with a lighthearted laugh. "You could never get rid of me, Hyunwoo." You said and stuck your tongue out at him.

"I know. And I never would actually want to. I'm going to miss my partner in crime." He said as he hugged you gently. You stepped back to look at your father. He was never one to show emotion, but it was clear in the way he nodded his head to you he loved you. You turned to look at Seonghwa and he held his hand out for you to lead you to the carriage. S As you were walking by, you heard Lily and a couple other maids talking and snickering. One of them spoke just loud enough for you to hear. "Wait until the princess finds out about the concubines he has lined up." They continued to laugh as you walked by, and you looked back at Lily and seen she had a smirk on her face. You looked up at Seonghwa who was focused on getting you to the carriage. Did he really already have concubines lined up? You wanted to run away, beg your father to end this. However, your fate was sealed. There was no turning back.

Seonghwa helped you into the carriage. He sat down across from you in silence and stared out the window. The carriage was exiting the palace gates, and you see all of your citizens of Calor waving goodbye to you. You waved back at them, not knowing when the next time you would see them or your family. You just hoped in Azure you could find a way to happiness.

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Finally! After three months, the first chapter of Dazzling is complete. This has been a hard series to plan for, so expect many twists and turns as the story unfolds! As all my other fics, please leave a comment and reblog! I love feedback! I hope everyone enjoys Dazzling.

miaatiny, 2024

[depressedbagpipe]

A Heartrender's Fire: ch. III

Tolya Yul-Bataar x Lantsov!ofc

Words: 5199 Warnings: canon-typical violence and language, volcra, poor descriptions of grisha powers, grisha powers following the show's logic and not the one in the books, me making up names and titles. also justice for kovu cause the guy straight up disappeared mid-episode. also i don't speak ravkan (russian?) so let's pretend i know what I'm doing A/N: this took way too long because i essentially had a surgery performed on me last month and I'm *still* recovering. anyways, this is way too fun to write so don't worry, i am continuing this story. we're getting some backstories here, too, which i think is pretty neat.

Series Masterlist Previous chapter <> Next chapter

III: Like calls to like

The day woke up cloudy, but the spirits at the Volkvolny were as bright as the Sun Summoner’s light. Sturmhond had been preparing the ship for the trip to the Fold all morning, giving concise directions to the crew. Only a small group would be coming with him and his clients up in the air, and his sister quickly pointed out that she wasn’t staying behind, no matter how much her brother wanted to keep her safe on the ship while he returned to their homeland. 

“Anything happens on the Fold, you’ll need me,” she had argued, once again before Tamar and Tolya’s unimpressed faces.

“I have a Sun Summoner now. I think I’ll be fine.”

Ouch, Irina didn’t let the reaction show in her face. Tolya did feel her heart beat just a tad faster, though. Not that he was actively seeking her heartbeat out. He would often find himself listening unconsciously and could distinguish it from miles away. Not even metaphorically. 

“It’s my country too, Nikolai. Anything happens on the Fold, you’ll need me,” she repeated.

Sturmhond looked at his sister. Few times she ever addressed him with his name, right in the open, and he realized that no matter how much he wanted to keep his little sister away from danger, she would always find her way to it, face first, full charge.

“Fine,” he sighed. “You’re buying kvas later, though.”

“Deal.”

He still scowled when he took her in, smiling her victorious smile as she high-fived the twins, the three of them chattering amongst themselves as the ship took them closer to the black void that had haunted and fascinated the second prince for so long. Irina was fully aware of the danger, and despite her best efforts, a chill went through her spine at the thought of her first passage through the darkness, afraid, and alone. 

I have a Sun Summoner now. Sturmhond could lie to himself all he wanted, but his sister knew he was just as scared as her. Only now they had a living Saint with them, able to wield the power of two amplifiers and the hope of an entire nation. 

The Volkvolny sailed through the waves seemingly faster than ever. Irina almost wished the ship would stop and trap them on the sea forever, anything but returning to the one place she had been miserable at. No matter how many dirty taverns, war camps, and smelly docks she stepped on, the image of the Grand Palace was enough to fix a permanent frown on her otherwise peaceful manner.

But she was a big girl now. Whatever was waiting for her on the other side should fear her, too. She was powerful, not as much as Alina, or as intelligent as Nikolai, but she still had royal blood in her veins, which coincidentally pumped enough fire to bring down the whole palace with just a flick of her hand. She felt the warmth on her cheeks at the thought, and with a small smile, she looked up, finding Tolya’s gaze.

The giant was looking at her with an all-knowing grin, which she quickly replicated. He noticed her fingers had been absentmindedly tracing her own amplifier, barely taking it out of her clothes. He had noticed that little quirk of hers after she got it, almost a month into joining them on the crew. A failed smuggling operation on the Fjerdan border ended with Sturmhond almost decapitated by a wolf, and Irina melting the snow around them as she protected him from the pack that was sure to attack. Tolya had known Irina’s heart marched to a different beat than her brother’s, but it was only after seeing the flames around her body that he fully knew what was different about her. He had eyed her closely after that, always finding something new about her to stare at, from the way her eyes seemed to come alive in the sun and radiate warmth in the night. Or how she was grounding herself as her fingers danced down the wolf’s fang as if she too needed a reminder of the fire she carried in her soul. There were many things about Irina Lantsov that could be admired, according to Tolya. Not that he would ever tell her. 

Simultaneously, Alina was also stroking her wrists, feeling the amplifiers without looking up. Irina glanced at her, noticing the way her face lit up when Mal approached her again. For a second she longed for it, that love out in the open, despite the dire situation the young couple was in. Their conversation was soon cut short by her brother, perched nearby, waiting for his big entrance as he always did. His voice was loud, demanding, and powerful–everything he had been raised to be.

“Who says you’ll be on your own?” He raised his leg on a box and casually leaned up front. “I want a front-row seat to the light show, thank you very much. Plus, the King’s on the other side of the Fold, ergo, so is my payment.”

“We could definitely use your arsenal,” Mal reckoned.

“Maybe some kind of fortified carriage?” Alina thought.

“Carriage? Land travel is so boring. And that’ll take days!” Sturmhond walked away from them, giving Irina the silent indication she needed to brace herself for takeoff. “Come along! Prepare to decouple!”

Tolya and Tamar quickly jumped to the section, their faces glistening with anticipation.

“Kovu.” Sturmhond nodded at the Squaller behind Alina and Mal. He pulled the lever that engaged the sails. “Secondary mast released!” Kovu shifted the position of the sails so they stood horizontal to the ship, all of it under the astonished eyes of the Sun Summoner. “Engage secondary sail!”

And with another push upwards, the Hummingbird flew out of reach as the rest of the Volkvolny stayed on the water. Alina stumbled over to the wooden bench Irina had fallen asleep just a day prior and looked around in disbelief and fear as the air grew colder and purer the higher they flew in the sky. Tamar chuckled at the girl, enjoying the sight of the Sun Summoner scrambling to stay sitting. Even Irina grinned, feeling somewhat superior for a slight second.

Even the Sun Summoner feels fear.

She couldn’t help but comment. “It���s like watching a newborn discover the world.”

Tolya laughed, who had casually stood beside her, looking at the sea below them and enjoying the sight of the horizon. Irina felt a warmth in her cheeks that she was sure wasn’t because of the chill that settled around the Hummingbird. Instead of looking in Tolya’s direction, she faced her brother, who was also staring at Alina with amusement, only his eyes were kinder and curious, a sight Irina knew too well was only reserved for very few women out there. 

Yet Mal was the only one who got her to open her eyes and walk with her to the edge. Mal was the only one she trusted to catch her if she fell. Irina wondered what that would feel like, should the moment come. Who would come to her rescue, not for who she was, but because they cared about her. 

Kovu kept working the sails as they rapidly approached Ravkan soil, the sea blending with the land. Irina’s heart drummed in anticipation, looking back as they left the sea behind.

“How are you holding up?” Tolya suddenly spoke. He seemed nearer, their arms barely touching.

“Meh.”

He shook his head, his eyes shifting from the sky to the ground below them. “Why haven’t you told them about you being Grisha?” He lowered his voice. Irina looked around, sighing in relief once she saw her brother keeping his guests entertained. “It’s bound to happen, anyway.”

“And give away the big reveal? No way.” Irina scoffed, looking back at him for a second.

“Don’t be like your brother.” Tolya’s seriousness would’ve caught her off-guard, but she was used to his sudden tone changes. 

“I’m not like my brother. In fact, I’m better.”

“Something Sturmhond would say.”

“Something Ainthe would say, too,”

“See?”

“Shut up,” she giggled. He smiled too, missing the sound of her laugh. After the prior day’s events, he wouldn’t admit he would miss her laugh if she was gone. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m so used to hiding amongst Ravkans… I can’t tell how they’ll react.”

“They’re good people.”

“How can you tell?”

“I happen to have a way with hearts.”

“You don’t say.”

“Captain! The Fold’s in sight!” Tamar called, effectively interrupting the banter between the two Grisha.

“Next stop, destiny.” 

“For Saint’s sake, Sturmhond,” Irina groaned. 

“What? I’m trying to add dramatic effect here.”

“We don’t need it.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“Children.”

–·–

The Hummingbird entered the pit of darkness in complete silence. Thunder rumbled as the flying vessel tore through the barrier, and Irina took one last big gulp of fresh air before her body was completely surrounded by obscurity. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the black, and she released a silent breath, moving her head around as soon as she heard the first creature’s wail in the distance. Kovu kept the flying skiff afloat, his arms tiring but without complaint. Alina stood at the front, arms ready, while Irina gripped the ropes, looking wildly around. 

The crew seemed to gather behind Alina, with narrowed eyes, trying to find some hope to hold on to.

“I hate this place,” Mal commented in a low voice.

They all knew they had to be very silent if they wanted to make it out alive.

“Eh, it’s just a bit of pitch black and bloodthirsty monsters,” Sturmhond joked. He ignored the unimpressed faces of his clients and faced his family. “What’s not to love?”

He gladly received in his open palm his firearm which Tamar had thrown at him, never losing his mischievous smirk.

“Seems like a good day to kill some Volcra,” Tamar growled, getting her own weapons ready as well.

Tolya sighed. “I’d much rather a hot bath and a book of sonnets.”

Tamar stared at him in disbelief. Tolya was looking at the darkness with a longing look, picturing himself in the warm water, and Irina had to glance another way just to stop those thoughts from wandering elsewhere. She rolled the sleeves of her red coat up, her hands tense and ready to summon. Should Alina fail, she would become the first line of infantry. Irina stood next to Kovu, guarding the Squaller at the back while the rest of the team remained at the front.

“All good?” she asked the man, noticing the faint line of sweat on his forehead.

“Could be better,” he replied.

Irina sighed. “It won’t take much longer, don’t worry.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

The girl couldn’t say anything else, for she too felt the tension rising with every passing second. She knew it hadn’t been that much time since they entered, but any time spent inside the Fold felt like an eternity. 

Alina stood up near the edge, and the light show quickly began. With heavy breathing, the Sun Summoner created a light barrier that first extended around the Hummingbird, and then expanded into the black void. Irina stared around in amazement, a hole opening itself in front of them where the ancient mountains of Tsibeya stood at the horizon, welcoming them home once more. Light and heat overwhelmed Irina as beams of light danced on Alina’s arms. 

The barrier only got bigger from then on, and just as they were about to exit on the other side of the hole Alina had opened, things spiraled down. Alina’s light flickered, her arms flailing wild as she tried to call on her power once again, but nothing responded.

“Alina!” Mal kept calling her, but whatever made her stop had also thrown her off on the deck, the protective barrier of light gone with her.

The Volcra didn’t take long. Their growling was near, angry and ferocious, as the last beams of light extinguished around them. The Fold swallowed them whole again, and Sturmhond didn’t waste any time.

“Kovu!” he yelled at the Squaller as he took some steps back. “Get us out!” he stood before his sister, guns ready.

Kovu quickly rearranged the sails, making the ship fly faster at his mercy. Irina’s relief was short-lived, for one of the haunting monsters was now perched right beside them, ready to launch itself at its first victim.

Sturmhond quickly fired his revolver at it, making it stand back. The twins stood at the rear of the ship, the five of them standing in a circle as they protected each other’s backs. With Alina still on the floor and Mal perched over her, they weren’t the primary victims of the giant creatures.

Another one tore the main overhead sail open and landed on the deck right in front of the twins, who quickly got to work to end the monster’s life. The skiff was tilting dangerously, having lost its main support to stay afloat, but Kovu was doing everything in his power to get them out of the Fold on the other side while keeping the Hummingbird in the air. Irina didn’t need to be a genius to know they would not last long.

Sturmhond helped Tolya with a shot to where the Volcra’s heart supposedly was, and the giant quickly cut its head off. Irina assessed the damage, noticing the big hole in the fabric right above her head. She saw Alina finally stand up, still looking out of it, and because Mal only had eyes for her, neither of them saw the monster that was coming at a rapid speed to them.

Alina barely had time to look up before Irina stood protectively over them, firing a big and scathing flare up towards it, almost bursting it into flames as it fell through the void, fire following the Volcra as it sunk deeper into the Fold. 

Irina smiled at the sight, her fingers itching for more, standing tall and proud at her own display of power under the stunned faces of Alina and Mal.

“You’re Grisha?”

“No time to explain, Sol Koroleva,” Irina said.

The Hummingbird hit the exit of the Fold with a strong thud, nothing in comparison with their previous smooth entrance. The ship kept descending, gaining speed as it did so. One of the engines didn’t survive the attack, and the smoke was quickly turning into a well-spread fire at the front of the skiff. Irina was almost sent back flying, and would have crashed into the ship’s barrier if it hadn’t been for Tolya’s extended arm, catching her and bringing her closer to him, pinning her to the same rope he was holding on to for dear life as gravity pulled the crew down.

“Kovu, begin descent!” Sturmhond called, balancing on two feet, even though there wasn’t much Kovu could do. “Brace yourselves for landing!”

They were hurtling straight to the ground, and the Squaller could only do so much to prevent them from crashing completely. Everybody was trying to grasp at anything that could keep them up, bracing for the incoming impact. Irina felt helpless once again, but she didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself, because, with another jolt, the Hummingbird finally crashed, sending everybody down on the ground, impacting with the walls as the ship swept along the flat land and continued forward. Tolya kept a hand on the rope and another slithered around Irina’s waist, keeping her in front of her as the ship continued in motion through the meadow. Irina could only count the seconds until the movement stopped, closing her eyes in a silent prayer. 

Fortunately for her, it wasn’t long before it did.

Everybody was grunting and breathing heavily. Irina felt the burn on her hand from groping the rope for dear life, but Tolya didn’t take his arm off her.

“Is everyone okay?” Sturmhond asked loudly, quickly getting up.

Irina felt Tolya’s arm tensing slightly before finally releasing her, going to check on his sister who was still panting but seemed otherwise fine. 

“You good?” Sturmhond asked Irina, placing a hand on her back as he checked for any injuries on the younger girl. 

She nodded. “Yeah. You?”

He nodded too. That was all confirmation they needed before they both jumped over the deck onto solid ground, assessing the damage.

“Another one gone.”

Irina frowned. “This one worked. It was the Volcra.”

“It’s always the Volcra.”

But none of them could even breathe in relief before a bugle blew nearby. A regiment of the First Army had so lovingly decided to welcome them back to their land, with raised firearms ready to shoot at them, and its Colonel walking up front in a menacing stance.

The twins didn’t even shudder at the sight.

“Well, looks like we’re about to enjoy a traditional Ravkan welcome,” Tolya joked. 

Irina smiled, feeling the air charging with her brother’s boastful ego, about to make his big entrance. Maybe she was a bit like her brother. Not that she would ever admit that.

“You’ve crossed illegally onto Ravkan soil. Identify yourselves,” the Colonel called.

Sturmhond jumped down, standing in front of his crew with a straight back. He took off his bag, giving it to Tolya. “I’ll handle this.”

Irina stood back, repressing a smile.

“What are you doing?” Alina whispered at him but shut up at the look Irina sent her. She hid back slightly behind Mal, mainly because she was still the country’s number one fugitive.

“Identify yourselves at once or be shot.”

“Have I really changed so much, Raevsky?” Sturmhond, very slowly, started undoing his blue captain coat, leaving behind his fake persona and embracing his birthright before the Colonel’s own eyes. “I know it’s been a number of years, but people swear I remain boyishly handsome.”

He was wearing his First Army uniform underneath, and just as the green attire caught the Colonel’s eyes, he smiled.

“It can’t be.”

Tolya was being used as a coat hanger by that point, with Nikolai Lantsov standing proud and tall, with a devilish grin as he walked closer to the regiment.

“Yes, it is.”

“Moi tsarevich,” Raevsky mumbled before kneeling, the rest of the troop doing the same. “My prince. We’d all but given up hope.”

Nikolai chuckled as he shook the Colonel’s hand. Raevsky didn’t waste any time and turned around, facing his regiment and presenting the prince with a boisterous speech.

“I present Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the 22nd Regiment, Soldier of the King’s Army, Grand Duke of Udova, and Second Son to his Most Royal Majesty, King Pyotr the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne,” the Colonel called.

Irina mouthed the titles as Raevsky went on, and even the twins shared impressed looks at the many names their fearless captain bore.

“You’ve got to be joking,” Mal whispered, both him and Alina frowning. 

“Saints.”

Nikolai continued. “And in your own words, as I recall, ‘the greenest and most useless grunt you ever had the misfortune of commanding.’”

“Now, that sounds like you,” Irina spoke out loud, only noticing her mistake when the Colonel’s eyes glanced at her, also opening wide as he kneeled once more.

“Moi tsarevicha.”

The regiment, once again, copied their Colonel, kneeling as she walked closer to her brother, already regretting the attention she was receiving, but knowing the longer she stood without saying a word about her identity, the harder it would get later.

“I, once again, present Irina Lantsov, Grand Duchess of Mydrov, and First Daughter to his Most Royal Majesty, King Pyotr the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne.”

Nikolai chuckled when he noticed his sister's discomfort. “Thought you could get away with it?”

She groaned before motioning the Colonel to stand up. He took a step forward and bent down to kiss her hand, while Irina forced a smile onto her face.

“At your service, Your Highness.”

“We wanted to return sooner, but not without her,” Nikolai looked back at Alina.

Irina grimaced, knowing what was coming.

“May I present my esteemed traveling companion, former cartographer and sometimes Saint, Alina Starkov!” he extended a hand towards her, yet looked back at Raevsky. 

His sister shook her head, seeing how Alina was taking fast steps towards her brother. Despite her protectiveness over him, she knew he had it coming.

“Sol Koroleva. We heard you were dead,” Colonel Raevsky spoke with fear evident in his face, but his words died as soon as Alina yelled.

“You lying bastard!”

The punch to Nikolai’s face was met with utmost silence. The sound of betrayal was too loud to say anything else in return.

–·–

“That was fun,” Tamar said as they rode toward the Spinning Wheel.

“It was terrible,” Irina groaned, closing her eyes momentarily.

“You looked so cute there, like all stiff and stuff, and all the soldiers in awe like ‘Saints, the princess’,” Tamar kept going.

“I didn’t know where to look anymore! Everything was so awkward.”

Tolya joined. “Were they curtsying the right way?”

Irina groaned. Tamar laughed. 

The twins loved teasing the princess about her royal status every time they were on Ravkan soil. And while Irina pretended she couldn’t stand their banter, she knew she wouldn’t last a day without it. 

“How long do you think she’ll be mad at him for?” Tolya wondered.

The three of them looked back at where the Sun Summoner ignored the prince, looking at everything except the blond next to him. The three of them rode at the front, followed a few feet away by Nikolai and Alina, the rear of the party finished by a brooding Mal and a silent Kovu. Alina was still ignoring Nikolai, and despite his best efforts, he couldn’t seem to get on her good side. 

“No one can stay mad at Nikolai for long, but she seems stubborn enough to try,” Irina commented. 

“You know what he’s planning, don’t you?” Tamar said as she looked ahead again, fixing her posture on her horse as she looked around, searching for anything dangerous that could find them on their route.

The princess nodded. “Yup.”

“And she’s not gonna like it.”

“Nope.”

Tamar groaned. “Did he tell you?”

Irina shrugged. “It wasn’t necessary. I always know what he’s thinking. I mean, when you grow up with him, it’s easy to read his mind. Heartrender or not,” she winked at her friend. 

“It reminds me of this poem by a Kerch author, about the bond between brothers–” Tolya started, but his sister interrupted him.

“Is he dead?”

Tolya stopped. “Yes?”

Tamar shrugged. “Then I don’t care. I only vibe with the living.”

“In which case, last time on Novyi Zem there was this street artist who…”

The three of them continued with their playful chatter as their party rode on, leaving behind Raevsky’s regiment and the Fold. The Spinning Wheel was already in sight, and Irina felt a shiver set permanently in her bones as she gazed at the fortified mountain. She had spent years sneaking up there with her brother, perfecting her techniques, helping him build the place from the ground just to create something that would somehow resemble her ways. It had been her personal sanctuary once, and it was now full of Grisha displaced by General Kirigan’s torment and greed. Irina wasn’t truly the patriot that her older brother was, she too felt the tug in her heart at the thought of all the families that had suffered at the mercy of a pointless war, and the generations of both Grisha and Otkazat’sya that had been divided by the envy of the few. Her own life had been a constant lie because of it. And she was about to face it all over again, no matter how much she had convinced herself that she wouldn’t ever have to.

Those thoughts lasted long enough to reach the Spinning Wheel. Irina was still frowning as she got off her horse but forced a relaxed grin as soon as her brother appeared next to her.

“Welcome to the Spinning Wheel. My inventions workshop. It’s become something of a refuge for Grisha,” Nikolai spoke, introducing the place to Alina. He made sure to wink at his sister at the last bit of information, which the Sun Summoner clearly caught.

“Is that why you care so much? Because of her?” Alina asked the prince.

He simply shrugged, suddenly not caring about boosting his ego further. He looked at his sister, who was looking at him with a knowing smile.

“She’s my family above all. And as I already told you, you do what you have to do to protect the people you love.”

Irina shook her head, yet warmth spread across her chest. Nikolai finding out about her being able to summon fire had been an accident, much in the same way she found out. They were both playing outside the Grand Palace borders, sneaking around their older brother, their nanny, and the two guards who followed the small party into the outer world, as the princess liked to call it. The storm found them sitting on top of a tree, and suddenly, Vasily and the rest of their chaperones were running towards the palace again, leaving the two lesser children to fend for themselves. Nikolai was gripping Irina’s hand tightly as they made their way down and followed the path they had taken out of the woods when lightning struck a nearby tree and cut it in half. The trunk was about to crush them when the girl raised her hands in a terrified scream, and the next thing she knew, a huge chunk of ash was dissolving into thin air. Nikolai, wide-eyed and drenched, only took his sister’s hand once again and ran with her back to the palace. Without saying a word they sneaked past the guards at the entrance and escorted her to her quarters, helping her dry off. He sat her near her chimney, and with a silent nod, they both agreed no one ever would know about it. When she woke up the next day, Baghra was sitting by the window in her room, looking at the poor unfortunate royal soul with a sad expression on her pale, aging face.

–·–

“We’ve received accounts of First Army units found massacred, here, here, and here,” Nikolai pointed at the map. The improvised war room stood on one of the balconies overlooking the main entrance, and his most trusted advisors –namely, his sister, Alina, and Mal–, looked down as his fingers traced the old ink on the yellowing parchment.

“Too far from the border to be Shu incursions,” Mal commented.

“Or Fjerdan.” Alina kept her hands close to her, her hands almost itching to touch the intricate patterns on the paper, suddenly missing her simple life as a cartographer, before the entire world fell down on her shoulders.

“There’s good evidence that these units were holding Grisha captive. Some reports say soldiers were mutilated. Some… cut in half.”

Alina sighed. “It’s Kirigan, isn’t it.” But she didn’t even have to ask to know the answer.

“We haven’t been able to find his base camp–”

Mal shook his head in disbelief. “There’s no way he survived the Fold.” 

“He survived it before,” Alina cut him off. “Besides, he’s the only one who can do the Cut. Baghra, yes, but this is him.”

Irina shuddered at the mention of her old teacher. The only Grisha who knew about her back at Os Alta. The only one who never treated her as a porcelain vase, but instead built her up to become strong and fierce in her abilities. With a frown, the princess realized she had missed the old hag. She could only pray the General had spared her.

“If he’s alive, it’s only a matter of time before word reaches him about your attempt in the Fold,” Nikolai voiced it carefully, but his statement stung Alina.

“‘Attempt,’” she repeated. 

“No disrespect meant.”

“No, you’re right. That’s what it was. An attempt,” she still sounded defeated. “You three saw my light. It was… strong and angry and dangerously off-kilter. I can try to master what I have, but I’m afraid it won’t be enough.”

“We need to find the third amplifier,” Mal finished for her.

“The firebird,” Irina spoke, surprise laced in her tongue. 

Nikolai stepped away from the table, turning around as if to follow his train of thought, his head orchestrating their next steps as they continued the meeting.

“The more we search for it, we are at the mercy of your protection in this country.”

Alina searched Irina’s eyes, desperate to get her point across. And Irina already knew what her brother was about to say.

“Well, until then, a proposal.” Nikolai turned around. Irina closed her eyes. “We can try to stop this country from falling apart and tell the Fjerdans to shove their bounty up their ass in the process.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Alina asked.

“I bring you under the wing of the Royal Family, our name becomes a shelter to you, and a banner under which we can enact change.”

Mal frowned. “Your name?”

Nikolai nodded. Irina shook her head.

“Wait,” Alina caught on. “This is a ‘proposal’ proposal. You’re suggesting marriage.”

Mal looked ready to throw himself off the balcony at that point, whereas Alina seemed she was going to be sick any second from then on.

“Alina, I’m not proposing a love match. Just a political alliance of Grisha and Otkazat’sya.”

“Well, that’s just what royal marriages are, aren’t they? Strategy,” Mal was looking everywhere but the future royal couple.

“Precisely. Maybe we never get to marriage. An engagement signals a strong commitment to cooperation and it will allow us to enact meaningful change for Grisha and Ravka,” Nikolai explained. 

“Don’t you have a Grisha sister, too?”

“Leave my sister out of this, Mal.”

Irina stepped forward. “Mal, I know Nikolai’s plan sounds crazy but it’s our safest bet. Nobody knows about me being a Summoner and the court will not take likely to the revelation. There’s never been a Grisha on the Ravkan throne and I certainly will never be the first one.”

“I’ve seen what you both mean to each other. I understand if you decline, but I hope you weigh the options and consider the benefits,” Nikolai nodded his head in silent farewell, and both royal siblings left the couple to talk it out.

On the way down, Nikolai grabbed her arm. “How long have you known?”

She frowned. “About the proposal? Since you saw her face on the posters.”

It was his turn to frown. “Not even I thought about that then. It was after she got on the ship.”

Irina smiled mischievously at her brother. “Guess I’m smarter than you now.”

He pinched her side, making her giggle.

“You should rest before tonight. Gotta be patient enough not to punch Vasily in the face.”

“How did you know I was thinking about doing that?”

Nikolai smirked. “Guess I’m still smarter than you’ll ever be.”

“You little piece of shit.”

Next chapter

[kydrogendragon]

Bees? Bees!

🐝

Lmao, literally everyone has asked for bees xD Alrighty, tagging @pluckyyoungdonna and @introvertbibliophile since y'all asked for bees as well.

This was a Febuwhump prompt I hadn't finished, but was very excited for. The premise being that there was an old tradition for beekeepers that if the beekeeper (or family of the beekeeper) passed away, one was supposed to knock on the hive and let them know, otherwise the bees wouldn't be able to process their grief and the hive would fail.

So this takes place post The Wake in a version where Dream and Hob grew very close (whether in a relationship or not, up to you).

Hob walks out into the back garden of his home in the countryside. The flowers were in bloom, the small patch of bush beans and tomatoes and peppers and a scattering of other vegetables they had planted together were flourishing. Their leaves were strong and hardy. Their fruit, plump and shiny. Hob still remembers Dream kneeling beside him, his fingers trailing through the dirt on the cloudy spring day. He’d just started this new life a year back and had wanted to return to his roots some. Plus, food prices kept going up and it was satisfying to eat what you’ve grown with hard work. He had planned to make a dinner for the two of them with the harvest of their garden. The sun is shining bright and the air is sticky warm with humidity. It’s far too nice of a day for this. There should be rain, he thinks. Dream would have found it thematic. He dips into the storage shed at the edge of the gate and pulls the veiled hat over his head. He wouldn’t need the whole outfit, not for what he’s doing. He’s got jeans and a long sleeved shirt on as is. It’ll do. Besides, it’s not like he can die, right? The beehive sits inside a ring of wildflowers. Dream had planted those. Said they came from the dreams of the bees themselves. Hob had laughed, said they were going to have the most spoiled bees this side of the Thames. The flowers have wilted now—the only sign of decay amongst the thriving summer life. Hob tries not to cry. Clusters of honeybees dance around the wooden box, waggling with their pollen coated legs, talking in dance to their sisters. Dream had spent hours out here when they’d first gotten the hive set-up. He says their patterns and movements reminded him of the movements of early star’s dreams and the nightmares of some alien race Hob’s never heard of. (In fact, that was the first time he’d learned that aliens are also real.) He kneels beside the hand painted wood, trailing his fingers across the sun-worn black paint of two ravens—one much more realistic than the other. Dream had drawn the first one. A small raven with a white breast. Jessamy, Hob had learned. He’d heard her name, heard her story. Now he knew what she looked like. Matthew, who’d been enjoying the bird seed left out for the natives, cawed that he deserved a spot on the box as well, so Hob had done his best to make a decent rendition of him beside Jessamy. The smaller, fine brushstrokes of Dream’s hand over his own painting—refining it, bringing life and shape to the black blob—still remain.

The WIP Game list