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keter-kan · 4 months ago

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HI!!! Back with chapter three!!! All feedback welcome 😌

tw: mentions of death, murder, depressive symptoms

Ch. 3

May sat at her desk, her head weighing heavy in her hands. She didn’t need to look towards the paintings and sculptures adorning the walls and mantle; every inch of this room was known to her like the back of her own hand. She spent hours upon hours here, possibly entire lifetimes. After her father fell, the duchy of Ilucia rallied around her, looking to the only remaining legitimate heir. They loved her father—revered him, almost. There was a strict way about the man when it came to keeping things running, making sure jobs were filled and trades were made. They would say he was a kind man who knew how to speak in a way that made other’s listen. He ruled here through a combined force of love and fear, managing to balance the two in a way that allowed their family to remain influential in a time when Dukes and Duchess’s were finding their heads rolling across the wooden floor.

As she lifted her head, laying it back on the chair behind her and taking a deep breath, she found herself looking at the chair across from the desk. How many times had she sat there? How many glasses of brandy did she watch the man down? How many bruises had faded over the time since his death?

Her mind didn’t travel here often—at least, not anymore. There was no use in thinking of all the things you’d never be able to speak of. Gripping the arm of the chair until her knuckles turned white, May found herself wondering what a man like him would have done in a situation like this.

He’d never allow himself in a situation like this to begin with, she thought, toying with the idea of a monster prowling the halls of the manor while her father was still above ground. If only.

There’s something to be said of the burning urge May felt regarding her rule of the duchy. It had nothing to do with pride; she wasn’t proud of what her father built, nor his father before him. The countless hours of preparing in the feminine arts and learning to be the daughter her father required of her. It was like she wasn’t meant to be spoken to or asked questions but only looked at by prospective husbands to further the financial stability of the Ilucia. It was a simple life.

Simplicity was a gift May was never to receive again. The day she found herself groveling at the feet of a witch in the mud was the last time she would ever know what that word truly meant, even if she didn’t know it at the time. By the Winds and Waters, though, did she know it now.

There was a lot she had to learn in quite a short period of time, her motivation pushing her with a desire she hadn’t ever felt before. There was a certain weight that came with responsibility, one that she found herself becoming comfortable under. Finally, there was a purpose for her, one beside what her father had created.

But this isn’t where she thought she’d end up. There was very little about life that May understood, even after years of serving her duchy; she felt like something was still wrong. The trade was going well, bolstering the economy, creating plenty of work for all her people. The militarized approach to running the area has taken quite well over the last few months, as well, with all of her men supporting the change. There would always be the problems of ruined crops or overdue taxes, but things were well and stable, thanks to May.

But something was wrong. Something had been wrong since the day of her coronation: this pounding that never seemed to dissipate, but got quieter the less she focused on it. This screaming force begging her to follow it’s sound, only for May never to locate the source. Something was deeply wrong, and she didn’t know where to start looking when it came to fixing it.

Running her hand against the smooth grain of the desk, she felt more aware of the feeling of the chair beneath her, the seat of what came before her now cradling what was once a scared little girl. Looking upon the office that had barely changed since it became hers, she found herself wondering what it all would be like if they knew; if they really knew of what had happened to him, what she had done. No matter how many times she played it again in her mind, she never stopped feeling proud of it, even when every fiber of her being was telling her that guilt was the only way forward.

She was beside herself as she slowly came to her feet, shuffling over the creaking floor towards the door. As she looked back behind her, towards the hearth she was just moments ago sitting before, she felt rage being stoked within her. Things were starting to crack in a way that everyone else could see. And what of when they started asking questions? No part of the truth would ever escape her lips. It couldn’t.

She couldn’t tell you how long she stood there wrestling with emotions she felt she shouldn’t have, and yet as the sun started to peek over the horizon, bathing the office in shades of oranges and pinks as it shone through the window, May’s throat constricted and sweat started to bead on her brows. Her fists clenched at her sides, breath hitching behind her tongue as she struggled to get the words out.

Quiet squeals left her lips, the whimper she made doing nothing but embarrassing her in the empty room. It didn’t matter how hard of a breath she put behind it; it didn’t matter how hard she prayed or to what God. There would be no answers where she searched for them; there would be no voice when she dared to scream.

The sun was bright, bouncing from each full leaf and meeting the ground with a kiss. The birds sang along with the babbling rhythm of the brook, lulling May into a calmness she hadn’t felt for too long. Someone so young wasn’t meant to bear the things she wore, and yet she wore them nonetheless.

“Do you think they’d ever let me come to the manor?” Oryn quipped, tossing a stone from the bank off into the river, watching the waves swallow it.

May sat a bit straighter, looking towards her. “The Witches?” she scoffed. “Absolutely not.” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, struggling to hold it in.

Oryn sighed, shoulders sinking low. “It was a stupid question,” they said, picking up another small stone.

May scooted a bit closer to her friend, taking off her shoes and letting her feet dip into the river. “You aren’t missing much, anyway.”

They nod, taking a moment to think before speaking again, voice heavy with something May couldn’t quite place. “I won’t know that until I see for myself. Besides, you talk so much of your brother, I’d like to meet him, eventually.”

May found herself laughing. “My brother? You and him… you’re different,” she smiled, meeting Oryn’s gaze. “I don’t think he would… well, I don’t know. I won’t say you’ll never meet him, but I’ll never take him here. He’d never come.”

Oryn nodded. They didn’t take offense; the way they lived here with the Witches wasn’t something that everybody would understand. Maureen told them that time and time again.

“Would he want to kill them?” Oryn asked, cocking her head the way she’s seen May do when she asks a question with a nonchalant air.

May’s brows furrowed as she turned her gaze down, watching her feet in the water. “Probably,” she said, “People don’t really know the Witches.”

“What do they call them again? Out in town.”

“Hags,” May said, meeting Oryn’s gaze again. “But they’re not.”

“I know.” And she did know that. Truly.

“They’re good. Good women, good people.”

“I know,” Oryn said, their voice ringing clearer with conviction. “Do you?”

May caught herself staring off into wherever the river went, down towards the horizon and off into some land somewhere that she didn’t know, off to an ocean she’d never see. “I trust them.” she finally said, looking for something she’d never find.

“But your brother wouldn’t,” Oryn stated.

“No, he wouldn’t. But it’s because he doesn’t know them. He is… strict in his convictions. I doubt he’d let himself.” She sighed. “People are afraid of things they don’t know.”

Oryn nodded, letting their hand sit softly atop May’s. May let a content smile splay on her lips, still staring off into nothing and everything.

“He was thinking of leaving, actually,” May said, letting herself speak about something she’d been holding in for a while. She took her feet out of the river, the cold water making her feet numb for a moment, grass and mud sticking to them as she tucked them under herself and turned to face Oryn.

“Leaving?” Oryn turned, too, meeting May’s serious gaze.

“Oryn,” May started, “Do you know what war is?”

There was a distrust in May’s men. It wasn’t against her, necessarily, but against what they knew she didn’t say. Standing behind her and glorifying her name was something none of them had ever thought of twice. But Alec, feeling a new sense of bewilderment, found himself asking more questions than he had answers to.

The dank cellar was full from floor to ceiling with books bigger than he’d ever seen. As he made his way from one row to the next, he saw words he didn’t recognize bound by skin in colors he’d never seen. He didn’t know specifically what May wanted him to search for besides some sort of mention of a monster like the one they saw that night

“No,” Alec said to himself, “Not monster. That man,” he mumbled, letting his fingers trail along the spines of the tomes, leaving a line amidst the dust in his wake. There was knowledge hiding here that no one knew, and the boy didn’t know how he’d go about finding it. He wasn’t even sure what it was.

He was young to handle any guilt, but not so young that he didn’t understand it. He thought of death more often than not in these passing days, wondering how responsible he should feel and whose fault it was and what he could have done differently, if anything at all. He didn’t think he’d find any answers for any of those questions here, but the others… maybe.

He didn’t sleep the following night, nor the night after that. It was harder to sleep when he’d close his eyes and see that thing hiding in the darkness, ready to rip another door from its hinges. First, it scared him. He knew his father hated that he harbored so much fear, but his mother made sure he knew that he was still just a boy; it was more than normal, but expected. A boy didn’t become a man overnight—he wouldn’t be able to conquer those fears from a meagre month in the militia. You don’t just grow up, all at once.

The fear turned into something else, though; the other thing his father told him never to harbor. Curiosity. He’d been on enough hunts with his brothers to know what beasts lurk in the shadows, and this certainly isn’t one that they’ve ever heard of. It didn’t matter how long he wracked his brain of the stories of great hunts and beast slayers, there was nothing about this thing that could point to its origin. The scouts of the area have an extensive list of any and all beasts that they’ve been able to track and hunt locally, making sure to dispatch of any of the less… safe species. But this wasn’t a beast. It was a man.

When the Duchess had made her announcement to the staff of a prolonged guest taking up stead in one of the unused rooms, there was a stifle of what could only be excitement amongst her men. There hadn’t been a single visitor to the manor since she’d become the standing Duchess.

There were very few who opposed her. Although not in direct opposition, Alec’s father wasn’t one to take his dismissal lightly. May shed her father’s cohort quickly, making it her first proper action when she became standing Duchess. They all thought she’d come crawling back to the group of old men, looking for some sort of guidance in what to do next and how to help her people. Their anger was mellow at first, masked by their grief for their former duke and, not too long thereafter, his proper heir.

Alec didn’t find much of anything on that first day in the archives. He looked from one book to another, trying to find the ones that would talk more about beasts and monsters and where they come from. Everything he found terrified him, but none as much as he originally had. His thoughts ran rampant with the things the Duchess could be planning or where she could have picked up someone like him in the first place. Why, of all the things she could do—of all the men she could recruit—would she go searching for something like that?

She must be planning something. Something big.

He concluded that whatever it was, it must be something worth more than the lives of all the men she could lose trying to tame it.

“I’ve no idea what the fuck to do,” May mumbled, her foot bouncing with anticipation as she starred upon the idol, sat shiny and untouched upon a shelf nothing else would ever grace. She didn’t pray often, and never in the way she was supposed to. There was meant to be a certain etiquette to prayer; quiet and unadorned speech, modest robes, offerings, the list could go on and on. Most people of May’s generation and those that followed disregarded more and more of the rules and regulations with each passing year, finding themselves making their own relationships with Gods that many barely knew, if ever making a relationship with any of them at all. May’s father was a man of appearances, hiring gardeners and masons and carpenters to add constant flourishes to his gardens and shrines. After his death, her brother slowly forgot about all the groundskeepers and by the time May was the standing heir, they were all dismissed.

She found herself sitting in front of a shrine shrouded with natural growth. The thick branches of the bushes held themselves tight against the rotting wooden ornamentations, the stone platform and shelves encrusted with years of mildew and moss. The thick pool of algae swam atop what used to be a fountain that sprayed scented mist, eating whatever fell amongst the scum. She found a beauty in the disheveled look; admired the strength of nature reclaiming something that was once so carefully manicured.

She crouched over a wooden stump that was so old it had started to petrify here in the shade, hands clasped tight and brows furrowed. She looked towards the idol, lessons of the Great Winds flashing through her mind. Her father made sure she was schooled properly, even if only to make her a good potential suitor. Although the masculine arts were out of her reach until she found herself the standing Duchess, May liked to think that, in another life, she may have been a true scholar. Not here, though. Not now.

As she gazed up towards the polished clay vase, she wondered if something made in a man’s image—in a man’s hands—could ever truly be a vessel for communicating with the Gods. All the questions in such nature started occurring not long after her mother’s death, but with the beatings she received when she voiced them, she thought it best to push them far from her mind. Now, though, the doubt and uneasiness of not being an honest believer started to nag at her.

This was stupid, she thought, remembering the times she prayed for first her mother’s soul, and then her father’s. She didn’t bother to pray for her brother’s—she sullied his soul far beyond repair. There was nothing prayer could have done for him.

She sat up straighter, sucking in a deep breath and setting her feet firmly on the ground. She tried with everything in her to think hard enough of something that would help her, something to steer her in a direction that would tell her what to do with Oryn. What to do about the trail of death that seemed to follow them; the responsibility and guilt not weighing on her the way she knew it should. She bought them here. She is the one who has her men’s blood on her hands. So why did she feel so relieved?

She’s not unused to blood. Her own, her men’s, her family’s… But those all carried a weight to them that she could feel; one that kept her in a state of hostility, never knowing whose death she’d be responsible for next. There was a numbness that came with it, the last several years serving to alienate her subjects from her more and more. It wasn’t the way she was supposed to think. The value of life is something she used to cherish; something the Waters and Winds were supposed to help spread throughout mankind, if we would accept them into our lives. Feeling the guilt and pain was all a part of the Natural Way, molding them—the meagre supplicants of their Gods—into a warrior that was fit to battle the Natural Chaos that the world had to offer. There was a balance to be maintained.

Her prayer was bitter and full of a vain desire to understand oneself—a prayer the Gods most likely wouldn’t answer. And yet as she held the idol in her gaze, the sun glinting off the glaze of the vase, she felt like she had finally admitted something long overdue.

She closed her eyes, letting the few rays of sun sneaking through the overgrowth caress her skin, before grabbing a pebble from the long-forgotten footpath beside her and hurling it at the vase, the stone hitting the ceramic with a satisfying clunk as it split and shattered to pieces. Whatever birds were lounging in the nearby bushes and trees took that as their cue to depart, leaving her feeling alone in a forgotten shrine that no longer had a purpose.

She stood, stretching her arms and taking a few more big, deep breaths. Good throw. She knew she wasn’t going to find any answers here. Hell, she wasn’t going to find any answers anywhere. She had that little boy—what was his name? Alex? Alvin? —rummaging through what must be years and years' worth of tall tales and nonsense. She knew he wouldn’t find anything useful, but she needed to make all of her men feel as though they were doing something that was. The last thing she needed was a reason for her men to fall apart and start rallying against her. It was up to her to give them purpose, no matter how unimportant it truly was in the end.

May started making her way down the stone steps and back towards the manor, her shoes hitting the ground with purpose. He needs to learn.

Oryn had spent the past week sulking in their room, blinds drawn, and door locked. As May walked from one side of the manor grounds to the other, it was determination fueled by anger that flooded her veins. There was too much being hidden, not enough known. She found herself thinking back to her first brush with death. She understood what it meant long before her mother died… a childhood cat, maybe? Or was it her grandfather? She didn’t remember. When was Oryn’s?

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ricardian-werewolf · 5 months ago

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Ruleth England Under a Hogge

Chapter 3: Thus Saith the Lord

Summary:

Richard is forced at knife-point to come to terms with what his reign has meant for his only surviving child. Ensconced in the safety of engagement, Cecily finally gets associated with Ravka, its people, and the king's mysterious ailment that has come to her through unofficial channels only.

Notes:

TWS: Discussion of Eugenics, Fascism, murder, domestic violence, serious mental illness.

Tagging: @lordbettany @dreadbirate @rovinglemon

Waterloo Station.

Richard could only watch in wide-eyed horror as his daughter’s train pulled from the station without him.

Blood - from such a small cut! - spilled from his chest in rivulets. The armor had shattered the blade’s tip, yes, but the wound had still been made. His facade of indomitable strength had collapsed. Yet, only slightly. He had to make this a rallying cry, a declaration of war against Cecily and her household-to-be. Rubbing his forehead, Richard stepped into the shade of an alcove as his blackshirts swarmed to protect their king. Ripping open his shirt, he grimaced. The armor that his daughter had so assumed was merely an undershirt. The blade she wielded had been rusted by years of Flanders soil and so cracked when plunged into his flesh. Richard examined the wound a moment more then buttoned his shirt and tightened his tie. At once, breaking through the crowd, James Tyrell - a rat faced man with wicked eyes, came to his side. “Should we stop the train, your Grace? Have Cecily hauled back to London and tried as a pariah ought?”

If Tyrell had been expecting a yes , he was shortly and sorely mistaken. Richard gave him a dark look and then, backhanded Tyrell across the cheek. The silver of the signet ring on his pinky slashing a cut into the soft flesh. Before the man could think to cry out, Richard leaned yet closer and grabbed Tyrell’s collar.

“She will be allowed the decency to escape. Let her survive in a court where she knows not the language or customs. Soon, the errors of her sins will have her kneeling at my feet. With luck, I’ll have the foresight to cleave her head from her shoulders.” Chewing on a hangnail, Richard adjusted the lapels of his cape and strode across the station to his waiting car. He’d stood here just a few years ago, welcoming the young princes from their safe-havens. Then, he’d murdered them himself and the throne was his.

Settled in his seat, only then did Richard realize that Jeeves had fled. Seemingly operating on other orders, the long-suffering valet had rid himself of Richard’s pins, protection, and all honor. Sniffing, Richard lit himself a cigarette and watched the city-scape of London roll by. He had an upcoming dinner with the German ambassador to worry about. France’s attempts at Fascism had been so poorly accepted with the February 6th coup d’etat that Richard’s hopes of seeing a 4th Republic France bearing the Fasces was dashed. He had put money and hopes into L’Émeute des vétérans succeeding. But with this counter-revolt fought back by the anti-fascist parasites popping up all over France, fear began to coil in his gut. Maybe he would have the East End torched again. Another round-up of the new immigrants. Go about breaking down doors and hauling out dissenters. The camps in the midlands needed more…

Labor . Opening his briefcase handed to him that morning by his private secretary, Richard skimmed through telegrams, missives and more pieces of statecraft. However, his hand paused when he settled on a simple cream folder of manila titled simply:

Gnadentod.

England had a long history of Eugenics worming its way into the lexicon of the society, bolstered by Social Darwinisim, empirical superiority and blatant racism. Yet, this was more insidious, beneath the surface. And Richard had been the one to ignite it. Not to save his own wretched, twisted soul, but for Cecily’s. If the government and the state came for others, maybe they would overlook her. Maybe the deaths of thousands of other feeble-minded children and adults who weren’t adding much to the gene pool - more so polluting it - would save Cecily from the surgeon’s scalpel and reaper’s scythe.

He could live with it. Perhaps he would even go and witness some of the roundups. Make speeches. Every word spoke to rile a hungry crowd of animals who wanted these people dead. Dissenters would be crushed. He could do that. All of it was just actions. Death took and took, distinguishing not the sinner or the saint. But as long as Cecily breathed, he was content. He would look the other way when mothers screamed at him to return their children. Let them take that grief unto their shoulders, a burden that would no doubt crush them like fine glass.

“Where to, your Grace?” His driver asked.

Richard grimaced. He could go after Cecily, break her into pieces no bigger than his thumbnail and feed her bones to his pigs, or he could stay. Staying behind meant continuing to drag England kicking and screaming into the era that it deserved. Losing Cecily meant that she could be easily corrupted by the Eastern influences of Communism. Yet, she was already far too mired in that mindset. He hadn’t been blind to her childhood training sessions in the East end, nor had he raised a brow at her reading The Daily Worker and The Communist Manifesto . What had come to a head was the General Strike of 1926, which Richard had brought out the police to crush. The army had given support, and veterans once more tore one another to pieces with bullet and bayonet. Cecily had been 26 at that point, and he’d spotted her amongst the strikers. A misplaced bullet to the spine would have cut her down. The shot misfired. The shooter was killed publicly outside of Saint Paul’s, and Cecily had been packed off to Middleham for the rest of the year. The public had howled hopelessly for their beloved Princess’s return, what with Edward’s death still so fresh-

Richard flinched . He’d not meant to kill his son. But the urge to, the sight of him so drunk and so stupid , had guided his hand. He regretted it, but not in the way a normal father might. He regretted killing such a fine piece on the chessboard of power. Edward had been set up to wed with one of Heinrich Himmler’s daughters, and that alcoholism had developed as a result. Something simply had to be done. Richard had taken the blade and the action. It would have been perfect only had Cecily not been there to see it. The shock of it, thank god, blotted out the incident to mere hazy fragments. Combined with the affects of her constant morphine usage to wipe out the memories of the trenches, she was in no place to remember much of anything . She’d been packed off to bed and in the morning taken up to Oxford as a surprise. There, she’d been stuck in Saint Hilda’s College and given the option to Read History.

She’d sprung at the chance. Richard had doubted that Cecily would survive her first term. She’d come out with first class honors in modern history. He’d hoped she would have failed her first year examinations. Yet, somehow… she’d not. Perhaps it was just stubbornness or anger or… His gaze turned to the window, which beyond lay the empty platform that’d borne the train to Os Alta via Berlin. Some part of him, that old fear, rose its ugly head. There was another reason for her survival. Something that had carried her through the years of pain, of misery. Nursed her wounds when everyone else had turned their back. Lehzen hadn’t been brought in until her breakage in 1929. This wasn’t some sort of childish affection, nursed between two young people. Love. True, affectionate feeling between two people who’d never met, yet written letters of a sort for years . The letter Nikolai had written to Cecily as an official opening couldn’t have been her first. Somehow, they must’ve figured out how to write while ignoring the censors. Richard gritted his teeth so hard that he heard the golden crowns of his back molars crack . Shaking his head, he pressed a hand to his brow and sighed. His driver waited with wide, expectant eyes. He still hadn’t given an order on where they were to go yet. Grumbling, he spoke:

“The Senate House.”

“Right away, your Grace.”

The car leaped at once into motion. The procession of armored cars, Rolls Royces and a motorcade all followed swiftly after their king. It was, he noted, uncannily close to how a hunting procession closed in on the prey. His fingers fiddled wordlessly with the wedding band. As the car moved silently through the streets of the City, he thought hopelessly of a woman with striking ginger hair and blazing green eyes that could arrest even the fairest of souls. However, within that love and longing, burned a hatred and a hunger to see her again. She’d once held a knife to his throat when the darkness had begun to whisper sweet words in his ears, and he’d laughed her off.

Now, he wanted her like some sort of starving animal. He’d exiled her to the furthest reaches of the empire, a place not even where his best spies could reach. She’d gone too, with his own lady mother. Good riddance to both of them, he’d cried to the air at the time. But now? 11 years had passed since he’d killed the princes. Cecily probably didn’t remember her mother nor her Grandmother. He hoped she didn’t. Desperately. How he hoped with all his heart that Anne Neville had met a painful ending on some foreign shore. How he hungered for their confirmations of death.

His fingers rubbed over the wedding band again, and he tugged it off. Holding it in his palm, he regarded the inscription. Loyaulte Me Lie. Richard rolled down the window as they were roaring over the Tower bridge, and tossed the tiny ring with its emerald jewels into the roaring swell of the Thames. Let some mudlarker find it. He would not let the past bind him to his sins.

He settled back in his seat and uncorked a hip flask of malmsey wine which he sipped. The honeyed sweetness settled easily on his tongue and he sighed. Such was the life of a king.

Death followed him, sinking its claws into his shoulders and twisting his spine. Leaning back, Richard closed his eyes.

Not even sleep would bring him the peace of the virtuous.

Arriving in Ravka by train was an experience Cecily wasn’t used to.

Her father’s diesel monstrosity pulled in at the central station inside Os Alta’s modern expansion sometime after the 10th morning bell. Cecily found herself being swept through crowds of passengers and tourists by two well-dressed army soldiers. Her trunks and bags weren’t torn apart for illicit items, instead gently inspected by two purple clad fellows that she knew were Grisha who were able to meld materials and chemicals. Refugees from the expanses of Ravka dealing with some sort of blight crowded the cow-pens, snarling at the customs officials about what the king was doing to address these issues. Cecily struggled to not clap her hands over her ears as the noise reached a deafening pitch.

“Your papers were pre-cleared, Moya Tsarevna, ” One of the soldiers murmured as he lifted a velvet cord and passed her off to his partner, who brought Cecily through a wooden side door. Quiet murmurs followed in her footsteps as the general Ravkans cast words over their new queen’s attire and hesitancy. Cecily turned to look back at them, noting the gold-work and architecture of a station built on the blind hopes of the Sun Summoner tearing down the Fold. The waiting refugees noted her in more detail, seeing the stag emblems on her coat and the armband at her arm. Some crossed themselves and murmured the royal prayer of Ravka, while others made signs of warding.

She was a pariah and a Queen in one moment. How the tables turned.

“W-what’s he like?” Cecily asked as she was nudged into a motor-car. The taller of the two soldiers, wearing a uniform more ornate than the other, asked;

“Who?”

“His Majesty, The Tsar.”

“Ah.” The man’s eyes glittered. “Eccentric. But, I sense you’ll be a good match.”

Cecily’s stomach twisted into knots as the car lurched forward in a cloud of blue smoke and roared through the streets. Cars hadn’t come fully to Ravka yet, and as such many peasants and nobles alike preferred horse and carriages as transport and conveyance.

“The capital is set to get trams by the new year. See, Moya Tsarevna .”

“Really?” Cecily breathed, craning her head. Her hat, affixed with a simple peacock feather and tilted brim, was clamped tight in her hand. She didn’t want it to blow off, and muss up her hair. She leaned out of the car and noted the cobbled streets that were being laid with tram-track. Her eyes widened in joy and delight at the blatant communist hammer and sickle draped from an apartment building and she looked out again for any signs of fascism.

She finally remembered the officer’s name at last - Dominik Vertov, and turned to him, asking innocently: “Has fascism made its way to Ravka?”

“Not before you, your highness.”

Cecily’s lips thinned and her hand slipped to the silver boar pin on her lapel. Of course. She wasn’t here just for marriage or to escape. Fascism had to spread to the people in order for this to work. But Nikolai must’ve had to know of her dissidence…

Unless he too harbored ideas of fascism? That thought made her shudder with barely contained fear. Returning her gaze to the window, Cecily watched walls of white stone rise up around them. They clattered through a former portcullis, over a stone bridge of the same dazzling white, and entered a whole different world. Where the outer ring of the city was similar to many of the villages her train had passed through, this was a city of well-paved streets, gardens and parks. Fountains gushing clean water marked central squares and she could see the signs and advertisements of department stores in the corner of her eye. No telephone poles reached skywards, nor telegraph lines, and she saw many homes with quiet mews behind their houses to store cars and buggies.

“The palace gates are just ahead.”

“Is this a Vauban construction?” Cecily craned her head up to regard the walls of this older city, noting the structure and almost star-like shape of the outer wall. Dominik’s gaze slid to the driver, who blinked in welcome surprise.

“Yes, Moya Tsarevna. It was constructed sometime in the late 17th century, before Vauban died.”

“He came this far east? Remarkable.” Cecily adjusted her cape’s collar. At her side, Lehzen squeezed her hand forcefully. Cecily smoothed over a yelp of pain and shot her governess a dark glare. She had been behind Cecily since they’d stepped off the train. She had no idea where her two friends from Berlin had gone. “I thought you were supposed to stay in London.” She murmured softly. Lehzen’s eyes glittered as she leaned forward and tapped Cecily’s chin with a clawed finger. Forget the dragon of a nursery story - Lehzen was a Goliath creature that would drag Cecily-Anne kicking and screaming into this Fascist idealization of a wedding. What was worst of all, however, awaited her in her trunks.

Staring down at the black uniform, Cecily bit back nausea. At her side, the two people she’d made the stop in Berlin to collect regarded the uniform with varying levels of disgust and horror. The man at her left lit a cigarette and tugged it from his lips. The woman to her right knelt before the trunk and fidgeted with the birch-wood edging.

“Did… you pack this?”

“No.” Cecily shook her head. “I didn’t ask for this. It’s…” She sighed and pinched her nose-bridge, causing her glasses to fall to the floor with a clatter . The man bent down to pick them up and Cecily smiled.

“Thank you, Gereon.” She murmured, wishing for the ability to speak German with no one able to understand them. Yet, Lehzen did, and her maids that she’d brought for Cecily did too. Gereon gave her a half smile, and returned to smoking his cigarette. At Cecily’s side, the woman - Charlotte - lifted the uniform from the trunk between her thumb and forefinger.

“Well.” She examined the jacket and the skirt, noting the collar points on the jacket. Disgust marred her face. If any of them had their way, this would be kindling in the fireplace. Cecily longed to throw it there, but she knew exactly what would happen if Lehzen found out. Her back hurt enough already. More wounds would only worsen the mess that this was.

She examined herself in the mirror as Charlotte held up the offensive uniform. She’d worn the armband before, and hated it. Yet, this… this was different. The symbol wasn’t the flash. It wasn’t blue on white.

It was black on a white circle.

There was no lightning bolt, no reassurance of the monstrous that she wore was familiar. Fear curdled her tongue. Looking at Gereon, she whipped off her glasses and pressed her palms to her stinging eyes. She wavered on her feet for a moment, then almost pitched sideways.

Charlotte’s hand to her arm caught her. Cecily fell against the taller woman, sobbing. “I-I-” She breathed. “I can’t do this.” She wept. “I can’t meet him wearing that ! He’ll think I'm a monster, already corrupted.” Hysteria crept into her voice and she pressed her streaming eyes against Charlotte’s shoulder blade.

“Or not.” Gereon reminded. “He has been writing to you since you were children.” He lifted her face and wiped her streaming eyes with a tissue. “I’m certain that he knows deep down, instinctively, that you wear a monster’s pelt because not out of following orders or some other benign, innate excuse to uphold the status quo.” He paused to give the armband a dirty, rage-filled look.

“But because you, until now, have been offered no other choice .”

“No other choice?” She breathed.

“You were twenty-one when your father took the throne, yes?”

“Yes.” Cecily hiccuped as Charlotte fed her sips of tea from a crystal glass. “It was a few months after you and I met.” She turned her head to let Charlotte wipe her eyes more clearly, and stared at herself in the mirror.

“Why does the flash not invoke the same response?”

“I believe you know why.” Charlotte murmured. Cecily nodded mutely. Of course she knew why . The fact it had been the symbol of English Fascism after the white rose was derided by her father wasn’t lost on her. She’d grown used to the symbol slowly. Like being boiled alive in a cooking pot as if she was some sort of amphibious creature. Too hot, and the panic would set in. A slow boil, and she would be dead before she could even scream.

It had taken her mother, her grandmother, and her siblings. She was the last surviving woman in her family, the last child of her father’s lineage.

And by that record, if she died, the female Plantagenet line died with her. So, she once more tempered the rage that roared within her to become banked coals, and steered herself to be dressed. The uniform was laid at the foot of her bed and she watched out of the corner of her eye as Gereon and Charlotte beat a hasty retreat. Lehzen and her ladies came in from the dressing room mere moments later.

“Now then.” Lehzen clapped her hands together. “Let’s get this over with.”

Loyalty binds me . Cecily thought numbly as she cast her gaze to the massive gold double-headed Eagle of Ravka that stood over the fireplace. She examined its claws, which held three arrows in one claw and the Tsar’s mace in the other. She wondered if the arrows being tied with the three ribbons of the Grisha orders meant anything.

I am the monster. The monster is me .

I have brought Ravka’s darkness upon us.

Cecily did not open her eyes as Lehzen and her maids dressed her. She felt her hair being lifted from the nape of her neck to be crimped and waved. The sharp stink of aerosol spray hit her nose and she winced. A smack to her face stilled her. Her eyes popped open. Between the gaggle of liveried servants and Lehzen’s sharp face, Cecily caught sight of a ginger-haired woman pacing the expanse of her sitting room.

“W-who’s that?” She coughed.

Lehzen froze dead. Her face turned the color of spoiled milk, and she looked at the head maid in wide-eyed fear. Speaking rapidly in German, she hastened to the other maids. “Who let her in?”

“I did.” A voice rang out, distinctly masculine.

Cecily’s eyes, which she’d squeezed shut again, popped open. Standing in the doorway to her sitting room was none other than Nikolai Lantsov. He wore a simple black linen shirt and a richly embroidered waistcoat that hugged his waist nicely. His legs were clad in black velvet breeches embroidered with fire-lilies that flowed up the sides. He didn’t wear any stockings, allowing his calves to show off nicely in the summer warmth, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up past his elbows. Standing where he was with his hands pushing the doors of her room open, anyone would have swooned dead away.

Cecily merely grimaced.

She allowed Lehzen to button up the blasted coat and to stick her feet into a pair of jackboots. She couldn’t look him in the eye as the maid tightened the armband around her arm. Yet, she saw the way Nikolai’s jaw locked and his eyes smoldered with rage.

“Please, leave.” Cecily ordered the maids and Lehzen, who gave her a dark glare. However, amazingly, she assented . Cecily watched Lehzen reach for her sewing kit and sweep the maids out. As soon as the pocket doors had snapped shut, Cecily tugged the armband off, and kicked off the jackboots.

Gereon’s words swam in her mind.

Until now, You have been offered no other choice.

Looking him finally in the eye, Cecily calculated the mental load that seeing his betrothed wearing the uniform of the national socialists would cause. Nikolai’s eyes narrowed as he watched her throw the armband across the room, and his face cracked just enough for a smile.

“I had a suspicion that the portrait of you with your father wasn’t all you.” He murmured. Cecily’s eyes widened in welcome, if somewhat shocked surprise. He suspected beyond mere imagery? She was going to faint if he continued down this line of flattery that would have her no doubt throwing the engagement ring at his feet.

“Who is that with you?” She asked as she cleared her throat to distract him from the rising blush on her cheeks. She leaned slightly to catch sight of the ginger-haired woman, wondering briefly if it was the Tailor Genya Safin or someone of the palace servants. Her gaze however, did not deceive her with created lies. As Nikolai stepped aside, Cecily found herself face to face with an almost mirror image of herself, yet with ginger hair instead of inky black, and emerald eyes instead of blue. Her face was set the same as Cecily’s, with the same small lips and fragile features, though the woman’s eyes burned with the same fire of small-sized righteousness.

“Cecily?” The woman whispered. “Cecily-Anne?” She came forward with the hesitant steps of one unsure of herself, and fell still at Cecily’s wide-eyed glance. Some part of her burned with angry tears, for it recognized the woman ‘ere her. That recognition was wrong , of someone she had not seen since her 5th nameday, a woman and name cursed never to be spoken or seen of again. She briefly remembered the sight of images of the woman before her being put to the torch, and her father’s tears over such a crime. But, then came the rewritings of love ballads containing her name, and even whole histories. “Anne Neville.” Cecily breathed wordlessly. “Mama.” The word slid from her lips without any attempts to check herself, and she startled at the sound. She’d not once cried for her mother since she had been five. Now… she was faced with the sight of her, clad in this monstrosity of cloth.

“My sweet, darling girl.” Anne reached up to touch Cecily’s face and Cecily jerked back, frightened. What was this all meaning? Had Nikolai captured her mother as a bargaining chip to ensure her marriage, had she hurt her? Had he gotten her grandmother as well? Had he tortured them? Hurt them in any way?

“Y-you monster!” She screamed, light crackling across her flesh like a whip-crack. She lurched forward, intent on doing anything, something to the Tsar. Maybe ripping his eyes out? Yes . Tear those pretty eyes from his skull and run him through with your knife . The monstrous voice within her chorused, baying for blood. The light within her surged and she rushed Nikolai, her hands locking around his throat, when the light within her exploded out in a blinding flash , and suddenly all went black. Looking down into his face, her fingers so close to the pupils she could see them dilate, her eyes widened as his eyes bloomed black , and his teeth sharpened to become jagged shadows.

What in the hell am I getting myself into? She thought hopelessly as the light exploded out of her a second time, and sent her flying through the air. She hit the ceiling with a sickening crunch , and fell back to the floor. Inky darkness swooped in on her, cradling her form with tender fingers, and she gave in easily. The pain of it all was simply too much to handle.

Distantly, she was conscious of two things - the first being that her mother was alive, and the second being that Nikolai was not all he seemed.

End of Chapter 3.

#wyn rambles #nikolai lantsov #shadow and bone #richard iii #aneurin barnard #fic: Ruleth england under a hogge #tw fascism #tw eugenics #cw eugenics #cw abelism #tw assault

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dujour13 · 1 year ago

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Owlcatober 18. Dancing lights

Part 1 of 2 of "Blue Skies Over Mendev" - also on AO3

---

When in her unnaturally long life, Galfrey wondered, had the storms of chaos ever ceased thundering on her horizon? She squinted across the valley to the fortress prison of Threshold where it squatted atop the next ridge under writhing black clouds, bolts of Abyssal lightning flickering on her upturned face.

Could this truly be the end?

And she, no more than a spectator?

No—she must come to peace with it. She’d done her part all these hundred years and more. Worked until days and nights bled together into a ceaseless, weary march. Fought until her bones felt they would crack under the blows. The black blood of the balor Khorramzadeh stained her white-and-gold armor but even that felt like a trivial victory next to what the Knight-Commander faced even at this moment.

She could only hold vigil. Watch and hope.

If he failed and the Abyss was unleashed she and her armies would never have time to retreat; they would all perish here. Their lives, the future of Mendev and that of Golarion itself hung in the balance and all she could do was helplessly search the maelstrom over Threshold for a sign.

And pray. But she’d been doing that so fervently for so long it felt like empty, rote words now, a senseless child’s rhyme answered only with silence. The Inheritor had come down from the Heavens not to her, but to Siavash Mirani, some feckless Andoren diplomat with no title and no heroic deeds to his name, just a guitar and a charming smile.

And, she reminded herself, a genius for rallying the myriad forces of good to one final, triumphant push against the Abyss, guided not by careful planning but what could only be divinely inspired reckless impulse. So be it, she told herself for the hundredth time. If it was Desna’s star that guided them to victory who was she, the faded old Paladin Queen, to think she could outshine it?

She felt rather than heard them gathering, common soldiers and generals alike, shoulder to shoulder, all watching, all holding their breath, all daring to hope.

That was it, wasn’t it? Hope. After four failed crusades Galfrey herself no longer inspired such emotion. But Siavash did, rising from the ashes of Kenabres to victory after victory with his songs and his azata wings and his arms that embraced all, even those Galfrey’s Mendev had rejected and disdained.

And after all, she too dared to hope.

That was why she was here on the ridge rather than spending her final hours in her chapel tent in meditation. In tense and silent vigil she watched daylight wane, and by the time the baleful purple Abyssal lights began to soften she wasn’t sure if it was a trick of a mind deeply fatigued by decades of fighting. Of eyes that had hardly dared to blink in a century.

But she heard a murmur go up around her and felt a thrill in her heart such as she hadn’t since she was a blushing debutante.

No, her eyes did not deceive her—from Threshold there now grew a rosy hue like a spring dawn, lighting the angry clouds from below. The boiling storm began to contract and retreat, dark vapors dissipating on a fresh breeze.

A roar rose around Galfrey. Awed voices, so moved they could only moan incoherently.

Her eyes grew round and her vision swam; and suddenly, refracted through the pools of weary tears blazed a vast, glorious rainbow that split the night sky like a holy blade. Dazzled she squeezed her eyes shut just as her heart too squeezed with an ache that was deep and old and bitter.

Could it be?

Over at last?

“Inheritor.” Her breath rushed out in a sob.

If she weren’t the Queen she might have fallen to her knees as the rest of the crusaders did, but instead she stood rigid at their head, her breast rising and falling like that of a panicked bird.

And then Threshold lit up like an enormous Elysian beacon, beams of spring sunlight exploding from its walls, a shockwave of unearthly force blasting through the crusader ranks and nearly toppling her, and then like a gargantuan breath sucked back in, another shockwave blew through them from behind and nearly knocked them off the ridge.

Now the ridge and the valley all around her erupted into triumphant shouts and she felt her shoulders buffeted as crusaders surged forth roaring to greet the new dawn.

Something in Galfrey gave way then. Crumbled like a dam of sand.

Through her tears, the lights of Elysium danced.

#pathfinder: wrath of the righteous #queen galfrey #azata path #my writing #pwotr pals #owlcatober 2023

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astoldbyaja · 5 months ago

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Where Hands Touch Ch.2 ~AU Demon Slayer~

Focusing was such a bitch when you had so many tests to do at school. I hated school so much! But here I sat in the library, a senior in high school, trying to end this year strong so I could get into a nice college. God the future sounds stressful already!

I read my study guide from front to back, yet nothing was clicking with me. I could hear he the front of the library’s door open and familiar voices made my head snap up. Kyojuro Rengoku and Tengen Uzui were coming with books under their hands. When they saw you, their eyes lit up.

“Leona!” they called out happily despite the librarian shushing them. I met them my sophomore year. They were friends with a few others who seemed pretty levelheaded. They came to sit beside me.

“Damn how do you think you did on the test?” Kyojuro asked Tengen. He sighed with annoyance.

“God, I don’t even know. I just hope I pass, or else coach says I won’t be able to run in the next track game.” He groaned taking out two different colored nail polish colors. Kyojuro looked at me with bright eyes.

“Hey Leona, have you heard Obanai or Mitsuri? If they’re ditching class, you should text them and tell them to meet us here.” he said. I began to take out my phone.

“On it.” I replied hearing the door of the library open again.

“He was a total loser; God I wish he would stop asking me out or else I’ll have to get my big brother to handle him!” a cocky tone said. In came Ume Shabana, with her clique, his little sister who is a sophomore as well. The group of girls began to pass by us. Ume scoffed at Tengen who only stuck his tongue out and lowered the skin beneath his left eye. The two did not like each other at all. I checked my phone after getting a text from Mitsuri.

“They’re studying in Obanai’s car.” I replied. Well, we all know what that means. The boys gave each other lecherous looks.

“My man!” Tengen replied giving a high five to Kyojuro. I rolled my eyes.

“Animals.” I muttered, hearing the library doors open.

“You should have seen me in gym! That fool Genya didn’t stand a chance on the wrestling mat!” I hear Inosuke Hashibira boom. The librarian was spitting as she shushed the group sophomore of boys entering. Beside the blue haired boy was Tanjiro Kamado and Zenitsu Agatsuma.

“He’s going to want payback for sure!” Zenitsu warned. Inosuke showed the muscles in his arms.

“Well, I’ll be ready to win another round!” he said happily as the three moved to sit at another table. They saw us and Tanjiro waved at us. Kyojuro and I smiled and nodded our heads. Tengen was painting his nails and was not paying attention.

“So, study group tonight? My dad says I can have friends over!” Kyojuro said happily.

“Children this is a library not a pep rally!” the librarian said loudly. We snickered and let our heads fall some. The doors opened again and this time, a figured walked in by himself. My smile faded some as I watched Gyutaro Shabana enter and move toward the front desk.

I don’t remember having many happy thoughts after my mom died. But I do remember being at my small locker in elementary school staring at the open space inside. There was no lunch box, no school supplies. Nothing. A rancid smell filled my nostrils, but I was so dead inside to care.

“Um… L-Leona.” I heard the broken tone of Gyutaro. I turned slowly, looking at him. He still looked the same, shaky knees, and body too thin for his clothes. I stared at him for a moment watching as he twirled his fingers over together nervously, eyes looking down at the ground. “U-um. I’m sorry about your mom.” I winced feeling I might cry again. However, some kids were walking by scowling at the back of the boy’s head. They laughed and pointed covering their noses.

“God you still stink!” one of them said.

“Don’t you take a bath loser!” another said.

“So ugly!” the last child said. I watched the kids walk away feeling empty still and Gyutaro looked down placing a hand over his cheek eyes watering and lip quivering. I noticed he covered his face a lot when the other kids mocked him. I looked at him immediately remembering how my mother held him, rocked him even, after having him over a while ago. She would hold me when I was afraid or crying or sad, and she did the same for this boy. In that moment he was loved, cared for. We were both hurting for different reasons. I took a step closer to him ignoring the rotting smell of him, and just like that, I gently embraced him. He gasped, body tensing up immediately.

He didn’t move, he didn’t breathe it felt like.

“Thank you Gyutaro.” I said lightly in his ear tears streaming down my face. I could feel his weak arms moving to gently embrace me. Kids passing by immediately saw this and whispered and pointed. But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about much anymore or at least I thought I didn’t.

Gyutaro had grown into a much taller young man. Although still very skinny, I could see the amount of muscle on his arms when he wasn’t wearing a leather jacket or one of his ripped t-shirts. He was definitely not one to mess with either. He was quite the fighter, always beating down anyone who messed with his little sister, Ume. We went to the same middle school and even now high school, but we never had a single class together. I saw him in the halls sometimes, when I was younger. Sometimes social services came, and I’d see him and them in the office with the principal or a teacher.

The black splotches over his face and arms are another reason he was in fights. I’d hear some stupid jock would run their mouths at him asking him what was up with his face. His teeth, although not as crooked still had a sharpness to them, and his hair now green at the tips and black at the top where his hair was pulled up. I suspect he dyed it to gain some kind of happiness in his life.

Everyone made up rumors about him, but he didn't care as long as no one messed with his sister, he just didn't care. I thought it was nice he was still attending class. I wasn't sure how his living situation was now, but I felt it couldn't have been easy from what I remember about him.

I noticed Tengen already shooting a glare in the boy’s direction. Since my friend was a jock, he did not appreciate his friends getting hurt by the older Shabana boy.

“So, how’s about it! Anyone want to come over, Leeeee?” Kyojuro purred flirtatiously, yet I could tell it was innocent.

“Sorry, I have to work tonight.” I replied. I took a job at a café called Bodies, Hotties, Mocha-Chocalotties, it was the “hippest” café spot where all the teens like to go. Eye roll.

“I understand. Work comes first!” Kyojuro said pleasantly.

“Hey how’s your brothers and dad doing anyways… it’s going to be that time of the year.” Tengen said. The anniversary of my mother’s death. I sighed and shook my head.

“I don't hear much from my brothers. Dad’s gonna start drinking again and it’s only a matter of time before he starts inviting his buddies over again.” I replied. My dad was a wreck after my mom passed and my brothers, unable to live with him any more eventually moved away to college and the military. My dad picked up some real mean friends down at the construction site that he works at once I started high school. They like to take him out and get drunk then convince him to come back to the house and drink some more. He’s never sharp enough to notice the lecherous looks they give me when they’re hammered.

It's one of the reasons why I started working at the café.

I remember feeling so embarrassed when my dad’s friends came home while I had Tengen and some of the others over to study. Mitsuri and Shinobu and I were trying to read our notes, all the while Tengen, Kyojuro and Obanai were too busy carefully watching the grown adults that were basically eye fucking the children in the room.

I tried to ask my dad to make them leave but resulted in him just pushing me away.

“You’re a kid, your job is to be seen not heard! This is my house, and I can have anyone in my house!” he snapped. The boys were on their feet immediately.

“We’re going to study at my house!” Kyojuro blurted. All the while, Tengen was behind me lifting me up.

“Come on, you can stay at my house until they sober up.” he said in my ear.

“I’ll be working take on more hours after school.” I said. Kyojuro and Tengen winced.

“Well, our parents know the situation, you’re more than welcome to stay with us or even Shinobu or Mitsuri until this time passes.” Tengen told. I smiled at them both.

“Thanks.” I replied. The bell rang above us, and I could hear the librarian sigh with relief. We packed up our things and began to walk toward the doors. As I passed, I glanced over at Gyutaro to see him just slouching against the counter look annoyed out of his mind. I could see his black painted fingers clicking down on the desk. His blue eyes cut across to me and on cue, he began to scowl. On instinct, my lips twitched into a mechanical smile as if saying hello, but looking away when any guy looks my way. Call it a nervous habit, but it was just a way still be polite but continue to be on my way.

Also, Gyutaro hates when people stare. Once out in the halls, I separate from my friends and headed to my locker. Once it was open, a piece of paper was falling out and I caught it easily. Odd, I keep everything organized, and in a folder, there shouldn’t be any loose paper. It was a bit crumbled, but I could see something written inside. I opened it.

In the shadows, I’ve watched you, a beauty so radiant it makes my cursed blood boil. Your grace is something I’ve never known, something so pure it’s almost painful to behold. You’ve unknowingly stirred something in this wretched heart of mine, something I thought was long dead.

I envy the world that gets to see you every day. But envy can be a powerful thing, you know. It’s driven me to do unspeakable things, and yet here I am, writing this, hoping that maybe, just maybe, you might look upon me with something other than disgust.

I’m not like the others who adore you. I see the world as it is—rotten, cruel, and undeserving of someone like you. But maybe, in the darkness where I dwell, you could find a place too, a place where no one could hurt you ever again.

Don’t try to find me. I’ll always be watching from the shadows.

Yours truly, --XX

I re-read the words for a moment trying to figure out how I felt about note.

“I know damn well I don’t have a stalker!” I said to the inside of my locker.

----------

Taglist

@tuxud7

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motownfiction · 2 years ago

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jackrabbit

Charlie will never understand the people in his high school who believe it when teachers say these are the best four years of their lives.

He’s not sure he ever wants a best-four-years-of-his-life, but if that’s what it has to be, if it has to be a continuous stretch, he knows he doesn’t want it to happen at St. Catherine’s. What’s so great about pep rallies in the church, cold breadsticks in the cafeteria, and those weird white crosses they put on the front lawn in the middle of every January? Inside these walls, they talk a lot about heaven, but Charlie knows all high schools are hell. He doesn’t even care about the cliché.

Right now, Charlie is a sophomore with just over two years left in his secondary school sentence. He’s already tired of it. In Charlie’s mind, there’s nothing worse than being a teenager. Being a teenager is so … nothing. What can you do that doesn’t require absurd mental gymnastics and sneaking around? You don’t even look that great while you’re doing it. He just had another growth spurt – his third since starting high school last fall – and he’s tired of pants that don’t fit and trips to the mall with his doting (obsessive) mother. How can these be the best four years of your life?

Charlie wishes he could move through adolescence faster than a jackrabbit. Yeah, that would work. He could skip all the awkwardness of school dances and strange smells and go straight to being an adult. Playing the piano for a living and hanging out somewhere cool, somewhere better than a rundown high school gym or a corner store. He likes a few things about where he lives, what he does, but he wishes he was cooler while he lived there and did them. You can’t be cool when you’re a teenager, no matter how hard John Hughes works to convince you otherwise. When The Breakfast Club came out earlier this year, a bunch of kids at St. Catherine’s said there was finally a movie for kids who didn’t like high school; who didn’t fit in. Charlie knew better. He knew it was just another movie about how you’ll never feel the same way about yourself once your age stops ending in teen. They said when you get old, your heart dies.

Charlie’s willing to test that theory.

But he can’t move through adolescence like a jackrabbit, and two years of high school are waiting for him, whether he’s happy about it or not.

He sticks his nose in his English lit anthology and waits.

(part of @nosebleedclub poetry month challenge -- day xxviii!)

#drabble #writeblr #ch: charlie doyle #year: 1985

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orion-wave · 3 months ago

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just friends.

when he first met the two it was by chance at the cafeteria. he watched as the blue hair girl smoking a cigarette glare him down. he saw the man next to her was empty headed, just existing in the moment with minimal thoughts.

“what a scary bunch” he thought to himself as he sat down next to his classmates from the spy department.

“oi nagumo did you piss off akao-senpai or something?” one of the guys at the table asked.

‘so thats who akao is’ nagumo wondered. he deduced that the man next to her was the infamous sakamoto taro, the duo thats been rallying up the school. they were feared that even teachers were scared for their lives. an interest piqued his mind, he wanted to get to know them more. he watched as the two students sat alone at the table and he saw the students around them distance themselves away from them.

nagumo grabbed his tray and walked towards the two students. he heard a myriad of whispers behind him as he placed the tray next to sakamoto.

“can i join you guys?” he asked. akao looked at his eyes and then look at sakamotos. “you know him?” she asks the man and he shakes his head a no. akao looked back at him, her piercing snake eyes sent shivers down his bad. nagumo didnt realize how scarier their presence was in person. the two where just 15 years old, the same age as him, and yet he felt a sense of defeat amongst them both.

“sit down. lets see if you can handle us” akao smirked, pulling out another cigarette from the case and lit it up.

“whats your name? where are you from? ive never seen you on campus ya a freshie? but you seem to have friends why are you here? oi im talking to you reply dammit” akao didnt take a break with in overloading these questions to nagumo. she was bubbly and the complete opposite of the man next to him.

“my names nagumo, im from the spy department but i might change to assassin-” the change wasnt particularly a lie, he disliked the pretentious students in the spy department who all believed they were john wick. “-im a second year student, 15 years old, and i have friends but you guys seem fun” he let out his signature smile.

he felt the air around them shift as akao became warmer. “oi sakamoto hes a fun one isnt he? you think he wont run away like the rest?”

“hes as insane as us, i can feel it” he heard the man talk for the first time.

“oh you can talk?” nagumo teased him and he saw sakamoto get irritated and akao letting out a heavy hearty laugh.

“AHAHAHA SAKAMOTO THIS GUYS FUNNY” she said as she brought her hand to close to his face for a high-five. he completed her high-five and felt the bond inbetween them grow.

————————

swapping courses was easy with a little bit of convincing. he found out that his scheduled mostly matched both akao and sakamoto’s and the three started an inseparable bond. the teachers hated seeing the three of them, often trying to break them apart and keep them away from each other.

in their trio nagumo realized that akao led them all, both in combat and friendship. she was the one who initiated everything, she was the one kept them together.

nagumo loved following her, if he could follow her through life he would.

sakamoto on the other hand was reserved but not shy. instead he was just an airhead. his fighting instincts was sharp but his social and academic skills never met on par. even though the whole school sung his praises, he was a simple man of little thoughts.

the trio day would pan out with going to their respected classes, getting snacks and lunch together, going outside to travel and spar after school, and spending the nights at one of their places watching movies or playing games.

for the first time nagumo felt like he could be a kid, even if he was an assassin. he cherished their bond, he wanted to protect those close to him.

————————

“akao senpai is really pretty isnt she” nagumo heard one of the guys in his weapons class whisper.

“yeah but shes always hanging out with boys, i bet she lets them hit” another boy replied.

nagumo felt rage, he wanted to use his pencil and stab the man in the neck for these comments.

“whos bloodlust is that, get out now. i dont wanna deal with blood splatter and mess” the teacher yelled at the class. nagumo shot the men a glare and threatened them with a butterfly knife he had tucked in his back pocket. he couldnt understand why it bothered him so much, it wasnt like akao was pure for him to save or whatever. he didnt mind the remarks being made about him either, but the thought of other men objectifying akao brought a sense of rage within him.

he saw as sakamoto jumped down the stairs and landed in his signature way. “ditching class nagumo?” the man asked. “right back at ya” nagumo smiled.

“lets find akao and ditch today”

the two men headed to her classroom floor, peering through the window as they grabbed her attention from the seats. she shot them a “go away look” as she went back to paying attention to the lecture.

nagumo stepped in the classroom. “the office needs akao rion” he lied. “akao you may leave” the professor said and akao walked down the aisle glaring a look at both men. the three walked away from the classroom as akao kicked both of their calfs, bringing them down to their knees.

“what was that for!” she asked. “i missed ya” nagumo replies in a singsong voice. “ugh fine, lets get icecream” she skipped infront. she was easy to convince.

———————

the three were stuck at sakamoto’s apartment. it was raining heavy outside and the trio were drunk. akao slipped some bottles of vodka and nagumo brought snacks. the three spent the afternoon taking turns playing street fighter and mario, taking shots as each character died.

the kids were wasted, sakamoto was already passed out on the couch and akao rested her shoulder on nagumo as the two leaned back on the couch from the ground.

nagumo felt her finger tips brush his slightly. throughout their friendship they have gotten closer emotionally and physically. it was almost natural for nagumo to wrap his arms around her, or akao to grab his arm. the two never questioned it, and neither did sakamoto.

the air around them felt rough, nagumo fought he urge to interlace his fingers with hers. he fought the urge to plant kisses on her fingers as he stared into her golden eyes. nagumo sighed and he felt akao shift closer into him, making herself comfier within his heat.

“akao, what are you doing” nagumo whispered. he felt akaos lips to his ears, biting it slowly. she kissed his neck and licked a stripe on his collar bone. nagumo’s coats been thrown out somewhere and he was just in his loose tank top.

he felt as akao laid him down on the rug, his head hitting the floor and akao straddled his hips. she brought her lips to his neck one again and kissed bruises their. the two were drunk, he last bit of rationality left his body as he felt her kisses. he wanted to grab her hair and kiss her lips. he wanted to switch their positions so he could get high off of her scent.

“nagumo. do you want to” she whispered. “want to what” he didnt mean it to tease her, he genuinely didnt know if she wanted to sleep with him or just make out.

“i want you nagumo.” akao replied and she pressed her lips onto his. nagumo closed his eyes, his vision getting starry from the adrenaline. nagumo picked her up with ease and she wrapped her legs around his waist. he brought the two into sakamoto’s room and he laid her on her bed. he discarded his tanktop and he watched akao spread her legs more.

he felt his brain shut off seeing her in obscene way. “what am i doing, shes drunk she cant consent” the words in his head kept repeating. he stepped back, his figure hitting the wall.

“your not in the mood?” akao asks. “no i am, im hard. but. but this is wrong akao. youre drunk”

“but im not as drunk as you” akao replied.

nagumo stared at her a bit. he could step forward and embrace her, or he could step outside and leave her for the sake of his sanity and friendship.

in the end his lust wins him over. nagumo crawled onto the bed as he took her in for a kiss. he kissed every part of akaos body he can find. she was warm against him, he could feel her heartbeat faster then normal.

———————

after their first night the two had sex often. they tried to stay hidden from sakamoto but somehow he found out. “just dont get pregnant akao, this man doesnt seem like the one to take care of your kid” sakamoto teased.

“AHAHA WHY WOULD I RELY ON HIM TO RAISE MY KID, I RAISED MY NIECE ALL ON MY OWN” akao yelled back.

the two agreed to minimal affection. its not like they were in love, or atleast her. in closed doors however it was different. nagumo felt like a regular at her dorm room. day by day the clothes he leaves behind started to grow, he brought his own toiletries, and his snacks filled up her fridge. his presence was everywhere and so was hers at his owns.

———————

“akao-senpai, c-can you give this n-note to n-nagumo” the girl infront of akao shivered.

“EHH whats this?” akao asked as she started ripping the note open infront of the girl. she heard the girl let out a shriek and she started laughing. the girl was short so she was able to fend herself off, trying to read the contents of the note.

“dear nagumo, i met you in my class and i fell in love with you at the moment. i would love to live my life with you. im writing this letter to confess my feelings to you. please, go out with me!” akao verbally read out the letter.

“a dating proposal?” nagumo appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the note out of akaos hand. he looked at the shorter girl, “you wanna go out on a date this friday” he let out a wink.

nagumo felt a kick to his face from akao and he kneeled down, nose bloodied. “AKAO YOU BROKE MY NOSE” he screamed.

“WELL STOP BEING A WHORE” akao said as she flipped him off and left in anger. the air was tense and nagumo couldnt understand his emotions.

the rest of the day akao was nowhere to be found. he and sakamoto searched for her but she wouldnt reply to their calls. nagumo stepped outside her dorm room to check one last time, knocking it to let her know its him. she didnt reply and he had no idea besides breaking the door infront of him down.

“OI BASTARD WHOS GONNA PAY FOR THAT. WHY DID YOU BREAK IT.” akao emerges from the room. nagumo paid no attention as he brought his lips onto hers into a passionate kiss. he felt her kiss back. she opened her eyes and pushed the man off of him and nagumos back hits the wall as he sits against it.

“first you break my door, then you kiss me like that. fuck you nagumo” akao spit at him. his eyes were glued to the ground, he couldnt look at her face. she was right, what was he thinking. why did he kiss her instead of literally doing anything else.

he stood up and grabbed her in an embrace, resting his head on her shoulder. akao stood stiff, refusing to let him have his way with her.

“i dont know akao, what im feeling. i cant see other women, everything feels fake when its not you. earlier i was playing along with a joke, im sorry if it made you mad” nagumo whispers into her shoulder. “i dont know if this is love” he whispers even quieter that she couldnt hear. akao brought her hands to his, lacing their fingers and her other one ran through his hair.

the two were lying on the floor, not caring if the people walking by can see them kissing on the floor, grinding each other for some sort of relief.

——————

“nagumo you got a light?” akao asked ontop of the rooftop as the two watched the sunset. they were waiting for sakamoto to finish his remedial math class so they can go out for dinner. nagumo pulled out a lighter with a snake engraved into the aluminum casing. akao lit her cigarette as she sat on the railings of the rooftop. she let out a drag and the smoke hit his face and eyes. he squinted away coughing the smoke that caught his lungs. akao let out a hearty laugh.

“does that even feel good” nagumo asked? “what? this?” akao pointed the cigarette at him.

“yeah.”

“well. its not bad by any means, but its an acquired taste. similar to foods” she replied.

nagumo took the bud from her lips and let out a small drag. its the first time he smoked a cigarette. he let out a cough as the smoke filled his lungs and akao laughed harder.

“h-how do you guys smoke this” nagumo questioned.

“addiction baby” akao stuck her tongue tounge out like a child.

——————

the last time he saw her was when she left to find uzuki. he searched for her long, inquiring everything and everywhere. its as if she was wiped from the JCC and traces of her wasnt to he found. he and sakamoto joined the order, in hopes to find some clue about akao.

without her his life was directionless. he loved following her lead, doing whatever she wanted. when it came to living his life alone, he couldnt do anything about it. he missed her.

when he found out the location of uzuki he immediately called sakamoto.

in an hour he gets a call back from sakamoto. the man whispers a small “akaos dead” and he felt his world shatter.

0 notes

nymnous · 1 year ago

Text

It gets worse as time goes on. Really, it’s already strange when 30 people go missing to the same place, but it wouldn’t have been such an issue. Had it not been such prominent people, anyways. On the outside, it garners attention. It started with MCC- Popular players suddenly no longer come along. It’s fine when people no longer wish to participate, but it’s a courtesy thing to at least send word that you don’t want to. Scott was annoyed that people stopped responding at first, before he realized... His message never fully delivered like it was supposed to. It’s mentioned lightly along friends, no super big concern. Sometimes he goes and joins a server for a couple weeks with no comm lines established, it happens. But then Shelby mentions she can’t reach Wilbur at all, after he went to the Dream SMP after Tommy. The word spreads quickly, and others are even quicker to mention their own issues. After all the laughs, tears and competition over potatoes, Squid noted Technoblade, Technoblade went missing too. Hannah, before she too went into the server after getting the strange invite, noted she hadn’t heard from Punz or Purpled. It was obvious where the signs were pointing. Just no one wanted to believe it, at first. An admin abusing their power to trap people- more than that, completely isolating them from everyone? It’s only when one person finally came out, that everyone went into a panic over it. Alyssa. She’d been one of the earliest. And it even took her so, so long to ever get out. But the stories she held, the mention of wars she wanted no part of, not after seeing the pain of death and agony of heartbreak, the rest of the Minecraft world was taken by storm over the 30 people trapped in a server. Scott was the first to begin rallying some sort of break out for them, a rescue. He’d convinced admins high and low- He even got admins of Hypixel to come, and begin work. It’s incredibly well encrypted, and they all wonder what kind of work Dream had put into this, to isolate them so deep. But there will always be a little hole to find somewhere. And of all people, strangely the first to get the first word from anybody from the SMP in over 2 and a half years is Wisp. He’d been a little clueless in coding, but he was there as a tester, and there to help however he could, and help he did. Tommyinnit whispers to you : Help me, please. If there was already a torch lit over the missing players, it turned into a burning inferno, and it became a rush to break it open. But those players would never quite be able to come back the same, now.

The Dream SMP is server locked.

It’s what Dream tells them after they join, after they’re white listed; they’re server locked. If you really wanted to leave, fine, but you can’t come back. It’s supposed to be a forever home, after all.

The DSMP is server locked; that’s what he tells them. He doesn’t tell them there are no communications, in or out, they figure that part out on their own.

Tommy realizes it when he joins and can’t contact Wilbur; it’s why Wilbur joined so soon after, the lack of communication had initially freaked him out.

Wilbur realizes it when he tries to send a comm message to Phil and is met with an ‘error’ code. The only way for him to communicate with his father is his strange, magical crows. That’s fine. He misses Shubble, Scott. Fuck, he’ll miss MCC, but he can make a home here.

The three life rule seems fair, at first. The DSMP isn’t a hardcore server, it’s a SMP. Surely there’s no need for it. Surely Dream won’t let his players perma die.

It’s an issue, when more and more people join; when the wars start. When people start dying. When re-spawns hurt.

It’s an issue, outside of the server, too; thirty people disappearing into thin air is a problem. A communication black out from a server is unprecedented— it raises concern from other admins. (Especially Scott Smajor, who lost a good chunk of his MCC players.)

Messages go unsent— on both sides, inside and out. The last thing on Wilbur Soot’s comm before he dies is an apology to Shubble that never sent.

Tommy tries, in exile; he’s desperate. He knows it won’t work, but maybe something will patch through. He tries his friends; Deo, Wisp, Eryn, Freddie. Then some admins— particularly Scott and Xisuma. Some more impressive players, like CaptainSparklez, Grian, Sneeg. He begs, pleads, he apologizes and he spans over and over and nothing goes through.

On the other side; the Dream SMP has slowly become an issue. No one can get through that fire-wall, getting into the server, let alone communicate is impossible. All their concerns and calls are met with error codes.

(With a three live spawn lock, no way out, no communications, they are stuck there. Most don’t realize it; they’re lucky. They. Are. Stuck. There. You try to keep your lives, you try to stay of of conflict because if you Die you will be sent somewhere so much more worse then deaths true realm. You will live the rest of your life on that server because— You. Are. Stuck. There.)

#imagine the family left behind #do you think kristin or sally or endermoms were the first ones to try to raise flags #just no one listened

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countenanceblog · 1 year ago

Text

Chapter 33

David Griffith led Jack, Karen and Rufus through a tunnel accessed through a basement in the factory. He was of average height, and had a mop of red hair on his head. His jawline was steely. He had a fifty-caliber toad on his hip. Dressed in an all-red suit, he had already charmed the trio. As they walked through the dimly lit tunnel, Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he looked at David Griffith. He had heard stories about this veteran rebel, a true leader who had fought for the Resistance for years.

"So, David," Jack began, trying to strike up a conversation, "how did you get involved in all of this? The Resistance, I mean."

David glanced at Jack, sizing him up for a moment before answering. "It's a long story, but let's just say I finally reached a high enough level within the government, that I could see clearly how it operated."

Jack nodded, eager to hear more. "And what about Karen? She's, well, unique."

David smiled, glancing at Karen, who was trailing a few steps behind, her eyes darting around as if inspecting the walls of the tunnel. "Karen is special, that's for sure. That's not all she is, though. We believe she is the goddess Nyx. You see, according to ancient prophecies, the gods are due to return any day now. And finally they have."

Karen beamed at the mention of her assumed deity status, causing Rufus to roll his eyes playfully. "Yeah, she's a real goddess, alright," Rufus quipped sarcastically.

Ignoring his comment, Karen turned back to David. "You know, David, I had a vision last night. I saw an underground chamber, just like this one."

"What happened there?," asked David.

"I don't remember," answered Karen.

As they continued walking, Rufus spoke up, his tone light-hearted. "So, what's the plan once we find whatever it is we're looking for? What is it that you guys do about the government, anyway?" Griffith shrugged.

He paused for a moment before replying, "We gather as much evidence as we can about their corruption and their involvement in shady dealings. We expose them to the public and rally more people to our cause. Or at least, that's the idea. Mostly I just kill a lot of people."

Jack's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'm ready to do whatever it takes, David. I want to make a difference, just like you. I've always wanted to see The Monolith in ruins, ever since I was little. I could feel its corruption."

David nodded approvingly. "Damn," he said plainly. "That's the spirit, kid. With your skills and passion, you're going to be a valuable asset to the Resistance." The trio arrived at a massive interlocking metal door. "This is our stop," said Griffith. "Welcome to The Dome."

He entered a combination on a keypad. The interlocking door groaned and clacked open slowly. Behind it was revealed a domed room, perhaps thirty yards across. To the trio's surprise, there were dozens of people inside. And they were . . . partying. Loud electronic music thumped from inside The Dome.

"Who's playing?," Rufus asked David.

Griffith beamed. "Killing Cadence! I bet you heard he was dead, right? Not true. He faked it." Rufus looked positively delighted. Jack and Karen smiled too.

"Killing Cadence is here?! He's my favorite music act of all time!," said Rufus. "Will you introduce me?"

"Sure thing, kid," said David Griffith.

Rufus couldn't believe his luck. He eagerly followed David Griffith, Jack, and Karen into The Dome, where the electronic beats pulsed through the air, and colorful lights danced around the room.

As they approached the stage, Rufus saw the enigmatic musician setting up his equipment. Killing Cadence was known for his mysterious persona, always wearing a mask and keeping his identity a secret. His music resonated with Rufus on a deep level.

David Griffith waved at Killing Cadence, who acknowledged the rebel leader with a nod. The trio joined them near the stage, and Rufus couldn't contain his excitement.

"Hey, Cadence, this is Rufus. He's a huge fan," David said, introducing Rufus to the musician.

Killing Cadence turned to Rufus, his voice distorted by the mask he wore. "Nice to meet you, Rufus," he said, offering a gloved hand for Rufus to shake.

Rufus shook his hand enthusiastically, trying to contain his star-struck nerves. " Your music has gotten me through some tough times, man. I can't believe you're here."

Killing Cadence smiled beneath his lion mask, and although his face was hidden, Rufus could feel the warmth of the musician's presence. "That's what it's all about, my friend. Music has the power to heal and unite people, especially in these troubling times. Plus, rebel groupies really put out. I'm gonna have grandkids here any minute."

As the conversation continued, Rufus found himself surprisingly at ease with the masked musician. They talked about music, life, and the state of the world. Killing Cadence seemed genuinely interested in Rufus' perspective, which both flattered and surprised him.

Meanwhile, Jack and Karen watched the interaction with amusement. Karen had been dancing to the music, her telekinetic abilities causing the glowing lights to swirl around her. She looked ethereal, like a true goddess of the party, especially in the black light. People came up to her and shook her hand, curtsied, bowed, even got on their knees and thanked her for coming. Curly-haired Corey, tall Lazarus and quiet Jonah all appeared to greet Karen and Jack while Rufus was busy talking to Cadence.

"Did they treat you guys alright?," Jack asked Corey.

Corey nodded happily. "More than alright, all they told us was that we aren't allowed to leave. They got us drunk, man. I think I got a girlfriend, she's right there." He pointed to a tall woman with a short crop of brown hair. She was dressed in palazzo pants. "Name's Emma Akin."

"That's awesome, man," Jack replied, genuinely happy for Corey. "I'm glad you're settling in well."

Lazarus, who always had a way with words, chimed in with a dark grin. "Yeah, and I gotta say, this party's lit! The Dome knows how to throw down. I haven't seen this many people enjoying themselves outside of Spain City."

Jonah nodded in agreement, his quiet demeanor not hindering his ability to appreciate the lively atmosphere. He gestured towards Karen, who was still dancing and interacting with the partygoers. "She's really shining out there. It's like she was born for this."

As the group continued to enjoy the festivities, Rufus and Killing Cadence were engrossed in their conversation. The musician's mask may have concealed his expression, but his body language revealed genuine interest in what Rufus had to say.

"I gotta say, Cadence, your music speaks to me on a whole different level," Rufus confessed. "Your lyrics, the melodies, they just resonate with my soul. It's like you understand the struggles we're facing, and your music gives me hope that we can overcome them."

Killing Cadence nodded thoughtfully, a sense of camaraderie evident in his gestures. "That's exactly why I do what I do. Music has the power to connect people, to help them find strength in unity. And I believe that we can change the world through the power of self-expression."

Rufus smiled. He had admired Killing Cadence for so long, and now, meeting him in person, he realized that they shared a common passion for making a difference.

As the night wore on, the party in The Dome continued to thrive, the music and celebration spreading an air of unity and hope among the Resistance members. Emma and Corey joined the group, laughing and sharing stories of their newfound experiences within the Resistance.

Karen, still radiant and surrounded by admirers, eventually made her way back to the group, her smile infectious. "You all look like you're having a good time," she said to Jack, her eyes twinkling with joy.

"We are," Jack replied, glancing at his friends. "This is what the Resistance is all about, coming together and finding strength in each other. And thanks to you, Karen, we've found something even more magical."

Karen blushed at the compliment, her humility shining through. "It's not just me. We're all in this together. And with Killing Cadence here, it feels like anything could happen. Maybe something good will happen, after all."

"Mind if I interrupt?," David asked Karen. He collected the other Resistance members from the dance floor, guiding them to a large room illuminated by dim overhead lights. The room was lined with metal bunk beds, each neatly made with military precision. Emma's sweet and kind nature shone through as she greeted each person she passed, offering warm smiles and making everyone feel welcome. Lazarus, with his slang-filled language and carefree attitude, sauntered along, seemingly unfazed by the seriousness of the situation. He exchanged friendly nods and casual greetings with the others.

As the group settled into the room, David introduced them to the two new faces. "Everyone, this is Ariadne Jackson," he said, gesturing to the young black woman. "She's one of our best strategists and a fierce fighter. You're going to love having her around."

Ariadne's charisma was undeniable. She was dressed in a motorcyclist's leathers. With her confident demeanor and a flash of a mischievous grin, she greeted the others with enthusiasm. "Hey, beautiful people! I can already tell we're going to be the dream team."

"And this is Nook," David continued, motioning towards the young woman with curly black hair and blue eyes, dressed in an old-fashioned black dress. "She's quiet but incredibly . . . useful. You'll be amazed by her skills and talents. Especially you, Karen." Clearwater tilted her head, sending her long red hair tumbling.

Nook appeared introverted at first, her gaze downcast as she met the eyes of the other Resistance members. Yet, when her eyes met Lazarus's, a hint of fascination and curiosity sparkled within them.

Lazarus, ever the observant and perceptive one, noticed the interaction and flashed a warm smile at Nook, which she returned shyly. "How are you chilling, sweetheart?"

Nook giggled at him. David piped up. "Nook here is like you, Karen. Except she has a different set of powers. Until you came along, Karen, we thought she was the only one. And then, I'm sure by now we've all heard what happened with Dubey. He is Helion, and this," he said, gesturing towards Nook, "Is Materiya."

Jack gasped. "The earth goddess?"

"Yes," said Nook quietly. "I can control animals, and see anywhere at any time." Rufus scratched his head.

"Like the villain on the show? Medium & Miasma?"

David made a grim expression. "It seems like I have some bad news for you, Rufus. You're a fan of the show?" Rufus nodded. "It seems that the writers were working to create some sort of predictive programming," began Griffith. Karen and Jack were absorbed in his monologue. "Either to cause people to disbelieve in the reality of the prophecies, and associate them with fiction, or to cause them to view the various characters as morally dubious. Perhaps, their intention is to accomplish both things." Rufus' head hung heavy and low.

Ariadne, ever the vivacious spirit, couldn't let the heavy atmosphere linger for too long. She clapped her hands and grinned at Rufus. "Hey now, don't let that get you down! Reality is what we make it, and I can assure you, the truth is stranger than fiction. We're living proof of that!"

Her words seemed to inject a bit of optimism back into the room. Lazarus, leaning against a bunk bed with his arms folded, said, "Yeah, man, we got some strange powers and abilities going on up in this bitch, that's what makes us the Resistance, right? We're the ones who can stand up to whatever the government throws our way."

Nook, who had been mostly quiet until now, nodded in agreement, her blue eyes shining with newfound determination. "Exactly. We're stronger together, and we have a purpose now. I've spent so much time feeling like an outcast, but here, with all of you, I feel like I belong."

Emma stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Nook's shoulder. "You do belong, Nook. We all do. This is our family now, and we'll protect each other."

Karen added, "And don't forget, we have the power to change things for the better. We can make a difference, not just for ourselves, but for everyone."

David looked at the group with pride in his eyes. "That's the spirit. You're all here for a reason, and together, we're going to take down The Monolith and make this world a better place. Now there's just one other thing that we actually really need to talk about."

Jack perked up. "What is it, boss?"

"Vampires," said Griffith. "The government is secretly controlled by a tiny cabal of vampires called the Unseelie Court." Everyone blinked at each other for the most part.

"It's true," said Emma. "They're the ones we're really at war with, and they aren't human beings at all. According to my research," she went on as Karen grew enamored with her instantly, "excuse me. Let me preface this by saying that my father was a surgeon as well as a natural remedies doctor towards the end of his life. The vampires we're dealing with are actually parasitic organisms that attach themselves to the base of the neck. They alter the DNA of the host, giving them powers such as rapid cellular regeneration. STEM cells, basically."

Rufus licked his lips. "So you have to cut their heads off? That's how you kill the parasite?" David smiled.

"Exactly."

Corey, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "So, we're going up against literal vampires now? That's a whole different level of crazy. But if that's what it takes to bring down The Monolith, then fuck it. We aren't gonna let them kill us over Karen, are we? I'm in it for Karen."

Lazarus nodded in agreement, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yeah, man, we'll cut those suckers down to size! Ain't no vampire gonna mess with us!"

Ariadne laughed, her enthusiasm infectious. "I like your style, Lazarus. And don't forget, we have Nook here, the Materiya. I bet those vampires won't know what hit them when she unleashes her animal powers on em'."

Nook blushed at the attention but smiled appreciatively. "I'll do my best to help. It's good to know I'm not alone."

Emma nodded, her expression determined. "You're not alone, Nook. We're a team, and we're going to support each other every step of the way."

David Griffith stepped forward, taking charge once more. "Alright, everyone, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. Killing Cadence's performance tonight was just the beginning. Tomorrow, we'll start training."

Jack clenched his fists, his resolve firm. "I'm ready, David. Let's do this."

Corey, with his calm demeanor, offered words of encouragement to his newfound comrades. "We might be facing literal vampires, but remember, we have each other. We're stronger than anything they can throw at us. David, what else can you tell us about the vampires? Are they public figures, or what? Can they walk around in the sun?"

"Yes," Rufus cut in. "Maggie saw one at the university. Zane. They turned him." Corey's boyish face screwed up.

"I liked Zane. He wasn't bad at football."

"Too bad he's a fucking vampire now," said Lazarus. His dark eyes bulged. "I can't believe it. Vampires? That ain't right." David nodded encouragingly at the group.

"They're not public figures, Rufus, they're even smarter than that. Their total population is maybe around ten thousand. They can live forever, they don't need new recruits. No, they occupy only the most critical positions in government, media and business. They're the ones who turned the world godless. They did it all in hopes that they could overcome the prophecies." Karen nodded.

"Where are they based, primarily?"

Nook's small voice squeaked. "Air Town."

#countenance

0 notes

noisydiary · 2 years ago

Text

nirvana

A dimly lit, smoke filled garage stuffed wall to wall with Pine Bluff’s Juniors and Seniors wasn’t quite where Faith expected her night to go. Rather, she was expecting yet another quite, lonely night at Video Video Video, closing for Leo; seeing as he’d left early for a ‘concert’. This concert, specifically. Granted, as Faith looked into the garage, she spotted Leo’s familiar gel-spiked red hair in the midst of everyone. Or, at least, she assumed it was Leo—… a lot of the crowd had the same sort of distinguishing hairstyle. Lots of punk and ‘goth’ characters (as she’d been corrected. Apparently, emo and goth are two different styles entirely. Lesson learned). The only difference between this main popularity would be herself, Brett, and few others who hadn’t quite picked a style to lean towards.

“See her?” Brett’s voice cut out across the noise inside, just loud enough for Faith to catch on.

Faith shook her head, looking over to Brett, who scoffed, “Damn, I thought they’d have started playing by now- wonder what’s takin’ ‘em so long…”

Brett’s comment rounded out with the crowd, netting a shrug from Faith. She’d respond, but… she found it hard to voice much of anything. Everything here was what Faith would call ‘against her general lifestyle’. Not that that was bad— in fact, that would be quite the opposite of her current thought. All in all, she was excited. This was a net positive- in fact, probably the cap to her week. It’s just- the garage itself was overwhelming. Dim, flickering lights… the humming of cheap speakers some of the equipment up front was connected to… talking of the crowd and the cheer from that whole lot… not even mentioning the wafting scent of alcohol and smoke from various kinds of cigarettes that Faith couldn’t even name— even just standing outside, it was a lot.

The best way that Faith could describe it was it almost felt like being at a pep rally, or being in one of the movies. It wasn’t quite that draining, but she could definitely feel it tapping into her brain.

How did I…

Oh… Right-…

—(Earlier that evening)—

It was, indeed, a relatively quiet night at VVV, as Faith noted the lack of customers, even at 7pm. The fact didn’t much bother her, seeing as she’d found some delightful company in her newest library rental, ‘An Enchantment to Remember’. Most of the usual crowd who came in on a Saturday were at Tiffany’s house for a garage band. Jess’d mentioned it last week at the meeting- or, rather, before the meeting, and specifically to Leo. Faith overheard the conversation. Sort of.

Purposeful eavesdropping aside, the rest of the usual company were infrequent at best. But still, the store closed at midnight, aaand someone had to watch the desk. Seeing as it was Saturday, most people were already on dates or any other number of reasons, so the shop was quiet.

And by ‘quiet’, Faith could say that a pin drop could be heard. Leo’d left the store’s music on his generic tape from his uncle, so the boring, people pleasing items that were from twenty years ago. Songs that Faith had well learned to tune out by this point.

On thinking of the music, though, Faith glanced up from her book- looking around the store. Eerily empty, those shelves were. Thus, she hummed a soft tune to herself; a tune with a minor melody one wouldn’t expect such a sweet girl to know. She placed her bookmark in her book and put it on the counter, getting off her stool and heading towards the back to change the music… Luckily, for Faith, Leo conveniently hid Jess’ records in the old filing cabinet. Even more so, he’d shown her where he was hiding them, so she could change the music at her leisure.

”Of course, they’re not your style, but if you really can’t take the old geezers music, then I guess you can tolerate this. It’s either fogy music, or heavy alt stuff. Your choice, really.” Funnily enough, when he’d told her, he didn’t realise that she would actually like it. Maybe it was cause it was Jess’… Maybe it was because it was just… vastly different from her normal music that her mother let her listen to, but Faith rather liked it. So much so, that the tune she hummed was one of the tracks off the record she’d gone to fetch.

However, as she’d gone to grab it, the bell chimed, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. She swiftly turned around and threw on a polite smile, “Hello, welcome to Vi-“

Her smile fell just slightly on seeing Brett strutting his way to the counter, with a grin and a swagger only he could carry. He leaned against the counter, “Heyy bookworm— Leo in?”

Faith shook her head, taking no offense to the nickname (He means it in earnest!), “No. He left about an hour ago for that band playing at Tiffany’s.”

Brett let off a scoff, scowling as he pulled away just a touch from the counter, “Yeah- that as the whole point- I was gonna drive.”

Faith held back her comment with that one, knowing teasing Brett was an easy way to get a cursing out- besides, she didn’t quite have the bite for the joke she’d thought of. Instead, she blinked a few times, earnestly confused, “You’re going?”

“He asked me to, so he wouldn’t seem like he was desperate.”

Confusion only grew as Faith tilted her head, “Desperate?”

Brett snorted before rolling his eyes, “Yeah. Desperate. Jess invited him, and he didn’t wanna seem pathetic, so he said no to her, but-.”

Ga- Faith shook her head to dispel the thought, interrupting before Brett could finish, “I’d heard that much, sort of…- Um-!”

She got a scowl for that one, “Can you let me finish? Fuck- you might even wanna know this next bit, lil nerd.”

Faith bit her lip, bowing her head as she mumbled, already feeling a slight bead in her eyes, “Sorry…”

Brett grew a bit softer with that, letting off a sigh and trying to correct, “It’s- fine. Sorry. Teasing, y’know?”

Teasing isn’t teasing if it hurts the other person—

“The reason Jess invited him was cause its her band. Well- kinda. She’s singing for them. Might chicken out and do bass though. Who knows. You know he still likes hearing her, so, yeah. Didn’t want to seem desperate.”

On hearing that, a little pang rang through Faith’s chest- her head lifted as her eyes widened, her jaw slackening as her lips parted. She shut her mouth quickly after, and her cheeks flushed as she realised what she was doing. Gyeh!!! You’rehopeless—

Brett, on the other hand, chuckled, “Yeah, that’s about what I thought would happen. Gloria told me to tell you that- said that you might want to know. She didn’t say why, but yeah.”

Faith scowled at that, seeing as Gloria had her own thoughts about Faith- some she’d felt more than free sharing. Like you’re a queer?

“Uhuh… Anyway. Still. If Leo’s gone, I may as well get going too. See ya.” Brett turned on his heel, making to leave, though his steps were slower than normal- only slightly. Not enough for Faith to notice.

Instead, what Faith noticed was the gnawing in her chest, and the uneasy feeling in her stomach. That, and what almost sounded like a song playing in her mind. Nothing real, granted, but enough that it stopped her from thinking rationally- enough that she called out to Brett, “W-wait…”

Brett stopped at that, turning with a little knowing smirk, “Yeah? What.”

“…um… I- don’t…” Faith flustered, feeling her cheeks distinctly growing redder as she realised what she was doing, and trying to rationalise it in her head. Notqueerjust—just- supporting a friend!! W-why do I need to stay open anyway?? No ones going to come-

…I want to hear her…

Her lips curled into a frown as she realised that thought- no… it really is that bad. She squeezed her eyes for a moment, before Brett interrupted, “Are you gonna ask for a ride or not, Faith.” A squeak caught in Faith’s throat as she realised Brett knew exactly what she wanted. Her eyes darted to the ground, before she nodded. Brett laughed again, motioning to the door, “Thought so. Lock up, see you out in 10?”

“…m-mhm..! Give me- um… a little bit, yeah…”

In a relatively swift manner, Faith rounded up entirely necessary closing tasks- things for closing early like locking the drawer with a note for whomever’s there in the morning to count it down, or putting up the closed sign with an explanation that ‘all attendants are currently busy!’. She clicked the lights off, took the spare keys from the back, and locked the front door. She then looked out into the lot, seeing Brett’s fancy… uh… Convertible? He’d said the name a few times, but Faith couldn’t honestly remember cars for the life of her.

Nevertheless, she’d made her way to the car, seeing Brett bobbing his head to the song playing on the tape deck. He turned his head and flashed a smile, “Hop in. Toss your stuff in the back if you need.”

Faith did as he followed, noting how… Clean it was. Brett wasn’t the worst when it came to order, but, usually he had things in the back and they were Gone. Just Gone. Not a trace, as if the car was practically brand new. Once again, keeping her mouth shut, she opened the side door and got inside, buckling in.

When Faith was sufficiently in, Brett kicked the car into drive, and sped off- reasonably. It may be a sports car, but he’s still Technically only got a permit. It didn’t take all too long to get to Tiffany’s, and before long, they were as they are now, watching the garage for signs of life of this band everyone’d gathered to see.

As Faith brought herself back to Earth, she saw a fleeting figure pass by, heading around the side of the house with a large shape on their back. She watched as they disappeared into the darkness, noting how Brett looked down to her- expectant. She winced slightly as she found some semblance of her voice, “Yes?”

“I said I think they’re starting soon- at least, I sure hope so.”

Faith nodded, turning her attention back into the garage. Granted, the crowd was loud as ever, but the lights up front clicked on. She couldn’t see past all of the people, but she could hear as the crowd slowly quieted down after a fair spell, and the speakers crackled alive. ”How’re we doing tonight??” A girl cheered through the mic, getting a roar from the crowd gathered, ”Yeah?? Yeah!! Then let’s get to it!”

It didn’t take much to realise the girl speaking wasn’t who Faith was here for-

I mean, noo… not here for anyone-! Just— here for the show… Mhm.

Still, the band kicked off into a set, playing songs that had about the same sort of energy as the record in the shop… Not recognisable to Faith, but solid enough songs for her to smile along. She’d glanced around to see if she could find some way to see the band itself better, noting the place relatively packed. There was a door in the back, but the band was playing back there, so peaking through there wasn’t much an option, unless she wanted to get called out. Honestly? Faith couldn’t deal with that ordeal right now, much less… Ever, really. Other than that, there weren't any real options except to go into the garage proper- and honestly, it was enough to be out here. So, instead, Faith stayed put. She kept towards the back as she tapped her hand along with the beat against her leg, listening for the set. Once the chords of Comfortably Numb faded, the lead kicked back on the mic, "Hey- thank you guys so much for stickin' with us tonight. We're gonna break for a beat, but when we get back, we've got a surprise for ya!"

The crowd in the band cheered again as the mic gave off feedback. Brett chuckled at that point, "Five bucks I know what the 'surprise' is."

Faith glanced up to him, tilting her head- "Really?"

"Hah- yeah. Don't you?" Slightly condescending, before he chuckled again, "Riiight, you don't have any money. Nevermind. You'll see in a minute."

Brett then slinked off into the garage for a fair minute, leaving Faith to her own devices- leaving her to realise just how… Out of place she felt. Sure, the music was good, but she didn't know anyone here other than Leo and Brett. And, of all people to come with, she came with Brett. It could be worse, she could be with a real bully rather than Brett, but she still would rather to have come with Leo in the first place. Leo… he was like her brother- heck, a better brother than Ian was. He teased, but never as mean as Brett did. As much as Leo tried to give a pricky exterior, he had a heart under there. Faith couldn't entirely say the same for Brett.

No, no… not quite. There had to be one there, it just- was misguided.

Speaking of the devil, Brett returned- with Leo in tow, and a few solo cups in his hands. He and Leo seemed to be chatting about something, as Faith caught the tail end of Leo's comment, "…well it's about any minute now, so-"

"Yeah, we'll see. Hey- here," Brett thrust a cup towards Faith, "Drink."

"H-huh…?"

Leo glanced to Brett, before waving his hand dismissively, "It's water, you're fine."

You know me too well. Faith's eyes flicked past Leo and towards the cup, before taking a sip and finding his words true. Granted, he usually didn't lie, but still-- could never be too safe as her mother warned her countless times.

"So, you ready?" Leo smirked, nodding towards the crowd… likely meaning the stage, and therefore, the band.

"Ready?"

"Yeah, y'know they're pulling o-"

As Leo continued, the speakers crackled with the sound of feedback again, before starting up with a combo of guitar and bass which waved over the crowd. Beats of which Faith drifted to, recognising the sharp, distinct notes before they melted into a pattern- of which Faith knew was followed by…

"Running away, I knew I was wrong- I'd tried to fit in where I didn't belong."

Jess. Jess' voice came over the speaker- less gravelly than the recording that Faith'd heard of the original band. But then again, Jess had a nicer voice than that… moreover, she knew how to use it. She painted with her voice, singing each word with emotion that lingered past just the words she'd memorised. Each word articulated, if a little muffled by the output…

Faith lightly pressed past the two as she latched on to the voice- before being pulled back, "Woah, hey now."

Brett'd reached out, having gently grabbed her shoulder. Leo was the one calling out, reaching and taking the cup from her, "Hey, you and I both know you don't want to go up there."

A little flutter ran through Faith's chest as her hands clenched into fists, pouting as she looked between them- to which Leo laughed at. "Okay, okay. I know. Here. You're still like- what- 90, 100 pounds?"

"Don't burn the fire, I'm never comin' home-"

Leo put down the cups he'd been holding before he snapped a few times, snagging Faith's attention away from the song being sung, "Do you want to see her or not, Faith?" Faith turned her head down for a moment, growing red. IwanttoI-

With a little more patience, Leo leaned in and spoke just loud enough for Faith to hear, "Hey, remember what you asked about? Don't worry about it right now. It doesn't matter. Do you want to see her, or not?"

"…I could hear the whispers of my own mistakes- those warning eyes, that final touch… No one seemed to care that much." Jess' voice rattled in Faith's mind for a moment, before a buzzing ran through Faith's head and down her neck.

It took a moment, before she nodded and looked up to Leo with wide, soft eyes, almost pleading. On the other hand, Leo just… grinned. He let off a huff before he looked to Brett, "A'right."

Before Brett came a bit closer and knelt down with his back towards Faith, his arms stretched behind him. "Hop on, princess."

Faith stared for a moment, before realising- "O-oh…"

Leo laughed, "What, never been on piggyback? You'll be fine."

He then reached and nudged her forward with a gentle push on her back- to which Faith pulled back against it, "W-wait, my skir-"

"You don't wear shorts under that? It'll be fine for like- five minutes," Leo rebutted, nudging her forward again.

With a bit of hesitation, and a whimper caught in her throat, she stepped forward and got on Brett's back, muttering, "Sorry-" as she did so.

Brett scoffed before he wrapped his arms underneath her legs and slowly standing up, "You're fine, Faith-"

He'd made to continue, but realised the words were fairly pointless then, as he'd gotten to full standing and Faith saw above the crowd…

And there was Jess… belting her heart out into the microphone, her right hand clutching it close to her mouth, and her other twirling the string in her hand. She'd donned some more bracelets than normal, but her shirt and shorts were the same as ever-- a Mure shirt with dark shorts, and boots she'd decorated herself some time ago. She swayed along with the music, keeping time with her feet- and her hair bounced with every step she took, getting in the way of her eyes. Eyes of which that scanned the crowd- before looking out past and-

Settling on Faith.

Jess' eyes grew wider for a moment, and the rest of the lyrics came out ever so slightly different- as if the words got caught in her throat. She'd continued just fine after a moment, looking away from Faith, but for a moment… Just a moment, that buzzing came back, flooding Faith's head and getting a dopey smile to form on her lips. Everything was hazy for just a moment, before her cheeks flushed hot.

The song rounded out as Jess finished it- and she pulled the mic away from her lips. Faith watched as she looked out towards the crowd again, her eyes directly snapping on to Faith. Seeing her again, there and real, got her to turn towards what Faith assumed was Tiffany. They talked for a moment, as Tiff hesitated, talking back to Jess- before Jess snipped back, and Tiff shrugged. Tiffany then made a circle with her hands to the person on an electric keyboard, and a new song started up. The drums followed suit after a round of keyboard solo, and then Jess brought the mic to her lips, looking towards the crowd as she started singing, "Just as I thought, it was going alright. I found out I'm wrong, when I thought I was right…"

She'd continued as Faith listened, not recognising the song off hand. It almost sounded familiar, but not enough for Faith to know the lyrics. At least with Don't Burn The Fires, Faith had heard it on one of Jess' records a number of times. She listened in for the lyrics, picking up on what Jess sang. In a way, as Faith listened to the lyrics- the pointed way that Jess sang them, and the way she chose to articulate them… It almost sounded like it was for Leo.

"I could say day, and you'd say night- tell me it's black, when I know that it's white…" Definitely Leo… Yet, Jess' eyes stopped tracing the crowd as the backing track changed, a heavy strike to the hi-hat changing the meaning of the song as her voice grew softer- looking to Faith again as she sang, "Truth is, I love you. More than I wanted to- there's no point in trying to pretend. There's no one that makes me feel like you do. Say we'll be together 'til the end."

The song continued as Jess'd sung it until that point, pointed and distracted- although, it may have been part of Faith's mind now… running a little wild, but… Jess seemed to purposefully keep her attention anywhere other than on her. It may have been Faith's imagination that a little glow ran through Jess cheeks.

What wasn't imagination, however, was the excitement flowing through Faith. Excitement she hadn't realised was coming out by means of tapping. Aka, tapping against Brett's head- aka meaning she'd been (lightly) smacking Brett's hair for a solid few seconds. Enough to get Brett to interject, "Can you knock that off?? I'll put you down-! You're getting heavy-"

Faith went rigid at the thought, though rationally realised she'd have no right to complain. Brett was doing her a huge favour- and very likely was doing it because Leo'd asked him to do so. Even just getting a chance to be up above the crowd for but a minute was more than enough to last Faith for weeks. She pulled her hands back towards herself- before she realised Brett began to kneel down, seemingly taking that motion as a move to be brought down. Not wanting to correct him, she hopped off once at a suitable level, and corrected her skirt as the song rounded out…

Leo stood before Faith with a bit of a shit eating grin- his attention momentarily taken up as Brett moved and grabbed one of the cups off the ground, drinking it down in one, ginormous gulp. "Damn, big boy, you swallow everything like that?"

And a most innocent glance up from the second cup as Brett looked over to Leo, "Huh?"

"Nothinggg-" Before mouthing 'stupid motherfu-' and being stopped as Brett stood up, flashing a smile.

"So, happy?"

It took a moment for Faith to recognise that the question was aimed at her, before she flushed again and smiled, her eyes drifting off as she nodded. Brett held out the cup to her, "Here, drink up, then we'll get out of here."

Faith reached to take the cup, before freezing- her eyes darting to Brett before her brows furrowed, "Get out of here? We've only been here a little bit..!"

"It's been like an hour and a half, Faith- I need to go home at some point, and I gotta work in the time it'll take to drop you off. You heard a lot of songs, and you're not gonna talk with anyone here other than Leo, so-"

"B-but Jess-!"

"Is performing. So, we're heading out in a minute when you finish your water."

Leo brought up a hand, interrupting the two, "Ay-- seems like she's got more energy than you do. Why don't you head out now, and I'll get her home. Sound good?"

"You sure on that? Since you don't hold up to promises all too well…" Brett grumbled, moving to cross his arms- careful to keep the cup on top so that it wouldn't spill.

"What promise?…" Leo, turning to look at Brett- before his eyes widened as he realised, looking off, "Fuck-! I- okay. Yeah. Sorry." "Yeah."

Faith looked between the two, before letting off a little snort, holding back a full laugh. It wasn't entirely something she understood- granted, she still had problems accepting herself. However, something deep in her always had this sort of… Inkling. The inkling that this wasn't just a 'hangout' to either of them. But that wasn't her call, and truth is, she barely understood it herself. Just that it seemed something else was growing- that's all.

Brett glared over to Faith's stifled laughter, scowling, "What's that- got something to say?"

Quickly, Faith moved and covered her mouth, shaking her head. Brett rolled his eyes, "Thought so…" Before he looked to Leo, "Right, I'm out."

"Night--" Leo pursed his lips together as Brett walked off to where he'd parked the car around the curb, waiting until he was gone to rub his neck, "Shiiit…"

He looked up after that, noticing Faith still watching- "Tch-- do you have something you want to say?"

Faith pulled her hands away from her mouth, still glancing off… before Leo sighed, "You can say it. Come on. Hit me, little cupid."

"…I-- don't really…"

"Go on." Leo egged, stepping a bit closer.

Knowing him, he knew her answer already. He just… wanted a confirmation. That's how it was with Jess- wanting to hear it from a third party… Faith at that point bit the corner of her mouth, her eyes darting up to Leo before looking away again as she muttered, "Youlikehim."

"What?" Earnest in his response-- her words could barely be heard over the band.

"Nothing!! Let's just… I should…" Faith gestured behind her towards where Brett had walked off.

"Hey-!! I said I'd give you a ride home. The set's gonna end in like… half an hour. Just hold on."

A frown tugged on Faith's lips as she looked up to Leo, "W-why do I need to stay? Brett was right, I should--"

"Where'd that spark go? Not five minutes ago you didn't want to leave, and now you're jumping at the bit to get outta here."

There wasn't anything Faith could pin down to the feeling in her chest. This sort of pounding that didn't quite make sense-- feeling worse on the thought of leaving, but the thought of staying scared her just that little bit more. She let her head fall as she squeezed her hands together, squishing the palm of one hand with the other as she let the current song play… focusing once again on Jess' voice as she sang.

Something about the way her range varied- that her voice came softer, like a lullaby backed only by gentle piano… Something that Faith could listen to for hours and still be drunk off its sound- and oh how much she wished to drink.

"You don't see what you possess, a beauty calm and clear- it floods the sky and blurs the darkness like a chandelier… All the light that you possess is skewed by lakes and seas… The shattered surface, so imperfect, is all that you believe." Carrying weight to it as Faith realised the words, and the lightness of Jess' voice kept with this feeling of meaning to every word she sang.

Granted… Just about any song Jess sang could carry weight that send a shiver down Faith's spine, giving chills as it hit deeper than she'd care to admit. Not many things could do that…

"…Yeah. I thought so." Leo broke Faith's concentration on the music- getting her to snap her attention towards him, as a softer smile sat on his face. "Stay. Otherwise, you're gonna regret it."

Almost as if he spoke from experience, he pulled back and nodded towards the crowd, "You can handle yourself out here, yeah?" Faith pursed her lips once again, debating in her head the pros and cons of staying. Pro, hearing more and all… Con, she may say or do something she'd regret. Something she'd much rather not admit right now. Even though it may slap her in the face whether she'd like it to or not. She sighed, before nodding, "Yes."

"Okay. I'll be back out when this sets over. Things are likely gonna chill out after- I dunno how long they're gonna keep going, honestly. Might end after this, who knows." Leo shrugged, before he turned on his heel and headed back into the fray, rejoining the group he'd been with before and leaving Faith to her own devices.

In turn, Faith found herself alone, with just the bands song as her company. She turned to look in the garage yet again, before she moved away from the door and towards the side of the house, sitting where she could still hear the crackle of the speakers. Although a little quieter here, she found herself more at peace as she listened along, humming with songs that she recognised.

All in all, the half hour passed quickly, as Faith lost herself to the music- as half of her mind imagined there was no wall between her and the song being sung…

That nothing in her head stopped her from enjoying this, and feeling the flutter of butterflies in her stomach as she latched on to the lyrics. There were no rules against it, no one saying no, just… Her, and Jess. And that was all she needed to feel less alone.

Although, as the last chord ebbed out, and the cheering of the crowd settled in, Faith opened her eyes and woke up. She felt the little smile on her cheeks fade away as those butterflies rattled around, her hands shaking as she moved to stand up. Leo was waiting, probably, and- she vaguely heard as one of the other girls say that was it for tonight, unless the crowd wanted an encore…

I can't stay like this it's-- not right I--

She didn't bother to listen for the answer, as her smile faded as she made her way to the garage door, noting as a few sets of footsteps followed behind her. Seeing a lack of Leo out in the driveway, she peaked inside the garage to see if he was still inside- before she felt a hand grab her shoulder, and a flood of panic shot through her as she jolted at the touch. She turned to look at who the hand belonged to, seeing a soft, yet tired Jess before her.

"Hey…" She croaked out, having worn down her voice after all of her work. Her spare hand held a bottle of water half drunken at this point, which crinkled as she smiled a bit, "I wasn't expecting to see you- nice surprise, though."

Faith let off an awkward chuckle, as she looked past Jess and saw the other members of the band chatting, walking past them. She felt that same flutter in her chest as she swallowed down whatever nerves arose- though not able to stop herself from blushing a little, "I… yeah… um… Leo was coming-- and he- he asked me to come…"

That got a laugh out of Jess in turn, "You could just say you wanted to come, Faith- I wouldn't be offended."

Would you like it?

Her eyes widened at the thought, darting away, "I-- noo… w-why would I? I mean- you… sing well and all I just-- I mean until a half hour ago I didn't even know you'd be here and-"

Another laugh came from Jess as her eyes lightened- as Faith noted behind the mess of her hair and general sweat on her brow… Jess pulled her hand off Faith's shoulder and tucked it into her pocket, "Well, thanks. It's nice seeing you here. What'd you think? Not really your style but-"

"I loved it-!" Faith chimed, a little hazy in her response, before realising just about how… Desperate that sounded. The red in her cheeks only grew as she tried to calm down, "I-i mean, you… performed well. Nicely done."

As Faith finished, Jess tuffed a bit of her hair away from her eyes, trying to distract from her own cheeks turning pink- sheepishly responding, "Thank you." OhmyGodohmyG- FaithEmmaWilliamsyouhAVETOSTOP- Faith let off a little chuckle as she nodded, "O-of course… Oh..! You're- probably looking for Leo…"

Jess's smile faded as she looked to Faith, shaking her head, "Nah… No, I'm- here to see you. Just wanted to see why you were here."

"M-me??"

"Yeah. What, is it weird to say hi to a friend?"

Before she'd realised she'd done it, Faith winced at the term- "No… Just… I thought you'd invited Leo, that's all…"

"Iii did. Figured I may as well drag everyone here who I thought might enjoy a good night out. Buuuut… On that…" Jess cricked her neck before looking out to the crowd, "I've- got a lot of people to say thanks to, so uh… Yeah. I guess I'll uh… See you Monday?"

"…see you Monday…" Faith muttered, before Jess moved and patted her shoulder and then left, weaving through the crowd.

Stupidlittlehomosexualthoughts- This has to stop it has to stop--

The gentle patting was replaced by a firm hand, as Leo passed through the crowd and out to where Faith stood, "Hey-- you see Jess?"

"She just left…"

Leo flashed a smile as he pulled his hand away, "Awesome. Well- you ready?"

It took a moment, as Faith felt this awful wave of exhaustion pass over… She hadn't even done anything exhausting, just… She felt a strong sense of being ready to go to bed- and she'd sleep for a while. Maybe a good rest would help pass over what little stew brewed in her mind. She nodded, letting off a long sigh, "Yes, please…"

Leo's smile faded enough to be a slight smirk, before he walked off with Faith in tow. Soon enough, the night was over- as Faith found herself at her doorstep, promptly heading inside and falling into bed.

For a fair spell, it was just her, staring to the ceiling. Alone with her thoughts.

Honestly, she'd thought she'd feel more… Regret? Anger- something along those lines…

And yet all she felt was a buzzing as she thumbed over the songs in her mind… and a soft little smile fell on her lips once more before she fell asleep, humming along.

------ ☾ | i don't have v many comments this time, just sources for the songs referenced in this! i sourced out to my dad since he knows 80s songs much better than i do, but i caved for one song ok song list in order of use in ramble - don't burn the fires | dead moon (1988) that's all | genesis (1983) you are the moon | the hush sound (2006)

#video horror society #vhs #vhs faith #vhs brett #vhs leo #vhs jess #jess in a garage band anyone?#anyone? just me? ok #vhs jess/faith #shadowheart #vhs leo/brett #slaytrek #technically #it's like a budding flower for those two #also trying new tags for relationships :D #totally not inspired by cherry #hOLY SHIT THIS IS LONG IM SORRY #ficlet #rambles

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sonlagrasrees · 2 years ago

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bye 2022, hellow 2023

[writing this at 3 am while my cat pisses on the bathroom rug]

2022 has been perhaps the most eventful year of my life!

First on my list of the things I want to look back at this year would be my experience during the elections. Despite me not being old enough to cast a vote, I was still able to share many fond memories with my family, friends, and fellow Filipinos as we rallied and cheered behind Leni Robredo, the one woman we thought would bring light and hope to our nation. It was such an exhilarating journey from each of her campaign rallies and visits but it was an even more meaningful and intimate moment whenever I was physically present at her rallies or when I am watching her on television. The hope and wisdom that she ignited in me, which I am sure also lit the hearts of many, will forever be embedded in my heart. Her defeat in the elections ultimately was not a hinder to that hope to die.

The second would be the return of in-person classes. In all honesty, I did miss being around my peers. I liked hanging out with my new classmates. I enjoyed doing schoolwork with them at school. I most especially loved the intimate moments I had with them whenever we gossiped and joke about the most mundane topics. I was fortunate to have been granted the opportunity to meet my classmates personally last year back when things were still held just online. Some of them always had amazing stories to tell and the stamina to share the funnest memory with me. I’m also grateful for all the teachers I had this year. From my school paper adviser to my biology professor, they’re all so wonderful and talented. It's a shame that this is going to be my last year in high school because I definitely shined the most this year, in comparison to all my years in school. This year, I was able to cultivate my talents in writing as well as be more comfortable with the clothes I want to wear and my overall personality as a person.

However, there were instances this year when I wished I had been more critical of my decisions. Like when I was lost and decided to act on temptations. I can’t excuse myself from those experiences but I guess it's enough that I’m not proud of them either way. I guess I lost focus and wasn’t brave enough to seek help from the people I know who love and care for me. Another, cowardliness also creeped into me every time I felt vulnerable to people. I hate being or feeling vulnerable. I usually feel weak when I’m with people I love-or know where my soft part is. I wish I had confronted them about it. I wish I had confessed to them how I really felt.

For 2023

I have a list of people who I wish I could know more about and perhaps in the near future, be friends with. I’m not entirely delighted with how I met these people but my curiosity pushes me to think about them over and over again. To be a little more specific, there’s one person who was really a year-ender. Our connections were murky so let him go easily. But in all honesty, I really felt there was something going on. But I guess I’m wrong and put my hopes a little to high.

This year is my final year in high school. I lost my chances of getting academic distinctions in the previous semester and in the coming months; I want to overcome my disappointment over that. I want the next six months to contain the best moments of my high school life, as I will soon leave it. I don’t think I want to worry about my grades anymore; anyway I won’t be getting an award due to them. I just want to enjoy these next few months and create the best memories with my friends.

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thebreakfastgod · 4 years ago

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El you GOTTA drop what high school musicals you were in

HAHA okay so, freshman year I saw our production of Lion King but I wasn't involved in it. It was very good

Sophomore year we did You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, which was fun but my least favorite. I was on tech crew for all the shows we did and this one didn't have a lot of building and I ended up being front of house crew during shows. Charlie Brown has a really small cast so our director created two casts and an ensemble, and bc of the actors getting split up like that there was SO MUCH internal drama LMAO. But techs mostly stay out of that

Junior year we did Mamma Mia which was my favorite show. We built this massive set it was awesome. To make it look like the hotel we actually had a 2 "story" set piece with this big staircase that led to the middle of the stage and there was a separate hidden staircase that led to backstage lol. There were a lot of props and like chair pieces that we had to keep track of. It was actually pretty complicated haha. I was on curtain for MM too I got to open and close it every show :)

We had a summer camp one year too where we worked with younger kids (elementary/middle) and we did Frozen Jr. We also built a really big set for that and had a whole castle set piece and an ice palace set piece. And we had a WORKING wagon for the merchant people it was so cool

Senior year we didn't do jack shit cause of Covid rip

#we did cabaret shows to but not THE Cabaret #just like a collection of loosely related songs/scenes to make a variety show #I was backstage for those too #there was very little internal tech politics we mostly left The Drama to the actors LMAO #build days where you get covered in paint sawdust and ur using a drill all day oh yeah babey #I also always got a mic to talk to the booth and we would be so weird on coms #was supposed to be Stage Manager for senior year uwu #I was taught how to operate spot but I was never Spotlight Op officially #sorry king you lit rally cant get me started on theatre ill talk for so long #ask me #mike-wachowski #oh god helping actors with QUICKCHANGES TOO #and id have to go into the dressing rooms to yell at them cause they need to be on stage approximately RIGHT NOW

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pjisskullourful · 2 years ago

Text

𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬

🏳️‍🌈 Thomas × reader

NSFW 🔥 lovedup adults doing nasty adult things to one another

° Thomas Raggi & female reader insert

° you've never had a boyfriend support your queer identity before, but now thomas wants to accompany you to your first ever gay rights rally

wordcount:::: 3,721

° thanks to everyone who voted for this to be brought out of the vault💋 [commissions are priority! there are currently 4 commissions in cue!]

"You're remindin' me of a fly- hoverin' around like this." Thomas said. "Why don't you just sit down on my lap, like you usually do when you're doing my makeup?"

You dipped your brush back into the square of pink pigment, shaking your head as you walked in front of the chair your boyfriend was seated in, the morning sunshine illuminating his face as you looked at him from a different angle. "No, I don't think we'll be doing that, baby." You bent down, considering how to get this application to match what you had done on his other eye. "This isn't like going out to dinner with your friends, where you can distract me with your cuteness and maybe we fool around a bit 'cause if we arrive late, the most important thing we'll miss is the garlic bread.

"This is a gay rights protest- it has a set starting time and I don't wanna miss any of it. It's my first time protesting and what if we arrive late and we miss out on learning the chants?"

"This tense interest in time management- is this the gay agenda that I'm always hearing about?" He asked with a cheeky grin.

You swept the pink eyeshadow into the inner corner of his eye, pleased when he took you seriously enough to hold still. The significance of this day was making you nervous.

It had been inspiring nerves in you ever since you had first learnt of the event. Victoria had sent you a photo of a flyer found taped up in the city - she insisted you had to go and scream extra loud for her (she would be out of town, visiting family the same weekend, unable to attend).

You had never been in the closet with the members of Måneskin - when you had first met Thomas a little over a year ago, your phone case had been covered in the colours of the bisexual pride flag. There hadn’t been a wasted effort of trying to hide it. He had never questioned you on it or made any comments that made you feel unsupported. You were the first queer woman he had dated, but you were far from the first gay girl he had cared for in his inner-circle. He didn't need you to go over the basics with him, he didn't need a big, serious talk about what this meant or how it affected him - he had simply nodded his head, he gave your hand a comforting squeeze and told you to correct him without hesitation if he ever did anything unbefitting of an ally.

He was the exact opposite of your last boyfriend who had been stuck in the attitude of homophobia. He used slurs in private, to everyone else he would pretend his attitude was less aggressive, always quick to say that he didn't mind if people were gay - he just wished they wouldn't rub it in his face.

You had ignored his every comment, avoiding any kind of discussion around the topic. Because it hadn't mattered that you thought you might be bisexual. Nothing could be explored while you were in a relationship with a man, and you thought you didn't need the label.

But Thomas wanted you to express how you felt, he loved how you lit up whenever you got to talking about your sexuality and the community you were slowly discovering. He left you with no reason to hold yourself back. You could find where you belonged, with him giving you a supportive nod and thumbs-up every step of the way.

Now you were painting the colours of the bisexual flag across his eyelids, preparing to march through the streets of Rome with him.

You felt extra appreciative of him at this moment. This wasn't something that you had thought you would ever get to experience.

You couldn’t help yourself, swooping down to kiss him on the lips. He placed a hand to your cheek, seeking to deepen the kiss as he gently drew your bottom lip into his mouth. Feeling his tongue sweep over your lip made you forget of those anxieties, in a fleeting moment that made you want to rock your body into his.

Instead you willed yourself to lean away, licking your lips as you straightened up. You cleared your throat, trying to ignore how you could see him in your peripheral vision as you looked at your eyeshadow palette. You covered the brush bristles in more pink, glittery powder.

“I thought I was being the problem child, distractin’ you from being ready on time and all that.” He said, smirking. “I’m not allowed to invite you to sit on my lap, but you’re allowed to kiss me?”

You were trying to stop yourself from smiling, because you knew it would undermine any authority you were hoping to gain. "Shut up, it's part of my process. You wouldn't understand it, you're not a makeup artist."

He laughed. "You can just say that you wanted to kiss me."

"Fine." You said, his eyes shutting as he became still when you came towards him with the brush again. "I wanted to kiss you, and I considered my options and realised that I would have time to kiss you if I didn't need time to do some sort of graphic eyeliner extravaganza on you. I think you're gonna agree that you don't need the liner, 'cause you already look spectacular.

"In fact, I couldn't take you if you looked any more spectacular. I don't need to be upstaged by my own boyfriend."

"No chance of that happening." He said. "But just so you know…" He hooked his finger through one of your belt loops. "... if you need some more assistance with your artistic process, I'm happy to kiss you again. Or we could do more than kissing. For the sake of your artistic process, of course."

"Great, thanks, I'll keep that in mind." You said sarcastically. "Okay, I think the only thing left is kajal and mascara. Are you comfortable with me doing those, or do you wanna do that yourself?"

"I can handle those."

"Okay, I'm gonna get my lipstick on. But I'll be right over there if you need help."

He picked up a hand mirror. "Hey, I may not have any kind of sophisticated artistic process, but I can put on mascara and eyeliner. You just go and do whatever you need to do to make sure you're prepped for serving the gay agenda."

— — —

The sky was getting darker by the time you returned home, hand-in-hand with your boyfriend. You didn't have much voice left, all of the chanting and screaming had left you quite hoarse.

You were without your voice, and there were other things you had lost during the course of the day. The weight of all of those nerves that had made you feel like you were facing your first day of high school had dissipated. You had lost your anxieties and your stress.

But the best thing to lose were your uncertainties.

Some things had been gained. People selling handmade pins had gotten Thomas’ attention and admiration, an array of new accessories decorating his button-up shirt. Before the actual march could begin, amongst the people handing out flyers, he had found someone selling a full-size bisexual flag, for what you were sure was an inflated price.

But the price hadn’t mattered to him - his mood was too good to be spoiled by anything.

While you had been internally taking the whole scene in, he had set into the experience with immediate enthusiasm. He hadn’t held back, it was like when he was the first member of the friend group to head for the dance floor, dragging you along because he couldn’t simply enjoy himself standing still. It drew you in every time, making you feel the rush that could block out your self-doubt. The thoughts that could slow you down were drowned out as his confidence brought you into fully-inhabiting the moment with him.

It magnetised others and intoxicated you.

And it didn't stop as you walked into the apartment - he had so genuinely enjoyed his day, this high might hold on. You weren't sure that you had the most fun, even though the event had held such significance to you.

“The question is- what kind of sign would we make?” He asked, making you pause as you wondered what steps in the conversation you had missed because his query had come after a period of silence. This didn’t relate to the last thing you had said. Had he been carrying on a conversation with himself, carefully mulling the decision over?

You watched him lock the door, waiting for him to clue you in on this conversation. He turned around to face you. "What are you talking about?"

"The next march that we go to, we've gotta have a sign, but, like, what type?" He asked, pausing to unlace and remove his shoes. "There were so many great ones, I didn't realise there were all these different types of protest signs.

“Do you think we should do a funny one, like, a meme or a Simpsons reference? Or some kind of artistic one?” He asked as he came towards where you were leaning against the wall. “Of course, being the superior drawer, you would have to take the lead on that. But I would help you out with the brainstorming, happy to…”

He didn’t get to finish making his point because you couldn’t keep yourself from pouncing on him. You put an arm around his neck and pulled him in closer, placing your hand to his cheek so that you could guide him in for a kiss.

It was the kind of kiss that it seemed like you had been waiting all day to give him. It was the kind of kiss that completely disregarded the preservation of makeup. It was the kind of kiss that existed outside of time. You sank into it, pressing your chest against him as his arms wound around your waist. His tongue teased your lips apart and you couldn’t hold back a little moan, you were so keen to get to indulge.

You leaned away, seeing a smile on his face even before he’d had the opportunity to open his eyes. “I love you, baby.”

He gasped, feigning surprise. “That’s crazy, I was literally just about to say that same thing to you. It’s like you read my mind, or somethin’. How did you do that?”

You laughed, nuzzling your nose against his. “I’d love to tell you, but there’s certain secrets of the gay agenda that I simply cannot share. Not yet, at least…”

His eyes moved slowly over the details of your face, as if he hadn’t spent the whole day with you in his line of sight. “Oh-no, sorry.” He curled your hair behind your ear. “I messed up your lipstick.”

“I couldn’t care less. This makeup has been well-documented, and that’s such an understatement, it’s not even funny.” You said.

This day would forever remain with clarity due to the copious amount of photos that you had taken, capturing it from all perspectives. There were cute selfies, your cheeks pressed together as he wanted to try seemingly every filter on Snapchat. You had taken photos of him standing alongside the protestors with the signs he thought were the best. He had taken photos and short videos of you marching with the crowd. Something that felt as thorough as a photoshoot had taken place with his phone camera pointed at you as he instructed you on how to pose with your new flag - you would be surprised if there was any memory space left on the device after that.

“Do you want me to take your makeup off?” You asked.

“Yes, please. All of the times that I wanted to rub my eye, but I couldn’t.” He said, following you over to the desk where most of your beauty supplies were stored. “I’ve been literally dying.”

You smiled, positioning yourself in front of the chair he had sat upon. “My poor baby.” You brought forward the pack of cleansing wipes, pulling one out. “But it was worth it, right?” You started by cleaning around his mouth, wiping away the mess made by your bright lipstick. “You were swimming in compliments, like so many people.”

He couldn’t keep his hands to himself, resting one on your hip, his thumb stroking tenderly. “Only because of the makeup that you did.”

“Thank you. Thank you for this whole day.”

He shut his eyes, allowing you to wipe away the colours that had been decorating his eyelids. “I gotta thank you, and not just for the kick-ass makeup that everyone loved…” The bright colours lifted away from his pale skin, but some flecks of glitter remained. “Thank you for trusting me enough to share this stuff with me.

“You never shut me out…” He said and opened his eyes to look at you now that you were cleaning the highlight off his cheekbones. “And I’m so grateful to know you, all of you.”

You took the makeup wipe away from his face, letting that arm go limp as you gazed upon him. He blinked at you, seemingly waiting for you to say something. But you couldn’t speak, just feeling your heart swelling up in your chest. You were flooded with emotion, propping yourself up on the edge of the desk. You didn’t think you had the correct words, nothing was fitting for this significant moment.

“You’re…” You put the wipe aside and placed your hands on his cheeks. “You’re just the…” He smiled as you fumbled through your thoughts. “You’re the best boyfriend ever, do you know that?”

He pushed his fingers through your hair, leaning in closer. “Only the best for my babygirl. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He lifted his ass from the seat, drawing in until he could kiss you. You sharply inhaled before melting into the kiss. You caressed your fingers over his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around your middle.

You never wanted this kiss to end because it finally gave your emotions a place to land. You tilted your head, following him deeper as you wrapped an arm around his neck.

You didn’t distress over the words that wouldn’t come. Now he was drawing whimpers from you as his tongue glided into your mouth.

You arched your back, pressing yourself firmly to his chest. You only pulled back when you felt his hands on the bottom of your tank top, seeking to get under it. You let him remove it from over your head, before instantly resuming kissing.

This passion was punctuated by your efforts to remove clothes, until you were equally naked before each other. You positioned your ass on the desk, parting your knees as you faced him.

His eyes drank in the sight of you, sweeping up-and-down to rediscover all of those parts that he favoured. You put your hands to his sides, feeling up the ridges of his thin figure as he moved in closer, close enough for you to feel his body heat again. His hands went to your cheeks, brushing his fingers softly over your face with his thumb moving across your bottom lip. You parted your lips, anticipating a kiss.

Instead he moved away a little. “I’m gonna grab a rubber, be right back.”

In addition to catching your breath, you took this time to wipe off your remaining makeup. You couldn’t imagine that its current state would be very seductive to your boyfriend.

You had remained on the desk, not wanting to rupture this perfect moment - although unplanned, this was clearly the fitting conclusion to this wonderful day. When he returned, it was to place himself between your legs again. Your hands went to his cheeks as his mouth captured yours in a kiss.

His hands ghosted down your sides, making you feel so small, so ready to be consumed. His hands kept moving lower until he was grasping at your bare legs. He fit his fingers into the ditch behind your knees, beginning to lift. You allowed your body weight to be shifted back as your legs went up. Your ankles went onto his bony shoulders, kept here to rest. You felt your wet cunt opening as you kept covering his lips in kisses.

His hands went to your waist and he whined against your mouth as he leaned in closer. You tilted your pelvis as he grinded into you, his skin pressed to yours. The muscles in your legs started to tense when you felt his tip lining up with your slicked entrance.

He started to sink inside, his body pushing against your legs and you were rapidly losing your breath. Your walls fluttered excitedly as he stroked in deeper. You were soon feeling his hip bones digging into the squishiness of your thighs. You put one hand into his hair and used the other to hold onto the edge of the desk, hoping to brace yourself.

He let you set the pace, tensing your body so that you could swing your hips up. You broke the kiss, gasping for air as you concentrated on your movements. Your hand gripped into a fist around his hair as the pressure inside of you grew. You were thrilled by the sensations swarming your body, absolutely ready to come undone for him.

“Fuck.” You sobbed as his hips snapped into you faster.

You looked at him and found that his eyes were mostly shut, the lids rapidly fluttering as he got lost in ecstasy. But when he saw you were watching, he fought harder to get his eyes open, to meet your gaze. His features, that were marked by effort, became lit up with a smile and you could see sparks in his hazel eyes.

This extra level of connection gave him some inspiration and you felt his thrusts come in faster again. This new pace had your gut clenching and you started to bite into your bottom lip as your chest heaved. You twitched and writhed into him, listening to the quick collisions of skin-on-skin.

“Ah, Thomas.” You whimpered.

There was a strain in your leg muscles, with the limbs being unnaturally pinned to your bare chest. But this discomfort, and any other thoughts, were banished from your mind when he found a way to bury the head of his cock in deep enough to collide with your g-spot.

You let out a surprised cry as your hips (working of their own accord) leapt up higher, your ass leaving the desk momentarily.

Your inner-walls spasmed and for a moment the world stopped, with you almost seeing the control leaving your body. It was replaced by impulses and excitement.

“Yes.” He moaned, pressing his body weight into you.

He savoured this new depth, moving his dick in sensual strokes, with his head lingering at your sweet spot. He spent less time rocking back, maintaining the friction was no longer the priority.

This new, more thorough tempo had you squeezing your eyes shut as tremors raced through the muscles in your legs. He was getting you to that place of too much, your toes curling as your body kept at that tempo with everything you had.

“Please.” You wailed. “Please don’t stop, babe.”

You twitched as the pressure in your cunt and your chest increased, taking you over. You listened to his raspy moans as you concentrated on the connection between your bodies.

The brightest and most spectacular colours danced in the darkness behind your eyelids as you started to dissolve into the pleasure. With this most intimate massage, he took you up to and then over the edge. You cried out as you let go entirely.

You flinched and shook, your limbs aching to be repositioned. Clumsily, you brought your ankles down from his shoulders to wrap your legs around his waist. You clenched your thighs and arched your back, bucking into him quicker, with renewed vigour. Your whole body was filled with tingles as you chased his orgasm.

“Yeah, oh fuck…” He whispered, beginning to match the jerking of his hips to his words of praise. “Yes, yes, oh yes, yes, yuh- yes, yes.”

You grabbed for his shoulders with both hands, clinging to him as your body was rocked by incredibly powerful aftershocks. You were quivering but you refused to be taken down, your heart thundering in your ears. You kept moving your body to serve that desperate speed. His breath was hot on the side of your face and his hands gripped your hips.

“Yes, yes, yes, oh yes.” He whined as he continuously guided you along his shaft. “God. I love you, oh babe…”

“I love you too.” You responded, this sentence punctuated by a needy moan that came from deep in your chest.

“Fuck, I’m so close.” He said through heavy breaths. “Oh, fuck.”

You did your best to meet every one of his thrusts, even as he plunged into a faster, frenzied tempo. You ignored the unhappy creaks of the desk as you put your hands to either side of his face.

You started to kiss him, getting weak kisses back as he struggled for breath. Your pussy kept clenching around him, the sensitive walls so receptive to the strokes from his cock’s swollen head. He hummed and groaned against your mouth.

With a couple more jolts into you, he reached the climax and fell out of the rhythm. You covered his mouth in more lasting kisses as you felt his body slumping a little. He leaned against the desk for support as he wrapped his arms loosely around your torso.

“Fuck.” He croaked, resting his head against your shoulder as the two of you struggled to get your breath back.

“I love you.” You rushed to say. “I love you so much, Tommy.”

He looked at you, strands of hair stuck to the sweat on his face and he smiled. “I love you too.” He gave you a quick peck on the lips. “Let’s shower, yeah?”

“Genius idea.” You said.

“And we can talk some more about the kind of sign we need for the next protest.”

»»————-　♡　————-««

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rrazor · 4 years ago

Text

hq boys post wisdom teeth extraction

tags: fluff, soft boyfies lol

kuroo tetsurou wakes up and immediately the first thing he tells the professionals around him is that he wants to see his girlfriend because he knows you’re waiting for him and “i love her so much 🥺🥰" he says it a few more times and everyone laughs at how doped up he is both from the drugs and you. when you walk in to take notes on how to take care of him afterwards, he just stares at you as he holds you hand with the SOFTEST LOOK on his face like 🥺😍☺️❤️💕💖💝🥺🥰💖💝☺️

tetsu cannot stop looking at you and u almost have to plead with him to watch where’s he walking like tetsu pls we don’t wanna have to come back to get your front teeth done sweetie 🅱️lease!!!!!! other than that he is pretty easy to reason with it as long as you promise to kiss every part of his face once in a particular order and if u mess up, unfortunately, you’ll just have to start over again sigh it makes his heart go 💥💥💥

bokuto kuroo offers to drive him back home and brings you along to support and comfort him. he helps kou get into the back with you but he refuses and goes “kuroooooo, she’s too pretty, I dun wanna sit next to her ☹️” LMFAO kuroo rolls his eyes and just sits him down and buckles him in despite his protests HA

kou is super nervous and keeps looking over you when he thinks you aren’t looking like 🥺😊 and you decide to play along and ask him how he’s feeling and if he’s in pain and he shakes his head and goes “‘m okay, you’re really pretty though 🥺😍” kuroo snorts in the front seat and you’re trying rlly hard to not laugh at how cute he is so you take his hand and kou lit rally thinks he’s gonna pass out when you call him handsome and ask him out before kissing his cheek. he starts crying as he says things like “kuroo!!!! the pretty girl is my girlfriend now!! 🥺❤️😭💖💕😭😭🥳”

akaashi you’re already by his side by the time he wakes up but he doesn’t remember jack so he goes “hello, have u seen my girlfriend? she looks just like you. can u tell me if u see her? I would like to see her—she’s my everything 😊🥰” UGGHH KISS HIIMMM

he doesn’t remember who you are until the medication wears off but you manage to convince him that you’re gonna take him to his girlfriend so you can take him home 💀 and he spends the whole car ride really pretty quiet until you ask him why he’s so fidgety and then he softly tells you “i… can’t wait to see my girlfriend 🥺🥰💕 she said we’d go on an ice-cream date after🍦i hope she’s not mad that it’s been so long 🥺❤️💗” AHDHJANAA like a little happy babyyyy 🥺😭

oikawa tooru’s procedure finishes earlier than expected and has a dental hygienist watching over him as they wait for you and for some reason he starts to sing, but it’s really out of tune because of all the cotton in his mouth and the dental hygienist is just standing there, taking it. you can hear him down the hall as you walk into his room and he’s so excited to see you!!! “did you hear me sing for you, babe? i didn’t want you to get lost in this maze 🥺🥰” “yes, i did, tooru, tysm you don’t have to sing anymore 😊😇💕”

tries to pull you into his lap as the dentist goes through the aftercare procedures and whines “pleasssseeeee, it huuurrrrrttttts i just want cuddddlllleesssss 😭☹️��💕” you opt to sit on the edge of the chair as he buries his head in your back 🥰

iwaizumi YOU try to flirt with hajime because he doesn’t remember that you’re his girlfriend and he’s all like stop!!! i have a girlfriend! 😡 AHAHA so you decide to ask him about his lovely girlfriend and he gets the softest smile on his face omggg and he starts going on about how hardworking you are ❤️, determined 💘, beautiful 💖, how nice you smell 😳

when you tell him its you he doesn’t believe you!!! like stop u r trying too hard, stranger!!! 😠 It’s not until you bring up a photo of yourselves and stick it next to your face does he go all soft again like babe i missed you 🥺 there was this weirdo trying to flirt with me, i’m so glad you’re here 🥰 and you tell him that the weirdo was you and he’s like “no, you’re better than that” LMFAAOO THANKS HAJIME 😭

matsukawa his mom is there to pick the two of you up and he’s holding your hand as he turns to you, super concerned and goes “babe, we forgot my teeth 😞” HWJJCKWJSJEF 💀 he’s all pouty and its sooooooo cute LMFAO WHAT DID HE THINK A REMOVAL WAS??? but you play it cool and squeeze his hand and say “i didnt forget you though 😊” he nods like a little kid and says “yeah” and tries to pull you into his lap so that you can cuddle but his mom is right there and you’re tryna be a good passenger and stop him from unbuckling your seatbelt: issei, we can cuddle when we get home!!!!

this giant dude just looks at you all 🥺 and BEGS like “babe please, just a little, i just want to hold you 🥺💕” he tries to guilt trip you like “c’mon, babe, you forgot my teeth” 😭😭😭 STFU u somehow make it back to his place and he tackles you into the couch and promptly falls asleep in 2 minutes flat 😴 his mom thinks its hilarious and thanks u for taking care of him ☺️❤️

hanamaki straight up asks you if you have a boyfriend. you say yes and he gets REALLY SAD OH MY GOD and is all “oh ☹️🥺” but then you cup his cheek and hold one of his hands and start telling him what your boyfriend looks like and how he has cute strawberry hair and pretty eyes and how handsome he is and talking about his cute little eyebrows and how good he is at volleyball and takahiro is like…. 🧐🤨 is that…… me??? but then he’s like wait it couldn’t be and gets all sad again 😭

you can’t take how sad he is and tell him it’s him!!!!! you give him some kisses as an apology 😭🥺💖❤️ and he’s all really?!!? 🥰💖💕💝🥳💕as he pulls you close to rest his head on your chest. he asks you to talk about how much you love him again 😭🥰🥺 refuses to remove himself from you

kyoutani he’s got this super angry expression on his face and everyone stays a good ways away from him 😬 when you come in, you get the same 😡 but then he chills because you’re wearing that one dress he went out of his way to buy for you when you were window shopping together that one time and he’s like …..suspicious why is she wearing her dress 😒 HAJFKAKSW KENTAROU

but THEN he sees the bracelet he got you for your one year anniversary and takes a whiff of you (um 😷) and NOW he’s all WAIT…… connections r being made—he gets super handsy 😳💕 really likes it when you kiss his forehead 🥺 and glares daggers at the dentist with his head on your chest, arms around your waist as you stand next to him and listen to what the aftercare instructions are because he’s all like grrr my girlfriend!! no touch!!! 😡🤬

daichi omg daichi is SO SHY and BASHFUL like he looks at you all 🥺🥰 and when you look towards him he immediately looks away but it’s so obvious because his ears are red and you can see his blush high on his cheekbones 😭🥺💕 you ask him what’s wrong and he’s stuttering trying to ask if you have a boyfriend and you’re like yes 💔

his face FALLS and it hurts but then you show him your matching engagement rings 💍 like “we’re fiancés, dai 🥰❤️” and he almost cries as hard as when he heard you say yes 😭💖💕 he’s so EMBARRASSED when you show the video back to him 😭 suga and asahi clown him 🤧

sugawara fella wakes up, looks you in the eye and is like “they’ve rebuilt me, babe✨” what? “the technology!!!” ??? “they made me better than i was before: better, stronger, faster 🤖💪🧠" LMFAO thinks he underwent some experiment like no we just fixed your teeth 😌

when you tell him so he gets a little dejected and asks you if you’d still love him without any upgrades with his lips pursed and his cheeks pink as he plays with your hands 🥺💗 like OFC KOUSHI!!! 🥰🥺❤️ really sweet and giggly on the bus ride home—holds you close and draws circles on your skin as he talks about the strangest things 🙈💖

kageyama no inhibitions so tobio is very attached to you!!! when he wakes up to see you next to him, he grabs you in his half-asleep state to leave slobbery kisses all over you like some dog before he falls back asleep again 💀 he wakes up twenty minutes later to see that you’re gone (had to wash off his spit 😬) and he panics when he doesn’t see you 😭🥺

he gets up to try to look for you and the second you come back, he hugs you and is all ☹️ telling you “don’t go too far, i wanna always be able to find you 😠🥺” you rub his back and pinky promise to stay close by and he’s so relieved he falls asleep standing 😴💕 like …..thanks 🤧 asks if he can play volleyball and pouts rlly hard when the dentist says no 😭💔

atsumu atsumu is loopy af and he wanted to go to the washroom so the poor staff had to hull around this 6’2”, 80kg man around but then you walk in just as they’re about to turn the corner and the moment he sees you, he’s goes “BABIEEEEE, I loOoove yoU! 😍” in this super adorable, high pitched sing-songy voice and makes OBNOXIOUS kissy faces at you but it looks so funny because his mouth is full of cotton 😭😭🤧🥴 the nurses tell you he’s a keeper but then he promptly slips and nearly falls on his face trying to walk over to you unassisted 🙄

the walk to the car is SO HARD because he clings to you like a baby koala and whines when you try to get him to loosen up so that you can get better leverage to support his weight like atsumu pls we’re almost there, just let go for a bit and he’s all puppy eyed like “don’t 🥺 ya 🥺 love 🥺 me 🥺 baby???????? i jus’ wanna be close to ya 💔💔💔” JAJCJJWNCMS he denies all of it when he sobers up

osamu all this fool remembers is that he has a girlfriend and that she looks EXACTLY like you but his brain synapses aren’t working like they used to 😔 so he doesn’t remember that YOU are literally his girlfriend so he just sits there and goes all “you look so much like her….. i miss her sm 😢🤕😞” with this faraway look in his eyes AS IF YOU WERE DEAD 💀 THE DISRESPECT

he rlly wants to hold your hand and touch you but like u aren’t his girlfriend right??? but you tell him u are after rolling ur eyes and show him some photos of the two of you as proof and he’s all “oh!” 😳 and he smiles so broad you can see his little dimple on his left cheek 😭💖 because he can FINALLY hold your hand 🥰 no filter so he whisper-begs for kisses throughout the entire time the dentist talks you through his surgery and how to care for him and you’re so embarrassed JAJCJKAKDSS “pls, pls can i have a kiss” you give him one “can i have one here now” “what about here” “pls another one pls” 🥺🥺🥺 at least he’s polite JAJCNKAFB

suna rin remembers you and right when he wakes up to see you next to him he says, “hello, wife 💖" and waits for your response but like wtf do u SAY like you’ve only ever heard him tell you he loves you that ONE time he thought u were ASLEEP!!! and you haven’t even talked about anything beyond dating yet!!! is it the anaesthetic that’s making him say this or is he just fooling you??? 💀😵 a few minutes later, he sighs and goes “you’re supposed to say ‘hello, husband ❤️’….” 🙄🥱

show him the video after the anaesthetic wears off and he’ll sit there looking at you like “….well? i’m still waiting? 😐” ugH modern romance am i right HAHDJKAKSKAA

ushijima wakatoshi thinks you’re another nurse even though you’re dressed nothing like them and he asks you when his girlfriend is coming and if she knows he’s done with the procedure and also “have you met my girlfriend? she is very beautiful and very kind. you must meet her ☺️” he asks the same questions to the dentist who comes in to talk to you afterwards and they’re looking at him like ?????? “isn’t this your girlfriend, ushijima-san?”

wakatoshi just goes 😯, looks at you and says your name so softly and in the sweetest way possible and tells you he missed you and he loves you and he wants to go get curry from that one restaurant later and the dentist tells you they’ll be back later as you sob 😭😭❤️💕❤️😭💖

semi eita thinks you’re one of the office receptionists when you walk in and asks you if you, his girlfriend 💕, had been notified that the procedure was done and you’re all uh yes she does, she’s coming soon!! he nods very cutely and thanks you, handsome smile on his face at the thought of seeing you 🥰 he turns around to look at the window and you just stand there all 😶 he HUMS softly as he waits and it’s that one song he played for you on his guitar HAJXNJSW 😭🥺💘❤️

he turns back around thirty seconds later like “babe?? is that you?? you got here so fast 😍🥺💖😚” as if it wasn’t you THE WHOLE TIME 💀 melts when you kiss his cheeks tenderly 🥰 plays with your fingers as he softly looks into your eyes!! 😍

tendou really wants to get his wisdom teeth back like just because you pulled them out doesn’t make them yours, sensei 🙄 LMFAO the dentist gives him his teeth afterwards and he holds them out for you and you’re like “tysm for your bloody, gross teeth, satori 🥰😬” “AWWW you’re welcome 😊 aren’t they cute? ya think our kids will be this cute? 💖”

many thoughts: 1) oh god oh GOD he wants to have KIDS WITH YOU!! MARRIAGE??!? 😵❤️ 2) y does he think his molars r cute and y does he hope your kids will look like nasty teeth 😭💀 he’s rlly adamant about you lazing around with him. keeps showing u his teeth for some reason but gives the cutest smiles and hums when you feed him his fav chocolate ice cream 💗💗💗

goshiki he tries to flirt with you but its so funny and endearingly awkward because he’s got all the gauze in his mouth and he isn’t that good at it and he’s on the verge of tears half the time and you dont know why??? you ask him and his brows are all furrowed, pout on his lips and says “just wanna be your boyfriend pls 🥺💕” “yeah?” “yeah,” he nods. “i promise to do my best 🥺”

when you tell him you’re already dating, he starts to cry and is all like i have to tell all my friends 😭 tsutomu cries to the dentist like “sensei, y’know, we’re boyfriend and girlfriend 😭❤️” he quiets down when you brush through his hair with your hands ☺️

terushima you walk into his room after he’s done and ask the dental hygienists how he’s doing and he looks at you all confused like 🤨 and asks the hygienists who you are. they think you’re married for some reason and say “that’s your wife!” and you’re so EMBARRASSED but also super happy on the inside HAHA he straight up goes “DAAAMMNNN, I did alright, huh?! when we bustin’ outta here?!” 🤪😜🥴😘 as if he could actually differentiate between left and right, up and down 😔

just in case, he asks you if you’re his wife at the same time the dentist asks if the two of you will be okay from here on out and you nod to the dentist’s question but yuuji thinks it’s for him so he lays back down with this satisfied look on his face like HELL YEAH alright, alright, alright 😌🥰🥴 and does those little nods SIDJAJJDJSJFJR HAHAHAHA

sakusa omi lets you play with his bangs and hands as you wait for the dentist and he LOVES IT softest smile on his face!! RIDICULOUSLY CLINGY!!!! he does NOT want you to leave him at all, will not let you go to the bathroom even though you’re like “omi, please, the dentist is busy with another patient right now, i’ll be back soon before we go through the aftercare stuff” “no” “omi, i have to pee” “do it here” and now it’s you who’s all 🤢

gets really defensive and protective when the dentist comes in and just shoves his head in your chest because he doesn’t want to look at them LMFAO death grip around your waist 🤧 when you show him what he said about you going to the bathroom he demands you delete it “omi, i didn’t know u loved me that much 🥰🥺💕” “…………..🤐”

hoshiumi kourai insisted he was fine on his own “nothing is impossible for hoshiumi kourai, national athlete 😤” when the dentist asked if he needed someone to watch over him and the dentist is 🤨 ok sir and leaves after he falls asleep. when he wakes up, no one’s in his room and he has to use the washroom and he’s like i’ll do just it myself 🙄 he tries to stand and promptly collapses to the floor. he CRAWLS around on his stomach and makes it out of his room just as you walk in and you’re like KOU whY are you on the FLOOR like a ROACH 😭😭😭

it’s like you’re reenacting some dramatic romance movie as kou groans around the gauze and makes poor attempts to stand up, holding onto you LAKDSHLASKAHD 💀💀💀 asks you to get on the floor with him because he honest to god can’t get UP so that he can cuddle with you as the dentist and his assistants stand two feet away 🥰💕 tries to fight the staff when they get too close to you trying to help him get back to his bed HAJJFKAKDMAD

extra: kita shinsuke (lol) when kita finishes his wisdom tooth extraction, he looks at you like this and doesnt remember who you are; he thinks you’re here for another patient and doesn’t say a word to you because his grandma taught him not to talk to strangers.

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littlefreya · 4 years ago

Note

Henry's reaction to finding out GF's house is haunted.

Summary: Henry’s friend invites him over to watch a horror film on Halloween, problem is he is madly in love with her.

Pairings: Henry Cavill x Unamed OFC (3rd person, no description)

Warnings: RPF, fluff, romantic goo, friends to lovers or rather idiots to lovers, brief mentions of alcohol and Henry’s green hoodie p0rn.

Words: 1.6K

A/N: So I had to take it to the “friends to lovers” lane, also I will need all the fluff after what I am about to post tomorrow :|! Divider by @firefly-graphics. Beta’d by my beautiful @agniavateira . Also FYI my house is totally haunted.

Please comment and reblog if you enjoyed.

Haunted Houses

All Hallow's Eve was Henry’s favourite time of the year. The spicy autumn air was thickly shrouded by magic. Spooky tales and plastic spiders inhabited drapes of thin cotton tendrils and fat pumpkins carved with scary faces would sit on his doorstep to welcome him home or bid him farewell on his way out.

Per tradition, he would rally close friends at midnight for a horror flick and pineapple-anchovy pizza; often a bottle of rum would be added to the party. However, this Halloween fell on a bittersweet period, as his friends grew too old for said spooky gatherings. Starting new families of their own, they had no time to indulge him.

All save for her, who just like him was still somehow single.

How bad would it be to spend the evening just the two of them... alone? Ignoring the fact that it was enough to see her name flicker on the screen of his phone for pure warmth to enkindle in his chest. He thought about her often before he fell asleep and when he woke up; and by often, he meant every single day since he met her.

Though she didn’t think much of him as anything other than a friend she loved to banter with - he presumed. And of course she loved Kal, possibly more than she cared for him. Yet, Henry did what he did best: bury his emotions into a little pit he dug in the graveyard of his mind.

"Heh!” Henry croaked as the door opened. His sapphires ensnared the veils of black that cloaked her, preserving the sight of silk laces tied tightly at her torso in what seemed like a gothic medieval gown.

“I see you took off your costume for the evening."

She narrowed her eyes but only to observe his attire carefully: that same green hoodie and a pair of worn jeans that complimented his… asset.

She wanted to etch her fingers around the thick fabric and have a whiff of this hoodie, or perhaps just steal it and wear it forever and a day.

"First of all, it is called The Witching Hour so I must dress properly. Secondly - where is your costume, Cavill?" she crossed her arms together, looking rather displeased.

“I’m dressed as a homicidal maniac, we look like everybody else does.”

Snorting, she tilted her head, unimpressed. “You totally just stole this joke from Wednesday Addams.”

Henry shrugged and pressed his lips to a thin line. One of his foolish expressive gestures. It made her feel less nervous to which she was thankful. When she suggested they’d hang out despite them being the only two, she didn’t think much of the consequences of being all alone with the man who inhabited her mind and never paid rent. Everything about Henry made her feverish, but it was always easy when others accompanied them. The awkward anxiety of having to entertain him wasn’t her job, not up till now…

Oh, god! What if they had nothing to talk about? What if their playful chemistry was always influenced by the presence of other people?

Beads of sweat began to form below her breasts when Henry shoved a bottle of rum into her hand and then leaned in to steal a casual kiss from her cheek. She smiled with a friendly huff in return, stifling the shiver that coursed through her muscles while he welcomed himself into her home.

Striding forward, he peered at the Halloween decorations she hung across the walls and inhaled deeply - the scent of maple and buttery chestnuts filled the cosy little house, a scent that he could easily get intoxicated with.

It was what she smelled like and here he was, drowning in its excess.

After a quick observation, he turned to look at her, holding his hands clasped behind his back. She smiled awkwardly in return and then averted her gaze, becoming fascinated by the bottle he brought.

‘There it is,’ Henry mused, ‘that embarrassing silence, there is so much to tell her, but she probably… no! She definitely finds me boring.’

This Halloween celebration would probably be the last and it was all sorts of disastrous.

Trying to overcome the silence, he cleared his throat and reached a hand to scratch his curly mane. “So what movie are we watching?”

“Movie?” she asked confused and then quickly corrected, “Oh yes, umm... The Exorcist.”

“Good, love me some green vomit.” his eyes followed carefully as she waltzed into the small open kitchen, placing the rum on the counter and then returning with a large bowl that made his nostrils flare.

“Green vomit goes extremely well with caramelised popcorn,” she suggested and popped a golden flake of popcorn into her mouth.

“Sweet-salty popcorn? I love you!” Henry groaned and snatched the bowl right away. It was only when his mouth was stuffed that he realised what words he just used.

But she didn’t seem to react, thankfully. Instead, she brushed a hand over her many skirts and pointed toward the living room.

Hugging the bowl, Henry strode behind her, entering the dimly lit living room. The traditional pizza was already laid on the wooden coffee table, along with a few bottles of Guinness.

Her couch was small, only fit for a couple. And Henry, being a hulking man, took most of the space. Their thighs immediately ground into one another’s, yet they both pretended as if they hadn't noticed the hot tingle running beneath the layers of clothing.

“I have to warn you about something,” she uttered, hoping that the tremor she suddenly felt in her body was not visible to him.

Henry crooked his eyebrow, looking at the ominous glare she offered.

“My house is totally haunted.”

Not waiting for his answer, she grabbed the remote and pressed play. Henry chuckled at her silly joke, waiting for her to break character but she only peered at the screen.

“Nice try, I am not scared of that stuff.” He shifted in his seat slightly, lifting his lengthy arm and spreading it on the headrest right behind her. Immediately, he regretted this semi-possessive masculine gesture, but it was too late to pull it away.

Her instincts screamed to snuggle into him yet she held back. “Don’t believe me, but I am not making this up,” she insisted, “Every night around 3 am, I hear scratching from within the walls and these thuds from the ceiling, and then one night… I woke up the door creaking.”

Henry glanced at her quietly for a long moment, watching the reflection from the screen gyrating over her glossy irises and then snorted. He leaned toward the coffee table and grabbed two beers, uncorking them with the help of his pinky ring and then offering her one of the bottles.

“I think you have rats.”

“Rats who make heavy thuds and open bedroom doors?”

“Yup, a big fat randy rat.” he teased. “We’ll take a look at your bedroom later, but I promise you, there are no such things as ghosts.”

‘We’ll take a look in your bedroom? Great…’ He berated himself. At this point, he just wanted to sigh and shake his head.

She peered at him oddly, her throat clenching a tad before she turned her head back to the movie with a mumble, “It’s not a ghost, it’s a demon.”

Within a few minutes they grew quiet, deciding to focus on the movie with the occasional dry jokes and bad puns from Henry as an attempt to overcome his anxiety. Outside the window, thunder rumbled in the distance and shy raindrops lightly kissed the glass, tinted with the many vague shades of lights coming from the street.

Now and then, Henry shifted in his seat, his meaty thigh further grinding into her leg which stirred her blood to the point of electric spasms. She lightly pushed against him, pretending it’s by accident when truthfully, she wanted to exploit every second of being in his proximity. Had she any guts, she would turn to kiss him, but the thought alone made her heart clench in fear.

She threw him a glance, and their eyes met. Henry offered a kind grin, avoiding staring at her lips. She smiled back coyly, her heartbeat accelerating with anticipation when the possessed girl in the movie made a horrifying groan that ruined the moment.

And then the room suddenly was swallowed in darkness, followed by a strong clap of thunder that tore open the sky.

In the scant moment of chaos, he heard a scream and then the light came back as if nothing happened, aside from the fact that she was now in his arms, with her legs straddling his waist, and her fingers clutching the collar of his hoodie.

Henry was unsure how and when his hand found itself latched to the small of her back, only that he didn’t want to let go. They exchanged bemused glances and swallowed the dryness parching their throats.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered hoarsely, “I got scared…”

Embarrassed to the point of tears, she attempted to climb off, wanting nothing more than to run to the bathroom and cry in hiding, when Henry sent a hand to stroke her temple and gently brushed his fingers behind her ear.

“Stay,” he insisted, squeezing into her lower back as if to prevent her from escaping.

Her lips parted slowly, the same golden hue that suffused the living room split into her eyes, beaming even brighter as he continued to caress her face before bringing her closer to graze her lips with his.

Halloween was, without a doubt, his favourite.

Tagging: @the-soot-sprite @henrythickcavill because they asked to be tagged in these. <3

#henry cavill #henry cavill rpf #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x ofc

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