#live laugh love the mystic isles

[raptorladylover6969]

The Sofia The First Mystic Isles specials has implemented themselves into my brain so deep, that I was trying to search up Sofia The First on Disney+, but instead ended up writing “The Mystic Isles” into the search bar.

[raptorladylover6969]

OH MY GODDDDDD I AM ABSOLUTELY SCREAMING YOU DREW HER SO WELLLLL AUGHHHHH TSYM FOR THIS 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Saw ur recent drawing request post, and I very much have a very epicly epic request…I think Vega (the WindWalker Protector chief girl from the Mystic Isles specials) would look SO GOOD in ur art style‼️

goshh I hope i did Vega justice, the design was so pretty but I did struggle jsnfkjnf

But thank you so much for your ask, legit it brought me a big smile to my face whenever I saw it <3

Hope you like it, and btw you can use the drawing in whatever way your like, its completely yours ^^

Also for those wondering, colorless sketch requests for EOA and STF are open

Rules are: here and Here

[the-king-andthe-lionheart]

So this is definitely in response to that certain dark section of our fandom (you know exactly who you are) who are throwing a fit about the Arya and Daenerys fandoms enjoying the possibility of a canon Daenarya friendship in the future.  So let’s look at all the quotes that possibly foreshadow a future Arya and Dany friendship and put it into context.

It was very dark right now, she realized. She hugged her bare knees tight against her chest and shivered. She would wait quietly and count to ten thousand. By then it would be safe for her to come creeping back out and find her way home.

By the time she had reached eighty-seven, the room had begun to lighten as her eyes adjusted to the blackness. Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes stared at her hungrily through the gloom, and dimly she saw the jagged shadows of long teeth. She had lost the count. She closed her eyes and bit her lip and sent the fear away. When she looked again, the monsters would be gone. Would never have been. She pretended that Syrio was beside her in the dark, whispering in her ear. Calm as still water, she told herself. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. She opened her eyes again.

The monsters were still there, but the fear was gone.

Arya got to her feet, moving warily. The heads were all around her. She touched one, curious, wondering if it was real. Her fingertips brushed a massive jaw. It felt real enough. The bone was smooth beneath her hand, cold and hard to the touch. She ran her fingers down a tooth, black and sharp, a dagger made of darkness. It made her shiver.

"It's dead," she said aloud. "It's just a skull, it can't hurt me." Yet somehow the monster seemed to know she was there. She could feel its empty eyes watching her through the gloom, and there was something in that dim, cavernous room that did not love her. She edged away from the skull and backed into a second, larger than the first. For an instant she could feel its teeth digging into her shoulder, as if it wanted a bite of her flesh. Arya whirled, felt leather catch and tear as a huge fang nipped at her jerkin, and then she was running. Another skull loomed ahead, the biggest monster of all, but Arya did not even slow. She leapt over a ridge of black teeth as tall as swords, dashed through hungry jaws, and threw herself against the door. - Arya III AGOT

Here is the initial passage that has to do with dragons in Arya’s story.  She comes across the dragon skulls in the dark and feels afraid of them.  She feels as if the eyes of the skulls were watching her and did not like her. She also doesn’t recognize them for what they are.  She initially refers to them as monsters, but later she comes to realize they are dragons: 

This time the monsters did not frighten her. They seemed almost old friends. Arya held the candle over her head. With each step she took, the shadows moved against the walls, as if they were turning to watch her pass. "Dragons," she whispered. She slid Needle out from under her cloak. The slender blade seemed very small and the dragons very big, yet somehow Arya felt better with steel in her hand. - Arya IV AGOT

Now admittedly the first quote does sound like the foreshadowing could suggest antagonism between Arya and Dany, but the second quote doesn’t suggest this.  Arya thinks of them as if they are old friends.  That is the most notable sentence of the paragraph, not the fact that she slid Needle out.  But when you actually look at this paragraph you actually see a duality here.  The monsters did not frighten her.  They seemed almost old friends.  Yet she slides her blade out and feels better?  So for me this quote just seems to foreshadow that Dany will be Arya’s friend, yet Arya will remain wary of her dragons like anyone naturally would be.

So putting these two quotes into context, it tells us that if Arya and Dany will meet they will initially be antagonistic and wary of each other (most Daenarya fans I’ve seen acknowledge this will likely be the case).  However it also suggests that this wariness will eventually fade and they will become friends.  Arya doesn’t need to think she is wholly safe from the dragons to have a friendship with Dany.  EVERYONE is wary about the dragons, just like most people would be unsure and most likely afraid if they were in the same room as a large cat or a bear. 

But this isn’t Arya’s only dragon connections in the narrative.  Arya’s closest relationship is with Jon, who is half Targaryen.  In Braavos Arya is fascinated by the courtesans and the Black Pearl in particular:

"The Black Pearl," she told them. Merry claimed the Black Pearl was the most famous courtesan of all. "She's descended from the dragons, that one," the woman had told Cat. "The first Black Pearl was a pirate queen. A Westerosi prince took her for a lover and got a daughter on her, who grew up to be a courtesan. Her own daughter followed her, and her daughter after her, until you get to this one [...] - Cat of the Canals AFFC

The woman with him could not have been more than a third his age. She was so lovely that the lamps seemed to burn brighter when she passed. She had dressed in a low-cut gown of pale yellow silk, startling against the light brown of her skin. Her black hair was bound up in a net of spun gold, and a jet-and-gold necklace brushed against the top of her full breasts. As they watched, she leaned close to the envoy and whispered something in his ear that made him laugh. "They should call her the Brown Pearl," Mercy said to Daena. "She's more brown than black."

"The first Black Pearl was black as a pot of ink," said Daena. "She was a pirate queen, fathered by a Sealord's son on a princess from the Summer Isles. A dragon king from Westeros took her for his lover."

"I would like to see a dragon," Mercy said wistfully. - Mercy TWOW

There is even foreshadowing that Arya will form a closer relationship with the Black Pearl in the future by becoming an apprentice for her so Arya can refine her highborn manners so it’s easier for the FM to place her into highborn society to do their work, because why not utilize a highborn girl in this way?

But also notice that Arya/Mercy is friends with a girl named “Daena” which is ridiculously close to the name Daenerys.  And in the same conversation with Daena (Daenerys) Arya/Mercy also said she wished to see a dragon.  And no this isn’t “Mercy’s” wish, this is Arya’s wish:

As Arya crossed the yard to the bathhouse, she spied a raven circling down toward the rookery, and wondered where it had come from and what message it carried. Might be it's from Robb, come to say it wasn't true about Bran and Rickon. She chewed on her lip, hoping. If I had wings I could fly back to Winterfell and see for myself. And if it was true, I'd just fly away, fly up past the moon and the shining stars, and see all the things in Old Nan's stories, dragons and sea monsters and the Titan of Braavos, and maybe I wouldn't ever fly back unless I wanted to. - Arya X ACOK

Doesn’t really sound like Arya hates dragons or have any issues regarding them.  She wants to see them irregardless of any fear they may inspire within her that everyone would naturally have upon seeing a dragon.

Arya also expresses a wish to fly throughout her narrative and she also has wing symbolism in her arc:

If I was a crow I could fly down and peck off his stupid fat pouty lips. - Arya X ACOK

If I had wings I could fly back to Winterfell and see for myself.  And if it was true, I'd just fly away, fly up past the moon and the shining stars, and see all the things in Old Nan's stories, dragons and sea monsters and the Titan of Braavos, and maybe I wouldn't ever fly back unless I wanted to. - Arya X ACOK

I wish I could change into a wolf and grow wings and fly away. - Arya XIII ASOS

She might be bald and skinny, but Mercy had a pretty smile, and a certain grace. Even Izembaro agreed that she was graceful. She was not far from the Gate as the crows flies, but for girls with feet instead of wings the way was longer. - Mercy TWOW

Also lets not forget how similar Arya and Dany are to each other and how many parallels they share.  They are both lost princesses exiled and sent to Essos, specifically Braavos, after their father's deaths at the hands of Lannister's.  They each know what it's like to be bought and sold and to be enslaved – Dany as a child bride and Arya as a child soldier.  And they both have pretenders trying to take their claims.  Both have been forced into becoming smallfolk, living in poverty and starved.  And they both know what it's like to be hunted and scared.  They adapt exceedingly well into other environments and cultures, and their morality and sense of justice are very attuned, as they seek to protect those that can not protect themselves.  Very protective, they are both empathetic and maternal and care for the sick, ailing, and dying.  Both of them are survivors and have both suffered abuse and sexual assault (more so for Dany, but it's still there).  They are both clever and know how to manipulate people.  They are both polyglots and both of their deepest desires are for home and family/pack.  They both try to live up to the image of their older siblings (ie Sansa and Rhaegar).  Arya is said to look and act like Lyanna and Daenerys is compared to Rhaegar by the people that knew him.   They are both very close to their house sigils and even dream about them and the mystical beasts they both own.  They both love horseback riding and they both have encountered mystical prophets.  Wanted/considered becoming sailors and they both have fantastic people skills.  Not to mention that it was Arya who said that the slaves should have killed the masters, while Dany is leading a slave uprising to overthrow and yes, execute the masters.

Dany is also not some “mad queen” and she does listen to the people who knew her father and Rhaegar.  She is learning the truth about the monster her father was and learning to accept that.  So there is no reason why Dany should continue to feel antagonistic towards the next generation of Stark’s for something they didn’t do.  

I’ve also seen comments about how the fire devastation that is within Arya’s story must clearly mean “Dark Dany” and that Arya and Dany will be antagonistic towards each other in canon when they meet.  I’m assuming these people are referring to the burning barn scene:

"You take her!" she yelled. "You get her out! You do it!" The fire beat at her back with hot red wings as she fled the burning barn. It felt blessedly cool outside, but men were dying all around her. She saw Koss throw down his blade to yield, and she saw them kill him where he stood. Smoke was everywhere. There was no sign of Yoren, but the axe was where Gendry had left it, by the woodpile outside the haven. As she wrenched it free, a mailed hand grabbed her arm. Spinning, Arya drove the head of the axe hard between his legs. She never saw his face, only the dark blood seeping between the links of his hauberk. Going back into that barn was the hardest thing she ever did. Smoke was pouring out the open door like a writhing black snake, and she could hear the screams of the poor animals inside, donkeys and horses and men. She chewed her lip, and darted through the doors, crouched low where the smoke wasn't quite so thick.

A donkey was caught in a ring of fire, shrieking in terror and pain. She could smell the stench of burning hair. The roof was gone up too, and things were falling down, pieces of flaming wood and bits of straw and hay. Arya put a hand over her mouth and nose. She couldn't see the wagon for the smoke, but she could still hear Biter screaming. She crawled toward the sound. - Arya IV ACOK

Arya rolled headfirst into the tunnel and dropped five feet. She got dirt in her mouth but she didn't care, the taste was fine, the taste was mud and water and worms and life. Under the earth the air was cool and dark. Above was nothing but blood and roaring red and choking smoke and the screams of dying horses. She moved her belt around so Needle would not be in her way, and began to crawl. A dozen feet down the tunnel she heard the sound, like the roar of some monstrous beast, and a cloud of hot smoke and black dust came billowing up behind her, smelling of hell. Arya held her breath and kissed the mud on the floor of the tunnel and cried. For whom, she could not say. - Arya IV ACOK

This chapter does not mean that Dany is going to go “evil” or “mad” and start burning stuff to the ground.  You guys do remember that Dany has three dragons right?  And that Dany is only the dragonrider to Drogon?  That leaves two other possible dragons that could be stolen from Dany.  We have Euron/Victarion who has the dragon binder horn and then we have Aegon who may or may not be able to claim one of those dragons for himself.  There is also the possibility that Euron dies or Aegon dies and someone else will take their places as dragonriders via Targaryen blood or use of that horn.  So besides Dany we have Aegon, Jon, Euron, and Tyrion who may all ride dragons within the story as they all have the proper set-up and foreshadowing for it to be a possibility.  So why is it the automatic assumption that it will be Dany burning shit down?   

Not to mention, wildfire has the same types of language used as the two quotes above:

And then some vast beast had let out a roar, and green flames were all around them: wildfire, pyromancer's piss, the jade demon [...] From bank to bank there was nothing but burning ships and wildfire. The sight of it seemed to stop his heart for a moment, and he could still remember the sound of it, the crackle of flames, the hiss of steam, the shrieks of dying men, and the beat of that terrible heat against his face as the current swept him down toward hell. - Davos I ASOS

So considering there not only is there a ton of foreshadowing that it will be Cersei who destroys King’s Landing with wildfire, but also there is foreshadowing that Jon Connington will do something incredibly drastic to win and keep the Iron Throne for Aegon.  And may I remind the audience that the fires Arya went through and experienced in the Riverlands had zero to do with Dany.  They were the direct result of the Lannisters.

So if Arya IV ACOK is foreshadowing a future fire she is stuck in, there is no evidence that the fire will be caused by Dany nor that the fire is dragonfire.  And if you are going to point out the show as evidence, let me tell you something, go to the youtuber The Dragon Demands and watch his videos dissecting everything about the scene of Dany burning King’s Landing by using the script, listening to BtS content, looking at the storyboards, actually noting that a scene of Cersei looking out the window, depicting her watching people put barrels of wildfire on the battlements, etc.  Because the compilation he makes proves that Dany burning KL the way that she did in 8x05 was a last minute change.  It was supposed to be an accidental wildfire explosion before they changed it so they could justify Jon killing her.  But I’m sure even with the evidence you’ll still cling to the idea of Dark!Dany because you are incredibly insecure about your fictitious ship and your blatant mischaracterization of your favorite “pure as the driven snow /s” character, because there is literally nothing in the books that foreshadows Dany going “mad” or “dark”.  So why don’t you take your jealousies about Daenerys and Arya and the very possible Daenarya friendship somewhere else.

[sasheenka]

Sasheenka's book club 1/?

For the past 5 months I have read and/or listened to over 40 gay romance books and I keep adding more and more to my collection. I will use my tumblr to do short reviews of the titles I go through. Number of stars ★ to ★★★★★ denote my level of enjoyment throughout.

Brothers of the Wild North Sea by Harper Fox (★★★★★)

The story takes place in 687 AD in the North of the British Isles. Caius is the eldest son of a local chieftain who lives as a monk in the Fara monastery. A viking raid leaves the monastery in uproar, the buildings in ruins and several monks  dead. Caius teaches the surviving monks to fight and during the second viking raid, they manage to surprise their attackers and drive them off without too much damage. A severely injured viking is left for dead by his people and Caius takes pity on him and saves his life. Feelings blossom between him and Fenrir, the captive viking, and it will be the two of them together who will uncover the mystical secrets of Fara and save the little community from ruin (both from inside and outside). 

I enjoyed this one a great deal! The book has a beautiful romance, delicious angst and an engaging plot. It's beautifully written, with a lot of world building and a plethora of interesting characters. (Btw, Fenrir is a darling and I love him.)

Narrated by: Hamish Long (He did a great job! Managed to portray a wide variety of characters to make them easily recognisable. I particularly liked the way he voiced Fenrir)

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins (finished it in two days :))

Provoked by Joanna Chambers (★★)

I was unable to finish this book. I liked the main character, David, a young Scottish lawyer making his way in Edinburgh's regency era society while trying to uncover an agent provocateur responsible for the death of several men. I found the story interesting, social unrest and intrigue and all that. I, however, couldn't stand the “love interest”, Lord Balfour. Apart from being supposedly good looking, he had no good qualities whatsoever. He was both hostile and predatory towards David, totally disregarding his wishes and his physical boundaries. He reminded me of a “seme” right out of some bad yaoi manga. This is supposed to be the first book in a trilogy, so maybe Balfour would become less insufferable with time, but I will not spend my money on that. 

Narrated by: Hamish McKinlay (very scottish :))

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins (I made it through 2/3 of the book)

Think of England by KJ Charles (★★★★★)

It takes place in 1904 England. Archie Curtis, an upper class golden boy and a former soldier, is trying to find out whether an incident that happened to his unit in South Africa was a tragic mishap or an act of sabotage. Daniel da Silva is a secret agent with a sideline in poetry. Daniel's mission is to find out proof of blackmail that ended up with several gay men committing suicide. Their paths cross at a remote house party hosted by the suspect of both the blackmail and sabotage and they have to work together to not only uncover the truth, but to make it out alive. 

Archie overcame his internalised homophobia, did some soul searching and will make a wonderful boyfriend to Daniel, of that I am sure. The characters have amazing chemistry and work so well together. I love how proud Archie was of himself to be able to make Daniel laugh. Two of the minor characters (a wlw couple) are the protagonists of the book Proper English. 

Love this book! It's one of my comfort reads. 

Narrated by: Tom Carter (I had to get used to his voice, but it does fit Archie in my head now)

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

“Ham?”  “No, thank you.”   “It’s a jolly good one.”  Da Silva blinked, slowly, like a lizard. “I dare say, but I fear I haven’t converted since we last spoke.”  “Con— Oh. Oh, I beg your pardon. I quite forgot you were a Jew.”  “How refreshing. So few people do.”

[irenedonnee]

One shot

For the mood board challenge by @outlanderlush and @iamnottrisha

A/N: So that was fun! Mood board by @holdhertightandsayhername and beta by the amazing @lcbeauchampoftarth ❤️ I hope you’ll enjoy!

On December 7th, Jamie arrived to the small village on the Isle of Skye that was infamous for the tragic bus accident that had killed thirty-five tourists; one of them being his estranged brother, Willie.

Jamie didn’t even remember what had caused the feud between them, seven months prior to the bus crash. It didn’t matter. His big brother was dead and Jamie never had the chance to say goodbye.

During the year after Willie’s death, Jamie tried to find a way to remember his brother. He wrote an article about his law firm, he sent money for the education of Stella, his niece, and he drank. He knew it was not the right thing to do, but only when he was drunk would Jamie stop feeling guilty for his brother’s death.

Nothing worked. So, after kissing Sarah and wishing her a Merry Christmas at the office party, he drove to the train station and bought a ticket to Scotland.

Jamie lived in London, in a small apartment. He had no partner, no pet, no plants; only a bar filled with the finest bottles of whisky and wine. He would not get drunk on cheap alcohol.

He had a very successful career, but he found he had this emptiness inside him. It wouldn’t go away, and got even worse after Willie’s death. His family lived in Scotland and he barely saw them. He wanted nothing to do with them — he was still so bitter and angry. He had never felt loved by them.

His life was a mess.

It took hours for Jamie to reach the quaint village, but he didn’t notice the time passing by. He was lost in his head, thinking about his life, from his birth to Willie’s death. He didn’t consider the last year as living, but mostly surviving.

Jamie was left by the bus on the sidewalk, alone with his leather bag. He took a deep breath of fresh air, looking around. Gradually, Jamie felt a weird sense of serenity fill his soul. Considering the tragic history that was related to the place, the last thing Jamie had expected coming here was peace. He reasoned that he should have come earlier.

Putting his bag on his shoulder, Jamie headed to the local bar that was just on the other side of the road.

A bell rang when he opened the door, and he was surprised to find the place almost empty. There were a few men playing pool and some others drinking beer around tables. Jamie noticed a couple sitting next to each other on the same side of the table. The image of Sarah crossed his mind, but he pushed it away. They had just started seeing each other, and he didn’t want to think about where this relationship was heading just now.

Jamie sat at the bar, putting his bag on the seat next to him.

“Hey.”

He looked up at the barmaid. She was tall, with wild dark hair in a messy bun. He felt her amber eyes looking into his soul, making him feel uncomfortable. Her pink lips were curled up in a small smile.

“Hi,” he said in a breath.

“Tourist?”

He hesitated. “Yes.”

“Welcome,” she said. She stared at him without saying anything. He didn’t really know what to do, as he grew paralyzed by her beautiful eyes. “What can I get you?”

“Uh…” he swallowed, not able to look away from her face. “A whisky, please.”

She smiled and poured him a glass. “There.” She put a napkin in front of him and handed him the glass. “It’s cold outside.”

“Aye,” he smiled, taking a sip. “You’re a Sassenach.”

“Obviously,” she smiled in return, showing off her teeth.

“What are you doing here in the middle of nowhere?”

“Oh, I don’t tell my secrets that easily.” She waved her eyebrows. “What are you doing here?”

Jamie grinned, taking a long sip of whisky, emptying his glass. “Oh, I don’t tell my secrets that easily either,” he responded as he handed her the glass.

She eyed him, the corner of her mouth curled up, before refilling his glass.

“Thank ye.”

There was a cozy atmosphere in the bar that warmed his heart.

“Do you own the place?”

“Yes,” she answered proudly. “I started it almost three years ago now.” She took a glass and wiped it with a towel.

“It’s really nice.”

“Thank you,” she smiled sincerely.

She wasn’t speaking much, only giving short answers and mysterious smiles, but Jamie was mesmerized by this woman. He wasn’t thirsty anymore, but he didn’t want to leave just yet. So, he ordered another drink.

He spent the night at the bar, talking to her or simply looking at her when she was serving other clients. He noticed the crescent moon necklace and the horseshoe tattoo on the inside of her arm. There was something mystical about her, and for a moment, he wondered if she was a witch.

When it was closing time, Jamie rose and put his bag strap on his shoulder. “It was lovely to meet you. I didn’t quite get your name.”

She smiled at him. Her eyes looked tired and her hair was even messier than when he came in the bar. “Claire.”

“Claire,” he repeated with a sly smile. “I’m Jamie.”

After one last look over his shoulder, he left the bar. The cold of the winter night knocked the air out of his lungs. He closed his arms tightly around his chest and made his way to the bed and breakfast that was on the other side of the road.

There was a light on n the lobby, so Jamie made his way inside. An old woman was sitting by the desk reading a book. When he entered, she looked up at him with a smile and greeted him. He eventually booked a room for the next few days..

It was a small room with a bed that groaned loudly when he laid down, but the exhaustion of the day had him falling asleep without even taking his shoes off.

***

Jamie spent the following day wandering through the village. It was a small community, only taking fifteen minutes to walk through it. The bed and breakfast and Claire’s bar were further down towards the end of the street, in a more deserted area. In the light of day, Jamie saw that the bar was facing the sea. He sat on a bench and stared at the raging water for a few hours.

He didn’t know why he had come here, what he had expected to find. It seemed as if there was nothing to do in this village but wait for the day of your death to arrive. It was depressing, and he realized it didn’t help his state of mind much after all. The peacefulness of the place was becoming heavy.

Yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman from the bar. Claire. There was something about her that made Jamie want to go back and see her. The bar opened at seven, but he didn’t want to be the first client.

The day was unending, and as the hours went by, he was growing more anxious at the idea of seeing her again.

He stopped by a tiny restaurant to eat fish and chips while reading the local newspaper. He stopped by his room to take a long shower and watch television. Finally, he put on his coat and crossed the road to Claire’s bar.

It was earlier than the previous night, so he was surprised when he opened the door to see it full of people. It was loud with the sound of people talking and laughing, but it still had the same cozy ambiance.

He immediately spotted Claire standing by a table, talking with two fishermen. Her fists were on her waist and she was laughing. Jamie was immediately taken aback by how stunning she was. Her hair was still like an aura around her head.

She saw him and smiled. He had to remind himself to breathe before smiling back and walking to an empty seat by the bar.

“You’re back,” she said, a few minutes later. She stood in front of him behind the bar.

“I am back. I told you it’s a nice place.”

She smiled and handed him a whisky. “How long are you staying here?”

“Just a few days. And since there aren’t that many things to do here,” he raised his glass in front of her.

She chuckled and went to serve another client.

It took a couple of hours before she could speak to him for more than two minutes. Once the clients were gone and just a few remained, she went to him and let out a proud sigh. “What a night.”

“Is the place always full like that at this time?” Jamie asked.

“Yeah, it usually is on the weekend. Another one?”

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

She smirked. “Don’t take it personally,” she filled his glass, “it’s my job, after all.”

Jamie chuckled and watched her pour herself a glass. “I think I deserve it.” She clicked her glass with his and took a long sip. He watched her with the corner of his mouth curled up.

“You know I was thinking about you today?”

She raised her brow, encouraging him to continue.

“I was walking around the village and I wondered why an Englishwoman would move to a village this boring.”

“Oh, I don’t find it boring. Not at all. You see, I have my bar and a small apartment on the second floor. It has a fireplace and a big library. I have a spot right by a big bay window where I can paint. I love it. It’s calm, it’s peaceful. I used to live in London and I had a very small apartment. Even though I was surrounded by thousands of people, I felt more lonely than in this little village with 300 people.”

Jamie studied her face, wondering what kind of life she lived in London before moving here.

“That’s interesting. What did you do in London? Did you own a bar?”

She chuckled. “God, no. I was a surgeon.”

Jamie’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “A surgeon.” It was the last thing he had expected.

She grinned in her glass before taking another sip. “Surprise you?”

“Yes, not that you don’t look like you could be one. It’s just… very different than this and your art studio upstairs.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes that’s what we need. Like you, for instance. What are you doing here? Are you in some spiritual trip? Usually people go to warm places in the middle of winter.”

Jamie smiled sadly. “I guess you can call it that.” He didn’t want to talk about himself, as he was too captivated by Claire; but if he wanted her to trust him, he had to open up a bit.

“My brother died in the bus accident last year.” He saw a shadow cross her beautiful face. “We weren’t on good terms and I never had the chance to say I’m sorry, to say goodbye, to tell him I love him. I guess I’m trying to find a way to do so.”

“I’m sorry,” she said in a whisper. “That accident was tragic. I lost a friend of mine too.”

He looked up at her. “You did?”

“Yeah, my friend was also a surgeon from London. He was coming to visit me. You see, I burned the bridges to my old life, but he was my best friend. So he spent Christmas here with me and when he left, well…”

“I’m sorry. God, that’s terrible.”

She nodded. “Life is. We just need to find something to make it less terrible,” she smiled sadly.

That night, they talked until it was closing time. Unlike the day before, they talked about personal things, things they had never told anybody. It seemed so easy to do so; as if they had known each other their entire lives.

“Will you come back tomorrow?” Claire asked shyly, guiding Jamie to the door.

“Yes.”

So the day after, he was there as soon as the bar opened. He wasn’t the first customer, but this time, he didn’t care that he was there early. He had dinner while talking to Claire. As more people started to come in, he had to let her work, but he knew she wished she could be talking to him instead of working. A few hours later, when she was less busy, she came to sit next to him. She lit a cigarette and handed it to him, which he declined.

“I don’t smoke.”

She shrugged and took a long sip.

“I leave tomorrow,” he finally said.

For a split second, he thought he saw sadness in her eyes, but then it was gone.

“Oh,” she said. “I hope you enjoyed your time here and that you found what you were looking for.”

Peace, that was what Jamie was looking for. His brother was dead, there was nothing he could do to change it.

“You think my brother knows I’m sorry?”

Claire looked at him and shrugged. “Do you believe in God?”

“I used to, but now I’m not so sure.”

She thought about it for a long moment, smoking her cigarette. “I think you have to listen to your heart. It will tell you what you need to know. But siblings forgive each other, because that’s what families do. So, yes, I believe he knows.”

Jamie smiled and took her hand. “Thank you.”

She smiled back and bent to kiss him. They both were surprised by the gesture. “Sorry,” she apologized, pulling back, her cheeks turning pink. She got up and went back to work.

Jamie spent the night thinking about that kiss. Claire didn’t come to see him until the bar closed. When she did, the bar was empty, so Jamie closed his arms around her and kissed her.

They made their way to her apartment, not able to keep their hands off one another. They kissed deeply, took their clothes off, and jumped into bed. The way she kissed him, the way she touched him, healed him. And he hoped that it was the same for her.

At that moment, Jamie realized that he had found what he was looking for her. For the first time in years, he felt at peace. No weight on his shoulders, no aching heart. Everything he needed was in his arms.

He fell asleep with his head resting on her chest; and when he woke up the morning after, he left a note on the nightstand. He kissed her goodbye and went to gather his things at the bed and breakfast. As he sat on the bus, looking at the sea by the window, Jamie smiled to himself. He had found a safe haven, he had found peace, and he knew it was a feeling he was never going to let go.

He felt at peace, but he also felt as if he was living in a haze. He had drank a lot during the weekend and he wondered if this was real, or if it was just a dream. Was Claire even real?

He doubted for a moment, but never in his life had a dream made him feel so alive.

When Claire woke up, the sheets were cold. She noticed the paper on the nightstand and a smile lit her face when she read it.

To new traditions.

[concerningwolves]

What really gets me is how completely ordinary and understated it is.

King Orry's Grave is a neolithic stone monument in Laxey on the Isle of Man. It was built at least 5,000 years ago. The people who built it were farmers, probably of the subsistence variety, who made this place to commemorate their ancestors.

And it's next to a road. There are houses literally backed onto it. You get to one half by walking up a little grassy bank from the road, and to the other half by walking down an alleyway next to someone's house (and when you're in the grave area you can also see into their garden).

And you know what? I think it's wonderful.

Yes, it's a tragedy that part of the grave was destroyed when one of the neighbouring houses was built & the construction of the road has complicated matters. Conservation of course remains deeply important. But there is I think this tendency to view places like King Orry's Grave as mystical otherworldly locations that belong to a somehow pure and magical past that shouldn't be sullied by modernity, when the reality is they were just a part of people's lives.

People who eked out a living on the land felt that remembering their dead was important enough to dedicate a significant amount of labour and resources. Yes, these people had a different understanding of the world than we do now. They understood death, though, and their understanding of it as somehow separate from life is evidenced in the way they built and used the site. Does that imbue the place with mystical properties? Or does it just show that people have always been people? After all, we do something similar with graveyards and funerals today, or by keeping ashes of loved ones in specially-designed containers in a special place in our homes. Our rituals and spaces of commemoration are only holy and mystical in that they are important to each of us in ways that others might not understand.

And children 5,000 years ago probably ran past King Orry's Grave, laughing and shouting to one another just like the children I saw peddling past on their bikes today. I hope they continue to do so for 5,000 years to come.

At king orry's grave straight up desperately trying to keep it in. And by "it". Haha lets justr say. the urge to start fucking bawling because of the incredible overwhelming sense of time and history preserved in a few barely-visible stones left by people over 2,000 years ago

[stubbornness-and-spite]

Me? Posting a WIP that makes me question my sanity? Never. /s

I put out an open call to gauge interest and @ninathepancake answered. This is a Disney Descendants/Once Upon a Time/Peter Pan/Marvel/Norse mythology fic. (Don’t worry. It’s not half as complicated as it sounds. I just used those fandoms/mythology as a backdrop for worldbuilding)

Summary: The oldest son of Captain Hook, once known as Killian Jones, Peter Jones has been on the Isle of the Lost as long as he can remember. When he was younger, his father used to tell him stories of his mom and papa, who lived in a far away place called Neverland, but it had been years since Peter had been calmed by fairytales. Peter is torn, between the island that calls to him in his dreams and the one where the only family he’s ever known lives: his father, his brother, Harry, and Bronwyn, the boy who has more secrets than he can count but who Peter loves more than anything. When destiny comes calling will Peter choose the magic that runs in his veins or the family he’s built for himself?

Relationships(possibly to be updated): Peter/Bronwyn, Harry/Gil/Uma, Captain Hook/Peter Pan/Tinker Bell

Notes: I don’t know anything about actual psychics and any descriptions in this story are based off of a fantastical magic system. Any similarities to real life practices are not intentional. Non-graphic mentions of blood. I have a thing for vague prologues that make more sense as the story progresses, so I’ll try to post the next chapter ASAP and eventually title this fic *Chapter continues under the cut*

Link to Chapter One

Prologue

The quickest way to lose is to love your enemy; the only way to win is through a ruthless lack of mercy, but only if you face an enemy across a battlefield. Peter’s father had ingrained this message into both his children from a young age. The quickest way to lose is to love an enemy who is without mercy. The only way to win against those who believe themselves noble is to batter on without mercy. Mercy has no place on a battlefield; not with those who won or with those who fell. That is not to say that Peter’s father had raised his children to be merciless. Rather, he had raised them to know mercy’s place. Mercy belonged with family, with love, with belonging and home. The battlefield was no place for any of these, but sometimes home and battle would overlap and that was when everyone lost.

The day the king was kidnapped started like any other day to those whose ears were not to the ground, to those who couldn’t sense the cogs of a plan turning and feel the malice that tainted the air turn to something precise, sharp, and honed like a weapon. 

There was a fog over the sea as there always was, but this fog moved with purpose, hiding a sea tainted red with blood from view. A ship sailed through the fog, no crew in sight, just a black sail and two men on the plank. A man dressed in forest green stalked closer to the other, dressed in blues and yellow, pushing him closer and closer to the edge where waves of blood frothed and lapped at the hull of the ship. The man in blue raised his head proudly, but his hands were bound and his aura was fading fast. He took a shaking step back and his heel slid over the edge of the plank. From behind him a bright green light flashed on the horizon. Without warning, the man in blue burst forward, the ropes binding his hands vanishing and a sword appearing in his hands. He thrust his blade through the chest of the man in green, staining the wood below them with blood.

Peter woke up with a jolt, his heart pounding and his blood pumping. He sprang up, his hand to his chest, gasping for air. Slowly he regained his senses and his breath steadied. He slumped over and groaned as he pulled himself out of his bed. Bed was a generous word for the sparse cotton blankets that covered a wooden frame on his father’s ship, but it was the only one he could remember. His brother, Harry’s bed was no better. His dad’s bed was almost worse, having been slept in for so many years without repair that the wood had bent and warped. 

Peter pulled on his forest green tunic, patched brown leggings, and faded leather boots. He grabbed his belt and fastened it around his waist, groping around on his nightstand for his dagger to slip into the scabbard on the belt and his knives which he placed meticulously throughout his pants, boots, and tunic in easy reach. He made his way onto the deck, where his dad was sitting, taking in the sunrise.

“Morning,” he called, making his way to the rail his dad leaned over.

“Not a good one then, Peter?” his dad asked.

Peter shrugged. “Can’t tell yet. The sky’s red, but it’s usually red. I woke up gasping, but that happens whenever Harry’s in a mood. I dreamt that the king was on the Isle and stabbed me in the heart though, so that’s probably a bad sign,” he said casually. Peter had no magic on the Isle. No one could use magic on the Isle, but the few who had magic in their blood, who lived and died by its grace, could not be forced into humans any more than they could truly become codfish. They could be forced into a human form with their magic tamped out, but they were still not human. Maleficent, a dragon forced into flesh, was still mystically intimidating, with the very earth itself bending to make her feared. Hades still talked to his dead and his eyes burned with hellfire when he was overcome with rage. Dr. Facilier’s tarot never lied. Peter was clairvoyant. He couldn’t see the future or the past in detail, but he had learned to read the signs that Neverland gave him. They wouldn’t tell him what would happen, but Peter was never surprised by a spectacularly bad day or a particularly good one. 

His dad grimaced. “Probably,” he said. “Though it might be bad for someone else.”

Peter laughed and shoved his dad. “Yeah, I’m not really hoping that you or Harry get stabbed and you know my premonitions usually focus on people close to me.”

Peter’s dad grinned at him teasingly. “Maybe you should keep your eye on that boy of yours, then,” he said, more serious than he implied. He didn’t know exactly what the boy could do, but if trouble was brewing then the two of them would be safest together.

Peter rolled his eyes, deciding not to answer. “Whatever, Dad,” he said. “I’ll be home later.” He turned and made his way across the deck lightly on the balls of his feet. His dad used to say Peter walked like his papa, who they’d left behind when they were taken to the Isle, but it always made both of them upset, Peter uncomfortably listening to his dad describe a man who wasn’t a man that he clearly missed but Peter had never known and his dad describing someone he had loved deeply who would likely never get a chance to see their son. It wasn’t a secret that Peter and Harry’s dad hadn’t loved Harry’s mom. Anastasia had been pretty, willing, and longing for someone else too. They’d found kindred spirits in each other, but Anastasia hadn’t wanted a son and Peter and Harry’s dad had. Anastasia had a son now, a result of a failed romance, but he liked to pretend Harry didn’t exist and when confronted with his existence, denied any relation between them. 

“Come get me if the world ends,” Peter’s dad called after him. Peter groaned and rolled his eyes again, before breaking into a run across the ship toward the dock. When he neared the edge he leaped into the air, ignoring his dad cursing behind him, flipped three times in the air, and landed in a roll on the dock, springing to his feet and running as fast as his legs would take him.

[mmemiraculous]

The 5th VK

The title is a work in progress. I’m down for any suggestions. Goodbye, I have to sleep now.

quick disclaimer, IDK and IDC how Hades ember works

Chapter 2 ->

~°~

Future king of Auradon was looking out of the window from where he was standing, while the royal tailor was taking his measurements. On the other side of the window was the isle.

The island of the lost and forgotten. Filled with villains and criminals who did terrible crimes. Yet, also, filled with children who had nothing to do with their parents crimes. Children who are being banished for no reason. That didn’t sit right with Ben. They were innocent.

“Head,” the tailor turned The prince’s head. The soon to be former King and Queen walked in the room, hand in hand.

“How is it possible your becoming king next month,” was the first thing his father said, “your only a baby.” He teased.

“He’s turning 16, dear.” His mother responded.

“Hey pops” Ben smiled.

“16? That’s far too young to be crowned king. I didn’t make a good decision until I was a least 42.” Said the king.

Belle looked offended, “Uh, you decided to marry me at 28.”

“it was either you or a teapot.” Belle gave her husband a look, “Kidding, I’m only kidding.”

“Mom, Dad,” Ben started to walk towards them. But Lumire stopped him, as he wasn’t finished. “I’ve chosen my first official proclamation.” He took a breath before continuing. “I’ve decided that the children on the isle of the lost be given a chance to live here in Auradon. Everytime I look out to the island, I feel like they’ve been abandoned.”

The king’s eyes widened. “The children of our sworn enemies? Living among us?” His mother was shocked as well, but didn’t look as alarmed as his father.

“We start out with a few at first,” Ben tried to reason with him, “only the ones who need our help the most. I’ve already chosen them.”

“Have you?” The king crossed his arms

“I gave you a second chance.” Said a Belle to her husband. She turned back to her son, “Who are their parents?”

“Cruella De Vil…Jafar…Evil Queen…” Ben started, “ Maleficent and Hades” He heard Lumire yelp beside him when he says the last two names.

“Maleficent! Hades! They’re the worst villains in the land!”

“Dad, just hear me out here!”

“I won’t hear of it. They are guilty of unspeakable crimes.”

“Dad, their children are innocent. Don’t you think they deserve a shot at a normal life? Dad?” Ben looks to his mom “Mom?”

Belle gave her husband a look that seemed like she was telling him to believe his son.

After a few moments, the king spoke again, “I suppose their children are innocent.”

“Well, well done. Shall we?”

Meanwhile on the isl. 5 villain kids had no idea that their lives would change forever.

They say I’m trouble

They say I’m bad

They say I’m evil

And that makes me glad

The leader of the group with purple hair, cream colored skin and a vicious smile finishes spraying the Silhouette of her mother with ‘LONG LIVE EVIL’ sprayed on. She looks at a brown skinned girl with neon blue hair leaning on the wall she just spray painted. The young fairy gestured for her to follow her with her signature smile.

A dirty no good

Down to the bone

Your worst nightmare

Can’t take me home

A tall, long haired Arabian was in a where house (?) scheming what was the next thing he’d be taking today. He stared at the Silhouette of his father’s genie form, wanting to make him proud.

**So I got some mischief **

In my blood

Can you blame me?

I never got no love

Another girl with blue hair was strutting down a table while others were eating without a care in the world. Everyone was yelling at her to get off of the table, while one boy caught her eye. She smiled at him and walked away.

They think I’m callous

A lowlife hood

I feel so useless

Misunderstood

The second youngest of five ducked out of someone’s window. He wore a smile as he took a man’s bandana and bit into a little girls apple. He tossed it back to her though, but she wouldn’t be finishing it.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who’s the baddest of them all?

Welcome to my wicked world

Wicked world

The three girls strutted down an alleyway while the three boys were on their own. Power and confidence screamed in every step they took. The purple haired stared straight ahead with confidence. The older blue haired girl had her hands on her hips with a smirk on her face. The younger demi goddess trailed a bit behind, radiating the most confidence.

The Arabian with a red beanie was doing parkour on the roofs above them. It was quite impressive when he did a backflip off or a pipe. The boy with the black and white color scheme was in a barracks disrupting everyone in a bed, as he bounced on each one waking them.

I’m rotten to the core

Rotten to the core

I’m rotten to the core

Who could ask for more?

I’m nothing like the kid next

Like the kid next door

I’m rotten to the…

I’m rotten to the…

I’m rotten to the core

They all met in the area where most citizens of the isl did their laundry. Throwing clean and dirty laundry in buckets, in faces, and on the floor. Grabbing pipes they found sometime along their journey of chaos, they began to bang them on anything that would make the most noise, laughing along the way.

Call me a schemer

Call me a freak

How can you say that?

I’m just unique

The young fairy was on her own around a small area. Spraying her First Initial on a tarp with purple spray paint, pulling it aside to reveal an innocent man taking a bath minding his own business, now feeling embarrassed that he was revealed to everyone.

What, me a traitor?

Ain’t got your back

Are we not friends?

What’s up with that?

The demigoddess was tagging along with the sticky fingered Arabian this time. The tall boy had taken a used teapot, pretending to serve tea to the two men. Then jumping over the table, taking the teapot with him. The younger with him had swiped the table cloth with her.

“Was that really necessary?” The older boy had asked as they spirited away.

“Was taking a rusty teapot necessary?” She sassed.

The boy smirked and shook his head, as they made their way to where they’d meet the other 3.

So I’m a misfit

So I’m a flirt

I broke your heart

I made you hurt

The young fashion designer found herself going through a stand where someone was selling scarves. As she took the scarf from (what she’s guessing) the seller he spun and made a strange sound with it. Went back into the hanging scarves, looking back at the man looking mystical. After, she made her way on where’d she’d meet the others.

The past is past

Forgive, forget

The truth is

You ain’t seen nothing yet

On the other side of the building where the other three were, the white haired boy was causing more chaos. Throwing and kicking produce from the table he was walking on. He tossed a basket on a lady’s head, and hitched a ride on a cart where a man was pushing some hay.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who’s the baddest of them all?

Welcome to my wicked world

Wicked world

I’m rotten to the core

Rotten to the core

I’m rotten to the core

Who could ask for more?

I’m nothing like the kid next

Like the kid next door

I’m rotten to the…

I’m rotten to the…

I’m rotten to the core

After an amazing dance number, the purple haired girl took a sucker from a little kid and held it up in triumph as as everyone laughed and cheered. But, everyone scattered as two knuckle heads showed up.

“Hi mom.” The purple haired girl in leather said to the knuckleheads.

Maleficent pushed the two aside, revealing herself, “Stealing candy Mal? I’m so disappointed.” The fake disappointment clear in her voice.

“It was from a baby.” Replied her daughter with a smile.

“That’s my nasty little girl.” Mal gave Maleficent the lollipop and she spit on it and put it under her arm.

“Ew.” The young demigoddess said from where she was.

“Give it back to the dreadful creature.”

“Mom… Why!?” Mal whined

“It’s the deets, Mal,” Maleficent started, “that make the difference between mean and truly evil.” She waved to the mother of the child who just had their sucker man handled. “When I was your age,”

“I was cursing entire kingdoms.” Mal recited with her mother. “You. Walk with me.” The two fairies walked away from the other four “See, I’m just, just trying to teach you the thing that really counts… how to be me.”

“I know that. And I’ll do better.”

“Oh, there’s news! I buried the lede,” Maleficent walked back to the other four and laughed, “You five have been chosen to go to a different school… in Auradon”

Evie screeches, Carlos and Jay tried to run, but the knuckleheads had somehow appeared behind them.

“Excuse me!?” Hailey exclaimed in disbelief. “I’m not going to a school filled with pretty, prissy, pink, princess

“And perfect princes.” Evie smiled. Mal gave her a look and she back tracked, “Ugh.”

“Yeah.” Mal agreed with the youngest of the 5. “Mom, I’m not going to some boarding school filled with snobs.”

“Yeah, and I don’t do uniforms. Unless It’s leather. You feel me?” Jay said with a cheeky smile.

“Do you even know any other fabric besides leather?” Hailey asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course I do.”

“Name one.”

“Vegan… leather-”

“Stop talking.”

Carlos walked up behind Mal, “I read somewhere that they allow dogs in Auradon.” He said with fear in his voice, “Mom said they’re rabid pack animals who eat boys who don’t behave!” Right then, jay snuck up behind him. Scaring him with a bark. Carlos jumped back and hit jays arm as Hailey giggled.

Mal made up her mind, “Yeah, mom we’re not going. forget it.”

That obviously displeased the older fairy, “Oh, you’re thinking small, pumpkin. It’s all about world domination. KNUCKLEHEADS” The knuckleheads followed her. With a singsong voice she said, “Mal…” Mal followed her, and the kids sans Hailey followed. She went the other way.

“Where are you going Hailey?” Maleficent said. It was evident that she didn’t want to deal with the young demigoddess right now.

“Back to my dad’s!” She yelled back, “there’s no way I’m going.”

“You’re dad’s at ours.” Maleficent said with a smirk.

Hailey stopped walking and ran a hand down her face. “Oh my hades!” She yelled and walked back to the others with an adorable, yet angry pout.

“Are you even able to say that when your father is Hades?” Asked Carlos.

“Don’t talk to me.” She speed walked ahead of them all.

Back at the tower, Maleficent was sitting on a throne-like chair explaining what the VKs would be doing in Auradon “You will go. You will find fairy godmother and you will bring back the magic wand. Easy.”

“What is in it for us?” Asked Mal.

“Matching thrones. Hers-and-hers crowns.”

“…Pretty sure she was talking about us.” Said Hailey with her arms crossed. She was sitting next to her father on the couch.

The woman on the throne ignored her and continued, “It’s all about you and me baby. Do you enjoy watching innocent people suffer?”

Mal scoffed. “Yeah. I mean, who doesn’t?”

“Well, then get me the wand and you and I can see all that and so much more. And with that wand and my scepter, I will be able to bend both good and evil to my will!”

“Our will.” The evil queen reminded her.

“Our will, our will.” Maleficent snaps, which gains Mal’s attention back to Maleficent, “And if you refuse, you’re grounded for the rest of your lives, missy.”

“Mom! That’s not fair. You can’t do that!”

A few seconds later, the mother and daughter were locked in a staring contest. Younger light green eyes challenging Experienced green eyes.

“Ugh. Fine.” Mal gave up.

“I always win.” Said Maleficent as she smiled.

“Evie!” The evil queen called her daughter over to her with a singsong voice. The evil-lett in training sat next to her mom. “you just find yourself a prince with a big castle,”

“And lots and lots of mirrors.” The two said together, as Evie laughs dreamily.

“No laughing! It causes wrinkles.” Evie stopped immediately.

“Why are we still here? Please don’t make me go.” Hailey begged her father.

Hades shrugged, “it’s a pretty smart plan. Get the wand, break the barrier, we go back and claim the underworld.”

“That sounds so boring.” Hailey rolled her eyes.

“You’d rather stay up here with these crazies?” Hades sassed back and Evil Queen Squawked.

“they’re not taking my Carlos, because I’d miss him too much.”

“Really,You mean it?” Carlos asked with a hopeful smile.

“Of course! Who would touch up my roots, fluff my fur, and scrape the bunions off my feet?” Cruella put her leg in her sons arms

“Yeah, maybe a new school wouldn’t be the worst thing.” Carlos Muttered under his breath, “maybe a new place to live as well.”

“Carlos,” Cruella said with (fake) care. “They have dogs there.”

Carlos immediately changed his mind at the mention of a dog. “Oh, no! I’m not going!”

“Ugh.” Maleficent face palmed.

“Jay isn’t going either.” Jafar piped up. “I need him to stock the shelves in my store.” Jafar pulled his son away from the others a bit. “What did you get?” The thief began to pull random items out of his jacket and sleeves. Jafar dropped it all when he pulled out certain something “Ooh. A lamp” Jafar tried rubbing it.

Hailey rolled her eyes and sighed, “this is pathetic.” She said as her father nodded along.

“…Dad,” Jays father grinned at him. “I already tried.”

Jafar dropped the lamp with a ‘bah’

Then, Evil Queen spoke, “Evie’s not going anywhere until we get rid of this unibrow.” Evie felt in between her eyebrows.

“What is wrong with you all?” Maleficent walked off of the small platform she was on, voice raising as she continued. “People used to cower at the mention of our names! For 20 years, I have searched for a way off this island. “For 20 years, they have robbed us from our revenge” she spoke with determination “… revenge on Snow White and her horrible little men.”

“Mm.” Evil Queen agreed.

“Revenge on Aladdin and his bloated genie!”

“When I get get-!” Jafar looked as if he was going to attack someone.

“Pops…” his son calmed him down.

The raging fairy looked to Cruella. “Revenge on every sneaky dalmatian that escaped your clutches.”

“Oh, but they didn’t get baby. They didn’t get the… They didn’t get the baby!” Cruella laughed Maniacally.

Hailey and her father, scratch that, everyone looked alarmed at the laugh.

Maleficent looked to the father and daughter next. “Revenge Hercules and-”

Hades stopped her, “I already said she’s going.”

“Against my will.” Hailey muttered under her breath.

“Right. And me!” She threw her arms out dramatically. “The evilest of them all,” She sat herself on Evil Queens lap and snatched the mirror out of her hand, gazing at herself. “will finally have my revenge on sleeping beauty and her relentless little prince. Villains!” She clapped her hands”

Yes’s and a what was what was replied back.

“Our day has come.” She smirked. “EQ, give her the mirror.”

“This is the famous magic mirror?” Evie asked in disbelief as she held the hand mirror.

“Yeah, well, it ain’t what it used to be, but then again, neither are we!” EQ and Maleficent giggled lowly. “It will help you find things.”

“Like a prince?” Evie smiled.

“Like my waistline.”

“Like a magic wand.” The fairy reminded her. “Hay, give her the ember.”

“I told you, don’t call me that.” The man in blue said.

“And I told you, I don’t care” Maleficent said back

Hades sighed and pulled out a blue stone. “Here.” Hades took her had opened her palm, throwing out the purple rock she had placed on a locket she somehow attached to her fingerless gloves.

“Come on.” Hailey whined, “I actually digged the purple.”

Hades put the ember in the locket instead. “This is my ember.”

“What’s it do?” His daughter asked?

“It basically amps up spells. It won’t go full power since you’re only half Hades, but it’ll still work.”

“Sounds boring.” Hailey rolled her eyes for what felt like the thousandth time today.

“Depending on how mad you are, either your eyes, hands, hair, or all will catch on fire.” Hades smirked, knowing his daughter.

Hailey smiled, “now you’re talking!”

Hades chuckled, “just don’t get it wet, or it’s game over.”

“Yeah sure, whatever.” Hailey said as she plotted in her head.

The woman in purple looked satisfied before remembering something, “My spell book. My book. I need my… that book. ah ha! The safe.” She walked up to the fridge and started hitting it. Apparently not seeing the lever. “Queen, help me! I never can figure this thing out.”

EQ sighed and got up. She opened it with a ‘voila’

Maleficent handed her daughter the spell book, and explained that it can only be used once they get to Auradon. Right then and there, a honk from outside was heard.

“Let’s get this party started.” Jay announced with a smirk.

Everyone dispersed. Almost, Each parent telling their child a little something: Jafar telling his son to trust himself, Evil Queen reminding her daughter she’s the fairest, Maleficent telling her daughter not to screw things up. Hades told his daughter if things screw up somehow, she should just get the wand and break the barrier.

The only VK not saying goodbye was Carlos, who was super giddy to finally be able to escape his mother’s grasps.

No one noticed when Jay stole the small crown off of the bumper of the limo.

Mal was the last to enter the Black limo, looking up at the balcony she just stood at. Her mother making an ‘I’m watching you’ gesture, Mal nodded in understanding.

After a few seconds all of the VKs noticed the wall of sweets. Evie tried to bite into some sweet crystal candy. Jay, Carlos, and Hailey began fighting to get the best sweets first.

This was going to be interesting.

[fireemblemtcg]

fecipher twitter, 11-12-2019:

The card list for the Series 19 booster pack, "The Holy Flames of Sublime Heaven", has been published on the official site. #FEcipher https://fecipher.jp/cards_category/bt0019/

More Fire Emblem Cipher Series 19 translations!

[Click “Keep reading” for the translated card list]

B19-001SR(+) Edelgard: She Who Bares Her Fangs at the Gods (Emperor) B19-002N Edelgard: Black Eagle of Farewells (Armored Lord) B19-003HN Edelgard: Descendant of Hresvelg (Noble) B19-004SR Hubert: Emperor's Confidant (Dark Bishop) B19-005HN Hubert: Hegemony-Dyeing Darkness (Dark Mage) B19-006N Hubert: Eldest Son of House Vestra (Noble) B19-007HN Ferdinand: Noblest of Nobles (Paladin) B19-008N Ferdinand: Pride Personified (Soldier) B19-009R Linhardt: Sleepy Crest Scholar (Bishop) B19-010N Linhardt: Layabout of House Hevring (Noble) B19-011HN Caspar: Roaming Instigator (Warrior) B19-012N Caspar: Brawl-Loving Young Fighter (Fighter) B19-013R Bernadetta: Eternal Loner (Sniper) B19-014N Bernadetta: I'm Not Interested in Going Outside! (Fighter) B19-015R Dorothea: Mystical Songstress (Dancer) B19-016N Dorothea: Gorgeous Magic (Monk) B19-017R Petra: Princess of the Isle of Spirits (Assassin) B19-018N Petra: Princess on Exchange (Myrmidon) B19-019SR(+) Byleth (F): She Who Bears the Goddess Within (Enlightened One) B19-020N Byleth (F): Awakened Skyrending Sword (Assassin) B19-021HN Byleth (F): New Professor at the Officers Academy (Commoner) B19-022SR(+) Sothis: The Beginning (Goddess) B19-023N Sothis: Lass Possessed of Enigmatic Power (Goddess) B19-024R Dimitri: Prince of the Knights' Kingdom (Paladin) B19-025R Sylvain: Sincerest of Knights (Paladin) B19-026N Sylvain: I Just Want to See You Smile (Cavalier) B19-027N Sylvain: Debauching Son of House Gautier (Noble) B19-028HN Annette: Bloomed Overachiever (Warlock) B19-029N Annette: Prodigy of House Dominic (Monk) B19-030R Claude (Fódlan): First Steps to a New World (Sniper) B19-031HN Lorenz (Fódlan): Responsible for the Alliance's Future (Mage) B19-032N Lorenz (Fódlan): Scion of House Gloucester (Noble) B19-033HN Lysithea: Scholar of Misfortune (Warlock) B19-034R Marianne: Tranquil Heart Taking Flight (Pegasus Knight) B19-035N Marianne: Lover of Animals and the Goddess (Monk) B19-036HN Catherine: Thunderbrand's Wielder (Swordmaster) B19-037N Catherine: Swordswoman of the Monastery (Myrmidon) B19-038HN Cyril: Limitless Potential (Wyvern Rider) B19-039N Cyril: Servant of the Archbishop (Commoner) B19-040SR Flayn: Inquisitive Maiden (Bishop) B19-041N Flayn: Purehearted Schoolgirl (Noble) B19-042HN Alois: Your Right-Hand Man (Warrior) B19-043N Alois: Cheerful Knight (Fighter) B19-044SR Seteth: Aide to the Church's Archbishop (Wyvern Rider) B19-045HN Rhea: Archbishop of the Church of Seiros (Archbishop) B19-046HN Flame Emperor: Reforger of the World (Flame Emperor) B19-047HN Death Knight: Hellbound Funerary Knight (Death Knight) B19-048HN Immaculate One: Spawn and Follower of the Creator (Immaculate One) B19-049N Poe: Laughing Punisher (Bishop) B19-050N Poe: Giving Angel (Monk)

B19-051SR(+) Seliph: Holy King of Divine Bloodlines (Knight Lord) B19-052HN Seliph: Holy King in the Making (Knight Lord) B19-053N Seliph: Heir to the Blood of Light (Lord) B19-054SR(+) Julia: Shining Maiden of Saintly Lineage (Sage) B19-055N Julia: Heiress to the Will of Light (Priestess) B19-056HN Sigurd: A Soul Who Lived for Love (Knight Lord) B19-057R Arden: Sturdy! Strong! Stouthearted! (General) B19-058R Quan: Lance Prince of Deep Friendship (Duke Knight) B19-059HN Midir: Enemy-Pursuing Bow Knight (Arch Knight) B19-060N Midir: Innocent Bow Knight (Bow Knight) B19-061R Aideen: Tragedy-Defying Saint (High Priest) B19-062N Aideen: Gods-Serving Noblewoman (Priest) B19-063N Dew: Merry Thief Lad (Rogue) B19-064SR Jamke: Patriotic Marksman (Sniper) B19-065N Jamke: Prince of the Realm of Wood and Lakes (Archer) B19-066N Deirdre: At the Brink of Love and Fate (Sage) B19-067N Chulainn: Valiant Moonlight-Shrouded Leader (Hero) B19-068SR Lewyn: Resurrected Wind (Sage) B19-069N Lewyn: Drifting Prince of Wind (Bard) B19-070SR Erin: White Knight Soaring Silver Skies (Falcon Knight) B19-071N Erin: Silessian Pegasus Knight (Pegasus Knight) B19-072R Tailtiu: Heartracing Thunder War Mage (War Mage) B19-073N Tailtiu: Noble Hoyden (Thunder Mage) B19-074R Ulster: Serene Swordmaster (Hero) B19-075N Ulster: Descendant of the Saint of Swords (Myrmidon) B19-076SR(+) Larcei: Gods-Matching Astra (Swordmaster) B19-077N Larcei: Hot-Blooded Princess of Swords (Swordmaster) B19-078N Larcei: Descendant of the Saint of Swords (Myrmidon) B19-079HN Lana: Tyranny-Defying Saint (High Priest) B19-080N Lana: Cleric of the Liberators (Priest) B19-081aHN/bHN Arthur (Jugdral): Wrathful Holy Mage Knight (Mage Knight) B19-082HN Leif: Sage-Lord in the Making (Master Knight) B19-083HN Ares: Lionheart in the Making (Paladin) B19-084N Ares: Black-Garbed Knight of the Demon Sword (Cavalier) B19-085aHN/bHN Ced: Wind of Freedom and Liberation (Sage) B19-086HN Daisy: Sweet Master Thief (Rogue) B19-087N Daisy: Innocent Trespasser (Thief) B19-088N Asaello: Butcher of Connaught (Archer) B19-089R Eldigan: Demon Sword Lord Martyred for Honor (Paladin) B19-090HN Dithorba: Death-Heralding Wings (Falcon Knight) B19-091HN Pamela: Dread Soaring Knight (Falcon Knight) B19-092HN Lombard: Divine Axe-Inheriting Duke (Baron) B19-093HN Arvis: Twilight of Ideals (Emperor) B19-094R Ishtar: Heiress of Divine Thunder (Sage) B19-095HN Manfroy: Archbishop of the Loptr Church (Dark Bishop) B19-096R Julius: The Dark God Reborn (Dark Prince) B19-097HN Manya: Commander of the Silessian Pegasus Knights (Falcon Knight) B19-098N Manya: Watchful Elder Sister Knight (Pegasus Knight) B19-099N Niamh: Collector of Rare Looming Chaoses (Chaos War Mage) B19-100N Niamh: Beckoning Investigator (Chaos Mage)

B19-101HR Byleth (M): Awakened Professor (Hero) B19-102HR Seiros: Saint who Received a Divine Revelation (Saint) B19-103HR Sigurd: Adoring Holy Knight (Knight Lord)

[bookishamber]

Cyrene is headed to look for the guardian dragon

Another section from the fae story about Manwyrk and the Isle of Ruins.

Deep in thought, she continued to wander through the mossy floored forest. She wasn't quite sure what time it was, because the tree cover was so intense that the forest was dark and inviting. The kind of darkness that drew one’s soul in, if they were a person like her, who dwelled in melancholy. She knew darkness in her life, she thrived in it. When everything was bright and shiny and happy, she was gloomy and tired. But when the world around her was dreary, she was her best self. It's almost like her personality was in direct opposition to the world outside. She loved the wintertime. She loved these deep and lovely woods. They reminded her of Robert Frost's Poem, 'Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening'. It was an ancient poem that had been passed down throughout the years. Books that old were few and far between but they were so mass-produced during the last years of society before the fall that some physical copies still remained. As goes the poem, so too goes she, except she had miles to go through the woods before she was able to rest.

Her life path seemed to always take her through the mystical dark inviting shortcuts of the woods. It was like in the ancient moving stories called movies when the shortcut through the woods was always abysmal and gloomy, but the long path around the woods was glistening and enticing. She had learned long ago to always take the path through the woods, because though the path around looked inviting, inevitably more danger lurked in the sun, than the shadows. She applied this to her life as well. The darkness only made her stronger, and she would need all that strength for the coming months ahead. She didn't quite know what she would find when she finally exited the far side of the forest, but she did know it would be exciting.

Adventure awaited her, she could smell it in the cool dampness around her. Off in the distance she heard the scurrying of feet up a tree, an owl hooted, and she thought she heard the tiniest hint, the faintest bit of laughter. It was so small, she almost missed it, and if she hadn't stopped and closed her eyes, to just breath in the pale green wet scent of the forest, she might have. But she did stop, to soak in her surroundings. her usually tired rested mouth upturned slightly at the sound of it. The tiny giggles told her she was headed in the correct direction. The forest pixies were shy and sweet, but their curiosity was their Achilles heel. They loved to watch from the shadows, and when they had been sufficiently piqued they couldn’t contain their delight. They would only be interested in her if they knew she was headed for the Guardian. Because even their sweetness couldn't overpower their love for a fight. It's the same sort of curiosity and laughter that human babies had, when they saw someone get hurt, not too bad, but just enough to be funny, and they couldn't help but laugh at it.

As she continued through the bramble pulling branches and thorns out of her way, she noticed little twinkling lights popping in out of existence deep in the woods surrounding her. The longer she trekked the greater the amount of golden sparkles, shimmering in the distance. She was building an audience. Word was clearly getting around that she headed north. She wondered to herself how far the gossip of her journey had traveled. Had her sister heard yet, that she was making her way through the heavily wooded wildwood, as the pixies liked to call it. The trees in this part of the viridian woodlands were older, they stretched out into the sky, and it felt as if the very upper branches grew beyond the clouds. The trunks were wider too, some were big enough that if you hollowed them out, you could live within its protective shell, forever, if you needed to. She had heard that the trees weren’t like this before the fall, but the mechanism, whatever it was that closed all the portals to faery, must have also done something to the environment here on earth as well. Other plants had changed according to the tales of those who had been around since the fall. Even the sky had changed from a pale blue to almost a pinkish-orange color. Animals appeared to have been affected according to bones she had found exploring the lands during her youth. There were tales of creatures who used to be tiny now growing ten times their normal size. The dragons it was said used to be land dwellers, and didn’t even have wings. She couldn’t imagine that.

A large tree nearby offered shelter in the form of a giant cavernous hole, where there must have been tree rot at some point, or some other process that hollowed out in the trunk a large enough space for her to make herself comfortable for the evening. The tree had clearly shed the decaying bits after a time, and continued to thrive, still growing upwards towards the glow of the sky. As she neared closer to this particular tree she decided it would be a fine a place to rest. She leaned her forehead against the mammoth trunk of the tree and rested her eyes for a moment. She ran her hands up around the tree, caressing its rough-hewn edges. She decided some other traveler before her must have helped carve the tree rot out to help with the healing process. She said a silent thank you to both that weary traveler and the tree itself.

She had always thought that trees had souls. Most people laughed when she talked about it, but she had felt the kindness in the trees whenever she had moved within their homeland, that after all was what the forest was, a vast interconnected home for trees. They all grew together, their root systems intertwining with each other under the soil. She always felt like the forest itself was one giant being, undulating thoughts throughout its tendrils. What one tree felt, so too did the entire forest share in its revelry or distress. She felt their loving psychic embrace anytime she was in the wilds. She knew. She was certain. They were just as alive and aware as she was, they too were apart of this experience of life, growing, changing, evolving. She felt a sort of kinship with the trees, especially the ones, like this one, that had been through the worst of it, but still managed to continue to make their way, crawling and fighting for the truth, just as she had.

[allyoucanthinksmut]

Well Hello There.- Kai Parker Smut

Prompts: You were somehow sent to the prison world on accident where you meet Kai. At first you hate him but you soon start to grow feelings for him. 

                  You woke up in Mystic Falls only it wasn’t Mystic Falls. No one was there not a single soul or at least you thought. You had been there for about a week before you left your house. Or at least it looked like your house. You went to the grocery store to get more food. You walked in going straight for the liquor isle. You took down the bottle of whiskey and started drinking it as you browsed around getting everything you wanted. By the time you were done you had finished half the bottle. 

“If you keep drinking like that your going to throw up.” You heard from behind you as you dropped the bottle. You turned around and saw a very attractive boy. “My apologies i’m Kai.” He said standing up. “You really are boring. All you do is read and try to use magic.” He said circling you. 

“Have you been stalking me?” You asked watching him closely. 

“I wouldn’t call it stalking. I call it entertainment. I haven’t had company in a while.” He said winking at you. Normally that would’ve made you blush but you were on high alert right now. 

“Why are you following me?” You asked.

“Because i want to kill you.” He said. Before you had time to react he threw you on the ground. He got a stick and broke it in half. “Showtime.” He said before going to stick it through your stomach. Before he could you broke all the bottles of alcohol sitting beside you guys. This stunned him enough for you to swipe him down to the ground. 

“Oh shit.” He said before you slammed his head onto the ground. You brought him to your house with all the groceries tying him up. 

***********

He woke up and looked around before his eyes landed on you. “Well well well look who decided to wake up.” You said circling him like he was doing to you earlier. “Now we are gonna have a little conversation if i like what i hear i’ll let you go if i don’t i will kill you. You got it?” You said leaning down to get in his face. 

“That won’t be necessary. I only threaten to kill you because you needed your magic back. Your the only one who can get us the hell out of here.” He said looking you up and down. 

“And what makes you think i’m going to help you?” You asked. 

“Because i’m the only one who knows how to get out of here.” He says. You roll your eyes before letting him go. Once you do he grabs your arm. His hand started glowing as you feel your energy drain. “Also i can syphone your magic.” He said dropping you to the floor once you became weak. 

“Ugghhhh.” You groaned as your vision became blurry. You held up your hand as he walked away......

After that day you searched for Kai. Once you finally found him at what used to be his old house you beat the shit out of him. He laid against the wall bleeding and laughing. “Wow. I’ve never met a girl who could beat me up.” He said spitting out blood. “You even deflected my magic.” He said looking up at you. 

“Yes because i’m better then you.” You spat in his face.” Your not leaving without me. I’m pretty sure you were put here for a reason and i was put here by accident after i died.” You said leaving him there. He watched you walk away falling in love with you. He hadn’t really had experience with girls but the ones he did have didn’t compare to what you made him feel. You were strong independent.That’s exactly what he needed. 

You went back to your house that night taking a shower. You were in mid thought when you heard the shower curtain open. You looked over to see Kai with blood running down his head and face. “Ahhh what the fuck Kai.” You said snatching the curtain from him covering yourself. “Get out.” You yelled at him. He hurriedly left the bathroom. You shook your head and finished your shower. Whenever you went to the living room after getting dressed he was sitting on the couch tapping his foot. “You can’t just walk in on people taking showers.” You said huffing and walking to the kitchen. 

“I’m sorry i wanted to see what you looked like.Which is better then i expected” He said honestly. You blushed and looked away from him grabbing a bottle of water. 

“Well you can’t do that.” You bit back. You turned around and when you did you were face to face with him. 

“Why not?” He said as he touched your hip lightly. You smacked his hand away and moved out from in front of him.

“Because i said so.” You said before heading upstairs. 

This continued for about to month. Kai had drained just about all your magic and you needed to regenerate. Everyday he would tease you. Getting really close you and leaving butterfly touches on your skin. Everyday you had to take care of yourself at night. Burying your face in your pillow thinking about what he could do to you. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of that though or so you thought. You walked through the house half asleep. You just wanted a glass of water but you forgot you were in your spaghetti strapped night gown. You looked down at yourself and cursed but figured Kai would be asleep. You were sadly mistaken as you walked into the kitchen. The light from the freezer the only thing illuminating the dark room. You watched Kai’s head pop out from behind the freezer door. He jumped and dropped his ice cream. 

“I thought you were asleep.” He said picking the ice cream back up. “Are you okay?” He asked setting his container on the counter and getting a spoon before taking a seat. 

“Yeah i just needed some water.” You said your voice raspy from just waking up. You grabbed a water bottle and drank half the bottle in one gulp.

“Wow you must’ve been thirsty. It must happen whenever you pleasure yourself before going to sleep.” He said taking a bite of the ice cream. Your cheeks went red and you choked on your water.

“Wait what? You heard me.” You said panicking. He can’t know he makes you feel that way. He just can’t. You think as you look at him. 

“I hear you every night darling.” He said nonchalantly winking at you. 

“Um...I’m sorry i didn’t realize i was being that loud.” You say not knowing what to do. Kai stands up and walks over to you. Your breathing started to become scattered as he closed in on you. 

“Don’t apologize i do the same thing when i hear you. But i can make you scream louder then your toy.” He whispered the last part in your ear. Something in the snapped as you pushed him against the edge of the table and crashed your lips onto his. He put his hands on your waist bringing you closer. You moaned into his mouth trailing your hands down to his pajama pants. You pushed them down before taking your nightgown off. He flipped you over once you were naked sitting you on the table. He put one of your legs on his shoulder and left the other one on his hip. 

“Are you ready?” He asked. “I’ve been ready.” You said. He slide into you both of you moaning loudly. He started off at a medium pace hitting you g-spot every time. You moaned into his shoulder as he pleasured you. He grabbed your hair lifting your head up so you were looking at him as he started going a little faster. 

“Fuck Kai.” You moaned looking him in the eyes. Your toes started to curl the closer and closer you got. You had imagined this every night but nothing came close to him actually sliding in and out of you. You were a moaning trembling mess and he thrusted into you. “I’m close.” You moaned throwing your head back. He grabbed your throat and kissed you before saying. 

“Cum for me. Cum on my dick.” He said through clenched teeth. He moved his hand down rubbing your clit as he felt you about to cum. Once you did it was like nothing you had ever experienced. Your vision blurred and you screamed thrashing from the pleasure. Kai came right after you riding out your orgasms before pulling out. He cleaned you up as you laid there before bringing you up to your bed and tucking you in. He kissed your forehead saying i love you before letting you drift off into a blissful sleep. 

[lilstar242]

The Crescent Curse-1

The soft melody floated in the air, tying in with the pleasing wind. The stars overlooked the ocean and the little houses that represented the courteous village of Victoria Cliffs. It was midnight, and the crescent moon mirrored the silver fish that swam in the deep. All was quiet, except for the delicate tune that radiated passion. All was dark, but the small fire on the beach lit up the whole island.

Ashley’s fingers danced over the strings of his guitar, but his mind were far from them. His eyes were like the fire he had made moments ago, which was still blazing.

Opposite him sat Giselle, the love of his life. She closed her eyes at the sound of music, breathing in the summer wind. The harmony spoke to her, the songs of nature moved her.

The music then stopped, and Giselle opened her eyes at the sudden capture of silence.

“I think that is enough for tonight.” Ashley said, placing his guitar beside him. “I’m tired.” He got up from his cross-legged position before tipping the contents of his water bottle onto the fire. The flame disappeared, leaving the grey ash and blackened wood. Giselle stood up reluctantly, already missing the sound of Ashley’s guitar.

“I still wish I could play an instrument like that.” Giselle said, though she had commented on Ashley's music countless number of times. Ashley smiled before going up to Giselle and kissing her on the forehead.

“You have many other talents, Giselle.”

Giselle shrugged as a response, knowing that he was telling her sweet lies.

“I’ll walk you home, Giselle.” Ashley said, but Giselle shook her head.

“I think I’ll be okay.” She said.

Ashley rolled his eyes playfully.

“Look, I know you like walking home on your own so you can be an independent woman or whatever but it’s dark.”

It was Giselle’s turn to roll her eyes.

“I’m fine, Ashley. Honestly. I live the opposite way so it would be pointless.”

“Okay.” Ashley gave in. He slung his guitar over his shoulder, grains of sand gently falling from the strap. “Just make sure you call me when you get back.”

Giselle nodded as they headed towards the village. Giselle glimpsed at the sea that she had grown up to love. Giselle’s eyes then caught something moving out of the water. It looked like a large, silver fish tail.

“Woah!” Giselle stopped. “Ashley! Did you see that?”

Ashley turned around.

“See what?” He followed Giselle’s eyes out to sea.

“A big fish tail! I’ve never seen one like that before.” Giselle said excitedly.

“It was probably a dolphin. Come on, Giselle.”

“Or maybe it was a mermaid.” Giselle joked. Ashley laughed a little.

“Yeah. Or maybe it was a shark, coming to eat you.” He teased. Giselle pushed him playfully, whilst Ashley laughed joyously.

Giselle walked into her home happily, realising that she missed Ashley already. Since he had come into Giselle’s life, she had been content with almost every aspect of it.

As soon as Giselle closed the door, she became face to face with her mother, who looked displeased.

“And where have you been?” Giselle’s mum stood, her arms crossed.

“I was just with Ashley.” Giselle replied honestly.

“And you didn’t bother to tell me? I suppose you walked home alone as well didn’t you? God Giselle, why worry me like that?”

“I’m sorry okay I’ll won’t do it again.” Giselle said as if she had rehearsed the lines over and over.

“You always say that,” Giselle's mother sighed.

Giselle took the opportunity of the silence to take herself upstairs. Giselle’s mother had never really been the same since Giselle’s father died. It was like all the energy was sucked out of her, like she had no motivation in anything any more. Most days, Giselle felt as her mother’s presence was simply just a reminder of her dad’s death. Ashley had distracted her from that, had given her something to believe in. He had given Giselle the hope of the Crescent Curse; an ancient legend that talks about the tale surrounding the mysterious Crescent Island. It told of how a wretched curse was put on the island by a Goddess from an old religion that used to be practised all around The Crystal Isles, Victoria Cliffs included. The curse caused all the inhabitants of the island to develop supernatural powers, turning them into mystical creatures that only existed in fanatical children books. As a child, Giselle’s mother had read Giselle countless stories about the island and the curse. But when Giselle’s father passed away, those stories became simply a memory that was only associated with her childhood.

Ashley had changed that. He always talked about Crescent Island, he even talked about visiting it and restarting life there, regardless of the fact that the tales they heard were probably just stories that were told for the benefit of children. But with Ashley, Giselle was reminded of those sweet memories that take off in her mind.

Giselle ventured back downstairs after changing into leggings and a hoodie. Her mother looked like a dismal scene; staring at the blaring television as it told the public of local news. Giselle sat on the staircase, watching the television through the banister. It was the same stuff really, riots and conflict happening elsewhere in the Crystal Isles whilst Victoria Cliffs remained somewhat unharmed. The small set of islands that made up the Crystal Isles were never all fully at peace any more; People who lived in either Victoria Cliffs, Eagle Beach, Dolphin Bay or potentially Crescent Island barely even visited each other. The most that happened between the islands was a few rebellious or brave people visiting the other islands every now and again. Even these factors were limited with the recent events of potential war. Nobody ever went to Crescent Island, some people didn’t even believe that it existed at all. There was so little talk about it, so little interest in it. Giselle however, hardly ever thought about anything but the island.

Giselle decided not to disturb her mother as exhaustion took her over body. Giselle walked up to her room as the wave of tiredness hit her, making her fall back on her bed and close her eyes.

 Giselle was in a forest; one that was unfamiliar to her, yet she felt calm in the mysterious setting. The place was magical, the trees towered over Giselle regally and the grass smelled sweet. Giselle looked up, and saw a boy in front of her. His eyes were a bright blue, but it was impossible to make out the rest of his features. Giselle didn’t know why, but a warm feeling spread inside her as she looked into those eyes. They invaded her mind, she couldn’t think of anything else. Slowly, the scene began to fade in a white light.

The soft rays of sunshine leaked through the window, landing on Giselle’s closed eyelids. She opened them sleepily and turned onto her back to stretch. Giselle stared at the ceiling, recalling her dream. It had felt so wonderful, even more so then when she was with Ashley

“Giselle!” A familiar voice called, making her lips form a smile. Desire surged within her and she got up, flicking the bed covers off her body. She ran to the window and was quick to open it. As Giselle peered down onto the front of her house, she saw Ashley looking up at her. He squinted, shading his eyes over with his hand as his hair gently moved in the wind. He looked like a perfect descendant of Romeo, in which Giselle was his Juliet.

“You forgot to call me!” Ashley shouted as soon as he saw Giselle. “Come on! I want to take you somewhere!”

Giselle simply nodded before rushing back to her wardrobe to get ready.

“Where are we going?” Giselle said for the thousandth time, as Ashley led her to an unknown destination. Despite her mother’s constant warnings, Giselle had agreed to spend the rest of her weekend with Ashley. His hands covered her eyes as he walked Giselle up a steep slope

“Stop asking!” Ashley answered. “You’ll find out okay! We’re almost there anyway.”

Giselle groaned, putting her arms out in attempt to feel her surroundings. She walked cautiously, following Ashley’s lead. Giselle would have been nervous, but Ashley’s voice was so calm and comforting, any anxieties she had disappeared instantly.

“Okay,” Ashley finally said, taking his hands away from Giselle’s face. “You can look now.”

Giselle opened them immediately, desperate to find out where Ashley had led her too. She gasped excitedly at what she saw: they were on top of the cliffs that their home town was so very famous for, with the view looking out onto the spectacular beach. A picnic was laid out for two; with colourful fresh fruits of mango, pineapple, oranges, bananas and grapes. There was cheese and bread and coconut pieces and various other local dishes and foods all laid out on a traditional, chequered picnic blanket.

“Ashley!” Giselle exclaimed. “This is amazing!”

Ashley smiled, brushing his fingers through his hair. “Yeah,” He said. Ashley took a seat on the blanket and gestured for Giselle to do the same.

The breeze gently floated in the air, making Giselle shiver as her brunette curls bounced around her shoulders.

“Are you cold?” Ashley said in concern. He put down the piece of pineapple he had bitten into down and took off his jacket. He put it around Giselle’s shoulders, pulling her closer. Giselle leant on Ashley’s shoulder, closing her eyes to feel the sea air on her face.

“You better eat this with me.” Ashley said, putting his hand around Giselle’s waist. Giselle stared at the food, not knowing where to start.

“It’s like we’re on Crescent Island.” Giselle said like she was daydreaming.

Ashley laughed at her reaction, his eyes sparkling with passion. Giselle tried to cover the blush she could feel from the heat on her face with her hair, but Ashley tucked it behind her ears gently.

“Giselle...” Ashley said, looking down. “What would you say...” He hesitated, and Giselle raised an eyebrow. She already all knew what Ashley was going to say, but she allowed him to continue anyway. He took a deep breath and lifted his head to the sky to avoid eye contact with Giselle.

“What would you say, to going to Crescent Island? Maybe, one day? Just me and you, yeah?”

Giselle smiled happily, before jumping into Ashley’s arms.

“Yes!” She said excitedly, hugging Ashley tightly. She didn’t even question whether it was real or not.

“Woah!” Ashley exclaimed, leaning back slightly. “You’re going to push me off this cliff if you’re not careful!” He laughed.

“I’m sorry,” Giselle said, pulling back and tucking her hair behind her ears shyly. “I’m just so happy!”

“Just one thing...” Ashley started to say. He paused suddenly.

The atmosphere had changed: the air seemed to become heavier and the sky became darker. A noise shattered the silence between Ashley and Giselle, the clouds gathering together to create a black disarray.

“Was that…?” Ashley started, staring at Giselle, who simply gasped. He got up and walked to the edge of the cliff and peered over it cautiously. “Thunder?”

A flash of lighting suddenly hit the edge of the cliff, sending it crumbling. Everything seemed to happen all at once in one mad panic. Ashley’s foot skidded on the crumbling rock, falling down completely.

“Giselle!” cried Ashley, as the cliff took him with it.

“Ashley!” Giselle yelled back, watching him as he attempted to hold onto the remaining edges of the cliffs. His fingers slipped and his body dropped. Gravity and death worked together as Ashley’s body disappeared.

Giselle could hardly shout or scream anything, her voice had suddenly gone. Giselle couldn’t feel her legs, she couldn’t feel anything, she simply looked right over the edge, not knowing what to do in this tragic yet unlikely occurrence. She couldn’t see the beach due to the mass of grey clouds, and extreme panic ran through her at record pace. Giselle wanted to run, but she simply froze to the spot as the unexpected storm continued around her. Tears burned her cheeks and she was shaking all over. Her legs finally gave way, and she fell to her knees just by the edge of the cliff. The world seemed to be spinning around her, she had difficulty breathing properly. Giselle closed her eyes and hoped it was some sort of bad nightmare. But no matter how tightly she shut her eyes, Giselle could still hear the sound of thunder like a deep sounding alarm.

[sohannabarberaesque]

So what makes Catalina so irresistably divable, to begin with?

As part and parcel of Squiddly's Underwater Annual, a limited-run compendium of interesting underwater photography and essays compiled by Squiddly Diddly, the Catalina Diving Clowder (my own original Hanna-Barberian creation, a group of six female cats as live on Catalina Island off the Southern California coast and are fond of the diving experience in the waters of The Magic Isle in their own light-hearted sort of way) gets its own space of photos of the Clowder's members on dives off Catalina--complemented by some thoughts from "Bubbles," the Clowder's leader. A recent edition happened to contain these observations on the subject to hand:

My fellow queens in the dive just cannot resist the sheer allure and fascination that is the underwater side of Catalina Island all the more.

As we like to explain to such as are lucky enough to join us in our diving experiences, perhaps the most magical side of The Magic Isle lies underwater. And it's seen its share of fascination among the tourists who visit Catalina every summer in particular, going back to when the glass-bottom boats were practically the only way to see Catalina's underwater side. The Submarine Gardens, even, after the style of a certain Snagglepuss, who's enjoyed our diving company several times.

Yes, the Casino and Crescent Avenue in Avalon have their charm and appeal, as would Skyline Drive and the Interior and Two Harbors ... but as we diving cats have discovered through many hundreds of dives in our dive logs, you just cannot experience Catalina at its fullest unless you've experienced it underwater. While it may not have the coral reefs of Polynesia Uncharted such as Peter Potamus may be fond of enjoying in his nakedness, we in our tankinis and dive getup cannot resist the allure of kelp beds, soft coral among rock such, the sheer variety of fish swimming along the bottom--and just an almost mystical sense of curiosity as seems to reinvent itself with every dive and every dive spot.

No doubt we have two especial favourite dive spots, just as much as everybody else diving Catalina from time to time: The Casino Point Dive Park in Avalon, one of the world's first underwater preserves ... and the south side of the Isthmus at Two Harbors, especially enchanting in itself considering that such was where the Chinese junk Ningpo sank after catching fire during a film shoot in 1911; the wreck site happens to have some underwater grasses and rock reefs surrounding.

But it's when we produce our dive videos relating such experiences as we're fond of sharing to the world that you could say we have the most fun at being serious about our diving, yet having a little fun in the process. Especially true when you notice some steep drops barely half a mile from the shoreline, or have some sea lions playing along on the dive unexpectedly (they can't help but love being tickled oh so slightly on the chin; Jayne and Lola are especially adept at this), or somehow can't resist playing little feline pranks underwater. Or, for that matter, when sheer fascination emerges with some discovery one of us stumbles upon ... yet even then, since our dives aren't exactly scripted, save for safety discussions, has there ever been time for what may be called a "blooper reel" of the more unbelievable diving highlights which would likely have Bill Burrud laughing?

Being a diving sort of cat may be a little unusual, but on Catalina, "cat" is her first name. And who could resist a diving cat like us?

[blondrichclosetwitch]

“ Yes, I have Drunk from that devil’s bane and I barely survived. Barely got out with my life. “Shame shame”he’s screaming at me. “Shame shame! thinking I’ll let you leave.”

“ don’t mix with him. It will kill you one day. I’m coming cap in hand, begging you to listen.”

“ she said, ‘I am hurt.’

“ you don’t need to stay broken. Break this chain of pain. “

“We could join forces: hearing voices. And we did.”

“ she’s thinking, ‘how did I get here?’ And wondering why. “

“ go your own way.”(this song plays all the time, and merits a note. In case it’s not obvious, I thought jakk was my person. He mentioned in a text about if we got married once, and would joke about how he would explain me to his neighbors: oh that’s just my soulmate. Obviously we live in a culture that your worth is often determined by a wedding ring and your work credentials. To me this was the spirits trying to get it through my thick skull that maybe we had different paths to walk. he wasn’t catching up. My whole life had been deeply a myriad of spiritual lessons that forced me into growth. This playing at 11:11 is sort of an acknowledgment that my path was demanding that I shrug off my former expectations for my life.)

“ New York, watch me burn ya down.”

“ away from the big city where a man cannot be free of all the evils in this town.”

“ we laugh at all the talk.”

“ i’ll stay by you.”

“ running out of room in my little tomb.”

“ this came up wilted and looks like you because it never grew. You are the most beautiful thing. Flower of life, bird of spring. Locus flower – – grow out of the underground.”

” don’t punish me with brutality. Talk to me.”

“ we made a promise we swore we’d always remember.”

“ can’t think about the last time that I text you.”

“ when you get here, there will be tears.”

“ Love is the answer.”

“ nothing is for free.”

“ bridges burned, all across the board. Destroyed, but what for?”

“ Blue eyed devil with a fat ass monkey. Married to the game and a bad bitch chose.”

“straight from the CIA.”

“ and why they like to talk about you.”

“ I can’t see her letting him go.”

“ told me stay at home. Told me you were not alone.”

“of our elaborate plans, the end.”

“I can’t stand it anymore.”

“ when things start getting bad I just play my music louder.”

“guardians of a loveless isle.”

“Wondrous beings chained to life.”

“Powers weird by mystics taught where sad eyed mermen tossed in slumbers.”

“ don’t want to weep for you, don’t want to know.”

“ well it’s you I’ve waited my life to see. It’s you I’ve search so hard for.”(this has to do what I was shown this week about a past lifetime.)

“Time to escape!”

“ we’re a band of brothers and sisters and whatever on a mission to break all the rules.”

“ you can’t tell me what to do.”

“ where are the best friends insisting that the world keep turning our way.”

“I will grieve and ‘member thee.”

“ you think I’m lying but I’m not.”

“ The time to hesitate is through.”

“ if you get in trouble that just mean you fucking up.”

“ she sucked my dormant will. Mother, she blew my brain, I will go back again. then she took my head and smashed it up.”

“ it takes a good friend to say you’ve got your head up your ass. And it takes an enemy to help you get out of bed.”

“ and I’m told that wounds are where the light gets in.”

“ I don’t have a key for downstairs.”

“ I feel like writing you a letter. I feel so fucking angry.”

“ they told me everything was guaranteed. Somebody, somewhere, must’ve lied to me.”

“ I can’t explain it any other way.”

“ so much going on I just can’t hear.”

“ common sense may tell you that the ending will be sad.”

“ while people have cheered on the awful mess we’ve made through storms of red roses we’ve exited the stage.”

“ I can make grown men cry.”

“ I have only one request of your life: that you spend it all with me.”

“ hypocrite Reader, my double, my brother.”

“Sneaking out the windows now.”

“ Love is the thing that has nipped them and it looks like Nathan is just another victim. When you spot a John waiting out in the rain chances are he’s insane as only a John can be for a Jane.”

“ we have lost our dear old mama.”

“ how can you blame yourself when I did everything I wanted to?”

“ here is my report from the edge. What I saw through the blinds you could say that I’m insane in phenomenal lies. I am the cause. This too will haunt me through the war.”

“ restless nights.”

“ i’m not Persephone. She’s in New York somewhere checking her accounts.”

“ thoughts you thought you’d never tell.”

“ you hurried to a spot that’s just a dot on the map. You’re hooked, you’re cooked, you’re caught.”

“I’ve got a message for you and your twisted hell. You better turn around and blow your kiss goodbye to life eternal.”

“ calm down everyone, we’ve heard! For tonight leave the crime window closed.”

“ you put this change in me. It’s you who’s breaking all the rules.”

“ just kick her in the head and rearrange her.”

“ what she’s done to me is making me crazy.”

“ he can’t marry her.”

“ I heard through the grapevine that great love, it takes time. Sex shapes the body, truth shapes the mind.”

“Don’t let me fall, always remember us.”

“ it comes down to reality and it’s fine with me, because I’ve let it slide.”

“ find the foe you hate the most and go further down the road. screams in the back.”

“ all I want is for you to take a ride.”

“ I see the driver in the glass.”

“ and when they find out who he is, her eyes were sorry.”

“ The entire body twisted.”

“ The bully grabs at my hair and punches. Tells me gonna get me now. The driver pushes the gas. The bully’s schemes caught fast. He hits the brakes and we slide and her head hits the side and she screams out.

It’s a shame to hear the sound when the penny hit the ground.”

“ well all the odds are, they’re in my favor. Somethings bound to begin. Maybe this time I’ll win.”

“ We just got to turn ourselves in.”

“ he’s left with loving what he lost more than what he has.”

“And if you fall as Lucifer fell, you fall in flames.”

“That I may see them Safe behind bars..I will never rest til then, this i swear..this I swear by the stars.”

“I’m not Immune I love this tune.”

“It’s in my mouth, it’s in my hair.”

Speaking of the poison, why don’t you just tell me what I’m ingesting? And why every time I put my glasses on the top of my head they’re covered with a film.

“ all my time and space compressed in the low pressure of the proceedings, and they beat against the sides of my life, and the roads all lied behind me. So I wrap the wheel around me, and I go out. There’s a river in my head.”

“ when everyone believes ya… What’s that like?”

“ so, it’s OK that I’m mad.”

(It was just 10:58, so i thought id include these. )

“ if I ever was myself, I wasn’t that night. I was buried in sound, ambulances were driving me around.”

“ oh well, I look at my watch it says 925 and I think “oh God I’m still alive.”





(Other songs: she shook me cold, wildflower wildfire, good friend, mojo pen live, the silence, take the box, devils bane, pay it back, The System only dreams in darkness, commotion, what’s the use of wondering, Jesus saves i spend, cheap Queen, what are you doing the rest of your life, speaking in tongues, guys and dolls, Alabama song, available, birth in reverse, lullaby, Pandoras aquarium 333, love is the tender trap, 333, eternal life live, the crime window, she’s real, wagon wheel, take a fall for me, New York’s state of mind, what is a killer like you going to do here?, Youth, Penny dreadful‘s, maybe this time, inside out, courtship, stars, five fathoms, the man, handshake drugs, and time. )

[teamkaiforever]

LOST      - PART II

Kai Parker x Reader word count : 4 723 warning : possible triggers (around the end of the story) summary : continues the story from part I … *gif by me _________________________________________

Kai moved a little closer to her and Y/N stood up, glancing at her friends with a confused look in her eyes. He couldn’t believe what was happening and couldn’t believe he hadn’t foreseen Seline’s little trick. How hadn’t he figured out there would be a catch? Was this what his life was supposed to be? Endless sea of pain and misery with only a few isles of happiness here an there? Why would fate throw him and Y/N together, allow them to have a child just to crush both of them afterwards? How it was that just when he had everything he could’ve ever wanted – people who truly love him and care for him, he ended up having his happiness slip right through his fingers?    “Y/N? Y/N, it’s me. Kai.“ he got up, taking her hands in his so suddenly she slightly jumped up. “S-sorry. I – Please tell me you know who I am.”    “No.“ she smiled nervously at him, yanking her hands free. “Sorry. I have no idea who you are.” Damon took a step towards them, lightly pushing Kai away. “Oh-kay. How about we get you to a hospital. Caroline ?”    “Hospital ?“ questioned Y/N. “Why would I need a –”    “I’ll explain everything on the way.“ smiled Caroline, taking a step towards Y/N and Kai who looked like sad lost puppy unable to tear his eyes away. “You know who I am right?”    “Yeah. I do –“ she smiled. "Stefan, Damon, Bonnie, Caroline and … the only person I don’t know is him.”    “But you do know me !“ exclaimed Kai trying to push his way past Damon. "Get out of my way. Don’t you see what Seline has done ?!” The eldest Salvatore placed his hands on Kai’s shoulders and held him away while he watched as the girl he loves walked through the door. Only after they were gone, the vampire let go off him.    “Listen to me twirp.“ started Damon. "I know you care about her in your own weird twisted way but now it’s not the time –”    “When would be the time, Damon ?“ asked Kai, rubbing his chin. "I get it. You hate me but this is not about me. It’s about Y/N and my son. Tell me when do I get to meet him?” he stared at the vampire for a long moment. “You know what, don’t answer that. There is someone I have to go torture and kill downstairs right now. I suggest you go to Mystic Falls and get that pitching fork. Fast. Because Seline might be our only way to get Y/N’s memories back.” Kai pushed his way past the vampire when Stefan blocked his way.    “Where are you going ?“    “Downstairs to rip Seline’s head off. Weren’t you listening ?” said Kai as if it’s obvious and in a flash he whooshed himself downstairs to the cells. He could barely contain his emotions or understand what half of them meant but the second he saw the siren, anger won over. “What have you done to her ?”    "Awwh you woke her up. Good for you.“ smirked Seline, getting up from the bed she had been sitting on, playing cards. "I take it you didn’t like how your reunion went?” Kai clenched his jaw, trying hard not to enter the cell and get things physical.    “Tell me how to get her memories back or I swear –“    “Your threats don’t work on me, Kai.” she stated. “I work for the Devil himself. I warned you. Did you really think you’d get to wake her up and pick up where you had left off ? Have a family while working with Cade ? It doesn’t work that way.”    “You knew about my son.“    “Of course I did. So does Cade.” said the siren as if it’s obviously. “He knows a lot more than you can imagine.”    “If you touch Peter, I swear –“ Seline laughed. "There it is again, that sentimental attachment. Forget about her, forget about Peter. That boy doesn’t need you in his life. Let them move on. You have job to do –”    “I don’t care. I will get her memories back and I will find a way to send you into oblivion.“

Later that same afternoon Kai did a locator spell, tracking down his son and the girl he loved. On his way there he thought about what he’d tell her andhow he’d tell her. There was no easy way to explain everything that had happened until this day. Their history, who he truly was and all he had done. But he had to try because not being with them, his true family, felt like his heart being ripped out of his chest. Four knocks on the door later Kai tried to dry his sweaty palms in his jeans, nerves taking over completely. Then the door opened. He saw his son for the first time in the real world and everything went away. A wide smile showed on Kai’s face and he knelt on the ground watching the boy lick his jam covered fingers.    “Hi.” smiled Kai, barely able to contain himself from reaching out and hugging him. He was pretty sure if he got the chance, he’d never let go. “Is your mom home ?” His son nodded. “Could you call her to the door?”    “Mommy !“ called out the boy, running away from the door just in time to run into his mother’s arms. Y/N lifted him up and headed towards the door scolding the young boy about eating jam before dinner.    “You.” she stated. “H-how did you ?!”    “Hi. I um –“ smiled Kai nervously. ”– I know earlier I must’ve scared you. It wasn’t my intention. I just I – I want to talk to you. Explain things or at least try to.“ Y/N studied his face for a long moment and stepped aside. "S-sure. Come in.”    “Thanks.“ he stepped inside, looking around. He took one of the pictures on the reading light table and smiled. There she was at the swimming hole wearing her bikini while he used maguc to splash her with a bucket of water while he was taking the picture. "I had forgotten how good you um –” he cleared his throat remember there was a child in the room.    “Oh um –“ she smiled nervously, letting Peter down on the ground. "Why don’t you go get your crayons or a puzzle and we can all play together.” Peter smiled widely and ran off laughing. Y/N ran her fingers through her hair and lightly folded her arms on her chest watching Kai walk around and touch things. Mostly trail his fingers and smile to himself as if remembering something. Her eyes followed him around the room and she couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance between him and Peter. It was like her son was a mini version of Kai or something, which made her wonder about so many things. Caroline had explained how Seline had done something to her, how she does know Kai but had been so vague on the ’how’ –    “This place hasn’t changed.“ he said smiling. "Look, I know you don’t remember me and –”    "Do you want something ? Tea ? Coffee ? Bourbon.“    “Hot cocoa?” he said hopefully. “With the chilly spices. I mean, I know its almost spring but –. Is that weird ?” Y/N smiled at him and took out two cups out of the cupboard while Kai leaned in against the kitchen counter not taking his eyes away from her for a second. “And tiny marshmallows right ?” Kai nodded. “That’s how Peter likes it too–” she trailed off.    “Apparently eating jam as a finger food too.“ he reached his fingers in the open jam jar on the counter. "Blueberry. Nice.”    “So –“    “So –” he trailed off, gazing at her and sighed. “Look, I know your memories of me got erased or got locked away somewhere in your mind. I promise I will tell you everything you want to know just I beg you to listen before you jump to conclusions.”    “Conclusions ?! What – oh-kay…“ she smiled, passing him the hot cocoa when Peter showed up with a large box with a puzzle in his hands. "300 pieces!? Wow, you think big.” Peter reached for the cocoa and Y/N lifted the glass up. “Not before dinner.”    “But mommy –“    “No ‘but’s. You know the rules. You spoiled your appetite enough with that jam.” she said watching Kai ruffle the young boy’s hair. “Peter this is Kai. He is um –”    “Your mom’s old friend.“ said Kai kneeling down until his eyes were on the same level as his son’s, taking a peek at the puzzle. It was from a cartoon he had seen before – Cars. "Wow, Lightning McQueen. You like Cars ?”    “Yes !“ said the little boy jumping excitedly, laughing.    “Awesome. So do I.” smiled Kai. “How about you help me find a comfy place for us to do the puzzle and you can tell me all about why you like Lightning McQueen.” Y/N watched half curious half cautious as the boys walked around the living room and sat on the floor by one of the large windows. Kai helped Peter spill the puzzle all around and then without any warning half of the puzzle pieces flew up in the air. A part of her expected Kai to freak out, not knowing if he knows about supernaturals or not but the look on his face told her otherwise. He was in a complete awe, helping Peter start the puzzle and getting so distracted in doing so his son drank half his hot cocoa.    “Peter!“ she warned, sitting on the ground next to Kai who had reached all the way across the puzzle piece pile to get a piece Peter needed. "You don’t look surprised to see him do all this.”    “Oh, the floating objects ?“ smiled Kai, barely taking his eyes away from the little boy. "I um… Around this age you start doing these amazing things and at first its accidental and random… and then you start to figure it out.”    “So you know about magic ?“ she questioned. Kai nodded. “I do. I was a witch before I turned into a vampire/witch hybrid.” he snatched the cup with hot cocoa out of Peter’s reach.  “Nah-uh.” he lifted in the air. “We don’t want your mom to get upset with us do we ?”    “No.“ sighed the little boy, "Sorry, mommy.”    “It’s okay, trouble.“ she brushed her palm against her son’s cheek  and took a sip from her cocoa. Kai grinned at her and for a long moment they just gazed into each other’s eyes then awkwardly looked away. It felt as if something inside her sparked, watching Kai smile at her, his smoky blue eyes filled with mischief just like her sons, but before she had gotten the chance to ask, Peter ‘stole’ Kai’s attention, both of them making funny faces at each other while ordering the puzzle pieces. "Hey, Kai?”    “Yes?“ he looked up from the now almost finished puzzle.    “Would you like to stay over for dinner?” Kai smiled widely at her. “I’d love to. But um – do you mind if I make dinner?”    “You are a guest, I can’t possibly –“    “Y/N –” he said softly. “– I offered and I want to. I really do. So, what do you want !”    “Pancakes !“ exclaimed Peter, jumping on Kai’s lap. Y/N and Kai laughed. "Please, mommy?”    “Yes. Please, mommy.“ said Kai, both he and Peter giving her their best puppy dog eyes. And there it was again – the striking resemblance between them. Maybe it was her imagination but something told her Kai was a little more than her friend. It was the way he looked at her, as if she was the only other person in the whole wide world. Ready to jump and take a bullet for her or something. How his eyes literally turned into hearts like in cartoon shows –    “You two –” she sighed, shaking her head smiling. “Alright. But I am on maple syrup partrol.” Kai laughed under his breath. “Better I do that. You tend to pour half the bottle –”    “Hilarious.“ she laughed. “Let’s go then, maple syrup police.”  *                    *                     * Kai sat by Y/N’s bed gently brushing his fingers against her cheek while watching her sleep. He sighed and his lips curled into a small smile. Earlier he had been supposed to leave and he had left, only later on he had sneaked back inside the house unable to stay away from his family. He knew they couldn’t pick up from they had left off for so many reasons, but was willing to wait and if for some reason he couldn’t get her memories back – he was going to do everything to win her heart all over again because his life without her and Peter no longer existed. Y/N stirred in her sleep, muttering something he couldn’t understand when he heard footsteps from the other room. A moment later Peter showed up and climbed onto the bed with her. Instinctively her arms wrapped around him and she hummed in her sleep. Kai watched the two most important people in his life and couldn’t help but smile. Even though he had barely spent an afternoon with Peter, Kai already knew he loves him and made a promise to himself to be the best father any boy can have. Or at least try to but first –    “Whatever it takes.” he whispered, kissing his son’s forehead before pressing his lips against hers. “I will get your memories back. I promise.” Kai sighed and headed downstairs to grab a pack with pork rinds before lying down on the couch for a few minutes. There were so many things to deal with at the moment. Cade, Katherine, sirens… the fact Y/N’s friends couldn’t stand him and the only reason they hadn’t killed him again yet was because of her and Peter. But the only thing that truly mattered to the young heretic was his son, his girl and finding a way to get her memories back. He closed his eyes and listened to their heartbeats upstairs and smiled. Each beat represented hope. Hope that after everything he might be able to redeem himself and finally be happy. He got so lost in his thoughts hearing the footsteps nearing almost made him jump up from his seat just in time to see Y/N walk right past him and into the kitchen. Only there was something different about the way she walked. Almost as if she wasn’t conscious of her own actions. Immediately Kai got up and followed her, watching her reach inside one of the drawers and pull out a knife.    “Y/N?“ he took a step towards her removing the cloaking spell he had put on himself. It didn’t appear she had heard him or seen him at all. "Y/N? Talk to me. Hey –” Kai watched as Y/N examined the sharpness of the blade and before he had had time to say a single syllable or even process what she was about to do, she stabbed herself in the abdomen. His eyes widened and he caught her mid-fall, pulling out the knife and quickly biting his wrist before bringing it to her lips for her to heal.    “Damn it –“ he muttered. At first nothing happened and Kai held his breath. Then her hands wrapped around his wrist and a sight of relief left his lips the exact same second. Her eyes fluttered closed and he lifted up her t-shirt enough to see the wound closing. Y/N let go of his wrist and looked around with a look of shock and confusion in her eyes.    “What?” she looked up at him. “Kai ? How– what?” Instantly he pulled her towards him holding her tightly against him. “You stabbed yourself with a knife. You know, I knew you sleep walked when you had a lot on your mind but this is a whole knew level of scary.”    “What? No, I’d never –“ she said, pulling away from him. "How are you here? I thought you left.” Kai scratched his forehead nervously, not wanting to lie to her. “I didn’t leave. Not really. I just – I couldn’t.”    “Why?“ she asked curious.    “Because –” he gazed into her eyes. “– you might not have your memories and not remember who I am or what we mean to each other, but … You are my life. You and Peter.” Y/N studied his face for the hundredth time since they had met when suddenly she wrapped her arms around him and he did the same. His lips curled into a smile and he buried his face in the crook of her neck listening to her heart beating stronger than ever.    “Thank you.“ she said, slowly pulling away. She got up and glanced at her PJ’s, lightly gripping on her bloody shirt. Kai looked at her and awkwardly turned away.    “Why did you do it?” he asked suddenly. “Why could you try to take your own life?”    “I – I don’t remember.“ she said quietly, taking off her shirt before pushing down her PJ bottoms which had blood on them too. Kai couldn’t help himself watching her reflection in the kitchen window as she did. Y/N tossed her bloody clothes in the laundry machine and Kai took off his jacket, passing it to her. "Thanks. You can turn around now.” Kai squeezed his eyes and took a slight peek, instantly gulping. Y/N had buttoned up his jacket but it still barely coveredkitc and by all definitions she looked beyond stunning.    “Wow.“ he smiled, taking a step towards her fixing her hair which had gotten partially stuck under the jacket. "You look – so pretty right now I –” Y/N smiled shyly at the ground while Kai took another step towards her until she could feel his breath on her face. He rubbed her shoulders gently, warming her up and fought the urge to pull her into his arms again like he would’ve done under other circumstances. All her friends always saw the monster, the abomination but not her and even thought they had had such a short time together he had never felt happier in his life than during those few months he had her in his arms.    “Who are you really?“ she asked suddenly. "I know we are friends. I know for some reason Peter is important to you which I can’t imagine why since you just met him –”    “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.“ he smiled, brushing his palm against her cheek.    “Try me.” Kai pursued his lips and sighed. “I am … was… your boyfriend until the wedding when I died, four years ago.”    “Four – four years ago?“ she questioned, he nodded. "What happened? H-how did you die?” Kai smiled at the ground and helped her sit on the couch, trying to figure out how to tell her. What if he tells her the truth, the full truth, and she rejects him ? He couldn’t bear losing her … or lying to her.    “It all started in 1994 when I did something really awful and got myself sent to a Prison World for it. Stuck all by myself reliving the same day over and over again.“ he said quietly, looking at her. "I was born without my own magic and to my family that made me the black sheep, the abomination. They didn’t understand it so they isolated me. I couldn’t even touch anyone because they’d always flinch or run away from me. After my and my twin sister Jo’s 22nd birthday we were supposed to do this merge ceremony. Only that wasn’t what my father intended for us. He wanted to wait for the back up set of twins he and my mother had brought up to this world to turn 22 years old because his original twins had a design flaw.”    “Being born different is not a flaw.“ she said softly. "It makes you special.” Kai smiled.   “You’d think that right?“ he said. "Anyways, after figuring out my father’s intentions I snapped and got to spent the next like 18 years all by myself, unable to die no matter what cuz my family didn’t want me to end my sentence early. And then whoops, one day out of the blue while I was walking around Mystic Falls your buddies Damon and Bonnie showed up out of nowhere. Eventually I got out and my family reunion didn’t go very well, I suppose. I tried to do the merge with my twin sister as I was supposed to but instead I got to merge with my brother Luke.”    “Stronger one wins, the weaker one dies.“ she said quietly.    “Wait – you remember ?”    “N-no. It’s just I remember bits and pieces of a conversation from Thanksgiving at Whitmore. But it’s really fuzzy. Its like the more I think about it, the fuzzier it gets.“ she smiled nervously. "So… When did we meet?” she asked curious, scooting over on the couch to make place for Kai to sit. Y/N tucked in a strand of her hair barely able to tear her eyes from him.    “We met around Christmas after I siphoned the spell keeping the supernaturals out of Mystic Falls.“ he paused, taking shallow breath. "And after siphoning all this magic I may have kidnapped Elena –”    “You what ?“ she asked a little shocked.    “– and when your buddies came to get her, you were the one who convinced them not to kill me on the spot like Damon wanted.” he said softly. “We had crossed paths before, at Skull bar on Whitmore campus when I went to see my sister Liv but Christmas was the first time we actually interacted. You walked down the hallway checking the rooms for Elena and then you turned around finding me instead. You always saw good in me, in the sociopath everyone hated and feared. I am not a good person, Y/N. I’ve done awful things but even knowing what I’ve done, you decided to give me a chance. You believed in me when no one did and after the merge when I gained Luke’s empathy things between you and me changed. We fell in love with each other and things happened.” Y/N listened, trying to imagine everything he was telling her. It was so much information for her to process but there it was this feeling deep inside her heart and soul, a feeling which told her he was being truthful. And seeing his eyes in that moment she knew her instinct wasn’t lying.    “But then Damon and Bonnie got the brilliant idea to leave me in another Prison World where I was stuck for a few weeks before returning just in time for my sister’s wedding where I um – I killed myself. And being the all powerful leader of the Gemini coven, that meant taking down my entire family with me.“ he said quietly, still waiting for her to run away screaming or call her friends to come save her from ‘the monster’. "After I turned and your friends found out I had linked Elena’s life to Bonnie’s to get back at her for ditching me in the 1903 Prison World, Damon killed me. But not before you tried to stand in his way. This night changed so much for the both of us and I didn’t know it back then, neither did you but… you were pregnant at the time.”    “Wait –“ she closed her eyes, running her fingers through her hair. "Are you t-telling me you are Peter’s father ?”    “Believe me, I was more than surprised when you told me earlier today when I was in your head trying to save you.“ he smiling nervously. "I mean, can’t you see it? He is like a mini version of –”    “– you.“    “Yeah.”    “You have the same hair, same habbits.“ she thought out loud. "Jam fingers?” she said a little amused and he laughed. “And those blue eyes. That mischievous spark that’s driving me completely insane.” Kai smiled. “You always said that. So, you believe me then?“ he asked hopefully.    “I do.” she smiled. “You just sound so honest and it’s hard to deny what’s right in front of my eyes.”    “T-there is something else.“ he looked nervously at his hands. "What happened to you is my fault. You not remembering any of this, I mean. When I came back, I wasn’t really back. I was still stuck a little bit in Hell and to get a permanent foothold here and find you, I made a deal with Cade.”    “What kind of a deal ?“    “You know the work the sirens do for him? I um … I said I’d do the same. And then I got myself thrown into a cell at the Armoury and … after three days looking for you, you found me. I heard you talk with your friends. Begging them to let you see me or more likely threatening Damon to gouge out his eyes unless he did. And on your way to me, Seline jumped you and put you in a coma. I woke you up which is, you know good because if I hadn’t –” he swallowed hard. “– but the siren had thought ahead and now you don’t remember me. No sentimental attachments. That was the deal and with you and Peter around I –”    “You can’t uphold your end of the bargain. “ she stated. "Kai, do you still –”    “Love you ? Want to be with you and a part of our son’s life ?“ he finished for her. "I do. But with your memories  gone? You got a clean slate. You can start over with Peter, move away and not be burdened by the pain of losing me or any the supernatural craziness in this town. Maybe Seline is right, maybe I should go and –”    “Do you really want to go ?“ she took his hands in hers. "Because you seem like someone who fights for what he wants, doesn’t give up and always wins in the end. I know I don’t remember us. I wish I did. What we had clearly was.. something special and if I was willing to die to save you, willing to ‘walk over’ my friends to see you, to be with you and tell you about Peter. I am pretty sure I’d protest loudly about you leaving.”    “You would, actually.“ he smiled gazing into her eyes. He brushed his palm against her cheek and almost immediately her cheeks flushed and her heart skipped a beat. "Y/N, I promise I will do whatever it takes to get your memories back.”    “Hey, if that doesn’t work… we can always make new ones.“ she smiled. "You, me and Peter.”    “I’d love nothing more.“ he pulled her into his arms, hearing her sigh. Somehow everything felt absolutely perfect in that moment. Then she snuggled closer to him on the couch. For a while they just cuddled, both of them getting lost in their thoughts.    “You know, it’s his birthday tomorrow. Well, today.” she smiled.    “It is ?“ he smiled back.    “Yeah, you know the day he was born I –” she stopped, her mind churning while she tried to remember the day her son came to this world and tell Kai the story. But the more she thought about it, the more it seemed as if her memories disappeared. “What has she done to me ?” she muttered to herself.    “What?“ he asked concerned.    “Seline.” she said quietly, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t – I can’t remember how Peter came into this world and the more I think about it the more it seems like my memory … evaporates or something. I never would’ve tried to kill myself. Why would I?! Why would I leave my son all alone ?!”    “You wouldn’t.“ he wrapped his arms around her tighter, rubbing gentle circles on her back to calm her down. And then it hit him – Seline was still mind controlling her.

_________________________________________ MASTERLIST - SMUT MASTERLIST - FLUFF

[auroraphilealis]

Mottled Roses

Mottled Roses | Dan lives in a world where, when someone starts losing friendship, interest, or love for you, a rose magically appears on your bedside table, and you have one last chance to try and fix things before the last petal falls. His best friend Phil promised that Dan would never receive a rose from Phil, but one morning… Dan does. | Phan | Teen and Up | Happy Ending | 3,989 words

Thanks to @botanistlester who let me have the prompt someone gave her. I ended up doing this in a big of a different style than I normally would, but I hope you guys still like it :))

(Ao3) (Prompt)

**

The morning Dan Howell receives a yellow rose on his bedside table is the morning that everything starts to fall apart.

For all intents and purposes, nothing is any different. Dan’s alarm goes off for school, and he startles awake from where he’d fallen asleep on his textbooks the night before, doing his damndest to study for a levels. The sound of his parents and his brother laughing over breakfast penetrates his disoriented mind, and he gets up on unsteady feet to to turn off his alarm clock.

That’s when he sees it - the fated yellow rose.

It’s not even all that unusual, at first. Receiving magical roses from time to time is not only normal, but expected. In fact, Dan takes one look at the yellow rose, and shrugs good naturedly, because he knows exactly what it means, and exactly why it’s come.

He’s been receiving yellow roses all year long, and he hasn’t done a damn thing about it, because there’s nothing to be done.

He and his classmates are months away from summer hols, months away from running off to Uni, and likely, never seeing each other again. They’re all receiving yellow roses, magical notices that a friendship is beginning to wither and wilt away. It’s to be expected, for this time in their lives, and so Dan doesn’t even blink an eye as he shuts off his alarm, and turns away to start getting ready for school.

He can hear his mum shouting up the stairs for him to join them soon or he’s going to be late, and he scrambles to tug his jeans on even as his vision swims in front of him from lack of sleep. The yellow rose is not forgotten, but it doesn’t haunt Dan the way it might have someone else.

In the last week alone he’s woken up to two yellow roses, both of which he’s moved to a special place on his bookshelf where he keeps them safe for as long as he can. Throughout the year, he’s received a grand total of two other yellow roses, and a pink rose that Dan is never going to know the soul of.

They symbolize hope, and loss, flowers sent from some mystical force that many have tried, and failed, to study in the past. It’s a subject in their history classes, something Dan’s gone over time and time again, and never fully understood, but accepted as just another normal part of life.

Receiving a rose can mean a lot of things. Depending on the color, it denotes the feeling of the soul it’s been taken from towards the receiver. Yellow is for friendship, pink for feelings of romantic interest, and red for those in love. Receiving a rose, however… is not a positive interaction. It means that the soul’s feelings towards the receiver are diminishing.

Dan’s seen friends in the past gain yellow roses stained with pink, their petals falling away one by one as the soul of the rose begins to pull away from the receiver, all without the receiver having any idea of who it actually is. He’s seen friends receive pink roses, sometimes red, and watched as girlfriends and boyfriends fell apart, watched as significant others tried their best to fix whatever was wrong and make the rose stop losing petals, only for the last petal to drop, and for it all to come to an end.

It’s just another fact of life, and while Dan never wants to see the day where he has to watch as a rose of his loved one slowly dwindles away to nothing after a harsh break-up or the loss of a partner, he is used to watching his friendships decay away into nothing. It’s just how things go.

It’s not as if there is no way to prevent it, either. Dan’s seen plenty of people save the rose from losing another petal, slowly working their way back up to whole, and pristine, until it disappears all together just as quickly as ones that have lost all their petals, it’s just… well…

Dan’s only ever received eight roses in his entire life, none of which he’s even attempted to save.

The first was a yellow rose in primary school, just after a nasty fight with a friend from class. Dan had taken one look at it and instantly burst into tears, terrified despite knowing what it meant because he’d never had one before. He’d made one attempt to fix the broken relationship with the friend and been shunned so thoroughly he’d not tried again, and watched with wet cheeks as the poor tiny thing had dwindled away to nothing in just a few short days.

The second had also been yellow, a few weeks after another friend moved away the summer he turned twelve. He’d been horrified, at first, scared he’d messed something up with someone, and had gone around asking all of his friends if they were mad at him. It had taken him until October, when the last petal had fallen, to realize who it had belonged to, and frowned as he realized why all of his letters had gone unanswered for so long.

The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth had all happened much more recently, as the end of a levels approached and he and his small circle of friends stopped hanging out as much, too busy with their own lives and recognizing that soon, they’d all be at different Uni’s anyway. Dan had taken good care of those roses, but he’d had no time to mend the friendships, until they, two, were gone.

The pink rose had been nothing special, an admirer Dan hadn’t even known he’d had, and would never know he’d had if it weren’t for the rose, and the last… well, it was sitting on his bedside table waiting for Dan to pick it up.

He doesn’t. He’s going to be late for class as it was.

He has a few friends left in mind that the rose might belong to, after all, all of whom have already received acceptance letters to Uni, who he knew one day or another he was going to get a rose from anyway, so he pushes the thought from his mind and promises himself he’ll give them a proper goodbye at graduation.

**

Dan only has one best friend.

He’s known Phil Lester since he was in primary school, and they’ve been through everything together. Dan can even remember the time he’d broken his leg while Phil was visiting his grandparents on the Isle of Man, and the minute he’d caught word of Dan being in the hospital, he’d headed straight home.

Of course, it had taken more than a day to convince his grandparents to let him leave in the first place, and he’d been pretty late showing up at midnight on Dan’s doorstep long after he’d gotten his cast, but Dan’s parents had been gracious enough to let Phil in anyway, and the two had had a nice, happy sleepover while Phil drew cruddy pictures all over the plaster that had then encased Dan’s leg.

It had been one of the defining moments for Dan of where his true feelings lay. In fact, Dan’s pretty sure if Phil ever received a rose from Dan, it would be pink, but he’s never told his best friend his feelings, and for good reason.

He’s scared. He’s scared of receiving Phil’s yellow rose and watching the most important friendship he’s ever had crumble away to nothing in the palm of his hands, afraid of what they’ve built together disappearing just as quickly and surely as every other rose Dan has ever received in his life.

He doesn’t know how to save a rose, only that it can be done, and he’s terrified that one day, he’s going to fuck up everything he’s ever had with Phil and never be able to spend the afternoon with him again. It’s been hard enough with a levels lately, hard enough to see his best friend outside of school, but Dan has never been afraid of getting a yellow rose from Phil.

At least, right up until he shows up to homeroom that morning and immediately finds that Phil is nowhere near where he usually sits, right next to Dan in the middle of the room near the front so they can at least try and focus on class for once. Instead, Phil is sat in the back, to the far left, and all of the seats immediately surrounding him are… filled.

Something heavy lodges itself in Dan’s throat as he stares at his best friend, begging him to just look up and explain, but Phil never does. If Dan didn’t know any better, he’d even say Phil was avoiding his gaze.

Dan bites his lip, because he can’t seem to help remembering the yellow rose that appeared on his bedside table just that morning. As he heads to his own, usual seat, half hoping the teacher will clear their throat and direct Dan to some kind of seating chart that will explain this whole thing, he feels tears beginning to prick at his eyes because not Phil, please not Phil too.

He promised. He promised that he would never let Dan get a rose because of him, that they’d still be friends even after they’d run off to Uni… Phil promised, and Phil never broke a promise.

Dan begs himself to relax, promises himself he’ll talk to Phil later, and tries to tune into their teacher's voice as the bell goes for class.

Only, Phil’s not at lunch either. It’s not completely unusual. Sometimes, he skips the meal and studies in the library instead. Sometimes, Dan does too, and sometimes, Dan joins him.

The problem is, when Dan leaves his meal behind with one of their other friends, Chris, and heads into the well loved room he’s spent far too much time in this year, he doesn’t find Phil there either. He’s nowhere to be found, not even in his favorite aisle with his back propped up against a bookshelf, and a good fantasy novel in his lap.

He’s not at the study tables, nor is he in the back corner by the windows, and Dan can’t find him by the computers either. He’s nowhere, and Dan sits down miserably at one of the empty study tables to press his face into his hands and take a few deep breaths, because Phil promised, he promised and he’s never broken a promise to Dan before.

There’s been enough times in the last nine years of their lives for broken promises, too, but Phil has always pulled through.

Why would he stop now?

The thoughts haunt Dan like no other, the memory of the forgotten yellow rose on his bedside table like a stain on the backs of his eyelids. He hasn’t been this affected by receiving a magical rose in a long, long time, and he doesn’t know what to do with the sweat pooling in his palms, or the nausea in his stomach.

It can’t be Phil’s rose, and yet all the signs are there. Phil’s been avoiding him, fracturing the very structure of their friendship from the foundation up, and Dan know’s that if it is Phil’s rose, it’ll take more than a few months for it wilt properly away. Yet, the fact that it’s there at all is proof enough that if it is from Phil’s soul, he want’s to end their friendship, and that is just not something that Dan can deal with right now.

He presses the heels of his palms more firmly against his eyeballs, and groans softly against his own skin. He hasn’t had anything to eat yet today, but the wasps that have made home of his stomach have filled him up anyway.

**

Dan doesn’t see Phil after school either. If it weren’t for the one small glimpse of Phil Dan had seen in the one class they shared that morning, he might even have just thought that Phil had skipped out on school for the day. Only, Dan did see Phil that morning, and the two had been walking him together since they were ten years old, so when Phil doesn’t show up at their usual meeting spot thirty minutes after class, the realization that Phil - Dan’s best friend Phil - might be the soul of the rose, finally begins to set in.

It’s like being struck by a truck. Dan can feel it like a sucker punch to his stomach, and he wants to cry as his shoulders wilt and he continues to stare at the front doors of the school, begging Phil to come running out, late, with his backpack bouncing against his back.

He doesn’t, and somehow, Dan’s not surprised. He can feel a tugging on his heart, and i-told-you-so in his head that doesn’t make sense, because Dan hadn’t known. He’d never, ever expected that rose to belong to Phil, and he’d rather take anything than have to deal with the recognition that Phil, his Phil, would rather lose their friendship then try and stay together when school comes to an end.

Dan had been looking forward to hols, getting back to sleepovers and game nights and far too much time down by the lake. He’d been looking forward to letters during uni, of endless hours of skype calls and his best friend right then and there to help him when he inevitably crashed doing his law degree. He’d been looking forward to Phil picking him the broken pieces of his shattered heart the next time it happened, because he’d always been there, and now - now, he just isn’t.

Dan sniffles as he finally turns his back on the looming walls of their school, and begins to trudge home. He can practically feel Phil’s gaze piercing his back, waiting for Dan to be gone, far enough away that Phil can feel safe to head home too.

They’ve never even fought. Not really. Phil has never avoided Dan before, so this… this feels like every bad thing that has ever happened to Dan all combined into one, and he doesn’t know what to do with himself other than let the tears fall.

The walk home seems to take… forever.

Without Phil by his side, Dan has nothing to distract himself with, and suddenly, it feels like he lives far further from school than he’d ever realized before. Dan shifts his backpack up on his shoulders, and sighs as he realizes that if this continues on, then this will be what going home will feel like from now on until Uni.

Dan can’t stand the thought. It makes his eyes well up with tears all over again, and he starts to feel the anger brewing in his stomach. How could Phil do this to him? How could Phil break his promise to Dan, for the first time in their entire lives? How could Phil leave him to nothing, when Phil knows that he’s all Dan’s got?

By the time Dan gets home, he’s ready to fight. He’s never brought a rose back from certain death, but he knows that he can, and when it matters most, he knows that he will.

Phil means more to Dan than anything in the world, and if he wasn’t willing to lose his best friend over something as simple as a crush, what makes Phil think he’s going to be willing to lose him over something as stupid as a few years at different Uni’s, a fact Dan’s not even certain will be a fact in the end. Neither male has been accepted to anywhere just yet, still holding out for emails from prospective schools, and Dan’s had his fingers crossed since day one that he’ll manage York with his best friend.

There’s still hope left, so to find out that Phil has already thrown in the towel makes Dan want to rip his own heart out.

He’s not ready to give up.

No one’s home by the time Dan pushes open the front door and drops his backpack by the front door. Normally, he’d take it straight to his bedroom to start his homework, but today. No, today, Dan wipes the tears away from his cheeks the best that he can, and heads upstairs with as brave a face as he can muster. He keeps thinking maybe, if he just doesn’t touch the rose, it might not be real, but he has to face it if he wants to save the friendship he’s tried so hard to maintain.

Dan’s not going to let anyone take Phil away from him, not even Phil himself.

Seeing the rose waiting innocently for him right where he found it that morning is… almost a cruel joke. It feels mocking, as Dan pushes his bedroom door open and stares at it for a few seconds, trying to work up the nerve to move forward and grasp is in his hands, feel the soft petals and the love for him that Phil had once held.

It’s still there, he knows it is, and yet it’s fading. Dan can see is now.

One lone petal lays wilted against the wood already, and that’s what does it for Dan.

Without missing another beat he rushes forward and cradles the wilting rose in his hands, a sob rising up in his throat all over again. It’s the moment that everything changes, and Dan remembers all that he had. It’s the moment reality hits him and he wonders if he really can fix this, or if it’s all just a lost cause after all.

His fingers brush delicately over the soft, golden yellow petals that represent his best friends love for him, and he cries, silent, choked back sobs, as he stares at it and wishes that it weren’t here. Why did it have to arrive, why did Phil have to decide to leave him?

He promised, he promised!

Dan can feel his heart breaking when he turns the rose over in his hands, and that’s when he see’s it - one of the petals is completely orange, and the one next to is beginning to turn, too. There’s spots of something that almost looks red on the petal beside that one, and a mottled something in the middle that such a dark yellow Dan can’t decide what it is.

Dan’s fingers card over every last petal, looking for some kind of sign, some kind of explanation, as his eyes go wide in confusion.

He’s never heard of such a thing. A flower turning orange? That’s not possible, surely? Roses don’t just… change once they arrive, they wilt, and disappear with the feelings of the one whose soul it represents, they don’t mottle colors that don’t even make any sense.

And yet, as Dan stares at the rose laying in his hand, he can’t help but to feel hope beginning to spark in his chest, because there’s red, there’s actually red, and does that mean - could that mean - ?

Dan gently places the rose down, and pulls out his phone, because there’s only one thing left to do.

Google.

**

It’s past midnight. Dan hasn’t done any studying for his a levels. His homework remains abandoned downstairs, and his parents had taken one look at the mottled rose on his bedside table slowly shedding petals far faster than it should be able, and had silently walked back out.

Dan’s been… laying in the quiet for at least three hours now. He’s long since gotten his answer from google, he just doesn’t know what to do about it.

Orange… the transition color from yellow to red, known to represent enthusiasm and desire. The receiving of a rose in transition from one color to another represents a soul fighting against their feelings for the receiver.

Dan doesn’t know what to do. He hasn’t touched the rose again since he put it down hours before, since he looked up on google what was happening, and realized that… Phil was running away from him.

Phil was running away from him because he couldn’t come to terms with his feelings for Dan.

Normally… that would have made Dan enthusiastic. The idea of his Phil, loving him back, was everything. But Phil was running from it, and Dan didn’t know why, not really. Dan had pretended he didn’t have feelings for Phil for years, but Phil had never received a rose from Dan. Could it possibly mean that Phil didn’t want to be gay, that he wasn’t okay with it? Could it possibly mean… that he didn’t want Dan, not really, not after all?

Dan doesn’t know, doesn’t know if the feelings were old and fading, or new and developing, or if Phil was slowly falling out of friendship and love with Dan. All he knew was that Phil didn’t want him, that Phil had tossed him aside despite it all, and it was killing him.

Slowly but surely, it was killing Dan.

There’s a strange sound. Dan tilts his head towards his window when he hears it again. It’s almost like a tapping, but not quite. It’s more sharp, more distressing, and it happens again, and again. Dan stares with a furrowed brow at his window for another long moment, before he realizes what the sound is.

Rocks. Someone is throwing rocks at his window.

Startled, Dan gets quickly out of bed, and peeks outside.

None other than Phil Lester is stood there waiting, staring up with such deep anguish on his face that Dan can do nothing more than answer him.

He doesn’t open his window, but Phil has seen him, and Dan has seen Phil, and they both know that Dan is headed outside. His fingers are shaking, and he can still see Phil’s rose, wilting and losing petals far too fast for Dan’s liking, but he leaves it behind as he rushes down the stairs with tears in his eyes and pushes out the front door to find Phil Lester, his only best friend, standing to greet him with open eyes.

It’s not just Dan’s imagination that Phil is crying as well, and he throws himself at his best friend because really, what else can he do?

He can feel his heart racing as he starts to sob, really letting go in Phil’s arm as Phil shushes and soothes him, crying into the top of Dan’s hair and stroking everywhere he can reach, long, lean arms wrapped tight around Dan. Dan can’t stop crying, and he’s yelling, he knows he is, screaming at Phil that he promised, he promised, didn’t he promise it would never happen?

Phil tells him that he did, Phil tells him that he’s sorry, Phil cries and holds Dan tighter to his chest, and he tells him that he is so, so sorry, but that he was just so scared.

Dan just holds onto him tighter, because honestly, he was scared too, but now that Phil’s back in his arms again, Dan’s never going to let him go.

Phil is his.

**

Dan’s chest is heaving when Phil finally pulls dramatically away, grasping Dan’s face tight in his hands.

“I’m in love with you,” he says, eyes wide and tormented, so, so tormented, that Dan actually understands.

He smiles, a broken, tight lipped think full of heartbreak and mistrust, as he reaches up with one hand to thread his fingers through the back of Phils hair and drag him closer still.

“I’m in love with you too, you idiot,” he whispers back, and kisses Phil, greedy with it as his best friend gasps in surprise against his lips.

The moment is everything, and as Phil winds his arms around Dan’s waist and holds him still, Dan can’t help knowing that everything is going to be okay.

He can practically feel the rose just fade away...