#matt king writing

[simonsrosebud]

my aftg fox children headcannons (guys be nice to them okay)

Dan & Matt:

They have two boys, Jace and Abram Boyd, one year apart (Abram wasn’t planned hehe) by the time Dan is 32.

Dan/Matt aren’t religious, but they still assign godparents to their kids. Jace’s godparents are Wymack and Abby, Abram’s are Neil and Renee.

At first Neil said no. He didn’t think that responsibility was something he could handle until he eventually got a call from Renee. “I know why you’re calling me” “I figured you would. I warned Matt and Dan that you may not respond in the way they wish, they don’t take it personally,” she’d said. Neil knew it wasn’t personal, but he admitted he also didn’t see the point and couldn’t be cut out for that. “I think you may misunderstand their intentions, may I try to clear it up?” Renee explained that, really, it was only a title, a glorified uncle of sorts, since the boys weren’t getting baptized and they weren’t putting their godparents in their will’s like old tradition did. “It’s a way to showcase the love and trust they have in others; you, me, Coach Wymack and Abby”. “It is an excuse to spoil them rotten,” Andrew had added when he talked to Neil. Renee told Matt to wait a bit, not to push, and a week later when Neil was randomly on the phone w Matt he said “I’ll do it, by the way. The kid thing- The godfather thing.”

Naming Abram was a struggle. They wanted something meaningful since Jace’s middle name was David. It wasn’t until Dan asked Matt what Neil’s middle name was that they got cookin. Neil was in the off season when he was born, so he drove out (accompanied by Andrew) to Atlanta from Columbia and they asked Neil when he got there.

Their backup name was Joshua (aka Josten) in case Neil wasn’t comfortable with Abram. Luckily it only took a few minutes of blue-screening for Neil to shake it off and allow it. Abram was Neil’s one real name, the one thing he’d kept all those years, the thing that made him feel grounded and safe. But Neil was 27. He hadn’t needed the name since he first moved away from PSU at 23 and was alone again. The kid deserved something safe.

ANYWAY. Jace is a certified hetero and goes to University of Miami for college. He grew up playing exy and baseball but once he was a sophomore in high school he quit exy and stuck to baseball all through high school. He’s 5’10.

Abram plays midfielder for soccer and used to play backliner for exy. Abram goes to PSU and rooms with Elliot (Andriel’s adopted kid, just wait it’ll make sense i promise), joins a campus soccer team, then makes the PSU team his sophomore year as a walk on.

Abram is 6’1. Has massive game but doesn’t use it bc he’s kinda oblivious. Very silly and energetic and comes off flirty sometimes when he’s just being nice and goofy. He later attributes it to the fact that he didn’t know he was bisexual until senior year of high school.

Abram fucking fawns over Elliot 3 months into living together bc he realizes he’s kinda in love with him. Never lets it show bc he won’t ruin their friendship and plus they share a room tg. Def foams at the mouth when Elliot comes back sweaty and shirtless from runs. Once Elliot is eating a banana and out of nowhere says “You ever eat a banana and wonder how the fuck girls suck dicks?” in the dining hall and Abram chokes on his drink so bad it comes out of his nose. Horrified.

Neil & Andrew (ik hold on):

Blake (f) and Elliot (m) Nelson.

Andriel had no intention of ever having kids bc no.

However, when Andrew and Neil are 42/43 and living in South Carolina again, Andrew notices that there are footprints in Neil’s garden. Then he sees it again and sees that the footprints continue towards the shed in the backyard. He checks their cameras to see that it’s a young girl coming and going with Neil’s electric bike a few nights a week from 12am-4am. The third time he waits inside the shed and promptly scares the living shit out of her.

QUICK VERSION: Andrew catches Blake sneaking into their backyard shed and borrowing Neil’s electric bike at night a few times a week, lets her use Neil’s old raggedy bike that hasn’t seen the light of day in years, turns a blind eye when she returns it run over, gives her bus money instead, goes back and forth with her for like 1.5 months, points out the bruise & bandages she shows up with one night while he’s sitting outside at 12am (insomnia), doesn’t see her for 2 months, shows up at the 24 hour CVS she works at 3-4 nights a week and sees the bruises on her hand and throat through her turtleneck while she thought no one was looking, threatens to call the police post-shift at 4am and sits with her through a panic attack bc “He’ll- I’m only 15, they’ll make me quit my job and we can’t to afford- and they’ll split us up, and he- Elliot won’t- he can’t- oh my god” and then takes her to his house w consent, briefs Neil bc those kids need to get out of that house but they’re not staying here, Neil who somehow takes it all without a second thought and says “well not forever, but definitely for the night”, takes Blake and Neil (awk first meeting) to Blake’s house and gets Elliot out of the house while their dad is gone (Elliot has a black eye and bruises from rough fingers on his forearm and says dad left in a rampage when he saw u were gone, and i told you that job wasn’t fucking worth it).

Elliot doesn’t trust either of the men after what his sister protected him from and doesn’t know wtf is happening bc he thought Blake had been borrowing her friend’s bike. They stay in Andriel’s guest bedroom for the day, Abby is retired by now but only lives 45 minutes away. Neil takes charge of calling her despite Andrew thinking there’s more pressing matters like kidnapping 2 teenagers. “You didn’t kidnap us, idiot, we came with you” Blake says.

Long story short, the siblings end up staying with them longer than they thought due to lawyers and police and safety.

It becomes kind of a lost and found situation. What was once “while we get legalities figured out” became “until your father’s trial is over”, which stretched into “no way they’re getting sent to XYZ” and “until they can find someone competent enough to handle trainwreck’s, they’re stuck here” and “Dan won’t care if we bring them to Thanksgiving, right?” “Amalia’s been playing exy since she could walk, Kevin, Elliot started a year ago” “Elliot knows Santa isn’t real, right? That stops at, like, 12?” “I’m not teaching her to drive, I’ll get myself killed” “If your mouth gets you kicked out of school, don’t come crying to me” “Addie & Annie keep telling Blake to spend a weekend in Atlanta” “I’m not telling her not to date, she scares me” “Just because your mother wasn’t worse doesn’t mean she was good”

Until one day, two and a half years later, Blake hands Neil an application for adoption, who tilts it towards Andrew, who silently takes it and begins to fill it out.

Blake is 5’0, Elliot is 5’9. Blake is blonde and Elliot has light brown hair, and while they’re not ghostly pale, both of them burn in the sun in .2 seconds.

Elliot does cross country and was training for a 10k when they left their dad so Neil gladly continues that. He’s in awe when he finds out who Andrew and Neil really are, not because he knows their names but bc once he watches their old games it’s like watching gods to him. He’s a true golden retriever which isn’t helped by his ADHD, anxiety and mild dyslexia, which he doesn’t get medicated for until he’s 16.

When Elliot was 13 he almost drowned in a lake bc he was never taught how to swim. When their dad found out he took him back to the lake against his will and kept tossing him in the lake until he kept himself afloat enough to pull himself up onto the dock, nearly coughing up water. It was so traumatic to a young kid that Elliot had a problem with bodies of water after that. Instead of being fine just not going in, he avoids pools or lakes entirely. Beaches are give or take since he can sit far up on the sand.

Elliot watches exy with Neil and feels cool about it; latches onto King instantly and vice versa bc she’s an ESA and his anxiety is through the roof half the time.

Elliot gels very quickly with Jace and Abram when Andriel brings them to Thanksgiving at the Boyd’s house. Once he gets the boys’ numbers they add him and Blake to the groupchat they have with Kateaaron’s, Kevin’s, and Allison’s kids.

Later, when Elliot goes to college at PSU, he and Abram room together. They become even more attached at the hip (impossible) and Elliot becomes infatuated with Abram in a totally normal way that he eventually figures out by spring break is definitely bc he wants to fuck him. But Elliot is chaotic and too anxiety ridden to ever make a move so he bides his time being innocently flirty that comes off as being silly, and doesn’t complain when Abram wraps his arms around him or lets him sleep back to back in Abram’s bed after Elliot has a bad nightmare or can’t turn his brain off at night.

Eventually, sophomore year when they live in a house with 3 other guys, Elliot climbs into Abram’s bed face down after a night out, almost half on top of Abram. They’re literally both so drunk. “You’re in my bed,” Elliot slurs. “S’my bed, babe”. Elliot lifts himself up on his elbow over Abram’s (warm and shirtless) chest. “Who you callin babe?” Abram giggles lowly and Elliot leans down and kisses his cheek, “You can be my babe, babe” he boops Abram’s nose and giggles drunkenly, and his head is dipped low already when he lets his lips lightly press down on Abram’s chin, simply touching, before actually pressing a kiss there after a second. Abram’s hand comes up just as he presses that second kiss down, tangling into Elliot’s hair, and when Elliot pulls his head back up Abram’s grip tightens. Abram tilts his chin up and kisses just beside Elliot’s mouth, pulling him down fully and kissing him deep after the two pause against each other for less than a moment.

Aka, they hardcore make out. We’re talking ass grabbing, lib biting, neck sucking, Elliot straddling Abram, a bit of dry humping, Abram pressing him down into the mattress and moving down to-

Anyway, when they wake up Elliot runs to the bathroom connected to Abram’s room to throw up, and when he notices Abram come to the doorway he says “Dude, you sucked my dick” into the toilet bowl “you’re, like, really good at it, too” immediately wretches again. And it’s probs the hazy hangovers, but Abram says, “Yeah, been wanting to do that for a while” “Thank god, I’ve been dreaming about you doing that since last year… Hey, B?” Abram hums and Elliot doesn’t even lift his face from his arms over the toilet seat before asking “Wanna go out with me?” cue gagging, but luckily Abram splashes his face w water and leans down to just kiss the back of Elliot’s neck “oh that was hot” Elliot mumbles. “Yes, I’ll go out with you” “Thanks… Hey B?” another hum “Can you start the shower and also kill me while you’re at it?” “Whatever you want, babe”

Junior year Abram has to live at Fox Tower but Elliot and the other 3 guys stick together. Except Abram is closer with these guys so he ends up sleeping in Elliot’s bed like 4-5 nights a week. Elliot is an absolute THEIF of clothes too, like if Abram comes over he’s going home without a hoodie.

Elliot calls him B or Bram, most recently babe. Abram calls him baby, El, and sometimes sugar when they’re alone.

Blake is queer too which Neil gets really relieved by because how tf do u give a girl the talk. Turns out Andrew had already done it bluntly and against her will when she first went on a date at 16.

Blake doesn’t go to uni but gets her associates at a community college and Allison somehow gets her an internship with a PR agency, shocking considering her no-filter and sailors mouth.

Aaron & Katelyn:

They have identical twin girls: Annalise and Addison.

The twins are… not planned… they’re 26 and Aaron’s in his last semester of med school while Katelyn is nearing the end of her first year of residency (bc exy players 5th year). Thankfully Aaron had already been matched with the hospital Katelyn was at for his residency.

Aaron gets genuinely terrified when she tells him over the phone like 3 days before he was due to visit. He calls Andrew bc it’s too soon and this isn’t supposed to happen and he doesn’t know how to be a parent when the only one he had was a piece of shit and it’s the first time Andrew hears him audibly diss Tilda without adding “but she was my mom”. Andrew doesn’t say much, but he does say “You had a terrible childhood, yes?” “I mean, yeah” “Good. Don’t replicate it, and maybe yours won’t hate you.” and it’s enough.

All of this is thrown out the window when they find out they’re having twins. Aaron almost faints.

Annalise’s nickname is Annie and sometimes Anna by school friends. She has zero preference between the three options.

Addison rarely gets called her full name other than teachers, gets called Addie.

Andrew calls them both by their full names.

Katelyn has no middle name, so when her and Aaron get married she made Mackenzie her middle name and took Aaron’s surname.

Aaron calls his girls Ad/Addie-baby and Anna-bear.

Addie’s middle name is Mackenzie, Annie’s is Nichola…. you know why🥹

When Katelyn has to full name them she’ll typically yell “Annalise Nick!” and “Mackenzie!”

Aaron didn’t like the nickname Annie bc she’s a redhead and “orphan annie” felt weird bc he and Andrew are orphans. But Katelyn loved the name and it came naturally from others so he got over it.

Addie is bisexual aromantic. Annie is straight.

Addie goes to University of Georgia, and Annie goes to PSU for their really good speech pathology program (the twins are a year older than Jace/Blake and 2 years older than Abram/Elliot so Annie was the first kid to go to PSU).

The twins grew up in Chicago until they were 11, then moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Since they’re close to U Georgia, Addie tells her parents they’re only allowed to visit when she says so she’s not suffocated. Annie is more of a homebody so she not only loves that Dan is at PSU, but would let Kateaaron visit every weekend if they wanted (daddy’s girl).

Allison:

Maybe she gets married maybe she doesn’t, regardless I like to think she doesn’t for a while and ends up adopting a 3 year old named Sabrina.

Sabrina grows up to be a natural honey blonde just like Allison and coincidentally has her same smokey grey eyes.

Queen of nicknames: Sab, Bri, Brina, Briners, Reynolds.

Sabrina never puts a label on her sexuality and is pretty fluid with it, just doesn’t rlly give a fuck.

Grows up in Miami but they go to NYC every winter break and normally 1-2 times every summer. Grew up traveling with Allison but not enough that it affects her childhood.

Goes to NYU. Eventually helps Allison run, design, model for her fashion empire.

Has like a million followers on Instagram, has modeled for Victoria Secret, has been a brand ambassador for Moschino and goes to Paris fashion week w Allison every year once she’s 16.

Since the Foxes go on vacation every summer together, Sabrina grows up very close with the twin girls since they’re the same age. Brina and Addie *experimented* together when they were younger bc they didn’t wanna go to college not knowing anything. Since then, every time they see each other they end up hooking up. They’re very touchy feely with one another, but Brina is kinda like that anyway. Addie only tolerates her and Annie being like that.

They jokingly call their situation “best friends who bone”. Realistically, they’re in a (long distance lol) queerplatonic relationship that just includes sex. Annie secretly thinks Sabrina is aro as well but keeps it to herself bc it doesn’t matter to label it.

Kevin & Thea:

Amalia Day🫶🏼

Youngest of the kids, 3 years younger than Abram/Elliot. They weren’t necessarily concerned with the prospect of kids, so she isn’t born until Kevin is 32 and Thea is 36, not even a full year after she retires due to one too many knee injuries. She goes to Kevin one day after practice and kinda straight up says, “I want a child- No” she cuts him off “I’m 36, I want to be a mother, I want to be a mother with you, and I don’t want to be seventy when she goes off to college” but Kevin just says “She?” “Yes, I’m not bringing another spitting image of Kevin Day into this world”.

Clearly, they do have a girl. Despite Thea’s blunt and sometimes abrasive approach to some things, she takes to being a mother with all the gentle-ness that Kevin remembers of his own, and it’s enough to calm him about being a father (bc we all know Kevin was shitting his pants the whole time).

Amalia is tanner than Kayleigh was, but it’s unnerving how similar she looks to Kayleigh. It makes Wymack a complete pushover for her (though he always says no at first just to say he did).

Amalia grows up playing exy, of course, but also soccer and dance which pains Kevin and Thea reminds him to stfu. Thankfully for him, she’s really fucking good at Exy and gives up dance by the time she’s 8 and soccer by 11.

Plays for the US Teen Exy All Stars team (idk made it up). She plays offensive dealer. Her playing becomes Kevin’s dare I say obsession, but he becomes good (by force of Wymack, Thea, Andrew and surprisingly Jean) at being normal about it- not forcing exy down her throat and pressuring her. It’s good that she’s not a striker living up to Kevin’s legacy.

Amalia makes a Twitter when she’s 16 and it lasts about 3 weeks until Kevin finds out and makes her give him her password to monitor the account. Smart, giving the family’s status and her age, but she acts like it’s the end of the world.

If it wasn’t for Wymack, she would probably be an entitled brat. He keeps her humble along with the other kids.

Terrible fucking driver. Like holy shit.

Thea learned French over the years, so they raise her speaking English and French. As a teen she says she wishes she spoke German instead since Andrew, Aaron, Neil, Nicky, Erik, Annie, Addie, and Blake (eventually) all speak it.

She eventually goes to play for USC Trojans, plays pro, and goes to the Olympics as a 4th year senior in college.

Ages:

Sabrina Reynolds, the twins

Blake/Jace

Elliot/Abram

Amalia

All the kids are one year apart, with Amalia the youngest at 3 years younger than the boys and 5 years younger than Sabrina.

That’s all folks holy shit this was long. Maybe I’ll expand on it soon

[sullyinthestars]

Guys guys guess what

I started writing the AFTG x American West/Rodeo/Cowboy/Ranch AU of my dreams.

Idk if it’ll actually become a long form fic, but I thought I’d give you some highlights:

A whistling carried over the yard. It guided Andrew’s eyes back to a single figure, perched atop one of the gates as if it were a throne. He didn’t feel a need to react, not until he realized it was Cracker’s pen. Noticing his mustang moving sent him stalking over, fully prepared to shove the stranger to the ground.

What stopped him short was watching Firecracker trot up to the man with her ears angled toward him curiously. The stranger pulled something from his pocket, and held out his hand. The mare sniffed from where she’d stopped, but refused to touch his hand. Andrew waited and watched as the stranger tossed it into her empty feed pan.

As soon as he was satisfied with her nibbling on his offering, the stranger turned to look at Andrew. He’d seemingly heard his approach, and knew he was there all along.

Andrew stood his ground, letting the stranger swing his legs over the gate and drop to the ground. Cracker jolted at the movement, and he said something to soothe her before he met Andrew on the lawn.

“She yours?”

Andrew hadn’t expected that. His face was still the picture of neutrality, but it encouraged his curiosity. “Yeah,” He kept his hands stuffed deep into his pockets. “Take it you’re the new kid Wymack warned me about.”

The stranger smirked. “Ah, I got my own warning,” He chuckled. “Neil- Neil Josten,” He offered Andrew his hand.

“Andrew Minyard,”

-

Okay so:

- Wymack runs a rodeo grounds, but also has a stable but also a boarding house. You help at the stable/ranch and your horse boards for free. He helps the kids event and stuff.

- Kevin rides a Friesian, big into Dressage. (I want to name his mare Queenie.)

- Allison does show-jumping, but also barrel racing. (Her thoroughbred (show jumper) is named Madonna and her quarter horse is Rocky.)

- Dan does team roping, she learned under Wymack but now helps him out with his “strays” (She has a paint that is technically Wymack’s but everyone knows that is her heart-horse named Whiskey. She thought it was funny bc her back story is still the same and Hennessy)

- Aaron is a vet student, he interns in town under Abby. Katelyn is the receptionist.

- Bee does equine therapy, she’s a retired barrel racer.

- Andrew worked as a jockey, made a decent amount of money in a lawsuit after an accident. He adopted a BLM mustang on a whim and gentled her himself with guidance from Bee. Her name is Firecracker.

- Nicky is a stable hand, he’s got an old draft horse cross named Bear. (Erik isn’t a horse guy, still German but he is working in the US on a land conservation/research thingy.)

- Renee is a trick rider. Neil makes a comment about her having a death wish.

- Matt was a bull rider? He got a nasty head injury but grew up around horses. He’s the biggest ranch help for Wymack. His horse is a retired Thoroughbred who also makes a good lesson pony.

- Neil never meets Seth, but his legacy is around the grounds. He died in a drunk driving accident on the rodeo grounds but Neil thinks there was more to it. (Seth was a bronc rider).

- Neil eventer in English when he was younger, he knows his way around horses.

- The story starts with him signing up to ride a bronc on a whim, he’s not a circuit cowboy, Wymack runs some searches and has no idea who the kid who just won the event is.

- Offers him a place to stay for the night, and some work if he needed it.

- I’m already tempted to write a TSC/Trojans spin off bc I need to give Jean Moreau a mustang that he can see himself in. He can’t be with Kevin (their story is slightly different but some aspects remain the same) but he can be with horses. Give him a mustang gelding that shies away from everything and who he has to learn to be gentle with as he learns to be gentle with himself. Also, Cowboy Jeremy. Team ropers Cat and Jeremy, barrel racing Laila. And bc Emma Swift is my Trojan I decided to project onto: she’s a ranch hand who works more with the cattle and less eventing.

Guys hear me out okay.

[mildew-dread-mold]

there were probably fanfics on tumblr and ao3 or whatever in the aftg universe for the foxes and other exy figures. with weird ships between them, all that jazz.

i like to think they just got together on occassion to read shit. everyone sitting in a circle, nicky has ao3 open and is reading off the tags, "the title is from a harry styles song, the ship is dan and aaron, the tags are- oh shit- omegaverse, anal fisting, cock tattoo? and it's 12k words long."

[ghost-tings]

while I wait for 15 hours for the votes to be done (I'm impatient I'm trying to be patient it's just 15 hours idc if it isn't on point its technically 15 hours) here are some facts about elio

number one: elio has curly hair, like 3A-3C curly hair depending on if its cared for

number two: elio has no concept of gender (this is due to having been raised on the run)

number three: like how neil upped his age by a year elios age is upped by a year as well (he was orginal born in 2002 the day and month are the same)

number four: between Christmas and January Allison decided to work on elios hair getting it back to its natural state (the sketch/drawing I'm doing has his natural hair so yay)

number five: elio can't swim at all he also has a fear of the water

number six: when elio was a infant (and even now because he's short for his age) neil used to cary neil on his front with one of those baby wrap things under baggy shirts ad sweaters

number seven: before baltimore, the girls had taken elio out with them and he had picked out a yellow dress with sunflowers all over it (letting this kid explore his gender which is more than I can say for all my other kid ocs in general)

number eight: elio did try to take the racoon home with the foxes when it came time to leave the cabins it took about five minutes into the drive for aaron to point out the noise from the boot

number nine: Kevin had tried to get elio into exy but it didn't go over well as elio had just started furiously signing in ASL to the point that even neil struggled to keep up

number ten: the monsters dorm room cupboards have at least about 2 massive tubs of strawberry milk (nesquik cuz I think that was the cheapest at the time, it's basically just the cheapest one okay I'm not good at prices)

[medeaaasworld]

Guess who's back bitches😋😋

CHAPTER 12

(If you're wondering why I haven't posted in like 20 days, that's coz I've been looking for a reference for a stupid/naughty/ridiculous Christmas sweater)

(I stopped at this one)

(It's not the best option but idc)

(Nicky—let's get this straight I'm not—Hemmick should definitely wear it)

Also, finding British expressions to fill Stuart's speech with them was fun (don't kill me)

[frozenpipedreams]

would anyone read an all for the game figure skating au....? i'm thinking mostly the same plot as the trilogy but exy is replaced with skating

[obsessing-over-fictionn]

just got my ears pierced so i think it’s fitting to address the whole foxes & their piercing and jewelry agenda. realistically, exy is a contact sport and therefore would not allow jewelry, and since they’re college athletes they probably play all the time & it would be a hassle to actually wear the piercings every day. but i digress! pls note that i have one (1) lobe piercing and nothing else so im probably not experienced enough to be making these hcs but idk it’s based on vibes so f it we ball

andrew: i think everyone and their mother agrees that andrew has an eyebrow piercing and a couple on his ear. personally i think he’d have two lobes on one ear & a helix(which is upper, outer ear), and then just one lobe on the other ear? he wears rings and then a chain w a ring on it (not necessarily a wedding ring, but it’s definitely one that he and neil match)

neil: idk to me neil doesn’t seem like he’d have piercings bc of practicality esp since he lived on the run and if they got infected it would be over, but i think later in life he gets a couple scattered on his ears. maybe a tongue piercing too at the guidance of allison and nicky, and if it helped that andrew likes it then that’s nobody’s business but his own. he also has his matching ring necklace and no other jewelry

allison: allison has her ears like completely done w multiple lobes, conches, helixes, flats, etc. like literally all of them on the ear possible. i could also see like a stud nose ring perhaps and a belly button ring too. likes necklaces and rings too. also she wears gold jewelry argue w the wall

renee: renee i feel like has a lot of piercings but she just doesn’t wear anything in them. i think she would’ve gotten a lot during her stint w the gang and everything and after she had her change of heart, she just wouldn’t wear anything in them. i think for her just plain lobes and maybe a nose (like the one that’s not in the middle of the nostrils yk idk what it’s called but it’s like where a stud would go??) but she has her cross necklace and that’s abt all the jewelry she wears

nicky: belly button and tongue, maybe a single lobe, but personally i just don’t see him w a lot of ear piercings. if anything he’d go for other parts on his body i feel, not rlly his ears. for other jewelry i think he wears rings and necklaces for like ‘fancier occasions’ but i don’t see him wearing them every day. maybe a necklace from erik?

[dan-i-am21]

Monster AU

Wymack master Vamp

Bee Fairy (potion based)

Abby Healer Elf (scroll hand based)

Kevin Vamp/Hunter

Andrew Biten Vamp

Neil Basilisk/Hunter (Basilisk is a made up dragon creature thing)

Aaron Turned Wolf

Nicky Elf

Dan Wolf

Matt Demon

Alison Witch (spell book ritual based)

Renee Siren

[sternutaries]

Do you ever think about who hurt Nora?

[callixton]

deeply sorry to any irl friends from hs who i gave access to my ao3 who have to see it slowly transform into a primarily whump account

[palmettoshitposts]

aftg fic rec ‼️

“Young love!” Nicky sighed, “Well, old love, I guess but-”

“Finish that sentence and you’re running a marathon next week,” David replied.

“Noted,” Nicky said, “That does mean shots for you though, big man!”

“Never call me that again.”

“Noted.”

foxes newlyweds - kefu (khams), kefu 2 electric boogaloo (FoxesBullshit) - All For The Game - Nora Sakavic [Archive of Our Own]

the foxes get together to play the newlyweds game. it ends in potential alcohol poisoning and disaster. did anyone expect anything else?

[simonsrosebud]

do u have any Elliot/Abram tidbits you’d like to share…. I’m so locked in for them

YES!! this excerpt picks up after the linked post below, where it finally dawns on Elliot that he has the most stupid obnoxious crush on Abram. AKA my “roommates” wip of my two crush blind boys

prev

Elliot fell asleep in a matter of seconds, only stirring when he felt a weight drape around him hours later. Still half asleep, Elliot hummed in response and dug his head into the hard pillow beneath his head. His arm was trapped to his chest, wrist pinned, so he groaned softly and pulled it free. He wrapped it around Abram’s middle, digging his fingers into the back of his shirt.

Elliot’s eyes snapped open.

He was still tipsy, and the soft peek of sunrise daring to poke through their curtains. He took a quick survey of their situation, anxiety spiking in his chest. They had shifted in their sleep, and where they had a few inches of space before, now Elliot laid on Abram’s chest, tucked close and tight. He could hear Abram’s soft puffs of breath above his head and felt the warm skin of Abram’s arm against Elliot’s waist where his hoodie had ridden up.

He flicked his eyes up without moving a muscle, but realized with horror that his leg was thrown over Abram’s. But it wasn’t their legs tangled together that was jarring, it was the fact that Elliot was definitely sporting a semi.

He shot out of bed, banging his knee on Abram’s bed and cursing sharply, and stumbled into the bathroom connected to their and their suitemates rooms. No one was awake yet. Elliot could hear students outside who still hadn’t even gone to bed.

He tried thinking of gross or bad things, like his father, or someone chewing with their mouth open, but he couldn’t break his focus from the shadowed form lying in the bed he’s just fallen out of. He could see him in the mirror above the sink, all long legs and smooth skin. Elliot could smell him on the hoodie he’d slept in, something between vanilla and citrus, and so purely Abram.

His lips were parted just slightly, eyelashes dark and curled against his cheeks. Elliot wanted to feel them against his own. He wanted to run his hands down Abram’s chest and up his sides, to slide his hand up the side of his neck and feel his lips against his neck. He wanted to press himself flush against Abram and let him do whatever he wanted. It was a terrifying thought. He wanted to curse himself out and bang his head against the wall for getting himself into this situation, and yet he knew there was nothing he could do to make it go away.

For once his busy mind had stunned itself enough to focus on the one thing of incredible importance. There was no choice but to accept his fate.

He had a desperate crush on his best friend.

[matty-bear]

can someone cook up a silly lil nick fix where the reader is trans 😞 (ftm) i need smth to make myself feel better abt my body dysphoria 😭

[dylsstuff]

Meeting Him Twice

Word count: 4,760

This is a commission for my best friend, they came to me with the trope; a time traveller and an immortal keep meeting, immortal catches the time Traveller up on what they missed. (I will forever love sandman for giving us this trope)

But they wanted the history Merlin catches the doctor up with weird historical events! I only have one in here but they loved it and gave me permission to post!

Ao3

-------

Merlin woke up today thinking it would be a simple one, a day where absolutely nothing weird happens. Merlin was also an idiot and there was absolutely something weird happening in Camelot because of course it was. 

He’d started his day as he usually would, getting breakfast for his royal arse. Which was the easy bit, the harder part was waking him up to do his duties but when Knights came knocking at the door frantically saying that there has been word of some form of a beast in the outer villages terrorising his people then you bet your cotton socks the King will practically leap out of his bed to make merlin put his clothes on. In all his bravery you’d think he’d want to get dressed himself to save his people but alas if it was one more job he could give Merlin he’d do it, you could always count on that.

Next thing he knew they were on horses racing their way to the outer villages to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. 

On the way there he was sure he heard some form of weird groaning sound. It was peculiar and nothing like he'd ever heard before. Strange..  very strange. 

"Stop being a girl, Merlin." He heard Arthur say pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Did you not hear that?" 

"What?"

"Never mind." He shook his head. "Must be hearing things."

Arthur shrugged and kept looking ahead as the village came into sight.

Of course, when they got out there the village was in shambles. Roofs were burnt and injured people on every road, Gauis was sent for but for now, Merlin was instructed to help any way he could. At this point, he knew quite a lot and was able to help more than he could 3 or 4 years ago. 

When he was finishing up treating an older man's wounds he had gotten from whatever had attacked his village he heard footsteps coming from behind him. 

"Excuse me!" 

Turning he saw a man with silly-looking clothes coming straight towards him, hands clasped as he smiled, Merlin returned the smile despite thinking he was odd.

"Can I ask you a question?" The man asked, looking between him and the man he had just finished helping. 

“Of course, what is it that you’re wanting to know, my friend?” He smiled, wiping his hand on a cloth he had. 

“Where am I?” 

Odd question, it took Merlin a moment to realise he was being serious. Well.. this isn’t as odd as his average day honestly. People can get lost in these woods, hell he’s done it a few times, who is he to judge?

“Well, you’re in the outskirts of Camelot.” He answers, “where have you travelled from?”

The stranger opens his clasped hands, “ohhh Camelot! Haven’t travelled ‘ere before but always wanted to! Lotsa legends!”

“I wish you had found it in better circumstances, we’re having a bit of trouble at the minute,” Merlin admitted. 

The man scrunched his face up, “trouble? What kind of trouble?” 

“Ah we’re not sure we think some form of.. *magic* creature has been attacking the village people,” his voice was hushed when he said the word magic.

The man's face didn’t seem to change from the scrunched expression as if he didn’t believe him. 

“The king is here to investigate himself, it usually is something along those lines.” The man seemed to perk up a little bit at that. 

“King Arthur?” He said, it seemed there was an excited gleam in his eyes and Merlin nodded. “Oh blimey! Always wanted to meet the greatest king to ever live!” Merlin tilted his head a bit confused at the wording. How could this stranger know such a thing? How could he know about Arthur's destiny? Also, why is he referring to it like it had already happened? He had a lot of questions about the odd man but he couldn’t ask any of them in time before he heard Arthur shout his name from halfway across the village.

“MERLIN” 

He sighed at the interruption, “well that’s my cue, it was nice meeting you, uh-”

“Call me The Doctor.” The man- The Doctor answers with a smile.

“Doctor,” Merlin repeated, he would say it was a strange name to go by but Merlin had met many people who just went by the name of their profession rather than telling them their actual name. Probably to let people know they’d be happy to help them if needed. Though Merlin would not go around calling himself Wizard or Sorcerer. He was about to say something else but again was interrupted by another shout, more impatient this time.

“I really have to go, I hope you enjoy your stay here!” He said out of habit as he waved running off in the direction of his King's voice. 

A little while after they were in the middle of the woods, a few feet from where the village is, facing the creature dead on. Arthur had his sword raised pointing it at the red beast who looked like nothing Merlin had ever seen before. Even Gaius hadn’t had anything in his books or any ideas on who Merlin could visit to ask how to stop it. It was rare that Gaius had nothing to contribute that would help Merlin help Arthur believe he did all the work.

Just as Arthur went to swing his sword the creature's tail swung and hit Arthur in the stomach, knocking him into a tree which then knocked him out. Typical. Absolutely typical. Not that he should have expected anything more than Arthur, the greatest king to ever live, the king to unite all of Albion being knocked out yet again by something throwing him or launching him at a tree. 

He didn’t have much time to be annoyed before the creature had locked on to him. On instinct he raised his hand, eyes glowing gold and the creature went launching itself giving Merlin more time to think of what to do. While he still was lost for an idea but he couldn't keep throwing four-legged red reptiles into trees, Arthur was an oaf and an oaf that would wake up eventually and see his magic. Then what would he do? Get executed? He’d rather not risk it. So he had to think of something and fast before that happened. Then all of a sudden the creature got caught in a trap, falling from the tree above and onto the creature, it looked odd though. Where the brown ropes should be it was blue and not rope at all, he didn’t know the word, it could have been magic in all honesty with all the blue almost lightning coming from it. His gut told him it wasn’t, he would have been able to feel the magic, and it wasn’t any kind of sorcery.

Then he heard victory shouting, and a blur running out from behind the trees. When it came into view it was the strange man from earlier.

“Now that’s what I call a trap!” He said, not paying any mind to Merlin as he looked over the creature, “don’t suppose you get this a lot but can I just say you are magnificent.” He said with a wide grin, “sorry about the trap ol’ girl, it’s the only way I could get you to listen without having me for breakfast. I know I look scrumptious but I am all bones and chin. My chin could scratch up all your throat, and then where would you be? A sore throat and no way home.” The creature made a noise in response, supposedly agreeing with him. “Exactly! Now, what do you say I get you home? Just need my ship and I can get you safely back, ey? How does that sound?” He hummed stroking her snout as best he could with the trap, “Next question is how did you get here..?”  

That’s when what Merlin assumed was a squirrel ran behind him, causing the leaves to rustle which alerted The Doctor and he turned to look in his direction. He thought he’d be mad but he just gave a cheeky grin.

“Ahh yes! I almost forgot you were ‘ere, too busy coddling over this one,” He used a thumb to gesture over his shoulder as he stood and faced Merlin, giving the creature one last look of fondness. “Loved the trick you did with the flying thing. Wasn’t the nicest thing to do, she’s gonna hold a grudge against you but yowza it was cool- Sorry.” He said turning quickly hands up and flapping about as he apologised to the creature. “I mean really, how did you do it? Was there a rope or something involved?”

“You… aren’t from around here are you Doctor?” Is all he could muster.

“Well spotted! No wonder you’re his adviser! Very clever, you are! What makes you say so?” He clapped his hands together again. Does he do that often?

“Well.. you uh, know what this creature is, used a weird trap to capture it and talk to her like you can understand what she’s saying, you have strange clothes, and you use strange words that I have never even heard of. It seems like you use sorcery but it does not seem like that’s what it is.” He said, voice unsure. “What are you?”

“I’m The Doctor, what are you?”

“I know who you are, I asked what you are,” Merlin repeated. 

“An alien, your turn beardy.” The Doctor says before his eyebrows shot up as if he was having a moment of realisation, he reached up a hand to gesture a beard on himself then his hands shot up in excitement, "no- yes- hang on- you don't have a beard- you're not an old wizard- you're young, I mean look at you looking after a young king Arthur- this is not how you’re depicted. You’re a story! A fairytale! No- no- a Legend! That.. is.. impressive, and that’s coming from me, the oldest thing on this planet other than trees but I mean you're young, it's said you have magic but is it some form of software- why are you on this planet in the first place. Are you an alien? Another Auton duplicate? No scrap that, that would be completely rubbish. Bonkers Doctor. You can’t be anything of the sort, I scanned you when we met you’re human-" Merlin cut him off. 

"I don't know what you're on about, Doctor whoever you are. I'm just.. Merlin. What do you mean, 'not how I'm depicted?" 

"Ah- shouldn't have said that-" He was cut off again, this time by the creature making what Merlin thought was an impatient grunt. "Right, yes- almost forgot, I have to go get a blue box hidden behind a tree give me just a moment." And with that he was off again, leaving Merlin and the creature alone. He gave it a little wave and it just grumbled. 

"Sorry about the throwing you thing." He said earning another grunt from the creature, this time it seemed like reluctant forgiveness. 

Then suddenly he heard the strange noises he thought he heard earlier.. and then as the weird man said a blue box appeared on top of the creature. It was like it just faded into existence and the creature faded out of it. 

'Police..?' Merlin thought, reading the exterior of the box. 

That's when the door opened and The Doctor was standing in its doorway. 

"You do have sorcery?!" The young wizard asked, confused, he was certain that this was not sorcery; he would have felt it in the ground, heard it in the trees. This was foreign, something he’s never felt before. All he knew was it gave a feeling of being alive.

"No- well I guess that's what it probably looks like, I forget which time period knows what or another believe in. It all gets jumbled up, all wibbly wobbly I suppose."

"Who.. are you?" He couldn't help but ask again, bewildered by the man's words and magic… box.

"I told you, I'm The Doctor, Merlin."

"But what does that mean?" 

"I don't have time to explain anything now. I have a red beastie to return to her world. I can't promise you'll see me again but keep an eye out, ey?" The Doctor had a large grin on his face, gave a thumbs up and promptly shut the door behind him

Just as it had appeared the box disappeared again with the same groaning noise and of course this was when his royal arse decided to come to. He sighed, preparing himself to give a long explanation of how Arthur defeated it.

The next time he would meet The Doctor was centuries after Camelot and Albion were forgotten. England left in its place. A mere legend told to children as a story passed on from generation to generation, started by the man himself as he travelled from place to place, meeting new people and then their ancestors, seeing their resemblance. He told the story of King Arthur, the greatest king to ever live, his Knights of the round table, his love for Gwen, his horrid father and loving heartbroken sister who felt she had no choice but to succumb to the evil magic, the betrayal of Mordred and his loyal Sorcerer Merlin. He never missed a detail, maybe he exaggerated bits but he never lied about that time. Then he watched his story evolve around him, turning him into an old man, the court Sorcerer. 

It was nice seeing the world and people evolve around him, but it was also heartbreaking seeing people die over and over again. He was stagnant whilst the world was always moving around him. People blew away like sand and he was the storm come to disturb the peace creating sandstorms and tidal waves. He tried not to get involved for the most part but there were some cases where he just couldn’t help himself. In doing so he left his mark on the lives of everyone he would meet and they would remember him in legend. 

If Arthur could see him now he’d wonder what on earth they were talking about, how he was just an idiot. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to just be called an idiot by his Arthur again.

Yet here he was coming back to the same lakeside, waiting for the king to one day return. He’d been disheartened a few times and started to lose hope as to whether Arthur would come back, but he got out of his sulk every time, being reminded that he will one day return. 

He’d been walking through the streets of Elizabethan London when he heard a commotion coming from down one of the alleys, instinct said to chase it but his head said the smart thing to do was to keep his head down. Of course, Merlin being Merlin he ran after the noise, bumping into someone as he turned a corner. He heard a grunt as they bumped heads. 

���I’m so very sorry-” He started as he rubbed his forehead, looking at his victim and his eyes widened. “Doctor? What are you doing here?” The same man, in the same ridiculous clothes, bow tie and suspenders stood in front of him rubbing his head all the same. He looked like he hadn't aged a day, though he shouldn't be one to judge neither did he. 

“Merlin! Oh hello! I didn’t expect to see you here! How are you here? Never mind I’ll get back to that-Usually do- I really must dash.” Then he was off again, as quick as he arrived. 

Merlin sighed to himself, then realised The Doctor must have been running to the same sounds of screams that he was and then after a quick internal debate he ran after him. 

“Doctor!” 

Next thing he knew he was running with The Doctor, and then he was sitting in a bar with him talking, catching up.

“And you’ve been protecting him all this time? Blimey, I knew someone who waited 2 thousand years for his wife, well fiance at that point, and he was a centurion, and she was in a box and the world was ending. Well a whole different reality actually- but that doesn't even amount to how long you've been waiting." 

"I don't like to compare pain Doctor." Merlin shook his head and then smiled. "It'll be worth it when I see his stupid face again. I forget that sometimes and then something as silly as drumsticks remind me of him. I miss him every day but he is prophesied to return when Albion needs him most. You would have thought the black death would have stirred him but never mind that I suppose, he always was fashionably late." He gave a laugh, looking to see The Doctor staring at him with big sad eyes. "What?" 

"I knew you were remarkable when I met you all those years ago. How old are you now?" He asked. 

"Goodness, I haven't thought about that question in a long time. Over about six thousand years old now I'd reckon." 

"Bloomin' heck you're older than me." The Doctor let out a hearty laugh. 

"No matter how old I get I will always feel like that same boy who walked into Camelot all those years ago. I have had to use ageing spells so people couldn't tell I wasn't ageing though."

"Oh! Still got the magic then? Have you been magicing people? What’s that like?"

 

Merlin let out a laugh and shook his head. 

“I haven’t used it on anyone in a long time. It’s mainly just to disguise myself these days. It feels like a relief when I do, I have pent up energy that builds up when I haven’t used magic in a while. It sort of gets grumpy with me and doesn’t work right and plays up.” It was frustrating when it happened but he understood how his magic would feel betrayed.

“Sounds like the TARDIS, moody one she is. Couldn’t get anywhere without her though, well.. literally.” He says raising his invisible eyebrows and pulling a face like he shouldn’t have called the TARDIS, whatever that was, moody. It was much like the face he had pulled all those years ago. When he had slipped up that he’d be a legend one day, he didn’t think much of it until he had lived and heard the legends spoken by other people. 

“Is she how you knew I’d be just a myth one day?” He asked inquisitively. 

“She is.. How are you finding all of this then? Being a legend.” He gave a profound smile. 

“When I stop to think about it it’s strange to say the least, I never thought that people would one day actually know i was a wizard. I thought life would just go on and no one would remember me. Of course I knew they’d remember Arthur, he was the greatest king to ever live and with all these people passing down his stories from generation to generation is astonishing. However they just think I'm some dodgery old man that helped guide him.” He let out a small laugh as tears threatened to well up in his eyes. “I watched everyone I loved die… but their stories are still told years after their death and I think that’s what keeps me from going mad. Hearing kids talk about them, playing games in the streets. It’s nice not to forget and I don't think I'd ever wish to.”

The Doctor gave an understanding nod. 

“How has watching the world change around you been?” 

“Well it’s been eventful, but you probably know that already.”

“Oh trust me things haven’t gotten nearly as eventful as they will be yet.” 

“Really? Because i lived through the dancing plague recently in France and let me tell you that was eventful. People danced for weeks! No music, just sickness and dancing, I was one of the physicians that had to help through that. It wasn’t easy but it was over in a couple of months, which felt longer than it was.” 

“Oh I heard all about that, what were your theories?” The Doctor folded his arms, smiling intently as he listened. 

“Well.. uh- i first thought it was magic but magic hasn’t been performed by anyone since my time. There have been some, not many but they all died out years and years ago.” He said scratching the back of his neck as he continued, “but it didn’t feel like magic in the slightest. I was born with magic, it is everything I am and everything I'll be, it is my very soul, I know what it feels like when it’s around me.” He explains, “I was trained to be a physician, so medicine and diseases are also something I’ve dealt with and can identify. I remember thinking it was peculiar, I thought it could have been some sort of poisoning from their food but it was a mass event so I'm not so sure. I checked the food myself and they were fine." 

The Doctor smiled, impressed. Merlin also smiled while talking. He hadn't had someone to listen like this to his medical theories and magic in years and years. It was nice to say the least. 

"It was stress induced mass hysteria, weird ol thing it was. Never was there myself though I do love a good dance.” The Doctor said moving his arms in a way that could have been a dance if it didn’t look so weird.

“Can I ask you a question?" The Doctor nodded in response, urging him to go on. "How is it that you're here, looking not a day older than when I saw you the first time?" 

The Doctor seemed to hesitate before answering. "I travel through time, to different worlds than this one." He said leaving forward on the table with a knowing smile. "You could.. Come with me?" 

Merlin was taken aback by this, travelling in time? Surely that wasn't possible. Though for some reason he felt like he could trust The Doctor, that he was in fact telling the truth. He could see Arthur again? But what would happen if he saw his younger self as well? It's not as if he could put on a disguise that he's younger self wouldn't know about. He wouldn't want to leave Arthur alone if he were to rise again… 

"I don't think I could. I don't want to leave Arthur, he needs me."

The Doctor nodded in understanding leaning back in his seat. "Of course, it was silly of me to suggest that. Though could I show you something?" 

He furrowed his brow, confused as to what The Doctor was wanting to show him but he nodded regardless. 

They were back in front of his tardis, it still looked like the exact same blue box that he saw disappeared and appeared all those years ago.

“You’re wanting to show me your disappearing tardis again?” 

“Oi, don't say that like you're not impressed,” He adjusts his tie with a frown, “But i want to show you something inside.” He says giving him a smile as he opens the door, showing Merlin the interior of his ship. 

Blinking, Merlin stepped forward unsure, he could see a whole room inside but crammed into a box. It was most unusual, though he wouldn’t expect any less from The Doctor. He looked at him again, The Doctor just nodded with his arms crossed giving him the go ahead to enter. Stepping inside was surreal, he could feel she was alive immediately, humming as he continued walking towards what seemed to be how he controlled her. 'How could there be more rooms in here…' he thought, spotting the steps and other doorways seemingly going off to a corridor. Everywhere he looked was even more magnificent than the last that he didn't actually know where to look. So much was happening in one room. This was a different kind of alive he thought as he slowly raised a hand to the side of the round thing in the centre, feeling an almost hum come from her. 

"She's wonderful Doctor." He said looking at The Doctor who was still in the doorway letting him have his reaction. 

"You didn't notice it." He said pointing to the doorway and then back inside the room. 

"Didn't notice what?" 

"Well people who come in here always point out that it's bigger on the inside! You-" He pointed at him, "just came in here and completely ignored the obvious." He stated, a smile spreading across his face. "You are quite special aren't you Merlin. Right-" Suddenly he was on the move, hands clapping together and he started whizzing around the centre of the room, pulling levers and pushing buttons, turning wheels. The whole room shook and Merlin went flying into the railing and he let out a grunt as his back hit it. It was almost like an earthquake and that noise, the same noise he heard all those years ago, he heard it again but it was so much louder. 

Then it stopped. 

He was on the ground, arm in the air as his hand had been clinging on. It was silent other than the low hum of the engines. 

“What on earth was that?” He asked out of breath and laughed. It was surreal. Hilarious even. He could have been inside an earthquake for all he knew. If this was how all modes of transport were where The Doctor is from then he can't wait for the future to come. 

He looked at The Doctor who was already at the doors, smiling at Merlin. 

"Come on, slowpoke, you're not grey yet." He laughed. 

Merlin got up from where he had been on the tardis floor, almost tripping over as he moved over to The Doctor in an excited hurry. 

"Ready?" 

Merlin nodded despite being a bit terrified. He had no idea what was going to be on the other side of those doors but whatever it was The Doctor was excited. 

His mouth hung open as The Doctor opened the door. It revealed the earth and the dark of night around them. It was beautiful. In all his time on his planet looking up at the stars he never thought he'd be up here on the other side. 

It all looked so big and for once he felt so small in the universe. He used to having this big destiny, all this power but… in comparison to all of this? He was just a little speck on a planet somewhere not all that important. 

"He'll come back one day Merlin I promise." It brought him out of his thought process. 

"I wanted to show you that there's so many possibilities, and so so much to come. You guys are progressing, slowly right now granted but don't let that waver your faith, one day you'll be out here yourselves and that will be something. The universe isn't ready for you humans. There's going to be a time the world needs Arthur again and let me tell you, he'll rejoin you and it'll be like not a day went by since you started waiting. It'll be worth the wait I promise." The Doctor says in clear earnest. 

 Merlin let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and laughed a sad chuckle, a tear rolling down his face. 

"Thank you, Doctor. It really is beautiful." He says, looking back towards the earth below. It would be a joy if Arthur got to see this one day. He'd love to be the one to show him though he didn't know whether he was to return soon or much much later in his time on earth. 

They just stared out into the stars until Merlin was ready to go back home. Their goodbye was not as hurried as the last time they met each other but this time they ended their time together with a hug and a smile. The Doctor told him to keep himself out of trouble like that was ever going to happen. So they laughed and waved each other off. Merlin watched as the TARDIS disappeared once again and he wondered if he would one day cross paths with The Doctor again but that remains to be seen. 

"Till the next time, Doctor."

[starkcontrasts]

i watched the house of the dragon season finale y'all (if you don't know by now: it leaked 2 days early) and truly i'm so sorry to the actors. i hope their paychecks were huge bc their individual abilities were the only things holding together the many questionable narrative decisions made in that writer's room. and even then, the bad writing won out

[monstergoblin]

The Owl Pirates Chapter Five

First Chapter Tumblr Link HERE Previous Chapter Tumblr Link HERE Posted First On A03 Here  It’ll be updated on A03 first and might take me a bit to get to updating it here as I always seem to forget about my tumblr. <3

 Trigger Warnings Always Read Safe: Depression, Suicidal thoughts, Pushing down feelings, Overworking self to ignore feelings, Child Abuse (Belos is a bitch okay), Gaslighting, Self Gaslighting, Manipulation, Injuries

Notes:

I know Hunter seems to be flip-flopping with the "He's okay and plotting now" to the panic mode and crying. Its how I think he would process traumatic events though. Where he doesn't want to remember them so he's trying to busy himself with something else.

Like capturing pirates

That's totally a normal teenage hobby right?

Chapter 5: Bookclub

 Something was wrong with the boy.

    Other than the fact he was a navy dog.

    Eda had been keeping an eye on him as the week went by. His first day was definitely his toughest. It was only natural for someone who had faced such trauma to be a little messed up from it. The ocean was something to be respected and if you forgot that fact you could die.

    But after the first day, Eda had noticed the boys behavior change. Not a healthy slow change of getting used to the crew. No, this was different.

    He was awfully obedient for a navy dog .

    The second day on the ship his personality flipped from quiet, and crying to a disturbing thing. The boy was being friendly.

    No matter what the chore was, Hunter would jump up and do it politely. He never talked back and even didn’t complain when Eda made him swab the deck again after he’d just finished. She did that to try to get a rise out of the kid.

     She watched him. He only snapped at whoever was watching him once in a while- if they were being particularly annoying or trying to offer their help. Which was natural. She assigned the kids to stick around with him so they would always know where the brat was. Though, truthfully the kids were being used like a bell on him. She didn’t want him alone in case Lilith was right.

    Because Lilith wont let her live it down if she is right.

    Eda for the most part agreed with Camila. This was just a boy, raised by someone with evil intentions, but that did not make him guilty for every death Belos caused. Didn’t make the child at fault for the damage he was forced to do. 

    Lilith did not agree, good thing she was only navigator.

    Eda wasn’t stupid, she knew the boy was planning something. Probably wanting to turn her in or something else idiotic. 

    At least he wasn’t crying.

    The last time Hunter had been caught crying was four days ago. His first day, when Matt had gone to fetch him after dinner to find him under the stairs. 

    Eda was tempted to always have Matt at his side since the boy was also in the navy at one point- but circumstances were different for the two boys. Hunter was Belos nephew, Matt had just been a cabin boy because Steve wanted to earn a living to support him. Still, Matt might be able to relate to Hunter a bit.

    Though Eda had already agreed with Camila, which is why they were rotating which kid watched Hunter. At the very least it made for very amusing entertainment to see how the different kids handled the navy boy.

    Eda had to fight off the laugh at Gus’s attempt to have a water fight with Hunter for the navy boy just to flip out and tell him how childish it was. 

    However, no matter how much Hunter seemed to be “Fitting in”, Eda could see him watching everyone else. Everyone but the younger children were told to keep an eye on the boy at all times, if he’s in vicinity. Emira and Eldric being the only two children let in on the rule as Eda did not want the younger ones worrying about him and treating him differently. 

    No, that would probably have the opposite effect that they wanted.

    Navy dogs always saw pirates as monsters. If they proved him right then saving the boys life might as well not have happened. If there was a possibility of him learning that people were people, or even that Belos’s twisted laws didn’t add up, Eda wanted to take it.

    Maybe she was going a little soft.

    Okay she was going soft, half her crew were kids.

    Eda kept the boy busy. She knew if he wasn’t busy he’d be thinking. Thinking was dangerous for a navy dog on a pirate ship. If he did something stupid, Eda would be forced to carry out her word- and she really didn’t want to carry out her word.

    Matt had openly complained to Eda the second day Hunter was on the ship. Mostly about his own responsibilites but he did also point out there was plenty to do around the ship. Eda had already planned for Hunter to be put to work, but it was nice to know if she thought Luz was letting the boy slack off, she could just stick Matt on shift for a bit.

    It was funny to watch too. The shorter child shouting commands at the navy boy. Matt was always one to eat up any chance at being in charge.

    It was Hunter’s fifth day on the ship today. Amity was watching him sitting on the railing of the ship- after promptly being snapped at that Hunter did not need help with swabbing the deck. Which was one of Hunters regular chores now. 

    Eda was observing from the helm. Looking as if she couldn’t care about the boy on deck but she was careful- even if Lilith complained she wasn’t- but Hunter did not seem to have come up with a plan yet. He was trying, but whatever ridiclous thing he thought he could do, was proving to difficult. She could see it when he’d stare at rope for to long, or a weapon- Eda was not about to hand him a weapon.

    The boy was plotting something.

    And Eda was going to make it as  impossible as she possibly could.

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    “You missed a spot.” Amitys pointed to an area that Hunter had gotten twice now.

    “I know what I’m doing.” Hunter snapped, but still going over the spot the girl pointed out. He was not about to have her saying anything about him half-assing his work.

    “If you let me help it would be done faster.” Amity sighed as she looked at her nails- which were somehow always perfectly painted despite her working on a ship.

    “I don’t need help.” Hunter repeated for what was probably the seventh time today. He had only had Amity as his babysitter once before, and it was in the evening when everyone else was gambling. He had liked her better when she was talking to others instead of telling him how to do his job.

    “I just said it would be faster.” Amity shrugged not really watching Hunter but looking out to the sea. “No need to bite my head off.”

    He was getting it done wasn’t he, and he was doing a great job in his opinion. 

    Hunter bit his tongue trying not to say something that Amity could go report to the captain. She seemed the type to jump up at any reason to get him in trouble- even if she hadn’t yet.

    “You’re so stubborn.” Amity complained hopping off the railing and landing with a small thud on deck. “if you just accept my help, you can finish faster and I can work on my own chores.” She put her hands on her hips waiting for Hunter to cave.

    “No.” Hunter declared.

    Amity threw her hands in the air letting out a little “Hmphf.” Before rubbing her temple. “Fine, Fine, I’ll just keep watching, because that’s all I’m supposed to do.” She resumed sitting on the railing.

    “I can take over early.” The voice startled Hunter into flipping towards Willow who had approached them from behind him. “I mostly secured everything. “ She gave a little shrug. “I don’t mind.”

    “Willow!” Amity jumped up giving her a hug. “Thank you, I owe you big time!”

    Hunter only knew Willow from diner time, and the gambling sessions. Only learned her name because Gus decided the best way for Hunter to learn names was to start quizzing him during chores- after Gus had caught on to the fact Hunter had forgotten Gus’ name. In Hunters defense he had heard it once and wasn’t even paying attention.

    “You’re awfully made at the mop.” Willow giggled quietly.

    Hunter hadn’t realized he was gripping it hard and swabbing angrily. To be fair most his babysitters had been annoying. It made him miss the loud girl- though he didn’t like her either.

    “Amity wasn’t trying to be mean.” Willow leaned against the railing watching Hunter. “She just was excited because Luz was going to help out and she wants every excuse to be around Luz.”

    “She shouldn’t let that distract her from duties.” Hunter mumbled under his breath.

    “It’s not hurting anything, Amity still pulls her weight.” Willow pushed herself back off the railing and began walking. “Besides her and Luz are cute, everyones placed bets on who's going to confess first.” She disappeared around a corner from Hunter's view before returning with a second mop.

    “I don’t need help.” Hunter glared at her, why did everyone keep insisting he did. They just had to babysit him not do his chores for him. 

    “I didn’t say you did.’ Willow smiled, dipping her own mop in the bucket. “but I don’t like just watching, I'd much rather be helping.”

    Hunter continued glaring at her as she started to help swab. 

    “You can’t stop me from helping, the sooner you accept it the sooner you finish.” WIllow remarked in a little sweet voice.

    Fighting was just going to waste time.

    Fine, but if the loud one uses this against him he’s going to be mad.

    He’s only agreeing because Willow would probably find some way to get him in trouble if he didn’t let her help.

    “You aren’t an outcast here.” Willow randomly said as her back was turned on Hunter.

    “What?” He questioned. 

    “I know you probably feel like an outsider, which we all still need to get used to you.” Wiloow shrugged, turning to him. “But you aren’t so different from the rest of us. None of us really expected to become pirates, and we’re an odd crew. So don’t feel like the odd one out. You’re not.”

    Was this an attempt to be nice? What made her think she needed to comfort him.

    “Okay.” Hunter turned away from her hopping that was the end of the conversation.

    “Sorry, I just noticed you never partake in anything. I just wanted you to know you can.” 

    “I don’t gamble.” Hunter stated.

    “I can teach you if you want.” 

    “I don't want to gamble.” He enforced it. It was a stupid thing, wasting your money and time on a silly game of bets. 

    “Ah.” Willow wilted in on herself. “Okay, well we do lots of other things. Gus and Matt are always challenging each other to do stupid things. Emira and Edric like to play music. Amity and Luz have a book collection-”

    He liked books.

    His face must have revealed his interest as Willow perked up as he made eye contact with her.

    “They are adorable about it. Gus borrows some from time to time too. It could be nice to have something to do other than work.” She smiled sweetly. “I can talk to them if you want?”

    “I’ll do it.” Hunter decided. He did not need this girl holding his hand on getting things. He could do it by himself. He didn’t need help.

    Yet here she was helping.

    That wasn’t his choice though, she kinda forced it.

    Right?

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    The day went much too quickly for Amitys liking. This morning had lasted so long but then time seemed to have sped up after Willow took over her shift of watching the navy boy. Her time with Luz felt like it lasted only a moment before they were called for dinner - which Amity counted herself lucky when Luz wanted to continue their conversation on their book during it.

    Before she knew it, the sun was on the horizon and Amity wanted to get an early start to bed so she could maybe sneak a chapter in on the book Luz was letting her borrow. 

    Which is how she ended up catching a blonde navy boy going through her things.

    He looked ridiculous with her chest thrown open and his eyes wide as being caught.

    “What are you doing?” Amity demanded.

    They gave him shelter, saves his life, made him a hammock, and yet here he was stealing.

    “Don’t touch my stuff.” She scolded, stomping over and slamming her chests lid down, nearly catching Hunter's fingers. “Who told you you can go through my things! Who should be watching you?” She looked around trying to see if anyone else was around. If this was someone's idea of a joke she was going to-

    “Willow.” Came the boy's quiet answer.

    “Willow?” Amity repeated. “Willows watching you? Where is she?”

    “Said I could have a moment alone.” Hunter crossed his arms in defense. 

    “So you decide to steal?” Amity scoffed. “Wait till Eda hears this.” She started to walk away but her arm was caught by Hunter.

    “No- I didn’t” He started

    “You went through my things!” Amity yanked her arm away. “What am I supposed to do? Let you get away with it?”

    Dammit Luz was right, he looked like a guilty puppy.

    “Yes?” He shrugged looking away.

    Amity could feel her face heating up. She took a deep breath trying to ground herself.

    “Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?” Her voice was angrier than she intended.

    “Yes.” Hunter looked down, dropping his arms. 

    He looked rather pathetic for a thief.

    “What were you even looking for?” 

    “Willow said you had books.” Hunter answered. “I was just going to borrow one.”

    “Books? You’re stealing books?” Amity scoffed. “Why didn’t you ask to borrow one?”

    “I don’t like talking to you.” 

    Why did she even bother asking? She should just be telling Eda. If he was going to be stealing they needed to be aware. She turned and made her way out of the crew's quarters.

    “Please- Don’t- I was really just going to borrow it! Don’t make Eda throw me overboard.” Hunter pleaded.

    Amity halted.

    “Throw you overboard?” She scoffed turning to him, and part of her wanted to mess with him. Just how Edric and Emira did to her. His scared eyes made her think differently. “Edas not going to throw you overboard for ‘borrowing’ a book.” She sighed. “Or else I’d also be in the water right now.” 

    The understanding glow that crossed Hunters eyes made Amity realized she fucked up by telling him that. 

    “Look, I get it. You’re new. That’s how these things go. When I first joined I did far worse than you’ve done yet.” She crossed her arms. “So I’ll let it slide once”

    Hunters lip slowly turned to a hopeful smile.

    “But you owe me.”

    “Owe you what?” His smile dropped again. 

    “I don’t know yet.” Amity trotted back to her chest and opened it. “Now if you want to borrow a book, I suggest you ask.”

    “Can I?”

    “No, ask Luz.” Amity felt a little smug as she grabbed her own book out of her things and made her way to her hammock. She had chosen this spot because the lantern nearby was the perfect amount to allow her to read in comfort.

    “Oh, and you better hope she doesn’t catch you ‘borrowing’ from her. She will tell Eda.” Amity added hoping that was enough to scare the boy into not touching anyone else's things.

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    Night on the ship was one of those uneasy feelings, being the only light for miles in the dark ocean only lit by the moon. Luz didn’t know why she found it nice, when others told her it made them feel so alone. It made her curious about the other things out on the ocean late at night. 

    She had a great day, and didn’t know why she was still awake truthfully. She should be down with everyone else in her hammock, resting. Yet here she was existing on deck watching the endless waves. If she kept up this her sleep schedule would end up as bad as Hootys.

    Gilbert and Harvey were watching the deck tonight. With such a small crew the adults tended to rotate, but told the kids they needed their rest. It bothered Luz to know they did extra work to allow the kids to still be kids. She wanted to help out the best she could give them more free time. Camila told her not to worry about it. They had a small ship they could manage.

    “Okay Kiddo, why are you awake?” Edas plopped herself down next to Luz.

    “I’ll go to bed soon,” Luz promised. “Just enjoying it.”

    “Everything you dreamed of?” Eda asked.

    “It’s nice.” Luz smiled. “Always finding something new, meeting so many people.”

    “Yeah, “ Eda lounged herself against the railing. “You picked up quite the crew didn’t you?”

    “What do you mean me?” 

    “Well I never planned on sailing again until a little girl marched into my home demanding adventure.” Eda chuckled. “Something about me being the hero in your stories?”

    “You’re in a lot of stories to be fair.” Luz chuckled.

    “That’s because no one can resist writing about me.” Eda beemed. 

    “I guess the crew is pretty much family now.” Luz smiled. “Still not sure about Hunter though.”

    Edas eyebrow shot up in interest. “Oh? What's wrong with him?”

    “Nothing, he just seems off.” Luz contemplated. 

    “Its only been a few days, give him time.” Eda smirked nogging Luzs head which wiggled her bandana all messy.

    “Eda stop!” Luz fixed it so she could see. “I know he just got here. I just thought he’d be more feisty.”

    “Well, everyone's story is different, kid.” Eda put her head on her hand as she leaned against the railing. “We don’t know exactly what he’s been through, but it seemed to have messed him up pretty good.”

    “yeah.”

    “Or, maybe this is just how he acts.” Eda shrugs. “Truth is Luz we can’t really help someone we don’t really know. We just have to give it time. Make him comfortable.”

    “What if he does leave?” Luz wasn’t sure why that would be bad. Eda was right they didn’t know him, but he was sad and it felt wrong to let him just leave at the next dock.

    “That’s why you’re up.” Eda realized with a sigh. “Look, when we get to port, he has his choice. It's up to him what he does. You can’t force anyone to stay, stranger or not.”

    “I know.” Luz turned away from the ocean and slid down to sit on the deck. “It just feels wrong to abandon him to be alone.”

    “He’ll probably make his way back to the navy.” Eda explained. “He probably had friends there. He also has family even if it’s Belos. We don't know maybe the evil bitch is a good uncle.” She shrugged. “Either way it’s Hunter's decision, and we gotta respect it.”

    “I can’t picture Belos raising a kid.” Luz twisted her face in disgust remembering her encounter with the man, when she bought his empty words of promise. 

    “He is his uncle, I never heard of Belos having a sibling but he must if he’s got a nephew. Maybe his family isn’t as bad as him.” Eda snorted. “Image Belos reading to a kid.”

    “Speaking of which chapter are you and King on?” Luz asked.

    “I read him chapter four tonight. He fell asleep before the witch made it to the school.” Eda chuckled. “he was so excited about her meeting a friend in the forest, but couldn’t keep his eyes open for the full conversation. “

    “AW” Luz could imagine King trying to fight off the sleep to listen. Eda sitting in her captain's chair scooted next to his bunk. It was so sweet.

    “I read ahead, the girl almost gets dissected.” Eda scoffs. “I could imagine you getting into that kind of trouble.” 

    “I learned from the best.” Luz chimed.

    “I never said I wasn’t proud.”

    They only continued talking for a bit longer- okay Eda and Luz did not know when to stop and kept talking for hours. It wasn’t until Hooty landed above them to loudly intrude that they stopped- even then it took a few minutes. The only reason they thought to stop was because Hooty was loud and people were sleeping.

    Luz made her way back to the crew's quarters. Keeping quiet as she snuck around the hammocks. She nearly tripped into the person standing in front of her hammock.

    “Why are you awake?” She jumped away from Hunter.

    “Amity told me to ask before borrowing a book.” He responded.

    “So you stayed awake till midnight waiting?” Luz whispered yelled. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”

    Hunter shrugged. “Can I borrow a book?” he repeated.

    “Fuck! I don’t know! Sure! Let’s talk about this tomorrow!” She pushed him out of her way. 

    Hunter didn’t respond, only started to walk past her to his own hammock.

    “You know you could’ve come looking for me.” Luz added before climbing into her own hammock. “It would’ve saved you time.”

    “I wasn’t going to risk my neck for a book.” The whispered reply came.

    Luz stuck her head out of her hammock to eye the boy in the dark. “What?”

    “I’m suppose to have a babysitter.”

    “Oh, I think you’d be fine without one, once in a while.” Luz guessed. “Especially if everyones asleep and you’re waiting for someone.” She was too tired to play this game with the ex-navy. He seemed to value rules- which made sense with being navy and all- but really they were guidelines when Eda was in charge just don’t piss her off.

    “Ok.” was all Hunter replied before leaving Luz to rest.

    Truthfully Luz hadn’t told Eda everything she noticed about the boy. It was eerie how he just seemed to be normal after crying a whole day. How he seemed to have pushed his emotions to the side to value survival- just being obedient. Constantly acting like he was going to be killed for one wrong move.

    Though Luz probably shouldn’t judge on pushing down feelings.

    She was just worried about the stranger.

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