#me: well if you look at this from the vengeful final girl pov...

[exorcite]

i don't ship daniel/grace for simple reason that she was manipulating him into helping her. even before the wedding she was barely tolerating him she just wanted a smoke fr

[everythingelseisextra]

Scar Tissue (Tommy's POV)

Part Twenty of Twenty-One

Description: Tommy makes a deal. Weeks after the night of your escape, you and Tommy finally talk. Warnings: mention of rape, self harm, references to suicide, guns, language, UNEDITED BE NICE TO ME I'M TRYING Author's Note: My portrayal of the reader character is not what I originally planned, but when I wrote the first draft, she felt too much like a victim and not a survivor. My apologies if it feels inaccurate. Word Count: 3079 Tag List: @theshelbyslimited  @ttaechi  @weaponizedvirtue  @Majesticcmey  @Optimisticsandwichgladiator  @zablife  @princesssterek  @mm0thie  @callsignvenus @ay0nha  @mgdixon  @fairytale07 @dreamy-caramel  @ce1iat  @algae-tm @dragonsondragons @trentknd @nothingofsimplicity @babayaga67 @shelbydelrey @globetrotter28 @look-at-the-soul @notalxx @chaengist @cookiez56-blog @skxawngs @h0neylemon @kmc1989 @darling-imobsessed @eleanorthemo

Liszt is not a man. Liszt is not a vengeful God, sent to this earth to scorch the lives of innocents with brutality and thinly veiled torture. Liszt is not even a single entity. 

“It’s a group, yeah? A group of well-sourced people united under the cause of money,” Alfie explained, the day before the fire, the rescue, though it’s arguable who rescued who on that night. “They know what you don’t. They’re connected in a way that you aren’t. And you think, right, that you can wriggle in there and start a cave-in, but you can’t, now can you? Now, I knows a man who’s part of this organization. A Lisztomaniac, if you will, who might be pushed in your direction if the right price is offered to him. Deplorable, that shit is, but knowing how to move people from one place to another is, eh, useful.”

I know now that this is not a group I can destroy. They are not united under a single person, but spread between countries, well-connected. What I can do is protect my own. What I can do is business between men considering their women. She’s done enough fighting. I failed her once; I refuse to do it again. 

I’ve been on the outskirts of a twisted world for months now, watching, waiting, trying to collect information that, knowing what I know now, was beyond me. There’s a humor to it, that I spent those days searching for an answer that dangled above my head when all I did was look down. Above me, puppeteers watched their puppets dance. 

I meet one of those puppeteers at a pub not far from Birmingham. A quiet, clean place, where well-dressed men sit and smoke at the bar, glasses of amber or dark liquid sitting in front of them. A gentleman standing at the bar glances at me as I walk in, says something to the barkeep, then moves away to a table. No one else takes notice. Unusual. 

There’s a holster over my shoulders and a gun rests below each arm, underneath my suit jacket, and still, I am wary. Those I met that night were drones, and even they overpowered us in sheer numbers. These are the Kings and Queens of the hidden ring, royalty of a sick trade. I meet him at the table, he shakes my hand and murmurs a greeting, and we both sit. 

He doesn’t speak, just watches me with large brown eyes. I pull a cigarette from the case in my pocket, light it, take a drag of it. I exhale my words with the smoke. 

“There is a price to living. Name it. For the woman who escaped you, for the girl, Hollis.” I sit back in my seat, casting my gaze over him, a discrete, weakly-built man with tight lips and a raised chin. “I assure you, I can pay it.”

“We have no need for money, Mr. Shelby.” His voice is quiet, soft, almost gentle. “We have a need for assurances and alliances from prominent figures in certain trades.”

A thin-lipped smile spreads on his face. 

“I was told that Liszt has interest in different currencies to support his—”

“Currencies can be defined as loose as you like. I’m simply a spokesman for this territory, after all. And I don’t need money from anywhere.” His fingers steeple on the table. “You are dealing with me, not Liszt.”

“Tell me, then.” My eyes slide down to the glowing embers at the end of my cigarette, then back to him. 

“You are a political man, Mr. Shelby. You have a rising name.”

I incline my head. I have a faint, sickening sense of where this path leads, can feel the seed of a secret being planted in my mind. It will grow, I think, until I cannot keep it anymore. I blink, and it’s gone, replaced by the gentleman in front of me. 

“We request only that you not expose Liszt, or the white slave trade, at any point in your career. We request that, if the circumstances arise that we cross paths once more, you turn a blind eye.” He gives me another smile. “Hollis isn’t the only young woman in our roster in the surrounding area, you see, and if more are unearthed, well, you must simply carry on.”

I take quiet note of the apparent fragility of their organization, how one man could speak out and blow it all apart. If I had known, if Alfie had told me names, this could all have been avoided. And, yet, I sit here blind, the man across from me nameless, and his demands unavoidable. 

I nod once. “I understand.”

“You have a son, I believe, Mr. Shelby?”

“Yes.” I keep my face straight, despite the urge to curl my lip. I can hear the threat behind his words, the warning of what would happen if I were to break this agreement. 

“A good boy, I assume, having been raised by a man such as yourself?”

I stand, pushing my chair back. “Where’s the girl?”

“Charlie is his name, if I’ve been informed correctly. He stays at your home in Warwickshire most days.” He smiles up at me, those gentle words, so conversational, a thinly veiled threat. I shake my head. He’s offered no new information, no new danger, and so I step out from in front of my chair. 

“Where is Hollis?” 

“I see you’re itching to leave with her, Mr. Shelby, but I’m sorry to inform you that Hollis has work to complete. She will be delivered to your home in a week’s time.” 

It makes my skin crawl, the softness of his voice, the elegant way he stands to walk me to the door, all the while speaking of children forced to serve in ways they must hardly understand. Even more so, the way I have such little power in this bargain, how they seem to be placating me. 

I drop my voice as we reach the exit of the pub. “Understand that if she is not, I will use the information I’ve been given.” 

“We understand, Mr. Shelby, but would also like you to note that it does little to poke the bear.” He smiles and opens the door. “Good day, Mr. Shelby.”

—-

She comes out at night. I hear her ghostly footsteps in the hall outside the drawing room, bare on the cold tile. If I move to view her, she slips back into the darkened corridors of the house, skittish of my sight. I’ve asked Frances to watch her, so I know that she ventures from the room she’s barricaded herself in to eat and drink, to clean and bandage the wounds of the day, wrought out of fingernails or the inky sharpness of pens or whatever else she can find that is sharp or hard enough to pierce or scrape her skin. While she creeps around the kitchen, I make my way to her room. 

Sometimes I find vomit on the floor, half dried from the day of sitting, or sometimes I stumble upon a smashed vase, a remnant of some stricken panic or fit of rage, I can’t be sure. Either way, I clean up in silence. Change the bloodied sheets and search the room for anything sharp, try to slip into the mind of someone self-destructive. I find myself staring at the still-warm indent she leaves in the bed, where she feigns sleep while the sun is out. My eyes slide shut and I remember in the hospital, her hand slipped over my waist, her breath on my back. Some of the tension leaves me. There was closeness once; if I’m good, if I’m strong, there will be again. 

I’ve been hearing silence on the other side for too long now. She haunts Arrow House, somewhere between living and dead, a purgatory that she commands both of us to stay in. It’s lonesome, stuck in this cycle of missing each other. When she feigns sleep and avoids me, I am too cowardly to chase after her. There is power to her refrain, to her quiet. Filled with a silence that neither of us know how to break. 

I blink. I’ve been looking endlessly at this hollow spot on the bed, lost somewhere. I have never felt further from her. Even for the distance I’ve created at times. Even for the moments of anger and fear that we’ve nurtured between us. 

She died, I think. Somewhere in the violence of that night, her life ended. She’s like me, now, living each day like it doesn’t matter any more. Drifting through weeks on end without contact with any form of humanity, disassociated from any light or form of life. 

I sit down on the edge of her bed. There’s a window at the head of it, and I face that, looking out at the silent stars. Her sickness weighs on my own, and I hate that we are separate. There is nothing keeping her here with me, no reason for her to remain alive when all she has are nights she spends alone in the dark. 

I look to the night sky and wait for the edges to lighten, for the black to give way to misty gray, then pale yellow, then wander into the subdued oranges and pinks of a new day. I wait for her footsteps, and when I hear them, I don’t turn. I keep my eyes on the dawn and my elbows on my knees, chin resting on clasped hands propped up between them. 

She falters in the doorway. I’m usually gone by now, gone back to the side of the house that still belongs to me. She wavers, her appearance in my periphery rippling like water disrupted. I rethink how it all happened, how my fatal mistake turned her into this haunted figure in my house, this otherworldly woman, one foot in the grave. 

I open my mouth to speak, but before I can, she steps back and disappears, back into the bowels of the manor. I stand and follow, trying to move as light as she does, as silently. My essence is heavier than hers, burdened by the worldly needs and wants and desires, whereas she becomes this separate being, breathing but not alive, feeling but not vibrant. 

I follow her down certain half-lit hallways, with the dawn glowing faintly through windows and our shadows passing on the opposite walls. Her shoulders are drawn back, her head held high, each step certain and purposeful. 

When she finally stops, it’s in a room I rarely visit. Books line half the shelved walls, but she gives them no notice, walking to the windows that cover the other half. In the dreamy morning light, she seems to float, the colors wrapping around her. I release a slow breath. I can’t say it, but even after everything, she’s beautiful. 

She sits on the bench in front of the windows and faces me, crossing her legs and tilting her head. I haven’t heard her voice in weeks, haven’t been this close to her in days. She’s become a recluse of a certain kind. 

I find I can’t speak, even with my intentions being to find something to say. What do you say to someone who went through a hell that you would never understand? What do you say to someone who has no reason to trust you?

She shakes her head, turning to look at the bookshelves, a faint smile on her lips that quivers. “You don’t even know what to say.”

“Can I sit?” I ask. She follows my gaze to the open space on the bench.

“I think you should stand.” 

“You’re avoiding me.” It’s the only thing I can think of to say. I am clumsy in the art of verbal tenderness, a child new to the gentle touch of a kind word. 

“Do you blame me?” Still, she stares at the bookshelves, not at me. 

“No.” I try to soften, try to be calming, an anchor. I’m used to rousing, to evoking something closer to hatred or vengeance. I am not good at this. “Something needs to change.”

“Yeah? What do you suggest?” There’s bitterness to her words.

“Your horses need keeping.” I flip open the cigarette case in my pocket and pull one out, light it, take a drag. “Charlie asks for you. He wonders what happened to you.”

She scoffs. “Back to life as usual, then. Pretend it never happened.” 

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes.” She looks at me. “You did.”

“What I’m saying is that you need to live.” I incline my head slightly. “Stop doing this shit you’ve made a habit.” 

“You know…” She closes her eyes. “Yesterday, when you were at work, I went into the drawing room. Grabbed the gun and held it to my head. Put my finger on the trigger.” She exhales, sounding as though even just the thought gives her relief. “I didn’t pull it. I will not let you bury me. I will not let you find me dead on your desk, brains spilled onto the paperwork. So I’m doing the next best thing.”

I remain composed. I take another drag. Let the smoke fill my lungs, drying out my throat. “I—”

“I’m at peace with it. I’ll wither away, slowly carve my body into scar tissue. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Nothing does.” She shrugs. “Sleep during the day, eat at night, go back to sleep.”

“I made an agreement.” I step towards her and her eyes snap to mine. “You belong to me, and they know that. So, you leave here, make your own way. You live. I won’t shelter you if you choose to wither.”

A rueful expression falls over her, and she stands slowly, drawing herself up and facing me. “You think I fear you still? You think there’s part of me that thinks you can hurt me, abandon me? I know who you are, now. Little man with a big gun, afraid of the dark. You couldn’t save me. I saved me. You could never own me. I won’t join in your game of make-believe.”

I change tactics as quickly as she counters them. “Your horses need you.”

“Jesus Christ, Tommy, will you ever say something you really mean?” Her jaw clenches. “All you do is play games. If I wanted that, I never would’ve tried to escape.” 

“I’m as—”

“‘I’m as bad as they are,’ yeah, whatever, you’re not. You can pretend you are all you want, but I’ve seen both sides.” She mocks me, a hint of disgust in her words, which fades away with her next sentence. “You’re a man who tries to be good as best he can, and I see that.”

I take a breath. Words bubble like a babbling brook in my head, fragments slipping through my thinking. She wants me to say what I mean. “You live in my house and I never see you. You wound your body and refuse to acknowledge it. You want to die.” My gaze wanders to the windows behind her, out into the pale morning. I take another drag. “‘Suppose I’m selfish.”

She crosses her arms. “Why?” 

Honesty does not come naturally to me. I glance back at her, hiding my hesitation by appearing to analyze her expression. I speak slowly, a plodding, thoughtful pattern to my words. “It’s not right to wish for you to be whole and healed when the pain you feel is my fault.” 

Her head tilts again, and she nods. “You miss me.” 

I pause, then sigh. “Yes.”

“It was your fault. That doesn’t mean I blame you. And— maybe I didn’t say this in the most straightforward way— I’m alive because of you. If it wasn’t for you being, well, you, I’d have blown my brains out by now.” She blinks slowly, eyes falling as she does so. “You refuse to say whatever you feel, you get stuck in your own world, but you’re also… earnest. You’ve been taking care of me for weeks even though I haven’t allowed you to. I can’t leave you alone. I can’t leave you like that.” 

“How do you find the words?” I find myself asking. “How do you talk easily about this?”

“I don’t know. I feel as though the person who went through all that isn’t me, sometimes. Like I watched myself be raped and hurt instead of being present for it. I can talk about it because I’m separate from it, mostly. Other times, though…” Her head lowers. “Other times it’s all I can feel.”

I resist the urge to step towards her. “Something needs to change.”

“Why?” Suddenly defensive, she steps back and sits back down, head still bowed. “Why does something need to change? I’m fine. Everything is fine. We can keep going like this for—”

“I can’t. I can’t watch you wither. I’m too—” I huff out a breath, fingers tightening on the cigarette. “Too fucking fragile for that.”

She laughs humorlessly, then sobers. “I think I’m sick in the head.”

I nod. “You can be sick in the head and carry on. You can be fucking scared and shell-shocked and still live. Let me help you.”

Her eyes, still pinned to the floor, flicker back and forth. “I don’t need—”

“Yes. You do.” I step forward and she flinches, then softens. “You need me. I need you. Let us be, then, or neither of us will feel alive.” 

Her next words are mumbled, half agonized, half hopeful. “I’m not the woman you love anymore.”

“I have faith that no matter who you become, you’ll always be someone I adore.” The words slip quietly from my lips, and I lift the cigarette to them, hiding the vulnerability I shared. 

She swallows hard, head still bowed, arms wrapped around herself. Slowly, I close the gap between us and reach out, fingers gently touching her chin, lifting her head. 

“Chin up,” I say quietly. “Back straight. Will you let me help you, now?”

She nods, staring up at me with those glassy eyes, a touch of light in the pupils. She hesitates, then stands. I step back, hand falling to touch her arm, where shallow cuts lace. 

“I wish we’d met sooner,” she murmurs, stepping forward to lean her head on my shoulder. “We would’ve done so much good for each other.”

“Not too late.”

“No,” she sniffles quietly. “Not too late.” 

[kkatastrophic]

This prologue is in Leon's pov because he's the first ghost Hagakure notices, the rest of the fic if I do write it will be in Yasuhiro's pov. :)

Leon Kuwata's POV: Prologue:

Leon Kuwata groggily opened his eyes from what was the most excruciating experience in his entire life. Rubbing his head and trying to stand he noticed that a patch near the top of his skull was wet. Rubbing his hand along it and inspecting his finger, red blood gleamed under the harsh white light. He let out a scream, twisting his head around as his memories returned to him. He certainly couldn't have survived that. So then... what was he now? His heart skipped a beat as his eyes focused on the girl standing infront of him. The pop sensation, Sayaka Maizono. The one he had killed less than 12 hours ago. "Have you worked it out yet?" she spoke, but Leon didn't register what she was saying. His eyes were drawn right past where she was standing, to the only other person in the trial room. Yasuhiro Hagakure.

The Ultimate Clairvoyant was running his hands through his hair, staring at the execution chamber with a freaked out look plastered across his face. At first Leon thought that maybe the boy was in shock, but eveyrbody else had left including the more emotional students. Leon hadn't been that close with Yasuhiro anyway, so what could he possibly be doing pointing at the chain link fence that separated life and death?

Furrowing his brows Leon stood on wobbly legs and slowly walked towards the double doors that had slammed closed as the metal collar had jolted violently into the pitch, letting him know that his demise would be soon. But as Kuwata tried to open the door he simply fell through the metal, landing right at Hiro's feet.

Looking up slowly Yasuhiro made eye contact with him, he didn't speak as Leon rose from the ground beneath him. The clairvoyant's lip was quivering wildly, almost as if he didn't believe his eyes. He opened his mouth, finally making a sound.

"This is for seriously creeping me out man! I knew the supernatural was real!"

And with that he slowly backed away. "Please don't hurt me" clasping his hands together in a prayer like position and scrambling back to the elevator, desperately pressing the up button.

As the doors dinged open and Hiro rushed inside the elevator alone Leon turned back to face Sayaka Maizono, who had her hands on her hips and was tapping her foot impatiently. "Well? Anything you want to say?"

Leon gulped, staring at the weapon plunged deep into the ghost girls' heart. He didn't want to have to deal with a vengeful spirit so he bolted to the elevator and followed Yasuhiro's actions of pressing the button violently.

"Leon, are you kidding me right now?!" Sayaka phased through the gate and tried to lunge at the baseball player, but as she did so the elevator doors opened revealing Yasuhiro, Makoto, Byakuya, Kyoko and Kiyotaka.

"He's right there! S-Sayaka is too!" Hiro shook his head and pointed at the two ghosts in the room. "Why are none of you taking me seriously?!"

Makoto stared at the empty trial room, no sign of life aside from the students in the elevator. "I don't doubt you, Hiro... but maybe it would be better if we should get some rest for the night..."

Kyoko narrowed her eyes tapping the bottom of her chin with a gloved finger. She stayed silent.

"Byakuya spoke next, his harsh words cut through the thin air. I, for one, think that this is a waste of time and effort. Hagakure is the sort of person to pull a low-life prank like this, isn't he? We shouldn't bother even listening to his demands."

The elevator dinged closed and Leon quickly took his chance, squeezing in with the group. This left Sayaka alone in the trial room. Leon didn't want to face her every again. He was ashamed that he had killed her, even if it was just an accident she'd never forgive his actions. Her sour mood only moments ago proved this point further.

Yasuhiro looked very uncomfortable sharing the elevator ride with a ghost. Leon hoped that they would just be able to talk in future, it'd be nice to have some contact from the other side.

AU where Hiro could see the ghosts of THH the WHOLE time like "what are you talking about man, Leon's right here!" and the camera cuts to Sayaka kicking Leon in the shin. (post chapter one ofc)

Makoto is staring at him like "huh?" and Byakuya interjects with an "ignore him, he's an imbecile." Kyoko walks in shaking her head "He's probably still in shock from the execution, come on Makoto back to the investigation we need to find out who killed Fujisaki-Chan."

[swiftlymoniquesblog]

Only You: Dean x Reader (Requested)

Requested by: @littlemissmoxley: I was hoping for a Dean x Reader please? I’m fairly new to the fandom so I’ve only seen 3 seasons so far lol. I was hoping for a story where the reader feels like she is constantly compared to Cassie in Dean’s eyes even though she is a hunter too and she confides in Sam but Dean overhears the conversation and tries to convince the reader that he appreciates her for who she is and is sorry if he made her feel differently

A/N: Welcome to the family! We hope you enjoy your stay! I like comparing this fandom to the song Hotel California because like they say “you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!” lol don’t worry, that’s meant as a joke. It’s a very fun and very loving family so I hope you enjoy it!

Had to jump all the way back in season 1 for this and Dean gave me MAJOR feels throughout but totally worth it!

Also I don’t think this is my best work but I did my best

Warnings: Angst, swearing, angry!Dean (that’s a sexy warning) fluff, slight mention of sex but very light

Word Count: 2,752

Taglist requests are open! 

Supernatural Masterlist| Masterlist of all Masterlists

You had been living and working with the Winchester Brothers for the past year after they called on you for a little help with a case. You knew their Dad sort of well at one point in time after he saved you from a rather sticky situation with a vengeful spirit. At the time, you were working late and had gotten off of work when the attack happened but it ended up working out where John came to your rescue and made sure you were okay until he moved on to his next case. However, before he left you, he called his sons and had them come and stay with you longer because you were injured. John Winchester was not a man who would stay behind for an extended period of time to help some civilian but what he failed to learn but Sam and Dean stuck around to learn, was you weren’t a civilian; you were a hunter too. When they got to your apartment that night, you threw them for a loop.

“So what did our Dad say attacked you?” Sam, the youngest brother you found out, asked you.

“He said some kind of mental subject high on meth or something? Some total bullshit if you ask me. I know I was attacked by a vengeful spirit,” you say nonchalantly. 

Both brothers just gave you a bizarre look, like they were freaking out over how you knew what was going on. No one needed to lie to you because you were aware of what was happening and that was unusual to the brothers. 

“Wait, our  Dad told us you were a civilian?” The eldest brother, Dean, asked.

“Yes that’s what he told you but see boys, your Dad didn’t stick around me long enough to know the truth; I’m a hunter too. I guess it was pure luck your Dad was close by when I was attacked because I knew I was getting myself into some shady shit when I had to dig out some corpse to stop a track of killings in Tucson but I wasn’t expecting more than one spirit to be involved here,” you explain, smirking as the tension was drawn away from the brothers. 

A big part of every hunter's existence was to keep the job a secret from civilians; no one usually believes you anyways. So always having to come with an excuse for what happened when civilians almost died is exhausting. Lucky for the Winchesters, they didn’t have to worry about lying with you. After staying with you for a few days to make sure nothing was still trying to come after you, it was Dean who decided to have you live with them. He insisted on it due to how severe your injuries were but it didn’t bother you; you liked his company. Not that he really took care of you, he was just concerned. It was Sam who really took the time to care for you and that was how you and he had gotten so close. In fact, you confided in Sam about everything that was going on in your life so when you started doubting your relationship a year later, you went to him.

“Hey Sam, I need your advice on something,” you asked, going to see him in the War Room. He was currently sitting at the Map table behind his laptop, looking intently at the screen in front of him.

“Hey (y/n) sure, what’s going on?” He asked, eyes leaving the screen and landing on you.

“Well it’s about my relationship,” you say and Sam grows more concerned. 

“Dean’s not hurting you, is he?” He asks, jumping to one of the most extreme scenarios. You had started going out with Dean a few months after you 

“No, no, of course not. He’s been nothing but a gentleman but something seems a bit off.” 

You and Dean started dating a little while after you agreed to go with them on their hunts. It was actually really great and you liked him a lot, but lately, you began to question everything about your relationship.

“Off? Like how?” Sam asks, motioning for you to sit down across from him. 

“Well, he uh, did something odd,” you say, a bit hesitant on sharing what happened. 

“What did he do?” Sam pressed you.

“Well, uh, we were making out the other day and he said another girl's name,” you say, cheeks turning bright red but you knew you could trust Sam. He’s not the kind of guy to make fun of you or tease you that often; he was sweeter than that. Unlike his brother of course, who thrives off teasing you.

“Who’s name did he say?” Sam questioned.

“Cassie? I-I don’t know who she is or where that came from but it was weird. And when I confronted him about it, he blew me off and wouldn’t say anything about it. Not to mention, he won’t even come near me,” You explain everything that happened. 

“Oh….shit,” Sam said, knowing exactly what was going on. 

“Sam? Who-who’s Cassie?” You ask. 

“Cassie was Dean’s, first love. He was crazy about her and we ran into her again about a year ago. She called him because her Dad was killed by some racist truck that was driven by another vengeful spirit,” Sam explained his brother’s odd behavior. 

“Oh, well that explains a lot. He-he probably has been comparing me to her this whole time! And I think I’m failing,” you say, an expression of realization on your face. 

“No (Y/N) that’s not…” Sam tried to call after you but you left the room and went out to the motel lobby.

“How can I help you?” The young girl behind the front desk asked you. 

“Yes, I need to get a room. I’m not sure for how long yet but I can pay for one and I need one as far away from room 113 as possible,” You say, sliding the fake credit card over to the lady.

She quickly took down all your information and put it all through her computer, verifying you wanted a room farther away from Sam and Dean’s room, before she finalized a few things, sliding your card back to you and a room key, bidding you a ‘pleasant stay.’ You walked back to get your belongings from your shared room with the boys and before walking in the door, you scoped the surrounding area to ensure you wouldn’t run into either brother and when you were sure the coast was clear, you frantically start packing your bag, making sure to get in and get out as fast as possible. Zipping the bag, you scribble down a note to Dean, and set it on the table by the front door, and head out. Making your way to the opposite side of the property, you find your room, unlock it and let yourself into your new home for as long as you and the boys would be in town investigating. 

Dean’s POV

“Hey (Y/N/N), Sam, where are you guys?” I called out for the others living in the room with me to see if someone could help me with these groceries and take out what I bought. 

“Hey Dean, let me grab some of that for you,” Sam says, grabbing some of the bags out of my hands and placing them on one of the counters. 

“Where’s (y/n)? She said she was getting hungry earlier and I got her favorite food,” I say, excited to surprise my girl.

“Um, she’s not here,” Sam says, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

“Well, where is she?” I ask.

“She left,” Sam kept his response short.

“Sam, I need a much better explanation than just that.”

“There’s a note for you on the table by the door,” he says, unloading the bags of groceries. 

I walk back to the door and there is, in fact, a note with my name on the top.

Dean,

I think it’s best if we part ways for a while since...well you know what happened; the incident. I talked to Sam about it and he told me who she was. I get it, Cassie was your first love and after just seeing her recently and hooking up with her again, I’d probably say her name too. 

I’m not mad, in fact, I understand. I just think it’s best we aren’t in a romantic relationship since you’re not over her. Makes me wonder if you’ve been comparing me to her this entire time and I believe I fell short. I did a search on her and she is stunning in every way and I simply am not. 

I’ll stay to help you and Sam with the remainder of this case but afterward, I’ll head back home. I know this may seem surprising to you but ultimately, it'll be ideal for all involved. 

-(Y/N) 

“Son of a bitch!” I said, crumpling up the note and throwing it at the floor. 

“What’s wrong, what did the note say?” Sam asked.

“She left me, Sam. We were making out the other day and I said Cassie instead of (y/n) and now she thinks I’m still hooked up on her and that I’ve been comparing her to Cassie this entire time!” I yell, throw punching the wall. 

“Well, she couldn’t have gone too far, she hates being by herself,” he says, trying to add some comfort to the situation. 

“I can’t believe she thinks I still give two shits about Cassie! I haven’t even thought about her in the last year except for that one time,” I say, feeling shitty about this whole thing. I should’ve been more careful and paid better attention to (y/n). She probably thinks I don’t even care about her at all since we’ve been so busy lately with this case. 

“I gotta find her Sammy,” I say, feeling helpless about everything but I at least needed to get started finding her and explaining to her where I’m coming from.

“Let’s go up to the front desk and see if she left anywhere,”  Sam suggests,  making me remember why I’m lucky to have him. I wouldn’t have thought of that on my own.

We head up to the desk and are met with a girl who looks like she’s just fallen in love. Guessing she finds us attractive by the way her eyes travel up and down both of us. 

“How can I help you, boys?” She asks, smirking at Sam. 

“We’re looking for a girl, about yay high, (y/e/c), (y/h/c) she goes by the name (y/n/n)? Have you seen her anywhere?” 

“Oh, she checked into another room,” the girl says and I sigh in relief; she’s still here.

“Great, what room is she in?” I ask.

“I can’t tell you that, Sir,” she says to me, rolling her eyes and popping a bubble with her gum. 

“I’m Agent Ackles, this is my partner Agent Padalecki, (y/n/n) is our partner and we need to know her whereabouts as soon as possible. We believe she might be in danger,” I say, flashing my FBI badge, Sam following my lead, and the girl quickly jumps to the computer and pulls up your information.

“She checked into room 2 earlier this afternoon,” the girl says.

“Where is room 2?” Sam asks, knowing all the rooms we’ve seen have been in the hundreds. 

“On the opposite side of the property; those are the single-digit rooms.” 

“Thank you,” I say, folding the badge and putting it away.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Sam asks.

“Nah, I got this. I’m hoping to work this out with her and if we do well,” I say and smirk, Sam immediately knowing what I was implying.

“Right, well thanks for that. I’m going to head back to the room then and you just call if something doesn’t go as planned,” he says and heads back to our room. 

I follow the directions the receptionist girl gave me and after a surprisingly long walk, I find room 2. That girl wasn’t kidding; it really was on the opposite side of the property. I go over to the door and raise my fist to knock, pausing just a moment to gather my thoughts before finally making contact with the door. 

“Just a minute!” She calls from the other side of the door and then she goes quiet for a while. “What do you want, Dean?”

“Look (y/n) I got your note, can we talk about this please?” I say, almost pleading for her to open up. 

“I don’t have anything more to say to you,” she says.

“But I have plenty! Come one (y/n/n) please, let me explain.” She opens the door and looks pissed off. 

“And why would I do that?” 

“Because you love me,” I test, knowing we haven’t said that to each other yet.

“And how do you know that?” I can tell she was affected by the comment but she kept fighting me.

“Because I know you and if you didn’t care anymore, you would’ve left.” 

“Fine,” she says and steps aside, allowing me into the room.

“Look, (y/n) I’m sorry okay? I don’t know what happened that day. Maybe I was thinking about her subconsciously but I promise you, I am crazy about you and only you.” 

“But you told her about our work; she obviously means a lot to you,” 

“Meant a lot to me, yes, but YOU are the one who means more to me than, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but more than Baby.” 

Her head snapped over to look at me, she wasn’t expecting that one and neither was I.

“I mean more to you than your prized Baby?” She asks, cocking an eyebrow to see if there were any signs of deceit but I was sincere.

“Yes, sweetheart. You are my girl and I’m crazy about you. You’re the first person I want to see when I wake up in the morning and the last one I want to see before I fall asleep at night. I want to be there when you’re not feeling well so I can cuddle you and tickle you until you feel better again. I want to cook you meals and I want to be able to binge-watch Scooby-Doo with you. I want to play with your hair and see you fall asleep with your head in my lap because you’re so incredibly beautiful and I cannot believe you are mine. I am so sorry you thought you weren’t good enough for me or that I’ve been comparing you to Cassie this whole time because I haven’t been. I’ve been pinching myself every single day I see you and get to kiss you because I’m still thinking I’m going to wake up from a dream and it’ll all be gone. I hope that isn’t true and that this is all real. After all, I can’t imagine my life without you in it because I love you. That’s right, I love you (y/n) and I don’t care who knows it! I am so in love with you that I was going to go insane if I hadn’t told you,” I fully express all my feelings, in a non-Dean way. 

She keeps quiet and just when I think the worst happens, she makes her way over to me and grabs my head, bringing my lips to hers in a kiss. Instinctively, I grab her hips, holding her tight, and push her against the nearest wall. She’s completely trapped as my lips make the kiss more passionate by traveling down to her neck and over the tops of her breasts that were kind of spilling over by her pajama tank top. Just before anything gets too heated, I pull away to make sure we were on the same page, that she was okay with whatever plans I had conjured in my head and when she didn’t seem to hesitate and she lifted her shirt over her head and threw it on the floor beside her, I knew she was all in. I’ll admit, I forgot what I was doing for a minute as I pictured her lying under me as I do some rather fun things to her, but she snaps me out of it and I go out to put a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door, slamming it and locking it behind me. Yep, she was my girl again. 

Taglist: @calaofnoldor @thinkinghardhardlythinking @tloveswriting @akshi8278 @baby1967impala @deansmyapplepie @marvelfansworld @spnjediavenger

[rizlowwritessortof]

Riz’s Master List

Just updated my master list (finally) - haven’t added anything new for a few months, unfortunately, but I’m working on it! Links below the cut. HUGE THANKS to @firefly-graphics for the dividers, you are a GIFT, my friend! 

Never Look Back

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 21 chapters

Bethany Rae Cooper didn’t realize when she met the Winchesters in her family’s bar and grill that her life would never be the same. But she’s always believed that everything happens for a reason, even if it’s not exactly what you were expecting…

The Shadow’s Edge

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 17 chapters

Sequel to Never Look Back. When the demon Dameon was killed, Dean and Beth thought their son was safe from the prophecy. But when Cas brings them news of the new battle for Hell, they realize that their war has just begun.

The Fine Line

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 34 chapters

An unexpected tragedy sends Devon down the dark path of hate and vengeance, but she will learn that things are not always what they seem…

Scars

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 10 chapters

Sequel to The Fine Line. Dean and Devon’s relationship has always been stormy - but can they work through the scars of their past to find each other again?

Stars In the Darkness

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 8 chapters

A crushing loss brings Dean and Sam to Sioux Falls, and ghosts from the past and present bring them across the path of Tiara, a girl they haven’t seen since childhood.

Dreaming

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 5 chapters

Dean Winchester has always been a bit of a thorn in Kelsey’s side - a very attractive thorn, but still… A visit at her uncle Bobby’s reunites her with the boys, and she begins having vivid dreams - about Dean. Is it just her subconscious trying to tell her something? Or is there more to it than that?

My Unimportant Little Life

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 11 chapters

Season 5 timeline. Dean gets yanked from 2009 to 2014, so he can see the ‘consequences’ of saying no to Michael. At Camp Chitaqua he meets Reggie, and is surprised to find that she comes from 2009 as well…

Back In the Saddle

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 10 chapters

Dean and Sam are back in the old west again - in answer to a cry for help from Samuel Colt. And if Dean just happens to get tangled up with the spirited redhead that owns the saloon… what’s the harm, right?

Sweet Escape

Dean/Female Reader, 2 parts

What happens when a friend jokingly does a spell at your birthday party to bring your cardboard standup of Dean Winchester to life? This one’s dedicated to my friend, Liz, who gave me the idea. If only…

Sweet Escape Part 1

Sweet Escape Part 2

Shut Up and Drive

Dean/Female Reader, 2 parts

Reader teases Dean while he’s driving, so - he gets even

Part 1 - Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Part 2 - Or We Could Park - Parking Is Good Too

Take the Long Way Home

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 8 chapters

A look at Dean and Rusty’s relationship, in the present and through their memories. Flashbacks/memories are in italics.

Black Velvet

Demon!Dean/Female Reader, Dean/Female Reader, 9 chapters

You and Sam are broken after Dean’s death. Nobody expected him to come back with black eyes…

Fade to Black

Dean/Female Reader, 11 chapters

Sequel to Black Velvet. Dean is no longer a demon, but he’s still cursed with the Mark of Cain, and the lure of that darkness grows stronger as time goes on.

Dean and Toby Series

Part 1 - The Meet-Cute (Actually Rescue but Whatever)

Part 2 - The Emergency Bed-Share/Move In With Us Combo

Part 3 - The Hit and Then Run Like Your Ass Is On Fire

Part 4 - The FINALLY Admit Your True Feelings and Get Busy

GENERIC

I’m Good

This is the story that was published in the Seasons - Supernatural Short Story Anthology in 2017. Bobby sharing some memories.

Combo Shot

Dean/Female Reader

June 2015 GIEPP (Girl In Every Port Project) entry. Prompt: Pool/Poker hustler competitive chick. Pretty much pure smut.

A Hunter Walks Into a Bar

Dean/Female OC

Prowling hunter, sassy bartender

Shelter

Dean/Female Reader

Dean providing comfort

That’s How It Should Be

Sheriff!Dean/Female Reader

They have to make a fast escape, but Dean won’t let being on horseback stand in the way of showing a lady a good time

The Storm

Dean/Female Reader

You’re terrified of storms, and Dean is concerned, feelings get shared

Pest Control

Dean/Female Reader

You think you’ve got mice. The exterminator that shows up is Dean Winchester. He’ll just let you believe that, and take care of the problem. And you.

Happy Birthday, Baby

Dean/Female OC (KK)

Fluffy, smutty birthday fic written for a friend

Gunpowder and Dean

Dean/Female Reader

You’re pissed off at Dean, taking it out on the firing range, but he just won’t leave you alone…

Juicy and Delicious

Dean/Female Reader

My entry for Dean’s Flavor of the Month fic challenge - Peach Pie. You bake some peach pies for Dean, and he’s very grateful…

Lost In You

Dean/Female Reader

A casual flirtation leads to a violent encounter, and Dean’s reaction is a little more than you expected. Warning for brief description of attempted (unsuccessful) assault. Protective Dean.

What You Need

Dean/Female Reader

You’re watching as Sam and Dean prepare to interrogate a demon. Dean knows you’re watching him, and he knows exactly the kind of effect it’s having on you…

Santa Claus Is Coming Tonight

Dean/Female Reader

Dean’s really getting into the Christmas spirit…

I Need You

Dean/Female Reader

You screwed up, Sam got hurt, Dean’s pissed and you aren’t handling it very well.

Snow Day

Dean/Female Reader

You and Dean, stuck in a motel room in a blizzard

Frisk Me

Dean/Female Cop Reader

You’re a cop, in hot pursuit of a murderer, and guess who crosses your path?

Comfort

Dean/Female Reader

Dean had a rough hunt, and he’s beating himself up as usual. You take his mind off things for a little while…

When I Think About You

Dean/Female Reader

It was a wild hunt, and you’re both a little high-strung. Surely there’s some way to blow off some steam…

One Finger

Dean/Female Reader

Dean Winchester has never been one to back down from a challenge

What Makes You Feel Alive

Endverse!Dean/Female Reader

The world is bleak, the struggle endless after Croatoan. You and Dean do what you have to do to keep going.

Sweet Misery

Dean/Unnamed Female OC

My entry for Bev’s Song Challenge - song prompt was Cryin’ by Aerosmith, lyrics at the beginning

Winchesters Don’t Giggle

Dean/Female Reader

A friend and I were having this discussion about giving Dean a back rub, and whether he might be ticklish…

Confession

Dean (Priest!Dean)/Female Reader

When Dean returns from some undercover work, you discover a fantasy you never realized you had

The Bait

Dean/Female Reader

This was written for @jessica-bones-winchester’s (now on her 100th url as @cavillanche - Love you, Jess!) Dating Dean Writing Challenge. The prompt was ‘dressing up as an anime character for his birthday.’ And I have to admit, I really enjoyed this one… Reader dresses as Sailor Mars (from Sailor Moon) for Dean’s birthday.

Hey, Man - Nice Shot

Dean/Female Reader

This is for @jessica-bones-winchester’s ( @cavillanche ) Dating Dean Writing Challenge. The prompt was ‘competitiveness in the shooting range (loser cleans the kitchen for a week) No smut.

Take the Pain Away

Dean/Female Reader

This was written for @jessica-bones-winchester’s ( @cavillanche ) Dating Dean Writing Challenge. Prompt was ‘him taking care of you when you’re sick.’ Reader falls victim to a migraine, and Dean helps her through it. No smut.

Lose Yourself

Dean/Female Reader

Smut, pure and simple… Just imagine having Dean tied up, at your mercy while you worship those perky nipples…

The Contest

Dean/Female Reader

Dean loves to give you a hard time, and one night he pushes things a little too far… Flashback in italics. All’s well that ends well.

Slow Ride

Dean (Bullriding!Dean) /Reader

Yeah, after 12x11, y'all should have known this was coming - they don’t call me Cowgirl for nothing… Written (coincidentally - timing is everything!) for the Smut Apocalypse (Smut Appreciation Day) on Tumblr.

The Photo Booth

Dean/Unnamed Female OC - Dean’s POV

This was written for @winchestersandwordprocessors SPN Valentine’s Fic Challenge. Prompt was Semi-public/Risk of getting caught.

Make You Mine

Dean/Female Reader

Dean’s jealousy gets the best of him, which is not a bad thing…

Take a Chance

Dean/Unnamed Female OC - Dean’s POV

In 7x04, Dean gives himself a little pep talk before his planned hook-up with the bartender. That scene is what inspired me. This one is more important than the usual one-nighters, and it’s making him a little nervous…

If We Don’t Make It

Dean/Female OC

This fic was written for @whispersandwhiskerburn Angel’s 2K Follower Celebration. My song prompt was “Broken” by Lifehouse, and the dialogue prompt was “If we don’t make it out of this, I need you to know…” No smut.

My Deliverer

Dean/Female Spirit - Her POV

Dean is hunting a vengeful spirit. But another spirit is in this place, and she is drawn to him…

Friendly Advice

Dean/Female Reader - Dean POV, Reader POV

This was written for @deansdirtylittlesecretsblog Mimi’s RomCom Fluff Challenge. The fluff got a little smudged into smutty fun… oops! Two POV’s, Dean’s thoughts are in italics and Reader’s are in regular font.

Old Times

Dean/Female OC

Sequel a few years down the road from A Hunter Walks Into a Bar. Tiara goes back to the bar for a visit, and who should show up the next night but Dean Winchester… Flashback in italics.

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Dean/Female Reader (nicknamed Taz)

Inspired by the sexy AF Cowboy!Dean we were treated to in 13x06 Tombstone. Helped along by Joe Cocker’s rendition of “You Can Leave Your Hat On.“

Wish Her the Best

Dean/Female OC - Dean’s POV

This is an angsty li'l fic inspired by Thomas Rhett’s ‘Marry Me,’ tore at my heart until I finally wrote it. No smut.

A Matter of… Time?

Dean/Female Reader

This is the crackiest piece of work I’ve ever written - for @percywinchester27 Ana’s PJO Quotes Challenge. Prompt was “Don’t you ever feel that way? Like you could do a better job if you ran the world?” - “Umm - no. Me running the world would be kind of a nightmare.”

Demon Seed

Demon!Dean/Female Reader

Demon!Dean stops in for a drink and decides he wants you. He’s very persuasive. Written for @evansrogerskitten’s Hottest Dean Challenge.

Not Wasted Now

Dean/Female Reader

When you all decide to get drunk in the aftermath of a bad hunt, lines get a little blurred. Or crossed. Or fucking erased. Fluffy, smutty, comforting, sweet and sexy Dean.

Bad Guy

Demon!Dean/Female Reader

This was written for @eyes-of-a-disney-princess Rapunzel’s Tangled Up With Supernatural Challenge. My Tangled quote was “You want me to be the bad guy? Fine, now I’m the bad guy.”

Shiny

Trucker!Dean/Female OC

Trucker!Dean AU. Breaker, breaker, got your ears on? 67 Midnight Rider, put that hammer down…

Some Kind of Hero

Dean/Female OC

Written for Tiff’s WTF Challenge. Dean’s just filling up Baby, minding his own business, when he hears an argument and gets involved. Protective Dean, no smut, left that to your imagination.

Crave

Dean/Female Reader

So, have some ‘Riz is craving some sexy Dean action with a big ol’ side of schmoopy fluff’ stuff. Because I was, and I’m sharing with you - the smut and all the sickenly sweet cuddly that I just need sometimes. If y'all are in the mood for that kind of thing.

Perchance to Dream

Dean/Female OC

Using African dream root on a case leads to an awkward situation, and Karlie can’t handle the tension between her and Dean any longer

Ruined

Dean/Female Reader

Dean comes home from a hunt, and he’s had something on his mind…

Going Home

Dean/Female Reader

Written for @crispychrissy’s Gif It To Me Challenge. Overhearing only part of a conversation sends her running, but jumping to conclusions without the whole story isn’t the best decision. No smut.

Not the Smartest Thing

Dean/Female Reader - Reader POV

Only Dean Fucking Winchester could turn taking a swig of beer into pornography. Cocky bastard. But two can play at that game.

Suzy Q

Dean/Female OC - OC POV

Written for @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan’s Multi-fandom Follower Celebration Challenge. Prompt - “I think I’m having a feeling. How do I make it stop?”

Invisible Touch

Dean/Unnamed Female OC

Rowena teaches Dean something new, and he gets inspired. I have no idea where this came from, but here it is…

Maybe I’m Amazed

Dean/Unnamed Female OC

An accident leaves her unconscious and fighting for her life in the hospital, drifting in and out of awareness and memories as Dean refuses to leave her side. Written for @rockhoochie’s 1K Love Supernatural Style Writing Challenge.

Reunion

Dean/Female OC

Passing through town, Dean runs into an old high school classmate. Fluffy and smutty, no angst here!

Playing With Fire

MOC!Dean/Unnamed Female OC

Late Season 10 MOC!Dean smut fic that just wouldn’t leave me alone…

Uninvited

Michael!Dean/Dean/Unnamed Female OC

Michael gives Dean a choice, because sometimes Michael likes to watch…This one is darker than my normal, PLEASE heed the warnings.

What Happens At the Roadhouse…

Early-Season Dean/Female OC

Bailey’s just looking for a couple days post-hunt R&R at Harvelle’s - and then he shows up. Cocky bastard.

Unleashed

Post-Purgatory Dean/Female OC

She’s still struggling to cope a year after Dean disappeared in the explosion that killed Dick Roman.

The Pool House

Dean/Unnamed female OC

Inspired by a dream - one I will never forget!

The Break-In

Dean/Tara (female OC)

One night I started thinking about what it would be like using mics and earbuds and having Dean’s voice RIGHT IN YOUR EAR. And then this fic happened. Hope you enjoy!

Tired of Missing You

Dean/Journey (female OC)

This is one of those times when my story yanked the wheel out of my hands and I just went along for the ride. So if you’re in the mood for a fluffy, angsty cookie with a smutty, creamy middle - here ya go!

Compelled

Dean/Brandi (female OC)

Have you ever had a really bad day at work? I’ve never had a day quite as bad as Brandi’s - but damn, I’d love to use this method to relieve the stress…

The Devil Made Me Do It

Demon!Dean/Shea (Female OC)

Shea is in a reckless mood. Demon!Dean is happy to help her indulge that mood.

Driving Miss Baby

Dean/Reader

Dean decides you need a driving lesson in Baby.

Just a Little Story About Lou and Sam

Sam/Female OC

Lou and Sam walk into a bar… written for a friend who’s a Sammy girl

Doctor-Patient Relations

Sam/Female OC

One-shot inspired by The Born-Again Identity - sick Sammy and Dr. Nicole. Written for another Sammy-girl friend

Head vs. Heart

No title

Fourth of July

Working Saturday Isn’t So Bad

11x17 Drabble

Some Nights He Dreams

Most of the Time

The Name Game

God Bless America

Stress Relief

Dean Hurt/Comfort Drabble

@mrs-squirrel-chester ‘s Album Fanfic Writing Challenge Drabbles

    Dangerous

    For My Brother

    In Chains

    Kiss and Tell

    The End of Me

    Choices

    Hero

    Pure

    In the End

[crystal-heart-saga]

Crystal Heart Chapter Four - HYDRA Attack

Tony's POV

Weeks passed, Fury and Hill finally got their heads out of their asses and decided that the safest place for Melanie once she left the hospital was Avengers Tower. (Which Steve and I could have told them the day after we rescued the kid)

The day we brought Melanie home, she followed Steve around like a lost puppy, afraid of being alone. Though over the weeks that followed, as she slowly got to know the rest of the Avengers, her confidence grew.

Then One night, she wandered down to my workshop.

Steve was on a solo mission, Peter was on Patrol and I was working. I had`nt slept for two days and was onto my sixth cup of coffee for the night when the door to my workshop opened.

"Pete, that you Underoos?" I asked, Peter often came to the workshop when he finished patrol.

"Ummm, It's me Mr. Stark," Said a voice that was Obviously not Peter.

I turned around from the workbench and Melanie stood in the doorway. looking terrified.

"What's wrong Mel?" I asked, gesturing that it was okay for her to come in.

"I... I had a bad dream."

I reached for a rag and wiped the grease off my hands before walking over and putting my arm around the girl, "You wanna talk about it?"

"But..." she started, but I cut her off, "I know what a bad dream is Mel. I've had a few myself." I said, "You can tell me. It's ok.

She took a deep breath, "It was about... HYDRA...They... they turned me... turned me into some kinda...Puppet... and I... I hurt Steve..." She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around my neck, "Mr. Stark, I hurt him so bad... and you... didn't want me anymore... "

"Oh mellie... That's not gonna happen. I promise. I will always want you around." I said, pulling her into a hug.

"But I..." she broke down into tears again, "But I was so scared... I don't wanna go back... I was so scared..."

"It's ok Mel. It's gonna be ok." I said, "Come on, let's get you back to bed."

I pulled the girl close to my side and walked her back to her room, tucking her back into her bed.

"I'm Sorry Mr. Stark," Melanie whimpered as I adjusted the blanket over her.

"What for?" I asked.

"For coming down to the workshop. I know You were busy and I... couldn't even..." Melanie was crying again, she rolled over, facing away from me as if ashamed by her tears.

"Come on Mel, It's ok, It's not your fault." I soothed, "You know that, right?

"I-I know." Melanie sniffled.

"You can come down to the workshop anytime, day or night." I said, "I'm always gonna be here for you. We all will."

Melanie sniffed again. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Melanie rolled back over, looking at me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you Mr. Stark." she said, "For everything."

"You're welcome Mellie."

"Will... will you stay for a bit? Till I fall asleep?"

"Sure," I said, more than a little surprised at the request. I settled in the chair beside Melanie's bed. My Project could wait a while. "Get some sleep kiddo, I'll keep you safe."

I must have dozed off at one point because the next thing I knew, it was the next morning and Peter was nudging me awake. After I rushed my Spider-ling to school, I returned to my project, only to find Melanie waiting for me in the workshop. She was sitting in what Steve called his "Sketching corner," an armchair and coffee table with pencils, a pile of loose drawing paper and a sketchbook.

"What's going on Mel?" I asked.

"Ummm, I wanted to thank you, for last night," Melanie said, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face.

"You`re welcome kid, I know how real those nightmares can feel," I replied.

suddenly, Melanie's heterochromatic eyes went as wide as saucers, "Mr Stark, Steve needs help."

"Miss Peters is correct sir," JARVIS confirmed, "Captain Rogers is upstairs, he appears to be ill."

We both grimaced at the news, "We should hurry," I said, grabbing Melanie by the hand and leading her upstairs. Cursing under my breath the whole way. Steve never gets sick. Ever. Something was seriously wrong.

My fears were confirmed when we got to the penthouse and found Steve throwing up into the toilet; he looked terrible. His blond hair was soaked in sweat, practically plastered to his forehead, and his big blue eyes lacked their usual sparkle.

"Steve, Steve," I said, kneeling beside him "You look awful sweetheart."

"Tony, is Melanie okay?" Steve asked, breathing heavily.

"She's fine, she and i've been down in the workshop," I replied. combing my fingers through his damp hair.

"they`re.... coming for... her, you have... to protect her.."

"And leave you here bringing your guts up? No way."

"I`ll Be fine, this is the serum, it's getting the poison out of my system."

"Poison?" I asked, alarmed.

"I`ll explain later, just keep her safe. Please Tony,"

"I promise, I will." I kissed his pale cheek before getting to my feet and leaving to find Melanie. she was waiting just outside.

"Melanie, we need to talk," I said.

She nodded, her Heterochromatic eyes full of fear and concern.

I took her by the hand and led her into the Laundry, "Do you remember that first day at the hospital? Where Peter hid you when HYDRA agents came looking for you?"

Melanie nodded, "In the Bathtub," she replied.

"Well today`s a little bit different," I said.

Melanie seemed to understand what i was implying and clambered into the Laundry basket. I quickly arranged the clothes so she was concealed from the outside and placed a blanket on top of her.

"one of us`ll come and get you when it`s safe `kay?"

Melanie made a little sound of acknowledgement.

The basket was beside the dryer, so I turned on a load. Figuring that the noise would conceal Melanie`s breathing and keep her warm at the same time.

When i closed the lid to the basket, Goose positioned herself on top of it.

"Goose, Stay. Protect her," I instructed

"Meow," Said goose.

By the time I`d called my suit, Steve was staggering into the living room.

"Melanie?" he asked.

"Safe, Goose`s on guard duty" I replied, "You sure you`re okay?"

Steve took two steps towards me and nearly fell over in a heap. I caught him and eased him onto the ground, (thanks to the Armour, i never would have been strong enough otherwise)

"m'ok." Steve said "I lost my focus for a moment, that's all." He stared at up at me, blue eyes glassy.

"Yeah no, You're far from ok." I replied, "You need to sit this one out."

"Can't.." Steve protested, "I promised Mel... I'd Protect.. her."

"That's a promise we all made," I reminded, but before I could continue, A Bomb broke through the Skylight, Flooding the room with Gas.

My Helmet closed immediately, and I sent out the Avengers Assemble code before looking down at Steve. His super-immunity was busy fighting whatever these Lunatics had poisoned him with, thereby lowering his resistance to the gas.

"Come on Capsicle, Stay with me," I said as I started to drag him out of the Gas cloud. When we retreated to the hall, My fiancé had passed out, but he was still breathing.

Before i knew it, The rest of the Team had gathered around us.

"F***! What happened?" Natasha asked.

"Some Lunatic poisoned him," I replied, "And then HYDRA tossed a gas bomb through the skylight. Bucky, can you get him down to Medbay?" I asked.

Bucky nodded, and I watched as he grabbed Steve and supported him. About a year ago, I wouldn't have trusted my fiancé`s best friend as far as I could throw him. But after he saved Peter's life from A Vengeful Green Goblin. It forced me to admit that maybe i was wrong.

"Where`s Melanie?" Clint signed as Bucky disappeared down the fire escape.

L-a-u-n-d-r-y B-a-s-k-e-t G-o-o-s-e I signed back.

Clint Saluted and ran off.

As I charged my repulsers, The memory of last night, and Melanie's distraught, terrified face flashed before my eyes. taking a deep breath, I prepared for the battle ahead. Those Asses were not going to take My girl away.

[katymacsupernatural]

Long Distance

Dean Winchester x Reader (Written in Dean’s POV)

1300 Words

Written For: @spngenrebingo

Square Filled: Long Distance Relationship

Story Summary: Dean keeps a budding relationship hidden from Sam)

Warnings: None

“What?” Sam asked, smiling at the goofy look that was no doubt on my face. I quickly tucked my phone away, turning my attention back to my laptop, but I couldn’t stop smiling. 

I had tried so hard to hide it from Sam. In the back of my mind, I knew he would be happy for me, but it was my secret. At least for now. 

“Dean, I can tell something’s up. Come on, tell me,” he continued to prod, shutting my laptop and forcing my attention on him.

“Nope, not gonna tell,” I insisted, standing up and slapping him on the back. “Some things I just need to keep to myself.”

Humming as I walked away, I pulled out my phone, my smile wide as I noticed the message pop up.

Two weeks later I could hear my phone dine with a message, but I was in the kitchen and it was on the map table. Leaving the makings of an epic sandwich, I raced down the hallway, reaching for my phone just as Sam’s hand landed on it. “My phone,” I grumbled, pulling it away from him. He stepped back, throwing his hands up. 

“Dude, I wasn’t trying to snoop. It went off, I was going to bring it to you,” he explained. “Thought it might be about a case.”

I protectively tucked my phone back in my pocket before heading back to the kitchen. As soon as I was out of view of Sam, I pulled it out, clicking on the messages. 

So attuned to what I was replying, I didn’t notice that Sam had crept into the kitchen and was standing directly behind me. “A girl?” He spoke up, startling me so much the phone slipped from my fingers, landing right in the mustard on my sandwich.

“Damn it, Sammy,” I grumbled, picking my phone up and carefully wiping it off. “You know I hate it when you look over my shoulder.”

He didn’t even seem taken back by my annoyance. “So, you’re texting a girl. That’s why you’ve been in such a good mood lately. Tell me about her.”

It wasn’t anything against Sam, but I didn’t want to talk about her. Things were going great right now, and I didn’t want to ruin it. “Not right now,” I started to say, reaching for my sandwich, but Sam reached out, stopping me.

“No, please. I want to hear about the girl who’s made my brother happier than I’ve seen him in a long time,” Sam insisted, sitting down at the table, picking a spare pickle from the edge of my plate. “So, spill.”

Sighing, I sank down on the stool, my sandwich taunting me. “We met playing words with friends,” I started, knowing that Sam would no doubt tease me mercilessly for it. “We played against each other, and then started talking. That’s it, I swear.”

“I don’t think that’s it,” he answered. “But I’m glad. I just hope she knows the real Dean, and not the one you like to portray online.”

I picked up my sandwich and stood up. “How do you know how I act online?”

“You’re my brother. I know you,” he chuckled. “So, when are you going to meet her?”

I hadn’t even thought of that. We’ve had so much fun talking, but neither of us had mentioned meeting face to face. Yet. The thought had me wondering about the possibilities. “I mean, I haven’t officially mentioned that I kill things that go bump in the night. But we haven’t even mentioned meeting yet.”

“Well, good for you,” he said as I left the kitchen just as my phone buzzed once again.

It wasn’t even 24 hours later Sam and I were packing up for a hunt. Throwing my duffel bag in the back seat, I couldn’t help but notice the slight tickle of butterflies in my stomach. This hunt, probably a simple vengeful spirit, was a simple walk in the park. But it was only twenty minutes from Y/N, and that’s what was driving me crazy.

I had already mentioned I would be up that way, slightly hinting that maybe we could meet up. She had answered right away, her text excited and asking for a place to meet. In a great mood, I turned up the music loud, ignoring the look Sam sent my way as I hummed along. 

It was a three-hour road trip, and my good mood never slipped up as we headed closer to the hunt, and to Y/N. 

“So, you’re in an awfully good mood,” Sam said when I switched tapes. “What’s up?”

Picking a random tape from the glovebox, I shrugged. “Can’t I be in a good mood?”

“Sure. But this is different,” he insisted. “Are you going to meet up with her?”

“How did you know?”

I turned to face him just in time to see his eyes rolling. “Dean, you’ve been like an open book lately. Happy. Always checking your phone. You were packed and ready to go on this hunt before the words even left my mouth. So, are you meeting her?”

I nodded. “Yeah. She lives the town over, and she agreed to meet for pie.”

Sam was smiling at me, and it was a relief that he seemed happy for me. While my nerves were driving me crazy as the meeting time grew closer. “I’ve never seen you this giddy over a girl before. It’s kind of refreshing.”

“Shut up,” I muttered. “Let’s just get this hunt over with.”

Three days later I was picking ghoul bits out of my hair, impatiently tapping on the side of the Impala as I waited for Sam to finish cleaning up. My phone laid heavy in my pocket. I was ready to text her, see when we could meet up. But I knew I needed a shower before I got even close to her.

“Sam!” I called out, impatiently trying to get him to hurry up. My phone dinged in my pocket, and I quickly pulled it out, smiling widely, my heart suddenly racing. I felt like a high school boy again, waiting between classes to catch a glimpse of the girl I had a crush on. But this girl I had never met, and I was truly petrified. 

“You look like the ghoul I just burned,” Sam chuckled, wiping his hands on his jeans, finally done. “Did she cancel?”

“The opposite,” I gulped. “She’s ready, hoping we can meet in an hour. An hour Sam!” My voice went an octave higher. “Am I really ready for this?” 

Sam chuckled, “Dean, you’ve been so excited for weeks now. Just suck it up and go meet this girl.”

I nodded, sliding behind the steering wheel, trying to calm my beating heart.

Within ten minutes I was clean from the shower, trying to decide between two flannel shirts when Sam took the control, pulling one out of my hand. “That one,” he insisted. “And maybe a new t-shirt while you’re at it.”

I sniffed my shirt, and had to agree. Quickly throwing off the t-shirt, I took the one he handed me. Patting me on the back, he pushed me through the door. “Go knock her socks off.” 

It was a twenty minute drive to the small little cafe she had suggested, and I gave myself a pep talk the entire way over. “Dean, you’ve got this,” I kept insisting. “You’ve been talking with her for weeks now. She knows you.”

Pulling Baby into the parking lot, I glanced through the window, seeing an old couple in one booth. Another couple sat at the bar. But it was the woman at the the far window that had me mesmerized. All negative thoughts fled my mind as I stepped through the door. She glanced up at me, smiling wide and I knew everything was going to be perfect.

Dean/Jensen Tags: @acortez82 @acreativelydifferentlove @adoptdontshoppets @a-girl-who-loves-disney @akshi8278   @bi-danvers0  @cap-just-said-language @colette2537   @deansgirl215  @flamencodiva @hamiltrash1411 @its-not-a-tulpa @jerkbitchidjitassbutt @justanotherwinchester @just-another-winchester @karouwinchester @keikoraventeller  @krys198478 @librarygeekery @magssteenkamp @misspygmypie @mlovesstories @mrsambroserollinsacklesmgk  @mrspeacem1nusone @nothinbuttrouble2 @ria132love @ruprecht0420  @screechingartisancashbailiff   @sortaathief @superseejay721517 @squirrelnotsam @team-free-will-you-idjiot @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @torn-and-frayed @tricksterdean @wonderfulworldofwinchester @woodworthti666

Forever Tags:  @aditimukul @alexwinchester23 @algud @amanda-teaches @andreaaalove   @artisticpoet @atc74 @be-amaziing @camelotandastronauts @caswinchester2000 @cpag7 @chelsea072498  @closetspngirl​ @deanwanddamons​ @docharleythegeekqueen​ @emoryhemsworth​ @ericaprice2008​  @esoltis280​   @foxyjwls007 @gh0stgurl @goldenolaf25​ @growningupgeek​  @heartislubbingdubbing​ @heyitscam99​ @hobby27​ @horsegirly99​ @imsuperawkward​ @internationalmusicteacher​ @iwriteaboutdean​  @jayankles​ @jensen-gal​ @justsomedreaming​ @just-another-busyfangirl @karlee-fay-my-wayward-son​ @linki-locks11​ @littleblue5mcdork​  @lowlyapprentice​   @mersuperwholocked-lowlife​ @mogaruke​ @monkeymcpoopoo​ @musiclovinchic93​  @nanie5​   @percussiongirl2017​ @plaid-lover-bay25​   @roonyxx​ @ronja-uebrick​ @roxyspearing​  @samanddeanmyheroes​ @sandlee44​ @shamelesslydean​ @simonsbluee​ @sillesworldofwriting​ @sgarrett49​ @spnbaby-67​ @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester​ @spnwoman​   @superbadassnatural​ @thatcrazybookwormgeek​   @thewinchesterchronicles​ @voltage-my2dlove​ @vvinch3st3r​  @whimsicalrobots​ @winchester-writes​ @zombiewerewolfqueen​

[bonjour-rainycity]

The Long Way Around ~ Chapter 13

Link to previous part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/624296456441020416/the-long-way-around-chapter-12

Pairing: Jasper x Reader

Word count: 3911 (yikes, t’is a doozy)

Warnings: Language and violence

Y/n’s POV

Jasper immediately tenses, taking a defensive stance quite similar to Arthur’s. “How many?”

“Six,” Alice answers, her voice shaky.

“Six?!” I hear the panic in my own voice, but can’t force it down. This is not good.

“Damn it,” Jasper growls, darting closer to my side.

“What are their intentions?” Carlisle’s calm demeanor never fades.

Alice concentrates, scrunching her eyes. Whatever Jasper feels from her makes him tense.

“They mean war then,” he concludes, his voice low.

Alice nods, biting her lip. “They want our territory, and they’ve been looking for an excuse to start a fight.”

“And we just gave it to them,” Carlisle laments, head falling in shame.

“Carlisle,” Edward comes to a swift stop near Emmett. “I can hear their thoughts—they’re about five miles away. They’re coming under the pretense of peace, but Alice is right. As soon as they have the opportunity, they’ll try to destroy us.”

Emmett cracks his knuckles, the picture of grim determination. “They won’t get the chance. We’ll swing first.”

“No,” Carlisle shakes his head, authority seeping from his voice. “Perhaps there’s a chance to resolve this peacefully. I would like to exhaust negotiations before we resort to a fight.” Carlisle calls for the rest of the family, beckoning them to join us outside the home. While they gather, Jasper grabs my hands tightly, speaking in a low voice.

“If someone gets a hand on you, fight back. Use your ability, bite them, whatever. Just don’t let them get a good hold on you.”

I nod, trying to soak up the information and keep awareness of our surroundings. Five miles for vampires is nothing, and I wonder how quickly the other coven will be upon us.

Jasper continues, speaking so fast I have to concentrate to understand him. “If they go for your neck, bring your arms to their own head. Pull down and twist at the same time, and you should be able to decapitate them. Fall with your momentum, that will give you extra leverage. Do not get near a fire, especially if you’re injured. That could kill you. Stay as close to me, Emmett, or Alice as you can. We’re the best fighters. Edward is a good next choice, though he’ll be distracted, keeping an eye on Bella and everyone’s thoughts. If all else fails, act on instinct, and rely on your ability as much as possible. Remember, if you don’t kill them, they will kill you.”

I gulp, fear resting in a pit in my stomach. I don’t want to kill anyone, and I really don’t want anyone from my new family to get hurt. But Jasper is right. This is kill or be killed.

The sound of approaching footfalls sends me into a panic, and I throw myself into Jasper’s arms. He hugs me tightly and kisses my forehead. Then, with a final, determined look, he releases me and goes to stand at the front near Carlisle.

Our family makes up a loose formation, and I assume it has some strategic benefits that are lost on me. Carlisle takes point, though he is flanked closely by Emmett and Jasper. Emmett with his strength and Jasper with his experience makes sense, but Carlisle towards the front makes me nervous. I know he is there to express our diplomatic intentions, but I have a feeling that if it comes to a fight, he will be in significant danger. Bella and Edward are next, arms around each other and looking determined. To my right are Alice and Arther, holding hands, and I can tell by Alice’s expression she is keeping careful watch of our future. Towards the back, Rosalie and I stand slightly in front of Esme, trying to keep her out of view. I really, really hope Esme stays safe. The desire to protect my kind, selfless mother-figure is strong, and I swallow, determined to do my best to keep her from harm. Although I must admit, given my limited experience, most of the burden will be placed on Rosalie. By the set in her shoulders, I know she’s aware of this.

The branches sway slightly as six unknown vampires come to a stop a hundred feet in front of Carlisle. Two women, four men, all with bright red eyes. None near as burly as Emmett, but all bigger than Alice. I feel a flash of worry for my new sister.

Carlisle breaks the silence and forces me to refocus. “Welcome. Allow me to introduce my family.” He points us out according to our formation, careful to group us and subtly remind the others that the are outnumbered. Are they scared, I wonder? Only Jasper or Edward would know. But Edward’s head does not move to answer my thoughts, and I realize he’s keeping carefully still so as not to alert the other vampires of his ability. Smart. I will keep mine a secret too, then, for as long as I can.

“It is lovely to meet you all,” the woman towards the front of the other group, the leader, I presume, speaks but doesn’t introduce her own coven. Her voice is silky, smooth, and slightly accented. I find myself leaning forward, wanting to hear her speak more. Thankfully, she does. “We’ve been aware of your presence for a while, though fearful to approach. It seems that while you preach peace towards humans, you follow a law of violence in regard to your own kind.”

“My apologies.” Carlisle matches her conversational tone, though his is nowhere near as pleasing to the ears. “I must admit, we were on our guard after a member of your coven attacked one of ours.”

“Oh, yes,” the woman laments, her crimson eyes immediately locking on Esme. I push down the growl threatening to rise. “We do regret the treatment of your sweet wife. Hélene is one of our more…” she hums lightly, beginning to twirl one of her dark braids around her finger, “aggressive members. Or,” she fixes Carlisle with a chiding stare, “should I say, was.”

Carlisle clasps his hands, looking repentant. “Yes, it is regrettable what happened in the woods. It is my wish that no further violence take place between us.”

“Ah,” the woman tsks, taking a small step in our direction. I tense, as does nearly everyone around me, but she makes no further move to approach. “How can there be peace between us when you keep such a feral vampire in your group? It is interesting that you would keep one of us among you. Wouldn’t you rather be with your own kind, dear? Somewhere you can hunt humans without the,” she sighs dramatically, shaking her head, “oppression?”

Rosalie’s hand clasps around my wrist, tightening. The message is clear. Don’t speak.

Following Rosalie’s direction, I keep silent. Instead, it is Carlisle who answers the woman. “I assure you, Y/n is part of our family and is learning to follow our lifestyle of her own volition. Her eyes are red because she is a newborn. Soon, her eyes will resemble ours.”

The woman grimaces, obviously displeased. “And she cannot speak for herself? Please, allow me to meet the girl who is responsible for the deaths of my friends. Come forward, dear.”

I take a step forward, then another, despite Rosalie’s ever-tighter grip and not knowing when I consciously decided to begin moving. Jasper takes a quick step so he’s blocking my path, and Edward shoots out an arm to stop me. Why?

“Careful, the woman is particularly convincing. Her gift has even taken Aro’s notice.”

The woman laughs in delight, and, still, I want to run towards her voice. So beautiful, so inviting. “And how would you know, sweet Edward?” Then her eyes light up in understanding. “Unless, you have a gift that has captured Aro’s attention as well?”

Edward ignores the woman aside from fixing her with a hard stare.

“A man of few words, I see,” she says, sounding disappointed. “No matter. Carlisle, I join you in your desire for peace.” I relax, glancing at Alice in hopes that her expression will confirm my conclusion: that the danger is gone, that a fight will be avoided. But instead I see her look of horror, followed by Edward’s snarl, and my hopes are dashed. They are replaced by fear.

“Until that peace can be achieved though,” the woman shakes her head in mock sadness, “I’m afraid we will need recompense for the murder of our friends. An eye for an eye, I suppose.”

Jasper snarls, the sound sending a new wave of fear through me. Still, it’s not enough to drown out the woman’s soft, inviting voice.

“Y/n, come here please.”

I know she is using her ability on me. I can feel it settling over my body and pricking at my mind. I know better than to step forward.

But I can’t stop myself. I’m not even able to form the thoughts necessary to halt my steps. All I can focus on is her voice and following her command.

I speed up, meaning to run to her.

A freight train slams into my side, knocking me straight to the ground. I struggle, and when the blonde braid smacks me in the face, I rename the freight train as Rosalie.

“Rose, let me go, I-I need to-”

“Y/n, stay down, she’s going to kill you.” I feel a set of hands on my shoulders and recognize them as Esme’s.

The woman tsks again. “Now, now, it is only fair. Count your blessings. We only require the death of one to repay the deaths of two. Were we vengeful, we would demand more of your heads.”

“Carlisle,” Edward mutters, obviously hoping only our family will hear. “They saw how you all rushed to Y/n’s aid in the woods, they’re trying to start a fight. They want our territory and need us to attack first in order to justify their actions to the Volturi. Aro-” whatever Edward was about to say is interrupted by the woman’s sweet, melodic voice.

“Or, perhaps he would volunteer to die in the place of his young mate? Jasper, come forward.”

“No!” My shriek echoes through the yard, but seems to fall on deaf ears.

The woman croons and beckons him with a single finger. Jasper’s eyes glaze over, and I know he’s under the influence of her gift as I was mere seconds ago.

He takes a single step forward. Then another.

The woman smiles. “That’s it, Jasper. Come to me.”

He takes another step forward, nearly passing Carlisle, and I panic. Edward and Bella hurry to grab him, to stop him, but Jasper is too quick. He dodges their advances and continues his pace towards the woman, whose smile has turned sadistic.

I throw Rosalie and Esme off me, running to him.

“Jasper, don’t you dare!” I fling myself in front of him, grabbing his face in my hands and forcing him to look at me.

He blinks, shakes his head, and then the spell is broken. Thank goodness. He briefly buries his face in my hair and inhales before pushing me behind him.

The woman sighs, seeming only mildly inconvenienced. “Oh well.”

Then, she lunges for Carlisle’s throat.

Emmett attacks from the side, plowing her into the dirt. The remaining five vampires hurry to join the fight. Jasper growls, pushing me further back into our group.

A pair of hands grabs my shoulders and forces me to the side. I bring my leg up to kick my assailant away, but it’s only Rosalie, pushing me to avoid a sandy-haired vampire. I gasp and stumble back, only to have someone lock their hand around my wrist.

“Hello there,” the vampire croons, using his free hand to reach towards my face. Acting on instant, I grab it, and use his hold on my other hand to throw him on the ground. He kicks behind my knees, causing me to fall on top of him and rolls so I’m pinned beneath his weight. He leans down, teeth bared, intent on biting me. The growl that rips through my is fierce and, momentarily, I can see the fear in his eyes. I claw at his face, creating a deep gash, and he howls. I use his distraction against him and flip us. He breaks free from my grip and reaches for my neck.

Someone pulls me off of the man and I panic until I see Arthur’s grim face to my right. “Hold his arm.”

I do as he says, noticing Alice mirroring my actions on the man’s other side. Without warning, Arthur surges forward and grips the man’s head in his hands. A twist, pull, and a terrible screech later, Arthur holds the man’s severed head. I gasp, releasing the man’s arm and stumbling back. Shit.

Alice produces a lighter and sets the man ablaze. An awful smell fills the air.

“Five,” Arthur calls out, tossing the man’s head into the flames.

A pained, infuriated scream pierces the air, and all heads whip towards Rosalie who clutches her shoulder. I run to her, but Jasper and Emmet are already there, quickly doing to her assailant as Arthur, Alice, and I had done to mine.

“Four,” Emmett declares, hurrying to check on Rosalie. Edward and Bella cover their backs while Emmett sucks the venom out.

I toss my head around wildly, searching for Jasper. Where is he? Where is he?!

I finally find him about fifty yards east of his previous location, wrestling with the leader of the enemy coven. Emmett must’ve let her go to tend to Rosalie.

The woman croons, and, even from here, I can feel the force of her voice.

“Jasper, let me go. You don’t want to kill me.”

Jasper hesitates, and I break out at a sprint towards him. Get away, get away, get away! Seeming frozen, Jasper falls to his knees, releasing the woman and allowing her to place her hands on either side of his head. She smiles serenely. “Good boy.”

“No!” I launch myself forward, tackling the woman. We collapse to the ground in a tangle of limbs and snarls. I feel the sharp pain as her teeth sink into my leg. With a growl, I focus on putting the pain behind the force of my ability. In the next second, she releases her hold on me, screaming in agony. Jasper appears then, thankfully having snapped out of the trance, and braces the woman’s back against his own with his hands on her head. He pulls forcefully, and the screams cease. Using a lighter of his own, he lets the flames consume the body.

“Three.” Jasper’s voice is tight, and his eyes don’t leave mine. “Are you okay?”

Swallowing my fear and horror, I nod. Those feelings can be dealt with once we’re out of danger. Jasper nods once, then darts to our right to aid Carlisle and Edward in the killing of another  vampire. He’s distracted though. He keeps throwing glances back at me and turning so I’m in his line of sight. The captured vampire senses Jasper’s lack of focus and takes the opportunity to sink his teeth into Jasper’s wrist. I run to him, hating how his face contorts in pain. Despite being held firmly by Edward and Carlisle, the man surges forward, snapping in my direction. His efforts stop the second Jasper tears his head from his neck. Edward sets the body ablaze, calling out a “two.”

As I gasp out his name, Jasper grips my waist, twisting us to the side. We narrowly avoid the vampire soaring through the air attempting to tackle us. He is trailed by Esme and Emmett, who quickly have the aid of Carlisle and Edward. With another sickening screech, we hear Esme’s voice ringing clear: “one”.

Now, it’s easy.

Only the other female remains, and my family quickly surrounds her.

She begins to beg for her life. “Please, let me go. I didn’t want to fight, I had no choice. Cora, our leader, forced us to. You’ve heard her voice, you know how convincing she is!” Her words increase in pitch and volume the closer Jasper and Emmett get to her. She dissolves into hysterics.

“Stop.” Esme’s command is quiet, but desperate. “Perhaps we can negotiate and come to an understanding.”

As we turn to glance at Esme, the woman has her opportunity. She launches herself at Jasper, gripping him around the neck and twisting. I scream, certain I’m about to see Jasper’s head fall to the ground.

But miraculously, he falls into the twist, rolling with the woman until he has her in an unbreakable lock. I vaguely recognize the hold as one he’s put me in before.

But this woman and I had vastly different outcomes.

Sharply, Jasper pushes the woman towards Emmett, who beheads her in one quick motion.

We’re silent as he throws the body into the fire.

Carlisle is the one who breaks the silence, sighing sadly and rubbing his forehead.

I exhale in relief, running to Jasper at the same time that he reaches for me. He kisses me like he did in the woods, and I pull him impossibly closer. When we separate, I exhale again and bury my head in his chest, thankful for the strong arms wrapping around me in a hug. Then I sigh, remembering the bite on his wrist.

“Let me see your arm.”

He shakes his head, kneeling on the ground and taking my leg gently in his hands. “You first.” I grit my teeth when he makes contact with the broken skin, though I do enjoy the feeling of his lips on my thigh. Perhaps we’ll have to revisit that later. Then, I have an idea, and rest my hand lightly on his shoulder, intending to pull the pain out of his arm that way. By his soft smile, it’s doing the trick. Still, once he rises, I take his wrist gingerly in my hands and suck out the venom. That’ll help it heal faster, anyway.

“You wouldn’t have gotten hurt if you didn’t try to be everywhere at once,” I chide.

But he just shrugs easily, pressing a light kiss on the side of my head. “It’s my job, darlin’.”

The new pet name helps ease my annoyance somewhat.

Once Jasper and I are satisfied the other is not harmed further, we turn our attention back to our family.

Thankfully, we sustained only minor injuries. Rosalie nurses her bite, and thankfully accepts my help in dealing with the pain. Emmett lost a finger, which Carlisle found and promptly reattached. It’s a miracle it hadn’t been thrown into the fires. Other than that and mine and Jasper’s bites, we’re all good. I marvel at our success, endlessly grateful that everyone is okay.

Carlisle, however, looks grim. “We’ll need to put out these fires soon to avoid suspicion. Alice, Edward, do you know of any others that might come to challenge us?”

They both concentrate but, thankfully, report in the negative. We can’t know for sure, of course, but for now, we’re as satisfied as is possible.

“I did notice something concerning in Cora’s thoughts,” Edward shares, almost hesitantly. We all fix him a look, anxious for him to continue. “They had hoped we would attack first so they could claim innocence to the Volturi. If that didn’t happen, they were obviously prepared to start the fight themselves. But,” he hesitates, and then seems to force himself to continue. “They were careful to leave Alice and I untouched. It seems they share the Volturi’s concerns with destroying our gifts.”

Carlisle’s expression darkens. “You think Aro had something to do with this?”

My eyebrows shoot up.

Edward grimaces. “She didn’t think of it long, but I glimpsed a conversation between Cora and Aro. From what I could gather, Aro was willing to overlook the attack on our family if it led to me and Alice joining him.”

Arthur growls, and Jasper’s arm tightens around my waist.

Carlisle looks dejected. “It seems Aro and I have much to discuss. I will plan a trip.”

“No,” Esme and Alice protest at the same time.

“Carlisle you can’t,” Alice continues, reaching forward to grab one of his hands in both of hers. “He obviously doesn’t care about your life. What if he uses the opportunity to destroy you?”

Carlisle sighs, shaking his head. “I will have to trust that he would refrain out of respect for our friendship. Regardless of the risk, I have to take care of my family. I won’t allow Aro to continue supporting threats against us like this. At the very least, I can get him to publicly condemn the attack. That will tie his hands going forward.”

Looking absolutely heartbroken, Esme rests her head on Carlisle’s shoulder. But we all know he’s right. Unless we can confront Aro in a manner that also does not directly implicate him, attacks like these are likely to continue.

Jasper brings my hands to his mouth and presses a light kiss on each set of knuckles. Then, looking determined, he turns towards Carlisle. “I would like to go with you.”

If I had a beating heart, it would have stopped. “What? Jasper no, you-”

But he shakes his head, his thumb smoothing over my hip. “He’ll need me to monitor Aro’s intentions, and I’ll be good in a fight, if it comes to that.”

Carlisle nods, though a look of regret is on his face. “It’s true. Jasper’s help will be invaluable, and I can’t take Edward or Alice. It will be too tempting for Aro. It’s risky enough bring Jasper.”

“Well then he shouldn’t go,” I protest, angry now. Why does Jasper always have to be the one risking himself? He’s thrown himself into my path more than once, watched everyone’s back during the fight, and now he’s going to one of the most dangerous places for our kind? For that matter, send me, I-

“That’s a terrible idea.” Edward’s harsh tone interrupts my thoughts.

“It is not,” I counter. “You said Jane was part of the Volturi? Well maybe you need someone to even her out.”

Jasper pulls me closer against him, and my suspicious calm causes me to give him the side-eye.

Carlisle smiles softly. “While I appreciate your willingness to help, Y/n, we really can’t take you with us. We’ll be taking a plane to Volterra, and the area itself is heavily populated. Perhaps a future trip.”

I sigh, knowing he’s right. But still, not Jasper…

“I’m going, too.” Esme’s soft but firm voice interrupts my thoughts. Carlisle immediately begins to protest, but she holds a hand up to his mouth. “I will not be separated from you, understand?”

With a defeated look, Carlisle nods.

Emmett raises a hand, a grin on his face. “I’m in, too.”

Edward shakes his head. “Knowing Aro, he’ll interpret more than three of us as a threat, especially if we send you, big as you are.” Good-naturedly, Edward softly punches Emmett’s shoulder then pretends to grip his hand in pain. That lightens the tension a little bit.

“Well, it’s settled, then.” Carlisle straightens his scarf and takes Esme’s hand in his. “I’ll book our flights for tomorrow morning.”

So soon…

Feeling my growing sense of dread, Jasper tugs on my hand. “Come with me for a bit?” I sigh, nod, and allow him to pull me further into the woods.

A/n Ahh, that was a long one! What did you think? Let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list!

xx, 

Bjr

Next part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/625017063484833792/the-long-way-around-chapter-14

Tag list: @puer-de-infinitate @charliestuff @meri-soni-meri-tamanna @one-thread-can-save-a-life @salsameter @enchantedcruelsummer @meashy-moo @sana-li @femflorals @80strashbag @tomisbaeholland @heyimval13 @triscuitcracker @deviantly-gayy

[jawritter]

Finally Yours

**Warnings!!** SMUTT!! LOL. ABO dynamics, Rutting Alpha, Near Farel Alpha, Heat-induced smut, rut induced smut. The implication of male masturbation (brief), Late bloomer reader, language, angst, I think that’s everything!!

A/N: This story was cross-posted from Wattpad! All mistakes are mine! Please don’t copy my stuff!! If you would like to be added to my tag list let me know!! Hope you all enjoy this little ABO Oneshot!

Pairing: Dean x Reader, Sam X Read (Platonic friendship)

Word Count: 3087

********Check out my masterlist!!!*******

MASTERLIST!!!

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Dean’s POV:

Dean pulled himself up from his lying position, sweat dripping from his body. Throwing the toy he’d been trying to use to find some relief across the room, aggravated at the damn thing for not work for him anymore. No matter what he did, he couldn’t find any relief. He’d been in a full rut now for more than a week and a half. He’d hired Omega’s to help him through ruts in the past, but no one really wanted to help an Alpha like him. One that was past his prime.

He was 41 years old and unmated, so he was surprised he’d lasted this long alone without going feral before. Now though, it seemed this rut would be the one to do him. 

Running his hand down his face harshly before pulling down the rest of the scotch in the bottle he’d been drinking he picked up the phone with shaking hands and dialed Sam’s number. He needed to be locked down before he went completely feral. While he still could make the choice not to hurt anyone around him.

He thought when he met Y/N that she might be his mate, but she turned out to be beta. He’d heard all the stories of true mates, and soulmates, but he supposed it just wasn’t in the cards for him. Maybe his fate got thrown off when he was brought back from hell all those years ago, his omega given to someone else while he was gone.

He was hoping against all hope that Y/N would have been an omega, he’d loved her for a long time now, even if he was too afraid to say it. They just weren’t biologically compatible, and there was no changing that. 

She was Bobby’s niece. He’d promised Bobby that he’d look after her after he was gone, and so far he’d kept to his word. 

Now, who would watch over her? He was going to die down here, he knew it, this was it for him, he was going to go completely feral, and his brother was going to have to put him down. There would be no going back for him.

He always thought that he’d go down in a hunt, some vengeful spirit, Djinn, hell a vamp or a demon. He never thought he’d go down like this. Here it was though, no way out. He’d been trying to find a release for days now and nothing. His vision flashes red before him in increments as he dialed Sam’s number. He knew he didn’t’ have long. Growls falling from his chest involuntarily.

“Dean, Is it over, are you ready to go on a hunt?” Sam answered the phone hopefully, Dean suppressed the whine that wanted to escape him.

“Sammy, I need you to come to lock me down…” 

Silence fell on the other end of the phone. Sams’ heart was racing. This couldn’t be. No there had to be another way. His brother couldn’t go feral and leave him.

“Dean, just hang in there, I’ll find you an Omega to help you.”

“It’s too late Sam, I don’t have much time before I lose me completely, If you bring an Omega in here I may hurt her.”

Silence fell on the other end of the phone again. 

“I’m on my way to you Dean, just hang in there, we will figure this out.” 

With that Sam hung up the phone, and Dean dropped it to his side, looking at the toy that lay on the floor across the room from him. His crotch throbbing painfully from his prostate to his knees, causing him to whimper loudly as he fisted himself harshly, getting up to and retrieve the useless toy to try again. He couldn’t give up, even though he was exhausted. Sam depended on him, he always had. He had to fight this.

Your POV:

You watched the desperation run across Sam’s face as he hung up the phone with Dean. Pressing the accelerator harder into the floorboard of Dean’s beloved Impala, flying toward the bunker toward his brother.

You had been with the Winchester brothers ever since your uncle Bobby passed away. He had been taking care of you after your parents were murdered by a demon all those years ago. You were only 8 at the time.

You, like Sam, were a beta. Dean was an Alpha, much like his father before him. Dean had become your most trusted friend and protector over the years that you’d spent with the brothers. You had just turned 25 years old and had been with the brothers since you were 17.

Even though you loved Sam like a brother, over the years you had developed quite a large bit of feelings for the elder Winchester. When you were 15 though, and all the other had already presented by that age, you were still a beta, which meant even after you turned 18 there would be no future for you and Dean. It just didn’t work out that way in this universe. He needed an Omega, there was very little you could do for him.

Still, the heart wants what the heart wants, and you just couldn’t shake the feels you always had for Dean, even after all these years. Even though yourself and Sam where beta Dean still made you leave the bunker, hotel, or whatever and wherever you were at when his ruts would start. He always said he didn’t want you to see him like that, but really you knew he just didn’t want you to watch the parade of Omega’s that he would hire or find at a local watering hole to help him through his ruts.

You and Sam had taken this opportunity to go and see Jody and the girls for this rut. When you didn’t hear from him you both assumed that everything was fine, and going like it usually did. You were about fifteen miles from the bunker when Sam’s phone rang, and you knew something must have been horribly wrong judging by Sam’s reaction. It made your heart seize up in your chest. You just couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to Dean.

“Sam, what’s wrong?” you asked, watching him closely.

Sam swallowed heavily, looking at you briefly, then back at the road. It was no secret to Sam the way you felt about his older brother, even though he knew you tried to hide it and never would admit it to him.

You knew he knew as well, but you just couldn’t say it out loud. Saying how you feel out loud made it real, and then his rejection was real. You didn’t know if you could handle that.

“It’s Dean, he’s still in rut, he can’t come out of it. He wants me to tie him up, so I’m going to tie him up, and then try and find an Omega to help him. Y/N, he says he doesn’t have much time, he thinks he’s going feral…” Sam cut off his sentence unable to say anymore.

Your stomach twisted in you tightly before letting go. You felt like you wanted to curl up and vomit all at the same time. You couldn’t lose Dean. If he went feral, and you couldn’t help him, and Sam couldn’t find someone who could, you couldn’t think about the consequences.

In what felt like no time Sam landed at the bunker. Your stomach had been doing flips and cramping ever since Sam told you the situation. You didn’t know if it was nerves or the greasy dinner food you had eaten on your way here, but you didn’t have time to deal with being sick right now. So you pushed it down and ran after Sam down the stairs, and toward the hallway to Dean’s room.

Just as you rounded the corner with Sam outside of Dean’s door a smell hit you, something heady, and strong. Stronger than you’d ever smelt before. It was the smell of leather, and pine and gun powered; mixed with something that was unique and appealing. As soon as you smelt it your stomach knotted up on you like someone had twisted a white-hot poker in your gut, then twisted it. Sweat broke out over your skin in an instant.

Sam stopped in his tracks, skidding to a halt, and looking at you doubled over in pain. You couldn’t stop the scream that fell from your lips. Sam dropped to his knees next to you.

“Y/N, what’s wrong!” 

Sam was starting to panic.

Tears were running down your face now. You were scared, you had never experienced anything like this. The overpowering scent was making it hard to concentrate. It filled your senses, making it all you could focus on. Filling every fiber of your being. “I don’t know Sam..”

Through the door of Dean’s room, a low growl eliminated. The sound made your whole body tremble. Sam watched you, realization showing in his eyes.

“Y/N, I know what’s wrong.. You are presenting. Your and Omega, my brother’s Omega. His rut has triggered your first heat.”

“That’s impossible Sam, I’m 25 years old!!”

“Late bloomer,” Sam shrugged. 

Suddenly the door to Dean's room opened behind Sam. You heard the growling sound before you saw him. His eyes were almost black, sweat dripping from his body, it trembled as he leaned against the doorway, his muscles jerking under his skin at random. His eye were hooded as he stared at you, grows mixed with whimpers leaving his solid bear chest.

“Omega,” he whispered, and your body responded to his command immediately, slick coating your underwear in a gush. His scent hit you harder than you’d ever smelt anything in your life. Your body trembled on the floor before him, and your head bowing automatically without your control.

“Alpha..” 

At his title, he purred low in his chest, more slick coating your underwear now, responding to Dean’s obvious approval. Your thought process was falling out of the window. The only thing you could focus on was the overwhelming need to have him.

Opening the door wider for you to come into his room, Dean stood and waited for you, as you stood to your feet and staggered your way toward the tall alpha. 

Your alpha. 

There was no doubt in your mind, Dean Winchester was your alpha, and you need each other now more than ever before.

Sam jumped up and grabbed your arm, causing Dean to snarl and step toward his brother. Sam threw his hands in the air in surrender. 

“Wait, wait, Dean, you said on the phone that you were afraid you were going to hurt an Omega if I brought one here for you.”

“Not going to hurt my Omega Sam, now get out of the way and let her come to me.”

Reluctantly, Sam moved to the side and allowed you to move closer to him. As soon as you were in grabbing distance, Dean’s hot hands were on your body, pulling you close this chest before slamming the door.

“Y/N, are you sure you want this with me? Because I’m too far gone, I’m not going to be able to stop.”

His scent was surrounding you. You were panting as his hands roamed your body, Dean backing you towards his bed. His smell was all over the room, clouding your judgment, and making your head spin. All you could see what him, all you ever wanted was him, all you’d ever want again was him, nothing else would ever matter again.

“I need you, Dean. Please Alpha..”

The words weren’t even good and out of your mouth before his mouth was on yours in a bruising kiss. Tongue diving into your lips.

His tongue quickly dominated yours. His body pressed against yours. His rough calloused hands roaming your body. Picking you up harshly he carried you across the room, quickly laying you down on the bed. For the first time, you noticed that he was completely naked. His thick chest and shoulders heaving with heavy breaths. His muscular arms caged around you as he buried his face in your neck, breathing in deeply and whimpering. Trying to hold onto his own control that was slipping from him quickly.

Grabbing your shirt he ripped it from your body roughly. Buttons flying across the room, clinging as it hit random objects in his room. In one swift movement he had your pants undone, and your bra and panties down in one pull. All along with your boots and socks that went in what felt like a flash.

Sweat was prickling all over your skin. With every growl or whimper that left his lips your body produced more slick, that was now running down your legs.

Once he was satisfied that you were completely naked he looked at you, a deep growl escaping his lips. His own body trembling as he took you in. His thick length standing at attention, bobbing against the strain to reach its goal. A small bead of pre-come gathered at the tip. He was massive. You had heard about the size of alpha’s being impressive before, you had never been with an alpha though, and the sheer size of him was downright terrifying.

A shudder and a whimper ripped through you as another wave of cramps assaulted your body. Getting worse every time there was a fresh wave.

Dean laid his body back over you, Pressing his weight down on top of you. Your body soothed some by his touch and his closeness.

“Going to take care of you ‘mega.” 

Letting him Nussle into your neck, he slipped two fingers into your aching core, curling them inside of you, sending shock waves of pleasure through your whole body.

“So beautiful Omega, so responsive.” Dean purred above you, licking the same spot on the junction of your neck and shoulder. You could feel the familiar coil begin to burn and tighten in your abdomen, just as you thought you couldn’t get any close to the edge your overheated body trembling and twitching, Dean added a third, thick finger into you and fell to pieces.

White spot speckled your vision and you moaned deeply something you had never done before. Dean worked you a little more gently until your body came down from it’s high.

When you opened your eyes again Dean was hovering over you, watching you. Light growls emanating from his chest.

“Alpha, I need you.” 

The words barely above a whisper, but it was the permission he seemed to be waiting for. His eyes darkened even further if that were even possible. Fisting is thick harshly several times before lining himself up with your dripping entrance, he brought his lips to you in a bruising kiss as he sank himself deep inside of you until the tip of his throbbing length hit your cervix.

A deep breath pushed from your lungs involuntarily as your body adjusted to him. His thick arms caged around you. His scent everywhere, making you feel drunk. Your walls already fluttering around him. His body twitching above you, shivering with restraint as he tried to keep himself from pounding into you until your body had adjusted to his.

Reaching up he brushed your hair out of your face and brushed his lips across yours. Kissing you softly before the last of his humanity faded away, and he began to start moving slowly.

He moved slowly at first, purring above you. Then something seemed to snap in him, and a growl rumbled deep in him. He started pounding into you at a brutal pace. Your body responds to him immediately, taking every brutal thrust with ease. Which surprised even you.

Moans and purrs escaping both of your lips, as both of you quickly made your way toward the edge again. Without warning, he pulled himself out of you and flipped you over to stomach, pulling you up to your knees before ramming himself back into you. Picking up his pace even further.

His knot starting to swell and catching your entrance with every push and pull of his body against yours. You tried your best to meet his pace as he pounded into you. His knot swelled even further as his fingers wound their way around, finding your little bundle of nerves and circling harshly with his fingers. Plummeting you over the edge as his knot locked deep inside of you.

A deep growl fell from his throat as his teeth sank deep inside the skin of the junction of your neck and shoulder. The pain quickly erased into pleasure as the strongest orgasm you had ever experience washed over you. Momentarily your vision went black and your body jerked without your control.

Dean slowly withdrew his teeth from your neck, laying you down slowly. His knot still connecting your bodies, and his cum spilled deeply inside of you. He pulled you tight to his chest, purring and licking your fresh claiming mark. Healing it, and soothing it like only your Alpha could.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Dean finally asked after a long while with the two of you just laying there holding onto each other. Adjusting to your new reality, and the warm fuzzy feeling that seemed to be flowing from your Alpha to you.

“I’m okay, but what about you?” you say, remembering why you and Sam had rushed here in the first place. Turning your head so that you could look at him some.

His face looked calmer than you’d seen him in a long time. Tired even. His rut was finally gone. Peacefully purring as he leaned down to nuzzle your claiming mark. Licking it lightly before answering you.

“I’m fine sweetheart, I’m going to be just fine.”

For the first time in a long time, Dean believed what he was saying. It wasn’t forced, it wasn’t a lie, he really felt like now that he’d found his Omega, the woman he’d been in love with even when biology said there was no way was finally his. Everything else would work itself out. Right now his Omega, his love, laying here in his arms was all that mattered to him.

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Tag List:

@deanwanddamons​  @imabitch4jensen​   @rvgrsbrns​

[katsidhe]

Hello as a long time silent lurker with post notifications on, and someone who has been very into the minecraft roleplay for about 9 months, I am oh so incredibly intrigued on your thoughts! I hope you don't mind if I ramble a little. Sam (both minecraft and spn, but in this context the minecraft one) is one of my favourite characters because he's so incredibly complex. The prison story has sparked so much discussion and conflict in this fandom, so I would love to hear your thoughts if you want to share!

oh noooooooooooo don’t enable me. (Jk <3)

I’m putting this under a read more for those of you who don’t want to be inflicted with my minecraft roleplay brain worms. I would apologize but I think we’re well past that.

So, like, full disclosure that I am pretty new to dsmp and am surely missing out on big ol swathes of Essential Character Content, etc etc. But I do know the basics, and I’ve (naturally) watched all the Torture Box Content, because I mean come on, that’s my brand.

k so First of all, THE most essential part of any media: x-coded y girl. Dream is a textbook Cas-coded Sam girl. Sam (Minecraft) is a Cas-coded Dean girl. Quackity is a Dean-coded Sam girl. I’d say Tommy is Dean-Dean. Techno is, hmm, Cas-Cas. Okay, important part done.

Minecraft Sam is very fun! I find it absolutely delightful that he clings to moral high ground while torturing and starving a prisoner. And at least from what I’ve seen, there’s a lot of room for interpretation as to the level of guilt and involvement he actually feels about what’s being done to Dream. He goes back and forth between justifying the treatment as something Dream categorically deserves, and justifying it as a means to an end. Whether that end is the book itself, or whether it’s Quackity’s cooperation/satisfaction, or whether it’s some twisted and bloody sense of justice and duty, seems to vary wildly. On top of that, of course, is the irony that Dream was the one to give him this commission and this job in the first place: in every respect, it’s a duty to Dream (to punish him; to secure him; to uphold his rules) that Sam’s fulfilling. Dream isn’t the only one to suffer from Sam’s inflexibility surrounding the entire concept of Dream: Tommy and Ponk do too.

And yet it’s not the inflexibility that ends up hurting Dream the worst: it’s the gaps in that rigidity. If Sam had kept the prison operating as apparently originally commissioned, it would be inhumane but just about bearable: hardly the level of absurd, over-the-top war crime that it’s reached by now. His choice to begin starving Dream in earnest seems to have been mostly an emotional reaction, after Tommy’s death. (Ironic, too, that Tommy also suffered the result of this choice.) And this is fine, because it’s not active: it’s passive, something that’s happening by inaction. Same with giving Quackity specially made weapons and total carte blanche.

The level of trust that Dream has in Sam’s sense of duty is also fascinating. Even as late as the most recent stream, after the guy’s been permitting him to be tortured for months, Dream appeals to Sam’s need to keep Dream static, in one place as his prisoner, in order to save his life. Incidentally, I do think that convincing Sam to keep Quackity from straight-up murdering him is the only concession Dream was actually hoping to win with that conversation. because like, food and a courtyard visit? after a jail break? Like hell is Sam going to grant that, even before the stunt he and Techno pulled, and Dream knows it. I think that the rest of that conversation was just to deflect, and keep Sam from questioning Dream more sharply about whatever he and Techno have planned. Bringing up Tommy and letting Sam go off on his predictable diatribe about morality and just desserts seemed similarly strategic: Dream knows what Sam thinks about what kind of treatment he deserves. He’s had months to figure it out, and it wasn’t exactly rocket science to begin with.

Anyway, that trust is the same reason Dream appealed (unsuccessfully) to Sam when Quackity first showed up: it devastated him to realize that he’d miscalculated the degree of Sam’s willingness to set aside his duty in this one particular way. Quackity in general represents a HUGE blind spot in Sam’s otherwise completely rigid inflexibility: so huge it’s almost baffling, given what Sam was ready to do to Tommy and Ponk and Ghostbur. But Quackity represents a loophole Sam badly wants. He badly, badly wants some good old-fashioned vengeance, without dressing it up with any pretensions of procedure or justice, but he can’t allow himself to actively act on those impulses—or else he would be Bad, and he can’t have that. He has to believe himself to be Good, and he wants to indulge himself with Dream’s suffering anyway. So he explains that, actually, Dream’s treatment is Dream’s own fault. It’s hilariously deluded.

Which brings me to Quackity, because what makes Quackity fun is that he’s actually NOT hilariously deluded—not about this, at least. Unlike Sam, he’s not laboring under the insane mental acrobatics necessary to convince himself that torture is Good Actually. He knows that what he’s doing is terrible, but he owns it: he’s fine admitting that he enjoys it, that he’s doing this for personal gain and personal vengeance and not for reasons of high-minded civic duty. He’s justifying the torture with brutal simplicity: Dream has hurt him and Dream has something he needs, done and done. He seems to be a firm believer in vengeful and disproportionate retribution, just as with his whole Butcher Army thing. To which I say, neat and fun! I also really really enjoy the power dynamic between him and Dream. Dream is someone who commands respect and fear and power, who could murder Quackity with one hand tied behind his back if they were on equal footing, and who probably barely spared him a thought as a threat. Quackity lives in terror of the thought of Dream escaping and wreaking his vengeance. And Quackity is trying his very best to wrestle that power away from him.

He seems to be pretty unpracticed and ineffective at torture, too—like, yeah, I get this is Minecraft and props are limited, but torturing someone long-term with an ax and a sword is going to be more than a bit unwieldy. and did he even bring in health potions his first day? It’s pretty telling and hilarious that Sam is the one who offers the shears, a far more practical choice of tool. Not to mention that the entire premise of his interrogation gives Dream massive, massive incentive to never give Quackity anything. Quackity straight up admits to Dream that the information he wants is the only reason he’s letting Dream live, which is utterly counterproductive if he wants the book sometime this year. Functionally, he needs to torture Dream not merely into admission, but into suicide. And as the days and weeks and months pass, he’s still got nothing to show for it but growing vindictiveness, paranoia, and frustration. By the time of the latest stream, he’s completely lost the plot—his threats don’t even make sense, his violence is ineffective and unhinged and indiscriminate. He’s lost all leverage and he’s needlessly (re)made a powerful enemy in Technoblade.

So, like, characters like Lucifer are fun because they’re good at torture. Characters like Quackity are fun because they’re bad at torture. But that doesn’t much matter. He doesn’t need to be particularly talented, or strong, or skilled to make Dream’s existence hell: the bare facts of the situation are more than enough for that. What does he learn, over the course of these visits—what skills does he hone, what kinds of violence does he discover that he can stomach? What depths of ruthlessness and creativity and hatred does he discover within himself? What threats does he make that he finds himself following through on before he’s even thought through the implications? It’s a learning curve, for him and Dream both. They’re learning each other, they’re learning the corners of this little hell together. Dream wasn’t expecting him to be capable of this degree of hostility or violence. Quackity is sick of being underestimated.

Which brings me finally to Dream. My general and hastily-gleaned impression of the fandom gives me the distinct impression that there is somehow a school of thought convinced Dream’s earned this treatment? Which baffles me. not only in how its absurd extremity (daily torture in a tiny box for literal months, jesus fucking christ) isn’t something even the most terrible villain could earn, but also in how Dream himself strikes me more as a morally gray fallen/falling antihero type than anything else. I was honestly completely prepared to find him to be a straightforward Bad Guy pre-prison, but that’s not at all my impression. He’s clearly got people and things he cares about and wants to protect, and big picture goals he’ll ruthlessly sacrifice anything to advance (ahem Cas-coded Sam girl). Really, it’s more that roleplays don’t tend to lend themselves easily to those types of narrative classification: nearly every character is a POV character; consuming the content from every perspective is nearly impossible. There aren’t super neat ways to sort antagonists and protagonists in essential terms, only in their relationships to one another. In terms of manipulation, war crimes, power-grabbing, and general destruction, practically everyone on the server is guilty to some degree or another. Dream’s treated Tommy pretty damn terribly, but that hardly makes him unique. What does make Dream unique is that he’s been singled out for near-universally-agreed-upon confinement (which oh so conveniently aligns with him being held as a tool, for information). And that’s neat!

…Look, tldr I just like it when people are in torture boxes. more media should have torture boxes, they are good and fun. 

[ikeromantic]

Making A Tragedie

An Ikevamp Leonardo story - Shakespeare’s POV chapter. This scene occurs in Chapter 17 of Leonardo’s main route. Approx. 1900 words.

First: That First Night

Previous: Good Times

Will looked up at the bright-lit mansion. Soft music floated on the cool breeze, and the murmur of laughter and conversation. It was like a scene from one of his plays. The calm before a storm. He could not help but imagine the turns such a scene might take. A vengeful murder spree. A lovers’ tryst interrupted by a betrayed husband. Or perhaps, a fateful moment when two eyes meet across a crowded room and the spark of love bursts into flame. 

Parties like these could begin and end dynasties. Perfect fodder for his plays. Shakespeare went in. 

The city’s elite were gathered here. Will saw Felix Faure having a quiet talk with Comte to one side. Zola and Cezanne drinking wine, and Loie Fuller dancing with some fortunate soul. And more. Anyone who was Tout-Paris would be somewhere on this estate tonight. Not that Shakespeare cared much about the weight a name carried. He knew the servants had dramas as exquisite as the wealthiest patron. Sometimes moreso, for desperation added a seasoning the affluent did not know.

Will wasn’t here for any of them tonight though. He had the players in this spectacle determined. His mismatched gaze swept the room. After a moment, he found them. The ordinary girl and the legend. They were waltzing, eyes locked on each other, brimming with unspoken intimacy. They looked like a painting in motion. True Love would be the title, Will thought. And laughed. 

To capture Leonardo so completely, the girl couldn’t simply be mundane. There had to be more to her, even if she was no artist or great mind. 

She was, Shakespeare decided, quite lovely. The composition of her face, the softness of her hair, the rising swell of her bosom and the gentle curve of her hips. The makings of a leading lady, but it took more than beauty to be a star. 

He grabbed a glass of wine from a passing servant, and let himself observe. After watching them dance and chat, he realized at a distance he could not divine her esoteric qualities. He would need to get closer. Much closer.

Will’s chance came when Leonardo stepped away. The artist was quickly surrounded by interested party-goers and the girl was all alone.

“Pardon?” Will gave her a polite notice of his approach. It wouldn’t do to frighten her.

The girl turned to face him. She was more beautiful up close, he thought. And she smelled sweet - a fragrance that made him suddenly thirsty. 

“What man leaves a beautiful flower to bloom alone by the wall? A gentleman in name only?” Shakespeare smiled at her and gave a slight bow. “Or perhaps the Fates have blinded all eyes so that I would be given this chance to speak with you alone. I pray thee, what does my lady think?”

She studied his face a moment and then frowned. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Monsieur . . .” 

“Indeed, the folly was mine own! Allow me to remedy my rudeness by introducing myself.” He put a hand to his heart and smiled. “My name is Shakespeare. William Shakespeare.” He could not help but wait expectantly for her reaction. Comte was quite clear that even in the far flung future, his writings were well-known. Would this girl know his name? His plays?

He was not disappointed. Her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide. “You. You’re - you’re William Shakespeare? THE William Shakespeare?” Despite her surprise, the question was asked in a quiet voice - one that would not travel to the ears of other guests easily. She looked caught in a battle with herself, struggling between curiosity and disbelief.

Will suppressed a chuckle. He leaned forward, closing the polite distance between them to one reserved for lovers and conspirators. “Though it is a private matter,” he said softly, “I’m another who bears life’s twice-given gift, after accepting le Comte de Saint-Germain’s conditions.”

She did not step away, but looked almost as if she wanted to poke him to make sure he was no phantasm. “So. You really are THAT Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet? Hamlet? A Midsummer Night’s Dream?” 

“I see you are familiar with my work.”

She nodded. “But, le Comte never mentioned you- and, and you don’t have a room in the mansion.” Her brows lowered in confusion.

“I expect the good Comte didn’t wish to mention my name, lest he confuse you more. Your arrival in this time and place must have been most disconcerting without the addition of more . . . notable personages.”

She nodded again. Her eyes were so wide. Her cheeks were flush from dancing and laughter. And there was an energy to her that Will could feel from this distance, as if she were a storm hidden behind a lovely face. 

He was beginning to see her appeal to Comte and his friend. There was something in her - a passion most uncommon. It drew one in. As moths to a flame, some might say. He took her elbow in a friendly gesture and guided her toward one of the colonnades where they might be away from so many prying eyes. 

“Yes, It was my choice to leave the mansion. I needed more privacy than could be had with so many roommates.” Will smiled at her as if they shared this secret. “So, now I reside on the outskirts of Paris.”

They stopped beside one of the narrow columns, still within sight of the besieged Italian. 

“Master Shakespeare, how did you know I was familiar with le Comte’s secrets?” She pulled her arm away from him and fussed with the skirt of her dress. Clearly, the girl was nervous. And by all rights, of course. There was little about Will that was reassuring.

He allowed himself a long look at the girl, letting his eyes travel over her. She blushed quite deeply, and would not meet his red and amber gaze when he arrived back at her face. “Truly, one look at you, the moment you arrived in the mansion - and my heart was much beguiled by your beauty. I have been watching closely ever since.”

“P-pardon?”

Will laughed softly. So easy to discomfit. “A jest, Mademoiselle. You are, perhaps, a more recently bloomed flower than I anticipated.” She didn’t seem to pickup on his subtext, or if she did, she was quite good at dissembling. He decided to aim another comment, a truthful one. 

“Verily, I received a summons to attend last month’s banquet, the night you arrived. I caught sight of you with the other residents of Comte’s mansion as I approached the door.” He paused, considering how much to say. That he’d been unsure of le Comte’s goal in bringing her to the mansion? Suspicious? No. Will shrugged. “I would have greatly enjoyed dining in thy company but unfortunately, matters of such great urgency came to my notice that I had need to depart in unseemly haste.”

His lengthy response seemed to calm her nerves. She held out her hand to him. “It’s a shame I didn’t get to meet you before this. Please - allow me to introduce myself.” She gave him her name with a smile.

Shakespeare took her hand in his own cool fingers, and placed a kiss on her wrist. He could feel the rapid beat of her pulse under his lips. The softness of her skin. “Your name is as lovely and pure as you are. It is no wonder Leonardo holds you dear.” He let her hand go reluctantly.

“I’m not certain what you mean.” Her tone went cold again, nerves covered by a veil of polite distance.

“I saw the two of you dancing.” Will raised an eyebrow as if to question what he knew. 

She didn’t reply, so he continued.

“Leonardo looked upon you as one would admire his priceless treasure.” His lips turned up at the edges in a narrow smile. “As a fellow man and a dramatist, I can say in confidence - it is you that holds the highest favor in Leonardo’s heart of hearts. Love, dear beauty. Love such as the stars would burn for.”

This time the girl did step back from him. “L-leonardo? In love with me?” She shook her head. “No. No - I’m the one in love with him!” 

The words escaped her lips and she was so aghast at the slip that she put her hands over them as if to prevent herself from saying anything else. Will found this gesture precious. Passion burned brightly in her. Even she could not gainsay her heart. 

He laughed and patted her arm. “There is naught to hide, beauty. Yours would prove a most fascinating union.” Will felt her stiffen and pull away from his touch but this did not deter him. Her discomfort only sweetened the anticipation he felt at his final reveal. “What end,” he asked quietly, “would come to the love of she, a mere mortal, and he -” Shakespeare gestured toward Leonardo. “Who has never tasted the fruit of fragile mortality?”

“Mortality?” Her lips thinned with displeasure. “You’re referring to the fact that he’s a vampire? Leonardo may be one now but that doesn’t erase the life he lived as a human before he was turned.”

And there it was. Fodder for a drama that would bring even a heart of stone to tears. Will let his own eyes go wide, his voice thready with disbelief. “You don’t know?” 

Her hands went to her hips, a display of irritation as endearing as her previous gestures. “What are you implying exactly?”

Will made a calming motion to her, enjoying his role in this scene more than he ought. “Lend no room in your heart for such alarm, beauty! If you’ll allow me to explain . . .” He took a step closer to her again, voice pitched low. “Leonardo isn’t like the rest of us. Leonardo is -”

And as if on cue, the very subject of their whispered conversation appeared. “Get away from her.” Leo pulled Shakespeare back by his coat.

“Leonardo?” The girl looked at her compagno with surprise. Will hoped it was also with a touch of chagrin, but he couldn’t tell with the hulking Italian blocking his view.

Will wriggled out of Leo’s grasped and smoothed his jacket as he greeted the artist. “Leonardo! It’s been too long ere last we spoke. It pleases me to see you well.”

This did little to mollify Leonardo. In fact, Shakespeare’s politeness only seemed to irritate him further. “You heard me. Get away from her.”

It was difficult to ignore the demands of a pure blood vampire. Especially when their golden eyes took on that special shine. Still, it would not be the first time Will defied one, nor the last he hoped. “So fierce a face ill suits thy pleasant countenance.” He gave them both a saucy grin. “With such a storied cast at the tip of my pen, you can’t expect me to not show an interest in their ends, surely?”

Leonardo snorted. “If you want to write plays, then do it. You can even use me as inspiration if you wish. But you will leave her out of it. Do not involved anyone else.”

“Involve . . . anyone else? When you’re the one that has taken her into your story and yet withheld pertinent details?” William made sure to catch her eye as he said this. He saw there the sprouting seeds of uncertainty, and the glimmer of fear. 

Should nothing else be accomplished this night, he’d done what he came to do and more. The girl’s measure was his and he’d ensured the passion betwixt the two would come soon to a boil. He wished he could say how this piece might end, but the unflappable da Vinci was unpredictable as well. There was nothing now for the evening but to enjoy himself. It was with glee that Shakespeare pursued his taunts until le Comte arrived to pour water on the fire.

Next: Good Advice

[eternalgirlscout]

a while back @lesbians4sokka (i think? sorry for @ing you if i’m thinking of a different blog) asked me to share my thoughts about The Rise of Kyoshi, and seeing as i just finished the book last night (because i am a monster who gets most of the way through a book and thinks “if i keep reading it’ll be over i can’t have that”) i’m finally doing it now!

this got long as hell OOPS

spoilers under the cut

I want to talk about vengeance and justice in this novel.

back when I was only maybe a third of the way through it, i said on twitter that i was excited to see an avatar with an “opposite moral trajectory” to aang; in AtLA, aang has to learn to value justice over conflict avoidance, whereas RoK’s kyoshi has to prioritize justice over revenge. they come to similar conclusions from wildly different starting points. now that i’ve finished the book, i can’t decide how much i stand by that assessment. it feels reductive--which is a testament to the strength of F.C. Yee’s storytelling. while yes, aang and kyoshi both learn a great deal about justice, they act justly in very different ways.

aang, for reasons i like and appreciate from storytelling, ethical, and characterization perspectives (if you haven’t read my The Lion Turtle Is Good, Actually manifesto, you are legally obligated to do so now) has a strict rule about how he enacts justice that aligns with his beliefs and duties to the legacy of the air nomads. rather than killing people who abuse power to oppress others, he takes away the mechanism by which they accomplish violence--namely, their bending. in LoK we see that he continues to use this ability as an alternative to taking a life for at least most of his career as the avatar when he takes yakone’s bending.

kyoshi, on the other hand, has a very different philosophical development and ultimate approach to justice. her last conversation with lao ge summarizes the conflict between the mode of justice that works for aang (though obviously AtLA takes place chronologically after RoK, the novel is well aware that the reader has almost certainly seen the series first and takes ideas and details from it to flesh out the world, which i think is another strength of Yee’s) and the mode of justice she creates for herself.

“I feel... inconsistent. Unfair. Like I should have either killed them both or let them both live.”

...

“If you had a strict rule, maybe, to always show mercy or always punish, you could use it as a shield to protect your spirit. But that would be distancing yourself from your duty. Determining the fates of others on a case-by-case basis, considering the infinite combinations of circumstance, will wear on you like rain on the mountain... You will never be perfectly fair, and you will never be truly correct,” Lao Ge said. “This is your burden.” (405)

the stark difference between aang’s philosophical background and kyoshi’s leads them to very different outcomes with regard to their choices as the avatar. yes, aang makes decisions on a case-by-case basis as well, but he is not interested in retribution as much as restoration and has a line he will not cross. i could argue that kyoshi sees the two (retribution, restoration) as inextricable in the pursuit of justice.

but what about vengeance?

kyoshi’s hatred of her parents wears away over the course of the novel, but her need to enact revenge on jianzhu only becomes more urgent. she is not universally vengeful, but she does not let go of revenge as a goal until she has it... sort of.

speaking of which, i fucking screamed when yun showed up again. i had a feeling we hadn’t seen the last of him, but the timing of his appearance and the change in him hit me like a lightning bolt. sorry, i have to gush for a second about how interested i am in what’s up with him. i am a sucker for a literal dead boy walking, for someone who has been turned into something Other by forces outside their control, and no matter what kyoshi ends up having to do to deal with him, i know i’m going to go feral for it. this is a Yun Stan Account until further notice.

anyway. it’s fascinating that kyoshi doesn’t actually get her revenge per se. yun does. he avenges himself, and it (likely) only causes more problems for kyoshi. and i think the distinction between vengeance and justice is quite wonderfully articulated afterwards:

How could such a container [as Jianzhu’s body] have held the volume of her anguish, her wrath? If any feeling at all pressed through the numbness... it was the ire of a hoodwinked child who’d been promised the end of her bedtime story only to see the candle-lights snuffed and the door slam shut. She was a girl alone in the dark. (430)

she gets the outcome she wanted: jianzhu dead. but her path to him “simply ended.” she has pragmatic advantages now that he’s out of the way--freedom, for one thing, and rangi’s safety, but those weren’t the things that drove her to want her revenge. there is a hollowness to it, a lack of catharsis. revenge is about the self, not the other.

and selfhood is something else kyoshi gives up.

one of the most striking lines in this novel appears when she walks into the tea house to meet jianzhu. at this point, kyoshi has assembled a motley outfit of expensive armor, theater costume pieces, battle accessories, outlaw facepaint, and bending aids for the heretical air nomad. she looks fucking weird. she’s like a video game PC wearing all the highest-stat armor she could loot from random dungeons and none of it matches. literally an assemblage of the places she’s been and the people who have helped her.

This was who she was now. This was her skin. This was her face. (418)

as the avatar, kyoshi has to be a symbol more than a person, even though she is fundamentally a human being as fallible as anyone else. the people who hear of her defeat of xu think she’s a spirit or a dragon in human disguise--regardless of what kyoshi wants and who she is, the world expects her to be something More. so, she gets dressed up and gives them what they need to see.

watching that transformation over the course of one novel is incredible. the path from the girl she is at the start of the novel to the woman we see advise aang that only justice will bring peace is far from over, but the trajectory is more than established. i’m really excited to see what Yee brings to another novel. kyoshi is just getting started.

some other miscellaneous thoughts:

i loved the choice to have a YA writer write this novel. not just for the obvious reason that Avatar is a franchise primarily for kids and teens, but because a lot of the common stylistic elements in YA fiction serve this story incredibly well. (by no means are any of these universal, of course; YA is a broad category of literature with huge stylistic and generic diversity, but in general it has these strengths.) the third person limited pov that switches between various characters gives a vital breadth to the story. there are a lot of moving pieces, and being able to see most of them in real time cuts back on exposition and heightens tension when you can watch their collision course. the focus on the given pov character’s interiority is put to incredible use, especially on the occasions when kyoshi enters the avatar state--and when it’s revealed that jianzhu hides things from even the reader, it becomes all the more staggering what a cunning bastard he is (jianzhu hate blog right here). kyoshi’s blushy crush on yun and even blushier crush on rangi are so good and are woven naturally into the story (bi fuckin rights babey!). that’s a teen with a big heart right there. also, fun swerve to the love triangle trope to get one of the love interests eaten by a spirit a few chapters in! his mind...

the part where kyoshi runs through a stone wall and leaves a kyoshi-shaped hole had me rolling, not just because i was impressed by how well that visual gag worked in prose but also because i can’t believe neither (to my memory) AtLA nor LoK pulled that.

HIDDEN PASSAGE... HIDDEN PASSAGE... THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS...

again i say: bi fucking RIGHTS

and i guess that’s all. stay tuned for the masterpost of Rise of Kyoshi memes i made as i read the book because i have a whole folder of them

[stachmousworld]

True Love (Lesbian Story) Ending 2; part.1

Maria Borges and Neelam Gill by Jonas Bresnan for L’oreal Paris (picture and caption found on @/sand-snake-kate)

Pairing: Mara x Carole

The main character’s POV is unreliable

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 7

This ending will be in two parts. The last one IS just smut.

Previously: Mara and Carole had their argument in the hotel room. Carole assumed Mara and Ayela are together. Mara leaves the room...

The door closed behind Mara. Carole’s body sagged as the tension left her. What a…

“No, actually I’m not done,” Mara declared, reentering the room.

Carole almost jumped in surprise. She needed more time to put back her walls up. She knew she looked wrecked. Not the kind of look she wanted to affront, again, Mara.

“What are you doing here? I told you I don’t want to-”

“No. This time you are going to listen to me,” she announced firmly. She took a few steps further in the room. “I love you. I never stopped and I think you do, too. So, I won’t leave until you tell me why you want me gone.”

Carole could have laughed. When she had wanted Mara to stay, she had run away and now she wanted her gone and she stayed. Mara’s face fell. Oh, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Well…maybe she’d leave, Carole thought, a little ashamed. She squashed her feelings and relinquished on her anger.

“I’m…I don’t know how to apologize for that. I thought you stayed with me because I was a rebound. You never took her ring off and the first few months, you kept talking about her. You never told me you loved me. I told you every day. And at first, I was ok with you not telling me or feeling the same. At least you stayed with me. I was so pathetic,” she spat. “I should have confronted you, but I was a coward. I didn’t want to know the answer to my questions. So yes, when I so your ex and the way she talked about you and how she was back I panicked and left.”

Mara sniffed and wiped her tears. Carole opened her mouth and closed it. She didn’t have words. She only wished Mara would have talked to her about her insecurities. Fear suddenly gripped her heart. No, if she had talked to her about her feelings, Carole would have had to tell the truth about Elizabeth and her true feelings. And, Mara would have been gone forever. Carole would have lived a life without her. She couldn’t imagine that after everything.

“But maybe you are right. We have to let each other go.”

Mara stepped back still facing Carole. She toyed with the ring. It took a few seconds for Carole to understand what she had just said. She surged toward her.

“Wait! You can’t tell me all that and leave.”

“A few minutes ago, you were the one who wanted me gone because you presumed that I had a girlfriend, which I don’t, by the way.”

“I thought casual wasn’t your type”, she replied without thinking.

Mara raised an eyebrow. “People change. But, in this case, Ayela is just a friend. She and I are not like that and never will.”

Carole didn’t want to think to much on what she felt. Relief and fear. Relief to know Mara was still available and interested in her. Fear because something shifted in Mara’s behavior. She seemed unreachable. If Carole had hope to find her after all these years, she knew, deep down, that if Mara left the room, their relationship would definitely be dead.

The ring swayed slowly in the air before Mara caught it.

“I-.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’ll be out of your hair. But I find it funny that you could be jealous of my friend but when it comes to your ex…” She left her sentence unfinished. “And she is still by your side. I guess some things never change”, Mara said grimly.

“Wh-what,” Carole spluttered. “There is nothing between her and I. And if you’d had stayed around the first time, you’d know that. But no, you ran out and left me the first chance you got.” Carole couldn’t stop the word from slipping out. She was angry. This situation and all of this should have never ended like that. She hated the mess Mara left. The gaping hole in her chest was screaming to hurt her as much as she did, even though, hurting Mara meant hurting herself. Her anguish face changed into an ugly sneer. “Living quite lavishly, don’t you? I didn’t know a librarian could live afford Hawaii. Last time we talked about it; it was just a dream. Oh, but wait, it’s true, I created a position for you in my company and paid you ridiculously high for the secretary job you were doing. And with all the money you saved on my back, living at my place, you should thank me to have put up with you.”

 It took her a few seconds to notice, but…

Carole was still flushed with anger, hands in fists by her sides.

It took her a few seconds to notice, but when she did…

She tried to calm down. Her eyes were still glaring at the ring which seemed to mock her.

It took her a few seconds to notice, but when she did, it was too late.

Mara stepped back hands on the doorknob.

Oh my God.

Realization hit Carole like a train. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

Oh my God.

She couldn’t see Mara’s face. She was not facing her anymore. Carole tried to remember when she had moved. The scene was surreal. A few minutes earlier, Carole had wanted to fight for their relationship, fearing it’d be dead, and now, she was the one who totally shot it in the head, killing any chance to go back together.

“I’m so -”

“Don’t,” she interrupted with strangely calm and detached voice. Carole lips were trembling as she fought her tears. Jesus, she had fucked up. It wasn’t what she wanted to say. But she did anyway. Now, she had to- “I didn’t know you thought that of me. I’m sorry.” Carole frowned not understanding what was happening. “I’m sorry if you think I had used you.”

She seemed to want to add something but left the room instead. Before Carole had the time to react. Memories from the night of the party flooded her mind. Back then too, she hadn’t made reacted quickly enough. She ran to the door only to witness Mara in the elevator, head down, shoulder slumped.

Defeated.

Carole had done that.

She thought she’d feel better. She had been so angry and…and vengeful. She had been so hurt at Mara’s departure. Seeing her here, joyful, happy while she, herself, had been moping around and borderline depressive…something had finally snapped inside of her.

 Someone knocked on her door. She jumped to her feet and opened it. Her dad. She tried to hide her disappointment.

“Is everything ok, Care bear?”, he asked, worried.

She shook her head and fell into his arm. If he was surprised, he didn’t show it.

 It didn’t take long before he coaxed the story out of her. In between tears, sobs, and screams, everything came out. Her dad stayed calm and never interrupted her, whether she was right or wrong or didn’t make any sense. He stayed true to himself and let her cry her soul out. At the end, she felt so out of it. She could only focus on her breathing, any movement being too difficult.

“Hush hush my little girl”, he said, soothingly. “Sleep and we’ll talk about it tomorrow”.

“Stay here?”

He chuckled and nodded.

  Tomorrow wasn’t supposed to be that hard. Not at all. First and for the first time since forever, Carole had dreamt of Mara spooning her. Carole had hated the first time Mara had proposed to be the big spoon. She had argued, complained, and tried to push her away. She had not even stood a chance against Mara’s comfortable embrace and soothing caresses. If she remembered correctly, the morning after, she’d woken up on her pillowy boobs - Mara’s boobs were certainly the biggest she’d ever seen -, drool all over her mouth and obviously all over Mara.

She hadn’t missed Mara’s smug face and had tried to deflect this experience: she had drooled because she was extremely tired (a lie), her sinuses were blocked so she had to sleep mouth opened (a lie). Mara had only shrugged at her flimsy explanations and went to the bathroom.

What was only supposed to be a one-time experiment, turned out to be recurrent. Carole stopped fighting and accepted that Mara, indeed, was a great big spoon.

 Secondly, Carole woke up late. Around noon. She didn’t know why she was that exhausted. Her dad was long gone, and she was alone in her room, besides the little note she found on the drawer.

‘I let you sleep. Call me when you are up and we’ll talk (laughing smiley)’

She groaned and rolled under her cover. She was still tired even though her body was buzzing with energy. Her brain was sluggish, and she couldn’t really formulate a coherent thought.

She was forced to emerge from underneath all of her soft protection when she heard someone knocking on the door.

She pushed herself to a sitting position.

The knocking stopped as fast.

Had she imagined that?

No. Someone was really on the door and they were getting annoyed. The door was vibrating under the assault.

“I’m coming!”, she screamed, her voice raspy from the sleep and crying.

She didn’t even have the chance to wash her face or brush her teeth. For all she knew it was her dad and he had seen in far worse situation.

She opened the door and closed it quickly.

Mara and her not-girlfriend were there. In front of her door. She glanced quickly around and ran to her chair to pick up her robe, then the bathroom. She didn’t have the time to be thorough. She put toothpaste in her mouth, almost swallowing it, and washed her face.

 She was looking far better than a few seconds, but far worse than yesterday. Who knew that crying your eyes out would have this ugly consequence on her body? She tried not to focus on her red-rimmed eyes, puffy cheeks, and bags under her eyes.

She nibbled her fingers nervously. What the hell was she trying to do?

She came back to the door and attached her robe tightly. She could do it. Whatever it meant.

 Her first thought seeing Mara was that she looked…like shit. Carole felt a little bit relieved. At least not only her had suffered from their argument, even though, it wasn’t the same thing. She had unfairly insulted Mara, while she had taken Carole’s insults as truth. When Carole thought about it, – or at least tried to - she didn’t even know how to start her apology.

           They stood in front of each other in silence. The girl with Mara was more beautiful than she remembered. She was a natural beauty and transpired peace.

“My name is Aleya and I’m Mara’s friend.”

Carole nodded in acknowledgement but didn’t dare to talk.

“I’m here because, you both seem to be incredibly stupid. She talked to me about your fight, it wasn’t supposed to happen like it did. I had told her to talk about her feeling to get a new start, but she didn’t really understand what I said.” Aleya glared at Mara, who looked sheepish. “So, I’m leaving you, both. If anything turns south, I’ll have to be your mediator. And I don’t think you want me to listen to your heartfelt declarations”.

Aleya kissed Mara’s cheek, pushed her inside, and closed the door.

At first no one said anything. Mara was shuffling her feet and looked everywhere but at her.

“You can sit on the bed, if you want”.

Mara’s face said it all. She scrunched up her nose in a disgusted moue. Carole remembered her rules against beds and outside clothes. She chuckled silently.

“Or not. You can have one of the armchairs.”

She nodded, still silent, and sat on the chair. She made sure to take the furthest one away from Carole’s bed. Carole took a deep breath and went to sit on the bed.

“Do you want me to start or…?”

Mara tensed at the question, then opened her bag and took out a big envelope. She handed it to Carol without looking at her.

“What is it?” She asked uncertain.

“1 million 400 thousand 53 dollars.”

Carole stared at her lost. What the fuck was happening there? She opened the enveloped and saw two papers. One check and a…resignation letter?

“What is it, Mara?” Her voice sounded far away, even for herself.

“The money for my part of the rent and the salary you have paid me. The paper is my resignation letter. I should have done it a moment ago,” she announced with the same irritating calmed and detached voice as the day before.

Carole was left speechless. She gripped the envelop so tight her knuckles hurt. She couldn’t contain herself anymore.

“Is it about last night?” she asked, seething.

Mara raised un eyebrow.

“Fuck! I was angry and I lashed out. That didn’t mean anything. I wanted to hurt you. And…and…gosh, we need to have a real convo, with no interruption, no matter how hurtful we might say things. I will talk first and then I will let you talk. Ok?”

Mara nodded.

“It is true that the first few months after my breakup with Elizabeth and the first few months with you, I wasn’t a 100 percent in our relationship. I still had a part of me who grieved Elizabeth’s departure. I expected to hear bad news from the moment she left. She had been there for most of my life. I had been with her for almost all of it.” Carole straightened her back. She had long stopped trying to decipher Mara’s unreadable face and focused on her hands. “I shouldn’t have accepted to be with you so soon. I knew that you had feelings for me, and I used you, in a way. Your love soothed Elizabeth’s absence. There is no way I could actually make up for that. I should have talked to you about it and told you my thoughts. But the most important part is that I didn’t, and I hurt you all along. I don’t deserve you in any way. It took me a long time to actually register. You gave and gave, and I took all of it without giving you back. I can’t travel to the past and erase what I’ve done, because you did deserve more than half my attention.” 

Carole pried her fingers open, straightened the creases on the envelop and took the check out. 

“What I said yesterday was false. I know damn well that you didn’t use me, and you would have had the job anyway. I didn’t have to intercede for you, Marco was already smitten with you, in the first place,” Carole shredded the check and threw the confetti in the trash bin. “As for your resignation, if it is really what you want, I’ll accept it. I don’t want you to do something reckless and regret it. I know a thing or two about regrets”, she laughed mirthlessly.

Mara leaned forward and put her head in her hands.

“I shouldn’t have left like that,” she took a shuddered breath. “I was afraid you’d stay with me because I’m the one who’ll never go away. I was never doing a risky job or traveling all day. I was a safe investment, as your friend “gently” repeated. I was blind, you know? I had the feeling that you didn’t actually reciprocated my feelings, but I thought naively that once you’d see my for what I am you’d fall in love with me.” She chuckled humorlessly. “It is not entirely your fault. You weren’t really hiding your sadness and longing for Elizabeth. There were my red flags, but I kept going, head down convincing myself that at the end you’d forget about her and you’d love me. Damn, saying those words out loud make me sound more fucked up than I was.” She paused, massaged her temples and kept going. “I will keep the job and the money since you destroyed the check.”

That was it. Carole had expected Mara to talk more. She, herself, had explained thoroughly her feelings. If anything, this discussion felt as if they were putting a stamp on their relationship. A stamp which would definitely seal their fate. Carole, once more, didn’t like where it was going. She hadn’t expected a huge effusion of love and vows of a happy ending.

Mara was so closed to her and yet so far. She still couldn’t read her face and her voice didn’t let any emotion through.

“Is it…everything you wanted to say?”

Mara shrugged. Carole refrained herself from throttling her. She didn’t like that Mara. She missed the one who kissed her and teased her last night. Where was she gone? She blocked all the obvious answers and stubbornly hoped.

“Are you not going to say anything?” Carole asked, expectantly.

“You said your piece, I have said mine. What more do you want?”

“I don’t know. Yesterday we kissed. I thought today we could talk and salvage the rest of our relationship. Now I know why you left and now I apologized for my behavior, I had hoped, maybe, if you want, that we could learn again how to be with each other, and perhaps, if everything goes well, we could go out.”

Mara stayed silent for an instead, fidgeting. Carole repressed the urge to take her hands in hers, then gave in. She kneeled in front of Mara and took each hand in each of hers and brought them together.

“I don’t want to get hurt”, Mara whispered, softly.

“I know my Astroios.” Mara glanced sharply at her, making her smile. “I know. I can’t promise we won’t hurt each other. I can only assure you to communicate with you. I know I have a lot to make up for. What happened with Elizabeth was a toxic foundation for our relationship. Unfortunately, it took me many months, and some visits to my therapist to work on my feelings, both for you and Elizabeth. I had to admit that I love (Mara’s breath hitched) and loved her as she was my first relationship, but I was never in love with her. We’ve been together since we were kids. I didn’t know any better. There was no spark, no passion and tenderness only two horny teens and a good friendship. I was so used to her in my life that I considered her more like a friend with benefits at the end.” 

Carole bent her head, nose grazing the back of Mara’s hand. She pressed a few featherlike kisses. Words fell out of her mouth naturally.

“According to my therapist, you were never a rebound, even though I made you feel like that. I was afraid of really falling in love with someone and so I tried to hold onto every bits of my former life. I remember everything from our first date to the first time I knew you were the one and had to ask for my granny’s wedding ring from my safe at the bank. I tried to act as if I was detached from you because you were so addicting. You made me go to museums, theatres, operas, libraries, concerts, food trucks I didn’t know about. Even old things were looking new under your gaze. I had fallen hard and quick. Couldn’t help myself really. I actually wanted to admit my feelings to you that night at the party, and I ended up revealing my feelings to my ex-friends. I was beyond pissed.”

Carole shook her head amused. She could clearly remember the faces of her then friends. Lost in her thought, she almost didn’t hear what Mara said.

“…love you.”

Carole tilted Mara’s chin toward her and pressed their foreheads together. Blues eyes against brown whiskey eyes.

“I love you.”

Tears were running downs their cheeks. Carole couldn’t help but sagged in relief, tension seeping out of her body.

It would be alright. I would be alright. We will be alright, she thought, hopeful.

“We’ll have to take it slow, right?” Mara asked, unsure.

“Yep, we have all the time in the world,” Carole reassured her, keeping her excitement at bay. She didn’t want to frighten Mara. Everything was still fragile.

“But, I’m staying here and you’ll be in San Francisco. How are we going to do?”

Oh. Carole hadn’t thought that far ahead. She’d believe Mara would have followed her back home, but it was counteractive to their “take it slow” plan.

“I am on vacation for a month or two. I could stay at the hotel, and we could go on dates, no pressure. Then I’ll have to go back but we’ll be able to communicate and call each other every day.”

“Do you think it is worth it?” Mara asked, abruptly.

What? Was Mara already backpedaling?

“What?”

“You didn’t…your relationship with Elizabeth didn’t survive the long distance. How could ours do so?”

“I told you I was not in love with her. And Boston/Hawaii is not that far. Roughly 6 hours.”

She could tell Mara wasn’t happy with this answer. Carole, herself, didn’t want to think of their future separation. One had been enough. Her only consolation would be that, this time, they’d be together.

“We’ll have to take it slow. Give us this time to work things out. If it doesn’t work out -- ” She shivered at the thought. “…we’ll part as good friends.”

Mara scrutinized her face before nodding.

“Ok. But no funny business.”

“No “funny business”, Carole repeated slowly. It was a whiplash. A moment Mara was about to flee and now her entire demeanor was open. She looked relaxed, at ease and her usual smirk was back. Carole closed her hand, repressing the need to kiss her plump lips. ‘No funny business’. “Do you take me for an easy person?”

“You jumped on me after our first date”, she replied deadpanned.

Carole raised her left hand. “I pledge the fifth.”

“So, you are guilty. Only guilty people pledge the fifth.”

“Lies, lies and slander!” Carole exclaimed, indignant.

“Is it too late to back off this relationship?” she asked, pouting.

“Nope!” Carole hugged Mara and lifted her from her chair to the bed, making her squeal in delight. She straddled Mara’s hips and pinned her down. “Now I got you, I’m keeping you.”

Mara tested Carole’s grip and smiled. The very first one of the day. Let it not be a dream, she prayed, fervently.

“I’m not an easy woman, you know?”

“Who said I’d do some ‘funny businesses’ with you, anyway?”, Carole teased her playfully. She couldn’t stop the soft and gooey feeling from blossoming in her heart. The tiredness from earlier left for a tension she hadn’t felt since their breakup. Her skin was too tight, too hot and too sensitive. All the nerves were so attuned with Mara’s body that she didn’t know where her body started and where it ended.

“Hey! You couldn’t resist me yesterday. You were ready to risk it all.”

Carole scoffed and rolled next to Mara.

“If that makes you sleep at night”.

“No, I have Herberta for that.”

“Her…what?”

“Herberta”, Mara replied, with a tone she wasn’t used anymore. The one which said, ‘you are really thick in the head, I don’t know why I’m still talking to you.’

Part 2 aka final part

[blackasmidnightcats]

Book 1 Nostalgia

WARNING: This post will have spoilers to the SGE series

The first book in any series will always hold a special place in anyone's heart I think. There is just something beautiful, whether the writing was phenomenal or lacking, about the introduction to a new world and the characters that you're going to know. After reading further into the series, sometimes you just wanna go back to the start, where everything was a lot simpler.

SGE kinda falls into this feeling for me.

I don't think I'm ever going to get over the interactions between the characters (and we haven't even explored most of them) because, personally, Soman is incredibly good with how he does character intercations but the story and plot have a lot to improve on.

And now comparing TSY with TCY it's very glaring.

Soman really has a problem with his plot so much so than with his storyline. It's very repetitive and the storyline suffers from it.

After Book 1, every plot seemed to be the same case; Sophie is an important piece to the main villain, Agatha tries to fix everything, Tedros is getting more crap than needed, annoyingly unhealthy romantic relationships are explored, and the other characters do things.

The last of these examples are really the only things that varies. Everything else is almost always the same in one way or another.

The first book doesn't really follow that pattern. It's a introductory book and I wish Soman did the same vibe as it in QfG.

Though Book 1 wasn't perfect. My biggest main problem with it was how Soman handled Agatha's development from thinking herself a freak and realizing that she was just a beautiful as anyone else (and Tagatha, of course. They had a very unconvincing start) compared to the detailed and precise handling of Sophie's decent and eventual acceptance her wickedness.

I said it once and I'll say it again: I miss vengeful, spited Sophie. Who made the School for Good suffer because Tedros didn't keep his promise and her very impressive Talent to summon Evil creatures at will to do her bidding.

This was the Sophie that I expected more from in the later books but might never get again. With the way that the OTK cover portrays her as the Lion, whether that would be a thing or not, it's clear that Soman wants the readers to look at Sophie in a better light and not as the anti-hero that she is but I could be wrong.

In Book 1, Sophie was incredibly selfish to the point that she wouldn't do anything for others even those that she should care about (i.e. Tedros in the Trial) and in the end, she had to pay for the selfishness by seeing just how Evil she could become and be seen as the witch that she was. Her development from Pink Princess to Witch of Woods Beyond was believable; her ambitiousness combined with her selfishness was what made her gain everything through manipulation and wickedness but it couldn't be hidden for long. Once everyone, including herself, saw what lied underneath her exterior, she lost everything and because of the things that she chooses to do, she naturally hurt and attacked the people that wronged her just as Evil does.

It was caused by a failed romantic pursuit, yes, but unlike the other later romantic relations that she had, the one in Book 1 focused more on the outcome for her character development than in the relationship itself. Honestly her relationships with Rafal, and Rhian, and maybe now Japeth, idk, make absolutely no sense with the importance that the story puts on it because these relationships didn't help further Sophie's character development. It stunted her really.

Now compare this to Agatha.

I think everyone and their cats agree that we all miss witchy Agatha in book 1 and I hope we write more of her in our fanfics like that since Soman won't do it. The thing is, with Agatha, unlike Sophie, whether she is written as a straight-up hero or as a sort of anti-villain with her portrayal as the Snake in the OTK cover, it won't be that far fetched. I don't know if Soman intended this or not but it's pretty frickin impressive with how he managed to make Agatha a pretty versatile character.

Book 1 did not to good with how she went from Graveyard Girl to Fairy Tale Princess. At most, we saw her heroic characteristics but Soman didn't put much effort with making it believable and we were left to our own imaginations with how she could have believably developed and grown into herself. It should have taken more than one chapter to make us believe that Agatha suddenly grew confident with herself and her own brand of beauty and how her relationship with Tedros should have started.

But because of the fact that she's now comfortable as both being a little different and unique in her own way but is still guided by the values of Good and holds it dear to her soul as well as her loyalty to those she loves, she can do great with the best of both worlds.

Agatha hasn't stopped growing since book 1 and I think that reason for that is because Soman knows that he has to square up whenever he writes her. Whether she's developing on her own or with others, she's always learning new values and finding ways to express them in the way that she's comfortable with.

Soman does express that he loves writing in Sophie's POV the most, but it can be a double edged sword if not careful. And I think Soman hasn't been careful.

Now back to the glory of Book 1.

Book one had the most simplest plot and most fluent storyline than in any other book. Even TLEA.

I think I could recall a lot more events in Book 1 than in the more recent ones because there was a lot more events and chapters that were actually necessary to the plot.

So, to go by statistics;

TLEA has the most recorded chapters in the series as of current before the release of OTK with 35 chapters and 3 parts to divide it.

It's followed by Book 1 with 30 chapters.

Then QfG is next with 28 chapters divided into 2 parts.

And aCoT follows with 27 chapters and 2 parts as well.

Last is AWWP with 24 chapters divided into 2 parts as well.

If going by this then OTK should either have a chapter or two more or less than TLEA but not less so than Book 1 because it's going to now be the official last book of the the series.

But that is besides the point. My main problem with the books' storytelling after Book 1 is how disoriented it has become.

Let me make an example with QfG and aCoT. These books are more or less very similar with each other in the number of chapters with only one being the difference while the start of the the "Part 2" portion was a bit different with QfG's starting at chapter 21 while aCoT's started with chapter 17.

But the reception and the fluency of these two books could not be more different from each other.

To say that QfG completely destroyed the fandom is an understatement. I can't tell of aCoT managed to regain the series's former glory for long enough to not let OTK flop but let's be hopeful.

Anyways, the fluency of the storytelling with TCY was wack and QfG and aCoT completely show that.

WARNING: Spoilers about QfG and aCoT will be discussed in this section.

I could not remember almost 70% of QfG because of how much I hated the plot and looking back at the chapters, I honestly could not believe that the asshat Rhian was only introduced on Chapter 21. Everything after Chaddick's POV chapter seemed to be a blur and Rhian's b*tch ass seemed to have corrupted the whole experience.

8 chapters. He was only in QfG for 8 chapters and yet it feels almost like he's been in it for more than half. Frick. He is traumatizing.

Basically, the middle part of the book, namely chapters 7 to 20, was all about the main cast trying to frickin understand wtf was happening. Agatha and Sophie were trying to figure out the Lion and the Snake thing while Tedros was back in Camelot doing (or failing or being sabotaged with) politics and also trying to understand why tf was Excalibur having a tantrum.

Then Rhian entered and I don't know why or how Nottingham and Robin Hood got involved but he did.

And then more figuring out stuff and sabotaging Tedros and then Rhian and Excalibur and then cliffhanger.

It was all very abrupt and confusing. More confusion was added all because there were more questions asked than actual answers and a sense of depression was felt in the end because nothing was really achieved.

Imma compare this with Book 1 later but first Book 5 comparison.

Now aCoT. It was just the storyline that we needed to get back to the hype that the series had. Was it a satisfying read? Yes but was it able to heal the pain that QfG inflicted? No.

The fandom did not come back the same again.

But anyways, aCoT, personally, had a lot more scenes and events that I remembered than in any other book besides book 1 but that there was the problem with this book.

Too many things happened with this book. So much so that the fluency of the story was sacrificed to tell it.

Look at it this way, several shifts in the book happened.

This all happened in Part 1 only;

Rhian became King and his regime was sort of explained.

Agatha was introduced to the First Years and got her Army.

Sophie was in some sort of GOT-esque knock off experience as Rhian's Captive Queen.

Agatha manages to save some of her friends.

The concept of OTK was explained.

Tedros's execution was on way.

Nevermind, Agatha and her army just straight-up hijacked it.

Prof. Dovey died as a sacrifice.

Okay, now to Part 2;

Reaper is a Gnome King.

The Crystal of Time was finally explained.

They finally find out about Rhian and Japeth's origins.

The Gnomes were ambushed and I feel sorry for them.

Sophie tipped Rhian off with the location because she believed that she would end it all.

We kinda get background with why Rhian wants to be OTK????

Rhian DIES?!?!?! and now Japeth's King ☠

They sort of manage to know about wtf happened with the Lady and Japeth

Tedros and Arthur have a heart to heart and he gets the Ring of Power.

Cliffhanger

It's a lot to take in and I don't really think that Soman should have cramped it all in one book.

Some of the plot points should have been in QfG so that it wouldn't be as depressing.

The whole of Part one was a book in itself and Part 2 was one as well.

At some points of the book, I sometimes got the feeling that it was gonna be the end but it just kept going and going and now I don't really know what's left with OTK. It can be both a good thing or a horrible thing.

Let's see wtf happens. I expect more action than drama Soman.

So again with Book 1.

Book 1 was a classic and the ideas easily hooked anyone interested.

It had the same unaswered questions with QfG but why did it suceed when QfG didn't.

First, is that Book 1 had its atmosphere clear from the start of the book. It was clear that the main thing that needed to happen was that Sophie and Agatha needed to realize the actual nature of their souls. There were more technical questions that needed to be answered but the main point that needed to be addressed was addressed by the end of the book.

And also the ending was also a cliffhanger but it a much lighter note.

Sophie and Agatha realized their capabilities and understood themselves but they still chose each other in the end and that sort of gave way to a much hopeful future for the two of them. (At that time, at least)

All the while, QfG was one depressing ball of events that led to one horrible moment to the other.

It was just sad.

And so I kinda go back to Book 1 from time to time to refresh myself with why I started this series to begin with and I'm always reminded with the possibilities and the explorations about good and evil and the complex duality of differences and parallels that so many things that Sophie and Agatha sort of beautifully personify.

I love reading the very first chapter of Book 1 because it so beautifully captured Sophie and Agatha and their complex relationship that I've always wanted to read in other books.

I always loved reading Sophie's amusing thought process and the reason why she does everything that she does; she does it because she believes that she deserves more and she'll everything to get it.

I also loved how Agatha was such a character that I've always wanted to read about. She's spunky and shy and lonely and reflective and despite everyone shunning her, she could still see the good and find it in herself to help them. She was simply wonderful.

I'm thankful that I found this series and I hope that a lot more books can talk about the philosophies and concepts that this book has managed to introduce. And despite all of its set-backs and nonsense, I would still recommend this as a read but to that they should also think about what they've read and maybe talk about what they've found interesting with it.

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

Violet's exactly like Pearl. A manipulative bitch, who ruins everyone else's life for her own selfish wants.

.....Uhm.

Okay, this ask has left me kinda jarred. Lots to unpack here within these two sentences...

Anon, while you are entitled to your opinion, I’m not sure if you’re aware that we love and respect Violet on this blog.  I’m a Louis and clouis lover through and through, but I still love Violet’s character and this... is not her character. I just- no, haha 

Now, I don’t know anything about Pearl because I’ve never watched Steven Universe, but I do know about a little bit about Violet. 

Saying this about Violet is like saying that Louis is nothing but a jokester who doesn’t care about anything and only wants to get into Clementine’s pants. It’s just not... even a thing when you actually get to know them. They’re both complex characters with unique flaws and highlights about them. 

I haven’t watched Violet’s route all the way through, I’ve only seen the first two episodes of her route and then gifs from the rest. But, I have seen how she reacts in Louis’ route when you don’t save her. The first time left me furious because I had a lot of emotions about everything going through me [especially after finding out what happened to Louis’ tongue in her route] and I even made a post ranting about it in all my fury. 

Then, I calmed down and replayed it and looked at everything through Violet’s pov. While I think it’s mostly poor writing in the end when it comes to Violet’s capture and them telling us that she was mentally tortured only for them to turn around and say, “Gotcha! She actually got a physical injury like Louis and mental torture did nothing because she forgives Clementine!” Louis’ kidnapped route was way better executed in my opinion, but hey. Can’t have everything. 

Violet has had a lot of things happen to her that lead to her having abandonment issues, and if you go through her route you get insight into that. Even if you go through Louis’ route 100%, after Marlon’s death she still backs you up. She and Louis have the appropriate reactions to the situation. Violet sees Clementine as the one who brought the truth to light, as another girl who she’s warmed up to and a friend she could connect to given their similarities. 

Violet doesn’t try and manipulate Clementine into a relationship with her. If you just want to be friends with her, she’s 100% okay with that! In fact, she’s thrilled! She’s finally found someone she feels she can trust and bond with! Hell, if you go with Louis the whole time leading up to that point, she’s still friends with Clementine up to her capture. 

So, what confuses me the most about this ask is the “who ruins everyone else’s lives for her own selfish wants” part. 

Uhm......... when? 

When she’s constantly rude to Brody? Yeah, it’s not nice and it makes things tense between the two of them, but you can help Violet see that it’s not Brody’s fault and she tries. She doesn’t just go, “Yeah well fuck Brody anyway.” 

When she wants Clementine to stay? Is that ruining the lives of the others? Because... no. It doesn’t. Violet’s right about them needing her to stay and help protect them.  Even Louis, who was left heartbroken after watching his best friend’s murder right in front of him and who was the one who really wanted them gone, admits that he was blinded by all the shit happening and that it was the wrong thing to do. 

When she gets saved instead causing Louis to lose his tongue and “his life to be over”? 

I’m sorry, but Louis’ life isn’t over. It’s not ruined, it’s changed. He may have lost a huge part of himself, something that will take years to heal from [yes, game, it’s not something he’s going to be okay with in a week yeesh] but it’s not Violet’s fault. Violet wasn’t like, “Oh good you saved me ahaha fuck Louis” she’s fucking vengeful. She’s furious, and she’s going to do everything she can to get him back. 

Again, throwing more shade at the writers [but not really because blah blah budget and time blah blah I know] but I can see why some might think Violet doesn’t care about Louis based on her lack of reaction in the cells. And that’s a part that I do have a lot of issues with.  

I’m fully aware of the explanation: Violet had her freak out while Clementine was knocked out and now Violet doesn’t have time to focus on Louis’ condition if they want to escape. 

Which is bullshit. 

The Violet we were shown up to this point would’ve at least asked, “How bad is it?” and follow it up with a “We need to get out of here and get him to Ruby.” It’s two in character lines that would’ve fixed that problem. 

And then there’s Violet and Minerva. Violet acknowledges that this isn’t the Minerva she had a relationship with. And while I am annoyed that she wants to stay with her on the boat regardless of choices, I see it more as “I can’t leave her to just die here I am human after all” in her route. And Violet protects Clementine, AJ, and Tenn from her the best she can on the bridge. 

Which, by the way, her sacrificing her life to save Tenn when you don’t trust AJ? Not selfish. And if AJ does shoot him, she’s rightfully pissed off. 

Anyway, going back to Violet on the boat....

The thing is, when it comes down to the Violet vs Louis choice, you can look at it two different ways when you let her get captured. You can see it as Violet feeling abandoned because Clementine chose Louis over her, or because Clementine neglected to save her. While those two things look exactly the same just with different wording, they aren’t. 

If you consider that Louis and Violet are as close as it’s implied, Violet probably knows that Louis and Clementine are together now. Louis knows when Violet and her are together [suggested when you romance Violet but save Louis, he mentions that Clem and her are really close] so Violet could definitely take that as “You chose your boyfriend over me” after all the mental torture she went through with Lilly and Minerva. This is something that I explored in [with you] because it’s such a conflict within her character that I thought was intriguing. 

And the other way to look at it is that Violet isn’t upset that she saved Louis, she’s upset that Clementine couldn’t save her too. Someone she put all her trust into, regardless of the romance or best friendship. Again, this could be magnified out of proportion when you take into account Lilly and Minerva’s manipulation of her during her capture. 

We’ve seen Lilly work her slimy magic. Given everything that’s happened, Violet stopped fighting and let it all get to her. She was an easy subject [or toy] for Lilly to break, especially since she has Minerva as a tool. It’s not hard to think about for two seconds and come to the conclusion that yeah, Violet’s head really was fucked up after spending all that time with Lilly. 

Now, while I’m not the biggest fan of Violet forgiving Clementine so easily, it does show us that she’s aware that she was wrong to attack Clementine in the cell. She’s also been abandoned AGAIN and now she’s blind because of it. She’s honestly just a mess right now, and all she has in that moment is Clementine and Louis, who she has to trust to guide her to safety. Once again, she has to force herself into someone else’s hand and hope they don’t abandon her, too. 

What I’m getting at, anon, is that Violet isn’t a selfish, manipulative bitch. 

Violet’s sarcastic, but really funny, soft but hardened, sweet and an awkward romantic, and she’s passionate about protecting her family. She can close her self off, turn her head away and stay out of conflict, but she can also step in and lead when she has to. She makes mistakes, she gets angry, downright pissed sometimes. She also can apologize for this and recognizes when she’s wrong. She’s been through some shit in this world, and based on your choices, she can possibly give her life to save a boy she cared deeply for from his deranged sister, and the death is long and cruel.  

Like I said in the beginning, anon, you’re entitled to your opinion, but throwing around things like this only makes you look ignorant and hostile, and it’s stuff like this that I rarely answer. Tonight this just threw me for a loop and hey, I’ve got my own opinions and explanations for things.

So here’s my jumbled essay written at the lovely hour of midnight. 

You probably didn’t want it, but here it is anyway. 

[rizlowwritessortof]

Riz’s Master List

Master List under the cut, updated 3/14/2020 - in case y’all are bored or anything... :)

CHAPTER FICS

Never Look Back

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 21 chapters

Bethany Rae Cooper didn’t realize when she met the Winchesters in her family’s bar and grill that her life would never be the same. But she’s always believed that everything happens for a reason, even if it’s not exactly what you were expecting…

The Shadow’s Edge

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 17 chapters

Sequel to Never Look Back. When the demon Dameon was killed, Dean and Beth thought their son was safe from the prophecy. But when Cas brings them news of the new battle for Hell, they realize that their war has just begun.

The Fine Line

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 34 chapters

An unexpected tragedy sends Devon down the dark path of hate and vengeance, but she will learn that things are not always what they seem…

Scars

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 10 chapters

Sequel to The Fine Line. Dean and Devon’s relationship has always been stormy - but can they work through the scars of their past to find each other again?

Stars In the Darkness

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 8 chapters

A crushing loss brings Dean and Sam to Sioux Falls, and ghosts from the past and present bring them across the path of Tiara, a girl they haven’t seen since childhood.

Dreaming

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 5 chapters

Dean Winchester has always been a bit of a thorn in Kelsey’s side - a very attractive thorn, but still… A visit at her uncle Bobby’s reunites her with the boys, and she begins having vivid dreams - about Dean. Is it just her subconscious trying to tell her something? Or is there more to it than that?

My Unimportant Little Life

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 11 chapters

Season 5 timeline. Dean gets yanked from 2009 to 2014, so he can see the ‘consequences’ of saying no to Michael. At Camp Chitaqua he meets Reggie, and is surprised to find that she comes from 2009 as well…

Back In the Saddle

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 10 chapters

Dean and Sam are back in the old west again - in answer to a cry for help from Samuel Colt. And if Dean just happens to get tangled up with the spirited redhead that owns the saloon… what’s the harm, right?

Sweet Escape

Dean/Female Reader, 2 parts

What happens when a friend jokingly does a spell at your birthday party to bring your cardboard standup of Dean Winchester to life? This one’s dedicated to my friend, Liz, who gave me the idea. If only…

Sweet Escape Part 1

Sweet Escape Part 2

Shut Up and Drive

Dean/Female Reader, 2 parts

Reader teases Dean while he’s driving, so - he gets even

Part 1 - Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Part 2 - Or We Could Park - Parking Is Good Too

Take the Long Way Home

Dean Winchester/Female OC, 8 chapters

A look at Dean and Rusty’s relationship, in the present and through their memories. Flashbacks/memories are in italics.

Black Velvet

Demon!Dean/Female Reader, Dean/Female Reader, 9 chapters

You and Sam are broken after Dean’s death. Nobody expected him to come back with black eyes…

Fade to Black

Dean/Female Reader, 11 chapters

Sequel to Black Velvet. Dean is no longer a demon, but he’s still cursed with the Mark of Cain, and the lure of that darkness grows stronger as time goes on.

Dean and Toby Series

Part 1 - The Meet-Cute (Actually Rescue but Whatever)

Part 2 - The Emergency Bed-Share/Move In With Us Combo

Part 3 - The Hit and Then Run Like Your Ass Is On Fire

Part 4 - The FINALLY Admit Your True Feelings and Get Busy

GENERIC FICS

I’m Good

This is the story that was published in the Seasons - Supernatural Short Story Anthology in 2017. Bobby sharing some memories.

ONE-SHOTS - DEAN

Combo Shot

Dean/Female Reader

June 2015 GIEPP (Girl In Every Port Project) entry. Prompt: Pool/Poker hustler competitive chick. Pretty much pure smut.

A Hunter Walks Into a Bar

Dean/Female OC

Prowling hunter, sassy bartender

Shelter

Dean/Female Reader

Dean providing comfort

That’s How It Should Be

Sheriff!Dean/Female Reader

They have to make a fast escape, but Dean won’t let being on horseback stand in the way of showing a lady a good time

The Storm

Dean/Female Reader

You’re terrified of storms, and Dean is concerned, feelings get shared

Pest Control

Dean/Female Reader

You think you’ve got mice. The exterminator that shows up is Dean Winchester. He’ll just let you believe that, and take care of the problem. And you.

Happy Birthday, Baby

Dean/Female OC (KK)

Fluffy, smutty birthday fic written for a friend

Gunpowder and Dean

Dean/Female Reader

You’re pissed off at Dean, taking it out on the firing range, but he just won’t leave you alone…

Juicy and Delicious

Dean/Female Reader

My entry for Dean’s Flavor of the Month fic challenge - Peach Pie. You bake some peach pies for Dean, and he’s very grateful…

Lost In You

Dean/Female Reader

A casual flirtation leads to a violent encounter, and Dean’s reaction is a little more than you expected. Warning for brief description of attempted (unsuccessful) assault. Protective Dean.

What You Need

Dean/Female Reader

You’re watching as Sam and Dean prepare to interrogate a demon. Dean knows you’re watching him, and he knows exactly the kind of effect it’s having on you…

Santa Claus Is Coming Tonight

Dean/Female Reader

Dean’s really getting into the Christmas spirit…

I Need You

Dean/Female Reader

You screwed up, Sam got hurt, Dean’s pissed and you aren’t handling it very well.

Snow Day

Dean/Female Reader

You and Dean, stuck in a motel room in a blizzard

Frisk Me

Dean/Female Cop Reader

You’re a cop, in hot pursuit of a murderer, and guess who crosses your path?

Comfort

Dean/Female Reader

Dean had a rough hunt, and he’s beating himself up as usual. You take his mind off things for a little while…

When I Think About You

Dean/Female Reader

It was a wild hunt, and you’re both a little high-strung. Surely there’s some way to blow off some steam…

One Finger

Dean/Female Reader

Dean Winchester has never been one to back down from a challenge

What Makes You Feel Alive

Endverse!Dean/Female Reader

The world is bleak, the struggle endless after Croatoan. You and Dean do what you have to do to keep going.

Sweet Misery

Dean/Unnamed Female OC

My entry for Bev’s Song Challenge - song prompt was Cryin’ by Aerosmith, lyrics at the beginning

Winchesters Don’t Giggle

Dean/Female Reader

A friend and I were having this discussion about giving Dean a back rub, and whether he might be ticklish…

Confession

Dean (Priest!Dean)/Female Reader

When Dean returns from some undercover work, you discover a fantasy you never realized you had

The Bait

Dean/Female Reader

This was written for @jessica-bones-winchester’s (now on her 100th url as @cavillanche - Love you, Jess!) Dating Dean Writing Challenge. The prompt was ‘dressing up as an anime character for his birthday.’ And I have to admit, I really enjoyed this one… Reader dresses as Sailor Mars (from Sailor Moon) for Dean’s birthday.

Hey, Man - Nice Shot

Dean/Female Reader

This is for @jessica-bones-winchester’s ( @cavillanche ) Dating Dean Writing Challenge. The prompt was ‘competitiveness in the shooting range (loser cleans the kitchen for a week) No smut.

Take the Pain Away

Dean/Female Reader

This was written for @jessica-bones-winchester’s ( @cavillanche ) Dating Dean Writing Challenge. Prompt was ‘him taking care of you when you’re sick.’ Reader falls victim to a migraine, and Dean helps her through it. No smut.

Lose Yourself

Dean/Female Reader

Smut, pure and simple… Just imagine having Dean tied up, at your mercy while you worship those perky nipples…

The Contest

Dean/Female Reader

Dean loves to give you a hard time, and one night he pushes things a little too far… Flashback in italics. All’s well that ends well.

Slow Ride

Dean (Bullriding!Dean) /Reader

Yeah, after 12x11, y'all should have known this was coming - they don’t call me Cowgirl for nothing… Written (coincidentally - timing is everything!) for the Smut Apocalypse (Smut Appreciation Day) on Tumblr.

The Photo Booth

Dean/Unnamed Female OC - Dean’s POV

This was written for @winchestersandwordprocessors SPN Valentine’s Fic Challenge. Prompt was Semi-public/Risk of getting caught.

Make You Mine

Dean/Female Reader

Dean’s jealousy gets the best of him, which is not a bad thing…

Take a Chance

Dean/Unnamed Female OC - Dean’s POV

In 7x04, Dean gives himself a little pep talk before his planned hook-up with the bartender. That scene is what inspired me. This one is more important than the usual one-nighters, and it’s making him a little nervous…

If We Don’t Make It

Dean/Female OC

This fic was written for @whispersandwhiskerburn Angel’s 2K Follower Celebration. My song prompt was “Broken” by Lifehouse, and the dialogue prompt was “If we don’t make it out of this, I need you to know…” No smut.

My Deliverer

Dean/Female Spirit - Her POV

Dean is hunting a vengeful spirit. But another spirit is in this place, and she is drawn to him…

Friendly Advice

Dean/Female Reader - Dean POV, Reader POV

This was written for @deansdirtylittlesecretsblog Mimi’s RomCom Fluff Challenge. The fluff got a little smudged into smutty fun… oops! Two POV’s, Dean’s thoughts are in italics and Reader’s are in regular font.

Old Times

Dean/Female OC

Sequel a few years down the road from A Hunter Walks Into a Bar. Tiara goes back to the bar for a visit, and who should show up the next night but Dean Winchester… Flashback in italics.

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Dean/Female Reader (nicknamed Taz)

Inspired by the sexy AF Cowboy!Dean we were treated to in 13x06 Tombstone. Helped along by Joe Cocker’s rendition of “You Can Leave Your Hat On.“

Wish Her the Best

Dean/Female OC - Dean’s POV

This is an angsty li'l fic inspired by Thomas Rhett’s ‘Marry Me,’ tore at my heart until I finally wrote it. No smut.

A Matter of… Time?

Dean/Female Reader

This is the crackiest piece of work I’ve ever written - for @percywinchester27 Ana’s PJO Quotes Challenge. Prompt was “Don’t you ever feel that way? Like you could do a better job if you ran the world?” - “Umm - no. Me running the world would be kind of a nightmare.”

Demon Seed

Demon!Dean/Female Reader

Demon!Dean stops in for a drink and decides he wants you. He’s very persuasive. Written for @evansrogerskitten’s Hottest Dean Challenge.

Not Wasted Now

Dean/Female Reader

When you all decide to get drunk in the aftermath of a bad hunt, lines get a little blurred. Or crossed. Or fucking erased. Fluffy, smutty, comforting, sweet and sexy Dean.

Bad Guy

Demon!Dean/Female Reader

This was written for @eyes-of-a-disney-princess Rapunzel’s Tangled Up With Supernatural Challenge. My Tangled quote was “You want me to be the bad guy? Fine, now I’m the bad guy.”

Shiny

Trucker!Dean/Female OC

Trucker!Dean AU. Breaker, breaker, got your ears on? 67 Midnight Rider, put that hammer down…

Some Kind of Hero

Dean/Female OC

Written for Tiff’s WTF Challenge. Dean’s just filling up Baby, minding his own business, when he hears an argument and gets involved. Protective Dean, no smut, left that to your imagination.

Crave

Dean/Female Reader

So, have some ‘Riz is craving some sexy Dean action with a big ol’ side of schmoopy fluff’ stuff. Because I was, and I’m sharing with you - the smut and all the sickenly sweet cuddly that I just need sometimes. If y'all are in the mood for that kind of thing.

Perchance to Dream

Dean/Female OC

Using African dream root on a case leads to an awkward situation, and Karlie can’t handle the tension between her and Dean any longer

Ruined

Dean/Female Reader

Dean comes home from a hunt, and he’s had something on his mind…

Going Home

Dean/Female Reader

Written for @crispychrissy’s Gif It To Me Challenge. Overhearing only part of a conversation sends her running, but jumping to conclusions without the whole story isn’t the best decision. No smut.

Not the Smartest Thing

Dean/Female Reader - Reader POV

Only Dean Fucking Winchester could turn taking a swig of beer into pornography. Cocky bastard. But two can play at that game.

Suzy Q

Dean/Female OC - OC POV

Written for @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan’s Multi-fandom Follower Celebration Challenge. Prompt - “I think I’m having a feeling. How do I make it stop?”

Invisible Touch

Dean/Unnamed Female OC

Rowena teaches Dean something new, and he gets inspired. I have no idea where this came from, but here it is…

Maybe I’m Amazed

Dean/Unnamed Female OC

An accident leaves her unconscious and fighting for her life in the hospital, drifting in and out of awareness and memories as Dean refuses to leave her side. Written for @rockhoochie’s 1K Love Supernatural Style Writing Challenge.

Reunion

Dean/Female OC

Passing through town, Dean runs into an old high school classmate. Fluffy and smutty, no angst here!

Playing With Fire

MOC!Dean/Unnamed Female OC

Late Season 10 MOC!Dean smut fic that just wouldn’t leave me alone…

Uninvited

Michael!Dean/Dean/Unnamed Female OC

Michael gives Dean a choice, because sometimes Michael likes to watch…This one is darker than my normal, PLEASE heed the warnings.

What Happens At the Roadhouse…

Early-Season Dean/Female OC

Bailey’s just looking for a couple days post-hunt R&R at Harvelle’s - and then he shows up. Cocky bastard.

ONE-SHOTS - SAM

Just a Little Story About Lou and Sam

Sam/Female OC

Lou and Sam walk into a bar… written for a friend who’s a Sammy girl

Doctor-Patient Relations

Sam/Female OC

One-shot inspired by The Born-Again Identity - sick Sammy and Dr. Nicole. Written for another Sammy-girl friend

DRABBLES

Head vs. Heart

No title

Fourth of July

Working Saturday Isn’t So Bad

11x17 Drabble

Some Nights He Dreams

Most of the Time

The Name Game

God Bless America

Stress Relief

@mrs-squirrel-chester ‘s Album Fanfic Writing Challenge Drabbles

    Dangerous

    For My Brother

    In Chains

    Kiss and Tell

    The End of Me

    Choices

    Hero

    Pure

    In the End