#melli and i play too many siblings

[giratina-plushie]

I would like. Adaman, Irida, and uhhhhhhh [spins the wheel] Bianca thoughts. pleese :)

ouuuuu good picks good picks

for adaman:

First impression: oooh. Cool Guy. id wear that outfit. hell yeah

Impression now: YEAHHHH COOL GUY!!! doing his Fucking Best out here. i really like how he interacts with his clan he's very nicey to them (apart from one time when the world is exploding but i forgive him for that). i also love how much of a contrast he is to irida

Favorite moment: this is so hard to pick but i think when he's talking to arezu after she messed up her ankle. he's SO kind and gentle with her it's very heartwarming

Idea for a story: i think a story where he just decides one afternoon he's gonna poke his head around the timeline a bit would be funny. put that man in situations but as soon as it gets dangerous enough to threaten his life dialga yoinks him out of there. we've got a bunch of different time periods now with sv there's a lot you can do with it. specifically i want to put him in a secured area in the aether foundation and have people freak out about how he got in there

Unpopular opinion: i don't think i have one? i'll be honest i don't pay too much attention to these things

Favorite relationship: holds up mai melli and adaman. they are SIBLINGS!!!!!!!!! to me. and i won't let go of it

Favorite headcanon: i like to think he just hangs out with dialga. like it's this super formal legendary but he just leans on it and tells it about his day. yeah it's the god of time so what it's also a beast and a friend

for irida:

First impression: small. pink. frowning. friend..?

Impression now: I AM NORMAL ABOUT HER COME CLOSER i picked her to help me with the lakes because a) ive never seen anyone do that before and b) i wanted to fight origin forme dialga i think it's really cool and. OUGH it's such a good snapshot into her character. she's overly formal, sure, but she's also so caring and so stressed and augh!!! i love her. she's a delight

Favorite moment: at spear pillar when palkia's talking to her. there are definitely others but i think that one's just really cool. she's a bit possessed and that's ok

Idea for a story: i wanna write her hanging out with someone she usually wouldn't interact with. sabi, maybe, i like sabi. or arezu! i think they'd both be fun to write together MN

Unpopular opinion: again, do not think i have one of these, apart from the fact that i like her just as much as adaman i think there's a bias from the amount of art i've seen

Favorite relationship: her and gaeric. a family can be 1 funny buff icelands man 1 very small clan leader and a bunch of ice pokemon and eevees

Favorite headcanon: like adaman, i think she hangs out with palkia and also i think it picks her up like longcat. also she's buff. you can't take that from me. she was trained by gaeric there's no way she isn't fairly fucking strong

aand last but DEFINITELY not least, the bianca:

First impression: oh she's the ditsy girl to complement the serious boy, got it

Impression now: SHE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT I LOVE HER!!!! she's a ray of sunshine she's a walking beacon of hope she's a reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out right away she's a caring loving friend she's finding her own way in life at her own pace and she wears a funny hat

Favorite moment: honestly when she showed up in b2w2 just because of the sheer joy in my heart i felt when i saw her

Idea for a story: either something about her and elesa working together on designing clothes or just putting her and n in the same place for more than five seconds

Unpopular opinion: again, i don't know what the popular opinions are, so i have nothing for this

Favorite relationship: her and hilda/hilbert, actually! i can't remember too many details it's been over half a year since i played w1 but i always loved when she showed up. they're childhood friends. she's very kind to them. that delights me.

Favorite headcanon: i like to think she does end up working with elesa, at least for a bit. maybe not straight up doing the modeling, maybe she tries that and goes "hm, maybe not for me" and starts focusing on other aspects like clothes design or choreographing the modeling stuff! i also like the idea of her getting to travel to other places and see new sights even after she's done with her traditional Pokémon Journey. put her in kalos. let her run around in a boutique. enrichment

[waywardstation]

There is also tension in the Diamond Clan in canon. It's more subtle compared to what's happening in the Pearl Clan.

There's many hints, implications, and proof that the Diamond Clan Wardens don't take Adaman seriously. Part of it likely is because he grew up as their little brother. Melli disobeys him at several points, likely from a misguided belief he knows better and wants to help Adaman, to Arezu not mentioning her problems to him unlike Palina to Irida, and so on.

Also, Adaman is notably not the 'perfect' heir Irida is. He can't play the flute and gives it to a stranger, the MC. He doesn't have visions of the Diamond Clan's god. He's open to change, probably in a way that makes him unpopular with many in his clan. Meanwhile, Irida is a traditionalist, has seen Palkia, and can play the flute.

In regards to this ask (I think!)

You bring up great points OP that I had forgotten about, or just didn’t notice (most likely because I focused a lot more on the Pearl clan than the Diamond haha)

Concept art pages seem to show Mai took the eldest sibling position, so it would make sense that at least in a more familial relations clan, they would still see Adaman as a younger sibling of sorts (at least not the eldest). Respect of some sense might be there since he’s the clan leader, but it’s not what it could be at all.

I noticed this most with Melli, for the reason you said. Though I took note of it at pretty surface level as more part of his character than a sign of not taking Adaman seriously. You connecting that with Arezu’s hesitance to share with him so as not to put more stress on him, could very much point to them not taking him seriously.

The flute is a good point too! Though not all of us simply have musical talents haha. I don’t remember seeing any point where Adaman’s openness disappointed the Diamond clan (as they seem to be more open to change as a whole, as opposed to the traditional Pearl clan) and I don’t remember Irida seeing Palkia either, but with these last two points, I should look over the game for them again. I have to go over things several times before I retain information like this haha

Thank you for bringing this up OP! It gives me a better insight into the Diamond Clan!

[kelpiemomma]

I am back with more sims arceus au thoughts! Bc yes, raising a god fragment child takes a village, and that village is... (looks at hand) 1 human dad, ten noble aunt/uncle pokemon, and 3? god pokemon siblings???? YES i AM saying that giratina and dialga and palkia are older siblings to god fragment akarei, and YES i think that makes giratina the edgy older brother who casually breaks the law, and YES I may be imagining human!giratina on a motorcycle with a leather jacket bc WHY NOT.

Also if giratina steals akarei, ingo will tear his way into the distortion world with his bare hands (Sneasler would be so proud!) giratina vs ingo! Fight!

And you know takes more than one village, since with dad ingo, you’ve for sure got pearl clan and like at LEAST the wardens (barring Melli, maybe? I think that man might take one look at akarei and decide on the flip of a coin between immense dislike and believing that akarei NEEDS the blessing of his presence, but idk) of diamond clan and jubilife barring kamado! You know laventon sees akarei and sets up a time share with ingo, zisu probably teaches them how to punch and cyllene … idk she has a sword, so she gives off knife aunt vibes. Is giving akarei a blade a good idea? Who knows! Give that child a knife! And also there are probably so many Pokémon. So. Many. Pokémon. (I might be Disney Princessing akarei, but arceus gave them so much anxiety, I feel like it would mess around with the sliders to make them a Pokémon magnet. Hopefully not literally, but *pats akarei’s head* this baby can fit so much anxiety and stress!)

That village is EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Maybe some exceptions. Kamado didn't mind Akarei too much when he thought they were just some random kid who got lost and somehow fell from the rift. Sure, he gave them the boot when the sky got fucked, but after they calm Dialga and Palkia who inadvertently reveal Akarei's true godling nature... well, some people continue treating them as they did before (Ingo, Laventon, Cyllene, Zisu...) and some people start treating them like an armed bomb (Kamado, Beni, Calaba to an extent).

Giratina is ABSOLUTELY the edgy older brother. He wears black leather, chains, and spikes. He was used to being the youngest of the three - and the forgotten youngest, not the babied youngest - but OH LOOK AT THAT. THERE'S A NEW BABY. And.... hm, dad loves them a lot. Time to be maybe a wee bit of a bad influence? :3c

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina ARE the god fragment's older siblings tho! They are actually fragments of Arceus as well who also gained their own sentience, and so they consider themselves siblings and Arceus their parent/father. Giratina was off throwing a fit when Akarei was 'broken off' essentially, so they knew that Arceus had done something but not EXACTLY what they'd done. Dialga and Palkia both tried to convince Arceus to NOT fragment themselves to explore the human world but oops. They weren't listened to! Arceus was like "nah, nah, this is gonna be good! i figured it out!" except no, they didn't. They treated Akarei both like they were playing the sims but also like they were playing Virtual Villagers and left them alone and then was surprised that they'd developed a sense of self while Arceus was gone.

Giratina didn't even think about "oh hey, sibling's probably got a family out here!" they just were like "oh shit, this is where you've been! hey, we gotta go check in with the older siblings and dad to let them know you're okay :)" They DID intend on returning their sibling once everyone had a chance to have a talk. they did NOT expect Ingo and Laventon to start tracking down the other legendaries so they could use the space-time rifts to get INTO ARCEUS' SPACE-TIME AREA???

It's a very awkward family meeting. Sneasler is along for the ride because she thinks it's funny. Ingo, Laventon, and Arceus discuss child-care and who gets Akarei when.

Ingo and Laventon are 110% dads. Anthe and Marie are aunts. Cyllene and Zisu are moms. Akari and Rei (who are twins, and jokingly tried to convince Akarei to take the other's name when they first arrived until Akarei went "why not both" and put them together) are their siblings, along with Irida and Adaman. Melli is like your brother's best friend who is cool for a minute until you hang around him long enough that you see how much of a fuckin dork he is and then he becomes another brother. Akarei and Melli bitch at each other constantly but they will also braid each other's hair and whine about their family.

The pokemon are somewhat iffy on the fragment! They've got their team, but the wild pokemon are highly ill-at-ease with this power that keeps wandering around. Some of them prefer to run away from it, some of them want to investigate, and some of them are so ill-at-ease that they decide to try and fight it. When injured the Arceus fragment bleeds shiny golden blood and literal light. The Nobles, once they're calmed, all take a liking to the godling and decide to protect them, but they're more intelligent than the standard wild pokemon anyway. Their children also like the godling because they're weird and interesting!

All of the people taking care of them and looking out for them are part of the reason Akarei ends up gaining a sense of self. They operated a bit like a sim in the beginning, not really talking or interacting much and just doing what Arceus told them to, but once everyone starts interacting with them and showing them new things, introducing them to new foods and experiences, they kind of 'open their eyes' and find a new love for the world.

They're extremely upset to know that Ingo has been taken from his proper time :) Akarei wants him to go home, but they don't have the power (yet) and their siblings are dubious on what that might do to not only the timeline but also to Ingo's mind.

[sacklerscumrag]

Part III of III: Stay With Me Series

Clyde Logan X Female Reader

Summary: A Halloween party at Duck Tape and meeting Clyde’s family? This was going to be one hell of a night.

Warnings: fluff, smut, PIV sex, vaginal fingering, oral sex

Word Count: 2.2K

Part I Part II ao3

      Halloween was tomorrow and Boone County certainly seemed to look the part. The streets were decorated with dense foliage in stunning colors of crimson red and burnt orange with pumpkins on every corner. Your mind was still buzzing with memories from your date with Clyde the other night when all of a sudden, your phone buzzed, snapping you out of it. It was him.

     “Hey Clyde” your stomach jumped when you answered the phone.

     “Hey Darlin, how’s yer day goin?” the sounds of glasses being set down could be heard on the other side of the phone.

     “Not so bad, bookstores been busy with Halloween being so close”

     “That’s actually what I was callin bout. Wanna come to a Halloween party were throwin here at the bar tomorrow? We do it every year, it’s a lotta fun and everybody gets real dressed up n all” you could hear him clear his throat, it warmed your heart knowing he still got himself worked up over you.

     “That sounds fun, what time?”

     “Well I gotta be there earlier to set up n all that but ya can come around 10 if ya want. Is that alright?”

     “Of course, I’ll see you tomorrow then” you smirked while fiddling with the pages in your book.

     “See ya tomorrow beautiful” you hung up the phone when it hit you. You had less than one day to put together a costume. Shit.

                                Clydes POV

     Clyde let out a deep breath as he hung up the phone and continued drying empty whiskey glasses. No matter how many times he spoke to you, it never failed to make him nervous. He continued wiping down the bar, losing himself in his thoughts about you. He was sure you had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and the way you crinkled your nose when you laughed just a little too hard, well that just about made him melt on the spot. And you smelled so good, god how did you smell so fucking delicious all the time, that was beyond him. His thoughts lingered before memories of the other night flooded his mind. The way it felt to have your body enveloped in his, the warmth of your skin under his palm, having you squirm in his lap while making those beautiful sounds was enough to make him cum in his pants.

     Clyde could feel himself getting hard in his jeans, quickly reaching down to adjust himself, thinking to himself dammit Clyde ya gotta get yer head on straight before Earl comes back in here n sees you. Quickly he grabbed a crate of decorations and headed to the entrance, a smile playing on his face at the thought of seeing you again tomorrow. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

                                    Readers POV

     Scrambling around your house, you finally figured out your costume for tonight. Putting together a red halter top, red shorts, some fishnet stockings, your favorite heel ankle boots along with some horns for your Devil costume. You grabbed your phone, laid out your outfit on your bed, and snapped a picture to send to Clyde.

Decided on a Devil for tomorrow night, too much?

Yer gonna be wearin that tomorrow? Jesus Darlin, ya tryin to give me a heart attack

Just wanted to make sure you liked it, but I guess I got my answer haha

Can’t wait to see it on ya. I’m gonna have to try to keep ma hands to myself, won’t make any promises though ;)

I hope you don’t :) see you tomorrow, goodnight Clyde

Goodnight beautiful ------------------------------------------------------------

     It seemed like everyone in Boone County was at Duck Tape tonight. As you walked into the bar, your eyes immediately found Clyde’s. He ducked under the side of the bar and walked over to you, cupping your face with both hands and bringing you into a searing kiss. He tasted like bourbon and burnt bacon, your favorite. “Hey baby, you look amazin” he said as he kept his forehead pressed against yours, your noses brushing against each other. You wrapped your arms around his neck and looked up at him.

“Hey, handsome”

          Clyde quickly released you as he saw more patrons making their way inside. He kissed your forehead before stepping away and into the bar. You sat on one end, watching as he moved so flawlessly along the bar, making everyone’s drink, greeting all the regulars, never missing a beat.

          “Well well well ya must be Clyde’s new little lady” startling you, a man sat down next to you.

          “Now Jimmy don’t go scarin the poor girl. Hi sweetie, I’m Mellie, Clyde’s sister and this here’s my idiot brother Jimmy” she reached out her hand to shake yours. Clyde being as busy as he was made his way to your corner of the bar.

          “There he is the man of the hour. When were ya gonna introduce us to yer new girl here?” Jimmy gestured to you with his beer bottle, teasing Clyde. You looked over at Clyde who was giving Jimmy a death stare if there ever was one. Placing your hand over his, you brought his attention back to you.

          “Can I get a drink baby?” you said trying to diffuse the situation. Clyde let out a breath, smiled, and nodded before walking over to where the bottles were sitting to make you your drink. You could hear Mellie and Jimmy giggling behind you, it was going to be a long night.

------------------------------------------------------------

          You spent hours sitting with Mellie and Jimmy, laughing at all of their nonsense, hearing stories about Clyde when they were younger, the Logan siblings making you feel right at home. After all those stories and one too many beers, they decided to call it a night and head out. Even the regulars started to make their way home as the night dwindled. You and Clyde had been making eyes at each other all night, spacing out while Mellie told you her wild stories to look at Clyde. Watching him bartend was getting you more worked up than you cared to admit. Having to adjust yourself in your seat every so often, you could feel your arousal forming. Clyde thanked Earl for the help, and he waved to you as he left. Clyde put the last of the glasses away in the storage closet and made his way back out to you. You were standing facing the bar when you felt Clyde’s hands wrap around your waist.

          “Hey Darlin, you ready to head out?” he whispered in your ear as you turned in his arms and placed your hands on his chest. He looked down at you, eyes scanning your face with a smile.      “Not quite” you said as you cupped his face in your hands and brought your lips to his.

          “Darlin, are ya sure? Now?” you nodded, biting your lower lip, tiptoeing to bring your face closer to his.

          “I want you, Clyde Logan. Right here. Right now.” You whispered to him. That was all the encouragement he needed before his lips were on yours again. His hands moved to your waist, pulling you closer to him and you could already feel his erection pressing up against your thigh. He moved to take off your tank top disposing of it on the floor. The kiss grew hungrier as he walked you back towards the bar. Clyde cupped your ass, moving his hands under your thighs to hoist you up onto the bar top.

          Wrapping your legs around his waist, you moved to undo the buttons on his shirt, tearing it open, wanting to feel as much of him as possible. You were glad he decided not to wear an undershirt tonight as you ran your hands all over his sculpted chest down to the waistband of his jeans, working to undo his belt. Clyde placed hot, wet kisses on your neck, working his way to your shoulder. He hooked his thumbs on your shorts, sliding them down along with your fishnets. Reaching your hand around, you unclasped your bra, throwing it to the side while he continued his kisses.

          “Ya looked so fuckin hot tonight. I had to stop looking at ya to stop ma self from getting hard at the bar. Fuck you’re so beautiful” he said in between placing kisses on each breast, pinching one nipple between his fingers while taking his time nipping and biting the other one. His hand made its way down ghosting over your panties, feeling the wet spot that had already formed.

  “Mmm you’re dripping all over my bar baby” you moaned as he removed your underwear. Clyde swiped two fingers along your folds, collecting your slick, teasing you. The sensation making you shiver, your aching clit begging for attention.

     “Ya like that don’t you Darlin? Had ya cumin all over em the other night” you nod, trying your best to hold back your moans.

          “Please Clyde”

          “Tell me what ya need baby girl, ya gotta use yer words” continuing to run his fingers along your cunt, not quite touching where you needed it most.

     “Please Clyde I-I need you” you whimpered as he pushed two thick fingers inside, before pulling them back out.

“Gotta taste ya first baby” he motioned you to lay back, keeping one hand flat on your stomach and throwing your legs over his shoulder before burying his face in between your thighs.

You ran your hands through his hair, guiding him further into your core until you felt his nose press deliciously on your clit. The pressure making you buck your hips towards him. Clyde’s movements started to speed up as he focused on that sensitive bundle of nerves. His tongue working, teasing you while keeping his steady rhythm. Making you moan louder than you have before.

“Ya taste so good. So fuckin good baby girl”

          Your grip on his hair tightened when your orgasm crashed over you. Clyde lapped up all of your juices, taking his time until you came down from your high. You felt him pull away and step back to slide his jeans and briefs off in one move. His lips and beard glistening with your slick.

     “I have a condom in ma pocket”

     “Don’t bother. I’m on the pill” he smiled, kicking his pants and briefs to the side.

          His throbbing cock sprang free from the confines of his briefs, the tip slick with pre-cum. The size alone had you drooling at the sight. You immediately felt your cunt clench on nothing from just looking at him as Clyde made his way back to you. Placing your hand on his chest, you stopped him.

          “Lay down on the bar” you whispered in his ear, sending a shiver down Clyde’s spine, all the way to his cock. He looked at you, before climbing on the bar and laying down. You followed and straddled Clyde, your heated cunt grazing over his cock making it twitch. His eyes darkened, full of lust as he watched you coat him in your wetness before sinking on him slowly.

          Clyde’s mechanical hand rested on one of your thighs while his other hand cupped your ass as he watched you take all of him. The feeling of him filling you up, stretching you like never before almost being enough to bring you to your second orgasm of the night. You started to gyrate your hips, finding your rhythm, his cock hitting all sorts of new angles making you both cry out. His hands held on tight to your hips, guiding you as you rode him on the bar.

     “Clyde I’m so close. Fuck, you feel so good” you moaned when you felt him slide his thumb between both of your bodies to rub your throbbing clit.

          “C’mon baby. Gotta cum one more time fer me” he applied more pressure as you picked your pace. Both sensations sending you over the edge as you came hard on Clyde’s cock. Your cunt fluttering and pulsating squeezing him around him, squeezing him so tight. Panting your body fell flush on Clyde’s chest. He placed his hands under your thighs, pushing you slightly forward just enough for him to plant his feet on the bar top before he started pounding into you. The sounds of skin slapping filling the bar as he mercilessly fucked you at an agonizing pace. Clyde couldn’t take his eyes off of you, the way you were writhing in pleasure as your breasts bouncing with every thrust. He plunged into you one last time as far as he could go before reaching his own orgasm and filling you to the brim with his cum. He held you close, panting until he came down from his orgasm.

     Clyde caressed your hair, his chest rising and falling, covered in sweat while you both laid there, bodies satisfied and spent. You put your chin on Clyde’s chest looking up at him, his eyes dazed with pleasure and a goofy grin across his face as he looked back at you.

     “I love you Clyde, and I know it may be too early for that and now might not be the best time. And it’s okay if you don’t feel it too, I just had to say it before it drove me crazy”

     “I love you too Darlin. Have fer a while now, just didn’t want to scare ya off and say it too soon. But I do, I love you” you didn’t think twice before pushing yourself up to kiss him. Leaning your elbows on either side of his head, letting your fingers run through his hair as you kissed him deeply. You wanted to stay in this moment forever.

[novemberwasgrey]

what is it like when clarisse/chris (and nico, and reyna, and frank, and the rest of the people close to Hedge) take care of Chuck?

Well first of all, right when Gleeson and Mellie arrive at camp, Chuck won't budge from his mother's arms and is quite shy when campers come to greet him. But as soon as he sees Clarisse, a huge grin appears on his face and he extends his arms to go in hers. She's the first person outside his parents that he likes to go to

When he started talking, he'd pronounce her first name 'Clai-weez'

She really has a soft spot for him but beware of anyone teasing her about it. Once, she was busy supervising her cabin's training when Coach rushed in to give Chuck because of an emergency. She started rocking him against her with a little smile and her brother Mark couldn't help but laugh that she was probably Housewife of the Year... Clarisse glared at him then smiled wickedly "what do you say Chuck? Should I make them do another series of pumps and pull-ups?" Baby Chuck giggled and applauded positively and the whole Ares cabin grumbled, getting the hint it was never a good idea to tease Clarisse about Chuck

Chris used to have a little sister Mary so he's really good with kids too, he knows and can make up every single existing game to divert them and Chuck really has fun with him

Also it's fluffy af but I like this headcanon that when Chuck is older, maybe 4 years old, he's convinced that his uncle Chris and his godmother are married and says it in public, very proudly. Clarisse would gently correct him that they're not (blushing a little bit) and that's the moment Chris thinks 'well I certainly will marry this girl one day'

Nico and Reyna are the second people he likes the most outside his parents. Little Chuck always begs Nico to make dancing skeletons appear because he thinks it's funny and that's one of the reasons Nico cares so much about this little guy: usually people are freaked out by his powers but Chuck thinks it's amusing

He loves playing with Aurum and Argentum so Reyna always makes sure to bring them when they babysit him.

Nico and Reyna really befriended Clarisse because of all the babysitting together and it's funny that these three people known to be tough guys literally melt with this little satyr

Chuck was too young to understand but was a bit sad when Reyna joined the Hunters because he realized he'd see her a lot less than he used to

When Nico babysits Chuck, Will often helps; he has so many siblings that he can help his boyfriend on some children tricks. Will has a special fondness for the satyr since he helped bring him into the world; that's the exact moment Will was sure he wanted to be a doctor.

[k-renne]

HELPLESSNESS BLUES - CRACK UP

Your mother always told you to stay away from wolves, wolves like the Logan family who always seemed to be up to no good. It was only natural as a local farmer, you had to protect your livestock. Farmers just weren’t in the company of befriending werewolves.

A/N: This chapter has some heavy angst and then smut, with some abo nonsense

“What do you think they’re up to by now?”Jimmy said to Mellie. 

“Oh, I don’t think that’s something I want to imagine. Those two are probably gonna be at it all night.” 

Jimmy laughed, “Yeah, I did not miss the way he was looking at her. Did I tell you how many boxes of tissues we’ve gone through in the past month?” He shook his head. 

Mellie cringed, “That I definitely don’t wanna know.” 

“He seems so much happier, I’m real happy he found someone.” Jimmy grins. 

“Me too, but farmgirl’s family does worry me.”

He let out a heavy sigh, “Yeah, they could be a problem.” 

Back at the farm you had locked yourself up in your room, you refused to talk to your father and your mother who had driven up as soon as she heard the news. You were much more focused with the window, the dark trees under the moon. The farm didn’t seem to matter to you tonight, you just wanted Clyde to be safe. And that meant he had to stay away, at all costs. 

You knew he would come for you, but so did your father. He made you a cruel promise, Clyde could stand outside your window for as long as he liked but the moment you made any attempt to go to him he’d meet a bullet. 

“Mother you can’t let him do this,” You tried to appeal to her reason. 

“I will not let my daughter go off with a monster, honey you were supposed to find and marry a nice boy. A human. This is all for your own good, you’ll see that someday.” She kept her tone even as she explained it to you. 

No, I won’t. You thought to yourself. 

No matter what, Clyde would be hurt. You could risk it all but pay the ultimate price. You just couldn’t see it working out, the least you could do is keep him safe. You owed him that much. 

Tonight you felt like a little girl again, trapped and powerless. Your independence stripped from you. That feeling crushed you as you waited for Clyde, sitting by the window and wiping tears from your face. 

It was midnight when you heard rustling in the trees, Clyde walking out from the treeline in just a pair of pants. Faintly you could see two other werewolves in the background, their eyes glowing like fireflies in the dark. You hated that they’d have to witness this. 

He had that same longing look in his eyes when he walked up to your window, they were warm and wide with hope, happy to see that you seemed mostly okay. You started to cry again, he came much closer. You clasped your hand over your mouth to muffle your sob, shaking your head. 

When you opened the window Clyde smiled up at you, “Sweetheart please, s’gonna be okay. We’re gonna get ya outta here,” He nodded. 

You didn’t understand how he could get close like this, leave himself so exposed to danger at a moments notice. And still he was comforting you. Couldn’t he see? “No,” You gasped. “Don’t get any closer.” It felt so painful just to say those words, unable to suppress your whimpers as you spoke.

He stopped in his tracks, a deep frown on his face. He looked back to the forest briefly, before turning back to you. His voice was thick with emotion, “But I have to farmgirl, ya can’t stay here. S’not safe.” He shook his head. “And I’d never get to see ya...I can’t do that sweetheart. I need ya to be safe. I need to know that you’re safe.” 

You smiled, but your eyes were full of tears. “And it won’t be safe if I leave Clyde, I can’t be with you.” Your voice was shaky and emotional as you spoke. 

Clyde took a step back, as if he was wounded. He felt his heart break at your words. It only lasted for a moment before he turned angry, it wasn’t right for you to be saying such things. You didn’t know what safe meant. He growled low, “You don’t have to be with me sweetheart but I will not be lettin’ ya stay here. Not with a family that don’t even love ya the way they should.” 

You hiccuped as more tears fell, your vision blurry. But you had made your choice already. “No, I won’t go Clyde.” You couldn’t. 

Clyde pressed his lips in a thin line, his nostrils flaring. “I didn’t come here to argue about this, ain’t no time for that.”

He was walking closer, no! “Please Clyde, don’t-you can’t come any closer,” You pleaded. 

He wouldn’t listen. He wasn’t listening, a determined expression on his face as he began to climb up to your window. You shut your eyes for just a moment, trying to think. As a last resort you closed your window, latched it shut. Maybe, now he’d listen. 

His eyes were so sad when he was met with glass, your back turned to him. He rested his forehead against the cool glass, hot breath fogging up the window. “Please,” He begged you. 

The cock of a shotgun turned his attention away from you, there below him your father and a few men stood with guns. “Boy you best get off of my property and away from my daughter before I shoot, can’t ya see she doesn’t want ya?” He tilted his head, aiming his gun. 

Clyde’s breath caught in his throat, he felt sick to his stomach. He stumbled off to the treeline drunkenly, defeated. He was met with the open arms of his siblings, their commiserating howls filling the night air. 

After that night Clyde had tried to call you, reach you in anyway but you couldn’t bare to speak to him. He tried visiting the farm too, but each time it was heavily guarded and new trespassing signs on the property kept him away. One day he gave up trying to call you, he hated talking on the phone anyways. Never had the courage to leave a message, he just wanted to hear your voice. 

Eventually it was time for you to move on, not just from a failed attempt at farming, but from what felt like a horrible break up. You had some money saved up, so it was time for you to leave Boone County behind and leave behind the pain of your past. Maybe one day you’d have a farm again, but next time you wanted to do it completely on your own, somehow. 

There was nothing left for you in Boone county. 

It took Clyde a lot longer to pick himself back on his feet, because that feeling never really goes away. Not with you. He started learning how to bartend and it was going okay, at least work was a good distraction. He never really imagined himself owning a bar. At one point he even got himself landed in prison, but that all was part of the plan. 

Years later you’re back in Boone county for a friends wedding, it hurts to be here. So much that you feel like you need to get a drink just after the first day being back. Regrets weighed heavy on your heart. 

Duck Tape, what a strange name for a bar, yet so fitting for Boone County. Some things never seem to change.

“Farmgirl,” Clyde’s eyes widened. He knew he smelled something familiar, something sweet. But he thought his mind was just playing tricks on him. 

“Clyde-” Of course you’d run into him here, the one person who could reel you right back in to the place you were so desperately trying to leave. 

“Are you alright sweetheart?” He asked you, his voice soft. Seeing you now made him forget all his heart ache, because his only concern was you and he could tell you were hurting.

You felt your eyes water, you sniffled as you tried to fight back tears. “I’ll be okay,” You quickly rubbed away a tear. Laughing as you tried to smile. 

He felt intense frustration seeing your pain, knowing that your parents probably caused it. How long had you been suffering like this? It made him angry, he didn’t even feel it as his fist slammed down on the bar counter, jaw clenching. The other patrons stared at him but he didn’t care. 

“We need to talk,” He gritted out. You knew you couldn’t avoid conversation this time. So you nodded. 

“Okay Clyde.” His first question was where you had been, all this time. 

“I never even knew that you left, all this time.” Clyde let out a heavy sigh. 

“What do you mean?” 

“I tried to talk to ya, I knew you were upset but I just needed to know that you were okay. Almost got myself arrested one time, surprised they didn’t get a restraining order on me.” 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t make that any easier. But it was so hard, I-you were in danger Clyde. I did what I did to keep you safe.” You justified. 

“Keep me safe?” He raised his voice, his eyes going wide. He huffed in frustration, he knew that your fears weren’t unfounded but still he wished that you trusted him more than that. To protect you. The alpha in him ached. “That was supposed to be my job sweetheart, I-we would’ve been fine. You just had to trust me.” 

You frowned, you could see now how much your actions hurt him. You didn’t think he deserved to go through this again, you pulled away. “I should go Clyde.” 

Clyde’s hand shot out to grab your wrist, growling at you. “Stay.” He demanded in a harsh tone. When you stopped pulling away his features softened, “Please farmgirl, stay tonight.” His brown eyes were pleading, burning with a familiar longing. 

“Stay where?” You asked. You were planning on staying at a motel, but you didn’t know what he meant exactly. 

“With me,” He said, blushing. He didn’t mean for it to come out forward. “Ah, ya don’t have to…” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away shyly. “I just miss ya that’s all.” 

You smiled at Clyde, for him you felt like you’d do anything if he asked. “Okay.” You nodded. 

Something about walking into Clyde’s humble little trailer felt like home, it felt warm. You felt your heart race just thinking about how he actually lived here. 

“Sorry if it’s a little messy, don’t usually have company,” Clyde cringed, seeing the empty beer bottles and pizza container, a pair of socks on the floor. But if anything it was a relief to you, it was surprising to you that he wasn’t married by now because he always seemed like the type. Even after all this time, a deep part of you still wanted to be with him. 

“That’s alright,” You reassured him. 

Clyde gave you a strange look. He was panicking, he had you in his home and it was his idea to ask you to stay but now he had no idea what to do with you. And he didn’t even have a place for guests to sleep, he was fucked. At least he could try to pretend like he knew what he was doing, he turned on the lamp next to the couch. “Would ya like somethin’ to drink farmgirl?” 

“Clyde, I haven’t worked on a farm in years.” You said in a strained voice. You had to tell him; the truth weighed heavy on you.

“Sorry, it’s an old habit I guess.” He rubbed the back of his neck. You only noticed now that his left arm was different, made out of metal with fingers that looked like they could actually move. You briefly wondered how he got it, you were happy for him though. It’s what he deserved. 

“It’s okay, you can still call me whatever you like,” You softly smiled at him. He was blushing, again. Thankful too because he didn’t know if he’d be able to stop calling you that. 

You sat on the couch next to Clyde, each of you with a beer in hand. There was distance between you that you were hesitant to close. You longed for the closeness that you used to have with him, to kiss him again. 

“So um, what have you all been up to lately?” You asked him. 

Clyde thought about it for a moment, he didn’t feel like anything all too important had happened in the time you were gone. Sure, there was the recent heist he helped Jimmy pull off, but he’d rather not get into that one. “Jimmy got divorced,” He said bitterly. 

“Oh, that’s too bad.” 

“Yeah but he’s with this other girl now, Sylvia. Must make him happy cause I don’t see him much without her, and he’s got his daughter too in Lynchburg.” 

“What about Mellie?” You missed her too, you felt like you had missed so much. And you liked listening to his voice. 

“Mel’s with this guy Joe Bang, and I don’t know about him. But she seems happy, I guess.” Clyde looked off in the distance as he talked. 

You frowned, “But are you happy?” 

Clyde felt a breath catch in his chest, he should be happy. He had more cash than he knew what to do with, the bar was successful, his family was doing well and he had this fancy new arm. He let out the breath he was holding, “I’m doing just fine sweetheart.” 

You laughed, “Now you sound like me.” 

“But you lost everything, your farm, your family-” 

“And you,” You added, interrupting him. You were smiling but your eyes were sad. 

Clyde pressed his lips together in a line. He didn’t know what to say to that, so he took a long sip of his beer as he tilted his head back. He felt your soft hand on his arm, the heat of your body as you moved to sit flush against him. It was too much, after all this time. The longing he had for you came right back in droves, while for years he had tried to push those feelings away his mind was screaming at him. Mate.  

Your hand was on his chest now and he felt his cock twitch to life, “Sweetheart-” You had to stop touching him like this, he could feel himself spiralling into need. “-Please don’t.” He begged you. 

“I’m sorry,” You rested your forehead against his shoulder. “I missed you too.” 

Clyde hissed, feeling his cock painfully harden, “Ah it hurts.” He groaned. 

“What? Are you alright?” You asked, concerned. 

Oh his face had to be so read, it was too embarrassing to say. “Uh, s’been a long time for me. And my kind-we get sensitive,” Clyde grunted as you squeezed his chest. You were trying to comfort him, but your touch was doing something else entirely. 

“I don’t understand.” You said, shaking your head. 

“Werewolves need touch, in certain places. I...it’s been so long since anyone’s touched me.” His voice was throaty as he explained. He didn’t know why he was telling you this, letting his dirty shame spill right from his lips. He wasn’t meant to be alone the way he had been, but he didn’t really want to be with anyone else but you. It just felt wrong to even try. 

That was when you looked down, noticing the large bulge of Clyde’s cock straining in his shorts. Oh gosh, the realization hit you with arousal. Seeing that made you feel tingly, his flushed cheeks and needy expression. 

“I can touch you.” You resumed your ministrations, lazily tracing the buttons on his shirt. 

“Farmgirl, please don’t feel bad. I don’t need anyone’s pity, especially not from you sweetheart.” He shook his head. 

“But Clyde, I want to touch you.” You admitted. 

“Hmm?” Your words didn’t quite register with him. But your hand continued to drift lower until you were palming his bulge in your hand. 

“Ah sweetheart-” Clyde panted. “At least lemme kiss you.” 

His hand tilted your chin up for easy access as he planted a soft kiss across your lips. The first kiss was soft, but as you kissed him back with years of pent up passion his own mouth grew hungry as it seeked yours. The taste of beer still on his tongue as you moaned into his mouth, just kissing him made you feel on fire. You remembered what you were doing as you continued to rub and tease him through his pants. 

You felt the vibrations of his chest as he growled lowly, arm pulling you closer to him. “Feels so good farmgirl,” He huffed. And he wasn’t just talking about your hand over his cock, holding you this close felt good too. You smelled so sweet, and his own scent was getting all over you. He needed more, Clyde nosed down your cheek to breathe in your scent against your neck, kissing and sucking the skin into his hot mouth. You let out a sweet little moan and Clyde pressed his lips harder against your skin. This felt like happiness. 

You huffed in frustration as you tried to undo Clyde’s pants and free his cock, the button pulled taut by the size of his bulge. “Ah lemme do it,” He moved your hand out of the way, freeing his cock with ease. He sighed at the relief, tension dropping in his shoulders. 

He looked even bigger now, his cock heavy as you gently gripped him in your hand. “Fuck,” Clyde cursed at your touch, his cock drooling onto your hand. 

“Oh,” That was unexpected. You felt the velvety skin of his cock become slick, what a strong reaction to your touch. It was new, but it only served to turn you on. 

“Mmm-sorry, s’a werewolf thing. Makes it easier, s’like a natural lubricant.” Clyde groaned as he apologized, the warmth from your soft hand was doing things to him. It wasn’t normally this bad on his own, maybe because it had been so long. He could only imagine how bad it was gonna be the time his next rut came, ohhhh. His mind went blank as you began to stroke him. 

Clyde’s lips desperately found yours, his hand moving over yours as his kiss made you weak. “Don’t stop, tighter now, faster,” He rasped, showing you with the help of his own hand. 

The sound of his slick cock in your hand along with his lips meeting yours was so arousing you could hardly focus on the task at hand, you wanted to just melt into him and let him take over completely. But he needed this, and you would finish what you started. 

“Not gonna be long now sweetheart,” Clyde warned you. With how deprived he’d been of touch, there’s no way he’d last. He could feel that he was close already, just the thought of cumming all over your hand. One last squeeze of his cock had him spilling hot cum all over your fist, Clyde moaning your name as he threw his head back. You continued to jerk him as his cock throbbed, more cum spurting from the reddened tip. 

He needed to kiss you again, his mouth messily pressing against yours as his hand fisted your hair. His cheeks were red as he pulled back to look at you, lips slightly parted as he panted. He was so grateful, but he knew that a handjob wouldn’t be enough for him, maybe just for tonight. He had cum so much that your hand was coated in him, his mind thought of a few dirty things to do with all that cum but for now he cleaned up his mess.

Clyde looked up at you as kneeled in front of you on the couch, his hand on your thigh. He bent closer to nuzzle between your thighs before your gentle push stopped him. “I need to take care of ya sweetheart, I can smell how wet you are.” He shook his head. To leave you unfinished like this when you just gave him the sweetest relief wasn’t right. 

You just smiled down at him, “Not tonight, it’s pretty late and I’m tired. I know you probably are too Clyde.” 

He nodded okay, he wouldn’t push it if you didn’t want to. He led you to his bedroom, gently taking your hand. “I can let ya borrow some of my clothes to sleep in. I got some old t-shirts.” He said as he began to unbutton his shirt after stepping out of his pants.

“Sounds good to me.” You began to strip and Clyde just gave you this look, his eyes so dark it made you shiver. He quickly looked away as he tried to distract himself by searching in a drawer for something for you to wear. You had seen him naked before, but he had never seen that much skin for you. It was hard to tear his eyes away from someone so gorgeous. He tossed a t-shirt behind him without looking, or else he’d get hard all over again. 

But seeing you in his clothes might just be worse, it made him feel like you were his and the way his shirt barely covered your thighs had him all too pleased. He didn’t feel tired until he laid down, his body feeling like it weighed a ton as soon as he hit the mattress. And with you right against him, so soft and warm, it wasn’t long before Clyde passed out. 

TAGLIST: @thecurlycaptain, @oh-adam, @givemelifeorgiveme,@pastelprintessa, @yuuyamiartist, @magikevalynn, @formerly-anonhamster

[gatesofember]

i know wills not a queen like persephone, but when hades dies and nico takes the throne, would will get ladies in waiting type things?

Ok so this is kinda a complicated question and I’m going to do my best to explain

So let’s start off with clarifying a few definitions. A lady in waiting is a noblewoman who attends a royal woman or higher-ranking noblewoman and played the role of a companion or assistant. (There are also lady’s maids, who are more like personal servants for a noble/royal woman. I think sometimes those two are confused, or at least I used to confuse them.) Ladies in waiting are a type of courtier, which is a person in attendance at the court—the “court” meaning both a governmental entity and the residence of a monarch/noble. A courtier could be a companion (like a lady in waiting such as Maria and Marie, and Reyna is sort of a companion for Nico, also Hyacinthus for Apollo), or they could be an adviser (like Reyna, or Chiron in the case of Apollo), or an assistant (Reyna plays the role of an assistant too), or a religious authority figure (also Reyna I suppose, although she doesn’t actually perform much in the way of religious duties), or maybe a high ranking soldier/member of the royal/noble guard (like Hedge). (Before getting engaged, Will wanted to either stay in Venadica for the rest of his life or become a courtier for Lee when he became the duke to act as an assistant/advisor/tutor for his children.) Courtiers are often but not always of noble birth (eg, Maria and Marie were nobles, Reyna is of noble birth but not all soror courtiers are, and Hedge is not of noble birth). In the case of the au (but not in the case of actual history), noble courtiers are usually not dukes/duchesses, countesses/earls, or first born children set to take over those roles, because those positions are associated more with independent rule in the au than they are irl (the position of duke is sort of similar to a state governor in the au). So noble courtiers in the au are usually second- or third- (etc.) born children who won’t inherit, siblings of dukes/duchesses and earls/countesses, or occasionally illegitimate children like Marie.

Since courtiers live in the residence of the nobleperson or monarch, the palace is responsible for providing room and board. Once the Scarlet Delirium took such a toll on Pluto’s economy, many of the courtiers (especially non-essential companions and those with noble families they could live with) left the palace because the royal family could no longer provide for them or to be with their families. Or they died. And since then, not many have returned and very few new courtiers have been brought to the palace because the economy still sucks. Courtiers at the palace right now include Reyna, Hedge, and Hades’ advisors (eg, the Furies and the judges of the dead minus that asshole Minos since he’s gone now) (many of the advisers also serve as tutors for Nico and Hazel). Mellie isn’t exactly a courtier because she’s a servant, but she’s close to one, especially since she married a member of the court and she sometimes plays the role of companion for Will.

But I think the root of your question is, will any new characters come to the palace to be a companion/attendant for Will? The answer: we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we? :)

[solangelover]

Of Babies and Love

@solangeloweek’s Nico di Angelo Birthday Event: January 25 – ANGST/FLUFF

A/N: Here’s some fluff based on a headcanon on Tumblr

Read on AO3 or FF.Net or Wattpad

It was a beautiful day for a walk in the park.

The sky was blue, with a few fluffy clouds here and there. There were birds chirping, children laughing happily and running around the playground, dogs playing with their owners. It was almost perfect.

Almost. Nico could do without the wailing baby.

He and Will were strolling near the playground, slowly drawing closer to the crying baby noises that could be heard from way farther back. Nico tried to avoid the area, but Will seemed pulled towards the sound. Must’ve been the healer in him. At any rate, Nico’s ears were quite unhappy with the situation. The baby was loud. He didn’t think his aura would be very helpful to the situation either.

As they passed the playground, they saw the source of the cries. An exhausted mother was holding her baby, clearly trying to sooth her but failing miserably. Will guessed she was a single parent, considering the level of distress and fatigue he felt coming off her in waves. Interning at the city hospital, he hadn’t used his powers in a while, but he was desperate to help this young woman.

“Come on,” Will tugged his boyfriend over to the bench where the woman and baby were. He heard Nico groan, but didn’t pay him any mind. Nico understood his need to help by now.

They approached the woman cautiously, but casually. “Excuse me?” Will politely made himself known, as the mother seemed too preoccupied to notice their presence.

She quickly looked up at them, blinking several times before slowly saying, “Can I help you?”

“Well, actually,” Will smiled kindly, “I was hoping I could help you?” He looked meaningfully at the baby, then back at the mother, hoping he was conveying his sincere desire to help rather than seem like some creeper who wanted to steal her baby.

“Um,” she glanced at her crying child, “no, it’s fine, really. She’s just at that restless age. Sorry about the noise.” She smiled sheepishly, clearly unsure of the situation.

Will sat on the bench a couple feet away from the woman so as not to crowd her. Nico sat on his other side at the edge of the bench, watching to see what his boyfriend would do.

After a beat of silence, Will asked, “What’s her name?”

The mother looked up and smiled softly. “Sophia,” she stated fondly. No matter how frazzled she was, Will could see this woman’s unconditional love for her daughter.

“That’s a lovely name.” Will gazed at the baby, who was too fussy to open her eyes and look back. “My name is Will Solace,” he addressed the mom. “Oh, and this is my boyfriend, Nico.” Nico looked over and nodded, giving the baby a tiny smile.

“Sheri,” the woman replied with a small nod. She seemed much less suspicious of Will now, which was good considering what Will was going to ask next.

“Sheri,” Will smiled as he said her name. “I have a bunch of younger siblings and had to take care of them all. They’re crazy,” he rolled his eyes, “but I love them.” Will’s expression turned soft as he remembered his many siblings back at camp, his younger siblings now in charge since he left. He may not have taken care of them as babies, but care is care. Plus, “I’m also an intern at the city hospital. I’ve even helped deliver babies myself.” Well, just the one time with Mellie, but she didn’t need to know that.

“Wow, really?” Sheri looked wide-eyed at Will, impressed since she probably assumed he was much younger than he was. He got that a lot.

Will nodded eagerly. “Yeah! So, what I’m trying to say, is that maybe I can help you with Sophia? You can trust me to hold her. I think you should take a break for a moment.” He wasn’t sure if this was entirely appropriate to ask, but he didn’t think it would hurt much.

Sheri hesitated, looking Will over and glancing at Nico. Nico kept to himself and made it clear that he had no intention of touching the baby. He knew he didn’t look nearly as gentle as Will, but he agreed that she needed a breather. He hoped he at least didn’t look like a threat.

Sheri seemed to have come to a decision, as she took a breath and looked at her baby once more, who was now very red in the face. “Yeah, I think… that’d be really nice. Thank you.” She delicately passed over Sophia, who somehow cried even louder. Will scooped her up, already shushing her and cooing little comforts as he cradled her against his chest. He stood up and started bouncing on the balls of his feet, shifting the baby so she cried onto his shoulder.

Nico watched in awe. The scene looked so natural for Will. He knew just how to hold her, how to move, all of it, and he was smiling the whole time. It was… peaceful. And right. Nico had no idea how he did it, but he felt his heart melt just a bit at the sight.

After about five minutes, Sophia stopped crying. It could’ve been from tiring herself out, but it was more likely the tiny pulses of healing and warmth Will was pushing into her small body. He could feel part of his shirt soaked with tears, but he didn’t mind. He was holding a precious little life and helping out her tired mom – he was pleased.

Sheri sighed in relief, closing her eyes briefly and reveling in the quiet. She slumped back onto the bench, clearly exhausted. “You are a miracle. Thank you.” She looked towards Nico, “How is he so good?”

Nico was caught off-guard at first, but when he met the eyes of his boyfriend, he couldn’t help but smile. “Pure souls speak to one another.” He looked back at Sheri and shrugged, “He probably has some magical powers, too.”

Sheri laughed, not realizing the weight of his words, and Will scoffed softly. As Will came to sit back down, Nico lit up with an idea. “Oh! I saw a coffee shop a little ways back. Want me to get you some tea?”

“Oh no, no need for that. You boys have done enough for me already, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank us by letting us finish helping you out,” Will insisted. “I recommend chamomile tea! Very good for stress-relief.” He gave Nico a wink, “I’m a doctor.”

Nico rolled his eyes as Sheri laughed again, sounding lighter each time. “Chamomile sounds great.”

--

After the tea run and a few more minutes of peace, Will handed the now sleeping Sophia back to her mother, who profusely thanked the two boys. “Thank you so much, really, I am so grateful that you came along when you did. You’re, like, a god-send.”

Nico and Will shared a knowing look at that. Will turned to Sheri and said, “I’m just glad we could help.” He reached out and gently stroked Sophia’s hair. “You’re lucky to have her.”

Sheri smiled down at her daughter, “Yeah. I really am.”

They wished each other a good day and went their separate ways.

“Well,” Will grabbed Nico’s hand and swung it between them, “that was nice, huh?”

Nico scoffed, “You were her guardian angel, Will. How are you so good with babies?”

“Probably my ‘magical powers,’” Will wiggled his fingers and laughed as Nico blushed.

After a moment of silence, Will bumped their hips together playfully. “Hey,” he said. “You did good too. See, you didn’t scare anyone away.” Nico glanced away, knowing Will had more to say and waiting for him to continue.

“It’s not impossible, you know,” Will said softly.

“What isn’t?”

Will bit his lip before looking at his boyfriend. “Having a family. Of our own.” He smiled gently, squeezing Nico’s hand when he felt him tense up. “Not soon. It’s a discussion for much later. But, I just want you to know that you are capable of it. Raising children, being a father. You are so much more than you realize, Nico. I need you to know that.”

Nico swallowed the lump in his throat. Will knew his reservations, of course he did, even without having ever talked about this before. Nico leaned up and kissed Will’s cheek. No words needed – there was understanding and gratitude in that one gesture.

And love. So much love.

A/N: NOW THERE’S ART BY @icebaerchen :D

[bourbonboredom]

Silver Lining Chapter 7

If you’re ever gonna find a silver lining, it’s gotta be a cloudy day

A ClydexReader fanfic

Word Count: 2,694

Warnings: none

Silver Lining Masterlist

Tag List: @oh-adam  @kyloren-supreme-ben   @xis23@elsablackswift   @ladygrey03 @grey-reylo-solo  @givemelifeorgiveme  @attorneyl @ayatimascd 

Clyde woke up the next morning wrapped in blankets, the sun in his eyes, and with her head nuzzled into his neck. It felt perfect. She was still sound asleep, curled against him. He noticed she must have gotten up at one point in the night because she was now wearing his sweatshirt. It was far too big on her frame with the sleeves falling past her hands and the end of it stopping at around her upper-thigh, but he loved the way it looked on her. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into her hair, not wanting this to end.

But he knew he had to. It was the day. Today he had to land himself in jail for the sake of a crazy heist his brother had come up with. He had to do it, it was for his family. And the money certainly wouldn't hurt either.

He looked at her frame next to his, remembering what she had told him just a few hours ago. She needed money. She wanted her freedom from her psycho ex who was demanding she pay him for medical bills that were his fault. She didn't really need to pay them, in his opinion, she didn't owe him. But he considered that she saw it more as her just removing anything he could hold over her head. It was unfair, but he could understand it.

He decided there, in her bed with her curled up in his arms, that he was going to use some of the heist money to help pay her medical bills. He could find a way to send it anonymously to her ex, keep him out of her life for good. Maybe even help her get her tooth fixed. She admitted a few weeks back that He didn't have much he wanted for himself, he wanted to use this money to help her.

She stirred next to him, lazily opening her eyes and looking up into his. She smiled.

“Hey,” her voice was thick with sleep

“Mornin’,” he responded. “Did you get cold during the night?” he played with a string from his sweatshirt. She chuckled as he poked her cheek with it.

“Maybe, do you want it back?”

“Not right now, are you doin’ better?”

“I think so, yeah,” she untangled herself from him, pushing herself into a sitting position. “Thanks for staying over, sorry if its weird,”

“I don’t mind it,”

She moved a lock of his hair out of his face, fingers lingering over his skin just enough to give him goosebumps on his arms.

“You have really nice hair, y’know that?” she mussed it a little as she pulled away.

“Mellie tells me that a lot too, she keeps giving me shampoo samples from work, says they’re good for me,”

“Well, whatever she’s giving you, its working,” She got off her bed, his sweatshirt just falling below her ass. It started to ride up a bit as she opened her bedroom door and walked out into the front room.

It was just a little peak of skin, just enough for him to see how her sleep shorts had ridden up her thighs, hugging her curves tightly. Fuck, this was not the time to get hard, Clyde. He willed himself to settle down and she turned around in the doorway.

“You comin’? I can make you breakfast if you’d like,”

“In a minute, I gotta put my hand on,” he hoped it wasn't obvious he was trying to hide his lower body under her blankets. She just nodded and went to the kitchen.

He cursed himself silently, trying to think of things to calm him down. Why was a little bit of skin getting him riled up in the first place? Women came into his bar in bikini tops in the summer if it was hot enough! He tried thinking about the bar, going over the steps to clean it. Mopping the floors, filling napkin dispensers, wiping down the bar, bending her over the bar and taking her right there…

He groaned, this was not the time for this to start happening. He wasn't even going to be around! He was going to be in a cinderblock cell for christsake!

And there it was, nothing kills the mood faster than the thought of willingly going to jail for a few months. He got out of bed and reattached his prosthetic, feeling sullen. At least he’d have something to think about in jail now.

He went to the kitchen where she was standing by the stove. She had eggs scrambled and put on to two plates and was just starting to put some bacon in the pan. He willed himself to only look at her above the waist.

“Hey, I’m almost done and then we can eat. How do you like your bacon?”

“Are you gonna laugh at me if I say burnt?”

“Only a little,” her nose crinkled as she laughed, “But if that’s what you want, I can do that no problem,”

He got some orange juice out of the fridge and poured it into two glasses before setting them on the living room’s coffee table. She hadn’t bothered to get a kitchen table, said there wasn't much of a point when it was just her in the house. She came over with the plates of food a few minutes later. She set his in front of him, bacon burnt just how he liked. She had obviously taken hers out of the pan a little bit sooner. She turned on the tv to a morning talk show and they ate while listening to a team of too-chipper women argue over whatever the days gossip was.

The longer he stayed with her, the harder if was going to be for him to leave. He pushed the remainder of his eggs around on his place, barely listening to the talkshow. All he could think about was how in a few hours he was going to be in jail and he couldn't tell her. He couldn't prepare her for him saddling her with Duck Tape for months on end. The guilt gnawed at him.

He stood up suddenly, surprising both of them.

“I have to go, Jimmy wanted me to do something for him this morning,” he said quickly. “Thanks for making breakfast,”

“Thanks for staying over, it was— uh—I—” she stumbled over her words, playing with the strings of his sweatshirt. “I appreciate it,”

He stopped rushing to leave and turned to her.

“I’m here for you, I’m glad I could help,”

“Yeah, well—uh— I’ll let you know if I need help again,” she smiled at him, “I’ll give you your sweatshirt back at work, yeah?”

He swallowed.

“Yeah,”

———————————

The trial went by quickly. It was a minor charge, he’d only serve three months in prison. He had gotten to see his siblings as the sentencing, they sat near the back of the court room. Before the trial began Mellie told Clyde to call her when he could, she was worried.

He did just that only a few hours after arriving at Monroe County Correctional Facility. The line rang twice before she picked up.

“Hello?”

“It’s me,”

“Clyde! What happened are you okay? The operator just asked me if I wanted to take a call from an inmate,”

“I’m okay, my foot slipped on the gas and I got into a car accident, I’m serving a short sentence because of some property damages from the building I hit,”

“You hit a building?”

“I’m okay, I swear. I’m sorry I didn't get to tell you before, I wasn't allowed much,”

“It’s okay, I’m glad you're okay. I was so worried about you. Mellie came by to tell me that you were in trouble, but didn’t have a lot of details. People were asking about you at the bar, I wasn't sure what to tell them,”

“You can tell them whatever, I dont mind. I’m sorry to just be leavin’ you with the bar like this,”

“I’m really not sure what to do to be honest, its strange without you here,”

“You’ll do just fine, I’ve seen you work, you know what you're doing. And I trust you,”

“I’ll do my best,” She said quietly. “Are you gonna be okay?”

“I’ll be fine, its just three months I’ll be back before you realize,”

“Okay, thats not too bad. Do you need commissary money? Do you want me to visit?”

“No, Mellie and Jimmy can handle the money don’t you worry about that. And—“ he stopped himself.

He wanted to see her. He really did. But then he looked down at his prison uniform and his bare limb. The guards told him he couldn't have his prosthetic in prison, it was too easily use as a weapon or a place to hide weapons. So he would be going three months without his hand, which was kept in the safety of his room back home. He looked awful. He felt awful. He didn't want her to see him like this.

“And I dont think I’ll be needin’ any visits any time soon, I’ll be okay. Promise,”

“Okay,” It was hard to tell over the phone but he thought he detected a hint of sadness, “As long as you’re okay,”

“Listen, if you ever need any help, call Jimmy or Mellie. They’ll be around for you,”

“I’ll remember that, thanks,”

“And I dont get many phone calls, but I’ll keep in touch. Y’know, to hear about the bar. And you,” He heard her give a breathy laugh.

“I’ll put this number in my phone so I know to pick up. And regarding the bar, I’ve got some light gossip to start off with…”

———————————

The heist was pulled off about a month later. Jimmy had to move up the date by a week because the construction job that made this all possible was closing up early. They rushed to accommodate the time difference but it worked.

Of course there were a few hiccups. They almost got caught a few times, once by the English man whose car Clyde had torched with a molotov cocktail. But he took care of that real quick. And then the bomb Joe Bang was supposed to have made flew back into his arms, giving him a flashback of his service days. And then there was a problem with his prosthetic.

Mellie had given it back to him for the job, it felt good to have it back. It helped him feel like a person again, if only for the few hours he was out of prison. But then Joe Bang had to go and suck it up in the tube that they were using to suck up the money with. Jimmy said he’d get it back for him but it still felt awful to lose it.

And then to have all the Bang brothers confirm his worst fears. People knew why he joined the army, they understood it was because he was trying to be half as good as his brother. Jimmy had a life, he was going to play football, he had his wife and his daughter and was the town’s pride. Clyde just wanted to feel like he was something too. And he almost felt it. Then he lost his hand. And Jimmy lost the football scholarship. But it was all going to be worth it if they pulled this heist off.

And now he comes to hear from his sister that the money was found at a gas station and had been returned to the race track. Jimmy had screwed them all over. And now he was sitting in jail for nothing.

The family curse had worked its magic once again.

He was angry. He didn't talk much to people in the first place but he was almost completely silent for the next week. He did his job mopping the floors, ate his meals, and would lay awake at night in silence.

He didn't want to call her. He had done this heist partially for her. He wanted to get her that money to help her feel the freedom she craved. He was ashamed and couldn't even tell her why. He pushed it from his mind, it hurt too much to think about. He was disappointing her and she didn't even know it.

Mellie came to visit him two weeks after the heist. If she noticed he looked disheveled she didn't comment on it.

“I know you're upset. Hell, we’re all upset, but what’s done is done. Jimmy isn't talking to anyone about it and we aren't gonna figure this out until he talks. Which’ll be who knows when!” She waved her arms, which made the guard shoot her a warning look. She glared back and looked at there brother again.

“Your girl was asking about you by the way. She’s worried about you, you know. You haven't called her in two weeks. She won’t say she misses you but she does. A lot,”

Clyde let out a half-hearted grunt in response. He really didn’t want to talk about this with his sister. And he didn’t want his sister calling her his “girl”. She wasn’t his. And wouldn’t ever be.

“Did I tell you last time I went to her place she was wearing your sweatshirt? You wanna tell me about that?” She continued, not accepting his grunt as an answer. 

Clyde groaned. He knew Mellie and her were becoming good friends but he didn’t think this would come up.

“It’s nothin’. She was upset one night and I stayed over is all. I let her keep the sweatshirt because I knew I was gonna be in here and I wanted to give her some comfort,”

“Like a beau would, you mean? And what do you mean ‘stayed over’? In her bed?” Clyde’s face was steadily turning a shade of beet red. “Clyde, did you and her—“

“No, Mellie. We did not. Not that it’s your business.”

“But you want to,” She gave him a look. “We all see how you look at her, and we see how she looks at you. You two need to get it together already,”

“You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. She's my employee,”

“Who is runnin’ your bar like a champ right now, but the way. She barely even needs help. And don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talkin’ about. I know you, and I’ve spent a helluva lot of time with her now that you aren't around to keep her to yourself,” she pointed a long, manicured nail at him. “You’re both crazy for each other. Man up and admit it to her,”

“I don’t know about all that,” he said quieter. “Havin’ a girl like me like that,”

Mellie softened after hearing that. She knows how hard of a time her brother has had.

“Look Clyde, she’s different. She cares for you. It shows in how she cooks for you and how she’s taken to your family, and how she talks about you. Even when you're not there, she talks as if you hung the moon all by yourself.”

His lips pursed together, it sounded too goo to be true.

“She told me a little about what happened by the way, how she got here. She wouldn’t go into detail but she did tell me about how you’ve been helping her. You’re a good person, I know you don’t like to hear that but you are. And she knows that. She doesn’t judge your past or your disability or even the fact that you’re in a damn prison right now! She liked you for exactly who you are. And she’s walking around her house in your clothes? She’s packaged at your door, you just gotta pick her up,”

He was quiet for a few moments, processing what she had just to him. He felt a glimmer of hope. That things could work out for once,

“Tell her I’ll put her on my visitation list, I wanna see her,” Mellie nodded to her brother, breaking into a huge smile.

“She’s gonna like hearing that,”

[smallgirlbigpersonality]

Take it Easy | Chapter 5

Source: mirandaabarlow

5/15 (Chapter 4)

Pairing: Clyde Logan x Reader

Word Count: 1,800+

Disclaimer: All copyrighted characters are property of Bleeker Street, Fingerprint Releasing & Steven Soderbergh.

Warning: Rated PG-13 (Eventual NC-17)  

Author’s Notes: Sorry for the wait everyone! I just wanna take a second to thank @ayatimascd for beta reading this chapter! <3 Seriously, she made this so much easier. As usual if you’d like to be added to the taglist send me a message or an ask! Any feedback/constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. :) 

P.S. - You’ll also notice this story now has a chapter count! We’re 10 away from the end people. 

Clyde knew he had to move on the “Save Mart” phase of their plan or he’d never be able to work up the nerve. Last night was almost too perfect. He fell asleep with you in his arms and the next morning you were still there. Smiling at him as you peppered his face with good morning kisses. Clyde Logan wasn’t the kind of man who backed down from a commitment but the idea of running away with you was just getting too damn tempting. After you left he had to give himself a thirty-minute pep talk on how this was for his family and the right thing to do.

That didn’t stop him from feeling bad for his poor car though. The old Pontiac Grand Prix was a hand-me-down from his mother. The day he turned 16 she entrusted the vehicle to him because she knew he’d take care of it. Boy, did he have a feeling that his momma would kill him if she knew what he was about to do…

He ran a hand through his long black hair and then over the faded leather that covered the steering wheel.

“Cauliflower,” he muttered as he turned up the volume on the radio.

The adrenaline started coursing through his veins, making his muscles tense. He gripped the steering wheel tighter still hesitant to press down on the accelerator.

“Cauliflower, cauliflower, cauliflower, cauliflower,” Clyde kept repeating the term over and over again. As if saying it would finally let him overcome his instincts, which were telling him to hightail it out of the parking lot. If he left right now he could still make it in time before his shift was supposed to start.

With one last “cauliflower” Clyde hit the gas pedal hard and sent his classic car flying through the window of Boone County’s local travel mart. The flimsy support beams were no match for his Grand Prix’s large metal frame, the car took out at least three on its way in. It also shattered a couple of windows, sending tiny shards of glass flying in every direction. Clyde finally slammed on the brakes when his car hit the chip aisle. Support posts, windows, and one chip standee… He tried to make a mental note of the damage before climbing out of the car.

The middle Logan had to remind himself his anxiety wasn’t over this part as much as it was the shit storm that was about to ensue. By shit storm he was referring about the court things and prison sentence headed his direction. He slowly climbed out of the driver side door and grabbed the nearest bag of chips. Clyde tried to avoid eye contact with the cashier as he set the bag down on the counter and fished out his wallet.

He earned a look of pure confusion from the young girl behind the register. She set down her cell phone, blinked a few times as if to question his sanity, and then decided to speak.

“…I think I need to go call my boss,” she murmured, picking up the corded phone from its stand on the wall.

Much to his surprise things played out almost exactly like Jimmy said they would. The cops didn’t arrest him at the “Save Mart” they let Millie drive him home. Heck, they didn’t even impound his car. They just took pictures of it and then Jimmy had his friend tow it to their sister’s house. The whole thing seemed a little lackluster to Clyde. He was trading away at least three months of his life so he expected what the crime scene shows promised him. He wanted sirens, yellow tape, and flashing lights… But all he got was a summons and a letter from his public defender in the mail.

Which meant for the past two weeks the middle Logan had been avoiding you like the plague. Between help from Jimmy and his shifts at Ducktape he’d done a pretty good job of it. The one time you stopped by the bar things had been so crazy you didn’t really have a chance to focus on his poker face. Besides it looked like Max was keeping you busy with last minute race preparations.

Clyde let out a sigh as he tried to settle into a more comfortable spot on the couch. It would have been nice to spend his last night as a free man with you. Instead, it was just him, Mellie, a six pack of beer, and a box of pizza.

“Are ya nervous about tomorrow?” Mellie asked.

“No,” he murmured, shifting again. He ran a hand through his thick black locks.

“Are ya gunna tell (y/n)?”

“No.”

“Did ya’ll stop seeing each other?” his sister pressed.

“No Mellie. Considerin’ how she’s a lawyer and all now’s probably not the best time for her to be poking around is it?” In reality, Clyde knew that if he was in trouble you’d want to help. If you helped… Well he couldn’t risk not ending up in jail. The whole plan would’ve fallen to pieces and he couldn’t have that on his conscious.

“I can’t tell her till it’s all over,” he murmured with an even softer tone this time.

Mellie Logan shook her head and let out a good long sigh. Sometimes she wished the sense had ben divvied up more equally in her family. Jimmy was dead set on being the village idiot more often than not and poor Clyde was like a modern-day flagellant. The man needed to make selfish decisions more often.

“Clyde… I know we’re family and all but it’s okay to want other people… All I’m sayin’ is that I’d understand if you wanted her around…”

“She can’t know any of what’s going on. Why in tarnation would I bring her into this?” he decided. He shot his sister a soft glare as a warning, letting her know that he was done with the whole (y/n) discussion.

The next morning Clyde pulled himself out of bed with a groan. His eyes tracked over to the teddy bear sitting on his dresser. Since none of the Logans seemed to be big on technology you’d decided to leave Moose with Clyde. You wanted him to have some kind of reminder of you even if it was a small one. This morning it seemed like that bear was staring him down; everything in his life was conspiring to get him to call you.

“Don’t you look at me like that!” Clyde grumbled, as he reached over and knocked the bear on its back.

He hobbled off to the bathroom to get ready for the day. The way he looked at it he only had a few hours of freedom left and wanted to at least get in a good shower and a shave. His mother raised him to dress for the occasion and well…court seemed like an occasion. In the end, he threw on a pair of black dress pants as well as a blue button down.

The drive to court was silent; Clyde sat there teetering somewhere between angry and anxious. He was glad his lawyer didn’t ask him to say much… He doubted that he’d be capable of too many answers right now. It seemed like his lawyer didn’t have too much to say either; which was a little troubling. He didn’t want to spent another six months of his life in prison. The bartender cast his brother a burning glare.

“Mr. Logan, do you know why we’re here today?”

“Yes, sir,” Clyde responded, making sure to switch his attention back to the gentlemen in black robes.

“Even though you claim this was an accident saying that your foot slipped, these are some very serious charges. You’re facing one count of Vehicular Mischief, one count of Reckless Endangerment, and Destruction of Private Property,” he announced.

This time Clyde looked to Mellie. Jimmy was the one who got him trouble, Mellie was always there for support. Yet, she had her eyes trained towards the front of the room. Maybe she was still annoyed at him for last night? But they hadn’t really fought that bad… Well at least that’s what he thought.

“It’s unfortunate that in a county as small as ours that sealed records don’t function the way they should. Taking into account the last time I saw you you were a juvenile and the great sacrifices you’ve made for this country, I’m going to be as lenient as the law allows. I’m sentencing you to 90 days to be served at Monroe County Correctional Facility,” the judge decreed, “Normally, I’d just suspend your license but it seems like yours was revoked over two years ago, Clyde. Did you fail to report for your DDT, young man?”

“That’s correct your honor, but my client had just gotten back from active duty,” his lawyer piped up. Finally deciding to say something. He wasn’t sure if the Logan curse was at work, if this man was bad at his job, or if both things were acting in tandem here.

“I wasn’t speaking to you, counselor,” the judge snapped. Turning a harsh gaze to the man standing next to Clyde. Then he refocused on the defendant, “Are your affairs in order?”

“Yes, your honor,” he replied in a monotone voice.

“When you get out get some insurance and take your damn DDT. I don’t want to see you in here again. Do you understand?” The youngest Logan brother simply nodded in reply.

“Well then bailiff, take this man into custody immediately… Clyde, I want you to know I take no pleasure in doing this,” the judge sighed, slamming his gavel down on its sound block.

Now both of his siblings’ eyes were on him. It was easy to tell that his sister was some sort of scared for him. Sad part was, he figured that Monroe County couldn’t throw anything at him that Iraq hadn’t. They didn’t have the chance to exchange any words before the court’s officer moseyed over to Clyde with a perplexed look on his face. Cuffs in hand he looked from Clyde’s prosthetic to his real arm, back to the cuffs, and then back to his partner. The man groaned internally while he watched the two mull over how to handle him. Good lord.

“You won’t be any trouble, will ya?” the bailiff inquired raising an eyebrow.

“No sir,” he replied, holding his arms out in front of him. They then continued to grab his arms, leading him back towards the holding area. It took until that moment for Clyde to process the finality of this situation. He started to go pale as he realized how stupid he’d been.

For a man that was afraid of being alone he was certainly determined to maintain his lone wolf status.  

“Mellie! Just let her know where I am,” he called, craning his neck to see if she heard him. His sister nodded in response.

“Now why didn’t he ask me to call her?” Jim asked turning to his sister. She just grunted.

“Why don’t you worry about the rules and I’ll worry about Clyde?” she replied.

“Well fine then,” Jim muttered, reaching up to scratch the top of his head.

“You know, if this doesn’t work out for him… I’m never gunna forgive ya, even if he does,” Mell stated, giving her oldest brother a serious look.

Tag List: @morphoportis, @imaginecrushes, @empress-ren, @but-kairis-not-that-smart, @ayatimascd, @supermcspidy

[aggresivelyfriendly]

~Meet Me In The Hallway~

Chapter 31-Emergency Exit

Eternal thanks to my peeps-come scream at me, send me the songs this brings to your mind, or tell me who Melly should pick....

I never wore the ear muffs. I didn't mind heading from whatever place we were hitting hard and fast before sleeping or loading onto a bus with fuzzy ears. I loved the music and the sound of the screams. Even the ones of my brother's name. Really, I loved the energy of the tens of thousands of girls who came out to see them. When it was Harry's name they were chanting my feelings were so paradoxical you could call me Oscar Wilde, the only thing i couldn't resist was temptation. And Harry looked bloody tempting. The volume seemed to agree with me. It was so loud, the screams so deafening and ecstatic, that I was wearing ear muffs, so that when I went back to the hotel, with the man making everybody scream, I could hear his. The paradox was while It irked me to hear so many rapturous voices call his name, it thrilled me too. Made me feel like my alter ego, who Harry had named Harmony. Outwardly sexy and daring, and smug. Smug that he was mine. It turned me on that he could set a huge room to a simmer. I was aware that many of these girls would happily go home with any of the boys at the drop of a hat, or a belt, but that Harry was the one they hollered for, fantasized for, but I was the one who got to undo him, in every way, had me boiling. In Phoenix that night, it was on a whole other level. He'd forgotten his precious head-scarf at the hotel. If I thought unwinding it for his was a rapture, I wasn’t prepared for the rhapsody playing before me. "Leave it, H!" I d assured him for the dozenth time. "It's a weird length," he complained again. I wasn't sure there was a strong enough way for me to disagree verbally, so I decided to show him that actions were louder than words. I walked over to him and ran my palm up the back of his neck and into the collected curls creating his shoulder. I gripped the flowing chestnut mane and turned him to me. I'd been the instigator by this point, but perhaps not the aggressor, but the way he looked inspired me. Once o had his head at an angle that approached favorable, I pressed my mouth to his and immediately swiped my tongue against his fuller bottom lip. He gasped at my uncharacteristic move and it gave me time and opportunity to press deeper and wetter into him. I licked over his tongue and flicked his upper lip as I pulled away before biting his bottom lip. He looked at me breathless with blown pupils. "It's not a weird length." I put my other hand into the mop of curls and pulled lightly and a little harder when he moaned. I pressed to his ear. "It's pretty." "Pretty?" He wanted to look offended, but he knew he was a pretty specimen. "Pretty, hot, sexy," I ran my hand over his shoulder and chest and hooked my hands into the waistband of his blue jeans where they met the thin white shirt he wore.  "Like I can't wait until we get back to our room tonight." The twenty minutes till stage had already been sounded, but my words lit Harry's wick and the house fire I'd started was too far gone to control. His hands found the backs of my thighs and he hooked me up his hips and pivoted to drop me onto the vanity top. We weren't even in a room, anyone could walk in, but his fingers were already pushing my pants to the side and I had his belt open. The kiss I'd lifted off of him had done its job for both of us. I wondered if Harry was half hard all the time, except when he had just finished. It was how I always found him. I was not always wet, but I was a light switch in his presence. Slow gravel in his words, turned on, finger trail over my skin,  "Melody." spoken in the right tone. All of these things were as easy as flicking on a water faucet. This situation hit a couple of buttons I wasn't even aware of. Gemma was here, along with the whole touring company. The idea of Harry's big sister walking in on his taking me in the open was the fear ringing in my head and bringing shivers to my skin, the temptation I couldn't resist. "I think you started something by fucking me at your mum's house." He slid to a stop when his hips hit the wood top on a grunt and I whined, "what did I start now?' He pulled down my bottom lip with his fingers and licked into my open mouth. His hands found my hips and pulled me to balance on the ledge of the countertop. It rattled underneath us. The edge dug into the flesh of my ass and I knew there would be a red line there. It let him get deeper into me, to meet my end, which was nearly all of him. So I traded the discomfort for the sensation. My head fell back on my neck when he gave me a rough one. "Melody," "Hmmmm," I moaned and heard him chuckle. "What did I start?" he pulled my chin back to parallel so he could see me. I blushed, which was hilarious because he was balls deep in me. "Apparently," I ducked my chin, "I like the idea of getting caught." His left check quirked and I slapped his face a little then squicked when I heard someone call his name. Harry didn't stop,  but I wasn't there anymore. The idea of capture was much more alluring than the reality. I realized it was a security guard, Tom, maybe and that he was getting closer. I planted my feet on harry's hip and yanked back my own pushing harry out of me. He gave me a look like I'd taken candy from him, the big baby. He was standing between my legs, the both of us panting and the heavy footfalls were upon us. Harry righted my dress and zipped up. "How am I supposed to go out there like this?" He looked to the sky for an answer, but I had one ready for him. I leaned into his ear, "You use it....All the energy and give them a great show." Then I pulled back and gave him my own smile fit for a cat full of cream. "And you remember that I'm all over you so i can have all the energy that's left over. Change your shirt." I pulled it over his head. "Go." He took off running, promising he was ready, even as he was shirtless and had red marks on his neck. I sat on the vanity top and breathed until I was brave enough to look into the mirror. My hair was a bit of a mess, though I didn't really recall him touching it and I was less mussed than I felt. My arm hair was still standing on end though and my dress felt heavy pressed to my tingly skin. Maybe that's why I needed the ear muffs that night. Everything was heightened for me. My senses stayed on alert, like they knew he wasn't finished with me. That made me smile. Harry wasn't finished with me, and I wasn't nearly done with him. Since that first taste, I was fairly certain I hoped we never reached the end of our shared path. Things were better, he had had a full few days off and he'd slept and his optimism filled us both with helium as we floated high on what we had and ignored the things we didn't.    And we still had time. Two more months of tour and Harry had convinced me to spend a few weeks together in London and we were making plans for Christmas. We were going to spend Christmas together! Maybe! I bit my lip and made my way side stage. Harry always called me angel, but that is what he looked like with his cascade of curls. An angel in fitted blue jeans with a devil smile and plans for me. We made plans that night in bed. "So,  I figured that maybe you can stay with me, at my house in London. If you want to you can even stay through Christmas. I think I have some business in LA." He yawned into my hair. "But you can come with me." "How are you still awake, H? You should get some sleep." How did I tell him there was no way I could extend my time away from Australia for a full two months and that it would break my mother's heart if I missed Christmas entirely, after being away for months on end. I loved him, and I wanted to be with him, but I missed my family. We would just have to talk about it after he had got a goods night rest. "No, I don't wanna sleep." He whined like he did when he was beyond exhausted or tipsy. I tuned over to him. "I can hear you are tired, baby." he sighed and buried his head in my neck. "It's just been such a good day. Feel better than I have in ages, and I miss talking to you." "I'll be here in the morning," I promised. But I wasn't. My brother called me about some hair crisis. "I told you, no bleach without me!" I whined while I picked at his straw like hair. I was gonna have to go borrow shears from Lou to fix this mess. "Whatever, this is basically the only way to get you out of Styles' bed." Michael complained and I caught more than bitching in his voice. "so," I responded. Texting Lou to head over. "He is my boyfriend." I reminded watching the three grey dots appear. "Yeah, Stench, we know, we all know. Can't miss the way you two are always pawing at each other." He scoffed. "What? Like it’s better that you are always wrapped around some girl who is as disposable as the condom you use!" I don't know why what he was saying was bothering me. I thought he was on board the Helly train, or at least he was ok with it. "Oh, like your boyfriend used to do!" He looked at me with the venom only a sibling can have. Like he wished me dead and I was his worst enemy at this moment, but probably not tomorrow. "Used to do. Operative phrase! Fuck you, Mick-fix your own shit." and I turned to leave. "I give him a month when you are back in Aus to be looking for Victoria's Secret. Tiger's Stripes, and Leopard's Spots!" He called after me while I passed a bewildered Lou in the hall. Stomping back to mine and Harry's room. I walked in in a huff and saw him sitting at the breakfast I'd ordered him when I left to come around when he needed to be up. I hoped he had thrown on some boxers, but I guessed not, because he had on a robe, which meant he was naked. And as much as I usually loved naked HArry, the idea of anybody, event he bloody room service, seeing him naked but me was pissing me off. "So, did Michael dye his hair black of something." I laughed a little as I'd gone on a tirade one night when my brother asked for black hair because then he would just want pink and be pissed I couldn't get all the pigment out. "No, he got into the bleach without me, didn't even put any sweetener in, so his scalp is tender, and its gonna need to be cut off." I huffed over and took te coffee he had made for me. I smiled at him. He was so sweet, not a filthy fucker like my brother. "Ok...." Harry looked at me expectantly. "Why are you so upset about it, and why didn't you fix it." He pulled me down onto his lap. "H!" I said, "I don't think I can do this with you naked." "You do everything with me naked." He raised a brow I huffed, "We got into it." I took a sip and scalded my mouth. "Fuck!" Harry handed me some water and took my mug. My 'M' mug. This boy loved me, he wouldn't cheat on me. "I just need to calm down. He's a wanker." and I cuddled into him and remembered how wonderful he was and didn't say a word about extra-vehicular activities like the bus sex he had used to have or my fears about being apart. Because we were going to be apart. That may have been the biggest argument we ever had. Harry even walked out. "Why can't you come? just come be with me in London, Melody! It's not like you have anything going on back in Australia."

My face fell and was red like a matador’s cape. His comment hit home, right on my bull’s eye.That was a big problem I was having within myself. My gap year had turned into nearly two, and I was still no closer to knowing what I wanted to do. Uni seemed farther away and I wasn't sure what I'd study. I thought there would be loads of time to write on tour. But, other than love notes to harry and text messages, I hadn't committed a word to paper in 18 months. I hadn't been able to. That realization made me gasp. So much for a big life and grand love being inspiring. I'd seen the whole world, and felt things fit to inspire Ovid, but I wasn't mining them, or even using them. I'd learned a lot since I'd been around Lou and Lottie, but it wasn't my 'thing' like it was theirs. I did it as an easy gig. Harry had told me once I was too smart to 'just' do hair and that felt like such a put down to people meant for that. But, he was right. No amount of highlighter of red lipstick would ever fill up the questions my brain was always asking. Also, something that I was ashamed to admit even to myself, I was jealous. I may not have committed anything to paper. but Harry had. He had been writing more and more, at first with other people, and more and more, himself. I'd started it, to be fair. When I had bought him his first leather bound journal and I'd felt proud to watch it get all scuffed up and filled. Now he was buying his own and showing me snatches of songs all the time. I'd cried when he's showed me the last one. It was so good, so beautiful, and full of us. Snatches of our relationship, words, and my own heartbreak. He'd written me a song, and he told me there were so many more that might as well have been called Melody in his hide bound pensieve. We'd made love after he sang me that song on the guitar he was laboriously learning to play, and I felt like we were both home, in the place he built us out of words. It was flattering and romantic to be Harry's muse. But I had hoped he would be mine. When I figured we were to be temporary, or a lark, or just friends, it was how I had justified the time and pain I might experience. But, none of that had panned out. Instead, I was wasn't writing, or studying, or doing a job I loved. I was just Harry's good time girl. At times, I wasn't sure that good times were enough. And, I had to go home to Australia. I needed to see my mum. She needed to put her hands on me. i wanted to sleep in my own bed, for once, and there were a few people who would be home to see. I told Harry that I could come to him after, between Christmas and New Year's, but he wouldn't hear it. "That's not good enough, Melly! i want to spend Christmas with you. Especially if you won't come to London with me." "I will come to London, Harry. I will. But I can't stay for months on end. Mum will kill me if Michael makes it home before me. I'm not the rock star. I know that its normal for you to run out on your family." as soon as it left my mouth, before I even say the words make impact on his face, I knew that I had touched a sore subject. "I don't like leaving, Melody. But, it’s my job. And you are going to need to understand that if this is gonna work. Especially if you are going to be running home to Australia all the time!" "Running to Australia all the time!?? It's my home, Harry. What would you have me do, just follow you around. I need to lead my own life."  and I did, but we both knew I wasn't sure what path to walk. His face gentled, and I could tell he had something to say I may not like. "Melly, that's true. But while, you are figuring that out, can't you just stay with me?' "Harry...." I trailed off. I felt like that was a really selfish question. But I had no good reason to say no to it. "When I'm with you, you are my whole life. And I love it. I love how consuming we are. But, it’s not fair. I need to see my family and sort out my life before I decide I just want to spend it on the sidelines watching yours." "Melody, you aren't a spectator. You are my partner." Harry came over and put his forehead against mine. But I felt like a spectator, or hanger on. It wasn't enough for me. I wanted to be more than his girlfriend. Or some junior partner. Which was all I could be without something that was mine So after two blissful, heady weeks in London, with a fucked out weekend in Paris as a capper. I went home to Australia, breaking my heart and Harry’s I had hoped it was just a little crack that we could patch up and fire to make us even stronger. But when my mother got sick at Christmas, and had to be hospitalized, I was simultaneously happy to be home and distraught that I didn't get to see Harry before his responsibilities started again full time. Then he was in LA, and we barely had a moment to talk. I was helping my mother get better. But I still didn't know what I was doing with my life. Except being Harry Styles' secret girlfriend, a wannabe writer and twenty year old who lived with her parents. Though, that had happened for a reason. I went with my mom to all her gut wrenching chemo appointments and watched her hair fall out, was thankful for every conversation and memory of me, michael, dad, and their courtship she shared, and tried not to be selfish because I missed a boy. I really missed my boy. When we did talk, when I gave in and called because I desperately needed to talk or just hear his voice so I knew the world was spinning madly on, even if I was in stasis, he was sympathetic.  He was sympathetic, but he always had to go. He always had to go. And I always did the calling. Over time, I started to feel like a burden. My life was in neutral, his in overdrive, and when my mom got the all clear, for the next year at least, I was just waiting. None of the plans I could make would start for months. I needed something, a word, or a trip to see my love. And he needed a holiday, maybe a holiweek. But we could never find a way to work it out. We couldn’t work it out. Then he wasn’t available, even when I was trying. I decided to be stupid and test it. I decided to wait. How long would he go without speaking to me if I didn’t make the overture. Days, then weeks, then a fortnight, then a month. While I waited, I surfed make up artists instagrams and made a friend. She worked in Asia and Oceania, Ada did. When the pictures started getting published, of Harry’s life away. This whole life he never spoke to me about, with famous powerful beautiful people, while I was on my phone in the pajamas I hadn’t bothered to get out of, I tried not to be bothered. I tried not to be broken. But I was. I lay in that bed where he had traced my personal wailing wall and I watched the morning sun wake him and realized we were a memory. And I cried. Of course he didn’t call me. He brought out the best in me, I hoped I did for him too, but the huge smile on his face and his happy dancing with his new besties made me fold in on myself. I was down to a quarter turn when Ada offered me the job. And that night new pictures came out of Harry in what looked lesson to be for all intents and purposes a double date. I could only conclude Harry was gone, not just away.   And I needed an emergency exit. No amount of memories or fading love was gonna change who we were. He was Harry Styles and I was just somebody’s little sister who looked well enough and made herself available. I was not in his league, I had no business even stepping on his field. And he was to lovely to tell me it was over, or wanted to avoid the conversation entirely. Or worse, he couldn’t be bothered. Didn’t think of me enough to even remember the girl who was supposed to be more than a friend a whole world away. We were just a faded photograph these days, the lo-Fi filter on an insta post. We used to be full color. And if I was going to be a better me, it was time to take flight. I called Ada, and took the job. I pushed open the emergency door of my life, because as it stood, I was going down, and stepped out into the great blue and hoped my parachute opened before my decision to jump caught up to me. if I was going to be a better me, it was time to take flight. By the time I stopped, months later on that sofa with Kara, and realized I’d been foolish to run, that I hadn’t even put up a fight, that I’d just raised a white flag, it was too late and we were far away from who we used to be.

I didn’t even recognize me, a ghost was all that was left of me.

Thank you always @nocontrolforlouis

[musexmelrose]

—✩ TASK 001 ; DIG A LITTLE DEEPER ! [PART ONE]

“ You gotta dig a little deeper, find out who you are. You gotta dig a little deeper, it really ain’t that far. When you find out who you are, you find out what you need — blue skies and sun shine guaranteed. ”

BASIC INFORMATION.

What is your character’s full name ? Melrose Alexia Pomene  How is it pronounced ? Mel-rose | Ah-lex-ee-ah | Pah-mean Is there a meaning behind it ? her mother really wanted a name that was unique and beautiful, her father really wanted a Grecian name, SO her mother named her Melrose after the city that she met her husband in, and her father got to choose her middle name Does your character have any nicknames ? Mel; Melly When and where were they born ? February 23 1999 in Carthay, California What’s their zodiac sign and what traits do they most relate to ? Mel is a pisces and relates most to these traits: artistic talent, strong emotion capability, & idealism What’s their nationality ? American/Greek What’s their occupation ? Rising Star Student What gender do they identify themselves as ? Female

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

What’s their eye color ? Hazel Do they wear glasses or contacts ? No  Hair color ? Dark Brown Have they ever dyed their hair or wanted to ? She’s never dyed it but is open to the idea ! Height ? 5' 7'' Body build ? Slim Do they have any birthmarks ? no Do they have any piercings or tattoos ? A few small piercings on her ears, no tatts yet If not, do they want to get some ? P o s s  P o s s Do they have a healthy life style ? ooooh yeah. to mel, her body is a temple and she tries very hard to keep it healthy from the inside out How easy do they get sick ? Mel has a great immune system, so when she does get sick she gets SICK and feels like death Any marks on their body ( injuries, … ) ? she has a noticeable scar that wraps around her ankle, sort of like an anklet, from an accident that happened during her first ever performance she fell down the stairs of the stage she doesn’t like to talk about it and will avoid this story at all costs What’s their personal style/how do they like to dress ? mel doesn’t really have a set style as she tries to change things up a lot-- but you can bet she always tries her best to look damn good What is their favorite and least favorite feature about themselves ? she likes her hair but gets insecure about her smile

PERSONALITY.

Positive traits ? creative, passionate, focused, fun-loving, romantic Negative traits ? dramatic, vulnerable, obsessive, sensitive, stubborn What do they consider to be the best and the worst part of their personality ? mel prides herself on her creativity but sometimes resents her over-sensitivity Are they more extroverted or introverted ? EXTROVERTED Any talents ? YEAH BABY : singing ; acting ; dancing ; can play 5 instruments ; can cry on command ? is that a talent ?? yes What are their fears ? Failure in fulfilling her dream Do they have any phobias ? a little bit of claustrophobia, sad clowns kind of weird her out ?, atychiphobia – the fear of failure What is their soft spot ? she’s such a sucker for roses, if you ever piss her off-- a bouquet of roses will usually do the trick... or a kitten... or dark chocolate  List 3 pet-peeves they can’t stand ? chronic lateness ; “no offense...” ;  slow walkers

EDUCATION.

How far did they go in school ? Are they still studying ? Still studying! She’s currently in her freshman year of college Do/Did they like school ? Sure! of course sometimes she’d rather spend her time elsewhere, she likes to learn and loves the freedom and the fact that many of her friends are right there with her What type of student are/were they ? Mel tries excel in every class she takes, which causes her to usually be a very good student. however sometimes, when classes are hard, boring, and don’t interest her... she can tend to slack off What is/was their favorite subject ? theater & music And their least favorite ? math whose with me ? What were they/would they have been voted as “most likely to…” in the yearbook ? “Most likely to become famous”

FAMILY.

Who are your character’s parents ? Zeno Pomene & Meena Syne (maiden name) How would your character describe them ? THE BEST, Melrose adores her parents. they are v busy people so they aren’t around as often as she would like them to be but not to the point where its a negative impact on her life. they are her number one fans and haven’t missed even one of her many performances. they are inspirations to her. Do they have any siblings ? nope ; but she thinks of her Gospel Truth gals as sisters Are they close with their family ? very, her family means everything to her and are her biggest supporters

ROMANCE & SEXUALITY.

What’s their romantic and sexual orientation ? heteromantic/heterosexual Are they seeing anyone right now ? no but lonely babe likes to dream Have they ever been in an relationship ? not yet forever alone Have they ever been in love ? not yet but a girl can dream How easy do they fall for someone ? SO easily In their view, why didn’t any past relationships work out ? she believes she’s never had one because of her ambition and standards. she’s so dedicated to her career that she’s never had time to devote her love to someone or her attention to finding her prince charming What do they look for in someone ? passion and romance; someone who views love as art Do they believe in love at first sight ? or fate ? both ! she’s a hopeless hopeless hopeless romantic What’s their views on romance ? Do they go after it or avoid it ? SHE LOVES ROMANCE Did they have their first time already ? How was it in their point of view ? lil baby mel is still a virgin ; she’s so busy all the time that she’s never really had a relationship and she’s told herself she’s waiting for loveee What is their view on sex ? one of the most ultimate acts of passion; she would never do it in the absence of feelings What are their turn ons and turn offs ? turn ons: emotions, tuxedos, a nice smile, EYES, romance ; turn offs: unromantic, bad hygiene, emotionless, no appreciation for music Were they ever cheated on or have they cheated on someone ? F u c k  n o  Do they want to get married in the future ? Y E S ! Have kids ? possiblyyy?? she doesn’t have time to think about that yet

QUIRKS.

Are they right or left handed ? right handed What’s a word that’s always on their lips ? “music” Is there a saying they keep on repeating ? “be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire” ... well, that and “can i sing yet?” Do they curse ? fuck Yeah What’s their worst habit ? obsessing over things too easily and being FAR too dramatic--  Do they drink or smoke ? How frequently ? she’s done both but usually sticks to alcohol when the evening calls for it or a glass or two of wine every monday night for The Bachelor Are they an early bird or a night owl ? she can dabble with either BUT she LOVES night life and is use to staying up late due to long hours of rehearsal, songwriting, and performances How tidy is their room ? very neat and organized and vv aesthetically pleasing How long to they usually take getting ready in the morning ? depends. can be 3 minutes or 3 hours

FAVORITES.

What’s their favorite color ? red-- the color of l o v e ; she’s also keen on purple and gold Favorite movie ? Breakfast at Tiffany’s along with all the tragic romances and rom-coms Music Genre ? don’t make her choose Food ? it’s a tie between Italian & Greek Book ? anything romantic and emotional that probably has a sad ending or anything nicholas sparks Favorite non-alcoholic drink ? that’s a toss up between espresso and cold pressed juice Ice Cream Flavor ? Rocky Road ! OR The Tonight Dough by Benn & Jerry’s Indoors or outdoors ? both?? though the stage tends to be inside...

[salroka]

Melly Shortwick: Family Exile, Skilled Thief, Useless Lesbian

note: Contains minor spoilers for the beginning of the Rise of the Runelords campaign. This is the backstory I wrote for my current Pathfinder character. I came into the game a few sessions late, so my DM and I decided that a good plot reason for me to be at the first dungeon was a previous relationship with Ameiko Kaijitsu, whom our party went in to rescue.

Melly Shortwick was born in Korvosa to a clan of halfling candle makers. Her family was never wealthy, but they lived comfortably as one of the largest candle makers in the city. Melly was a good apprentice in her youth, but like many young halflings, she longed to see the world.

Known amongst her kin for her quiet footfalls and ability to disappear in the shadows, her parents affectionately called her their little sneak-thief, especially when she got caught playing with a toy she'd stolen from one of her five siblings. Melly has three sisters and two brothers, of which she is the third born. Her favorite pastimes as a child were exploring the city and playing pranks on rival merchant families. She also enjoyed watching the ships in the harbor. Some of her cousins sailed ships for Shortwick Candle Company and she longed to take a voyage on one of them someday even though she was destined to work in the main shop when she came of age.

One fateful day in early summer, about ten years ago, when Melly was twenty-five, barely of age as far as halflings go, a wealthy nobleman  shortchanged the Shortwicks on a massive order that would have set them up for several months until the days got shorter and their sales picked up again. Without that order, they could lose several of their auxiliary shops and would need to majorly downsize their main location and as a result, half of their family would be out of a job.

The nobleman promptly bribed the magistrates, so the courts were of no help. Thus, Melly decided to take matters into her own hands and planned to sneak into the nobleman's estate to steal the money they were owed. This was her first heist. It went poorly. The estate was under heavy guard and she barely escaped. She fled back to her family's flat above their main shop, but before long the city guard came knocking. Her parents lied convincingly and said they hadn't seen her, but after the guards left, Mr. and Mrs. Shortwick were very disappointed in Melly's impulsiveness and informed her that she needed to leave town to save both herself and her family's reputation. Melly's mother assured her that they would be fine. At dawn the next morning, Melly was aboard one of her family's merchant vessels, just like she had always wanted, but she never thought this would be how she'd see the world.

Since that night, Melly has traveled all over Varisia and occasionally outside it. She has been to every major city multiple times and seen sights beyond her wildest dreams. In the years to come, Melly returned to Korvosa a handful of times, but never went anywhere near the market district or her family's properties. She heard through her contacts in the Cerulean Society that despite their best efforts, the Shortwicks were barely making enough to keep their doors open. Blaming herself in part for her family's downfall, she is still too ashamed to face anyone associated with them.

In the meantime, she is making a fairly lucrative living adventuring and doing odd jobs, specializing in stealing back stolen goods and coin from jerkass rich guys and usually stealing a little something extra and keeping it for herself or to sell. Because of this, she doesn't generally charge a fee for her services unless the job is particularly difficult. She's gotten pretty good at it, a far cry from her frankly feeble first attempt, and word of her has gotten around, so she is never wanting for work.

Melly has met a lot of people in her travels, and while she generally prefers to watch and listen, she's made some steadfast friends, as well as a few equally resolute enemies. One such friend is Ameiko Kaijitsu, whereas her father Lonjiku became one of her enemies.

Melly met Ameiko just after she had robbed the Kaijitsu estate on behalf of some human Lonjiku had fucked over. A couple days after she had gotten the job done, Ameiko approached her in the inn where Melly was staying.

“I hear you're the one who broke into my family's estate,” she said, not bothering with an introduction. “Nice job.”

“Where'd you hear that?” Melly said, refusing show the slight concern she felt at being found out.

“Your friend over there gets real chatty a couple pints in,” Ameiko smirked, pointing over her shoulder to the man who had hired her.

“What are you gonna do about it? I left no trace. You have no proof but the word of a drunk blacksmith.”

“Nothing. Except ask to join you.”

“What?” At this point, Melly couldn't hide how thoroughly she was taken aback.

“I've been wanting to get out of this town for a while now. You might just be my ticket out of this place.”

“Why would I want some spoiled rich brat tagging along with me?”

“While it's true I've never adventured before, I'm a fast learner. Also, a stranger sitting in a tavern with a companion is far less suspicious than they are by themselves.”

Melly snorted. “Sorry, princess, the answer is still no.”

Melly went on her way the next day, but when she stopped to make camp, she heard the telltale rustling in the bushes.

“I know you're there,” Melly told the bush. “You're not great at stealth, princess.”

“My name is Ameiko,” the figure emerging from the bush said indignantly.

“I know your name,” Melly replied. “And I thought I told you not to follow me.”

“I wasn't following you.” said Ameiko. “I left Sandpoint of my own volition and just happened to think this looked like a good spot to camp.”

“Sure you did.” Despite herself, Melly was highly amused. “Look, p-...Ameiko. You can follow me if you want, but know that I'm used to working alone. If you get yourself into trouble, you'll have to get yourself out. I'm not gonna be able to protect you. And there are some things I'm gonna have to do alone.”

“I think I can handle myself,” said Ameiko. “Don't worry about me.”

Over the months that followed, Ameiko's stealth and skill with a blade improved exponentially and Melly grew to care for her immensely. Ameiko was a smart, capable young woman and Melly had absolutely underestimated her when they first met. “Princess” became more of a teasing nickname than a derisive epithet, reserved for those moments when Ameiko truly betrayed her privileged upbringing.

As they grew closer as friends and partners, Melly's feelings for Ameiko grew into something entirely different from friendship. Though they had shared the same bed on multiple occasions, for the mere comfort of it as often as for necessity's sake, whether Ameiko returned Melly's affections was never clear. Melly still wasn't sure where they stood after they parted ways when Ameiko received the letter informing her of her mother's death.

Melly returned to traveling alone, taking jobs, occasionally picking up a companion or two. She returned to Sandpoint once a year or so, and she and Ameiko would take a trip somewhere, but it was never more than a few days before Ameiko had to return to her tavern.

This time, though, something was off. Melly had barely been at the Rusty Dragon a few hours before Ameiko said she had to find her brother at the glassworks and that she'd be back soon. And when she didn't come back, Melly took it upon herself to find her friend...

[biofunmy]

Reimagining Old Friends at the National Theater in London

LONDON — Shall we all speed-read together? I mean, as in consume hundreds and hundreds of pages as fast as the human eye permits.

We’ll let our attention alight briefly on names of characters, central plot points and major thematic statements, via a text that has been helpfully illuminated with neon marker. And all those pesky auxiliary words used to summon nuance and detail will runtogetherlikethis into an inky cloud.

Such is the experience of watching “My Brilliant Friend,” the breathlessly paced, two-part stage interpretation of Elena Ferrante’s “Neapolitan Novels” at the National Theater. Adapted by April De Angelis and directed by Melly Still, this production compresses the acclaimed four-volume portrait of two women who come of age in mid-20th-century Naples into less than five hours of galloping onstage synopsis.

Though I haven’t seen any of the Italian television version shown on HBO (eight episodes so far, with a projected 24 more to come), I eagerly devoured each of Ferrante’s books as soon as they were published in English, so I was generally able to follow what was going on in De Angelis’s version.

But heaven help the innocent theatergoer who meets Ferrante’s characters for the first time in this production by the National Theater and the Rose Theater Kingston. After watching both parts of the show in successive performances, I saw fellow audience members stumbling out with glazed eyes and what-was-that-all-about expressions. “Well, it might make a good movie,” I heard one of them say to another.

“My Brilliant Friend” was one of three new theatrical adaptations I recently caught at the National, each of which inevitably inspired reflections on their differences from the works that inspired them and the perils and pleasures of recontextualizing the familiar. Less than 10 hours after arriving in London, I was plunged into the churning, fantastical waters of “The Ocean at the End of the Lane,” based on Neil Gaiman’s popular 2013 novel about a British boy’s encounter with cosmic forces of evil, which I had read on the plane from New York.

Two days later, I spent time with a set of unhappy women I have been enthralled and irritated by since I was 12. They would be the title characters of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters,” who have been reimagined by the playwright Inua Ellams as residents of the civil-war-torn Nigeria of the late 1960s.

Curiously, of these three productions, “My Brilliant Friend” was both the most faithful, in literal terms, to its source material and the furthest from what makes its prototype so seductive. The play manages to cover most of the entire five-decade course of Ferrante’s plot, while dexterously signaling political and social changes in Italy via period pop songs and video projections.

There are more than three dozen individual characters listed in the program, which doesn’t account for the many other figures who show up to flesh out scenes depicting weddings, riots and natural disasters. They are portrayed by a cast of 24 humans and several winsome puppets, who all tirelessly dash up and down the four steep staircases that dominate Soutra Gilmour’s otherwise minimalist set, while the revolving stage of the Olivier Theater turns. And turns. And turns.

So very much happens in the course of human events here that when an earthquake hits Naples, it feels neither more nor less convulsive than the more soap opera-ish plot turns that have been occurring all along. At the center of this off-the-charts Richter scale tumult are two enduring female frenemies, and fortunately they are portrayed here, from childhood into late middle age, by Niamh Cusack and Catherine McCormack.

Cusack is Lenù Greco, the bookish one who studies hard and escapes from their old, squalid Neapolitan neighborhood to become a celebrated novelist. McCormack is the willful and wayward Lila Cerullo, a person of infinite intelligence and perversity to match.

Both actresses are great fun to watch, especially McCormack, who has the showier part. But with reversals of feeling and fortune happening so abruptly, it’s hard to make much sense of this central relationship. Delivered in theatrical shorthand, finer shades of ambivalence in Ferrante’s prose become baldfaced contradictions.

“Three Sisters” is nearly as replete with historical detail and eventfulness as “My Brilliant Friend.” The script by Ellams (who wrote the wonderful “Barber Shop Chronicles”) provides equivalents for each of Chekhov’s original characters, starting with the wistful, provincial siblings of the title.

They are embodied with commanding grace by Sarah Niles, Natalie Simpson and Racheal Ofori. It’s Lagos, instead of Moscow, that’s now the unreachable destination of their dreams.

Ellams’s title characters are hemmed in by newly insurmountable obstacles when war erupts between Nigeria and the breakaway republic of Biafra, where they reside. Chekhov’s discussions about the meaning — and meaninglessness — of life have accordingly been expanded to embrace subjects like the evils of British neocolonialism and the erasure of cultural history.

In this version, the women’s new and unloved sister-in-law (an entertainingly overripe Ronke Adekoluejo) isn’t just a pushy parvenu; she’s Yoruban and may even be an enemy spy. And every so often, a spectral figure in ceremonial garb — a sort of spirit of place incarnate — shows up to roam Katrina Lindsay’s expansive indoor-outdoor set and chant forebodingly in the Nigerian language of Ibo.

It is to the credit of Ellams and the director Nadia Fall that so much historical and atmospheric detail is folded into “Three Sisters” without undue congestion. But the bigger picture provided here tends to make the sisters’ relentless worries — domestic, romantic and existential — feel kind of incidental.

When the threesome started moaning per usual after the local town market had been bombed, with devastating casualties, I found myself thinking of what Humphrey Bogart told Ingrid Bergman at the end of “Casablanca”: “The problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.”

Of course, when you’re still a child — like the reluctant hero of Gaiman’s “Ocean” — nothing seems more important than your own private fears. Gaiman’s book ingeniously gives a cosmic dimension to such solipsism, as a 7-year-old boy in rural England finds his quiet existence rattled by life-consuming, supernal forces of darkness.

Joel Horwood’s stage adaptation of Gaiman’s novel, directed by Katy Rudd, ages up its unnamed central character, who is now 12 and played by the very good Samuel Blenkin (and by Justin Salinger as the man he becomes). The play also diverges from the novel in making its young hero motherless.

Our hero’s allies in his battle against darkness are a mysteriously wise girl named Lettie Hempstock (Marli Siu, charming) and her earthy but otherworldly ma (Carlyss Peer) and grandma (Josie Walker). His mortal enemy is his dad’s perky new lodger (Pippa Nixon, having a great time), who sheds human form to become one really scary evil fairy known as Skarthach. (Despite placing a pubescent lad in mostly female company, sex never rears its inconvenient head here.)

This creature and the ungodly darkness from which she emerges are brought to nastily lyrical life by an expert team that includes Fly Davis (set), Samuel Wyer (costumes and puppets), Paule Constable (lighting) and the genius movement director Steven Hoggett. As such, “Ocean” is a pretty entertaining spook house.

What makes Gaiman’s book so arresting, though, is its summoning of the awful sense we have as young children that our darkest fantasies may be real. In externalizing those internal feelings, and making its hero an adolescent, Horwood’s play feels safer and more predictable, more in the mold of a conventional young adult adventure fantasy.

I completed my marathon of stage adaptations at the National with the impression that in such ventures, something is perhaps always lost in translation. All the productions did, though, make me savor afresh what I had enjoyed and admired about the pieces that inspired them. I am now wondering, by the way, if it’s too soon to start rereading Ferrante’s Naples quartet.

Sahred From Source link Arts

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Melli’s Backstory (of sorts)

Ok, so below the read more is the current backstory to me hollow knight oc Melli. I might add things or change things. I’m regretting this but meh. Anywho hope you like my shitty writing.

How Melli and her siblings came into existence was and still is a mystery. The quintet was adopted by an elderly wasp moth. The wasp moth was simply known as Mama G by the town she lived near. Mama G was the one to name the small group of vessels. Of course, there’s Melli the eldest, Terrin and Druet the twins, Alain the second youngest and Ives the youngest. Surprisingly, though Melli is the smallest and Ives is the tallest. Mama G raised the quintet as if they were her own even passing down her knowledge of soul, the old light, and dreams. Giving each of them their own dream nail. Melli tends to wonder when bored or when no one is watching. They will get themselves lost but they always somehow find a way to get where they need to be. Melli was gifted from a young age to see into the future but the downside was the future brought nightmares. They weren't too bad at first but as the years went by the nightmares got worse and worse. The results of all the nightmares are that they are constantly tried the only thing that helps is if they have their head against someone’s chest. The heartbeat keeps their mind focused on the now and not what will be. To substatute, the heartbeat since they cant constantly be cuddling people they began listening to music which became something they hold dear. Melli and their siblings can fly but aren't experts since they don’t usually have to fly very often. Though they are amazing gliders and swimmers.

Mama G raised the quintet in a tropical underground simply known as Ecagrove. The small place is known as a resting spot for travelers and wanderers. There are a few towns scattered throughout Ecagrove. A majority of them being moths that sought a more diverse lifestyle. Mama G had been there from the first town being established. Mama G lived on the very edge of town near a crystal clear lake where Melli and their siblings learned to swim. Ecagrove is similar in fauna and flora to Greenpath but more cluttered and with lots of vines and tiny passages ways. There are many creatures in the deeper uninhabitable places of Ecagrove that are driven by some instinct to attack whatever moves within their range. Melli and the twins were normally the only ones that ventured that far and it wasn’t an unusual sight to see the three with void leaking from wounds they got from those same creatures. Though there are many legends and myths that flutter around Ecagrove though many believe them to be just campfire stories though Melli, Terrin, and Druet know better.

Melli joined the Grimm Troupe because they intrigued them. They found their wandering lifestyle something that they would like to do. So they joined and gained their new look. Though their sibling Alain joined the Grimm Troupe too filling in the role of acrobat and tightrope walker. Melli filled the role of a fortune teller(as you all probably know already). Many that visited them would doubt their skills and authenticity but soon regretted saying such things. Melli and Alain called Grimm liege rather than the common master simply because they feel it gives off the wrong idea. Melli tends to be seen most of the time lingering close to Brumm while he plays due mostly in part to her love for music. Brumm has taught them how to play a few instruments but they prefer to just listen than to play. They believe themselves horrible at it. Melli tells fortunes through four different means. These means are through a crystal ball infused with soul, tarot cards(they have a whole side table filled with tarot card packs), tea leaves(their least favorite), and gazing into the fire(mostly the scarlet flames in the lamps hanging around the tents). They tend to keep their future predictions very vague never going into deep details afraid of what might should they give too much away.