#mrs. grant withers

[from1837to1945]

Despite the fact, that Mrs. Inez Withers of Los Angeles was testifying in a Los Angeles Court, in a effort to obtain a divorce, she did not propose to have anyone slander her husband, as became clear when she testified that he was a "great actor" and remarkably capable and talented. Granville Withers, the subject of Mrs. Withers' remarkable paradoxial testimony, is a film player and, according to his wife's testimony, is suffucuently successful to make $400 a week. The photo shows Mrs. Withers, who seems to be her husband's ardent admirer despite her divorce suit.

-Dec 21, 1925.

Actor Withers' loses second wife and sued by first.

Grant Withers, the "Happiest man alive" only yesterday after completion of his aerial elopement to Yuma, Arizona with Loretta Young wasn't even making a pretense of happiness today. The mother of bride number two has started proceedings for an annulment and wife number one prepares suit for alimoney to support herself and sick son of the actor. She wants an increase of 240.00 per month. Withers also figured in a traffic accident the night of his second marriage resulting in the injury of four (? ?) youths.

This photo shows Mrs. Inez Withers & son, Robert Granville.

-Jan 27, 1930.

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Tv Classics It Has 14 TV episodes 7 Dragnet 1951 -1959 , 1 Burke's Law 1963-1966, 2 Peter Gunn 1958-1961, 2 Richard Diamond 1957-1960, 1 Mr.Wong, Detective 1938, and 1 Bulldog Drummond 1929

[laughingcrass]

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚛 (𝟷𝟿𝟺𝟶)

[veryinnovative]

@jegulus-microfic | january 1, prompt: decent | word count: 1.366 featuring bodyguard regulus black and multi-billionaire heir james potter

“I am not here to be your friend, Mr. Potter.”

There's a crease marring Regulus' forehead, hidden just behind the curl of his sable strands, sculpted brows knitted into a censorious frown. It indicates his internal turmoil well enough, showing just how hard he's struggling to gauge the extent of reprimand he can justifiably express, given his position as the head of James Potter's security team, which still remained a subordinate one at that.

There’s the cocky cant of James’ head as he tries and ward off the smile threatening to quirk at his mouth’s corners. It had taken a decent amount of brainstorming, planning, and persuading to get Regulus to comply—have him begrudgingly acquiesce to the idea of accompanying James inside the club as a more hands-on approach to extending security, even though the former’s constant presence was painstakingly redundant in a heavily monitored club as Godric. But James had pushed his luck even then, insisting Regulus keep wearing his body and thigh holsters, convincing him the ‘streetwear chic’ would be greatly appreciated by the club’s dressing code and grant them easy entrance (as if any club would deny James Potter out of all people, a multi-billionaire heir and continent-renowned philanthropist.). 

The straps of the harness glitter underneath the fluorescent strobes of vibrant purple, though nothing as piercingly brilliant as the dangerous glint catching the edges of Regulus’ withering glare. 

Ah, fuck.

James traces the sugar-coated rim of his glass, biting down on his tongue, only loosened further by the nth cocktail he’s consumed as he speaks with a beguiling drawl, “But I don’t want you to be my friend, Regulus.” 

Life is unfair. Let alone that he lives in a penthouse situated on London’s South Bank overlooking the River Thames or that he can afford designer wear not recognizable by most seeing how James Potter wears quiet luxury clothing brands like Gran Sasso and their perfectly manufactured cashmere sweaters or his current thousand-and-three-hundred quid shirt by Bottega Veneta that’s missing a button at the front with how much he’s been puffing his chest in attempts to draw the attention of his unfairly hot bodyguard.

 Because Regulus Black is just it. Black hair meticulously combed so smoothly, inky-black ringlets curling around his face—complexion milk-white and skin undoubtedly just as soft to touch if James was given the chance. Lithe but possessing swift reflexes and at least seven black belts in seven different martial arts that don’t mandate physical strength. Just three days ago, James had seen him throw a man almost three times his size over his shoulder with effortless ease, and how badly James had wished it had been him being tossed around.

The past months have been torturous, especially when Regulus wore his white button-up, that specific white button-up that stretched around his torso, accentuated his small waist, made only smaller when the straps of his harness clung to his chest. And his legs, those fucking long legs, clad in black dressing pants that made the swell of his ass all the more prominent, like a peach. James wanted to fucking squeeze it and devour the pulp left behind, slurp it like an animal that needed to be caged.

Whether it’s the words or the uncurbed lust he’s exuding, Regulus’ features rearrange into something far more complicated. He sucks on his teeth, squints his eyes, and then casts his gaze back into the crowd—the moving masses of bodies lost to the thrum of music.

“No,” he answers from behind the curve of his drink.

James smiles. He’s got him.

“No?” he asks, scooting closer, shit-eating grin only growing wider when Regulus makes no move to increase the distance between them.

“It’s highly unprofessional and breaks every code of conduct I strictly maintain. Not to mention, you’re my employer and—”

“And you want me.” Because he hasn't missed the glances exchanged between them and will be damned if he doesn't do anything about it.

Regulus coughs, sending drops of whisky flying across because Regulus Black is the type of man to drink something so old-school in a club. “What?” he sputters

James shrugs, an act that makes the fabric around his shoulders stretch thin, and does not miss how Regulus’ gaze briefly flits to the sliver of cleavage showing behind the missing button. “Right now you’re just listing reasons that, on contract, prevent any sort of intimacy between us, but if there weren’t any there, you would want this.”

“You’re being highly presumptuous,” Regulus scoffs.

“No, I’m good at reading people.”

“I am paid to guard you,” Regulus deflects.

This, he saw coming.

“Oh, it’s a money thing then?” James asks, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his wallet. He flips it open and thumbs through the wad of bills stashed in the compartment. “That’s fine, I can pay.”

This, however, also doesn’t have its desired effect. Regulus makes a face, downright spiteful this time, and does inch away from him, glass slamming onto the counter so hard James fears it might shatter. “What— So now you treat me like a prostitute?”

“What?” James asks, brows furrowed in confusion. He looks at Regulus, his wallet, back at Regulus and— 

James Potter, an Oxford graduate, top-of-his-class, can also be a massive idiot.

“Oh— Oh, no— Shit, I didn’t mean— No!” He’s fumbling for words and his wallet, almost dropping it in the act of trying to put it away, nearly releasing it when he misses tucking it back in his pocket. “I just thought— Fuck, no, I’m sorry,” Regulus doesn’t look any more convinced and now James is very much panicking, thank you. “I— You know what, fuck it. Hi, I’m James Potter.”

Regulus looks like he’s having a stroke.

But James is insistent, waving his hand like the gesture will dismiss the awkward, terribly embarrassing interaction from just seconds prior. “Can I get you a drink?”

Regulus blinks at him, then his extended hand, and drags a palm down his face, pinching his nose bridge and breathing in deep.

But James is nothing if nothing stubborn. “Must’ve had a long day, huh? Need an ear?”

“I got a boss that’s stupid as fucking rocks,” Regulus mutters, and oh, James swoons. No one ever dared call him stupid or insult him in this manner, and he might just discover something about himself tonight.

“Yeah, what else?”

Regulus down the remnants of his whisky before raising his glass. “I need a refill for that”

The refill comes quick and this time, James doesn’t feel too scared about bridging the gap between them bit by bit. “So this boss of yours…” he starts, because he’s already a little tipsy and on a streak of dauntless moves. “Is he hot?”

Regulus rolls his eyes. “He’s okay.”

“Oka—” James starts, bridling, before he catches a sight of the subtlest of smirks. Then, excitement, coiling down his spine like a lick of flame kindled further by the challenging gaze Regulus looks at him with. “I think you’re selling him short.”

“He’s arrogant, I don’t think I could bear him with an ego that’s any more inflated.”

“Oh, but you wound him. He’s been trying very hard to be noticed these past couple of months. Even started waking up early to catch glimpses of a certain someone that moved in with him for work purposes.”

Regulus makes a face that reads like ‘Is that the fucking reason why you have been putting your alarm on 4:30 a.m. in a pathetic effort to catch a glimpse of me preparing for the day and trying to be an unnoticeable presence in your life because that’s expected of me as head of security?’ and James smiles like he’s trying to say ‘Yeah, I did. Seeing you drink coffee, freshly showered, is worth it even if I struggle to stay awake during meetings in the afternoon.’

Regulus quirks an eyebrow. “Why is he trying to be noticed by me?”

James links a leg around Regulus’ bar stool and yanks it closer, relishing in the little gasp that leaves his lips as a result. Their legs bump, James’ knee sliding inside Regulus’ thigh, coming to a rest against it.

“Why spoil the fun by talking? I could just show you instead.”

[mysecretlittlelibrary]

The Truth Revealed

Pairing: Platonic! Peter Parker & Reader; Reader x Bucky (but that's not really plot relevant)

Word Count: 2.4k

Warnings: nun too bad, Bucky finds out the truth and kinda blows up but it all works out yk lol

Genre: kinda angst kinda fluff

Summary: You happen to be the only person who still remembers Peter Parker exists and you are not about to hang him out to dry. So what happens when you take Peter in and basically become his guardian? Well- nothing is simple where super-teens are involved, but you and Peter can certainly handle whatever comes your way. Right?

***

Peter comes barreling down the hall yanking his mask over his head as he rambles quicker than you can warn him.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I know I missed dinner, but man you would not believe the night I've had?! And of course most of it won't be reported because they're not like world ending, Avenger level threats just a bunch of losers bullying my neighborhoods? It's like they all decided to commit crime tonight or som-" he stops suddenly when he finally sees Bucky sitting next to you on the couch. "Mr. Bucky- I- didn't know you'd be here tonight. Hi." Peter says awkwardly. You take in Bucky's changing expression and then look back at Peter.

"Peter your dinner's on the counter." You say, clearing your throat.

"Right yeah thanks." Peter pivots into the kitchen.

"What the fuck?" Bucky turns to you.

"Take a breath." You warn.

"I'm breathing- but what the fuck?"

"I know this is a shock but there's no need to make it a big deal."

"Oh this is a huge deal, Peter when you're done heating up your food come have a seat." Bucky calls into the kitchen and you cringe to yourself.

"Peter when you're done heating up your food take it into your bedroom." You call and Bucky's head snaps towards you again.

"Are you serious?" Bucky blinks at you and for the first time ever it feels like you're on different sides of the fence, but you have to handle this in whatever way is best for Peter and right now that means putting yourself between him and Bucky.

"You and I will talk about this first because we are the adults and then if you still want to speak to Peter after, he can join us." You say calmly.

"He needs to be part of this discussion." Bucky says.

"No he needs to eat dinner and you very clearly need a moment before addressing him." You stand firm. You know if he talks to Peter first he'll go red in the face yelling at him and Peter doesn't deserve that, you don't even know if he'll be able to handle that reaction. Bucky blows out an angry breath through his nose and fixes you with a look that would probably make anyone else wither away but you hold his gaze unwavering until Peter shuffles down the hall with his dinner.

"How long have you known?" Bucky asks you once Peter's room door is closed.

"Technically speaking, since 2017." You say.

"Excuse you?" Bucky frowns.

"It actually caused one of the worst arguments I ever had with Tony, for involving him in that Sokovia Accords fight at the airport when the kid was like 15." You scoff.

"Sokov- so you're not his godmother and you didn't know his aunt?"

"I'm not his godmother technically no, he doesn't have one. Or I guess his aunt would've been his godmother? Sorry not the point- when Tony died I kind of took over as his 'Avenger adult' since Tony was sort of mentoring him, granted we butted heads on Tony's methods a lot before that so I guess it started before Tony died. I did know his aunt though, we became friends once I learned Peter was Spider-Man." You say.

"So were ever going to tell me that or was I just going to be left in the dark forever like a fool?" Bucky asks.

"Bucky you are not a fool, first of all. It's not like I kept it from you maliciously, it's just that this wasn't my secret to tell you. It was Peter's decision to make and I support whatever choices he would've made regarding who knows and who doesn't." You explain.

"But we are supposed to be a team."

"We are a team."

"You lied to me. Malicious or not, you hid this pertty big thing from me." He frowns.

"Bucky-"

"You told me you were taking in a friend's kid after she died." He cuts you off.

"Which is true." You say.

"You didn't tell me that kid was an Avenger. One of us."

"Well it's not like you were rushing to tell him your secrets either." You point out.

"That's different he's a kid we're responsible for, this is something I should know."

"When I first brought Peter here you explicitly said you wanted nothing to do with that responsibility. Even just being friendly with him was something you dreaded the very idea of. I respected that wish. You've started developing a relationship with him and that's great but excepting me to betray his trust because you suddenly want to be involved is unrealistic you have to see that." You sigh.

"What if he decided never to tell me?" Bucky crosses his arms.

"Well then he doesn't have to!"

"Seriously? That would've been okay with you?"

"Yes. Peter has made sacrifices that no child should have to make and I will not let you make him feel guilty because of them. You can be mad all you want, I understand it hurts to find out you were left out of something and that's valid but you're not about to yell at Peter, you're not even going to speak to Peter until you stop pointing fingers for something you have no idea about." You grit out.

"Explain it to me. How do you justify that you've kept this from me for years now?"

"You didn't want anything to do with Peter 3 months ago. Why would I go telling his secrets to someone who specifically said to leave them out of it?"

"But that's clearly changed." He rolls his eyes.

"And it's still Peter's secret. You know better than anyone, trust is earned. I can't decide for Peter when that risk is worth taking. He has to decide for himself that he's ready for you to know and maybe that day was never going to come. Yes we're taking care of him but he's not a child James. Spider-Man is his and it's already ruined his life once."

"Spider-Man ruined his life?" Bucky scoffs.

"After Tony died I- wasn't around as much as I maybe should've been for him, Peter ended up getting caught up with some guy who offered him guidance where he had none, but he turned out to be a super villain and tried to convince the world that Spider-Man, that Peter was dangerous, evil even. It spilled into his normal life because that guy revealed to the entire planet that Peter was Spider-Man, it affected his friends, his family, there were protests outside his school. He couldn't deal, he went to Strange, asked him to fix it, make the world forget he was Spider-Man but that went horribly wrong, got so outta hand, universes started colliding with each other, and Peter was facing villains he should have never even known about. Almost lost his friends, did lose his aunt, and the only solution Strange had was to make everyone across all universes forget Peter Parker ever existed. He went from mourning Tony, to mourning every relationship he's ever had. Either through death or the earasure of his existence from their memories. So excuse me if I'm not keen on forcing him to tell anyone, including you, a damn thing. Last time didn't go so great." You say.

"Oh-"

"He has been fighting adult battles, making grown up decisions, since he was 15. Being a hero robbed him of so much and I am doing everything in my power to give him something back. You will not make him feel bad for not sharing something that has caused him so much pain." It takes a lot to control the emotion threatening to make your voice shake as you speak.

"I didn't realize." Bucky says.

"I know. That's why I insisted we talk alone before you say anything to him. I know how you can but but this is much bigger than us just 'lying to you' for no reason." You say.

"Is there anything else regarding this that I'm missing?" He asks.

"Not really. It's not like you had memories of him to lose from all that's happened, I don't think you ever even met him as Peter, he disappeared in the snap same as you and after Tony died he went to London on a school trip and you were off dealing with that wannabe Steve so- yeah. Nothing really changed for you."

"But for you?"

"Nothing really. I- was maybe the only exception across universes for Strange's insane spells. It's why I took him in." You shrug.

"Oh wait- so when you said you went to yell at Strange a few weeks ago-"

"He altered reality at the whims of a teenager, he deserved way more than a yelling at." You nod. "Do you still want to talk to Peter?"

"Yeah- I'd like to." He nods.

"No yelling?" You verify.

"No yelling."

"Alright, I'll go get him." You nod walking down the hall to Peter's room. You knock on the door and wait for him to mutter come in before entering. "You almost done eating?"

"I'm done." Peter clears his throat.

"Bucky wants to talk to you." You tell him.

"Is he still mad?" Peter winces.

"No." You shake your head.

"He seemed pretty peeved earlier." He wrings his hands together nervously.

"He was, that's why I had you leave, so I  could handle it, which I did." You sit next to Peter on his bed.

"I don't- like it when you guys argue." He mumbles.

"Neither do I." You shrug.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" You frown.

"You were arguing because of me." He says and you shake your head immediately.

"We were arguing because Bucky and I are two adults with opinions, believe it or not we're not going to agree on everything all the time. Even though it doesn't happen often." You wave a hand dismissively.

"Yeah but- I heard you guys... it's my fault for-"

"Don't start. Bucky was mad he didn't know, sure, but you are not responsible for his feelings and he didn't know the circumstances. I wasn't going to have him yelling at you when you did nothing wrong, especially since I'm the one who decided we would keep it from him."

"But it's my secret, he shouldn't blame you for-"

"Peter, love, my job is to protect you, even if it's from Bucky. You let me worry about the big bad wolf. And please, for once in your life, stop trying to be the grown up. You've got two of us doing it just fine." You kiss the top of his head. "Let's go, I told Bucky all that went down and he's much calmer now, but if he starts yelling that conversation ends immediately. I'm not about to let him make you feel guilty." You tell him. Peter nods and the two of you return to the living room where Bucky's still sitting.

"Hey kid, have a seat." Bucky clears his throat when he sees you. Peter sits in the armchair and you sit next to Bucky.

"I'm sorry for not- telling you earlier about the Spider-Man thing." Peter says.

"It's fine kid. I get why you might be hesitant to spill. I've got my fair share of secrets that I wouldn't go telling just anyone. It was just a shock, but I want to be clear, I'm not mad. I mean I was at first but once y/n explained everything to me there was really no way to justify being angry with you."

"I just don't want to be the reason you two fight."

"Nah don't worry, this was nothing. As far as fights go, it barely counts, and you are not to blame. I'm just hotheaded sometimes." Bucky shrugs.

"So- everything's okay?" Peter asks.

"Yeah." Bucky nods.

"Everything's okay Peter." You say.

"Oh shit-" Bucky blinks.

"What?"

"The whole accords situation."

"Yeah when the whole world thought you killed King T'Chaka." You nod.

"Ye- thank you." He says flatly.

"What about it?"

"The fight at the airport, you said Tony brought Peter to that fight."

"Correct. I cussed him out for that."

"Circling back to that, I can't believe I didn't realize it before, he grabbed my arm, it was crazy- you have to be pulling punches when you fight, right Peter?" Bucky asks.

"Uh- yeah, usually. I- could easily kill someone if I'm not careful." Peter says.

"That's impressive." Bucky hums.

"Sorry, what did you not realize before? That he pulls his punches?" You ask.

"No. He was super talkative during that fight. He's been living here for almost a year and I never made that connection, I honestly should've figured it out within a couple of months if I was actually paying attention."

"I mean, your hypervigilance usually takes a back seat when you're here so it makes sense you didn't notice. Plus, that was almost a decade ago at this point, we've had much bigger fish to fry since then- it's easy to forget details like the sound of some kid's voice." You say.

"If it helps, I don't sound the same as I did when I was 15." Peter says. "Do I?" He asks you.

"Not exactly, no." You say with a chuckle.

"I mean yeah sure I just can't believe I missed it."

"Baby, it's not that deep." You kiss his cheek. "Peter and I are just great secret keepers." You wink at Peter who smiles.

"You and I both know my secret keeping puts yours to shame." Bucky scoffs yanking you over into his lap.

"If you guys are gonna get all lovey can I go back to my room?" Peter interrupts making you and Bucky laugh.

"I just wanted to make it clear to you that I'm not angry with you. I don't want you to feel like you can't tell me things." Bucky says.

"You know I've got you too Petey." You smile at him.

"Thanks guys. I appreciate it I swear but you're still in his lap and it makes me wanna leave." Peter says.

"You know one day Peter you'll love a girl so much you never want to let her go." Bucky says squeezing you tighter for emphasis. In any other circumstance you'd have giggled but you see the way Peter's shoulder's drop and your heart aches for him.

"Yeah, one day. I'm- gonna go play some video games." Peter says before disappearing down the hall.

"Was it just me or did his energy change?" Bucky frowns at you and you sigh.

"He had a girlfriend." You say.

"What?"

"Before Strange's spell that erased him from the memories of the whole world he had a girlfriend. And he loved her enouhg that he was willing to alter the very course of our world to see her happy. Still does."

"Man I'm an asshole." Bucky's head drops to your shoulder.

"You didn't know."

"Yeah but-"

"No buts. It was an easy mistake to make. We're all figuring things out as we go." You say.

"I should go talk to him."

"Sure." You say sliding over onto the couch so Bucky can stand.

"Don't worry doll I'll be back." He says kissing you cheek.

"I'll be here." You smile at him as he goes down the hall. It's a good thing Bucky knows everything now, but you clearly have quite a ways to go when it comes to Peter. You wonder if it'll ever get easier.

***

Tagged Users: @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @buchi91

[daphnefisherofficial]

bugna: TAKIPSILIM | destiny's twilight

CHAPTER TWENTY

Pairing: MCU Moon Knight System (Marc/Steven/Jake) x Avatar Fem!Reader

masterlist | previous | next chapter

(A/N: Sooooooo, I'm back. I'm REAAAALLLLYYYY sorry it took me long to post this. So many things have happened in the past year, very long story btw so I wouldn't dwell on it. I won't keep you waiting anymore so here's the next chapter. More updates are coming soon so stay tuned)

CHAPTER TWENTY - THE DOORWAY OF ACCURSED MEMORIES.

“Shall we begin, then?” you whispered softly, taking Steven’s hands as your deep indigo ceremonial priestess robes and his clean-cut white suit as Mr. Knight started materializing on your bodies, the intricate patterns of both fabrics heavy with history and magic as you prepared to cast the spell. 

“We shall”, Steven nodded, his gaze unwavering as he heard Marc and Jake’s collective approval inside his head. With practiced precision, you began to create a spell circle around the two of you, chanting in your native tongue the ancient words that would lift the veil on your collective memories long forgotten. 

The energy swirled around you and Steven, creating a glowing circle of runes and symbols that pulsed with a powerful, ancient energy as you channeled Khonshu's moon prowess through his Moon Knight and your own unique brand of magic. The very air around you crackled with anticipation, and the atmosphere grew heavy with a sense of impending revelation.

Your eyes and the tattoos in your respective jugular notches began to glow with otherworldly light, a rush of memories and emotions surged within your shared consciousness. Your sanctum began to transform as the walls slowly faded away, as you and Steven were seemingly suspended in the cosmos itself. The world around you blurred, and time seemed to lose its meaning as the complex spell finally took hold. 

The vaguely familiar night sky of Cairo greeted you and Steven as both your feet slowly felt the familiar coarseness of the desert sands beneath you. Marc Spector and Jake Lockley slowly materialized at your respective sides, garbed in their respective ceremonial suits of armor as Moon Knight. To the British chap, this was strangely reminiscent of the time that they spent in Duat where their respective bodies were physically apart, albeit assisted by a strong, powerful illusion spell.

“This was the night Steven and I kept dreaming about”, Marc spoke first before unmasking himself, his hazel brown irises reflecting curiosity. “Was this the same dream you’re having, Mira?”

“Yes, this was it”, you nodded in agreement as you watched the lost memory of your arrival in astral form together with Khonshu to the Cairo desert to aid Steven and Layla in finding Ammit’s tomb. Watching the Egyptian god of the moon converse with the two individuals before him made you slowly remember that fateful night when you had moved the constellations themselves to stop the devourer of souls from achieving her goal.

You began to hear Khonshu’s celestial voice echoing in your own head along with your own and your moon goddess, as your memories long buried like treasure hidden in the depths of the sea began to resurface.

I beseech you, Mira. Lend half of your life force to them. Save my avatars.

Help me, my goddess Mayari. Lend me your strength and power.

Only this once, Mira.

“You really were there with us”, Steven spoke in amazement as his headmates and himself watched Khonshu wither away as the Ennead trapped him in the ushabti. As you watched the man before you collapsed in the desert, it was primarily your own voice that you could hear this time around.

It cannot end like this. I will not let you die - any of you.

Arise, Moon Knight. With the power of the moon, I grant you half of my life.

“It was really you all along”, Marc realized, his rough, textured hand uncharacteristically gentle as he slowly held your own smooth porcelain wrist with a reassuring expression. “You saved all of us”

You slowly nodded at Marc’s words as tears welled up in your eyes, finally recalling the selfless act of sharing your life force with Marc, Steven, and Jake through a divine kiss. A larger chunk of the puzzle pieces were now in place to complete the picture, yet you cannot help but think that there’s more to what was currently unfolding.

“Hang on to me”, you beckoned to Marc, Jake and Steven as they swiftly held onto your shoulders and hands. As you anticipated, you chanted the continuation of your moon spell, prompting your current surroundings to shift once again as the memory version of your astral form was pulled back to your waiting body in London.

The four of you finally descended in another one of your lost memories, finding yourselves only a few months prior in the same attic room of your London home. You watched your memory version succumb to the exhaustion of aiding Khonshu, your eyelids drooped heavily as a powerful sleep spell overtook your being. You then witnessed your body collapsing in the arms of your patron goddess, Mayari.

Forgive me, Mira, for what I’m about to do.

A familiar heavenly whisper echoed in your mind once again, the once blurry memories coming into complete focus as you heard your moon goddess quietly seeking your forgiveness before the luminous light of her moon powers enveloped your mind in a mintala (ancient curse) of her making. 

“Isang makapangyarihang mintala ang aking igagawad sa aking napiling alagad”, Mayari spoke, chanting in her ancient, native language as she invoked her own divine prowess. “Kanyang malilimot ang lahat ng mga kaganapan ngayong gabi, kasabay ng paglimot ng kanyang mga katipan ng parehong mga alaalang nag-uugnay sa kanilang lahat. Siya niya ring malilimot ang mga alaala ng mag-uugnay sa kanyang irog at ngayo’y muling nagkatawang-tao sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga katipan”

A powerful ancient curse shall be placed upon my chosen. She, as well as her soulmates, will forget the events of tonight as such memories that unite and bind them shall be forgotten and buried beneath forever. She will also forget her memories of her greatest love now reincarnated into this world, whose souls are bound to be fragmented forevermore.

“She really did this to me”, you whispered, feeling your own stomach drop at Mayari’s betrayal.

“Lo siento, cariño”, Jake sighed, looking at you forlornly before glancing at both Marc and Steven, whose expressions mirrored both disbelief and pity as they collectively watched you take a few steps back to try and collect yourself.

“But why?” your strangled whisper almost didn’t escape your lips, your own heart thundering inside your chest at the revelation.

At that moment, you caught Steven’s eyes as you watched him let out a surprised gasp. You immediately whipped back to the direction of your attic’s entrance, watching the door in it transform into a familiar mahogany door, its rich, reddish brown hue and native carvings reminding you of your old homeland.

“I’m not going bonkers, am I, Marc?” Steven’s eyes widened at what had just unfolded before him. “Or am I having deja vu from what happened with us at the Duat?”

“What do you mean, Steven?” you immediately asked, equally puzzled at what has just transpired. “Marc, what is he saying?”

“There was a time when the two - sorry, three - of us died and came back to life”, Marc started to explain, with Jake rolling his eyes at his mental triplet’s correction. “It’s a long story how we ended up dying, but our souls were sent to the Duat, as Steven said. Our hearts were weighed by that hippo– sorry, what was her name again?”

“Taweret, the goddess of women and children”, Steven responded. “She was the one who weighed our hearts against the feather of truth. Honestly, it should’ve been…”

“Anubis”, you ended up saying, prompting a brief silence as you quietly absorbed what they just said. “Steven, you said you were having a deja vu from seeing that door. What do you mean?”

“Well, when we were told that our scales wouldn’t balance”, Steven continued. “Taweret suggested that Marc and I showed one another the truth about our lives to hopefully bring balance. I remembered doing it by going through those kind of doors, like a doorway to our memories, you know”

“A doorway to our memories”, you echoed, repeating Steven’s words as your eyes gazed at the mahogany door before you once again. “This must be mine”

Mira, moon of my life.

“Ugh, Steven, when did you ever speak like that?” Marc whipped his head back at Steven, who now looked incredulously at his head mate, his eyes gone wide with utter confusion.

“I didn’t say that!”

I am truly sorry for leaving you.

“It wasn’t any of us”, Jake whispered to his mental brothers, his own eyes now darting to yours whose sole focus was now on the haunting whispers emanating from the mahogany door, now slowly opening and beckoning its owner to be let in. “Mira?”

You didn’t seem to hear Jake’s voice calling after you as your feet shuffled, following the voices now echoing inside your head calling out your name.

I promise to be back, Mira. You have my word.

“Mira!” Marc and Steven’s voices joined Jake’s as they collectively called out your name, trying to break you out of your current trance as they closely followed your every step and warily observing their surroundings for any sign of danger.

You immediately pushed forward, finally opening the remaining door that will unlock the final memory to piece your scattered past together. Pitch black darkness enveloped you and your companions as you took your next steps inside a small room where the only source of light was a golden sarcophagus lying beneath a statue of an Egyptian god sporting the head of a jackal. 

“Anubis”, you whispered out loud, your eyes meeting the only other Egyptian god you were closely acquainted with.

“I cannot believe we are standing before the Egyptian god of funerary rites and the protector of graves”, Steven gasped out loud. “Do you know him, Mira?”

“It seems that I’m supposed to”, Mira’s lips quivered as the first onset of tears gathered beneath her eyes again, immediately alarming Marc, Steven and Jake to your unprecedented reaction. They helplessly watch as you clutched your temple, feeling a strong headache coming through as a myriad of voices suddenly assaulted your head.

Talaga bang igugugol mo ang isang siglo ng buhay mo para lamang ipaghiganti ang pagkamatay niya?

Will you really be spending a century of your life avenging his death?

Wala nang higit pang mahalaga sa akin, Hiraya, kung hindi ang pagbayarin ang isinumpang diwata aking nakasagupa sa kanyang matinding pagkakasala sa akin.

I do not care for anything else, Hiraya. Except that this accursed god shall pay for his most grievous sin against me.

Yumao na si Darius, Mira. Hindi mo na siya muling makikita pa.

Darius is gone, Mira. You will never see him again.

You’ve felt great power slowly pulsing within your body as the last words you heard filled your heart with inexplicable despair and sorrow. The very air around your lungs becomes shallow as you’ve found it extremely difficult to breathe.

“Something’s happening to Mira”, Marc uttered as he held your right hand, feeling it shake vigorously between his palm. “Tell me, baby, what’s wrong?”

“She’s in a trance”, Steven shook his head, witnessing Mira’s eyes glow white as he started to back away in panic. “We need to do something, Jake!”

“Wake up, cariño!” Jake shouted, grabbing Mira’s shoulders as he tried to shake the woman before him awake. “Snap out of it!”

All three men collectively felt the enormous amount of ethereal energy enveloping your whole being before it burst forth from your body, the impact of the moon’s celestial prowess throwing them backwards. As they landed on their buttocks, they witnessed Mira’s raised hands now directed towards the golden sarcophagus, releasing a continuous stream of luminous white energy as the hieroglyphics within glowed ethereal moonlight.

The topmost layer slowly levitated as a result of the powerful spell that was casted, prompting the golden sarcophagus to open with the aid of Khonshu’s moon magic you wielded. Before you lies a man wearing ceremonial armor made out of silver and ebony black fabric. His body was without any signs of decay, as if time itself has suspended beneath the confines of his casket. His facade, however, remained a mystery to you as a jackal’s mask was in its place.

But not for much longer. Your right arm slowly reached out as your fingertips touched the mask’s surface, caressing it slowly as your eyes met the closed ones beneath. Descending at its edge, you tugged the mask upward to finally reveal the identity of Anubis’s avatar and champion.

You were greeted by the sleeping form of an olive skin-toned man lying peacefully on his coffin, the soft structure and angle of his face accompanied by his prominent jawline lightly stubbled being the very first thing you notice. His high and well-defined cheekbones greeted your vision next, slowly realizing the eerie similarities he bore with the three men whose paths you’ve repeatedly crossed with. 

My avatars are intertwined with your destiny closer than you think.

Khonshu’s words finally clicked something in your mind, a profound revelation of the long lost truth that had been hidden from you for far too long. The tears flowed freely from your eyes as the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place, completing the picture of a love that had transcended time itself. The image of Darius Carter, previously hazy as a result of a goddess’s curse, is now taking shape and coming into clear focus.

The hidden memories of your lost love immediately flooded your mind in quick flashes as your past and present life started to collide.

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY.

masterlist | previous | next chapter

[tournament-of-x]

The Hole

Announcement!

Welcome to the Hole Bracket! From the beginning, the Tournament of X has been a double-elimination tournament, so now that the primary bracket has concluded, it's on to our unfortunate losers' second chance. Whosoever wins the Hole Bracket will escape the Hole and be granted a shot at winning the entire Tournament of X!

With that said, the First Half of Round One will begin in five days on Saturday, September 2nd, at 8AM EST! The First Half of Round One will consist of 32 matches, and each matchup will be open to voting for one week.

The lineup for the First Half of Round One is as follows:

Match 1: Fenris vs. Christian Frost

Match 2: Lactuca the Knower vs. Ora Serrata

Match 3: Lost vs. Caliban

Match 4: Abigail Brand vs. Malice

Match 5: Nameless, the Shape-Shifter Queen vs. Mondo

Match 6: Burke vs. Amass

Match 7: Wagnerine vs. Fabian Cortez

Match 8: Crule vs. Spike

Match 9: Cam Long vs. Sprite

Match 10: Doorman vs. Darkstar

Match 11: Icarus vs. Broo

Match 12: Cipher vs. Mimic

Match 13: DJ vs. Silver Samurai

Match 14: Orphan-Maker vs. Asp

Match 15: Mesmero vs. Solem

Match 16: Oya vs. Dragoness

Match 17: Sevyr Blackmore vs. Wither

Match 18: Syzya of the Smoke vs. Tarn the Uncaring

Match 19: Cosmar vs. Genesis

Match 20: Typhoid Mary vs. Mentallo

Match 21: Whirlwind vs. Summoner

Match 22: Arclight vs. Blink

Match 23: Professor X vs. Maggie Braddock

Match 24: Candra vs. Havok

Match 25: Snot vs. Mad Jim Jaspers

Match 26: Jumbo Carnation vs. Big Bertha

Match 27: Redroot the Forest vs. Pestilence

Match 28: Rasputin IV vs. Empath

Match 29: Jersey Devil vs. Toad

Match 30: Alchemist vs. Proteus

Match 31: Fever Pitch vs. Neal Shaara

Match 32: Mr. Immortal vs. Wallflower

Remember, this tournament is a contest of popularity, not a contest of abilities. As always, asks and propaganda are both welcomed and encouraged.

Contestants Index

[teaberrii]

Chapter 2: Plan of Attack

You've been Cupid for as long as you can remember. You've brought countless soulmates together, yet you've never found love.

When you're assigned to bring two childhood friends back together, it should be simple until you unexpectedly catch feelings for the mysterious and cold Ph.D. student, Dan Heng, the man with a soulmate… the man with answers to your past.

Dan Heng/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

“He knew?”

You and Pom-Pom are sitting at a campus café where workers aren’t humans but slightly floating robots. One of them glides by just as you finish telling Pom-Pom about what happened earlier with Dan Heng and Gepard.

“Apparently,” you answer.

Maybe you shouldn’t be that surprised. You and Pom-Pom were getting a lot of curious stares.

Pom-Pom slightly leans forward and says, “Look on the bright side. We’ve made such an impression he won’t be able to forget us now!”

This isn't the first time you followed someone around to get some more information on them. You just never got caught. But, hey, there's a first for something. It's all about how you proceed from here, and you have a relatively decent idea.

"You're right. But it won't help if we keep sticking together like this. You're human now, Pom, which means you can do a lot more than you usually can."

He smiles. “Oh, I think I know what you’re trying to say. So, while you take on Mr. Tall and Handsome, I’ll take on Ms. Sunshine and Smiles. But, do we have a plan of attack?"

Well, first things first. You need to become more than just acquaintances with Dan Heng. 

“...We do."

“We do?”

It happened when he was staring at you. You got a glimpse into his deepest desires.

It’s one of your many tricks. By staring into someone’s eyes long enough, you can choose to see their deepest desires. And, with a snap of your fingers, you can bring them to life. 

There’s only one downfall.

It doesn't last, and when the magic starts wearing off, the person is left to fend for themselves in the aftermath. You've seen people try to save their relationships and salvage the riches you granted them. But without your magic, they lost it all anyway.

"He wants to find a cure for an illness called The Withering," you say.

"What in the world is that?"

"Good question, my dear Pom. That's what I'm going to find out. But, before any of that"—you take your two phones from your bag—”you need to learn how to use a phone.”

He takes one of your old phones you kept from a past job from you. “Easy-peasy!”

“We also need to figure out where we’re going to live while we’re here..."

"I'm always down for a five-star hotel."

You give Pom a deadpan look just when you hear, "...Yeah, I’m having trouble renting it out.”

You look over your shoulder while Pom-Pom looks past you and sees two students sitting at the table behind you.

“It’s probably because you priced it too high,” her friend says.

“But I have to if I want to get a return on it. It’s in one of the best neighbourhoods in the city. Of course, I’m going—”

The girl suddenly stops. She and her friend turn and see you and Pom-Pom smiling at them.

"Hi," you say cheerily. "We… heard you have a place you want to rent out."

The girl raises a brow. “Are you two students here?”

“Are you only renting it to students?”

The girls look at each other. “...Can you afford the rent?”

“What if… I can offer you something better?”

By the end of the conversation, you and Pom somehow talked your way to a new place while granting this girl a temporary fix to her grades to get her into the program she wants abroad.

Once you and Pom leave the café, it’s almost evening.

“You go ahead. I have something I still have to do," you say.

“Are you going to prey on more innocent mortals?"

"If it means getting what I want, then yes."

"I’ll see you back at our new apartment then!”

And then you and Pom-Pom part ways.

You spend some of your time familiarizing yourself with the large campus, which in your opinion, is far too big. You also make sure to drop by the student registration office.

“Can I help you?” a dull voice asks. The man at the desk doesn’t even look at you.

“...I want to register as a student here.”

That gets his attention. He doesn’t raise his head but looks up at you. “...Riiight. You do know there’s a process, right? And it doesn’t involve waltzing in here just asking to be admitted. Who are you, anyway?” You put your hands on the table and lean slightly closer. Startled, the man quickly asks, “What are you doing? Don't make me call security.”

A small pause.

“Sir, is it just me or are you unhappy with your job? You think you deserve a promotion, a raise, but management doesn’t think you’re doing enough.”

The man quickly stands. “Sec—”

“I can get you that raise if you do me a favour, that is.”

The man narrows his eyes. “Who the hell are you?”

“Would you believe me if I said I was a God?”

◆◆◆

Dan Heng is looking at his textbook, yet his mind keeps wandering… to you.

He’d sensed something was strange when he saw some odd looks on some of the students’ faces when he walked by. They looked like they were curious or focused on something. So, Dan Heng had subtly turned and caught a glimpse of you and a tall man dressed in a butler suit.

Were you students rehearsing for something? Was that why you were dressed so… uniquely? Dan Heng shrugged off the thought, but it was when he sensed you were following his small group of friends that he knew something was off. What did you want? Why were you following them? He thought about calling you out, but he didn’t want to make a scene. Not when you didn’t seem threatening.

It wasn’t until you talked to him at the store that he saw it.

A sparkle? A shine? Dan Heng still doesn’t know how to explain it. Whatever it was, it had appeared in your eyes, and he suddenly felt… naked. Yet, it was also strangely compelling. It drew him in and aroused his curiosity.

“...Hey!” Dan Heng looks forward and sees Gepard looking at him. “You okay?”

“...Yeah. Did you say something?”

Gepard then repeats his question, and Dan Heng helps his friend solve the question he's stuck on. That's when Gepard asks, "Are you thinking about that woman today?"

“What woman?”

Gepard smiles slightly. "Don't play dumb. You know who I'm talking about. The one at the store."

“...What makes you think I’m thinking about her?”

“Well, you kept staring at her after she left.”

Dan Heng closes his textbook. “Did you see something in her eyes?”

Gepard raises a brow. “Um, no?”

“...Her eyes. They were… I think they were sparkling.”

“Whoa, there, Lover Boy.” Gepard laughs. “You don’t even know her name yet.”

Dan Heng frowns. “Don’t call me by such ridiculous nicknames.”

Gepard looks past his friend. "Here's a thought." Then, he nods toward the library entrance. “Why don’t you go ask her about it?”

Dan Heng looks over his shoulder and sees you do a facial recognition scan to enter the library. He turns back and sees Gepard smiling at him.

“...No.”

“From what I saw today, you made her feel uncomfortable,” Gepard reasons. Dan Heng sighs and awkwardly looks away. “Maybe you can make up for it.” Gepard packs up his things. I should get going. I’m meeting my family for dinner tonight. I’ll see you back at the apartment.”

As Gepard leaves, Dan Heng sees you walk into one of the aisles.

You’re looking through the rows and rows of books when you find one that sounds useful. If you’re going to pass as a student here, it’s time to brush up on your knowledge about this place. You reach for the book, but it’s just a little out of your grasp. That’s when someone reaches out behind you and grabs it off the shelf. You turn around, surprised at who you saw.

“So now you’re the one following me?”

“...I guess we’re even.” Dan Heng hands you the book, and you take it from him. Then, without looking away, he says, “I apologize if I made you uncomfortable today.”

Your eyes widen slightly. Huh. That's not what you're expecting. Well, you don't know what to expect, but certainly not an apology.

"...I apologize, too. I shouldn't have followed you, but I do have my reasons."

Is that a small smile you saw? Well, whatever it was, it's gone as soon as it came. 

You clear your throat and say your name. “I’m also a chemistry major. One of my professors recommended talking to you if I wanted to know more about The Withering.”

You’re hoping to get a reaction out of him. But nothing. Absolutely nothing. His poker face hasn’t changed, making you wonder why that was the desire you saw as they are normally secrets the person doesn’t want others to know.

“It's for an assignment,” you continue.

“...You aren’t going to find much on it.”

“Why not? Surely there must be something—”

“Information is very limited. It only affects a selective amount of people, not enough to get decent funding for substantial research.”

Before you can stop yourself, you ask, "Then why are you researching it?" He looks at you, and you stiffen. "I, uh, I heard from the other students."

His gaze hardens. Did you say something wrong?

He steps toward you, and your back hits the bookshelf behind you. “What if I told you that’s impossible?”

"Are you prepared to face the consequences?"

"...That sounds like a threat, Professor," Dan Heng said.

His professor sighed. "Don't get me wrong, Dan Heng. You're one of our best students, but there's too little information to work with. You'd be risking your graduation if you don't provide valuable research results."

"I understand what I'm getting myself into. But, I still want to take this on. There's been improvements and additional research on diseases similar to The Withering. I won't be starting from nothing."

A small pause.

His professor nodded once. “As long as you understand and agree to the risks, you have my permission. But I do recommend you do one thing. Keep your research private until you have something substantial."

“That information isn't public knowledge," Dan Heng says. "In other words”—he slightly leans towards you and puts one of his hands beside your head and on the shelf just above your head—“you somehow know something that you shouldn’t. How is that possible?”

You hold his gaze, and then he sees it again. That sparkle in your eyes.

“...Your eyes,” he says quietly.

“...What about them?”

Hang on. Does this mean he can… see it? But that’s impossible. You know about the brief flash of light in your eyes when you work your magic. No one has been able to see it. No one but Pom-Pom.

“If you come any closer, I’ll scream.”

Dan Heng steps away from you. “You’ll have better luck doing something else for your assignment.” Then, he turns around and looks over his shoulder. “...See you around.”

As he walks away, you cross your arms.

Who is this guy?

◆◆◆

Pom-Pom looks to the right. To the left. Then, he spins around. Where in the world is he? He takes his phone out of his pocket and taps it.

“Thank you, Cupid, for giving me a dead phone,” he deadpans.

He slides it inside his pocket and takes another look around. People are everywhere, but no matter how much Pom-Pom tries to get their attention, people either avoid him or politely say no.

Just before he leaves the busy square, he sees him. Pom-Pom squints his eyes and almost bumps into someone when he walks toward the blonde-haired man in front of the restaurant.

Pom-Pom almost gasps. Is he saved? Maybe.

Gepard has just parted ways with his sister and parents at the restaurant when he sees a familiar man run up to him. Where has he seen him before? 

“Um… can I help you?” 

“Gosh, I hope so! I’m friends with the girl you met today. Um... the one at the store?"

Girl…? Gepard suddenly thinks about you, but he doesn’t have a name. “The girl with Dan Heng?"

“Yeah!” Pom takes out the phone you gave him. “My phone's dead, and I’m kind of lost. Could you, well, help a guy out?"

When Gepard learns of the address Pom-Pom needs to get to, he says, “That’s the same apartment I’m staying at.”

Pom gasps. “Really? Then, I'm definitely saved!”

Soon, as the two men walk together, Gepard asks, “Are you going to give me a name?"

"Oh, how rude of me. You can call me Pom."

"Gepard." Then, he asks, "Are you a student?"

“I… graduated already. I was just accompanying Cu—her today.”

“Ah… what did you major in?”

Pom can feel his palms sweat. “...Animal studies.” If Gepard is suspicious, he doesn’t ask. Instead, he smiles. So, Pom takes the opportunity to ask, “Do you know what happened at the store earlier today? I saw your friend looking at her.”

“Oh.” Gepard chuckles. “Beats me. He was telling me about how he saw something in her eyes earlier today.”

“Something in her eyes?”

“Yeah. Like a sparkle or something.”

“...You don’t say.”

Gepard glances at him. “Something wrong?”

“Oh, um, nothing. Did he say anything else about her?”

“Not really. But why are you so interested?”

"Because… she… she told me she wants to be his friend."

Gepard raises a brow. “Is she interested in Dan Heng?”

“Oh, no! Not like that!”

Gepard laughs. “Or… is it you who’s interested in him? Sorry, but he—”

Pom looks almost flustered when he says, “I’m not!”

As they pass a large LED screen, a trailer for a movie starts playing. That’s when Pom sees Stelle. It looks like it’s a trailer for her upcoming movie.

“Are you a fan?”

That’s when he notices Gepard looking from the screen to him.

“Of Stelle? Um, I don’t know a lot about her,” Pom says honestly. “Are you a fan?”

"Would you believe me if I said she, Dan Heng, and I grew up together?"

Pom almost gasps. Does this mean he can use Gepard as a resource?

“Really? What's she like?”

“Quiet and reserved. She’s similar to Dan Heng.” Gepard chuckles.” Fun fact… She got into acting because of him.”

“Did he encourage her?”

“Something like that.”

As much as Pom-Pom wants to keep asking, it might come off as suspicious... if he isn't already.

Gepard points to a tall, extravagant building just across the street. “We’re here.”

Pom looks in that direction. So, that’s going to be you and his home for the next little while.

Once they're standing in front of the entrance, Pom says. “Thanks for your help.”

“Anytime.”

As Gepard watches Pom walk into the building, he slightly narrows his eyes. Animal Studies, huh? Their university doesn’t have a major like that. Gepard thought about calling him out on the lie. Gepard hoped he’d get a slip-up or a hint why, but then Pom brought up you and Dan Heng.

Do you have something to do with it?

Gepard walks into the building and heads up to his floor. When he enters the suite, he sees Dan Heng at his desk with his desk light on.

“You’re back,” Dan Heng says without looking at him.

Gepard closes the door. “Don’t tell me you spent almost the entire evening hunched over your desk. Did you eat? I brought you some food."

Dan Heng closes his notebook and stretches. Then, he spins his chair around to face Gepard, who puts the bag of food on the table. “I spent some time at the library with her.”

“...And?”

“I thought you’d tease me about it,” he deadpans.

Gepard sighs and sits on the couch. “You know that guy she was with? The one who was dressed like some kind of butler?”

“...Yeah.”

“He lives in the same building as us.” Gepard turns to his friend. “...He said he graduated, but his major doesn't exist at our university."

Suddenly, they hear a loud thud coming from the floor above.

"Well, he's not the only one who's suspicious," Dan Heng says. "This woman knows things she shouldn't." 

“That doesn’t sound eerie at all.”

“She knows I’m researching The Withering.”

"How?"

“My question exactly.”

Another thud. The men look up but decide to ignore it again.

“...While I was talking to her, I saw it again,” Dan Heng continues.

“That sparkle?”

He nods. 

Gepard sighs. “They’re suspicious… but it doesn't feel like they’re dangerous. Does that make sense?”

Regardless if it does or not, Dan Heng thinks the same.

Another thud.

Gepard looks up. “Geez, what’s going on up there?”

◆◆◆

Pom stumbles with the couch he’s helping you move, and it lands with a thud on the floor. Unable to hold onto it anymore, you carefully let it go, except it still lands with an audible thud.

"Wow, Pom, I never thought you'd make such a useful friend so quickly."

Pom has just finished telling you about his encounter and conversation with Gepard. Then, Pom smiles. "I guess it's my charm."

You almost roll your eyes. Then, as you start mopping, "Well, this makes our job easier."

"You know... what if Dan Heng and Stelle are already seeing each other?"

You set the mop upright and lean against it. "Then, why would Himeko assign this to us?"

Pom sighs. "Yeah... I guess you're right." Then, he chuckles. “Maybe you can pretend to be Stelle's biggest fan and get Dan Heng to introduce you.”

"I doubt that’d work.”

“Why?”

“...Dan Heng doesn’t seem like the type who’d do something like that.”

You nod at Pom to take the other side, and the two of you start moving the couch back but not without it gently hitting the floor a few times.

“You only met him once! How do you know?”

“Well, we had a little chat in the library.”

Pom gasps and almost lets go of his side of the couch.

“Pom!”

“Oh, sorry!” He quickly picks it up. “...That reminds me… Gepard said Dan Heng saw a sparkle in your eyes.”

“...Yeah. He mentioned that.”

“But how is that possible? I thought I'm the only one who can see it. Do you think this means something?"

“I don’t think this is happening without reason,” you say. "You were the only one who could see it, but we never figured out why. If we did... maybe we'd have a hint as to why this random human is able to see it."

"Here's a thought. What if... Dan Heng isn't human?"

"Then, what is he? A robot? A God? I doubt it, Pom. If he was a God, he'd be on the Astral Express."

"But, I'm not a God! I still don't know who I really am, but I was on the Astral Express."

You slowly put the couch down. "But the point still stands. If he isn't human, he'd probably be on the train."

Suddenly, you hear a knock at your door. You and Pom glance at each other.

"...Do you have any idea who that could be?" he asks.

"No idea," you say, walking over to the door. "But why are you picking up a pillow?"

"For self-defence!" Then, he walks over but stays behind you. "I got your back."

You almost roll your eyes. Then, you open the door, and you instantly freeze.

The shock on Dan Heng's face is gone as quickly as it came, but it's as if you're reading each other's minds.

“What are you doing here?”

Chapter 3

End notes:

I keep writing Gepard and Geopard, and I can just feel it's going to sneak into one of my chapters one day... and I'm going to miss it.

Also, I don't know why, but I strangely feel pressure when writing this. Maybe it's because it's after MBIMC. But I'm afraid it's not going to be as interesting, but I'll try my best. :>

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @seirenspinel @lxry-chxn @tanspostsblog @theprinceofkhaos @nqctre

[cryptids-of-spielzeit]

Candles

Present 3: Sharing

(A Marching Hare Story)

For the past month leading to her 5th birthday, Charlotte had been preparing for when the Marching Hare would return. She invited everyone she knew, pretty much the entire town, to the party. Now, the reason why everyone was invited wasn't given to them, they just saw it as a gesture of goodwill. But Charlotte had something in mind, something that she'd show everyone, and hopefully, they'd join in.

Susan and Grant had been helping their daughter prepare for the party, getting the cake ordered, making the decorations, the like, while Dee had handed out the invites. Everything was coming up nicely.

The day before the party, most of everything had been set up. The cake had been completed, sealed up tight, and their yard was adorned with streamers and brightly colored lights. There was only one more thing that was needed. A gift.

Charlotte had gotten a piece of construction paper and a marker, and went to work. She had her mother make sure it was readable, it was important for the receiver of the gift to understand. She spent all night trying to find the right words, what to write down. And, finally, with a finishing touch, the gift was ready.

It was the day of the party. A majority of the town was there, all the kids that could make it were there, they were playing, and all the parents talked amongst themselves. Susan was the only one still out of the loop, even after the night she returned home she still had no clue what this "birthday bunny" was, and why everyone else seemed to take it at face value.

"Oh, it's just a little thing the kids made, I believe."

"Are you sure? They all take it so seriously."

"Well of course they do, mein freunde, what child doesn't?"

Susan took a moment to reflect. Why question this, it's just kids being kids, after all. But why go through so much effort, inviting all of these people, just for something made up? Why not, if everyone has a good time?

Charlotte was anticipating his arrival every second she was there. She had her gift for him in hand, never letting it go, even when playing with the others. She was optimistic, why wouldn't he show up? It was her birthday, he had to.

She waited. An hour passed, no sign, lunch had been served. She waited. 2 hours, no sign, all the games had been played. She waited. 3 hours, no sign. All there was left were cake and presents. Her optimism withered with each hour. If he didn't show before the party was done, then what was the point.

"Alright honey, do you want to do cake or presents first?"

"Cake, please. Just in case he arrives."

"Alright, Charlotte, go and sit at the table. Daddy and I will light the candles."

She took her seat in front of the cake, 5 long, rainbow candles adorned it.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, all were lit up.

"Alright everyone, are you ready? 🎵 Happy bir-"

A loud clang was heard in the distance, silencing everyone. Another clang, and another, the faintest sound of static alongside them.

"HE'S HERE! MOMMY, DADDY, DEE, EVERYONE HE'S HERE!"

Indeed, he was. The Marching Hare, there for everyone to see. As he took his steps, he started to notice just how many people were there. So many, just to celebrate that little girl's birthday. The static almost sounded like giggling. He marched only a tiny bit quicker, before finally stopping right in front of everyone. All but the children stood in shock. The parents couldn't believe it, Susan especially. He was real.

It had a great, big pinecone in its mouth, dropping it. He bowed, slowly starting to turn around.

"WAIT!"

Charlotte cried out, stopping the Hsre in its tracks. She stepped down from her chair and walked over to him, her gift in hand.

"Can you read, Mr. Bunny?"

He nodded slowly, tilting his head in confusion. She handed him the gift, a note.

"Dear Mr. Bunny. When you first visited, I was very happy. And when you visited everyone else, you made them happy. You gave all of us gifts, but you didn't get anything. I want to fix that. I don't know when your birthday is, so all of our birthdays are yours too. And presents are included. Thank you, Mr. Bunny.

From Charlotte Reed"

And below, a little drawing of the Hare, a big smile on his face. A tear started to form on his beady eyes. The static was increasing in intensity, he wanted to say something. After a bit, he managed to get it out, as warbled as it was.

"T̸h̶a̷n̵k̶.̴.̶.̷.̶y̷o̷u̴.̷.̸.̴.̶ "

He put the note in his mouth, and then marched away. Charlotte walked back to the cake, blowing her candles, the pinecone in hand. Everyone turned around, clapping as one would at any other birthday party. Charlotte, with a few tears of her own, stood in.her seat, shouting.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Bunny!"

Bunzo giggled. He'd be getting really old, wouldn't he? A few more tears wouldn't hurt.

[solarisrenbeth]

OCS AS POISONOUS PLANTS

rules: create one (or more) of your ocs using this meiker and then take this uquiz and share their results

ty for the tag @grapecaseschoices @narrativefoiltrope + @sysba!! 💖💖 i’ll toss a tag to @veeples @lilas @lyriumsings @mrs-theirin @queerdetectiveblue + @masonscig if you wanna play! 🤗

—

⬅️ JORDY ANDERSON || she/her • twc, body count, infamous

Oleander: This is the poison of stagnation. You grow drowsy. Your heart rate slows, and when you do move you can't seem to stop shaking. It may seem to others that you're lazy, or reticent. Like you avoid hard work on purpose, like you always take the easy way out. But you know deep down that it wouldn't be like this if you weren't so tired, so deeply tired. If you weren't crushed under the weight of sorrow like a mile of water over your head. Nothing brings you peace, except rest and-- though you can hardly dare to ask-- having someone tend to you gently and sweetly. A good gardener speaks to their plants, sings to them, waters them, fertilizes their soil, prunes the dead parts, nurtures the new growth. You yearn to be cared for like that, even though you feel you don't deserve it. The secret is that you do. You always have. And someday, you'll learn that, and receive that care, and the exhaustion won't keep you from growing strong and lovely anymore. You were never the problem. These are simply poor growing conditions for you.

➡️ OCTAVIA GLASS || she/they • body count, golden

Lily Of The Valley: This is the poison of giving too much. You feel yourself emptying out, dizzying, discoloring-- until you fear you will fade entirely and wither away. You have always had to give. You never had a choice before. They pluck your flowers for their beauty, they trample your leaves carelessly, they pull out your roots by the fistful and berate you for daring to grow. And now that you have a grove to spread out in, your rhizomes tangle and curl in on themselves. When cruelty is all you've ever known, thriving seems impossible. But the answer is not to make yourself small and offer every lovely thing you are to the world in the hopes it will have mercy on you. The answer is to let yourself dare to thrive for thriving's sake, to grow in the wild ways you wish to-- and to do that for yourself for once.

—

⬅️ JAMIE CARDEÑAS || she/her • blood moon, wts

Belladonna: This is the poison of falling in love. You taste it and your heart beats fast. Your eyes dilate, you fall into deep delirium. You may be a bit dramatic and impulsive, and it gets you into trouble sometimes, but you just can't help yourself. It's in your blood. You love because it is the truest beauty you've found in this harsh world. Even when it's hurt you before, when it's poisoned you, you still find a way. They may call you naive for still believing in it, or vain for making yourself and your surroundings so meticulously lovely. But to love like this is brave and noble, and I hope you find the beauty you seek. Chances are, it's within and all around you already, if you know where to look.

➡️ MIKO MATSUOKA || they/she • chop shop, red sugar society

Doll's Eyes: This is the poison of unchecked vices. You slip into hallucinations. You are wracked with convulsions. The delirium threatens to overwhelm you. What are you running from? You look in every direction, wild-eyed at every turn, seeking some reprieve from what torments you. Each vice brings new consequences, and the price of escape seems too great, and yet you cannot seem to face things head on. If you aren't running from yourself, I hope you find a true way to freedom soon. And if you are running from yourself, perhaps you would do well to realize your pain is not something you can simply escape by avoidance. You deserve healing just as much as the ones you love. Someday, soon I hope, you will know this and feel it and reach inward to grant yourself all the kindnesses you offer others. That is the only true way to peace for ones like us. Oh, and if the pain of it seems too great? I hope that you realize you don't have to do it alone.

[from1837to1945]

Despite the fact, that Mrs. Inez Withers of Los Angeles was testifying in a Los Angeles Court, in a effort to obtain a divorce, she did not propose to have anyone slander her husband, as became clear when she testified that he was a "great actor" and remarkably capable and talented. Granville Withers, the subject of Mrs. Withers' remarkable paradoxial testimony, is a film player and, according to his wife's testimony, is suffucuently successful to make $400 a week. The photo shows Mrs. Withers, who seems to be her husband's ardent admirer despite her divorce suit.

-Dec 21, 1925.

[waterloggedsoliloquy]

2 & 9 for opal!

2. What's something about your OC that people wouldn't expect just from looking at them?

He knows what he's doing. Not all of it can be chalked up to dumb boy who doesn't know better.

9. Do you have a specific lyric or quote which you associate with your OC?

I like this question. Here is his playlist! And attached favorite lyrics like the 8tracks days. I can't say who he's referring to in every song, but maybe you might have some ideas?

Well, I'm just a kid of ill repute / But the skin I wear's my only suit / And you, you're just a substitute / For the one that I hold dear

2. The blocking characters are plotting new disloyalty / But sensing their irrelevance, they're frowning and displeased / The car chased through the mini-mall, amaryllis on the hood

3. All these things I've tried, boy, be cute, be dumb, be wise, be young

4. I'M SCARED! THAT I! WON'T E! VER CHANGE! I THINK! ABOUT! HER E! VERY DAY! I CAN'T! LET GO! I CAN'T! GO ON! I'M NOT! OKAY! AT ALL!

5. Hey there Mr. Blue! We're so pleased to be with you!

6. 'Cuz my heart is my keep! / And yo-u-u-u-u-u are threatening me!

7. The ache of a decade / the cure is overdue / for this brand-new kind of blue

8. You told me I'm hard to live with, but you said it out of spite! / I may put you through some suffering but I'll never prove you right! / It's a chapter that you're stuck on, but you'd rather read alone / I'm an uninspiring ending, but the best you've ever known!

9. Once I was the King of Spain / now I eat humble pie / A palatial palace, that was my home / now I eat humble pie

10. All My Friends Are Falling In Love / I know that if I was to set you free / You'd let them take you away from me

11. The sleeping beauty of the wasteland / Carry the milk or pierce the body with swords / machine guns, flowers, and peacock feathers

12. You got a reaction / You got a reaction, didn't you? / You took a white orchid / You took a white orchid turned it blue

13. 'Cuz what if I become my mother's / sole reputation? / and with no hesitation / i just burn all night

14. You are an unfit rival / By spirits taught to sing / But a tune so twisted now / Like all that's sweet's gone sour

15. I hug myself hard / How come there's peacocks in the front yard?

16. One girl's not so loud, like a convert she believes / She's always been looking for wires / But now she knows none are required / It's magic

17. I can see now you've stepped into the light / You've got those bright kind of eyes that I like / I kinda lie and I can't find a way through / I've obscured my own view / Well I'd do anything to make you mine

18. I just want to know what your feathers are made out of / Is it bruises or roses or cradles or coffins? (It's all those!) / Which peacock is beast? Which peacock is priest? / If your friends are all cripple, all wither, all wilt / I know, I know, I know

19. My name should be trouble / my name should be woe! / 'cuz trouble heartache / is all that I know! / Lonely lonely blue boy / is my name!

20. Don't occupy my throne, give me the crown I own / Lived like you told me how, look at me now

21. Swear to shake it up, if you swear to listen / Oh, we're still so young, desperate for attention / I aim to be your eyes, trophy boys, trophy wives

22. [no lyrics]

23. Misjudged your limits / Pushed you too far / Took you for granted / I thought that you needed me more, more, more

24. Poor little rich boy, all the couples have gone / You wish that they hadn't, you don't wanna be alone / But they wanna kiss and they got homes of their own

25. What she asked of me at the end of the day/ Caligula would have blushed!

26. [no lyrics]

27. Today I am / A small blue thing / Like a marble / Or an eye / With my knees against my mouth

28. Will you come a little closer now and tell me I'm a / Scrawny mother fucker with a cool hairstyle?

29. Hello again / Not much has changed / I'm still the same / Just a bit older / Where have you been? / How do you like it? / I'm still the same / Just a bit bolder

[quill-pen]

So I saw this gif while looking for gifs yesterday and just had to post and talk about it... AND BESS AND EBENEZER, OF COURSE.

IT'S HEADCANNON TIME, PEEPS!🤘

Idk what this gif is from, but I'm guessing the flower is in place of a wedding ring? And it just got me thinking: Ebenezer never gets Bess an engagement ring.

For various reasons their engagement is impromptu and rushed and lasts two months at most (maybe not even that long). And in that time everything is about the wedding planning and Ebenezer fighting to try and make sure at least some of the preparations are what Bess wants. (At this point, Bess is just so done and strung-out from dealing with her mother's family, she really has no bite left.) So it goes without say, an official engagement ring is the last thing on Eb's or Bess' mind, especially when there's already a wedding ring itself to be designed, never mind the dress! (Because, damn it all, if Bess can't get her perfect wedding day with her dream man (because he has no idea that man is actually him yet), she's at least going to get her perfect ring and her dream dress as long as Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge has any say in the matter!)

Now, Ebenezer is a proper gentleman, and he likes and understands the importance of tradition. So, much later on, after the wedding and after true feelings come to light, Eb probably asks Bess if she ever felt put out over not really having an engagement period and if she'd like to have an engagement ring despite already married. Bess of course assures him that, no, she wasn't upset about it (other things, sure, but not that) and, no, she doesn't need one. What would she do with it since she already has the wedding ring? Keep it in the box on her vanity to look at? (😉"Wolf, I only partially married you for your money, remember?" Oh, she's a cheeky lass, this one.) So no engagement ring is ever purchased.

BUT I can so see Ebenezer doing this: weaving rings out of little flowers he finds wherever he/they go and giving them to her. Walking down the street and there's a frail little flower poking up through the cobbles? It's going to die there, and should be granted one final blessing of residing on Bess's finger before it withers away. They're out on a picnic or a walk in the park or the countryside and there are wildflowers all around them? Eb will spend an unreasonable amount of time deciding what kind is prettiest and would look best on his wife's hand. Sometimes, he'll manage to weave more than one together so it's almost like a little mini-flower-crown sitting on Bess's ring finger.

For a while, the man gave her a flower ring every day--sometimes several throughout the day. Their gardener more or less put a stop to that, as Ebenezer was kind of wrecking havoc on the back garden and flowerbeds and pots around the house. Now he'll only take from there on occasion (typically whenever the first flower of each type blooms). The gardener still isn't thrilled about this but he also knows it's a bit of a losing battle. Besides, Eb pays well; he'd be an idiot to cross such a fine employer, particularly over something connected with said employer's wife.

Ironically enough, Ebenezer has never given Bess a ring made from her favorite flower: bluebells. He knows she wouldn't like watching them wilt and die away on her hand. She'd much rather enjoy them as they're meant to be: attached to the soil, living and growing and wilting and blossoming again after a long slumber--thriving through their natural cycle as they're meant to. So no bluebell flower rings or bouquets for Dearest and Best Wifey. Potted versions or seeds for the gardener to plant though? Absolutely!👍🏻

Honestly though, as adorable and sweet as the idea of Ebenezer taking the time to meticulously weave a flower ring (and sometimes even more carefully choose the flowers to do it with) is, my absolute favorite part of the headcannon? HE PROPOSES TO HER ALL OVER AGAIN EVERY TIME. DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND EVERYTHING. And he always makes a little speech about how much he loves her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her and how happy and loved she makes him feel and how even more happy and blessed he would be if he could continue being her husband and how he will always strive to make her feel as happy and loved as he does and to be the best possible man he's capable of being for her. A little excessive, perhaps, but, to be fair, there wasn't much of a proposal the first time around. (How did it go then? Wouldn't you like to know?😏 A writer must have some secrets, folks!🤫).

And of course Bess gets all flustered and giggly and tongue-tied, because how could she not? She has the absolute sweetest, handsomest, most loving, and most charming hubby ever! So she usually has to just nod her answer, but of course she accepts every time! And then she'll stroll around happily bearing her sweet smelling "re-engagement ring" for as long as it lasts. No, Bess doesn't feel like she missed out on the engagement stage at all, and she certainly doesn't care about never having a ring to mark it. (Engagement rings don't mean much in her experience anyway--they're just a pretty "maybe later" with no real commitment to back them up.) Besides, she's walking into all the engagement parties and weddings they're invited to on the arm of the world's most wonderful man, her perfect wedding ring on her finger, and a freshly woven, little flower ring nestled right beside it. (Because you best believe hopeless-romantic Eb was going to remind her how he wants to remain hers forever as they're going to help another couple celebrate their choice to make the same commitment.) How could she possibly fuss over what she didn't have? Look at everything she does have!

(Ebenezer better be careful, more than a few bride-to-bes and other ladies have absolutely fawned over Bess's cute little flower rings and become enamored with the idea of having ones themselves. I don't think flower ring weaving is a skill too many men possess: Eb will either have to face the wrath of annoyed suitors and husbands or else start up a flower ring side business. Bob could definitely help him--he's got massive flower ring weaving energy.)

[nebulaeternal]

⊹˚₊‧──── The Dragon's Claim ────‧₊˚⊹

―୨୧⋆ ˚GENRE/WARNING: f!xm, feral Sylus, double cocks, marking, biting, scratching, breeding, eating out, swearing, hybrid, porn w/little plot, overstim, blood, aphrodisiac saliva, feral sylus, and did I say feral sylus? yeah-

―୨୧⋆ ˚SUMMARY: After being exiled from Philos, you set out beyond the borders of your home in search of the crimson gem that would reinstate your citizenship. However, fate had other plans in store for you. You stumble into the dragon lair, unaware of its fate.

―୨୧⋆ ˚WORD COUNT: 3.6K

―୨୧⋆ ˚A/N: AAAAAA SYLUS MYTH! I'm sorry I got so excited when it was announced and wrote this as fast as I could. I'm so sorry if it's not my best work; I just wanted to get it out as fast as possible. I hope you all enjoy it and share your thoughts on it! Please reblog and share, it would be greatly appreciated!

(Side note: I apologize for the messy tagging, this is my first time doing, bear with me. I did go back and edit this, so if you're rereading, let me know how the new changes are ;3)

―୨୧⋆ ˚LINKS: AO3 Version, Taglist Sign-up, Twitter

―୨୧⋆ ˚TAGLIST: @bookfreakk , @comatosebunny09, @local-twat, @alfredosaws, @n109dove, @rokuxx6, @minvirsa, @kyokoyya, @sapphic-daze, @quiet-oracle, @trishiepo0, @ikeepgettingloggedout, @lowkaylove, @nappatheyappa, @celestialforce, @acasualattempt, @le-monchou, @binibininghermosa, @chwesuh-imnida, @insidious-innocence, @heavenly-qingxin, @savourtheflavourgeez, @satansdaughter123, @mesaonline, @vampiirl, @kamisatomay018, @liireoe, @paradisekissmoon, @shitsylus , @jollibeaaa, @boinkboinkkitten, @magpie-the-goblin-girl, @tumbling-through-deepspace, @spirianaluna, @beykyuns , @aly4khq, @san5zu, @rafshottestgf, @mr-crawlings-wife, @twistedlaces1909, @deathrye , @elysiums-light, @xduskydollx , @meowchu7, @sylusloml, @chaoticfivesworld, @rene-lads-trashcan

You stood at the city's edge, casting one final glance back as the guards leveled their spears at you. The captain stepped forward, his voice as cold and commanding as it rang out into the silence. "Bring back the crimson gem from the dragon's cave beyond the border. Only then will you prove yourself worthy of rejoining the citizens of Philos."

The weight of his words sank in like stones. The city had been your whole life—your whole world, it was all you ever knew; the people, the community, everything—Now you were exiled, doomed to face the harsh unknown. Desperately, you pleaded, hoping for just a sliver of mercy. "Please—grant me a retri–"

"Silence!" The captain barked out, cutting you off sharply. "You are forbidden to speak unless you have the gem in hand. Only then will you earn another chance. Now go!"

The guards thrust their spears forward, forcing you to cross the threshold as you shuffled backward, stumbling on your feet. This was it. With your last ounce of hope shriveled, you turned around and stepped into the wilderness. Your heart thrummed loudly in your ears as you ventured further into the uncharted lands, left with nothing but a small satchel containing only a few days' worth of provisions. How you would survive beyond that was a question only time could answer. 

In the first few hours, you barely managed to go a hundred meters beyond the city threshold. The sight of Philos served as a tether to familiarity, a comfort you desperately clung to despite the rejection. However, as the sun dipped lower into the sky and the shadows stretched into darkness, waiting became a death sentence of its own. Your resolve now reformed–it was better to attempt to escape find this treasure than to face a perilous doom. It was a better fate than withering outside the city gates.

With a heavy heart, you ventured deeper into the uncharted wilderness, clutching your satchel as though its scarce contents could quell the turmoil within you. Hours turned to days, days to weeks, slowly blurring into months. Each step turns into a survival instinct. The wilderness you had once feared was now becoming a part of you, and you with it. A symphony of the unknown that you now call your new home. 

With each sunrise, the sting of longing for Philos dulled. You found peace within the wilderness, looking forward to each new day. You had been roaming around for quite a bit this particular day when the sky darkened with little warning. Looking around, you could faintly spot a jagged opening in the side of the rock face. You dashed for the opening, relieved to be sheltered from the heavy onslaught of the rain. 

Taking a moment to catch your breath, you wrung out your clothes. The cave walls danced faintly with shadows, lightning illuminating it brightly on occasion. Only then did it strike you—This was the cave. The one you had been banished to find, your only chance at regaining citizenship in Philos, was right under your feet.

A chill ran through you as its weight sunk in. You stared into the void, its darkness staring back at you, mocking you even. Another strike of lightning illuminated the cave, giving you a glimpse of what lies beyond. Swallowing up your fear, you cautiously made your way further inside, unable to shake the fear that the darkness wasn't empty. 

You clung desperately to your satchel, its meager contents unable to protect you now as the darkness swallowed you whole. Unable to see even your own hands in front of you, you took each step with caution. Almost as if the cave itself exhaled, you felt warm breath fanning your skin and immediately froze. Your breath caught in your chest, shallow and strained. 

Your blood ran cold when you felt something scaly and rigid run along your leg, wrapping itself around your waist. Every fiber in your being screamed at you to run, but instinct held you still, praying the creature would lose interest and retreat. But fate was not so kind. Not given a chance to react, this thing had tightened its grip, yanking you off your feet. You were mercilessly dragged further, your body sliding along the cold stone.

A shriek was torn from your throat as you fought and thrashed in an attempt to escape your mystery captor. As you were hauled further, the darkness began to shift, soft light flickering along the grimy cave walls, casting shadows that almost looked alive. Your screams quieted as your surroundings grew clearer, dread hanging in the air.

The scent of ash filled your nostrils. A voice booming into the silence, "Another miserable human sent to die a meaningless death by my hands." Your heart was pounding in your chest, unsure of how you would escape this time. "Nonetheless, I have other plans for you." the creature drawled as it finally entered the light.

As frightened as you should be, a part of you couldn't deny that he was the most gorgeous being you had ever laid your eyes on. The dragon-man that stood before you had an otherworldly allure. His silver hair glinted in the faint light, and his sharp, inhuman features were both menacing and beautiful, and those crimson eyes—you almost forgot the peril you were in.

The tail that had dragged you to your doom, now lazily traced a line around you as he prowled in slow circles, his piercing gaze examining you. "Yes…You'll do nicely.."

Your voice trembled as you managed to speak, "What—" In an instant, he moved like a blur, pinning you to the cold stone floor with a growl that emanated from deep within his chest. "Who gave you permission to speak?" He snarled, his voice low and threatening.

"Silence." The warmth of his breath fanned across your skin as he lowered his head, nose brushing against your neck. The contact sent a jolt rushing through you. Instinctively, you tried pulling away, realizing far too late that you had given him the perfect opening.

Without so much as a warning, he sank his sharp teeth into the sensitive flesh of your neck. A cry escaped your lips, pain and shock flaring through your body. He felt your pulse thrumming against his lips as his brows scrunched, lips suctioning around his bite. He pulled back, a smudge of your blood glistening on the corner of his mouth.

He licked it away slowly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he murmured, "Sweet…" He smacked his lips, "I knew you were the one." Panic surged within you as you began to struggle against him. However, an unsettling heat began to spread throughout your body. Your lungs felt heavy, and your body felt weaker, slowly succumbing to the warmth beyond your control.

You groaned weakly, the unfamiliar sensation overcoming your body and slowly clouding your mind. This heat was unlike any other. It burned hot through your veins, igniting a flame so primal you couldn't shake it off. Scurrying from underneath him, you managed to rise to your feet, doing your best to keep your distance, but your blood burned like fire, immense heat radiating from your skin.

"Ah." He chuckled darkly, his tail reaching out to coil around you once more as he pressed against you impossibly closer. "There you go~"

"What…did you do..?" You managed to whimper out, to which he chuckled, "Aphrodisiac. You'll understand soon enough...This was meant to be." You stepped out of his grasp, stumbling into the pile of gold and treasure behind you. You hadn't quite taken note of the obscene amount of gold he had within his cave, but you could not say you were surprised. 

He chuckled, sauntering closer to you, his movements deliberate and calculated. Your instincts screamed at you to run, to put as much space between you and him as possible, but no matter how you tried, your body would not move. It betrayed you. You felt yourself dragging forward, drawn to him against your will. The heat within you took control, fueling a deeply hidden desire. 

His smirk widened, watching you struggle to regain control. "Don't fight it, you were made for this..for me." His words sent a chill down your spine, the uncertainty scaring you in a way you couldn't imagine.

Finally, you stopped right before him. You could feel the heat emanating from his body as he took one final step closer. His tail wrapped around your body, pulling you to your feet. His clawed hands reached for your waist, grazing your delicate skin.

"Please let me go.." You whimpered out despite leaning into his touch and becoming putty in his hands. "Now, why would I do that when I can see how much you're enjoying this?" he purred, still fully pressed against you.

He lowered his head to your neck once more, sharp teeth piercing into your flesh. A moan was torn from your throat as your hands instinctively flew up to grab his shoulders, wrapping around his neck. Your knees buckled, your strength fading as the heat within you grew and spread like wildfire. It was intoxicating, hard to resist, and impossible to ignore. Pleasure coiled tightly within you, growing with each passing second until resisting felt futile. Your resolve crumbled, and you succumbed to his desire, knowing you could only delay the inevitable for so long.

"Good girl~ I knew you'd come around." He murmured low and husky into your ear. His words sent a chill down your spine, his tone a perfect blend of dominance and seduction, luring you toward your demise. Your breath quickened, your chest rising and falling with an intensity you thought your heart would explode.

He let out a growl, tackling you to the ground once more. The coldness of the stone serves as a stark contrast to the heat that emanates from both your bodies. He made quick work of your clothes, quite literally tearing them away in one swift motion, causing you to yelp out. Instinctively, you brought your arms to cover up what you could while you clenched your legs, holding them closer to your torso.

Sylus was having none of that. He took his tail and pulled your arms away from your body while he spread your thighs apart with his arms. The pungent scent hit his nose, causing his eyes to roll back as he inhaled deeply. He let out a groan, bringing his head down to your core, unable to resist as he licked a fat stripe from your hole to your clit.

Your back arched off the cold floor, a moan escaping your lips as your thighs unconsciously wrapped around his head, hips bucking against his face. Sylus enjoyed every reaction he could elicit from you, kissing along the inner curve of the flesh, sucking and marking a trail that led closer to your core. Finally getting to the apex of your legs, he cupped his mouth over your heat, worming his tongue into your hole, causing you to jolt, the pleasure becoming too much to handle.

He pulled away momentarily, "The name in your mouth should be Sylus, nothing more." with that, he dove back in, sucking viciously at your clit, causing you to moan out and grip his rigid horns. Each curve in his horns fit your fingers perfectly, almost like he was made for you and only you.

"Ah!" You cry out, back arched so high you thought your spine would snap. His ministrations didn't falter in the slightest. Sylus continued to ravage you with his tongue alone, his grip becoming more eager and hungry, claws subtly digging into your thighs as he pulled you closer to his face, making sure you couldn't escape. "Sylus!"

He smirked, a slight huff escaping him at the use of his name as continuing to plunge his tongue deeper into your core, lips still clasped around your mound. Your body was scorching, the cold stone doing little to quell the heat. You felt as though you were going to burst. The pleasure was so overwhelmingly delicious that all sense of control you had was long abandoned.

A knot had started to form in the pit of your stomach, hips bucking wildly in an attempt to escape. "Please! I-" Your orgasm crashed through you unexpectedly as you threw your head back. Still gripping his horns, you pull his face closer as you reach your peak. He happily obliged and slurped up all you had to give him till you went limp in his hold.

Sylus admired his work. Red claw marks and hickeys decorated your thighs as your pussy leaked with juices from the prior engagement. "Tired already?" he asked, licking his lips, his lizard-like tongue flicking out. "The fun has just begun." He spoke with a teasing lilt in his voice. His claws wrap around your thighs once more, and he drags you towards him before flipping you over.

He pulls your hips up, leaving your torso slumped against the ground and your pussy on display, enticing him more. He couldn't help the primal growl that escaped his lips when he saw how slick your thighs became, the sweet essence dripping slowly along your slit. You yelp out, feeling his rough hand come down harshly onto your exposed skin. You were left defenseless, however, you weren't ready to put an end to such a blissful experience just yet. "Who are you?" You whined out, feeling him toss you around like a ragdoll.

"Your beloved. The one destined for you. Don't you feel it?" He said lowly, his hips lining up with yours. You couldn't place it, but something deep within you couldn't resist him, and it wasn't just the aphrodisiac. Your whole being screamed to let him consume you. It was as he said. It was meant to be.

The tip of his cock grazed your wet entrance. The sliver of clarity he had left was now gone with the wind. His primal instincts taking over him once more.

"Gonna stuff you full and breed you." He murmured to himself. "Make you mine forever." You could barely catch what he said when he plunged himself deep into you. Another cry escaped your lips. The sensation was overwhelming. You were full beyond comprehension.

Sylus's incoherent rambling paired with the sensation—of what you now realize as both your holes being plugged—has you reeling, eyes rolled back, mouth agape while your spit pooled below you.

You felt the ribbing and barbs grazing your sensitive walls and felt your mind starting to go blank. Never in your life had you experienced something so unique. So blissful. You almost threw caution to the wind, struggling to fight his allure.

"Taking my cocks so well-" he grunted out as he continued to thrust into you with no abandon. Desperately, you claw at the ground, unable to find purchase in the flat rocky surface.

"W-Wait!" However, your cries went unheard as lust overtook his mind fully. His only objective was breeding you. Unfortunately for you, you managed to saunter into his lair during mating season, completely oblivious to what the cycles and rituals entail. You fell into his claws at the exact moment he needed you most.

You felt yourself slip further into lust, finding it hard to resist throwing your hips back onto him, which he was pleased to see. "That's my good fucking girl." He growled, claws digging deeper into your skin, drawing blood. His wings began to beat loudly against the air as his pleasure heightened.

The sting of pain caused you to wail out, to which he leaned down and bit the flesh of your body, sinking his fangs in. The pain soon turned to pleasure, your whimpers of discomfort turning to moans of pleasure as he plowed your holes mercilessly.

"Better?" His pace slowed as he asked. You nodded vigorously, praying he didn't stop. "Please—don't stop." You choked out. You were starting to think his pace couldn't be more feral, but you were wrong. His pace quickened, hips slamming harshly against yours.

The familiar coil in your stomach pulls tighter, feeling the tip of his cock assault your cervix. You clawed at the stone, needing desperately to ground yourself for this deliciously impending high.

"Sylus! I'm almost-"he cut you off, claws digging further into your hips. You managed to get onto your palms, throwing your head back, reaching for him in the process. He noticed this and leaned down, growls spilling into your ear, and he continued to thrust into you. "I'm so close, Love." He grunted out, his movements growing sloppy, wings beating faster.

You could feel yourself creeping closer to your climax. He bit down harshly on your shoulder, another wave of ecstasy coursing through your veins, your moans echoing loudly in the cave.

"Cumming!" You screamed, throwing your head back onto his shoulder. A surge came through you, squirting onto his cock. This sent him tumbling over the edge, his cum flooding your walls as he let out a final grunt, emptying himself into you. 

You attempted to pull yourself off him with the little energy you could muster but found yourself unable to move. Clenching around him, he hissed. "Stay still." He commanded, his knot buried deep inside you. Unaware of your situation, you make an attempt once more to pull yourself off but felt that same resistance.

"Sylus what—"he hissed out, his resolve weakening the more you moved. "Stay. Still." You obeyed and didn't move. Before you could react, he quickly pulled out with a pop. Turning you to face him.

"My gods, you're beautiful." The tear stains on your cheeks, the flush of your face, and the bite marks and hickeys that littered your skin were a sight to behold. He could feel himself getting hard again.

Not giving you much of a choice, he plunged one of his cocks inside you, the other resting on your clit, creating a delicious friction against your bundle of nerves. The dual sensation fills your senses with nothing but pleasure. Your legs locked around his waist, the scales of his tail brushing harshly against your skin.

"Oh fuck—" Not waiting a moment longer. He began thrusting deep into your womb, creating a bulge in your tummy. Sylus drew back, leaving just the tip of his cock inside, the other one flicking your clit when he shoved himself back in.

Your mouth fell open in a silent cry, eyes screwed shut as he continued his punishing pace. Tears pricked your eyes, spilling past your eyelids and cascading down your cheek.

Sylus leaned down once more, biting your skin and leaving yet another mark, the pleasure flowing throughout your body. You let out broken sobs and cries of pleasure as he plunged in and out of you, his other cock abusing your clit.

You couldn't help but squirm. The sensation was too much for you to bear, seeing as you barely recovered from your last orgasm. In an attempt to scramble away, your thighs subconsciously pushed against him, trying to force his body away from yours.

His tail whipped up and wrapped around your thigh, prying your legs open, creating more room for him. "Relax. You can handle it." He said lowly into your ear. Your thigh was pressed firmly against the surface of the stone, his hips not faltering in their abusive pace.

With nothing more left within you, your arms wrapped around his shoulders, nails digging into his back, grazing dangerously close to his wings. He moaned loudly, almost stumbling into your shoulder.

You noticed this and toyed with the joining of his wings and shoulder blades. His throaty moans spill from his lips and into your ear. Wings beating loudly.

Watching in a lustful daze, his movements became as desperate as ever, chasing his high that was dangling within reach. "S-Sorry love." He groaned out. Sorry?

"S-Sorry for w-" his arms wrapped fully around you. His large figure covering yours entirely as he squeezed your body against his, pounding into your swollen cunt. "Oh, gods!" You cried out, feeling the brute force of his body against your weaker one.

He couldn't help the pleasure that wracked through him. The feeling of your velvety walls wrapping him perfectly coaxed out of him another orgasm, sending you tumbling with him. His wings flared out as he filled you up once more, the echo of your moans dying at the far ends of the cave. 

You felt the warmth of his cum seeping into your walls and simultaneously puul on your stomach, pooling in your belly button before dribbling down the sides of your body.

You whimpered out weakly, feeling him collapse onto you, the sticky mess between your bodies emitting a wet lewd noise. "Sylus." Every bit of your body ached in a way that made you want more. You felt him shift, resting on his elbows to stare at you.

"Yes, My Love?" You couldn't help but question him. How uniquely he greeted you, how does he even know what he claimed was true? "Why?" You managed to breathe out. "You don't even know me."

"My Love, I have waited centuries for you, and finally, you fell into my lap. I knew it was you when you walked in." None of it made sense; logically, it was something you could not fathom, but deep within, you couldn't deny the undeniable allure he had on you.

"It must have been fate for me to be cast out of Philos then." Your statement hung in the air silently. His response was nothing more than a hum as he nuzzled into your neck.

"It seems we have lost time to make up for then." His tongue flicked out to lick your old bite marks. His hips moved slowly against yours once more, causing you to whimper out. He chuckled at your little whimper, and you couldn't help but return it with a giggle, pulling him closer. "Well, what are we waiting for?"

[jassrain]

Pirate Adventure Epilogue

Rain adjusted her dress and tugged at her corset again, then sighed as she looked up at the house. It had been at least fifty years, maybe more since she saw young Jimmy, her cabin boy. After leaving her service he went on to join the royal navy and rise to the rank of admiral. “Right,” she muttered to herself and gave the knocker a solid pounding. After a few moments the door was opened by a young woman in a white dress of lace and frills, she was an inch shorter than Rain with sandy brown hair pulled into a tight bun giving the young woman a severe look.

“May I help you?” The woman asked, looking Rain over, her expression was of annoyance that some woman was at her grandfather’s door. “You are not welcome here today, ply your trade somewhere else, my uncle has been warned about this day.”

“I’m not here for your uncle and I’m not that kind of lady, my grandmother was captain Crimvarinova, I have a message for the admiral,” Rain half truthed, being a half dragon granted her a long life and slow aging after she came of the age of twenty, now a melinia and a half later she still looked in her twenties, almost thirty if she was honest with herself.

The woman narrowed her eyes and started to close the door, “we’ll have no further dealings with that privateer and pirate,” she finally snapped out. She was about to slam the door dramatically when a white gloved hand stopped her.

“The Admiral has been expecting her,” Rain recognized Hawk, the large man was now withered and lean, though the years seemed to have been kind to him. The young woman looked between Hawk and Rain, then huffed and stormed off, it would have been quite dramatic if her ruffle didn’t catch on one of the stuffed bear’s claws, yanking her to fall on her rear. Hawk snorted a laugh as did Rain. Once the young woman was aided to her feet, by a passing maid, and gone, Hawk waved Rain inside, “this way, captain, as I said the admiral has been expecting you.”

“Never any pretense with you Mr Hawk,” Rain chuckled following her former first mate, “how long have you been in Jimmy’s employ?” She asked to both make conversation and confirm that Hawk was not one of the servants that the girl could order around.

“Going on forty five years captain, I hit some rough seas after we parted and young Jimmy, just promoted to Commodore James, at the time helped me out, and I became his valet. There have been a few campaigns where we wondered what captain Crimvarinova would do?” Hawk chuckled.

“Considering that Jimmy made admiral, I’d say you guessed correctly,” Rain smiled proud of both men. “Sorry to hear you hit rough times and I wasn't there.”

“After we disbanded I tried looking for you, you were like a ghost” Hawk waved his hand to dismiss the thought.

As they talked he lead her through several halls and up several staircases.

“Place is like a maze, Jimmy did well,” Rain commented.

“At the admiral’s insistence,” Hawk chuckled, “he wanted coming to him to feel like an adventure.”

Rain nodded in appreciation, and began looking closer at her path through the admiral’s house. Halls had mirrors angled just so to extend the hall and not see oneself in the reflection. Alcoves along the hall had full sized and almost lifelike paintings of different landscapes, one had mountains, one a tropical beach, another a frozen tundra. The last alcove before the admiral’s office was of the fae sea they were on decades ago.

“That one is a favorite of the children that visit me, or visited me, my granddaughter feels they over excite me.” Jimmy grunted annoyed. “It’s good to see you, captain.”

Rain turned from the painting to Jimmy, “admiral, cabin boy,” she returned his salute and winked, “I must say you’ve done well for yourself.” He wore a dark suit and bowtie, a few distinguishing medals hung on his chest none were of significant note, but that he wore them made them valuable and important to him. He also wore a powder white wig and held a battered black cocked hat under his arm, though stooped he was now a few inches taller than Rain.

“Thank you kindly,” Jimmy responded, now the years showed more in his voice and stature. “Now I am concerned, since we parted ways, I have looked for you like most of the crew, ignoring your warning that when next we meet will be at the end, is, is it time?”

“Yes, it is time admiral, the end of your time here. Like many who have traveled with me you’re given a chance to start anew in the fae world if you choose. Both of you.” Rain looked from Jimmy to Hawk.

Jimmy looked to know his answer, Hawk seemed to be struggling with the thought, something she never saw on the big man’s face before.

“You can’t! Grandfather you can’t!” The young women from the door protested and stormed to them through the hall.

“Being dramatic Pheobe?” Jimmy smiled, “my granddaughter, I love her and dote, she dotes on me a little too much, she should be married and presenting me with great grandchildren to tell stories too.” Jimmy's voice got louder so Pheobe could hear him over her stomping, that stopped her in her tracks and turned her beat red.

Rain chuckled at the sight and walked to the girl, placing a hand on her shoulder sighed, “your grandfather has made his decision, long ago, but Celeste the fae princess wished that I make him the offer again.”

Pheobe regained her composure and looked from Jimmy to Rain, even Hawk seemed to relax some.

Jimmy nodded, a touch of sadness in his eyes, “the one story I never shared since it isn’t completely mine. Captain, with your permission, may I?”

“Yes, admiral, you have my permission and the permission of Celeste,” Rain nodded. “Hawk, the admiral has made his choice and now for you to make yours, do you wish to live in among the fae?”

Hawk looked to the admiral and Pheobe, then to painting of the fae sea and back to Rain. “I wish to stay captain. I wasn’t that pleased to adventure there with you or when I found myself there on my own.”

“I had to ask, Mr Hawk,” Rain smiled and on her toes kissed his cheek, “a gift from Elva, she remembers you fondly.” Hawk looked at Rain, his face a mix of surprise and relief, after a moment he started laughing.

[tuttle-did-it]

'Who Killed JB Fletcher?' Murder She Wrote

Margaret O’Brien (starred in Tenth Avenue Angel (1948) with Angela Lansbury, was also in Meet me in St Louis, Journey for Margaret, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Marcus Welby MD, Love, American Style, Adam-12, Ironside, Little Women, Tenth Avenue Angel, Big City, The Canterville Ghost, Jane Eyre, Madam Curie)

Marie Windsor (starred in the Three Musketeers with Angela Lansbury, also The Killing, The Day Mars Invaded Earth, The Narrow Margin, Salem’s Lot, Fantasy Island, The Incredible Hulk, Lou Grant, Freaky Friday 1976, Adam 12, Alias Smith & Jones, Gunsmoke, The Pirate, Force of Evil, The Big Street)

Terry Moore (starred in Angela’s first movie Gaslight, 1944, Peyton Place, Mighty Joe Young, True Detective, The Love Boat, Batman 67, My Three Sons, City of Fear, Burk’s Law, A Private’s Affair)

Janet Blair (The Black Arrow Strikes, That Mad Mr Jones, I Love Trouble, My Sister Eileen, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Smith Family, The Outer Limits, Also, this was her final role)

Betty Garrett (All in the Family, Laverne & Shirley, On the Town, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Becker, Grey’s Anatomy, The Love Boat)

Jane Withers (Giant, Bright Eyes, Handle with Care, Imitation of Life, Little Miss Nobody, Rascals, Were in the Army Now, Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Munsters, Love Boat, Hart to Hart)

s7 E14 aired Feb 10, 1991