#never be anything but loud [sienna]

[ofragesaesthetics]

                           Sienna Scorfano-Paguro                    Daughter of Luca & Alberto [Luca]

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[sweetbillwriting]

The Key To His Heart - III

Description: As a hard working novelist and single dad hasn't Bill had much time for dating but gets an unorthodox chance to meet women when his friend persuades him to be a part of a dating TV show.

Characters: AU Bill Skarsgård where his life changes in 2013 and later 2019.

Setting: L.A, 2024 but in an alternative universe with Bill having a completely different life.

Warnings: 18+, NSFW, heavy themes.

Bill's Guests:

Maria: Writer, 38.

Violet: Entrepreneur, 22.

Camila: Engineer, 31.

Victoria: Shop assistant, 34.

Sandra: Fashion designer, 36.

Julie: Model, 25. (Left in episode 2)

Esmeralda: Model, 27.

Rose: Personal trainer, 22.

Odette: Pediatrician, 33.

Tiffany: Actress, 30.

Sienna: Painter, 28.

Brigitte: Chef, 29.

×

It was in the guest house that the drama had settled. The girls living in the mansion didn't relax as much as the others because Bill could suddenly be next to them, but the guest house he hadn't visited. There lived Esmeralda, Odette, Maria, Sandra, Violet, and Brigitte. Earlier also, Julie lived there. The fight between her and Esmeralda wasn't the only tension, though. An irritation hung over the house all the time.

Odette and Brigitte had found a sort of friendship, or at least as close as a friendship you can have when you want the same man. They prepared for the day together in their room when they heard loud voices.

“Don't be so fucking childish!” said Sandra loudly.

“I'm not childish! That was my cucumber!” Answered Violet more upset than angry.

“It's a cucumber! Let it go! And if I'm correct, it isn't even you who paid for it!”

"No, but I ordered it!”

Brigitte looked amused at Odette while braiding her hair, and they both smirked curiously. Sandra had said before that Violet was childish, and they had a feeling she was a bit provoked that 22 year-olds were a part of the show.

“Fine! Go and tell Bill I ate your cucumber then! How do you think he will react to that? It's just childish behavior, and he would feel the same!”

Violet didn't say anything, and the other girls looked at each other with big eyes.

In the kitchen, Violet just stormed out while Sandra and Maria were still there. Sandra rolled her eyes towards Maria, but she looked down in her coffee mug.

“Yesterday she complained that Esmeralda had used lavender shower cream because she can't stand it, like she's the princess here,” said Sandra and shook her head. “And she threatened to tell the TV team about Brigitte,” under the table she made a motion with two fingers. “A bit too often. Okay, we hear her sometimes, but come on, we're all girls!”

Maria nodded a little and took a sip of her coffee.

“She told me she does it because of her cramps, she has big problems with her period, and so on,” explained Maria lowly.

“See! There is even an explanation to it!”

In Odette and Brigitte's bedroom, Brigitte tried to hear what Sandra and Maria were discussing; she had heard her name but nothing more than that.

“Are they talking about me now?”

Odette shrugged her shoulders, pretending she hadn't heard anything.

“Will they bitch about everyone?”

“They seem like the type... But it's nothing to care about. They're just bitter or something.”

×××

Bill would never confess how many situps and pushups he had done in a row. He wanted to seem like he was chill with his training and body, but in reality he could feel a bit of panic for the day.

They were at a fitness resort close by, and he would be with all girls that day at a pool party, and he knew both the women and the viewers would look at his body. He didn't feel self-conscious but wanted to look his best, especially when he knew how he could look if he wanted to. He pulled on the black pair of swimming shorts in a shorter style and looked at himself in the mirror in the locker room. He looked good. Yes, he looked good. He sighed because he knew they had planned it so he would come last and more or less make an entrance in front of the girls. It was silly.

The girls did wait for him by the pool, all of them wearing their nicest swimwear. A few of them covered themselves with a sarong, but most of them seemed comfortable being so naked on TV; some acted more comfortable than they were. All of them waited on Bill with excitement, and several of them already felt Bill was the one they knew best, and because of that, their “safe person.”

Bill walked out to the pool, trying to look relaxed and not like he was thinking about the girls' opinions, but they just looked at him admiringly. The smooth, tanned skin, the height, the broad shoulders. The abs. Odette and Brigitte look at each other with a smirk. So did Victoria and Rose. There wasn't anyone that didn't like what they were seeing.

“Hello, my ladies,” he said, approaching the sun chair where a letter was lying. He was informed by Herman he would get one, but not what would be written in it.

“Hey, Bill!” said the girls almost as if in a chorus, and it made Bill smirk, crooked. They were really there just for him.

He took the letter and sat down in the chair. He was so focused and curious about the letter he didn't notice that the girls still looked at his body a bit too intensely, but they put on their most innocent faces when Bill looked up from the letter to say with his eyes he would read out loud.

“Today you have the whole day to get to know each other better. The whole resort is open to only you, and you can use it however you want. Girls, try to take your chance to be with Bill because, tonight, back at home, two of you need to leave.”

Bill looked up at the girls. His expression was similar to theirs, stressed and uncomfortable. Suddenly the energy wasn't as relaxed and sunny.

“Okay… Ehm… Hm…” Bill said, and in his deep thoughts, he moved to the pool and slipped down the edge to the cold water. There were just four girls in the pool, Maria, Odette, Brigitte, and Sienna, even though the pool was big.

“That was a surprise…” he said to Odette and Brigitte, who were the closest to him.

“Yeah, I had some naive thought we would just be here and chill,” said Brigitte and looked at him with big blue eyes. Her hair was gathered in a long, thick braid over her shoulder. Bill nodded in agreement.

“Feels like you and I haven't even had time to say hello yet,” he said with an awkward laugh. Brigitte laughed too, and it looked like she was on her way to say something before Odette interrupted her.

“We haven't had much time together either,” she said, smiling at Bill. He agreed but silently thought he hadn't had much time with the other ones either, just Rose.

“Have you visited this place before?” asked Brigitte and moved so that she was on the other side of Bill instead of having Odette between them.

“Yeah, they have a good brunch, and my oldest thinks it's fun to play some tennis... You were a chef, right?”

“Yeah, and I promise, my brunch is better,” she said cheekily and made Bill chuckle.

“Yeah, any specialities?”

“I would say my green crepes, but crepes, that's like pancakes for Swedes, right?”

“Yeah, it is. So I rarely make American pancakes; they grow in your mouth after a while.”

Brigitte faked offense, and Bill laughed at her with his hands up.

“Sorry! But you also do crepes!”

Brigitte giggled and nodded.

“Maybe there is some truth to it, and my mom is French…”

Odette looked at them talking and how big Brigitte made Bill smile, so when there were a few seconds of silence, she laid her hand on Bill's elbow.

“Can't we just take a little walk?”

Bill looked away from Brigitte to Odette and smiled.

“Sure, I can show you the resort.”

Brigitte gave her friend a look, it wasn't a friendly one.

The resort was bigger than Odette had thought, and it had several tennis courts, more pools, well arranged gardens, and an outdoor spa. They stopped by the tennis court, where Odette pulled Bill down for a seat on a bench. They had talked softly about a lot of things, and it flowed on well. She was calm and warm and made him relax. It was simple. They got 30 minutes for themselves before...

“Bill? Do you want to play?” It was Tiffany, dressed in a red bikini top and white denim shorts. She pointed towards the tennis court. Bill gave Odette an apologetic smile, who looked disappointed at both Bill and Tiffany.

“Sure!”

He guessed the day would be like that, being pulled away from one woman by another. It was a luxury, but he was afraid it would mean he would never be able to talk with them deeply.

He played a friendly match of tennis with Tiffany as he would with his oldest daughter. He noticed she was a beginner and didn't want to startle her with a hard ball in the right corner. He himself wasn't such an experienced tennis player either, but he learned fast, so when his daughter started to play, he got the hang of it. He also had read about it online to get better; he didn't do anything half-ass.

Tiffany giggled when they took a break and fixed her wild curls.

“I think you're holding back!”

Bill smirked and leaned against the judge’s chair.

“Of course not!”

Tiffany smiled, amused, in a pointed way. Bill licked his lips and shrugged his shoulders.

“Maybe a little.”

“I knew it! But I guess that's gentlemanly of you.”

“I try!” Bill stretched his back so it cracked. Tiffany stood and looked at him a while, then she softly took his hand and pulled him to the bench he had been sitting on with Odette earlier.

“You know… I had a boyfriend, Haadi, who died of cancer a few years ago.”

Bill looked at her first but then looked away uncomfortably. He knew where this would lead. He met Herman's eyes far away, and he wondered if he was hiding back there because he had planned this. Americans always liked a sad story.

“I'm sorry…” he said and gave Tiffany a fast look.

“It was five years ago, so I guess it must have been the same year your-”

Bill cleared his throat and stood up. “I'm sorry, Tiffany, but I really don't want to talk about that here and now. And I think lunch is soon.” He looked towards the restaurant just to escape her stare. Tiffany looked at him with panic.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry Bill…”

He smiled strained but didn't look at her.

×××

Kate was a sensitive topic for Bill, not because he hadn't worked through it, but more so because cancer was a subject always making him uncomfortable because people believed he would be an expert on the subject or people began to ask about his life currently with curiosity and intrusively trying to find out how his girls had taken her death.

They walked back to the restaurant where they had started to serve lunch, and Bill sat down on his place, the edge of the table. Clearly he had made Tiffany uncomfortable because she walked up to Sienna instead of staying by his side.

He looked around at the girls when he had a few minutes to just think. He didn't even want to confess it to himself, but he looked at their bodies while they were so naked. It was the ones who he had expected that awakened lust in him. He licked his lips and tried to stop staring at the girls.

He hadn't had sex for six months. The last few years had he just succeeded in having a few one night stands, and he had had one woman who he could call if he had wanted to, but she gave up on him quickly because he never had time. Arranging a babysitter to get laid wasn't anything he could do with a good conscience.

Could he let someone stay because they were hot? Because he wanted to lay on top of them?

He could. He looked at soft thighs and a curved, tanned back. He could give one more chance. It wasn't like anyone needed to know what the reason was.

“You like to cook too?” Asked Brigitte, who had sat down next to him. It took some seconds for Bill to hear what she had actually said and force himself to look at her.

“Ehm, yeah. Yeah, I love it,” said he with a smile. “But I'm probably not as good as you.”

“I think we're good at different things.”

“Yeah? What's your thing?” Bill shoved a tomato in his mouth.

“Meat and sauces, I think. I work at a meat based restaurant.”

“Really? I would have said I'm best at meat too, but I think you're better than me at that.”

Brigitte giggled a little and gave him a teasing smile. Bill smirked back; he liked that she didn't protest and that she more or less confessed she was better than him. Too many women diminished themselves to flatter a man; she didn't.

“I would love to try your food.”

“You should. I make the best lamb with mint sauce.”

“Is that your signature dish?”

“Probably, or my homemade sausage.”

Bill looked impressed.

“Seriously? Fuck, that's impressive!”

Some seats further away sat Odette and looked at her friend and the man she wanted. All of the girls looked annoyed that Bill gave Brigitte his full attention, but no one was as irritated as her.

When Brigitte and him got to a natural pause, he looked at Victoria, who walked by.

“Would you want to visit the balcony with me? There’s a really great view there,” he said with a charming smile. Victoria blushed red all the way down her neck.

“Oh, yeah, okay,” she said with a giggle and fixed her baby pink bikini top. While Bill stood up, Victoria looked at one of the lounge chairs.

“I will just... ” She ran to the chair and then pulled on an Aztec patterned kimono. Bill looked at her disappointed, and she seemed to have noticed because she looked at him confused.

“Is it something?”

“Oh, no, no.” He scratched his neck and looked towards the big building.

They walked in silence up to the balcony, not because they didn't have anything to say, just that they wanted to be far away from the other girls’ nosy stares.

“Wow! This is amazing!” exclaimed Victoria when they were up and looked down at the view of California’s nature. Bill looked almost proud when he looked out over the view and the afternoon sun. It wasn't even his country, but he had started to see it as his home. He had lived there for quite many years.

“I thought New Yorkers hate Los Angeles?” said Bill teasingly. Victoria shrugged her shoulders with an embarrassed smile.

“It's a different feeling. I like the rougher vibe, but you're more Hollywood?” It sounded like she teased him, but Bill couldn't see the playfulness in her eyes.

��No, not really. I preferred New York before I moved here, but life, you know, it takes you to places you never thought.”

Victoria shrugged her shoulders. Bill looked out over the view and felt again that feeling he had felt at the cocktail party. They didn't match.

“Working at a bookstore, you must read a lot?”

“Ehm… Not really, actually. I can feel that books and authors have a tendency to tell the same story over and over.” Bill nodded a little, but in reality he couldn't understand what she said. Everything was stories. Books, movies, series, even documentaries. Didn't she consume anything of it? He was a writer, a former actor; his whole life was stories.

“Do you read a lot?” She asked and looked at him with uncertainty; maybe she had felt his vibe.

“Yeah, when I don't write myself. Then I do research for my own books… Yeah, I would say I read a lot.”

Victoria nodded and then giggled.

“You would have a lot to talk about with my dad, then.”

Bill smiled at her, but it was forced. It wasn't her dad he wanted to be able to talk with, but with her. Discreetly, he looked at her baby pink bikini top and the swell of her breasts, then he looked out over the view again with a deep exhalation.

×××

The sun had started to go down when Bill took a walk by himself around the gardens after being with several of the girls around the pool. He had a lot to think about, and the girls didn't make it easy for him. He didn't really have feelings for any of them, but he had many mixed thoughts about them. It seemed like all of them had qualities he both liked and disliked, and some girls he felt potential with, but it just hadn't bloomed yet. In normal life he would have given a woman a longer chance, but here he needed to say goodbye just by a feeling or some awkward seconds. He wanted to get to know them better but also think things through, but it wasn't time. When he came around the corner, he saw Sienna sitting in a heated pool by herself. Her middle-length dark hair was wet and slicked back over her head. She smiled shyly at him but still looked inviting. Bill walked up to her with long, slow strides.

“Are you here alone?”

“Yeah, it can get a bit much,” she said and looked down in the water, embarrassed. Bill smirked in understanding but slipped down into the water without an invitation. The water was so warm it stung his skin for a few seconds. He hoped to be able to talk with her, but once again that awkward feeling crept up on him. He didn't know what to say at all, and she was just as quiet. He noticed she was shy, and it seemed to infect him. He was also shy but could often master it, but with another person being just as awkward as himself, his head became empty and his limbs restless.

“So… You're a painter, right?” He asked after some awkward minutes.

“Yeah,” she said shortly. Bill nodded and crawled down deeper in the water so his shoulders were also under the surface.

“What do you paint?”

“Ehm… Right now it's mostly zebras.” Sienna didn't look at him. Bill waited a few seconds to see if she would give him an explanation of her motives, but she continued to be quiet. He started to regret having crawled down in the pool with her; now he was stuck there and couldn't just walk away; it would be too mean.

“I have read all your books,” Sienna suddenly said, and Bill looked at her surprised. He had started to give up on having a conversation with her.

“Yeah? Do you like them?” He asked curiously.

“Most of them. Sometimes they feel a bit try-hard.”

Bill looked at her shocked with furrowed eyes. Sienna looked up at him and smiled a bit teasingly, and Bill laughed. Her comment was unexpected.

“Here is the man I've been searching for!” announced a feminine voice behind him. Esmeralda crouched down next to his head and dragged her finger over his neck. It was a nice sensation, and it made Bill smile big.

“I want a massage; can't you join me?”

Bill turned to her and met her whiskey eyes. He licked his lips slowly and nodded.

“Sure.”

He gave Sienna an apologetic smile before lifting himself out of the hot water to Esmeralda. He looked at Esmeralda with a smile and felt something in his stomach. Maybe he had started to get feelings for someone after all.

×××

It was silent between them. Bill and Esmeralda walked close together, but none of them said anything, but it didn't matter because the silence was completely different from the silence with Sienna or Victoria, this silence was full of warm tension. Bill snuck looks at Esmeralda's beautiful profile, and she did the same, admiring his full lips and upturned nose. She giggled a little and let her fingers touch his. Bill smirked, looked at her, and caught her hand when she dragged her fingertips over his knuckles. They threaded their fingers together and gave each other a blushing smile.

They took a detour to the spa and spoke softly about their kids but also their experiences in the model industry. Bill had some experience with it from a younger age, while Esmeralda had worked in it since she was sixteen. Now she was older and curvier and mostly did work for fast fashion brands. She confessed it wasn't her dream job anymore and thought about doing something else. Bill listened with full attention. Even if they talked about such simple subjects, he could hear in her way of expressing herself that she was intelligent, and he felt his attraction to her grow every minute. She spoke like a strong woman.

“Have you noticed he has talked with almost everyone today except us?” said Sandra to Maria, where they sat by the pool together. “The old spinsters.”

Maria sighed, putting her sunglasses on her head.

“He hasn't talked with everyone; there’s several he hasn't talked to, and that doesn't need to be a bad thing. Maybe he's very sure of us.”

“Oh right, sure like that?”

Sandra nodded bitterly towards Bill and Esmeralda, who walked close together, hand in hand, they didn't even think about that the others could see them. Maria looked at them but lowered her eyes fast with jealousy.

“It's always like that; they have a favorite in the beginning but they forget fast. Nothing to worry about.”

Maria stretched out in her lounge chair, trying to look sure of her thing, but in reality she became worried too. Two lounge chairs away sat Camila, who had heard everything she said about him having a favorite in the beginning who he would soon forget. Bill hadn't given her many glances that day. Instead, other women seemed to be more interesting, especially Esmeralda. Camila looked at Bill and Esmeralda as they walked into the spa and how Bill changed from holding her hand to lying it around her waist and pulling her closer to his body. Esmeralda had the privilege to feel his naked skin against hers while she hadn't even met his eyes that day. 

××× 

The sun stood low in the sky and made everything golden around them. They lay next to each other on massage tables while two female masseuses rubbed their backs. Bill laid with his cheek pressed against the table to be able to look at Esmeralda; she laid the same way but had her eyes shut, but with a playful smile on her lips, she knew he was looking at her. Bill admired her face but also her golden back, glowing from the massage oil. He wished he could be the one touching her, but it would be too early to do such a thing on the show; both of them would probably look slutty. Instead, he stretched his long arm out and tickled her forearm lightly. Esmeralda opened her eyes and looked at him, then down at his open palm in front of her. She giggled and took his hand in hers. Their clasped hands hung between the table the rest of the massage. Bill gave her 90 minutes of his time and didn't even think about the women who hadn't gotten any of his time. 

××× 

The Orangery: 

Esmeralda: I like him way too much already. I would be devastated if he let me go. 

Sandra: It’s starting to feel a bit hopeless; he just talks with the same girls over and over. I’m starting to wonder what I'm doing here. 

×××

Back in the house, the energies were all over the place. Two would leave Bill's residence, and it could be anyone. Or anyone except Esmeralda. All of them had noticed how he favored her. She had gotten much more time than anyone else, and he also held her hand. It sounded like something from a 50s movie where hand holding was a big step, but there, in the show, everything became a big deal; who Bill chose to sit next to was even a big deal. 

Bill was also nervous. His walk in closet had become the room where all those emotions were let out because it was there he made himself ready for the ceremonies. This night he had a loose fit black button up and a pair of dark gray slacks. It was his stylist who had put the outfit together, and he paired it with some simple silver jewelry.

“Are you ready?” Herman asked and looked Bill up and down. He looked ready. Bill fixed his hair one last time, and with a shaky exhalation, he nodded. 

Bill was taken aback by how many of the women that wore black. It was really just two of them who wore color, Rose and Tiffany. Rose wore a baby pink dress and Tiffany wore a multicolored maxi dress; otherwise, the others were dressed like they would go to a funeral. Bill wasn't better himself, and he wondered if all of them felt stress about that two would be leaving that night. 

“So, tonight I must send two of you home... I hope you know it's not an easy decision, and I wish I could’ve had more time with all of you ehm…”

He turned his gaze from them to look at the keys on the velvet cushion, and after a few seconds he took the first one in his hand. 

Esmeralda. 

There were some annoyed faces behind Esmeralda, but neither Bill nor Esmeralda cared; they just smiled warmly at each other, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek when he had given her the key. 

Brigitte.

Tiffany. 

Camila. 

Sienna. 

Maria. 

Violet.

Sandra.

Rose. 

It was silent in the room, especially because Odette had started crying. No one was prepared for her to be the one who needed to leave; she and Bill had spoken a lot, and she was that kind of girl who was easy to like. There were others they thought Bill had a much smaller interest in. Still, he had chosen to send her home. 

Victoria became forgotten in the tumult with Odette and stood awkwardly by herself when several of the girls started to comfort Odette. 

Bill stood as awkwardly to the side as Victoria. He met her eyes and gave her a sad smile. She smiled back and gave him a shoulder shrug. She didn't make it a big thing and walked up to him. She still wore the same smile and gave him a hug. 

“I get it, sometimes it's just not right.” She shrugged her shoulders again. Bill smiled and nodded a little. 

“Yeah… I'm sorry.” 

“It's okay. Thank you for your hospitality,” she said before saying goodbye to Sienna and Rose, then she walked to her room to get her things. 

Bill wondered if Victoria might have even thought to herself that they didn't match. They were too different from each other. Odette, on the other hand, was much more like him, but he didn't feel the thing with her either. 

Slowly, he walked up to the girls. Odette stood and hugged Violet, but the other girls stepped back. She looked at Bill with red eyes. He swallowed hard. It was never fun making someone sad. 

“Do you want to talk?” He asked and pointed towards the door to the deck. She wiped away some tears, and Violet let her go carefully. Odette nodded, said goodbye to the girls, and followed him out, but she ignored Brigitte’s open arms. 

Bill leaned against the railing, and Odette did the same thing with a little sob. Bill didn't do a thing about her tears because it would be even more awkward if he started to hug her or something. He had made her cry, and he couldn't do anything about it. 

“To be honest, this was really unexpected… I really felt we had something?” She said and dried her tears again. Bill felt his own emotions push in his chest, but it wasn't romantic feelings for her. It was just terrible guilt, he felt like he had fooled her.

“We do have something, but for me it would be friendship. I really like you, but I don't feel... Anymore than that.” 

Odette looked at him with shiny eyes. 

“Oh.” 

“I really think you're a great person, and it's so easy to hang out with you, but maybe too easy?” 

Bill tried to talk as carefully as he could, but he could see on her face that his words hurt her, but he didn't know how to say it otherwise. 

Odette nodded a little.

“I guess it's good bye now then?” 

She stood up in front of him, and Bill straightened up too. 

“Yeah… I'm sorry…” He said and gave her a friendly hug. He didn't even need to try to hold back; a friendly hug was the only thing he had for her. 

××× 

The orangery: 

Bill: Victoria is wonderful, but I couldn't find anything we had in common. 

Odette is an amazing girl, and I really could see us being friends, but I felt quite fast that was the only thing between us. It was better saying goodbye at once when I was so sure of my feelings. 

× 

[creative-frequency]

The idea of soft and amnesiac Raphael is living in my head rent-free so here you go. All thanks to certain someone.

“Seems that I may have caused some unintentional heartburn to your friend.”

Your bag hit the floor with a loud thump. Hopefully the potion bottles inside stayed unbroken.

Raphael met your shock with amusement.

He stood up from the burnt-sienna coloured lounge chair and swiped some imaginary dust off his doublet – or maybe it was Scratch’s hair.

“You’re… awake!” you yelped in horror mixed with relief.

“All thanks to your efforts, I’ve been told,” Raphael said, eyeing you with curiosity. His chestnut brown eyes were bright with no traces of sleep.

“Well, what happened to you? Why were you knocked out in the middle of the road?” you asked fervently, but deemed it best to keep some distance between you and him.

However, as he spoke, Raphael started narrowing that distance. You realised no one else was home. Gale had probably taken Scratch with him to Ramazith’s Tower. Damn Astarion for leaving you on the spot like that.

But wait, Astarion would’ve never left you to deal with a devil alone. Something unexpected was going on.

“I thought maybe you could shed some light to what happened to me,” Raphael said slowly and kept walking towards you.

“You don’t remember anything?” you asked and with Raphael faintly shaking his head in denial, you continued: “We found you on the way from Candlekeep to Baldur’s Gate. Visibly, you were unharmed, but you slept for almost three days in a row.”

If Raphael was surprised to learn of this, he didn’t show it. He stopped right in front of you and said in thought: “And you were kind enough to pick me up in your little caravan and bring me to the city.”

You swallowed, waiting for him to blow up into flames or impale you with a clawed hand any second now. “That’s correct.”

Something resembling a smile flashed on Raphael’s lips. He took your hand, bowed and brushed his lips over the back of your hand. You winced in surprise.

“Thank you, my dear. I am in your debt.”

Your head was spinning. Whoever this man was, he was only Raphael in looks, scent, mannerisms and voice.

“U-uhm. Of course, I could never leave you– I mean, anyone on the side of the road like that,” you managed to explain in a shaky voice.

Raphael smirked at your slip up and let go. The back of your hand was almost burning and you had to take a glance to make sure he hadn’t caused a burn mark.

[liaromancewriter]

It Happened One Miami Night (1/?)

Series Premise: A work trip to Miami means finally accepting that some risks are worth taking. Or are they?

Fandom: Choices Book: Open Heart Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen. Angsty Fluff Words: 1,045

Series Masterlist

A/N: The long awaited Miami series! I think this might be 3 or 4 parts, but I'm not sure yet. For Ethan's POV at the airport, read my old (and overly indulgent) fic: Out of Control.

Submission to @choicesmonthlychallenge March dialogue prompt: "We're running out of time."

The ballgown had to go. There was no other choice. Besides, Cassie Valentine reasoned, she was going to a conference, not a white-tie gala.

She’d bought the dress on impulse when she saw it in a boutique on Newbury Street. It matched the heirloom necklace her parents gifted her when she graduated from medical school. But galas and the intern lifestyle didn’t exactly mix, and the dress had gathered dust in her closet until now.

Cassie stared at the clothes, shoes and other essentials she’d stuffed into the small carry-on case that lay unzipped and open atop her bed. Carefully adjusting the garment bag so as not to crush the beautiful midnight blue gown, she tucked the ends in and wondered if she could close and zip the bag without applying pressure.

They were likely flying coach, as that’s what most people did, which meant packing the bare minimum. Unfortunately, she had never learned the art of packing light and didn’t think Dr. Ramsey was patient enough to wait for her checked luggage to roll off the carousal.

He might just leave her at the airport to find her own way to the hotel right after giving her the patented Ramsey glare. The man was infuriatingly predictable like that.

Huffing in frustration, Cassie threw herself on the bed and stared at the ceiling. It was bad enough that she had to be at the airport in a few hours, but the worst was that she’d had an extraordinarily long shift with barely time to eat dinner.

Anyway, she consoled herself. She’d likely be stuck inside dark meeting rooms taking notes and playing assistant all weekend, not enjoying cocktails by the pool.

Dr. Ramsey hadn’t said anything about her accompanying him to receptions and parties that were par for the course at these conventions. As far as the medical community was concerned, she was a nobody.

Cassie was honest enough to admit she was ambivalent about this trip. Despite her bravado in front of Sienna and the “girl can dream” comment, spending time alone with Ethan Ramsey away from the hospital was not good for her resolution to stay away from him.

He was dangerous to her heart. Tall, dark, and handsome, he had laser-blue eyes that made her insides melt whenever he directed them her way. He was an attending and a world-famous diagnostician, while she was a lowly intern who still had trouble believing in herself.

Workplace romances were often treacherous for women, even more so when the man was her superior. That lesson had been ingrained in her brain from the moment she got her first job. Her father had taught her to spot the signs and avoid putting herself in a situation where the lines could be crossed.

They could never work, and it could ruin her career before she’d truly begun. If she thought otherwise, she was dreaming.

So, why did the impossibility of it all make her unbearably sad?

Feeling the long day catch up with her, she closed her eyes briefly. Just five minutes, she told herself, letting out a loud yawn. Five minutes to rest her busy brain, and then she’d finish getting her stuff ready for tomorrow.

She woke up hugging the sides of the carry-on and the sound of an alarm blaring in the quiet. She started to fling her arm to hit the snooze button, but her eyes snapped open.

Crap, crap, crap. She’d fallen asleep. What time was it?

Cassie grabbed her phone off the nightstand, blinked to clear sleep from her eyes and then yelped before hurriedly swinging her legs off the bed. She needed to haul ass or forever put up with Dr. Ramsey’s snide remarks about missing their flight.

An hour later, she ran down the terminal, the wheels of her carry-on case rattling behind her. She scanned gate numbers and sweated bullets as the overhead announcer warned that it was the last call for the flight to Miami.

Cassie skidded to a halt outside their gate, an apology hovering on her lips as Ethan took off his eyeglasses and checked his watch.

“Five more seconds, and I’d have boarded without you.”

She couldn’t tell from his expression if he was angry or just resigned at her lateness. His tone was entirely too casual for her to decide.

“I won’t happen again!” Cassie said, gulping oxygen and ignoring the stitch in her side. The mad dash across the airport caught up with her.

Ethan quirked one eyebrow. “You think I’ll be inviting you to medical conferences often, do you?”

It was such an on-brand response that Cassie couldn’t help but grin. “Fingers crossed?”

He rolled his eyes, but the wide, easy smile showed her he wasn’t offended by her sass. “Oh for goodness’ sake, let’s board already. We’re running out of time.”

He handed his boarding pass to the gate attendant and waited off to the side while Cassie did the same. Just before they entered the jetway, she absently glanced at the light snow falling on the tarmac outside.

“Sunshine and clear blue skies, here we come,” she murmured to herself before following him down the jetway.

Unwittingly, her eyes fell on his well-toned ass and thighs clad in dark jeans, and her throat became dry. Oh, boy!

He’s not for you, and this is a bad idea. Cassie repeated the words like a mantra as they neared the aircraft's open door and the flight attendants waiting to greet them.

Half an hour later, his cologne hit her senses, and she held her breath to stop herself from sniffing him. Instead, she turned away from his profile to watch the dark clouds outside the window as the plane left Boston behind.

This is madness. Stop it, she scolded herself as they companionably settled in for the long flight after a hearty breakfast. She nervously fiddled with the in-flight entertainment screen while ignoring Ethan, who was too engrossed in his book to pay her any attention.

His nearness was like a drug, and she was growing addicted. If she was going to leave Miami with her heart intact, she would have to resist the temptation. It was for the best. Some things really were not worth the risk.

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

All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @jerzwriter @lady-calypso

@mainstreetreader @peonierose @potionsprefect @queencarb @quixoticdreamer16

@justyourusualash @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Ethan & Cassie only: @cariantha @custaroonie @youlookappropriate

[some-lonely-loser]

STAY HIGH .02

📍Location- Martinez Household

📷POV- Narrator (1st)

After the party, I didn’t really remember much of anything. I’m not shocked though, I got so drunk that Ashtray guy offered to walk me home. Surprisingly enough, I made it home by myself and into my bed before my parents noticed how late I arrived. What I did remember was that weird girl. What was her name? Jennifer? Julie? Oh, It was Jules. Yeah no doubt, she was weird. I mean, she cut herself in front of everyone AND scared Nate Jacobs. I never seen anyone do that, but I guess that’s what new people are for.

Sienna sure thought it was weird too. But hey, maybe she’ll be cool. I ended up laying in bed for about 9 more minutes, scrolling on whatever apps peaked my interest before I got up and started getting ready for school

I had just gotten out of the shower before of course, Sienna called me. I waited for the call to connect and before I could speak Sienna screamed and my hearing almost blew.

“GUESS WHO THE FUCK JUST TEXTED ME AND ASKED ABOUT YOU”

My mind had raced through a million names before I stopped and realized, she could be joking. She usually pranks me like this but I decided to feed into her little scheme.

“Who?”

I mumbled with the most monotone voice I could utter out of me.

“Ashtrayyyy”

I stopped my movements and stared at the camera only to find she was already staring at it, smirking at me.

“You’re such a liar Sienna, and not a good one either”

She rolled her eyes before quickly responding.

“I’m not lying, i’ll send you a screenshot.”

Not long after she said that, I felt my phone vibrate and saw her display name reveal itself at the top of my phone. I clicked on the photo she sent me.

“Told you I wasn’t lying. Did he text you?” I snapped out of my

“No, he didn't text me. What did he want my number for?” I questioned

I knew Sienna wouldn’t know why he wanted my number but I just had to ask. Plus, I was really just thinking to myself out loud. And just as I guessed, she says she doesn’t know

“Maybe he has like.. A secret admirer crush on you?”

That was a ridiculous statement. I mean, Ashtray? Out of the whole school, that he doesn’t attend, he has a crush on me? Yeah, no chance.

“Girl..” I mumbled, rolling my eyes. “I’ll see you at school, I have to finish getting ready, Do I still gotta pick you up?” I questioned, Sienna often needs a ride to school, whether it be she just doesn’t want to drive or her car is broken.

“Nah, I think I’m gonna walk. Get some fresh air before having to deal with this school and it’s bullshit.” She chuckled.

We said our goodbyes before I hung up the phone and started getting dressed, and soon after I was in the car driving to school.

I was busy putting my books inside of my locker before I heard a voice that sounded like Sienna.

“So, I texted Ashtray” She spoke with excitement. I turned around and almost slapped her

“You WHAT?!” I yelled, gaining attention of most of the people near me, who gave me a little bit of a dirty look, but that didn’t matter

Sienna burst out laughing, hunching over and holding her stomach. “You should’ve.. seen your face!” She breathed out, looking at me with a couple of tears rolling down her face.

I crossed my arms and looked at her with a blank face, but after a few seconds of her looking at me with a smile, it wasn’t long before I started laughing too.

Our laughing quickly faded away as I heard the voice of Nate Jacobs, and saw him coming near us, staring at me with a creepy smirk on his face

WC: 664

Yall… hear me out😰 Ik I haven’t posted on here in some time but😔 It’s been 8 months since PT 1 so i’ll do better🙏🏽 Ik it’s mad short but 😭

[blackgumball]

okay weird pull but you know how people say that taylor swift is so popular because her work is so bland. she’s uninterested in making any sort of statement or breaking any sort of mould, so her work is so palatable and widely relatable that it becomes so popular among so many people? (real quick psa im a tswift hater so i dont listen to her music, this is a recycled opinion from a more educated hater than me)

i am beginning to feel a similar way about bridgerton. its premise relies on the idea of a diverse regency england, but it becomes clearer and clearer to me every day that the show is meant for white people. all the bridgertons are white, so every love story will either be swirl or just a white relationship (shoutout to polin ig). not saying that poc dont enjoy the show (we obviously do) but there’s this vocal white audience that keeps harassing actors of colour whenever a decision is made that they dont like. or that strays from the books (which is soooo insane literally the moment they cast rege jean page your dumb cracker asses shouldve realised that the show wasnt gonna care about being book accurate ESPECIALLY since julia quinn basically said out loud that every character in her books would be racist.)

and the show Clearly isn’t interested in pushing any boundaries. look at fucking cressida cowper. given, i have no idea whether her character is going to return to the show, but the way they handled her was so muddled and fucked up that i wondered why they even bothered? they bring her in, humanise her, and then cart her off with this terrible fate. why? if anything, it made eloise and colin far less likeable (eloise, because it seemed like she didnt care about the fate of the only person who treated her with respect after she was “ruined”, and colin, because it made him seem shortsighted, naïve, self centred, and pitifully stupid). i complain because i think eloise is right. the women in this period were stifled. they were not able to study as extensively as their brothers, not able to travel by themselves, kept from sex education into their adulthood, and married off to random men (sometimes against their will, as it was for danbury, charlotte, almost cressida, and arguably daphne). you set such a sexual show in a deeply unsexy time. there’s romance in cressida escaping, being cunning and able to run. it also would’ve made the show more DRAMATIC. it straight up doesnt make sense for cressida to learn whistledown’s identity and not go immediately to the queen. why not have her escape, and let the bridgertons deal with the consequences? i don’t know. they seemed to take the stupid way out.

and then there’s the lower classes, who we rarely see outside of the women bridgerton men fuck with no/low commitment, paperboys, and printers. i’ve said before how i think it’s hideous that the lives of these women aren’t explored outside of their role as sex objects. season one at least explored the tension between anthony and sienna, who he loved but couldn’t commit to (im very glad she got out of there. im glad she respected herself enough to cut ties w him). also in season one, we see how the servants of the bridgerton house played a role in saving daphne from marrying that gross dude, but it feels like that role has vanished from subsequent seasons. maybe they know that seeing how none of the lords and ladies and other rich pricks of mayfair can’t fend for themselves is a turn off for the modern person (remember when anthony and daphne couldn’t use a stove in s1? i got the ick bad). but by ignoring this massive demographic, the show proves its disinterest in exploring the pitfalls and prejudices of the society it is set in.

its a show where women who want to escape their circumstances are villainised for their attempts and where the lives of the poor are either ignored or used to threaten the privileged. you occasionally have a sienna or a theo, but through knowing them, we are never left with the sense that society should change. they may try that next season. i know benedict is supposed to fall in love with A Poor.

i want the show to be good. i want the show to be interesting. i want all the fans who think that it can’t be good unless it’s explicitly relatable to straight white women to get over themselves (or at least go back to tswift and tsitp). i want to watch the show and not feel as though all the female characters are trapped. i want to LIKE ELOISE. some things i dislike about the show are impossible to change, but i guess i just have to hope it can be better. actually start pushing against the constraints of the genre, why not? you’re already one of the most popular shows on TV, you can risk making good television.

[wrestlersownmyheart]

"In Dreams" Chapter 4 (Hook X Older Female Reader)

Title: In Dreams Pairing: Hook X Older Female Reader Summary: Hook meets the woman of his dreams. Literally. The only problem? She is married in actuality. And her marriage is not the happy one she tries to portray in reality. Not to mention Y/N has a secret she failed to reveal in their shared dreams. Can Hook persuade her to leave her husband and seek the safety of his love instead? Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with AEW. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination. Content/Trigger Warnings: Through the story as a whole–Domestic Abuse against a woman, this chapter has blood and violence

Chapter 4

You called in to both your jobs the next day and quit.

Derek made you.

He was convinced you were cheating with a co-worker and the only way to get you to stop was to make you quit your jobs.

In the space of twelve hours, he'd totally isolated you. You had no one.

And on top of that, you had no way to pay bills once they came due. Something you'd not been able to get through Derek's head.

You were frightened, because you knew when the bills were due you'd most likely suffer another beating for not having enough money to pay them.

You fought sleep tooth and nail. You knew there was only so long you could go without sleep, but you had to stay away from Hook. You couldn't bear for him to get hurt.

You couldn't let that happen. You'd fallen for Hook plain and simple. There was so much about him you didn't know–and he of you, but there was a lot you did know about him too. You could feel in your dreams how much he cared about you. Truly. He'd never hurt you. You just knew that.

So, you spent your time cleaning the old house and wondering why because you were most likely going to be evicted in the next couple months. But that was something your mother had instilled in you was to keep a clean house.

You had to find a way out of this marriage. You just had to.

If you didn't he was going to kill you and most likely SIenna too.

"I have to figure a way out," You thought out loud as you scrubbed the bathroom shower. "There's no other option."

}i{}i{}i{}i{}i{

It had been several days since Hook had seen Y/N. He was just sick. He couldn't get his mind on wrestling which used to be all he thought about. He couldn't focus on anything. He didn't care about food or working out. He didn't even enjoy sleeping since he wasn't seeing Y/N.

He headed for the showers and cleaned up quickly, and then minutes later was leaving the gym for his apartment. He was going to search for Y/N online.

Once he was sitting on his bed in his bedroom, he pulled his laptop from his backpack and began his search.

He started by Googling "Y/N Y/L/N, New England". He found numerous profiles on facebook and dug through them in search of Y/N.

About an hour, and countless photos later, he came across a picture on Google that unmistakably resembled her. He clicked on the link that took him to a Facebook profile of a woman named Y/N Y/L/N.

"Gotcha," Hook smiled and began looking through the profile. She'd not been on in about a year however. Still, it would let him know where she most likely was.

Boston, he quickly realized as he looked through her bio.

From there he went back to Google and used a reputable people search engine to locate her address and phone number.

Another half hour later, he was confidently scribbling down her address and then heading for his rental.

He was getting an immediate flight to Boston.

}i{}i{}i{}i{}i{

Derek was out at the moment, doing God only knew what, so you took that opportunity to take a much needed nap. Your fever was spiking, your body ached, both from the abuse it had taken as well as the cold–which you were beginning to wonder if it was the flu–and you were dehydrated because you couldn't keep your mind clear enough to drink fluids. You were going to have a trip to the hospital if you didn't take better care of yourself.

As for your nap, you could only hope you wouldn't run into Hook. Okay, so you actually couldn't help but wish you would, but you knew it was better for everyone involved if you didn't.

You had just flopped onto the bed, when you heard a knock at the door.

Sighing, you took the wet washcloth from your forehead that you'd been using to aid with your fever, laid it on the night table, and raised up from the bed. Slowly, you made your way down the hall to the stairs. Your sickness was taking its toll. You were recognizing the signs of needing a doctor, and soon. As you headed down the stairs, you stumbled and nearly tumbled down the last few steps. By the grace of God you caught hold of the railing and held on for dear life till your feet became more steady.

Another knock. More insistent.

"I'm… I'm coming…" You tried to call out. But it only came out a soft whisper. Your breathing was turning ragged and you wanted so badly to just curl up on the floor and go to sleep.

Finally, finally you reached the door just as a booming knock sounded. And you became afraid that Derek had gone out, got drunk, and forgotten his keys to the house.

He'll kill me now for taking so long, you thought, as you fumbled with the chain lock and then the dead bolt.

After what seemed like ages, you got the door open. Your eyes were lowered. Initially. But you slowly raised your gaze.

You saw a pair of jeans clad legs. Then a black hoodied torso.

Hook's handsome face swam before you as you lifted your eyes higher.

He looked shy for a change. Or unsure, you didn't know which. And then he saw the state you were in.

"H-Hook…" You stammered out in shock. Your heartbeat sped up and then you were sinking to the floor.

"Y/N!" He softly called your name out and latched onto your arms, holding you upright. "Baby, you're burning up! Badly!"

"You c-can't… b-be here…." you sobbed. "Derek… he'll be back any minute."'

Your legs trembled and you started to go down again. Hook uttered a soft curse and bent down, lifting you up into his arms, bridal style, noted your wince of pain.

Then he was entering your home, and kicking the door shut behind him as you finally gave in to the darkness creeping into your vision…

}i{}i{}i{}i{}i{

Hook took a deep breath and stepped out of his rental as he eyed the ramshackle house before him. It was an old two-story building that had seen better days.

"No wonder Y/N was so nervous about me seeing her home." He thought aloud as he headed for the front porch. Well, no more. I'm going to show her that I don't care in the least what she lives in. Although, if she'll have me, I'll make sure she never has to worry about living like this any more. Never mind that Y/N was married. She obviously wasn't happy in the marriage and Hook was going to take her away from the dude, plain and simple.

He stepped up to the porch and knocked on the front door. Waited a moment and then knocked again. He could hear stirring within the front room or hallway and proceeded to pound the door again. He was halfway in a boxing stance in case he had to fight the husband right away, when the door finally opened.

Y/N stepped up to the door frame as her gaze slowly–very slowly–lifted to meet his.

Hook saw how pale she was and instantly knew something was terribly wrong. He was vaguely aware of the bruise at her jawline when she spoke softly.

"H-Hook…" she cried weakly and then went sailing for the floor.

"Y/N!" He said loudly, trying to rouse her as he grabbed at her arms and held her up. He could feel her scorching skin against his hands. "Geez, baby, you're burning up! Badly!"

"You c-can't… b-be here…." she choked out on a sob. "Derek… he'll be back any minute."'

She started to fall again and he lifted her limp frame up into his arms, cradling her against his muscled chest as he let out a low curse.

"Baby… Wake up…" he uttered, jostling her slight frame in his arms. "Please." He carried her through the hallway to the living room to find only a recliner or a love seat to lay her on. He went in search of the bedroom so he could properly lay her in bed.

He went up the stairs quickly and discovered the bedroom to be the first door on the right. He entered the room and carried Y/N over to the bed where he gently deposited her onto it. Then he picked up the cold, wet washcloth from her night table and placed it over her forehead. And that is when he fully noticed and took in her wounded state.

Her face was bruised, and she had a split lip. God only knew what else had happened to her.

"The scumbag hits her," he growled to himself. No wonder she was so scared.

"I've gotta get you to the hospital," he murmured. "You need medical help."

He started to lift her back up to carry her to his car when he heard a baby's cry nearby.

"What the-" He headed for the doorway, following the sound of the baby's wails. He moved across the hallway and found a nursery with a baby in a crib. A little girl. Less than six months old.

"What the…" He repeated. Y/N hadn't mentioned a daughter.

He cautiously stepped up to the crib, not wanting to frighten the baby. "Hey, sweetie," he said softly, and reached down, brushing his thumb over the baby's silky cheek. "You're mom's gonna be okay. I promise."

When the baby continued to cry, he awkwardly lifted her up and held her against his chest, jostling her. "Shh-shh…" Immediately, the baby quieted and snuggled against his shoulder.

"What… what are you doing?..."

Hook turned and saw you bracing yourself against the nursery's door frame. "

"Your baby was crying," he answered, jostling the infant again. "I thought I should comfort her."

"I mean…" you clearly were struggling to keep your mind focused. "I mean, what are you doing here? If Derek finds you here…"

Why didn't you tell me he hits you," Hook demanded, gently laying the baby back down in the crib. He stepped over to you and tilted her chin back with his fingers so he could get another look at you. "That son of a-"

"You have to leave, Hook. Please."

"I'm not leaving you here. As lame as this probably sounds, Y/N, I've come to take you away from here. Away from all this."

You immediately shook your head. "You can't. I can't. I mean…" you huffed a weak sigh. "He'll… He'll kill us. All of us."

"Baby, you don't know who I am if you think you can tell me something like that and then think I'll turn and walk away from you." His eyes scanned your face, took in the bruises, the cuts. "No, I'll kill him."

He pulled you into his arms. Tilted your chin back again and lowered his head. His lips a breath away from yours, he whispered, "Finally, I get to kiss you."

His mouth lowered to yours then and closed the small gap between the two of you.

}i{}i{}i{}i{}i{

Hook's mouth was on yours and oh, was it glorious.

"Mmm," you moaned into his mouth and kissed him back. You couldn't help yourself. His lips moved against yours and his tongue slid past your lips, plundering your mouth. Your legs threatened to buckle again and Hook pulled you even closer against his chest to keep you upright.

"Pack some stuff," he murmured into your mouth. "We're getting out of here."

"I'm scared," you whispered. "If something happens to Sienna, or you…"

"I won't let anything happen to either of you. I swear," Hook reassured you, kissing you again. "Now, go pack. I'll pack the baby's stuff."

You nodded, still in a daze that Hook was standing in the middle of your house. "There's some suitcases in the hall closet." You led him over to the closet and grabbed the small suitcase for Sienna, and handed it to Hook. The larger one you took for yourself. As Hook went back to the nursery to pack for Sienna, you headed to your bedroom and began filling the suitcase with some clothes and toiletries.

A few minutes of packing passed, and then you heard the click of the bedroom door closing.

And another click.

The lock.

Afraid of what you'd see, you slowly turned and saw Derek blocking the door.

"Who is the kid in the nursery," he asked quietly, sauntering toward you. "Who is he? You've been cheating on me with a kid?" He glanced over his shoulder as if he was afraid Hook would hear him. "One scream and you are dead."

"He's… He is not a kid. And I have not been cheating on you." You said, backing up till your back hit the wall. You had nowhere to go.

Derek was close to you now, close enough to reach out and wrap his hands around your throat. Which he did. "How dare you disrespect me!"

He squeezed, choking off your air supply. You struggled, and tried to pry his hands off your throat.

"You're so dead. And so is the little brat."

This had you struggling even more.

Faintly, you heard Hook's voice behind the bedroom door.

"Baby, open the door!"

"Baby, open the door," Derek mocked as he choked you to death.

You took that moment to drive your knee up into Derek's crotch. He let out a weird groan and released you as you knew he would and you stumbled toward the door. Just as you were about to touch the lock a hand reached out and grabbed hold of your hair, yanking you back toward Derek.

The door then busted open with Hook charging into the room.

Frightened for Hook but relieved at the same time, you heard a sharp click and then felt three rapid jabs to your stomach.

"Oh!" You cried out softly at the delayed pain.

"Y/N? Baby?" Hook said, a question in his tone. His eyes were on Derek's hand at your stomach.

You looked down as well, and saw Derek's hand slowly, painfully so, twist a knife into your stomach.

"Oh," you cried again, "Oh, God… I…" You started to fall and that is when Hook came out of his horrified stupor. At first he didn't seem to know what to do. Attack Derek, or come to your aid. It didn't take but a second for him to dive to your side on the floor. At the same moment, Derek ran out the bedroom door. You were only faintly aware of what was going on around you. But you were keenly aware of Hook's arms going around you and tugging you partially into his lap. You groaned in pain and clenched your eyes shut.

"Baby, stay with me," Hook demanded, pulling out his phone.

You reached for the knife still stuck in your stomach, attempted to pull it out.

"No, sweetheart, leave it. You could bleed out if you pull it out." Hook moved your hand to rest by your side and proceeded to make a call on his phone.

"Yes, I need an ambulance and the police."

He rattled off the address and gave the reason for the call and then tossed the phone to the floor. His attention was fully on you. Blood had soaked into his hoodie and jeans but he paid it no mind at all.

"Hang on, Y/N. The ambulance is coming."

You gazed up at him through tears. You could feel yourself weakening. "I-I'm sorry, I…"

"Shhh-shhh," Hook shushed you gently, and checked your pulse.

Not good, he thought.

"I have no family…" You whispered now, growing more and more tired. "Pl-please, take care of Sienna…"

"Honey, I'll take care of her till you're well. But then you are going to raise her. You're going to be there to be her mom."

"I love you…"

"Stop it, Y/N. Tell me when you are well. Not when you're scaring the life out of me."

A tear spilled over your eye and trailed down your temple. "I love you, Hook," you whispered before succumbing to unconsciousness…

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[rotting-ink]

Do the ros have nicknames they liked to be called?

Who's a daddy/mummy fan?

Would E tolerate puppy?

L Rawlins: Loralei is sometimes times called Lori by people who don't realise she fucking hates that. She has a soft spot for when E was younger and called her Lei. Still likes it as a nickname. Luther, doesn't really enjoy nicknames and has given evil eyes to anyone who even thought about calling him "Lou." Still smiles at the memory when E was younger and would just call him "Thor" but doesn't want it as a nickname for anyone outside of E. (call them mummy or daddy and they short circuit, but fuck you harder) Would prefer your nicknames for them to be wolf adjacent or something.

S Della Rovere- Sienna and Simeone has friends who call them Si-Si, but are happy with anything. (Call them mummy or daddy and they get a ravenous look in their eyes and will ruin you)

Z Chambers- Zaniyah prefers Niya overall and Zachariah prefers Zach. Very easy. (Call them mummy or daddy and they stammer and disappear. Wouldn't like it though.)

V De Winters- Both prefer V or Vic. (Call them mummy or daddy and they cackle a bit and then will absolutely ruin you. Loves it)

Seir- Doesn't really care for nicknames and never had one before. If you want to link it to their form, go for it. (Call them mummy or daddy and they flick their eyebrow up but roll with it)

Saleos- I feel like someone tried to call them Sal ONCE and they gave them a look so disgusted that person had to move towns. Prefers their first name and their title, no nickname. (Call them mummy or daddy and the will edge you for hours, making you beg with their new favorite nickname)

Starling Knight- Soft spot for Star. Would never tell you though. Laughs softly at bird related nicknames and lightly tells you off, that it's not their fault their father loved birds. (Call them mummy or daddy and they indulge you. Lets you squeal and shake and call them whatever you want as they play with you.)

A Lancaster- Both aren't used to nicknames for their first name, but sometimes their hunt mates call them Cas or Castor. (Call them mummy or daddy and they chuckle, deep within their chest. "Is that what you need right now? Hm?" Going to ruin you)

E Rawlins- First of all, yes to puppy. Shall wag tail and go all big eyed. Second, they're used to Em. (Call them mummy or daddy and they go feral. Grins all wide. "Yeah, whisper to you mummy/daddy what you need right now? Want to cum? Hm? Cmon, speak up.")

Quincy Beaumont- Quince from close names, then called Nightingale by their admirers. (Call them mummy or daddy and they ruin you with it. Makes you worship their genitals and thighs, murmuring that you have to show mummy/daddy how much you love them before they can see how loud they can make you squeal)

D Woolf- Dorothea was called Dori by their parents but A Lancaster called them Thea, which they really preferred. Dietrich, among friends, was called Dieter. Bullies would call him Wolf or Dog, making fun of the fact that their nickname was linked to a predator and D was a shaking pathetic weakling. (Call them mummy or daddy and they have to go. They die. They squeak. Lets you continue to call them that, but is red and dying the entire time and doesn't use it to refer to themselves.)

[madhatterbri]

Stay | E.M

Summary: Sienna and Elijah are in a bind. She tries to get him to feed off of her but he refuses. He only wants her to admit one thing to him.

"Elijah, just take my blood. You look terrible," Sienna begged. They had been stuck for hours. Their cellphones couldn't get service and there was no sign of escaping. She raised her sleeve to show him her wrist. "We don't know when we are getting out of here. You are the strongest out of the two of us. If you can't fight, we aren't going to get out of here alive,"

"Once again thank you for the offer," he started while holding his phone up. He stopped trying to call out and placed his phone in his pocket. "But my previous answer still stands,"

Sienna mumbled under her breath.

"Despite the stories you know about my mother it isn't fair for you to call her that without meeting her. Granted my family has a funny way of not staying dead. You may get the chance one day,"

"What is the big deal? It's not like it would be the first time you fed off me," she whined.

Elijah sighed and rolled his eyes. Sienna looked through the room. She couldn't find anything to make him drink her blood. He took a seat on a chair.

Another hour past and he was looking worse. His eyes were half-closed. His breathing starting to shallow. She sat on her knees in front of him. Panic and desperation could be seen on her face.

"Elijah, please," she whispered.

"And to think we were doing so well with the quiet game," He sighed. God, this man was stubborn at the most inopportune times.

"Elijah, please," she begged. Elijah moved closer to her. Their eyes stared into each other. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Tell me the reason,"

"The reason for what?"

"Enough with the games, Sienna. The reason you move away from Diego when I walk into the room. The reason you continue to help and protect me despite your sworn loyalty to Marcel," he answered.

She knew he wasn't going to compel it out of her. Elijah wanted to hear her say it in her own free will. The words she thought about so many times but never had the courage to say out loud.

"I'm still in love with you," she confessed.

[sageywritings]

Call

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER USES LANGUAGE THAT SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE AND TOUCHES ON SENSITIVE TOPICS THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND UPSETTING. (fw: slurs, suicide)

READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

One call in progress. "I hate phone calls."

Long overdue, here is chapter 12 of Flames of Change. A lot of my time away I've spent rewriting the first three chapters and uploading them to AO3. I'm in the process of uploading all the chapters there, so if you would rather read that version, check it out under TheOneCalledSage. But, I'll continue to upload here. Me and my irrelevant blog against the world, baby. Anyways, hope you enjoy!

The Ospreay family belong to me

Sienna Umberon belongs to @gruntnuker-rwby

Dusty Millaray and T belong to @wetsliceofbread

The door flinging open with a loud slam did very little to disturb Dash. He was already awake, and although sleep had evaded him for the past hour at least, he still laid curled up hoping it would embrace him soon. But, his body was too acclimated at this point to the same confined surroundings, and seeing the same guards watching him for what felt like the millionth time, and the same early wakeup call from the medic Sienna sent to check his vitals. Dash rolled over and creaked his eyes open, still trying to maintain the facade of sleep even though the racket meant it was pointless. It was like he was begging the alarm before class for five more unattainable minutes. He was expecting the medic to kick the bars and bark at him to wake up any second now. 

But instead, all he saw through squinted eyes was Sienna pacing back and forth in a crazed hurry. She was mumbling in a hushed tone, too quietly for Dash to make anything out. On about the seventh or eighth cycle of turning toward the door, she finally noticed three or four Fang soldiers in the doorway, each with important questions or paperwork for Sienna but none of them daring to be the first one to present it to her.

“I need this place to myself for a while. So everyone OUT!” Now the guards were tripping over each other to see who could get away from Sienna’s flame-bearing teeth the fastest. Dash could hear the tornado of papers being abandoned from his cell. The last one out didn’t want a reprimand finding its way up the chain of command. Or worse, a reprimand from Sienna in the form of fire being flicked their way. Once left alone, Sienna put two fingers to both her temples and rubbed with an excruciating groan. Now she talked louder, but still as if Dash couldn’t hear. “They have to know by now, right? They have to, one of them had to tell them. How does this keep happening? Why do they keep showing up now of all times?! What am I, haunted??” Dash sat up on the bed, with Sienna unaware, her back turned in search through a cabinet for the next stashed bottle of booze she would claim as a victim.

“So. How was he?” Dash finally spoke up. Sienna’s spin cycle of rumination halted. Dash wanted to add a comment about how it was a bit too early to drink. But he didn’t want to test his possibly sleep deprived warden’s barely existent patience. Otherwise the next bottle of whiskey would be aimed right at his head with speed and precision that would’ve made him jealous on the baseball field.

“What?” Sienna said angrily.

“Sol. You saw him, right? Did you make sure to tell him hi for me?”

“You think this is funny? I keep running into your fucking team!”

“And that’s my fault?” Dash said, unable to contain a disbelieving laugh. “Oh look! It’s the consequences of my own actions! I thought they’d never catch me here!” Sienna snarled and suddenly reached in between the bars to snatch the heir by the throat. Dash gasped and tried to prop his foot against a bar to try and pull away, but Sienna kicked the bar, sending pain reverberating up to his already damaged knee.

“You don’t get to talk about actions! Look where your actions got you! Forgotten by your precious family name that you defended at any cost no matter how many lives had to suffer in your shadow!” Dash was choking for mercy. His legs were starting to give out. In a last ditch effort, he reached out to try and pry Sienna’s hand off of him, just for her other searing hand to lock onto his forearm. “It’s your fault you're here. It… it's your fault we can't be together!” She suddenly let go, and Dash dropped onto all fours in a vicious coughing fit. It was like Sienna was brimming with so much rage she couldn't transfer it to her muscles. So instead, she settled for an alternative and grabbed her own arm. She grimaced but didn't let go as the skin around her fingers began to glow red.

“What… what are you doing?” Dash asked shakily, his voice raspy in between coughing.

“Like you care,” Sienna mumbled with ears down. She was right, part of him didn't. Part of him wanted to watch her self-destruct. But part of him remembered what she told him. How she was the reason he and Dawn were still alive. He felt care in between the pulses of pain throbbing through his arm and his neck. He wanted to tell her to stop, to knock it off, although the chances of her actually listening were somewhere between slim and none. The door flying open again, however, did the trick and she let go. The White Fang rookie that drew the short straw scrambled in.

“Boss!” he called.

“I told you I didn't wanna be bothered! This better be good,” Sienna yelled. He nodded sheepishly and outstretched his hand to offer up a phone. After a moment to let her fingers cool, she took it for inspection. The screen was dark at first, but then illuminated to reveal a call with an unknown number already in progress. “I hate phone calls,” she thought to herself, surveying it a little longer as if someone else was going to take it from her if she waited. But, she put it up to her ear and spoke bluntly. “Speaking.” The voice on the other end was calm, almost scarily assured, like it was nothing more than a standard business affair.

“Where are my kids?”

An uncontrollable grin took over Sienna's face. This was exactly what her spirits needed. The voice she had been dying to hear grovel and beg.

“Well, well. Hello Toney. I got one of them with me right now,” Sienna said with a triumphant chuckle. She hoped the sense of victory in her voice oozed right into Tone's wounded, defeated pride. Dash was already perked up before she held the phone up to him. “Say hi to the daddy that forgot about you.”

“Dad?! Dad whatever you gotta do, just do it and get me and Dawn outta here!” As his volume raised, so did the irritation in his throat before he was cut off by another loud cough. “I haven't heard from Dawn in weeks. We've been here long enough, we gotta get her out! Just do it!” He couldn't hear his dad respond before Sienna put the phone back to her ear, thanks to the racking coughing fit that doubled him over. He didn't even know if there was a response to listen to.

“See? He's alive,” Sienna sang into the phone. “No thanks to you. It's been damn near a month now and you've done nothing to try and get your kids back? Not even a whisper from you, just your cronies. It's almost like you want your kids to die. Don't blame you, your son is annoying as hell.”

“I see,” Tone said. If any of Sienna's attempts to get under his skin worked, he didn't show it. He was still in negotiation mode. It was the complete opposite of Dash's silent panic. “And what, may I ask, are you planning on doing with him and my daughter?”

“Oh Toney. I don't want anything but to see your nice little family reunited. But others in the White Fang? Well, they have a looooot of plans involving your children. So what happens is entirely dependent on what you do next.”

“So what do you want from me?” Tone asked. Sienna found his unwavering stony demeanor disappointing. She really wanted to hear one of Remnant's most powerful oppressors pleading at her feet for mercy, not acting like he was trying to get her to cut to the chase. But, that didn't stop her from letting out a hellish cackle.

“What I want? Your obituary,” she said. Again, no vocal response. She wished she could see the face on the other end of the call. “But we'll settle for some reparations. To pay us back for the trouble we went through getting little Dawn and Spicy, you will transfer five million lien to a specified bank account. Once the payment is received, we'll provide you their location and you can head back to your cute little estate or take a vacation to some private island to destress, whatever rich people do, I dunno. So, we got a deal?” 

There was a pause. A long pause. The seconds ticked by long past uncomfortable lengths. Sienna tapped her foot impatiently before silently scowling. “C'mon, clock's ticking Ospreay. Otherwise that begging you heard will be the last words you'll ever hear from your son. I know you got enough brain cells in that dying skull of yours to know how blackmail works, so why don't you-”

“You're a fucking idiot.” Sienna's eyes flared with shocked anger as she slowly stared at the phone, only to be met with the call runtime. Her eyes then shot at Dash as if looking for an explanation. But he merely shrugged, alarmed and lost. “It's obvious I've worked in this world longer than you have. You're out of your depths. I have been working to make sure you are fucking sorry for ever stepping foot in my home, you stupid, pathetic mutt!”

“Ooooooh mutt, that's a new one. I don't know, I enjoyed stomping my muddy feet all over your clean floor. Might have to do it again some time,” Sienna replied, stubbornly refusing to let him shake her confidence. Her disobedience knew no bounds. “And for being so full of shit, now your kids cost ten million.” Dash's eyes widened at Sienna's gall, silently mouthing his worry even though it fell on “deaf” ears. There was another pause.

“Bold. I would almost commend you. Almost. You see, I have a reputation to uphold. My business is a stalwart amongst Atlas. If I didn't hold myself to being a beacon of strength and consistency, then who knows what else in Atlas could fall? So with talk of this renegade ‘bounty hunter’ coming onto my property and making off with my kids without consequence, that would most certainly be a sign of weakness.” Another pause, though this one shorter and much more tolerable, until uttering just two more icy words.

“Sienna Umberon.”

Sienna's ears instantly pinned back. For once, her body went cold. Even her blood was frozen with fear in her veins. She glared at the phone as if he could see her through it. Then she spun around looking at every corner of the room. Was something bugged? But, not even the piercings or mismatching eyes would give her away to him. “How the fuck does he know that?!”

“It's that reputation I wanna destroy. Remember, do anything too brash and I'll start sending you back your kids IKEA style.” Sienna refused to acknowledge he nailed her identity. However, the threat that had Dash keeping a grateful eye on all ten of his fingers in his cell only produced a light chuckle from his father.

“I see you haven't grasped the gravity of the situation. You think I'm still bluffing.” The phone dinged in her ear loud enough where she had to tilt her head away from it. The notification was a text message. It was a picture from the night of the Ospreay raid taken from under a table by a frightened partygoer of Sienna sauntering right to Tone's face. “I know who you are. I know your marks.” Two more messages came in quick succession, kicking the first photo she was still studying up the screen. The first one was a screenshot from the Vytal Festival TV feed of Team JASR lined up for their first round match. One of Sienna’s hands was on Amber’s shoulder to ease her anxiety from the massive crowd while the other was claws out, ready to fight. The second came from a social media account that set off sirens in her head - DownTheFoxxhole. It was Alex’s account, and the picture was a selfie her brother took of them. “And I know who you hold close.”

Sienna grit her teeth and made sure to turn her head away so Tone couldn’t hear her seething. Her tail flicked sparks in every direction. The next sound the phone made caused Sienna to cock back like she was going to spike it, but instead of more “evidence” it was just an excessive heat warning. She grabbed a bottle to unload her semblance in order to spare the phone. All this time he was simply building a case. This wasn’t life or death to Tone. Nothing could be to a man who thought he was the definition of untouchable. This was just another trial in a litany of defense cases against himself, except this time he didn’t need the skeezy but insanely skilled lawyer the Schnees gifted him upon forming their alliance.

“So you will return my children,” he went on, “or I will make sure these photos end up on every scroll in Remnant. It would merely take a couple of phone calls. I’m sure every news station would want to have the inside scoop on the identity of this kidnapper that has captivated their headlines.”

“I know you’re not bluffing. I’m not fucking stupid! Congrats, you and your little bootlickers can use the internet.” Sienna could no longer play cool and stifle her resentment. The stress relief bottle was getting softer, melting and sagging where it touched her palm.

“I’m sure you have enough dying brain cells to understand how blackmail works. So, do we have an understanding, Miss Umberon?” Tone said. His self-satisfaction came effortlessly, and it was enough to stop Sienna’s heart due to the fury it was causing. She didn’t come this far to back down now.

“Shut down everything you run, make a public announcement acknowledging the number of faunus you’ve killed and endangered for the sake of money, and never go into business again. Then we’ll have an understanding.”

“Fuck…” Sienna said, barely anything more than an emotion riddled sigh. She pressed her clenched fists to her forehead until no amount of aspirin would make this headache go away easily. She closed her eyes. She wanted to cry. She wanted to punch something. She wanted to burn the whole world down and start something new in its ashes. Something alone. But instead, all she could do is scream. “FUCK! I’M GONNA KILL HIM. I'M GONNA SO KILL HIM!”

“Hm,” Tone hummed, unmoved. “Speak with your higher ups. I have a feeling I will be hearing from you very soon. And remember, if you cross my deal, I will make sure to personally bash that blonde little faggot’s head in and mount his tail on my wall.” It was a good thing the “negotiation” was over because that was the last thing that phone would ever do. Smoke and sparks poured out of it before Sienna finally sent it hurtling into the concrete. Whatever parts weren’t liquified bounced and shattered into pieces.

“What the hell happened?? Is he paying the ransom or what?” Dash finally worked up the courage to make his presence known again. Sienna paid him zero attention. She was too busy going back to pacing the floor again, now at double time thanks to the frenzy she had worked herself into. She was kicking aside pieces of broken phone as she did so. “Sienna, what happened?” Dash called again louder to get through her mumbling of wanting to kill him over and over again.

“No! Your daddy is too worried about his precious bottom line! Is that what you wanna hear? I was fucking right and you didn’t wanna listen! That’s the reason you’ve been left here to rot for weeks!”

“Quit with the bullshit already and just tell me what happened!” Dash said. To his heartbreak, there was no snarky comment, no shit eating grin, no teasing at his expense. Only a deadpan stare as she pushed her hair aside with a glowing red arm, the same as Dash's. His sternness trailed off. “You're… you're not joking.” His heart sank. His eyes widened before glazing over into a blank stare. He knew Sienna's asking price was steep, but still easily affordable for Ospreay Industries. So to be stuck in this hell with seemingly no end, and left to wonder what his sister has been going through. Did the money really matter that much? Was his dad's pride really that important to him? “What did he actually say?”

“That he's gonna make me regret breaking into your house, crap like that. Nothing about ‘saving’ you and Dawn. He's just focusing on blackmailing me.”

“And how’s he planning on doing that?” Dash inquired. No reply from the bent over fox faunus as she searched for her next dose of firewater for her nerves. “C’mon Sienna you gotta suck it up and use your words!”

“It’s for me to know and for you to find out at the side of your dad’s deathbed! Sorry I’m just full of disappointments for you today, Strawberry Shortcake,” she said without turning around. Then she mumbled on to no one besides herself in particular. “Typical medic bullshit, telling me to slow up, she better not have hid it.”

“Lemme guess,” Dash said after a moment of contemplation. “Your teammates. Or your brother. Knowing my dad, probably both. He likes to be thorough.” The loud crashing and tossing of the cabinet’s contents that weren’t Sienna’s sole objective came to a sudden stop.

“Lucky guess,” she grumbled.

“It’s not much of a guess. You only like four people, Sienna.” She finally spun around, causing Dash to recoil, until she saw the smile on her face at finding the bottle she had been yearning for. 

“That’s not true! … It’s five people. Leo’s a cool brother-in-law,” she said, ears lowering a little.

“Wait.” Dash’s stare grew far away, a thousand yards past Sienna inelegantly tearing off the top of the bottle. His eyes moved like they were calculating something, dots being connected. “If he goes after your team, then mine won’t be that far behind! Sol will try to defend Amber, and Sapph will help. And anyone that helps them, he’s just gonna go after them too!”

“Yuuuup. Glad to know we’re in this sinking ship together!” she said, raising her glass in a mocking toast.

“Sienna you gotta let me outta here!”

“Like hell I do! You and your sister are my only way out of this mess! I gotta talk with the High Leader. Ugh that fuckin pain in my ass. He’s gonna be pissed at me if we kept you alive this long and get no ransom money out of it. I kept trying to tell him the reward would make everything worth it. Now the reward is just keeping my identity safe. That bastard is gonna try and sell me out.”

“Our reward is keeping our friends safe! We’re the only ones that know what’s going on! We can warn them! I can maybe get my dad to stop, he might listen to me. But that’s only if you let me out to talk to him.” Sienna shook her head during his whole explanation, only stopping to down another swig. “Does your chain of command really mean anything to you if they’re just gonna view you as a ‘necessary sacrifice’?”

“And what about you?!” Sienna said with renewed indignation. “You’re the one keeping all your dad’s business secrets safe. You keep thinking he’s the victim here when he clearly left his own kids here to die! If you had just helped me like I asked and let me have it my way, he woulda been dealt with by now!” 

“For a woman who swears she doesn’t kill, you sure sound ready to murder,” Dash said. Sienna stayed dead silent. Not because she had a lack to say; there were a thousand words ready to spill past her lips. But, she kept them pursed shut. Nothing she had to say would’ve been worth wasting her breath on him. Instead, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to compose herself as much as the internal whirlwind she was facing would allow her. An uphill battle if there ever was one. But, she figured the last thing she needed was to scorch her insurance policy.

“You still don’t get it. You’re still blind to the world around you. Do you even know where you are right now?” Dash paused. He hadn’t a clue where he actually was. The only answer he could come up with was hell, and Sienna was the personal demon assigned to him. After going unconscious in his garage, he woke up in this cell. He couldn’t even guess what continent he was on. Sienna got tired of waiting for an answer. “You’re in an abandoned factory that used to have your name on it. Tore down part of the forest for Ospreay Industries’ latest state of the art crime against humanity. The White Fang converted it into something useful. Guess your loss is our gain.”

“Tsuyukusa?” The town name came to Dash almost instinctively. A small town in the snowy north of Mistral, where Atlas’ influence was stronger than their own home kingdom’s much further away in the south. No one besides the locals or the biggest of geography buffs in Remnant would know this place if it wasn’t for its lone claim to infamy. The reason Dash prayed he never ended up on the path to this town. He prayed he was wrong, up until Sienna nodded her head.

“You automatically knew.”

“I remember the headlines well,” Dash said meekly.

“Oh, you remember them? You remember the people that died here? Or do you only remember what dear old dad wanted you to hear while he was throwing money at his latest PR mess. Shutting this place down and relocating somewhere new for a show of “good faith” to get the journalists off his ass while in reality changing nothing. The new place is run the exact same way. And if the workers couldn't relocate with the factory, well sucked for them.”

The truth was Dash remembered this incident very well. He remembered all the headlines his father let past his filter, and this one was far too big to hide from his son forever. His dad would always explain how the headlines were always blown out of proportion. The papers were just looking for some explosiveness to generate more readers and get them riled up. He was told those same things for so long that he believed them, and he would spout them over and over at Beacon. All the smear campaigns, the threats from the White Fang, his family were the victims here. Dash could've and should've felt more victimized than ever with the beatings he had been taking while held captive. But, he didn't feel like his family were the ones suffering. Not equally at least.

“I heard it all. I even heard a few of the workers left behind from the move jumped from this very roof. That's… not true, is it?”

“Wanna see the memorial built for them?” Sienna asked, back turned and arms across her chest. Dash closed his eyes. He had always clung to that plausible deniability. If he didn’t see it personally, maybe it didn’t happen. But now, he was face to face with the truth he spent his whole life avoiding. He was living in it. It was all around him. Only a small clinking noise got him to peek in between his fingers without removing his hand from his face. A freshly poured glass of whiskey sat in between the middle bars of his cell.

“Figured you might need that right now,” Sienna said, still facing away. She was about to take her leave before Dash stopped her once more.

“Sienna. You gotta at least do me one favor.”

“I don't have to do anything.”

“Tell Dawn what happened here. Tell her the truth. She deserves to know.” Sienna sat motionless before her shoulders raised and fell with a deep sigh.

“Fine. And by the way, I wasn't kidding Dash. If it means saving my friends and my brother, I will make your father's skull my personal cup.”

{some time later}

Why was this so hard? It was just a White Fang captain having to tell the bounty she scored that her dad left her here to die. Not like it was anything she couldn’t have figured that out by now. And not like Sienna was supposed to care. No one else wearing her mask would. But, it still ate away at her as she rehearsed what she was going to say in her head at least half a dozen times, just to shake her head and start over each time. The damned walk there wasn’t helping matters. It was already long enough to make Sienna wish to sink her butt into a bean bag chair every time she took it; the dread was only making it feel longer.

It seemed like no one hardly noted Sienna’s arrival into the room upon first glance. Dusty was leaned back in his chair, his mask doing the job of trying to obscure that he dozed off for a nap. The typing from the fennec fox faunus sat across from him was too soft to stir him. Their double monitor setup illuminated pale skin, a sandy reddish pixie cut, and a pair of fox ears that were the only thing getting them to clock over 5 feet tall. Even if their head was plain to see and not buried in work, they would fuzz even the most attuned gender radars. Dawn was actually the first to spot Sienna, though she did so silently. She stopped scribbling in her sketchbook, which was at least a couple dozen pages more filled than the last time Sienna noticed it.

“Finally relieving us from our post, Captain?” T asked without pulling their eyes away from the screens.

“Not yet. Just came to check on the girl,” Sienna replied before looking around. “Where’s Karma?”

“She got tired of doing action poses for the kid’s drawings, so she subbed me in. Kept telling me I’d make a good muse,” Dusty spoke up, revealing he’s awake.

“Yeah, if the brave hero needs to defeat someone sleeping on the job, then consider me inspired.” Sienna rolled her eyes. Her comment did little to rouse the Tango Squadron leader apart from sitting his chair back on all four of its legs. She wanted to expect more from both of them while on watch duty, but she knew she wasn’t going to get it. So, she ignored them and turned to Dawn, trying to play off the fact her heart was beating out of her chest. “Still not gonna talk to me?” Dawn shook her head. Sienna was just hunting for anything she could use to stall for time, even though she knew she should just rip the bandage off. Why now of all times was her trademark bluntness failing her? Eventually, her eyes fell to Dawn’s book, which the young socialite had lowered from her guard without realizing. On it was a drawing of her brother, the #1 on the back of his jersey proudly - or a lot of times, arrogantly - bolstered on his back. But instead of fighting some goon in a White Fang mask vaguely in the shape of her or Dusty or Karma, it was a man armed with a sword and shield that Dash stood over in victory.

“Wow, you’re getting better each time I see you. You really nailed your brother. Who’s the other guy though, an original character or something?” In a jolt, Dawn immediately pulled it back to her chest. Sienna sighed and dismissed her own question. Conversation was going to get her nowhere even if the small talk did work. “So… I heard from your dad just now.”

“Y-you did?? So he’s finally coming to get me and Dash?” Dawn said, finally perked up enough to speak. Sienna swallowed hard.

“Um. Yeah. Soon,” she awkwardly sputtered out. She wasn’t technically lying. She knew in her head one way or another, this was going to end soon. Neither the White Fang hierarchy nor her father were patient enough to wait on this for much longer. But, she couldn’t face Dawn with anything more than a mere half-truth. Not even Sienna’s claws could match the sharpness of the truth. However, there was no bright surge of optimism evident on Dawn’s face. Instead, her face mirrored her falling heart.

“Soon…? Th-that’s it? All he gave you is soon?” she said. She hung her head, hiding her face underneath her bright red locks. “I… I shouldn’t be surprised. Why would I be a priority? I haven’t been one since Dash left for Beacon. And dad hasn’t pulled himself away from his work since then.” At first, her words weren’t burdened with the weight of untamed emotion. She sounded unsurprised, more resigned to her fate than anything, which honestly hurt Sienna worse. But as she kept talking, the cracks became more visible. Her words trembled as tears began falling and staining the artwork in her lap. “I-I’m no heir. But Dash.. why would he leave us? Why would he abandon us to be left with terrorists??” Hearing this from her gutted Sienna, and it even brought Dusty to remove his mask and look over with concern.

“Is that really all they told you is soon?” T asked with a disgusted groan. “I knew this plan was a mistake, expecting the capitalist machine to pay up their precious money. We shoulda just offed the two of them.” Dawn finally looked up, her teary eyes now filled with a feeling none of her captors and even none of her family had seen from her before: defiance. She hummed a crayon over Sienna’s shoulder, drilling T in one of their fox ears. “You brat!” they growled after a flinch before rising from their chair. But the moment T took a step toward the cell, Sienna stood up with her hand aflame. Dawn reeled back and closed her eyes, but her fear of punishment was abated slightly when she saw Sienna was glaring daggers at her comrade.

“You lay a fucking finger on her and not even the High Leader is gonna stop me from turning your ass into fucking barbecue, got it?! She’s my responsibility! And I’m gonna handle it.” Dusty stood between the two of them, lightly pushing T away as their cue to leave. He knew even all 7 foot plus of him wouldn’t stand a chance of stopping the fiery fox. No one outside of the deep circles of hell did. Neither of them needed to, however, as she stormed out the room, leaving no one more astonished than Dawn at her surprise savior.

[shroudednoir]

AT THE MOMENT, YOU WANT

TO RUN AWAY

your heart at the moment desires to run. it's haunting, chasing you, booming louder. sometimes it's distant enough that you can handle ignoring it, but now, it's so loud. maybe you've tried to face it before, even fight it. you may have failed, or possibly succeeded, but you spared its life, and now it has returned. maybe you never fought it, and simply kept running. and now more than ever, this feels like your last resort. your mind is telling you that you need to run, to run, to run, faster and faster, to lose sight of this. to shake it, because you couldn't shake it before. but is that the right solution? will it really solve anything?

TAGGED: @onlyheartaches TAGGING: @sleeplesswork (adam); @crescentrcse; @etruatcaelum (sienna); AND YOU!!

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Wide Awake

If you spam replay the alan wake 2 soundtrack you will be cursed with thoughts of Alee Destan and Sienna :thumbs_up:

“I miss her every day and it feels like I am dying. You don't understand. You don't understand no matter what happens no matter how much.” He paused, his voice shook but he wasn't sure if it was the fear or the anger.

“No matter how much help,” He did air quotes as he said help out loud, as if to drive home a point. “I get. I lost what I can never get back.” His head hurt, he could feel the migraine impending, one he couldn't prevent.

“Alee..”

Alee gestured to the fireplace mantle, the photos there. Of his family, of their family. “This doesn't fix the hole! It doesn't repair anything. Nothing changes!” As his voice rose in volume, his anger and pain manifested. The physical magic he had little control of manifested too.

The photos shattered, the loud sound and flying glass caused Vesper to step away quickly whilst flinching. Their eyes were wide as the frames, glass and wood, and photographs fell to the wooden floor. Alee blinked, looking down at his hand as he lowered it.

He swallowed thickly, his eyes burned with tears unshed. His throat hurt as he swallowed the lump. Vesper lifted their head from the destruction, looking at their husband. The expression on his face broke their heart.

The horrified expression, the dull eyes, the way his jaw tightened and his lip quivered. A soft fluttering sound came from behind him but he didn't turn around and Vesper didn't look at them. “Are you okay? What happened?” Heath looked between the two of them, attempting to assess any injuries in relation to the shattering they heard upstairs.

“We're fine.”

Vesper responded as Alee looked at the floor, his tail rigid, his ears flat. The reaper took pause, looking between the sorcerers. “Am I interrupting anything?” They inquired, they couldn't quite read either of them.

“No.”

Alee breathed out, his voice steady and monotone, quiet. Usual. Vesper could feel his betrayal to himself in that one word, that one tone. Xyr eyebrows furrowed as they looked at his face. Watched the way the neutrality spread over his expression again.

“Alee, you can't keep bottling this up.”

“I have to go out. I'll get new frames on my way back.”

Alee walked away to Vesper calling his name but he ignored xem, the front door slamming shut behind him. Xe thought he had begun to manage his grief, he spoke to Lumio, the therapist. Told the kids about their aunt. Xe didn't understand where this was all coming from, why his grief was suddenly so overwhelming again.

But xe knew where he was going. Xe just wasn't sure when he'd want to come home again.

“Should I go after him?”

Vesper shook xyr head as xe walked over to the fireplace, bending down to pick up the photographs. “I'm not sure that's the best idea right now.” They'd text Lumio later. Maybe he could help him. Heath nodded, opting to crouch down and help Vesper pick up the broken glass.

[mydemonsdrivealimo]

Has to be:

Hates That One Loud Neighbour x Is That One Loud Neighbour

😌

omfg i love this one asdfghjk. okay i lowkey struggled to figure out who would be who cause it could work both ways, but i think ill go with jensen being the loud neighbor and bryce being the one who hates it lmao

this is so long im so sorry but anyway

(doing it bullet point style bc i can <3)

(idk exactly what their professions would be in this, possibly the same but one of them would work at mass kenmore/just at a different hospital, because eventually theyd notice or piece together that they live in the same building)

bryce wouldve moved in a little after jensen. for the first month or so it was fine, maybe music through the walls once or twice, but nothing long enough that warranted a complaint

after that month, though, at all hours of the night thered either be music or a tv show or just something playing loud enough that bryce could hear it through the walls

he could never catch this mystery neighbor, though. he was up early in the morning and didnt want to bother them (as if they werent already doing the same), and when he got home usually he was too exhausted to do anything about it

after about another month of the on and off disruptions, bryce has a few friends over as a mini housewarming thing (jackie, elijah, and sienna). he mentions an offhand complaint about it and they all obviously ask why he hasnt said anything. they tell him he should just catch this neighbor at night when the problem is yk,, happening. by then though hes exhausted and can usually pass out after a little while of tossing and turning

eventually, they convince him to at least put a note on the door, so he quickly scrawls one out, tapes it there, then comes back. by the time they leave, late into the night, the noise seems to have stopped

it lasts for a peaceful month and a half but, lo and behold, it happens again. it had gradually been getting louder, yes, but he figured they would realize and stop. after some debate, and hyping himself up enough for the confrontation, he goes to talk to them

hes totally ready and prepared as he knocks on the door, but all of that quickly dies in his throat as his apparently very hot neighbor opens the door in pajamas

bryce doesnt let it show, of course, but instead of the anger he planned on, the conversation takes a very pleasant turn as he cant get anything other than niceties out. after introducing himself, he manages to ask if jensen could maybe please just a little if its at all possible keep the noise down after 11 pm since bryce can hear it through the wall. jensen immediately apologizes (bc ofc he would make it even more difficult for bryce to be upset with him) before agreeing and closing the door

the next day he gives a loose rundown to the others, and of course they ask how the confrontation itself went. the end of the conversation ends something like this:

jackie: you cant cave at the sight of every hot guy you run into

bryce: i dont usually, it was just unexpected!

elijah: well, its gonna happen again im sure, so be ready

and bryce thinks he will be. he gets another two months out of it before it happens again, and this time hes actually pissed off. he marches himself over there at some ungodly hour, knocking on the door and most certainly not getting distracted by jensen only wearing boxers and a tank top

he has that fresh "i havent slept in three days" look to him, eyes dark and apologizing through a yawn before bryce can even get a word out

...and then he feels bad. he asks if jensens alright just before he can close the door, to which jensen explains just how perfectly fine he is, its just insomnia. ah. things click into place, and bryce manages to make a lighthearted joke about how hes at least learning something from the documentaries he must be watching considering how many times bryce has heard david attenborough's voice through the wall

he actually gets a laugh out of jensen before they head their separate ways

gradually, bryce starts seeing him around more. occasionally they help with each others groceries, chat in the hall, etc etc

after a few months of this (and some peace and quiet on bryces part), he hears jensen talking down the hall with one of their elderly neighbors. it wasnt weird for jensen to be over there, often changing a lightbulb or bringing up groceries, but this time seems a little more urget

bryce barely gets the key in the door before jensens heading down the hall for his apartment, giving him a smile just long enough to stall him from noticing the blood dripping down his hand before closing the door behind him

bryce of course opens it and follows him in, asking if hes alright and what happened. he was building a bookshelf for them and lost grip of the nail in his hand, accidentally sending one through the side of his hand

(we'll say bryce is still a surgeon in this) he quickly takes over for jensen, cleaning it up, getting it closed, and properly bandaging it

bryce finishes off the bookshelf for them and offers to get jensen dinner, which he refuses but bryce insists on anyway

as his hand is healing, bryce finds a few more excuses to bring over dinner, eventually confessing that hes not eating out to treat jensen, its because he cant cook for shit. they start doing a few mini cooking lessons at jensens place, which is obviously more alone time together, and one thing leads to another and they get together :)

[liaromancewriter]

I am curious on how Cassie dealt with her insecurities towards E & H's relationship before and how she opened it up to Ethan.

I'm so sorry for taking this long to respond to a follow-up ask. It's been a busy few weeks with one more of those to go. (I’ll reply to most of my asks during the winter break, just fyi.)

Cassie never fully shares how she felt regarding Harper with Ethan. She knew he would think she was being silly, and in the back of her mind, she knew it too. The only person who knows about all her insecurities is Max, and it's covered under Twin Code so he's not telling.

She also doesn't want drama (or for Ethan to think she's being immature). If she says something out loud, it becomes a thing. Right now, it's her problem to deal with, and she needs to keep it out of the Edenbrook environment. That’s why she never said anything to Sienna either.

Once Cassie becomes head of the Diagnostics Team and has a couple of years under her belt, she’ll stop feeling like she has to compare herself to Harper’s accomplishments. On the personal side, the more Ethan brings her into his life, stops compartmentalizing “his” from “theirs”, the more she feels secure in their relationship. 

To me, Harper and Cassie's relationship is complicated.

By the end of residency, Harper had somewhat stopped seeing Cassie as the intern that caused trouble and had an ethics trial. One reason for this is that Cassie's work on the Diagnostics Team proved beyond a doubt that she was good at what she did, even if she took big risks like Ethan, regardless of the outcome. 

Like Ethan, Cassie is willing to create a path if none exists. They're both rule breakers and Harper follows all the rules. This attitude was a source of conflict in Harper’s relationship with Ethan, and is also true of her relationship with Cassie.

Another reason is that in my hc Cassie and Aurora are very good friends. They both professionally push each other constantly. Ambition is something Harper appreciates, and she knows that Aurora is more fulfilled as a result of the friendship. 

At the same time, it was hard for Harper knowing Ethan went against his convictions to date Cassie when he broke things off with Harper after she became Chief. It’s not really about Ethan (or any man). It’s the idea that as a woman her success means men are either intimidated or see her as far above them. There’s a double standard here.

It's not like both women spend a lot of time thinking about it or dwelling on the issue, but it definitely informs their relationship dynamic. It takes Harper several years to stop seeing Cassie as that intern, and for Cassie to stop being intimidated by Harper’s success. 

I think when Cassie starts to find her own career success, accomplishments that aren’t linked to Ethan or to when he was head of DT, she starts to come into her own as a doctor and diagnostician. And she’ll stop feeling like she has to constantly compete to prove herself worthy.

Character Asks: @bluebelle08 @crazy-loca-blog @coffeeheartaddict2 @doriopenheart @lucy-268 @jerzwriter @openheartforeverinmyheart @peonierose @queencarb @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @trappedinfanfiction

[moirtre]

8 & 14 for emmy and sienna.

8. is there any rumor netizens made up abt you or your group that actually made you laugh out loud? is there a rumor that genuinely offended you?

⠀⠀⋆⠀&.⠀٬⠀⠀EMMY ANSWERED⠀⠀┉⠀⠀"honestly, i haven't had many outrageous rumors about me personally. but, there was this rumor that floated around on twitter for like a week about my dad."

emmy suppresses a laugh as she recounts the story. "so, um, my dad lives in the uk and someone decided to do like- a deep dive into my dad's life. the genius realized that i never talk about my mother and my dad doesn't post anything about my mother either."

she pauses to roll her eyes, "they started spreading this rumor that my parents had a nasty falling out and my dad was a deadbeat who only posted me for clout." emmy scoffs at the thought, a shake of her head revealing the incredulity she held. "truth is, my mom's just not in the picture and my dad is gay."

⠀⠀⋆⠀&.⠀٬⠀⠀SIENNA ANSWERED⠀⠀┉⠀⠀"this is so stupid, but someone spread a rumor that i dyed my hair to pass a drug test." sienna waves off the thought quickly, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "literally had to give an official statement because of that bullshit."

14. if you had to put yourself in a new group with idols of your choice, which idols would you want to team up with? is there any existing group you would want to join?

⠀⠀⋆⠀&.⠀٬⠀⠀EMMY ANSWERED⠀⠀┉⠀⠀"i personally think duos are awesome because there's no room to hide," she shrugs, pursing her lips together. "so if i was in a duo i'd probably choose hwaseong." her hands clasp together as she continues. "i think we have similar tastes so a cute rap duo would kinda eat, right?"

⠀⠀⋆⠀&.⠀٬⠀⠀SIENNA ANSWERED⠀⠀┉⠀⠀"i've always wanted to make a cute little subunit with devin from so s!ck, ian from avos, and i." sienna figets in excitement, a wide smile revealing the deep smile lines embedded in her skin. "the concept would be washed up royal heirs and we'd make alternative pop." her smile is persistent. "the three of us talk about this all the time but it never lines up with our schedules. maybe one day, though!"

[heartintact]

Sienna, contrarian and filterless, had to avert her gaze in an effort not to argue. She knew he meant it and didn’t believe she couldn’t ruin this. But she’d destroyed precious, valuable things before—relationships, friendships, opportunities; she’d let them slip between her fingers and watched them shatter after saying or doing what she wasn’t supposed to. So it made sense for her to need to check in with him, to grin up at him when she couldn’t focus on anything but the brown of his eyes, words sounding tempting. “That doesn’t sound catastrophic,” she assured, letting herself get dragged by his explanation with ease. After all, she liked the sound of it. Casual. Fun. Just two friends acting emboldened during one night. Frustrated chuckle abandoned her as the elevator ding announced their arrival to her floor. “Yeah, I know. Oscar will have so many questions.” Joking about the building’s security guard's hypothetical voyeuristic tendencies let her overlook how naturally her hand found his, allowing herself to be guided towards her own apartment. If it were one of those movies she watched with her sister when one of them was feeling particularly blue, she would’ve opened up the door confidently, pressed her back against it as soon as it closed behind them, and just pulled him closer until there was no space between them. But she wasn’t that girl, and putting on a show of pretense for Wes was something she’d never do. He was better than any act. So Sienna protested softly when she tried to use the wrong key, laughing victoriously once she finally got it right, ceremoniously opening for them to step inside. Her place was colorful and a bit messy, framed vintage board games hanging next to posters she loved, a mixture of white, soft oranges and pastel pink taking over most of the space. It was a bit like her, she liked to think. Loud and a bit eclectic, but still nice. She took a couple of aimless steps before turning towards her best friend, a playful smile already on her face before she broke the silence, trying to sound as nonchalant as her eagerness allowed. “So… Do you wanna sleep now? I know you have an early flight.” The suggestion seemed almost genuine, if it weren't for the way her attention belonged completely to him.

While encased in the elevator, Wesley's mind once again went to the fact that they were enclosed in a small space. His eyes watched Sienna intently, following her even when she wasn't looking at him, wondering what was going on in her mind. As she came close he stilled, slightly taken aback by the way she wrapped her arms around his shoulders so casually. It felt good, though, a comfortable kind of newness as he looked down at her, smiling fondly at her. Tentatively, his hands ghosted over her hips and then took hold, wanting to emphasise the reply he gave her with his actions. "I don't think you could fuck it up." He reassured, shaking his head. Again, proving his point, his arms wrapped around her waist. His head swam with thoughts, mostly about the fact that he didn't want to overwhelm her. It wasn't like he was ready to spout love confessions, this was something unprecedented for them, to kiss casually or kiss at all. If Sienna said it didn't have to change anything, that she didn't want to fuck it up, that indicated one thing to Wes: if he wanted this, he had to let it not be a big deal. Maybe it was a misguided thought, but he truly believed he could when he knew it meant he could lean down, nose bumping against hers as he chuckled. "I think... we can just let ourselves enjoy it, right? It doesn't need to become this catastrophic thing. Two friends kissing." Wes began to lean in again, so tempted by her, but then of course the elevator doors opened and he looked up past her. Exhaling, he pulled back, reaching for her hands. "Maybe lets get into your apartment first."