#not entirely but like. it's our dead wife who came back and now she's a little bit too cheerful and puts too much makeup

[kindaeccentric]

pet sematary my chemical romance

[helaintoloki]

hello, I would like to make a request, a story based on the last episode of yours, Five talking to another Five in the final conversation and they talk about his wife and Canon Five doesn't have one, thanks if you want

a/n: i absolutely loved writing this ty for sending this in ! <3

warnings: language, slight angst, spoilers

summary: Five discovers his missing piece

When Five stumbled into Max’s and came across an entire diner full of alternate versions of himself, about a million different questions raced through his mind. However, the most pressing issue he found himself wanting to address was the context behind the lovingly placed portrait of a woman on the wall.

“Who’s the girl?” He asks his counterpart, his eyes remaining glued to the painting. The woman’s smile was gentle, her eyes kind, and her face the most beautiful he’d ever seen. He almost felt drawn to it in a way, as if there was some type of magnetic pull gravitating his focus to her and only her. It was like seeing a ghost or a familiar face from a dream that you’re not quite able to place.

“Don’t you recognize her?” The other Five retorts perplexed, confusion clearly etched on his features. “That’s y/n.”

“Can’t say I’m familiar,” the Boy confesses with an apologetic sigh as he finally pulls his attention away from the painting and sets it back to the Five in front of him.

“No wonder you’re such a mess,” server Five notes with a diverted smile as he tops off their coffee. Calling over his shoulder, he announces to all Fives, “The poor bastard doesn’t have a y/n.”

Murmurs of surprise and astonished laughter fill the cafe at the news, prompting Five’s face to heat in embarrassment at being the butt of a joke he has no grasp of. What do these Fives know that he doesn’t?

“Could you please be so kind as to fill me in on who this y/n is,” he requests agitatedly through gritted teeth. Reaching into his pocket, his counterpart pulls out a weathered photograph and slides it across the table for Five to see.

“Y/n is the missing piece that completes every Five. We all meet her in different ways at different points of our lives, but every time she manages to anchor us back down to earth. Y/n is the glue that holds us together when everything goes to shit. She believes in us, sees the humanity in us despite the horrors we’ve seen and the atrocities we’ve committed. She gives us unconditional love even when we think we don’t need it, when we think it couldn’t possibly exist.”

As Fives look down at the photo before him, he sees himself- or rather, another version of himself- enveloping y/n in his arms. They stand in front of a beautiful home with a picket white fence and a garden full of flowers smiling with pure bliss. It’s clear that the woman loved this version of him by the adoring look in her eyes, and it’s even clearer that she meant everything to the Five sitting across from him.

“She means something different to each of us, but I was one of the Five’s lucky enough to make her my wife,” his companion notes with an evocative smile. “That photo was taken on our honeymoon.

“Where is she now?” Five asks somberly after handing back the photograph.

“Dead,” he replies quietly, releasing a mournful sigh as he sinks back into the booth. “Lost her in an accident while I was trying to stop the apocalypse for a third time. That’s when I decided it was time to hang in the towel.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“We had a good run together, I wouldn’t change any of it,” the replica admits with a reminiscent smile. He takes another look at the photo, committing it to memory before handing it back to Five. “I think you need this more than I do. You may not have had the chance to know your y/n, but judging by the look on your face when you spotted the portrait I have a good feeling you would have loved her just the same.”

Gingerly taking the photograph back, Five stops to admire her gentle features and adoring smile before tucking it safely into the pocket of his suit. “Thank you.”

“You know what you have to do to fix the timelines,” the other Five firmly instructs him. “Just promise me you’ll do by right by my wife. She deserves a safe timeline to live in, one where she can grow old and be happy.”

Rising from his seat at the booth, Five takes one last longing look at the portrait on the wall before returning his gaze to the boy in front of him.

“You have my word.”

[yuriisclumsy]

Sending in a request for a Genshin or Lout fic! I’ll give you a few prompts you can choose from (you only need to pick one) and write a fic for who you think suits it best!

intuition, obvious, (il)logic, test, levity

((thank you so much and no rush!!)) - @paimonial-rage

Intuition

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 2058

[Authors Note]: OMG I'm so sorry guys for the late update! Something went wrong and now is now I figured it out. So here you go! It took me a while to figure this one out, but I managed to get something going. This is a gift for another blog, @paimonial-rage! They do Genshin requests (fanfiction with reader insert) for anyone interested.

»»►Cale has an intuition that [Name] is in danger.

»»►...

»»►What?

»»►That’s all I’m telling you, no spoilers for you!

The high walls of the Roan Kindom’s palace stood the testament of war being waged at its firmament. It had been many a time someone dared to destroy it, but none came close to achieving their goal.

Not when there was a great commander in charge.

In one of the many rooms withholding secrets never to shed light to the world in the palace, stood two esteemed figures; one, bearing the crown, the other, his most trusted friend and sworn-brother.

“Cale, Cale, what will I be without you?” The ever-loved crown prince–now king–asked.

“You’d still be a crown prince fighting to retain the crown, Alberu,” Cale sipped his tea nonchalantly, ignoring the unamused face he was getting.

Alberu sighs from the otherwise boring reaction. “Even after all this time, you’re still trying to piss me off. And here I thought that perhaps marrying that  girl would make you more sensible.”

“Then you guessed wrong, my king,” Cale slightly vowed.

“Stop that.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” he gave a polite smile.

Alberu shook his head and let out another sigh. This won’t stop until Cale won, so it was simpler to just surrender. “How is married life going for you?” He took his tea and blew to calm it.

“It's actually going well,” Cale responded, thinking back on his experience so far.

He got married a while ago, two months ago, to be precise. It had been slow, sharing the same room with someone, but they had adjusted just fine ...aside from the fact that his wife moves a bit too much when she sleeps. Cale learned to either build a fortress of pillows that separated them or hug her the whole night–though this option comes with sweat greeting them the next morning.

“I’m still not used to her being in my—our room,” he corrected himself. “And when will you get a wife, huh? Don’t you think the kingdom deserves a queen?”

Alberu threw daggers at him mentally, hoping he’d drop dead where he stood. “Haha…funny.” He placed the cup down on the table where the saucer was. “Although…it would be nice to have someone to share my troubles with,” he looked Cale in the eyes when saying that.

Liar. You want me to ask so I can fix your messes, Cale thought, internally scuffing at the man.

He put in his diplomatic smile. “Oh, but your highness. You always can share your concerns with me, your most loyal subject. I can assure you that even the future queen would agree with me.”

“Ha! You’re a bastard through and through,” Alberu crossed his arms in amusement.

Yeah, right. The only bastard here is you—! Cale’s cup fell lento, as if time had slowed down entirely.

Alberu’s eyes widened in surprise, “Cale, are you okay?” He stared at Cale to see if it was another of his antics but he looked completely still, with his face growing paler by the second. The king shot up thinking of the worst. “Damn it! Is it poison?!” He checked the teapot for any unusual smells.

“No, no,” Cale patted the king, who by now was by his side, to calm down. “I just…had a shiver run down my spine.”

His sworn brother remained silent for a short moment, and then his mouth opened. “If it were a mare shiver, you wouldn't have reacted like that. Cale, I know you. And the you, I know, doesn’t fear much.” He grabbed Cale by the arms, “now tell me, what made you react in such a way?”

“...” Cale looked at him and then at the floor, unsure of what to tell him.

“Cale…” Alberu shook him a little, firming his hold a bit more, to show that he was there if it were something bad.

“*sigh*...I got this feeling…” he paused, inhaling grimly, “that something bad is going to happen to [Name]. But, it’s just a feeling. It’s probably my overthinking, you needn't worry about it.”

Alberu was at a loss for words. Yes, with fame and power, came great danger. But he didn’t think that his friend–his brother-in-arms–would be so unworried for a thought like that.

No… He was more worried about it than he let on.

He released his hold on Cale, straightening himself.

“Alberu?” Cale looked up from the loss of pressure, “did something happen?”

“...You need to go,” he said.

“What?”

“You need to go,” he repeated.

Cale could only stare, not sure why he was saying that. “But…why?” He looked like a small child who had lost their mother in the market and was asking for help from a stranger with a sad look on their face.

“Oh, for heaven's sake…” Alberu’s hands clutched themselves to Cale’s coat, “damn it, you dense donkey! You had a thought about your wife being hurt, you need to go, and make sure she’s in perfect shape like the good husband you are!!"

At this point some of the knights were hearing the commotion inside but dared not intrude on the scolding from a mother to their child, it brought trauma none of them wished to relive.

“So you will stand up,” he brought Cale to his feet, “and go to your wife!!”

And that’s how Cale Henituse, the great commander of the Roan Kingdom, was promptly kicked out and banned from entering the castle until the king received notice of his wife’s safety.

Cale gawked at the castle for a few minutes after that. He looked like a fish out of the water: stupid.

He sighed out of his daze. “Ron?” He turned to his butler who accompanied him on his trip.

“Yes, young master?” Ron vowed.

“Get me home as fast as you can,” he ordered as he opened the carriage doors and climbed in, shutting the door in the process.

“As you wish, Master Cale,” Ron got up to the carriage’s coachman seat. Taking the leach of the horses, he made a swift movement, and the horses were galloping towards the exit.

The path home was peaceful. Yes, there were a few pours here and there, but that was only for a bit. What could not find rest, was the man inside the carriage.

He fidgeted sporadically, his leg went up and down in impatience, and his eyes fixated on the outside where they could see the slightest glance of his territory's walls. Anything that could calm his unease.

I should have brought Raun with me, or a magic item that could teleport me back faster. He thought of all the things he could have done to fasten the transportation to his manor.

The sight of walls and a flag in the distance made Cale happy.

Home. Alas, he was closer to his wife.

The carriage passed the high gates of the city, not needing to check inside for threats when the man who had saved them plenty of times was inside. The knights saluted as he entered.

Arriving at the manor, he dismounted the carriage walking to the entrance. A few servants waited right outside the door, vowing to greet their master. He stopped just as he passed the doors, making his two trusted butlers look at him: one in worry, and the other in amusement.

“Master Cale?” Hans called. “Is something the matter?”

“...Ron,” he said his butler's name without looking back.

“Yes, Master Cale?”

“Can you do me a favor, and go hunting for a few loud quails?” He said.

Ron smirked. “As you wish, Master Cale,” he vowed before turning and leaving the manor.

“Quails?” Hans asked, “But we already have plenty of them.” His eyes widened, “please don’t tell me what I think that is referring to…”

Cale continued to the gardens where he knew his wife would be. “Don’t worry about Hans. You’re not the one getting their hands dirty with animal feathers,” he said with a smile.

“Please don’t smile when you say that…” he looked nauseous.

…

The wind blew swiping and budging any object its strength could move. The wind chime followed the rhyme of the calm breeze as it passed through. Soft humming that sounded like they belonged to a fairy filled the air of the manor’s garden. It came from the lady of the house; a beautiful and delicate flower, who married the lout son of the family.

She lowered herself to be a few inches from the bed of flowers planted for her by her husband's wishes;.He planted them for her happiness; she loved flowers as much as she loved him. 

Her hands lifted a white tulip, her eyes observed its color and physique. “You have grown from the last time I saw you,” she songily whispered. “Cale would be happy to see you like this.”

People often gossiped how, in their eyes, she took care of the plants like if they were her children. Yet, they know not that these small greeneries are as alive as any other living creature. They can call her crazy all they want, for she already found someone that loves her. Even if he did find this fixation of hers a little odd.

“Happy to see who?” a voice asked from behind.

Her head turned to see who it was that questioned her, but her smile made it clear that she knew who it was that asked.

“Cale,” she said his name, love surrounded his name. She stood up to greet her one and only husband. “You’re back so soon, I thought you said you would be in the capital for 10 days.”

“Something came up for the king, so I decided to come back,” Cale embraced her warmth. She smelled like the flowers she loved.

She returned the hug by wrapping her arms around him, “you missed me that much?”

“Shut up,” he scuffed and let go of her.

She giggled in response. “Hehehe, didn’t you though?” her eyes met his, “you missed your wife so much, that you came running here.”

“As if. I had no other business in the capital other than meeting with his majesty.” Excuses. His wife could tell. He might think that he's not that easy to read, but for her, he was like a poster in a billboard right in the public's eyes.

“Sure, sure…I believe you.”

“No, you don’t, [Name].”

“Yes I do!” She pouted.

“Master Cale,” Ron made himself known as he walked towards them.

“Ron!” [Name] ran to the old butler. “Ron, won’t you agree that Cale came back so quickly because he loved his wife so much, he couldn't spend a single day more in the capital?” She asked, dramatizing the whole thing to embarrass her husband.

Ron had the smile only a demon could have when they had their enemies greatest weakness.

“Don’t you dare,” Cale warned.

“Oh, but I must agree with Lady [Name],” he closed his eyes, “The young master whined the whole way here. “Oh, how I wish I was next to my wife. My sweet, and beautiful, [Name]...”” Ron was mocking him. And there was nothing he could do about it.

Damned old man…

“I see, I see…” she nodded along. She was enjoying this far too much.

“Okay, that’s it,” he stepped towards them and grabbed her by the arm, “we’re leaving.”

“Awe, if you wanted to have me all to yourself you can always ask,” [Name] placed a hand on her check, cooing at Cale.

“Why did I marry you?”

“Because you love me!” She gave him the happiest smile she had; the same one she had on their wedding day; the same one she had when he asked her to marry him; the same one she had when he pronounced his love. It was her normal smile.

“...” Cale had a blush on his face. He caught the smug smile from Ron, and that just made him instantly frown, ruining the beautiful moment. “Let's go,” He continued to pull her along. She giggled at his antics.

“Oh, Ron?” he halted.

He smiled, “Yes, young master?”

“Did you finish your hunt?”

Ron’s smile widened. “Yes. We’ll be having 6 quails for dinner.”

“Great,” he resumed his pace.

“Wait, I thought it was beef for dinner today.”

“That too.”

“???”

Fin

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Master-List

[dinogoofy]

Guys I'm having too many good ideas...!

So, Bi-han arranged marriage! Let's say that he and his wife don't get along well. She is stubborn, but very kind and loyal to her family, while Bi-han is a bit of an asshole and doesn't like her because she has her own beliefs and won't budge from them. She hates how the Lin kuei have been treating businesses and how scummy some of their practices are, and He hates that she's "so righteous" and above the work that they do.

They really don't get along, and then one day she gets kidnapped by someone who is enemies with the Lin Kuei.

She is hurt and tortured, but again, she's stubborn as hell. She doesn't break. The Lin kuei are made aware that the grandmaster's wife has been kidnapped, but Bi-han doesn't have much of a reaction besides sending someone to go find her. Besides, it's not like they'd get much use from her. She stays out of their dirty affairs so she'll be fine.

She goes through some shit, because even though she doesn't know anything, she knows that won't stop them from trying to get any information out of her. She stays dead silent the entire time she is kidnapped, furious the whole time. Part of her wants to hold out hope that her husband will come get her, but the majority of her believes that he'd let her rot.

Finally, someone finds her. But it's not her husband. (Smoke or kuai maybe?) She's severely hurt, but still stubborn enough to be furious that he couldn't be bother to come save his own Wife. They make it back to the Lin Kuei, and she spends her time avoiding Bi-han the first few days. Then, some of the clan elders start to get into Bi-hans head. She certainly broke. She leaked their location or joined the enemy. Look at her, she's weak and she doesn't support what our clan does. She must have broken.

So, Bi-han, enraged by the idea that she betrayed him, storms off to go find her.

When he does find her, she's getting ready to change. She's not letting her pain or soreness show through in front of a man she hates, and he scoffs, thinking that she was fine. That they probably went easy on her as she was so pitiful.

Bi-han is aggressive while asking if she broke. She rolls her eyes.

"It's been three weeks, and the first think you care about is if I broke." She huffs. Bi-han narrows his eyes. She shakes her head. "-and no. For your information. I didn't. You of all people should know I'm stubborn. As much as I don't like how you run this clan, I don't endanger my family."

Part of him doesn't want to believe her, but she starts to change, not caring if he's in the room, and something ugly inside him formes when he sees her deep bruises and cuts. Wounds on every part of her body.

At first he was angry at her, and now he's engulfed in rage at what they had done to HIS wife. A small, quiet part if his conscious is angry that he left her there, and he wasn't the one to find her and slaughter every man that laid a hand on her. He knew he could've found her much sooner than whoever he sent, but he didn't care. And this is what happened.

But he had learned to ignore his consciousness long ago.

Before the incident, She would have tried to speak to him when he could. Simply trying to be cordial and polite. She would ask him what he wanted to eat that night, or ask him if he was okay after a particularly rough mission. Just because she didn't really like him or what he does, doesn't mean she wasn't willing to try.

After she was kidnapped however, that stopped.

She stoped speaking to him. She avoided him whenever she could. She couldn't care less when he left or when he came back. He abandoned her with torchurers. Why would she?

This starts to irk Bi-han. One day, he comes home and she's still avoiding him. He gets fed up with it and confronts her. She basically rolls her eyes and tries to avoid him, but he grabs her by the arms, careful not to press into her bruises, and gets into her space. She's taken aback by the closeness, but her expression hardens.

"Why should I care about you, when you left me to die." She snarls. Bi-han is enraged.

"You think that your kidnapping didn't effect me?! You don't even know how the sight of your bruises enrage me! I have slaughtered every man who laid a hand on you. Do you understand that?!" Bi-han is acting like a wild animal. He's breathing hard, his eyes narrowed and filled with rage. All she can do is stare. Her face has softened. She doesn't knownwhat to say. Bi-han's face morphs when he realises how close he is to her, and he lets her go and steps back aggressively. He stalks off without another word, leaving her confused, unable to cone to terms with the fact that the ever-cold Bi-han would ever be this emotional over someone he doesn't even like.

Right...?

[jaune-submissive-and-breedable]

Jaune was alive was all Saphron could think about, her baby brother was alive. But now he wanted to leave again and go into more danger, oh no that was not happening. So she talked with her wife Terra and she agreed that it was better if he stayed. That night the married couple took him to their marital bed and showed him why he should stay. He would be their good boy from now on.

Saphron Arc frowned as she stared at her dinner, thought of what she just heard plaguing her mind

"I'm going on Grimm patrol tomorrow.." her baby brother, Jaune, told her. The look of pure determination on his face

"You can't!" her wife, Terra cried out, slamming her fork on the table "You were gone for months....lost in Oum knows where, and NOW YOU'RE GOING TO RUN BACK OUT THERE JUST WHEN YOU FINALLY CAME HOME!"

Tears began leaking from her eyes as she stared at the blonde

"We thought you were dead.......your entire family thought you were dead.....You just can't leave them....us....Adrian feeling like that again"

Jaune shook his head and sighed deeply. His deep blue eyes locked on hers.

"That's the point, Terra....If I don't, then who?" With that he stood up, leaving the table. he only got a few steps in before collapsing onto the ground, his entire body numb.

Saphron rose from her spot at the table and made her way towards her brother, discarding her pants as she did. She watched as he tried to ask what was happening to him, but the numbing agent she mixed in his food prevented him from speaking. She turned him over so he was laying on his back, and straddling his lap she stared into his scared cerulean eyes

"I'm sorry Jaune. I knew we couldn't convince you, no matter what we said.." reaching down, she unzipped the fly of his pants, fiddling with his underwear, and pulled out his flaccid sex organ. slowly stroking him. "So...We'll have to take matters into our own hands. I can't lose you again..."

Once he was sufficiently erect, Sahpron raised herself til she hovered over his cock, breathing nervously since she was about to rape her own brother to keep him safe. She looked to Terra who nodded at her actions. Sliding her underwear to the side, she lowered herself onto him, gasping at the sensation of having a cock filling her vaginal walls.

"It's for your own good jaune," She told him, and herself as she slowly ground her hips into his. Her lips parted releasing small moans from her actions. It was long before she increased her speed and rode him silly.

Terra played with herself as she watched her wife grinding frantically against her brother-in-law. A small part of her felt jealous that it wasn't her. It was no secret she had feelings for the boy, it was evident when he impregnated her with Adrian. She wished he would do it again under, more preferable conditions, but she needed him to stay. If drugging him and raping him daily would keep him with her then so be it. He would come to accept his new life with time. After all, it was for his own good.

Jaune cried as he was forced to watch his sister violate him. He wanted to push her off, scream at her to come to her senses, or maybe even call for help. Sadly thanks to this drug, he could only lay there and watch Saphron stare into his eyes as her climax approached. And his own, much to his shame.

With a final grind, Saphron gasped surprised as she felt his warm seed flooding her canals. Sperm drowning her eggs and pushing itself out the same way it went in. Thanks to his genetics, she was for sure impregnated, and if not, they had all day to try again.

Slide off his cock, which thanks to his aura, was still erect and ready for more, she nodded at Terra. the tan woman hurrying over and planting herself on his sensitive organ. Crawling over to Jaune's face, she gentle kiss lips, and wiped away his tears.

"It's for your own good." she whispered before leaning in for another kiss.

___________________________________________________________

3 months later

"Yes....I understand....Please stay safe...Adrian would hate for his two favorite people to get hurt" Saphron said into the scroll, "And I'll tell Jaune you two sent your greetings"

After the call ended, She made her way to her and Terra's bedroom. Looking inside, she saw her brother, lying on their mattress motionless.

"Lian & Nora sent their hellos," She said, slowly stripping away her clothes, revealing a growing baby bump in her stomach. "The said they be by later tonight"

As she grew closer to the boy, it was event that he was not the same as he was. He was completely naked, the spark he once had in his eye now gone and his hair longer and messy. As she touched his body, he flinched, the rattling of metal made audible by his movement.

Saphron frowned see this, having thought he'd learn by now, "Jaune...please....We all want what's best for you."

She turned her head to the bound and gagged Oscar in the corner, desperately trying to escape.

"What's best for both of you"

______________________________________________________________

Also if the ending is a bit confusing, LIan and Nora knows what happened to Jaune, and are active participants. At some point tied up Oscar with the intent to do the same

[lisbeth-kk]

Sherlock fandom.

I can’t get you off my mind

I knew Mrs. Hudson was wrong when she told me marriage changes people. 

Not my John, I thought.

How wrong I was.  

Seen in hindsight; has it been three months already, she was right. I should have known that. After all, she was more of an expert on relationships than me. What did I have to show for? My only relationship, if you didn’t count family, had been with John. He was the only one who could fit that term. 

I told Mrs. Hudson that Mary would be reasonable when I needed John on a case. Her response baffled me. 

“Don’t ever use that word and her name in the same sentence, Sherlock. They don’t match. At all.”

Then she huffed and clenched her jaw tight, unwilling to explain herself. So, I’d turned to Mycroft. If anyone knew what was going on, it was him.

“Brother mine,” he said quietly when I came forth with my request about John’s wife. 

“Don’t patronise me, Mycroft,” I snapped. “Just tell me what’s going on. Is John safe?”

“Why would you ask…” Mycroft began, but something about my appearance stopped him from whatever nonsense he was going to utter. 

He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. Neither were good signs. 

“She’s an assassin with a prize on her head. We have her under surveillance. I suspect she’ll attempt to flee any day to escape,” Mycroft told me. 

My brain buzzed, analysed, and calculated in quick succession, but in vain. All I could think of was John, unknowing, unsafe, and the baby.

“Mary isn’t pregnant, Sherlock,” Mycroft said. 

“Excuse me?” Were you ever going to tell me any of this?” I asked furiously.

*** 

It’s over now. John’s personal Armageddon. His wife gone when he woke. A letter explaining nothing. The fake pregnancy belly was the final nail in the coffin. I tried to reach out to him, but he was so angry. Thought I’d known all along. He didn’t want to listen to reason. I didn’t blame him. I still don’t. 

Again, it’s Mrs. Hudson’s words putting things in motion.

“Are you just going to let it slide? He needs you, Sherlock! You are his best friend, his entire world. Save him, dear, and yourself. Ask him to come home.”

“He is home,” I protest. 

The look she gives me, makes me feel like a five-year old again. She doesn’t pester me further, but it’s enough. I fetch my laptop and start to write an email. The most important one I’ve ever written.

Dear, John

Believe me when I say I didn’t know anything about Mary or the baby until the day before she left. I would’ve told you if I knew. I was terrified when Mycroft told me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of you being unsafe and unknowing. My plan was to tell you the day you woke up without her, but by then it was too late. 

I don’t blame you for not believing me, John. After all, I’ve lied to you about severe things in the past. If you want to talk, we can. Whenever you want. I’m just a text away. And if you can’t bear the thought of staying where you live; know that you’re always welcome at Baker Street. It was your home, and it’s empty without you. 

We’re not good with words, John. Not these kinds, anyway, but don’t let our friendship end like this. I want you in my life, in my home, our home. I can’t get you off my mind, John. I never could. Please, consider coming back. 

If you don’t answer this email, text, phone or come to Baker Street, I’ll understand, but I hope you’ll do at least one of those things. To let me know where we stand. 

SH

***

I’m mentally exhausted after I’ve sent the email, and go to bed, sleeping like the dead for almost ten hours. When I’ve showered and had some tea and toast, I take out my violin and play all of John’s favourites. 

This can’t be how it ends; I think when I lower the violin and bow. After I’ve placed the instrument back in its case, I hear a sound. I’d been so lost in my own head and haven’t been paying attention to my surroundings. And why would I? I’ve lived alone for months, but now I sense a presence. 

I turn, slowly, alert, and there he is, in his chair, looking at me with eyes filled with unshed tears. Any second now they will trickle down his cheeks. In an instant I’m kneeling in front of him, letting my hands rest on his knees. 

“John, is everything okay? Are you…”

“I’m okay, Sherlock. Just…”

His voice his hoarse. I can tell this isn’t the first time he’s been crying today. Something catches my eye just inside the door. John’s duffle bag. I jerk my head back to look at him.

“John?”

“I’m coming home, Sherlock. For good,” he says and manages to smile while he’s crying. 

***

So, this is how it ends. With a pair of broken hearts that are going to be mended. We only have to give it some time, and we will get there. Together.

@flashfictionfridayofficial @totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @calaisreno @a-victorian-girl @phoenix27884 @sabsi221b @safedistancefrombeingsmart @gregorovitchworld @raina-at @helloliriels @peanitbear @topsyturvy-turtely

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

She NEVER disappoints!! MAUREEN CALLAHAN: "I demanded doddery Biden get off his sun lounger and go to Hawaii. But after THAT shambolic visit, I take it all back... The people of Maui have suffered enough."

Biden interrupted his Lake Tahoe vacation on Monday to fly five (5) hours to the island, and insist that the federal government was there for the islanders, despite the announcement of the paltry sum of $700 compensation for each household. 

By Maureen Callahan 22 Aug 2023

We all called for the President last week. Where was he, days after the apocalyptic Maui wildfires?

Actually, we knew where he was: On the beach at his shore home in Delaware. Prepping for his next vacation in Lake Tahoe. Issuing a reptilian ‘no comment’ when asked about the thousand-plus people missing and the Pompeii-like damage and what his plan was.

When was he going to visit?

For what it’s worth, I wrote an impassioned column imploring the president to go.

Now I take it all back. The people of Maui have suffered enough.

Joe Biden finally saw fit to interrupt his second vacation since the wildfires, to don his well-worn mantle as Empathizer-in-Chief, put his feet on the ground in Hawaii and comfort the survivors, 13 days after the fires.

It did not go well.

‘F**k you!’ was the prevailing greeting to his motorcade. Residents held unwelcoming signs: ‘It’s too late’. ‘Actions speak louder than words’.

Right they are.

We all called for the President last week. Where was he, days after the apocalyptic Maui wildfires? I wrote an impassioned column imploring the president to go. Now I take it all back. The people of Maui have suffered enough.

Joe Biden finally saw fit to interrupt his second vacation since the wildfires, to don his well-worn mantle as Empathizer-in-Chief and comfort the survivors, 13 days after the fires. It did not go well. ‘F**k you!’ was the prevailing greeting to his motorcade.

Yet Joe Biden was not humbled. Joe Biden doesn’t know shame. Instead he gave a meandering speech invoking, yet again, his own tragedies, dosed as usual with a soupçon of exaggeration.

‘I don’t want to compare difficulties,’ he said. Spoiler alert: He compared difficulties.

Once upon a time, he and Jill had suffered a kitchen fire while he was off doing a glamorous TV spot on ‘Meet the Press’. He almost lost his classic Corvette! Parked at his waterfront house!

Would the people of Maui, living through the agonies of entire families burned to ashes in their homes, of a 14-year-old boy’s body discovered alone and clutching his dead dog, care to hear those details?

‘It was a sunny Sunday,’ Biden said — oh my God, is there no one in this White House who can keep this president on-message? — ‘and lightning struck at home on a little lake that’s outside of our home — not a lake, a big pond — and hit a wire and came up underneath our home into our heating ducts, the air conditioning ducts.

‘To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my ’67 Corvette, and my cat. But all kidding aside’ — there’s a joke in here? — ‘I watched the firefighters, the way they responded… they ran into flames to save my wife and save my family… sometimes smoke is so thick… it was that thick inside the home.’

Not so, said the firefighters who responded. The Biden kitchen fire, according to the Cranston Heights Fire Company, was ‘insignificant’ and put out in just 20 minutes.

But hey — Joe Biden never lets facts get in the way of a good story. And no one’s suffering can ever compare to his own.

His speech to the people of Maui was disgusting. It was all about him. Note this line: 'I give you my word, as a Biden.'

As a Biden? How about as President of the United States?

He had such a low bar to clear: Get on the ground, shake hands and offer hugs, look survivors in the eye and listen to their stories, and offer a clear plan of action.

All he had to do was deliver a brief, locked-and-loaded speech and cede the stage to local heroes — take a page from George W. Bush’s promise on the World Trade Center pile after 9/11.

But he can’t do it. Joe Biden is fundamentally, constitutionally incapable of allowing others their grief. He literally claimed that he had ‘a similar experience’ to the Maui survivors.

Protestors greet Biden with 'f**k you' as he arrives in Maui

He had such a low bar to clear: Get on the ground, shake hands, offer hugs - and a clear plan of action. But he can’t do it. Joe Biden is fundamentally, constitutionally incapable of allowing others their grief. (Pictured: Flames devastate Lahaina, Hawaii, earlier this month).

‘By the way,’ he continued, ‘for 36 years I was listed as the poorest man in Congress, so I didn’t get there based on my income.’

Can you believe that was part of his speech to the survivors? How is it germane? Remotely relevant? Does Biden really want to invoke his family’s suspicious riches?

To quote Barack Obama: ‘Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f**k things up.’

Biden went on to perseverate over the loss of his first wife and infant daughter in a car crash — a tragedy he blamed on the other driver, who Biden infamously falsely accused of being drunk.

‘So, I have a little bit of sense of what it’s like.’

No, Mr. President, you do not.

It was the same when he met with Gold Star families whose loved ones died in his botched Afghanistan withdrawal, repeatedly invoking his late son Beau, who he often claims died in Iraq. (Beau died of a brain tumor.)

It was the same when he was caught checking his watch every single time one of those 13 flag-draped caskets were loaded off military planes at Dover.

‘The most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen,’ said Darin Hoover, father of fallen Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover. ‘They would release the salute and he looked down at his watch on every last one. All 13, he looked down at his watch.’

So now I know: Joe Biden should have stayed away from Maui. He should have sent thoughts and prayers and far more than a $700 check to each surviving family. He should have begged Barack Obama or another esteemed Hawaiian to go.

The Rock would have done better. Jason Momoa. Hell, anyone but tone-deaf, crusty old Joe.

Looking at a canine rescue and recovery dog with protective paw gear, Biden ‘joked’ to the press: ‘You guys catch the boots out here? That’s some hot ground, man.’

Ugh, that ‘man’. Joe’s such a cool cat, don’t you know, just one of us. Amtrak Joe. Watch out: He might beat you up in the parking lot after fourth period. Remember ‘CornPop’? The gang leader with a razor blade at the community pool back in 1962? The 'bad dude' Joe Biden beat back with a 6ft-long chain?

Joe Biden, pathological fabulist, national embarrassment.

He should have stayed away from Maui. He should have sent thoughts and prayers and far more than a $700 check to each surviving family. He should have begged Barack Obama or another esteemed Hawaiian to go. The Rock would have done better. Hell, anyone but tone-deaf, crusty old Joe. (Pictured: Joe and Jill on the beach in Delaware earlier this month).

Those canines, by the way, have only been able to work in short shifts because the ground in Lahaina remains sizzling hot. That’s cause for alarm, not a comedy bit.

How about that climate crisis, Mr. President?

Speaking of — please, for the love of all that is sacred, stay away from Palm Springs and Los Angeles and any future disaster areas in general. The American people don’t need to see their doddering, likely demented president wandering away from a podium, mouth slack and eyes vacant, needing to be guided, as we witnessed on Monday.

This sad showing is a microcosm of the Biden presidency: No one’s at the wheel. The whole world can see it. Is this who the Dems really want to prop up in 2024?

And where’s Jill Biden in all of this? Most wives would gently take their husband by the hand and say: ‘Time’s up. You did your best, but it’s time to leave.’

Most wives would want to protect what’s left of their husband’s dignity. Legacy.

Not so for the Bidens, now safely ensconced in an $18 million vacation home, out of sight.

Awkward moment gormless-looking Biden shuffles away from lectern as Hawaii Democrat tries to speak to him minutes after giving tone-deaf speech to victims of Maui's killer wildfires

Gormless-looking Biden shuffles away from lectern in Hawaii

By David AverreUpdated 07:30 EDT 22 Aug 2023

Biden had a cringeworthy moment with Democrat Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz

President Joe Biden compounded his disastrous trip to Hawaii in the wake of devastating wildfires with yet another gaffe, blatantly ignoring a Democrat senator before gormlessly shuffling off at the end of an uninspiring speech yesterday.

The 80-year-old had a particularly awkward moment with Democratic Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz when, at the conclusion of a press conference, Schatz offered him a sip of water.

Biden completely blanked the senator and turned his back on him. He then began shuffling off, mouth hanging open and gazing listlessly into the crowd, while his wife Jill and Hawaii Governor Josh Green ushered him away from the lectern.

Furious Hawaiians had already greeted the President with ire, shouting 'f*** you' at his motorcade and brandishing signs telling him to go home as the 80-year-old and his wife toured the island of Maui 13 days after the inferno broke out.

The awkward scene came shortly after Biden had delivered a meandering, tone-deaf speech in which he compared the wildfires - which have killed at least 114 people and left 850 missing - to his experience of a small kitchen fire.

Gormless-looking Biden shuffles away from lectern after speech

Biden had a particularly awkward moment with Democratic Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz when, a t the conclusion of a press conference, Schatz offered a sip of water to Biden and gestured beside the lectern at a bottle of water

The President completely blanked the senator and turned his back on him. He then began shuffling off

His wife Jill and Hawaii Governor Josh Green ushered him away from the lectern

President Biden told Maui the nation 'grieves with you' in his first visit to the island since wildfires ravaged the city of Lahaina and the surrounding community

Biden and first lady Jill Biden look at a burned car with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and his wife Jaime Green as they visit areas devastated by the Maui wildfires

People watch as the motorcade carrying President Joe Biden to visit areas devastated by the Maui wildfires passes by. One local gives the president a thumbs down

Furious Maui residents slam Biden before tour of Lahaina

Biden rental at Tom Steyer's $18MILLION home may breach housing code

Biden is back in Lake Tahoe mansion after his awkward Hawaii visit

The President and his wife were not greeted warmly by residents of Hawaii yesterday.

As their motorcade drove through Maui, several people lined the streets waving Trump 2024 flags and shouting obscenities at the passing cars.

One person brandished a sign contrasting the money spent on Ukraine with the assistance sent to Hawaii - calculating that each Ukrainian has received over $1,700 since the war broke out in February 2022.

Meanwhile, the White House announced that each affected household in Hawaii will receive $700 - a sum many islanders considered insulting.

Locals' fury mounted on Sunday when Biden, who was asked about the fires as he relaxed on a Delaware beach, simply replied: 'No comment.' 🤡

And last week, he appeared to forget the name of Maui, repeatedly referring to fires blazing on 'the Big Island'.

Biden interrupted his Lake Tahoe vacation on Monday to fly five hours to the island, and insist that the federal government was there for the islanders, despite the announcement of the paltry sum of compensation for each household. 

Even Democrats were demanding to know why the federal aid had been slow to arrive and so meagre, joining their Republican colleagues in questioning Biden's delay in arriving in Maui.

The death toll in Maui has topped 114, with some 850 people still missing feared dead.

But Biden waited 13 days since the outbreak of the fires to visit the island. 

Biden embraced with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green

[cautiouscrab2eletricboogaloo]

If you scroll back far enough you’ll see this account was mainly Umbrella Academy posting. I was OBSESSED with this show, especially when s3 came out despite the writing being objectively…iffy in some scenes. But I knew how GOOD the show could be, and hell, s3 WAS GOOD!

And then s4 happened.

And let’s just say

I’m disappointed :D

Spoilers for everything s4 here on out

Ok so watching this season was like being trapped in a burning building but you’re trying to rescue your things, but then you realize they’re also all on fire. I kept watching, thinking “oh, this is gonna lead to this” or “oh that’s a cool reference to that” and NOTHING HAPPENED???

Like in the beginning, with Alison. I thought for sure, everyone was just gonna not like her for a majority of the season, she does something really cool/saves them and then they go “ok, we aren’t gonna forgive you, because what you’ve done to all of us is not able to be forgiven, but we’re gonna try to be better and include each other in our lives”

Nope

They just forgave her off camera and she was just enjoying life with them

And so I’m like “ok, I can excuse that, besides there WAS a 6 year timeskip, maybe we’ll see something with th-“

Nope

Another thing, the sake bombs

My brother in christ Klaus THREW IT ON SOMEONE ELSE AND JUST??? THAT PERSON DIDNT GET HIS POWERS?? My partner legit turned to me and was like “oohhh he’s gonna get Klaus’ powers that’s gonna be so cool.”

But nope that guys never shown again!!

“Okay…” I say slightly nervous “but Klaus is objectively the fan favorite, they can’t fuck up his character”

But then they did. Now iirc, Vietnam wasn’t mentioned at all in s3, and if it was, it was minimum, but there were SO MANY INSTANCES TO BRING IT UP AND THEY JUST DIDNT??

And I tried to excuse it, but legit it was so obvious that they should’ve brought it up. Ignoring the fact Klaus GOT DAVES DOG TAGS BACK AND SAID/DID NOTHING BUT LOOK AT THEM?? you have the scene where everyone is shooting as each other and he’s hiding in the hallowed out part of a grave (which, idk, reminds me of TRENCHES??? Which I’m like 80% sure was used in the Vietnam war) and also, did NOTHING. He covered his ears and I’m sitting there, thinking “oh maybe a flashback”

Nope!

MY BROTHER IN CHRIST I CANT STOP EXCUSING IT, BUT I DO

Cuz when he got locked in the coffin, I’m thinking “oh perfect time to bring up the mausoleum-“

Nope

(Also the way the show tried to make it a joke that he was being used for sex to get money left such a bad taste in my mouth. Like we physically saw him get SA’d and just…it’s a joke??? Like already we had that gross SA of Luther in s3 does NO ONE UNDERSTAND HOW SENSITIVE OF A TOPIC THAT IS??)

Then, obvs there’s the fuckup with Five

At this point, I’m beaten and broken. I have a pounding headache, the dogs looking at me and my partner funny cuz we keep screaming and- HOLY FUCK FIVE IS KISSING LILA

Five, the physically-25-mentally-65 year old, whose ENTIRE CHARACTER MOTIVATION IS HIS FAMILY

Is kissing Lila, the 30 something WIFE OF HIS BROTHER

His brother. Who he saw DEAD IN A FUCKING APOCALYPSE.

I just ??? It’s so bad??? Why??? Did you think??? That was a good idea??? No one asked for that??

(+ there was no reason to include that arc, or the fact that Lila and Diego were unhappy in their marriage. Lila, maybe I can understand, but Diego had NO REASON. Get rid of those arcs, fucking nothing changes)

And I can talk about the bracelet inconsistency, or how they only made Luther a stripper for shock value, but this post is long enough so I’m just gonna mention one final grievance

The ending.

SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING OF THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES

Now, I’ve enjoyed media where they permanently kill off the main characters. Like Magnus Archives (something I frequently would post here)

In the season five finale, they kill of Jon and Martin because it’s the only way to save their world. It makes sense, Jon is already the Pupil of the Ceaseless Watcher + for him and martin, it’s genuinely the only way they can have a decent ending

If they were to keep living, they’d doom the world to constantly be in the eyepocalypse. They address what could’ve been a plot hole by saying “no, living isn’t an option, as much as we want it to be.”

And it’s a satisfying ending! Ask any TMA fan, and they’ll agree that, while sad, it was a perfect ending. So when Umbrella Academy tried to do the same I was…confused? Because that truly WASNT THE ONLY OPTION??

The scene with all the Fives where they’re like “oh btw your family causes the apocalypse every time” I thought we all kinda new that by now….

But also it wasn’t. I am firm in my belief that what caused the apocalypse every time was

1) their powers

And 2) their REACTIONS to each other

S1, for example. Viktors powers inherently cause the apocalypse, but it’s the characters reaction TOWARDS VIKTOR (cough cough Luther) that REALLY seal the deal.

So, no diner Five, it wasn’t THE FAMILY, it was your POWERS. If y’all just…don’t use them and get some family therapy, you guys are FINE.

(Also my partner brought this up, but having a show that revolves around the trauma of the main cast ending with “killing yourself is the only option” is…definitely a choice!)

So yeah. This entire season was trash from start to finish. The songs were not good, the character arcs were not good, the story itself was not good. Everything done was either for shock value (ie making the astronaut a STRIPPER.), ruined characters in ways that didn’t make any narrative sense (Five kissing Lila), or were dragged on far too long (Diego and Luther in the CIA).

And I really don’t want to hate on it, because I love this show, but I really have nothing good to say. It was bad start to finish. Get me out of this burning building, ‘cause my stuffs already burnt.

[cultofdixon]

Overwhelming Emotions

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • Loyalty was a huge thing with relationships at the start of this hell, and as the apocalypse continued…you find out who really cared and who didn’t. Others just took it differently than you did • SFW/ANGST/NSFW • TW: Cheating / Abuse / Injuries / Nightmares / Self Harm / Scars / Governor Violence / Terminus / Depression / Miscarriage

It’s hard to love in these times

Why?

Because. How do I know if it’s real or not?

Mm. You’ll know

~

The reunion was honestly tear jerking. Y/N watches as this sheriff that came into their group with the help of Glenn, reunite with his wife and son. She couldn’t be happier for them but her temporary happiness faded when the hand of her partner found its place on the back of her neck.

“See. This is why I didn’t have you go out the night everything went to shit. Had to keep yea close or who knows what could’ve grabbed you” Your boyfriend, Grey couldn’t help but squeeze the back of her throat. “Mm. Still need yea for certain things”

Maybe it was for your medical training as a surgical resident, or that you’re really intelligent.

No. He’s talking about your pu��-

“This is Y/N, our personal medic. And her boyfriend Grey” Her boyfriend. Yeah that’s a title he’s both proud and ashamed of whenever she’s brought up. She’ll pay for it later.

“Rick Grimes” He extends his hand seeing Y/N about to take it when Grey pushed her aside not dramatically but enough for him to notice as he took his hand instead. “Well. Thank god for yea around. Can’t wait to get to know you better”

“Same here. Now if you’ll excuse us” Grey smiles warmly to avoid any suspicion as he took Y/N over to their tent.

The two were observed the entire way back to their tent and not by Rick. But the archer that was about to find out the deer he’s been tracking has been taken by the undead. He may have not known them longer, but long enough to know she deserves better.

The night the small horde crawled in on their camp and started to do its damage. Daryl couldn’t believe what went down the second he arrived with the others after a failed rescue mission for his brother.

Grey suddenly trips Y/N for the advantage to get himself out alive. She was more panicked than anything trying to scramble to her feet as fast as she could with hatchet in hand. But as she fell back once again to the walker drawing close, she froze when the arrow went straight through its head. The walker topples over as the archer and medic locked eyes for a second both sighing from relief.

The next morning brought a lot of agony given the losses. Y/N frowns watching Andrea kneel over Amy’s dead body, understanding enough of what loss was like. But she felt awful for her friend. More awful about almost being sacrificed to the walkers by the love of her life but every negative thought that sparked in her mind faded when—

“Yer alright?”

Y/N looks up to find Daryl’s attention completely on her. “Yeah…”

“No bites?”

“No I’m…just shaken up is all” Y/N held herself for the moment as Daryl was about to ask another before stepping away when Grey made himself present sitting beside Y/N and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

“You good babe?”

“Mhm”

“Cool, cuz you almost died and that would’ve screwed us” Grey laughs a bit trying to lighten his own mood only to receive silent judgement and a death glare from not only Daryl but Rick and Shane.

He was never a crowd favorite.

The CDC was a temporary luxury…

Y/N was the first to enjoy the hot water since she slipped away from the group to avoid Grey joining her. But expecting him to come anyway, she was surprised to find Carol talking to her daughter right outside the door. She looks over to Y/N the second the door was open and winked before returning to the conversation with Sofia.

“We got stuck sharing a room with the Dixon guy”

“He’s not too bad, Grey” Y/N sighs fixing the bed as Grey scoffs laying on the bed before she even finished setting it up. “I’m gonna get water…” she states leaving shortly after watching Grey wave her off.

As Y/N was walking to the kitchen she heard the struggle that she could only make out to be Lori and without a second thought she entered the room. Shane quickly removed himself from Lori as it was clear what he was trying to do and what the two have done to make him act like such. Y/N just stared, no words were exchanged until Shane tried to explain.

“Get the fuck out”

“Y/N—“

“Leave or I tell Rick” Y/N threats Shane watching his face drop before leaving on that note. Lori frowns waiting for what Y/N has to say to her about it but all she did was leave on that note.

Y/N forgot about the water and couldn’t stop thinking about what she saw as she walks back to the room seeing the lights off. Both Daryl and Grey were fast asleep. She quietly crept in laying on the same mattress as her boyfriend, not being able to sleep immediately. But she really couldn’t sleep when Grey wrapped an arm around her too tight to move.

When the next morning came and few of those were met with a hangover, the clock on the wall held a smaller time than before. Which lead to Dr. Jenner explaining the reasoning and the doors locking.

“So we’re going to die in here” Grey states joining Shane and Daryl in trying to get the doors unlocked.

Y/N froze in her place feeling all sorts of things, but when the doors were open and the only obstacle was getting entirely out of the building…she weighed her options.

“Y/N let’s fucking go” Grey snaps grabbing her arm harshly only for her to pull away. “Jesus fucking Christ are you stupid? You’re gonna stay here?!” He yells in her face as Andrea watches the interaction while having one of her own with Dale.

“Leave. Live whatever life you want. I’m done…” Y/N frowns pulling away as Grey grabbed her by the back of the throat pulling her into him.

“You’ll be killing us. You’re useful because of that stupid training that took years of our lives before this shit happened. Really think before you fucking act” He pushes her off and sprinted to the lobby with the others.

When Daryl noticed no sign of Y/N when Grey went to help get the glass broken. He growls to himself dropping everything and running back to find Y/N curled against one of the computer tables.

“Yer not stayin’”

“Daryl—-“

“Stop it! I don’t wanna hear anything and I definitely don’t wanna hear what that bastard told yea. But you ain’t stayin’” Daryl frowns dropping to her level with a quick glance to the clock feeling his anxiety get the best of him. “You ain’t stayin’ not ‘cause we need your skills. You’re not stayin’ cuz I can’t let yea. I’m not leaving without yea” he frowns and before Y/N could even stand up, Daryl suddenly picks her up anxious over the time and sprinted with her clinging onto him.

After the CDC exploded, Grey pushed Daryl out of the way taking Y/N’s face into his hands. He was trying to read her expression when Grey did such but the way she practiced a neutral expression for times like these, drove him nuts a bit.

“Let’s get goin’. Find Fort Benning” Rick states waiting for everybody to load up.

But none of them calculated the next events to happen, losing Sofia and Carl getting shot.

At first, Rick wanted Lori. He wanted his wife in case things went south with Carl but then it clicked to him.

“Get Y/N. Get Y/N and don’t tell them nothin’ but have them follow” Shane informs Maggie as she sets off on her horse to grab the resident.

When Maggie arrived and spotted Y/N, it was clear that she was the one she was looking for. “There’s been an accident with one of your own. You’ll follow me but I need her immediately” she states watching Y/N step forward as Grey tried to stop her but Glenn and T-Dog pushed him away.

“What we’re supposed to trust this girl?”

“Yes? No, yes!”

“It’s one of our own. Unless she was tryin’ to take Y/N with force, that’d be a different story” T-Dog states as Y/N quickly took Maggie’s extended hand and got on the horse with no issue.

“Ride a horse before?”

“There’s a lot I’ve done before” Y/N sighs holding onto Maggie as she quickly got the horse to sprint in the direction they needed to go.

“But what about Sofia?”

“We’ll keep lookin’ once we get our group secured wherever she’s headin’” Daryl reassures Carol as the group scrambled together to follow Maggie.

When the news got to Lori finally she was angry that they didn’t take her back first, worried that she would be losing her son, and relieved that both Hershel and Y/N were helping her son.

“We’ll need to get more medical supplies before we could even think about handling the internal bleeding”

“He won’t make it if we just work with what we currently have” Y/N bluntly says watching the fear shake up Lori as she went to hold her letting her sob uncontrollably.

As Shane leaves with Otis to get said supplies, Rick and Lori stayed to watch Carl with Hershel and Y/N checking in every now and then. Y/N makes her way to their little tent city outside of the farm house entering the one she shared with Grey as he expects her to look his direction but she was occupied searching her little belongings.

“Seriously?”

“What Grey?”

“Not gonna like say hi or catch me up on what’s going on, you’ve got a fuckin’ minute or two”

“Carl is dying. Shane and Otis better hurry up or we’re having a funeral.” Y/N deadpans hearing Grey laugh making her whip her head in his direction. “What?”

“Your whole resident shtick coming out. Makes you less human. But hell like you fucking care about that”

“It doesn’t make me less human. I’m just stating the facts to you. We need the medical supplies. We needed them yesterday” Y/N frowns watching Grey stand up from the cot standing before her. “Grey. Be useful and do something. Don’t do what you’re about to do”

“Oh I know what you could do while we wait for supplies. Seriously. That old man can handle himself for a bit” Grey at first took a hold of her neck pulling her close by such. “You need to relax and remember not to talk to me like that”

After news that the supplies arrived, Hershel called out for Y/N to join him as she came in a sprint. For more reasons than just Carl. Carl was finally in stable condition and thanks to the two docs.

“I can take care of it” Y/N reassures Hershel taking the used supplies and throwing them out where she was instructed before.

The small walk to the waste bin gave Y/N enough time to sit away from everybody holding herself.

He could’ve died and it would’ve been on your hands.

You’re a bit out of practice it could still go south, he could still not wake up

Hell. You’re trying to keep it together personally. That could’ve caused something.

“What’re you doing?”

Y/N looks up to find Glenn looking at her with concern.

“Did Carl—“

“No no. He made it. He’ll be okay, fingers crossed…”

“Then what’s wrong? Because you’ve always had this ghost look to you and like…I-I’m not one to confront others’ personal problems but this Grey guy doesn’t make me feel comfortable”

She couldn’t help the tears that fell when he said that and the laugh to follow as well. Glenn started to panic a bit, more internally to avoid drawing anybody.

“I-Im sorry. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know what I was thinking I just—I don’t know what to do! You’re too sweet. Helpful. Useful! And he’s just. Belittling that every chance he gets…” Glenn frowns sitting beside Y/N for a bit. “Definitely rubs Daryl and Carol the wrong way. You don’t deserve this…so why are you with him? Even during all this”

“That’s the thing…because all of this. I know I’m helpful and he’s just making me feel small. But…I…I’ve never seen my life without him and my mind knows I have to protect myself. But my heart is manipulated. Needing something secured from the before…”

“Y/N…” Glenn takes one of her hands into his squeezing it tightly. “You deserve better”

You deserve better than the hell that followed you to the end of the world.

“Be safe alright? I don’t think Hershel would be too happy with you taking one of his horses” Y/N crosses her arms looking up at the archer making sure his crossbow is strapped to him.

“Gotta find the kid” Daryl mumbles, worried for Carol and worried for Y/N. He heard what Glenn said the other night and wish he said it himself but he doesn’t want Grey to hurt her over something he said. The two don’t like each other. “Ditch the scrubs though?”

“Oh, yeah…uhm. Turning to the survivalist medic. Guess I wouldn’t need the name tag anymore” She messes with said name tag in her fingers as Daryl whistles for the horse to get started walking but he quickly turns to her.

“Don’t get rid of what makes yea you” He states and with that he leaves.

Y/N watches him leave as she clips the name tag to the bottom of her sleeveless black hoodie that covered up the bruising on her neck the best. Her long sleeve taking care of the others. She makes her way back to the group seeing the rest of the men discuss about going on a run as she chimes in what she needs but Grey pushes her back.

“Your needs are hard to come by” Grey tells her and it’s not entirely wrong, medical supplies are hard to come by. But he referred to so much more.

Shane squints in Grey’s direction as he clears his throat. “Well. Gotta teach some of yea to shoot just to be on the safe side. Andrea is already learnin’”

“Don’t gotta teach Y/N”

“Why? You’re gonna? You’re not a clean shot, Grey” Dale laughs only watching Y/N look at him with fear in her eyes as Grey glares at the man.

“My gun is actually…hers.”

Yeah, it was the first thing he grabbed when the news came out about the end of the world. Before Y/N and Grey found the camp, Y/N was teaching Grey how to shoot her gun. That did not help her in the slightest given some social standards he believes in.

But at least she knows how to shoot.

“If she weren’t a doc, we’d have her on our runs.”

“Don’t give her too much credit” Grey rolls his eyes walking away as Y/N steps toward the car gesturing for Shane to hand her the list he was making to add a few things.

“Just if you happen to come across it…don’t need to kill yourselves getting it” Y/N frowns going to follow Grey and console him.

That didn’t go smoothly, nor did Andrea shooting Daryl.

“Woah put the gun down Y/N”

“She didn’t mean to”

“It was an accident”

Y/N held her gun at Andrea glaring into her soul as she held her hands up after setting the hunting rifle down.

“You’ll die being trigger happy. Know that” Y/N rasped out holding her throat with her free hand for a second before lowering her gun and taking the hunting rifle.

Once Andrea finally exhaled, Y/N handed her gun back to Grey taking the hunting rifle for herself. He couldn’t believe what he saw and wanted to say something, but for once, he didn’t. The anger in her eyes stopped him. She was never that way about him.

“How is he?”

“Stitches are clean. You can check my work the next bandage change if you’d like. But I’d like to check your cheek from your “fall” earlier” Hershel asks finishing the bandage on Daryl’s side as he did his head lac first. Thinking the archer was out cold when discussing Y/N’s injury but he heard it all and knew it wasn’t a fall.

Carol smiles on her way out after giving Daryl his dinner, holding the door open for Y/N to slide in with new dressings and clothes she got from Daryl’s things.

“I’ll grab your other shirt if you want from the arrow wound. But just thought you’d want to wear something else” She drops the clothes at the foot of the bed along with the bandages on top. “I’ll let yea eat before—-“

“Sit.” He states holding the bowl in hand as Y/N sat in the chair in the room. “What happen to yea”

“Fell…”

“Mhm…” Daryl gave her a look of I know the real reason and Y/N couldn’t help but feel small. She brought her knees to her chest in the seat staying there knowing she’d have to leave the room once she redressed his wounds and he knew that. But. “I feel dizzy”

“What?” She looks up from her feet concerned. “Daryl why didn’t—“ then he winked at her keeping his serious look on his face. “Daryl…”

“Gonna need observin’ from a doc. Others’ll understand” He says calmly finishing his meal setting it off on the nightstand before moving to the edge of the bed. “You fine observin’?”

Y/N didn’t say anything and nodded as she got up to check and redress his wounds. He gently takes a hold of the hospital name badge and laughs a bit internally seeing her picture. He doesn’t deserve her. She looks so happy here. He stopped fiddling with it to let her change the one on his side but the second she sat down he took a hold of her chin making her turn to expose her bandaged cheek more and the slight bruising around the eye.

“Gonna scar”

“Yours are too yknow”

“Yeah…b-but…ugh never mind just. Can yea change it?” He was trying to say something but didn’t want anyone overhearing anything.

The farm had two more incidents. 3 counting Rick and Shane’s fight. But one revealing what happened to Sofia and then the barn fire with the walker outbreak. Leaving the group to leave urgently and Grey watching Daryl quickly pull Y/N onto the back of his bike while he followed Glenn.

Rick taking on a whole new vibe to his way of leading things after everything that happened. The others just let him deal. Finding the prison was a safe haven after clearing the walkers in the gated field.

“Y/N…have you ever performed a c-section before?” Carol asks as the two scoped the outside of the prison within the gates.

“My focus was going to be OBGYN before the end of the world happened. I know how to perform one. Never done it”

“Well…Carl was a c-section so—“

“This baby most likely will be as well…Carol, I can do it and I’ve been checking on Lori. I’m afraid it may not go the right direction if it comes to it”

“Promise me you won’t leave her side. I can tell she’s scared and hell I’ll keep Grey away if it means—“ Carol stops when Y/N took her hand.

“I’ll stay with her. I have to check Hershel first then I’ll be glued to her” Y/N reassures and does exactly that.

Especially when she was trapped in a dire situation with a laboring Lori, her worried son, and a helpful Maggie trying to calm her while Y/N had to be real with what’s to happen next.

When the little baby came and Y/N had handed her off to Maggie. She looked up at Carl giving him her sorry expression as he wanted to cry. But part of him couldn’t. He couldn’t…in that moment he was numb and draws his gun once Y/N rose to her feet.

“I could—“

“No…I have to” Carl assures Y/N as she moves to be by Maggie.

The two flinched to the sound of his silencer. Maggie turned to Y/N seeing her hands still dripping of Lori’s blood as she was about to say something, but the doc walked shortly after Carl not acknowledging anybody that looked in her direction.

“Y/N what—…” Grey stopped himself seeing Maggie come out with the little baby. Rick’s expression immediately dropping approaching the two. “Y/N wait come here” he frowns grabbing her shoulder on her way out when she quickly turned.

“DONT FUCKING TOUCH ME” Y/N snaps startling everyone in the cell block. Grey went from sorry to anger instantly watching her leave the cell block as he was about to chase after her when Glenn stopped him.

“Move out of my way”

“Give her a second, man. You’re not going to hel—“ Glenn was cut off by being pushed out of the way by Grey as he was about to grab him by the ankles when Daryl tripped him on the way.

“Give her a goddamn minute” Daryl growled watching Grey look up at him angrily as he scrambled to his feet stepping over to the table and sitting. He helped Glenn up watching his friend brush himself off while Grey stews.

It’s just blood

You’ve never seen a hemorrhage before? It happens Y/N. It happens more than you think

You’ll be seeing this every day for the rest of your life

Even when it’s no longer on your hands

Y/N didn’t resurface until Rick did. Which wasn’t for a few days and her friends knew where Rick was, was a bit angry not knowing where she went off to. She stayed in the bed of the truck they brought through and was surprised no one went looking after the first day. Even surprised by Grey not doing so. But when she rejoined the group and sat down beside him, he leaned into her whispering.

“It’s your fault you know” just to drag her deeper into the pit of her mind. With that said she unconsciously followed Grey once he got up.

Daryl watches the two leave the room they were all in as he held the little ass kicker. His anxiety crept up his back wanting to follow after them but the baby in his arms had other plans and started to wail.

“Hey shush…you alright” He reassures in a whisper.

You’re gonna be alright…he’ll make sure of it

“Seriously, Ricks got his head up his ass”

“He ain’t the one taking issue with you.” Daryl frowns walking through the woods with his brother behind him.

“The nurse?”

“Ain’t a nurse. She a doc” He sighs. “She ain’t got an issue with you. Understands your bullshit to whatever extent”

Merle grabs his brother’s shoulder to get his attention knowing damn well he was going to get swatted away because of the earlier incident of ripping it shirt revealing his back.

“She too good for him”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t act coy. I’ve seen how you look at her. Even back at the quarry. She in that situation and it’ll only be hard for her. She’s too good for anybody but for sure that bastard.” Merle begins with glaring at his brother. “Don’t be stupid with me out here. You know damn well leaving that group is eating yea alive in more ways than one and she’s one of’em reasons. I may not be the best at advice here little bro. But you know I’m right saying all that shit”

It hurt more that he was right, and died on that uphill climb. Many died and survived that night at Woodbury. The prison grew but hell. Who’s ever going to forget what happened?

“How’re you feelin’?” Rick broke Y/N out of her thoughts as he was referring to the hidden injuries that she’s been keeping from everybody but he saw what happened. Hence why Grey is stuck on watch tower duty.

“Didn’t need to get Hershel”

“I did. He’s better at keepin’ this shit a secret unlike others. Which reminds me you shouldn’t even be out here”

“I can walk just fine…when you got the leg for Hershel he still kept his crutches and I’m not using it to go back inside when they’re about to come back” She frowns fiddling with her sleeves as Rick took the seat beside her watching the kids playing in the field while his son keeps most of them out of trouble.

“Yknow we could get rid of him. Daryl definitely wants to”

“You’d feel bad leaving him out there”

“Nah I wouldn’t. He almost killed yea. Several times but if I didn’t find you, he might’ve this recent one” Rick frowns still thinking what he saw was awful, and knew she wasn’t going to like it when he tells Daryl.

________

“Rick” Daryl walks away from the run group to Rick for a second seeing the sheriff’s confusion. “I need a favor”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah”

“Name it Daryl”

Daryl didn’t know how to be anything else but blunt. He also didn’t have to say much for Rick to instantly know where he was getting at.

“Watch her. Yknow who I’m talkin’ about”

“I do. Daryl, you sure you’re alright to go on this run? This won’t—“

“Wont distract me. I just. I trust yea. You saw it when you first arrived day one. You know. You’ll know what to do” Daryl states about to head out as he stops for a second. “Tell me if that bastard does anythin’. He ain’t living if he hurts her again”

“Daryl we don’t—-“

“Ed didn’t live. He hurt Carol. Shane didn’t. He hurt Lori. Sometimes we gotta pick n choose. I’m done letting Y/N stop me from keeping her safe” and with that Daryl left for the run.

Not witnessing the horror of finding Y/N at the bottom of the stairs in their cellblock in a pool of her own blood. Thank god for Rick coming in at the right time and for Hershel keeping it to himself.

But god this wasn’t going to be easy

________

For either parties

“Yknow what hurts the most about what happened?”

“Enlighten me”

“Hershel and I agreed to keep a certain antibiotic for dire needs. Since it was in low supply. But it was also meant to keep one who suffered a miscarriage from developing an infection” Y/N turned to Rick when she stated that last part, and that’s how she ended up at the bottom of the stairs.

Some people have a village to take care of a child. Judith has exactly that.

But when Y/N found out and told Grey. He didn’t want to have to deal with it.

Didn’t before all of this

“Y/N. You shouldn’t be out here then. Should be resting”

“I’m going crazy being in the cell stuck to a bed…just let me sit out here for a little while longer and then I’ll go back” She tells Rick through tears as she tenses up when he took care of the ones that fell.

“I ain’t leavin’ yeah then”

“Deal…” Y/N sobs a bit more relaxing as she leans against Rick.

After another hour or two, the group from the run came back with what they could scavenge as Daryl parks his bike spotting Y/N sitting in the middle of the field since she convinced Rick to let her stay outside but as long as he was around. He turns to Rick walking toward them from the garden spot as he didn’t have the best poker face.

“She ok?”

“No but Daryl. We need to find a way to just get rid of Grey that won’t hurt Y/N in the process”

“That chokehold he’s got on her, it’s gonna hurt no matter what we do” He frowns looking over to see Beth approaching Y/N with Judith as she sat with her. “Chokeholds illegal…don’t matter mental or physical, shits illegal” he picked up the stuff he received on the run to put it with the rest of their findings.

When the night came in, Grey watches Carol collect Y/N’s things from their shared cell with the help of Maggie. Neither of them explaining and none of the men from the original group had him go search for Y/N.

Who hasn’t moved from her spot in the fields, now with a lantern beside her and Judith wrapped snuggly close to her. Carl with her as well to keep an eye on both her and Judith.

“Grey is going to be mad”

“Meh” Carl shrugs taking his hat off and laying in the grass beside Y/N. “He shoulda seen this coming”

“…he’s going to still—-“

“We know. But you’ve got us. Hey maybe you’ll get your strength back and beat the shit out him”

“Language Carl”

“Sorry, Y/N” He frowns seeing her fixed gaze on the sleeping baby. “Have you wanted one? Like…before all of this”

“Yes…but with the right person”

Daryl frowns watching the two talk in the yards of the prison keeping his distance and making sure Grey doesn’t come out of the cellblock he resided in.

The sudden touch of a hand on his shoulder blade startled him out of his thoughts. Quickly acknowledging the youngest Greene’s presence before bringing his eyes back to where he wants them to be.

“Maggie and Carol got her in a cell next to Rick. Wanted me to come grab Judith and have her go inside. Sleep”

“She needs it.”

“Mhm” Beth of course noticed how fixated the archer was on the doc, and part of her wanted to be her teen self to gush about how much he cared about her. But the past few days have been awful…she didn’t want to press anything.

Even when everyone’s suspicions were true.

Daryl cares deeply for Y/N.

Once everyone turned in for the night, Daryl found that his mattress was moved from the catwalk to be right outside of Y/N’s and the Grimes’ cells. He didn’t mind it one bit and found himself staying awake for a little to see if anything would happen because of recent changes.

So far…nothing has happened. Forcing the two to separate for Y/N’s well-being, has done some good. Even if Grey’s anger gets the best of him most days as he tries to approach the doctor but gets blocked by anyone from her family near by.

“What is your issue man?” One of the Woodbury folk, Brian, catches Grey off guard from his brooding point at the tables outdoor furthered away from the watchtower by the main gate entrance.

“Why do you care? You don’t know me”

“I know you as the creep stalking that one doctor chick”

“I ain’t stalking my girl”

Brian gave him an even more confused look turning to the direction Grey was looking and finding Y/N talking to Daryl.

“I don’t think that’s your girl no more”

And that seeded a brand new thought in Grey’s mind. One he couldn’t accept, but he was going to for the sake of his self-centered self.

One of the run days came and Grey knew that Daryl would be the forerunner on that trip along with Glenn. Which meant Maggie will be with her father, on watch, or with her sister. He is pin pointing location to those who are willing to fight him when it comes to going anywhere near Y/N. Carol and Rick were his main concerns when it came to those three being occupied. Granted Michonne would be another—but she is on a trip for who knows how long, Grey doesn’t entirely pay attention.

“Hey, I’m gonna go shower. I’ll be back in 30 to help with lunch.”

“Alright…I’ve got my eyes on Grey, so you should be fine” Carol reassures the doc watching her smile temporarily before heading inside the prison.

Grey gave it five minutes before taking the lit cigarette from his mouth and tossing it in the bin that Rick collected a lot of dead leaves to help with composting. Another thing Grey has now idea how any of that works.

The second the fire broke out and both Rick and Carol were drawn away from their duties along with a few new friends they made since they started letting people in—-Tyreese and Karen. Grey immediately headed inside. He always had a sense of sneaking up on Y/N, even when he’s a walking red flag for everyone.

“What are you and Dixon”

Y/N froze under the running water as her whole body was exposed to Grey given he didn’t care about space. Never did. She tried to cover herself as he looms over making her realize how close he has gotten since entering the washroom.

“We aren’t anything”

“But yea want him?”

“I didn’t fucking say that” Y/N flinches when Grey punched the wall dangerously close to her head.

“I know you’re lying. You may not be fucking under him every night but you want him. You’ve always fuckin’ have”

She felt herself cower like she used to when she felt his hand on the back of her neck. “I’m not yours. I’m not his. I’m no one’s”

“I’ll make sure of that princess.”

Once the fire was taken care of, Rick couldn’t help but grow anxious suddenly. Who could’ve caused it? This wasn’t natural. He quickly scanned those outside to get a headcount of his people as Carol notices her friend grow frantic. Then it clicked to them instantly.

Grey did it.

Carol knew immediately where to go and checked the washroom not finding Y/N or Grey. She then went to the cellblock finding Rick approaching her cell on the other side. Both of them looked in to find Y/N putting away her shower supplies in one of her milk crates that act like storage compartments.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“You’re not lying are you?” Rick frowns watching Y/N immediately look away from him as her body cowered once more. Giving him his answer.

“I’m settin’ a council meeting with whoever is left on it that’s here. He’s not staying here”

You best believe it was unanimous.

The previous run group came back to a small crowd by the gates blocking a frustrated Grey that had all his bags (2) on him. The shouting became more audible when their car and Daryl’s bike came through after Carl and Tyreese opened it up for them.

“What’s going on?” Daryl asks approaching the crowd and watching Grey’s already enraged expression get worse bringing himself toward the archer. “Back the fuck up”

“You just couldn’t keep shit to yourself. Yea think you’ll keep her fucking safe?” Grey spat in his face which didn’t make matters better for him. “You’ll hurt her just like I did”

Oh he’s done Daryl snapped and immediately socked the abuser in the face watching him fall. He was about to do more damage when Glenn held him back, but Grey wasn’t done. He needed to lash back.

Except he didn’t get back up on his feet right away given the gun that was drawn to his face. The one holding it wasn’t Rick or any of them, but Y/N.

“Stand down and get the fuck out”

“You’re making a mistake”

“Am not” Y/N frowns keeping her gun locked on him, even when he rose to his feet and was shoved out of the prison entirely.

Y/N didn’t lower her gun until she saw him fade out of view but even then she was stuck in that position. A few started to disperse, leaving those from the farm to remain worrying for their family that seemed stuck. Carol quietly approaches her now shaking form, taking the gun from her hand and unloading the magazine to realize it was never loaded.

A weight was suddenly lifted as the tears came abruptly causing her to drop to her knees and bring herself into a ball.

Years…fucking years trapped in that relationship…

She’s actually finally free.

The archer was ever so careful when approaching her fragile state, bringing himself to her side resting his hand on her back and giving a look to the others to leave. He remained by her side for however long she needed, and was going to remain in that spot for whenever she needed him.

He’s never going to hurt her like him

When the illness came through the prison, Daryl didn’t like the idea of Y/N joining the group on the run to get medicine. But she was the best asset along with the military doc Bob, even if he turned out to have an ulterior need that Daryl threatened if he had a drop of the alcohol before the medicine got to their people he shall meet the consequences.

Daryl couldn’t help but watch Y/N do her magic, what she trained to do, by helping those still living to get the medicine they need to survive and live. She was gentle and told the truth about everything she gave them, what it did for them positively and what could happen negatively. But in the end, the bad will be overlooked once the good saves their life.

In that moment, he knew what he wanted. But only at her speed…if she’ll ever have him.

And he’ll never know.

“Daryl we have to go!” Beth yells in his deaf ears as he scanned the ruins of the prison while the chaos still commenced.

He will never know

She will never know

Reunions are bittersweet. Nothing will beat the once lost sheriff reuniting with his wife and son. Except maybe theirs.

Cannibals. Of course they would be a threat at least once during someone’s life during the apocalypse. Except one wanted to expect that this sanctuary called Terminus would be the light the group needed after the hell they endured with a villain they had once thought was gone for good. But they turned out to be just as devious and their main course were the living.

On the chopping block was Daryl, Rick, Glenn, Bob, and then two other individuals they have never met before. But they met their fate of being sliced opened and the blood poured into the trough they were propped against. Then the explosion happened, taking their leader Gareth away to investigate. Giving Rick his window to take out the two butchers and free his friends.

After getting their weapons and trying to get back to their people in the train car. There was the threat of the Terminus people and the walkers that were flooding in, but moments where the walkers got dangerously close to the four making their way to the car—-the undead would drop permanently dead to the bullet shot by the unknown source.

The unknown source being Y/N. She came into view when dropping grenades she found during her separation onto larger groups of walkers to give the four their path—and inevitably their entire group. But she wasn’t the one to think of the break in or to know where they can find their supplies. The plan’s credit goes to Carol who neither Daryl or Rick hesitated to hug once they regrouped in the tree line.

“Well you certainly did some soul searching” Maggie smiles wrapping her arm around Y/N’s shoulders making comment of the changes to her person.

Hair was cut shorter.

A short sleeve shirt, no longer hiding her scars made by the past.

Combat pants she snagged on an abandoned army vehicle.

She kept her converse because they brought her joy.

She looked better, still healing. But better.

“I did, but I’m only rather relieved to be back with y’all…you’re my home” Y/N smiles as Maggie instantly pulled her into a hug once she said such.

But their hug was very short given the archer waiting patiently for his own. Maggie couldn’t help herself by pushing Y/N toward Daryl making all three of them laugh slightly, Daryl’s being more nervous than anything.

“Yer pretty badass now huh?” Daryl comments watching Maggie and Glenn walk away to give the two time to themselves.

“Oh I’ve always been. Just had a weight on me for most of my adult life. It was always there”

“I knew it was”

They both were still feeling overwhelmed by the horrors within Terminus and granted the time apart. He couldn’t stop thinking about where she was and how she was doing. If they’d ever meet again. As Y/N had hope that she would meet him again. She only feared that she lost him along the way.

Then here they were. Too lost in their own minds but their hearts wanted to act on its fate.

“I’m not ready…”

“That’s okay”

“But…” Y/N brought herself close to Daryl watching his hands hesitate to touch her but she gently took his hands into hers. “I wouldn’t mind going slow”

“Neither would I”

[runnning-outof-time]

How the Bestest Boy Celebrates the Holidays

Request: no - @raincoffeeandfandoms and I were talking about Christmas Cyril and this popped into my mind.

Pairing: no pairing … just Cyril, Alfie, and Tommy with the mention of the lovely OC Rose Solomons

Summary: Cyril’s two dads owners discuss how their canine best friend should be treated on the holidays.

Warnings: language (Alfie’s present…does it even need to be a warning?), two gangsters who are secretly softies when it comes to a certain dog - this is just a silly little story, y’all.

Word Count: 629

A/N: I hope you enjoy this little piece that I came up with after chatting with Flor….Cyril deserves to have the best holidays! Also thanks to the lovely Flor for this amazing picture - it’s what sparked this entire idea. Enjoy! :)

I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! - YOUR COMMENTS & REBLOGS HELP ME WRITE!

“You’ve got Cyril’s presents all ready, yeah?” Alfie Solomons asked as he leaned back against his office’s chair, the phone receiver pressed to his ear.

Tommy Shelby sighed. The man on the other line hadn’t even greeted him. “He’s a fucking dog, Alfie,” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, “please don’t tell me this is why you called.”

“He’s our fucking dog though, Tommy. He deserves some fucking presents, don’t you think?” Alfie quipped back, waving his hand in the air even though he was sitting by himself.

“I’ve been too busy to deal with it,” Tommy tried another strategy to deflect Alfie’s topic.

“And you think I haven’t been busy? Hmm?” Alfie quickly shot back, “you think the reason why I traipsed my way over to your fucking gaudy mansion for four of the last eight fucking days was to see you? You’re wrong, mate. I came for that dog. I only come for that dog. And then he enjoyed himself at Margate for the final four, was pampered like he should be. His gifts were custom-fucking-made, Tommy. But now you’re going to sell him short.”

“You made all of his presents?” Tommy picked one of the points Alfie made and asked him to elaborate on it, trying so hard to stay interested in this conversation. The conversation that was centered around a dog, and how said dog should be treated during the holidays.

“Nah, Rosie made most of ‘em,” Alfie answered nonchalantly, unable to stop a grin from forming as he mentioned his wife, “she sent me out to grab the rest…like the treats and whatnot.”

“And I’m needed to do the same now?” Tommy asked another question.

“It’s what’s right, Tommy,” Alfie insisted, “unless you want him thinking that Hanukkah is better than Christmas…then by all means, keep fucking it up for yourself.”

“Christmas isn’t until the 25th of the month, Alfie.”

“That’s just a week away.”

“Yeah, so I’ve got a week to get what I need for him.”

“It should be ready for when he returns, which is tomorrow.”

“Alfie…”

“Thomas,” Alfie leveled his tone to match the Birmingham gangster’s. “It needs to be right for him.”

Tommy let out a long sigh. There was no way he was going to beat Alfie Solomons at this fight, not when the other man’s mind had already been made up. They’d known each other too many years now for Tommy not to realize that that was how the baker from Camden Town operated.

“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?” the blue-eyed man asked after a few moments had passed, deciding to change the topic of conversation. Silence came in response. “Alfie?” he checked to see if his confidant was still on the other side of the line.

“Nah, mate. That was it,” Alfie’s response was quick, and it made Tommy sigh again, “just make sure that dog’s presents are sorted, or it’s your fucking head on the line, got it?” The second half of his statement held a threatening tone.

“Got it,” Tommy responded. He was unable to get another word out before the line clicked and went dead. Alfie had hung up on him.

Tommy sat the phone back onto the hook before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a sigh. Alfie was taking this whole holiday thing way too far. He was making a much bigger deal out of it than was needed.

Besides, if he knew the Peaky Blinder as much as he claimed he did, he would have known that Tommy already had all of Cyril’s presents purchased and in order…and that he had had them ready weeks ago.

That’s what the bestest boy deserves on the holidays, right?

I’m really not sure who I should tag in this … so I’m just gonna add some mutuals/people on here who might be interested - I’m sorry if I forgot anyone! Hopefully it gets sent out…..

@raincoffeeandfandoms @zablife @call-sign-shark @evita-shelby @cillmequick @emotionalcadaver @toms-cherry-trees @look-at-the-soul @thomashelbyswife @loverhymeswith @shelbydelrey @brummiereader @peakyltd @forgottenpeakywriter @there-goes-thefighter @hoodeddreams13 @peakyswritings @theshelbyslimited @gypsy-girl-08

MASTERLIST

[love-little-lotte]

A Look Into My New Guilty Pleasure: Poldark (2015 Series)

My biggest weakness is period dramas — especially period dramas with a talented cast, sweeping romance, terrific scenes (preferably set in some kind of country/provincial side), and lots and lots and lots of just sitting around and talking.

That's probably why Poldark has captured my heart. As a big fan of Outlander, it's no surprise that I fell in love with this show. Outlander and Poldark have so many similarities that I may make a lengthy post about it, but for today, let me just rant about my new guilty pleasure. I'm so obsessed with this show that I actually finished watching the entire five seasons in one week!

Poldark is based on Winston Graham's novels and adapted by Debbie Horsfield. I was so excited to start this show, with a male protagonist originally written by a man, created and written for a series by a woman. I haven't read Graham's novels (I'm going to one of these days, I swear!), so I'm not sure how well Debbie's adaption worked. I've read many Reddit threads, though, and some fans of the novel are not that impressed with how she omitted and added details to the show (will get back to this once I've read the books or at least the seven ones that were used in the show). The show has also been adapted in the 70s, so this was not the first time Graham's novels were seen onscreen!

Despite not having read the books, I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the cast! The show follows Ross Poldark returning to Cornwall after fighting in the American War in the 1780s. He looks forward to marrying his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth but, believing him to be dead, is now engaged to his cousin Francis. He then tries to resurrect his family's mining business and hires a young girl Demelza to be his kitchen maid (whom he eventually marries) while also crossing paths with the villain George Warleggan, a corrupted banker who stops at nothing to ruin Ross's prospects and personal life. As the show progresses, we also meet other characters, including Prudie and Jud, Ross's servants, Verity, Ross's cousin and Francis's sister; Ross's friend Dr. Dwight Enys and his love interest Caroline Penvenen; Sam and Drake Carne, Demelza's brothers, and Morwenna Chynoweth, Drake's love interest.

Yes, this show has a large ensemble cast, and trust me, there always comes a point when you hate or love them. Especially our protagonist Ross Poldark. Ross... is an interesting character. He's terribly, terribly flawed and many times times, I'm so infuriated with him to the point that I want him to suffer. I swear, you cannot go through this series without screaming at Ross. (When that moment came up in Season 2, I swear I had my middle finger ready every time Ross showed up on my screen from then on.)

But my favorite character in the show is Demelza, Ross's wife who started as his kitchen maid. She's the heart of the show, the voice of reason, and even though she makes questionable decisions along the way, you can't help but get on her side no matter what. She's the perfect fiery yet gentle match to Ross's stubbornness. He treats her like shit many times in this show, which makes me angry to no end, but they eventually grow to be understanding, loving partners.

And it also helps that Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson have one of the best romantic chemistries I've ever seen. They're terrific actors as well and they bring the characters to life so effortlessly. They just seem like they have the best time shooting this show. I kind of want to rewatch Loving Vincent now just because they're in that movie, even just in supporting roles.

Poldark is a roller coaster, with so many ups and downs (mostly downs, to be honest, please give Demelza a break!) My favorite season has got to be Season 1. Season 1 had the best Ross and I loved the early stages of his relationship with Demelza. It also has my favorite episode: Season 1, Episode 8. That episode broke me so much, thanks to Aidan and Eleanor's perfect performances. It's the only time I ever cried watching this show. I usually cry in period dramas (I've cried countless times in Outlander and Downton Abbey), but for some reason, I only cried once in Poldark. Most of the time, I'm annoyed and infuriated (hahaha but I still love it!)

The romance in Poldark is also quite unique, something I haven't seen before. Ross and Demelza emotionally hurt each other many times in this show, and they don't have the best communication. It's not an ideal marriage, but that's what makes it so raw and real. It hurts when Ross sleeps with his first love Elizabeth or when Demelza falls for the much-sensitive Hugh Armitage, but these are challenges people face all the time, and it's interesting to view it in characters and circumstances through 18th-century lenses. Plus, it can be very tiring to see perfect couples onscreen all the time. So watching Ross and Demelza's relationship thrive, suffer, and reconcile is very refreshing to me.

Nevertheless, Ross and Demelza are still able to work together. Seasons 2 and 3 showcase the worst moments of their marriage, from infidelities to insecurity, but the love between them still perseveres and they learn to forgive. In the end, they realize that they belong together.

And despite the unconventional marriage, Poldark is not a stranger to grand romantic gestures. Two of my favorite Ross and Demelza moments occur in Season 2:

A real funny, old-married-couple type of bicker in The Beach Scene:

And of course, showing all intimacy in The Stocking Scene:

(Let's just not talk about what happened 2 episodes after this!)

The romance in Poldark not only ends with Ross and Demelza. We also got two really good couples in the series: Dwight and Caroline and Drake and Morwenna.

And these love stories don't just happen! They're fleshed-out characters with proper backgrounds and their own problems, especially Drake and Morwenna's relationship. Morwenna is one of my favorite characters, and she doesn't deserve all the shit thrown at her. The last season of Poldark is not the best (bordering on bad, actually, especially the last two episodes), but watching Drake and Morwenna get their happy ending is worth it.

Finishing all five seasons is bittersweet. I enjoyed most of the story and fell in love with different characters. I kind of regret watching everything in one week haha. But what can I say? As soon as I finish each episode, I'm so tempted to start another episode. I think the last time I stayed up until 5 AM the next morning to watch TV shows was Yellowjackets. Poldark's just too good to binge! It's one of my favorite TV shows now. Maybe I'll watch Sanditon next...

I want to write more about Poldark soon, maybe a comparison with Outlander or maybe just a post about each character. I realized I hadn't talked much about Elizabeth, Francis, and George in this post; I was too preoccupied with the love story aspects and Ross and Demelza. We'll see!

[shakespearenews]

In 2019, Sandra Hüller, one of Germany’s foremost stage and film actors, starred as Hamlet in a production at the Schauspielhaus Bochum, in the Ruhr Valley. For most performers, the part is challenge enough. But as Hüller prepared for the role with the theatre’s artistic director, Johan Simons, their discussions kept drifting to the character who animates Hamlet’s fantasies of revenge: his father’s ghost. In most stagings, ghastly makeup and lighting convey that the character is spectral. Could this lingering spirit be conjured without melodramatic clichés? Simons and Hüller agreed that it would be potent for the father to rise from within the son—speaking through him. As Simons recently described the conceit, “The father is so deep in your soul that you can’t get away from him—he is always in you.”

In the opening scene of the modern-dress, German-language production, Hüller stood alone onstage, her hands hanging uselessly by her sides, her eyes downcast. In a trembling near-whisper, she spoke lines that Shakespeare originally wrote for Hamlet’s friend Horatio: “If there be any good thing to be done, / That may to thee do ease and grace to me, / Speak to me.” Hüller smiled faintly to hold back tears, and her voice broke as she muttered, “You are here, you are here.”

When it came time for Hamlet’s encounter with the Ghost, an eerie chord resounded, and Hüller’s soft, breathy voice suddenly dropped an octave. She was no longer Hamlet, or not entirely. “Pity me not!” Hüller said, her eyes hardening and her voice quickening as she channelled the Ghost: “I am thy father’s spirit, / Doom’d for a certain term to walk the night, / And for the day confined to fast in fires, / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / Are burnt and purged away.” As Hüller played it, Hamlet wasn’t seeing a ghost; he was being possessed by it. Hüller’s previously gentle demeanor was displaced by lurching motion, and when the Ghost furiously commanded his son’s obedience—“List, list, O, list!” in Shakespeare’s original—she practically vomited up the words: “Hör, hör, o, hör! ”

The scene was as scary to watch as any horror movie, but it also felt profound: the sins of the old were literally infecting the bodies of the young, emphasizing the generational rot at the heart of the play. German critics hailed Hüller’s performance as revelatory—not just as an examination of character but as an exploration of the capacities of stage art. Der Spiegel said that witnessing Hüller wrestle with Hamlet and the Ghost simultaneously was like watching “an exorcism.”

Before the show opened, Hüller read an essay that portrayed “Hamlet” as a critique of the conventions of Renaissance revenge tragedy—and of the society from which those conventions emerged. “Shakespeare wrote the play at the edge of these times when blood revenge was still a thing,” she told me recently. “Shakespeare’s showing it one more time, but in the most absurd way—because everybody’s dead at the end. The play is saying, ‘This can’t be the way.’ ” At the Schauspielhaus Bochum, the climactic duel between Hamlet and Laertes swerved away from physical violence: neither combatant would make the first move. Instead, Hüller and Dominik Dos-Reis, the actor playing Laertes, hurled the phrase “fang an”—“start”—back and forth, battling not just each other but the demand for a bloody confrontation. The moment culminated, as it does in Shakespeare’s text, in an unexpected gesture of forgiveness. “They shake hands before they die, and say, ‘We don’t want to be like our fathers,’ ” Hüller said. “And, to me, that is something that applied to the world as it is now. That seemed to be something that I could identify with. Not to redo all the things that our ancestors have done before but to change them—to break the chain.”

Hüller liked that the production showed the effect of violence without actually showing violence. “When you show violence, I believe, it must have a strong form,” she told me. “You can’t treat it like any other sort of narrative in a story. It means something when you show a rape onstage, or when somebody gets slapped in the face onstage. It is crossing a line.” Her voice, usually soft, shifted to a more forceful register. “I have heard a lot of directors point out, ‘Yeah, but that’s what’s in the story,’ ” she continued. “I know what’s in the story. But still, I can decide, because I am the artist, what to show of it, and what not. I can decide how I want to shape the world that we are building onstage.”

[wifeofnatasharomanoff]

“– be patient.”

Warnings: Angst, slight fluff

Words: 876

AN: i took come home the kids miss you too literally also whoever came up with the kids names idk who not my idea

“See you in a minute.” she says.

But you never did see her in a minute. Here you are, at the place you used to call your home. Avengers, apologizing and bringing gifts. All you want is your wife back.

“Mommy where's mama?” a little girl hooked to your leg. “She's sleeping sweetie..” you crouch down, looking at her. “For– a very long time okay?” you force a smile at her, hearing crying in the distance.

You kiss your daughters forehead, getting up. “I'm here baby don't cry..” you pick up the wailing baby, rocking it in your arms. “Shh.. sh.. don't- don't cry.” unfallen tears well at your eyes.

“Mommy why are you crying?” you look down at Aliana. “I'm okay Ali, everything's okay.” smiling down at her.

“You know what, wanna go call auntie Yelena?” you sniffle, wiping away stray tears. “Yay! I love it when she makes mac and cheese.” she beams at you. “Is mama coming home yet?” she asks, unknowingly.

You don't blame her. She's 4, she doesn't know anything about what happens outside of this house. “No not today sweetie.. just- go call auntie 'Lena okay?” “Okay!” she leaves the room, to go call your sister in law.

“Yelena..” you look at her when the door opens. Running to embrace her, hugging her tightly. “Natasha she's–” “'Lena don't I don't want you acting like them please.” you sob into her shoulder.

“She's– she's not coming back Yelena. She's not coming back and I can't do anything about it I–” your cries muffled, she watches Aliana play with her little brother, completely blind to what had just happened.

“Did you tell them?” you freeze, breaking the embrace. “I can't Yelena.. Natasha was their everything. I may have given birth to those babies but– I can't tell them. Not yet.”

“It's okay Y/n.. I miss her too.” you shake your head, wiping away tears with your sleeve. “It's not okay Yelena what am I gonna do? My wife is dead. And– our kids are just.. all I have left.”

“Sestra you have me. Natasha was all I had too.” her eyes start to water. “Aww.. 'Lena don't cry.” you get a napkin, wiping off her tears. “I found out that their making a grave for her.” you croak out.

“A grave. With no body in it just a f–” you stop yourself, seeing Aliana walk in. “A g'rave..? For mama?” she looks confused, too young to understand what's going on.

“Is mama dead..?” you widen your eyes at her words. Looking back at Yelena, she shakes her head. “No.. Ali honey, I told you mama is just sleeping for a very long time okay? We just have to be patient. ” you pick her up, adjusting her to your hip.

“I can be patient!” she gives you a toothy smile, you kiss the top of her head. “Now who wants mac and cheese?” “With hot sauce in it!”

You're outside, it's sunny but cold. December 3rd, a day you stay at home with your family celebrating. But instead you're at an empty grave.

“Natasha everyone misses you. Aliana misses you, Nicky's 1 now.” you smile sadly, sitting in front of stone, looking up at the sky. “I miss you..” you blink away some tears.

“God.. the world just never wanted us to be happy huh? We were happy. For a little while.. right?” you sit in an awkward silence, until..?

“Yeah. We were.” a familiar voice, takes you out of your thoughts. You get up, turning to see who it is. “Nata– is this real? Are– are you real? Are you really here..?” tears pool at her eyes, she pulls you in, holding you tightly.

“I don't know how I'm here or who brought me here but.. yes dekta it's me.” she breaks your embrace, caressing your face, kissing your cheeks, forehead, lips.

“I– I didn't know what I'd do without you Natty..” you look up at her. “Me neither Y/n.” she smiles warmly at you. You laugh through broken sobs, “The kids! Natasha they missed you just- get inside.”

You two entire the house, you call out to the children. “Ali! Come to the living room, bring your brother.” “Okay mommy!” she yells out from another room.

“M- mama?” she smiles, running up to Natasha. “You woke up! Mommy told me to be patient!” she kisses your daughters cheek, raising a brow. “She did, did she?” you sheepishly smile at her.

Walking up to them with Nicky in your arms. “Nicky.. this is mama! Can you say ma-ma?” Natasha tears up in joy, “Mm.. ma- ma?” she smiles, taking the baby in her hold.

“He's gotten so big! How- how long have I been..” you answer, “Just a couple months Tasha don't worry.”

“I called auntie Yelena, who wants mac and cheese?” “Me!” you sigh happily, sitting on the couch with Natasha and the kids. All those times you said,

“Be patient, mama will be home soon.” finally paid off.

“No missions. Not yet.” you kiss Natasha's cheek, she smiles at you. “Okay, no missions.” “And no time traveling. Please.” she smirks. “I promise, no time traveling.” “I love you.” you rest your head on her shoulder. “I love you too dekta.”

[grapenehifics]

Not to tell you about *every* time I hear Solsbury Hill on the radio but…

Can you tell us why you picked it as the title for your fic? I feel there’s more to your reasoning than “grab your things I’ve come to take you home” and I’d love to hear your thoughts [it’s also maybe pretty obvious(?) but I’m really, really shit at 1) song lyrics 2) song meanings and 3) applying them to other contexts 🙈]

My friend, there is almost nothing I would rather talk about than the intersection between Peter Gabriel*, Genesis, Solsbury Hill the place, Solsbury Hill the song, and Solsbury Hill the fic.

(*Peter Gabriel, and all the members of Genesis, are real people, and would probably tell this story very differently. But they're not here to correct me [oh god, at least, I hope not], and this is how I heard the story, and I am going to tell it the way I know it. Apologies to all those living or dead.)

Sometime in the late 1960s a group of British schoolboys formed the prog rock band Genesis, and by the early 1970s they were...maybe not world-famous, but huge by prog rock standards, anyway, with a couple of albums and a tour. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway came out and it was a big enough deal that they got offered an American tour, too.

They were all still pretty young (they'd started basically in high school) and Peter Gabriel, their lead singer and main songwriter, had recently got married and he and his wife had a baby (this will become relevant in a second). So they go on the American tour and maybe about halfway through Peter turns to his bandmates and is like, "so...I'll finish the tour with you, because I promised I would, but when we get back home I'm quitting the band."

The other guys were stunned, obviously, because this was the moment they'd worked for. They'd already gotten through all the shitty garage band years, which is where most people give up, and now they were at the good part! They were on an international tour! The money was good! Their albums were selling! They had more fans than they'd ever thought they'd have! What on earth would possess someone to want to give all that up?

(The part of this story that is less-charitable to Peter Gabriel is that one of the answers he gave was 'more creative freedom' and his band was like...but you already write all our songs? What possible *more* creative freedom do you think you need?)

It wasn't just the band, though. His managers and the record company and everyone all told him that was a terrible, terrible idea, and there were a sizable contingent of Genesis fans who just refused to follow him to his solo career because they were mad at him for walking out on Genesis, wrecking the band, how dare he be so ungrateful...

(Genesis did fine without him, actually. Phil Collins took over on vocals and they had another couple of albums and some hit songs before going kind of weirdly soft-rock in the 80s.)

Also - and this is an important detail - when he left the band, there was no solo career. He didn't have any songs. I don't think he even had an agent. He was kind of on the outs with the industry for pulling that stunt. He spent the first year after he quit - while Genesis was recording a new album without him - just hanging out at home with his wife and baby daughter.

Eventually he did get back in the studio, and one of the songs on his first solo album was Solsbury Hill, largely regarded to be the most autobiographical of his songs (Solsbury Hill is an actual, physical hill in Somerset, near where he grew up). It's pretty blatantly about quitting Genesis, including being unhappy in the band:

So I went from day to day Though my life was in a rut

I was feeling part of the scenery

And liberty, she pirouette When I think that I am free

and trying to get up the courage to leave even knowing it would almost universally be regarded as a really dumb move and would very possibly end his entire music career even though he was still in his twenties:

My friends would think I was a nut Open doors would soon be shut

But eventually doing it anyway:

To keep in silence I resigned

I walked right out of the machinery

I will show another me

Then he writes about how, even though it was scary and he didn't know what the consequences were going to be, he was glad he did it:

Though my life was in a rut 'Til I thought of what I'd say Which connection I should cut

Today I don't need a replacement I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant

And he personifies all this as a person, or more accurately hearing a voice (while climbing Solsbury Hill, hence the title), and the progression of what the voice tells him mirrors the rest of the lyrics. First it's:

"Son, " he said "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."

and

"Hey, " he said "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."

But the final lines are the singer answering back:

"Hey, " I said "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."

And not to belabor the metaphor, but that's what I see as the equivalent of the first quarter or so of Solsbury Hill the fic, at least the beginning to the Bakersfield hospital chapters. Peter Gabriel and Anakin both got the exact thing they thought they wanted - a record deal, a tour, money, fame, wealth - and then turned out once they had it, they actually didn't really want it all that much anymore, and the reality of it wasn't worth keeping it.

But also mixed in there is some shame, right, because to everyone else it looks like you have it all. Every kid around the world with a guitar and a garage bands wants what you have. Every kid on their school swim team watching the Olympics on TV wants that. And now you've got it, and you're just...going to hand it back? Say it's not good enough? This thing that feeds your family and lets you see the world? How dare you spit on that!

But all they really want - in both stories - is more time with the people they love. And yes, in both cases, there are ways to fix that - Peter Gabriel could have taken his wife and baby with him on tour, Anakin could have not fired Obi-Wan and taken up with Palpatine - but in the middle of that situation and looking down the barrel of year after year of touring and competition and the toll it takes on your body and your mental health - suddenly the smart play starts looking like turning you back on it, tearing the whole thing down, and starting over. Even if it means living without the money and the fame and the recognition and universal goodwill. Who cares. Keep it all. Keep my things; I don't need them; I just need you.

I'm going home.

[thefederationfiles]

Uh? Hello?

/click/

Cellbit

Uh, hello? I’m not really sure how to start this... suppose I should introduce myself first, I am Cellbit, the new head archivist of the Federation Census Bureau. Still not entirely sure how I landed this position, but I’m not going to refuse it, a promotions a promotion in my eyes.

I was allowed to pick some assistants to help me out, they didn’t really give me a limit on how many I could pick (that they told me about) but I’ve decide to pick three, from various departments within the federation itself. Roier, from exploration, Fit from the clean-up crew and, Etoiles from security, all pretty chill guys, though sometimes ONE of them can get on my nerves…

But I digress.

My predecessor, Bagi, was a very organised woman, and everything, though weirdly done, is actually rather ordered when you think about it for more than five seconds. However, I personally enjoy audio recordings, if find them easier to listen back to if research is needed. For some strange reason however my usual recording equipment wont work, so here we are! With an old tape recorder I found in the desk here.

Anyways, suppose I should start the recording of the actual statement…

On then!

Statement of Phil… no last name given, regarding how he met his wife. Original statement given 23rd of February, 1934. Audio recording by Cellbit, Head archivist of the Federation, Census Bureau, recorded 27th of October 2023, recording begins.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, why the fuck is HE of ALL people giving a statement, well, consider it a gift! Don’t get so annoyed mate, I only want to repair the relations between us, trust me, just let me tell you my story! It’s a good one.

I first met her when I had supposedly died, I know, very typical of her, but I was just another guy back then! Well, like any self-respecting gentleman, I introduced myself. To say she was confused was an understatement, turns out you’re not meant to be able to speak after death, you’re not even meant to be able to move! Personally, I like to say it was love at first sight, she says, she despised me at first sight. To be fair to her, I was a man who couldn’t die, and her a woman who fed on the dying wishes of men, but plenty of couples have WAY bigger fights when they first meet!

Well, she let me go, I mean she couldn’t really take me, I wasn’t dead. For some reason though, we kept on bumping into each other, always when we were working as well so we could never have a proper conversation. Annoying right? She had to properly prepare the person for consumption, and I always had to get rid of the body! Really hard to flirt when you’re picking up organs that have been thrown against the walls (very messy as well, had to burn that shirt, I liked that shirt…).

To be honest, I always knew that I wasn’t normal, I mean there’s plenty of circumstances I’ve been in where I should’ve died, plenty! I just thought I was a lucky guy, but well, when one survives a hanging, people start to question a bit too much, and well, to put it simply I had to go into hiding! It was rather lonely; I mean don’t get me! It was nice, I made friends with the local crows, they turned into my first murder actually!

Anyways, it was about 25 years or so into this when she visited me, turns out she’d been getting pretty lonely herself! And, well, apparently the other immortal people she knows kept on trying to either fight her or get her to join their own groups, which, just rude! That is not how you get a lady’s attention! So she came to visit since were both so connected with death!

Well, she kept on visiting and eventually I realised everyone who wanted me dead would’ve been dead, so I came out of hiding! That was about 45 years ago, we got married a couple years after and well, you guys know the rest! We started our own group, made a pact with one of the hunts avatars, gotten pretty powerful!

Also I’ve learnt about all the guys and all that, kinda hard not too when you have my job!

Come on now, that’s what you wanted right? A story? A peace offering? Well there you have it! Enjoy, I have a meeting to get too.

/click/

/click/

Well. That was certainly something, I found that statement in the drawers of this desk when I was looking for stationery and thought it a good place to start.

I guess you could say I’m in shock? I mean it really just reassured what I’d already known, I knew stuff existed, I kinda needed too…

Either way, kinda hard to get information on a statement that’s nearly 100 years old, Fit was able to get some information on some serial killings from the 1800’s that he reckons might be related, but I say it’s a bit of a stretch.

/sigh/

Well, better than nothing for the first one! I swear I also heard him talking about an old war buddy…

/click/

[ivecomeforsouls]

Chapter 12 - Two Black Boxes

The first thing he felt was pain. A ball of pressure in his chest that made it hard to breath, and sharp, jabs of pain piercing through his skull. Gradually, he began to register the loud, booming voices around him.

"He will make good on his promise now! I will not be responsible for her, godaughter or not." A man's angry voice was the next thing he was able to process. "I don't care what happened to that bunny freak, the wedding will commence as planned!

Not everything they planned went well," another man's voice calmly argued. "And we need to compensate on our part."

"Tarin is dead because that foolish old man was so happy about this wedding. He deserves to have his part go as planned." A woman's voice made itself known as Legend slowly got up.

"Well, look who's finally up."

"It's about time."

"Good Evening."

"...what?" Legend looked around at the three, unfamiliar people standing around the bed he was lying in. Confused, and a little disoriented, he stood up. "Who are you?"

"We," the taller of the two men spoke up. "Are Tarin's closest friends. Bad news, both Tarin and that rabbit boy are dead. We have no idea how the kid died, or where his bidy is, but it doesn't matter because we've also got some good news."

Ravio is dead. Legend's mind raced, and he realized that that's where the pain I'm his chest was comming from. Grief does that. He would know.

The man continued without pause. "The good news is, that you will be married at sunset tomorrow."

"Ravio is dead? Wait..."

Oh, shut up you ungrateful little cockroach!" The shorter man stepped forward as Legend sank back down onto the bed. "No friend of anyone's should mean more to you than your wife. Especially one who's gather died for your cursed union!"

The shorter man's face was now less than in inch away from his own as he quieted down to a whisper. "You stole her away from my son. A good man who deserved everything she had to offer and more. Do you have the words to even try to justify yourself?"

Legend opened and closed his moth a few times. Ravio is dead. He remembered that, but what happened to Tarin?

"That's what I thought." He heard from behind him as he attempted to escape through the front door, but the women stopped him, pinning his arms to the wall.

"A person's wedding is the most important day of you life. Seeing as it will happen with or without your bunny friend, he doesn't matter. Only your further wife and her wedding does. You be sure to remember that for tomorrow."

----------

He sat facing Ravio's memorial. A rock with his name chisled into it. Legend refused to move from his spot on the ground. He was entirely alone once the villagers all escaped to their houses to prepare for the rain, but it wasn't long before a soft, gentle hand found his own.

"I'm sorry, Marin. I know he's gone and he's never comming back," Legend's words were rushed, but hesitant. "But I can't seem to convince myself that this shouldn't matter. She's right. It doesn't matter." He leaned back back and looked up at the clouds as thunder flashed across the sky, but his tears came before the rain did.

"With or without Ravio there I'm still gonna marry you, but after all that," Legend held her hand to his lips. "the feeling I have can't be described as grief anymore. It's like...like when you eat something nasty, but it's so spicy that you can't taste it anyway. Exept it's not a burning sensation, just pain."

"Link,"Marin sat quietly for a minute. "You are far too focused on the wedding. I know my father's friends are pressing hard for it to happen quickly, but that doesn't mean that Ravio is no longer worth anything. If something makes you cry, it matters."

Legend held Marin's hands up to his lips for a moment, his tears mixing with the falling rain on her hand. They huddled together for a few hours, Legend processing the whole situation. Properly, this time. When he had thought long enough, he spoke again.

"Will I go back?" Legend looked at Ravio's memorial. "Will I wake up and find that this was just another dream? It has to be. Oh, but then I'd lose you." He looked at Marin, then his eyes went up to the clouds. "This is how it always happens. Surely it's a dream. I cannot exist just to suffer like this!"

"I...have no response for that," Marin rung out her hair a skirt. "But one day, we'll find the right words, and they will be simple.

----------

Marin and Legend had been traveling for several weeks before Marin decided to show him. They'd left the village the following morning at Marin's suggestion, skipping out on the planned wedding, and set out for Nayru's cabin. They now sat by a fire, as they each mourned in their own way.

"Link." Maring came to sit with him. "When I came back with help, we found these two, tiny, black boxes in the spot where Ravio should have been."

Legend looked at them for a long time before he reached out to take them, and held them for a minute or so, before opening one. Inside, there was a ring. This silver ring had three, tiny, familiar flowers carved from diamond on it, he middle one being slightly larger than the other two.

...

Slowly, it dawned on him. Before he arrived at Nauru's cabin the first time, Ravio had been exited about two, ordinary rings.

He looked into the second box. A silver ring with a string of hibiscus flowers engraved all the way around, diamond replacing everything that had been carved out so that it was completely smooth.

Legend stood up. Marin followed suit curiously, still not knowing what was inside the box.

So Legend decided to do it again, properly this time, and knelt.

It happened almost the same as the first time. But through tears instead of laughter, silence insdeat of joyfull shouts. As he did so, he began to plan out how Ravio and Tarin would still be a part of their wedding.

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