#oceana stories

[aristocraticvision]

Chapter 360: An Evening at the Palace

Lady Helena Reynolds entered the drawing room next to Princess Jessica, finally relaxing a bit after being so nervous at meeting the reigning monarch and his wife.

“Dinner was wonderful, your royal highness,” Lady Helena said as she walked next to Princess Jessica into the lounge adjacent to the family dining room. “Please extend my compliments to your chef. It was a true delight.”

“I’m sure Monsieur Tremont will appreciate your kind words,” Jessica replied as they sat down. “He so rarely has the opportunity to challenge himself anymore. Growing older, Stephen’s tastes – and I must admit, my own, as well – are fairly simple, so I know he was excited to have a visitor to impress.”

“Well, he certainly did so,” Helena replied. “It’s been such a lovely evening I almost wish it wouldn’t end.”

“Such flattery,” Stephen said, smiling. “Though, I must admit, I’ve truly enjoyed myself as well. Michael has brought young ladies home before – but none have been quite as lovely as you.”

Helena dropped her gaze, nearly blushing.

“So how are you finding life in the city?” Jessica asked. “It must be quite a change from Hemingford.”

“It is,” Helena replied, “though, having spent so many years in Paris after my parents passed, Hemingford was more of an adjustment than Weston. While I enjoyed the peace and beauty, there were times it seemed a bit more bucolic than I might have preferred. At least, until Michael arrived.”

“Of course,” Stephen replied. “Which leads me to my next question. Do you two plan on going public with your relationship?”

“Stephen!” Jessica snapped as Helena dropped her gaze nervously. “That’s none of our business!”

“It is very much our business, my dear,” Stephen said. “If they are serious about this relationship, going public will be a much better option than being found out by the press. Believe me, I learned that lesson with Michael’s mother.”

“That may be, father,” Michael said, crossly. “But I would appreciate you allowing us to determine the next phase of our relationship. When we’re ready to go public, we will – but no amount of pressure from you or the press will push us into it.”

“Suit yourself,” Stephen said. “But I won’t be around forever, Michael. It’s time for you to start thinking about your future. That means a wife and a family. The monarchy requires stability, and it’s your responsibility to provide it.”

“I think we’re all getting ahead of ourselves,” Jessica said, trying to de-escalate the conversation. “Michael and Helena have only recently begun seeing one another. I think there’s plenty of time for them to decide how they want to move forward.”

“Perhaps,” Stephen said, standing. “I apologize if I’ve overstepped. If you’ll excuse me, I should turn in before I say anything more.”

“Father, you don’t have to ….” Michael began.

“Goodnight baroness, Michael,” Stephen said. “I’ll see you upstairs, my dear.”

After Stephen’s departure, the room was silent for a moment.

“Mother, what the hell is going on?” Michael asked quietly. “This behavior is extreme – even for him.”

“I’m not sure, but I intend to find out,” Jessica said. “Now, as far as you two are concerned, I hope you’ll ignore my husband’s comments. Michael, why don’t you show Helena the gardens. They’re actually quite lovely at night.”

CHAPTER 1 | BEGINNING OF PART 4 | PREV | NEXT

Continent of Oceana | History of Weston | History of Corwyn | History of Torenth | History of Allycia

[thatblucat]

when true hearts lie withered and fond ones are flown, who would inhabit this bleak world alone?

[the-sky-queen]

"I'm just a guy who loves adventure!"

Gale belongs to @son1c

Splash belongs to me!

He's here! My final boy is here at last! I spent so long on this drawing. I kinda ran away with the background and it ended up being more complicated than I thought it would be.

Introducing Splash the Hedgehog, Son of the Ocean! That's right, this version of Sonic doesn't fear water at all, unlike his main counterpart. In fact, he was raised by it. Through unknown causes, Splash was thrown into the ocean from his ship in a storm. The ocean itself took pity on him, saving his life and then raising him.

As he grew, Splash discovered the ins and outs of his connection with the ocean. (She goes by Oceana for convenience's sake and can also take the form of mobian made of water if she so chooses. She was kinda half inspired by Pandora from the Pandora AU comic created by @starrjoy ) Basically, Splash is a Waterbender/Hydrokinetic, but only because Oceana listens to him.

Splash spent his days exploring, running across the water from island to island. His speed and his water powers allow him to do that. Also, he can swim and even if he couldn't, Oceana gave him the ability to breathe underwater. Splash found himself lonely though and longed for company other than his mother and the various wildlife he'd encountered.

One day, he had a chance encounter with Dread and his crew. Splash, finally getting a chance to get his wish fulfilled, was unsure of things. This would really be his first time interacting with other people. What if he messed up? In the end, Oceana encouraged Splash to go for it and accept Dread’s invitation to join his crew. If anything went wrong, she'd be right there to help him.

(This part of the story may change, since this is supposed to happen after Sonic Prime ends. But with the stuff that happened in the new episodes, I'm not sure if Dread’s going to return to No Place, or if he does, if his crew will even let him come back to their new ship. We'll see.)

Oceana has an entire personality to her, which I will explain in a separate post once I've drawn her. For now, let's just say that if Oceana ever met Pandora, she'd immediately start battling her to get revenge for what she did to her version of Sonic. She's a wonderful overprotective mother. ❤❤❤

If Splash ever met Gale, I imagine they'd have a lot of fun adventuring together. They both love thrills and exploring. Gale might be a little put off by Splash’s innate connection to water, which he doesn't like very much, but I'm sure they'd still get along.

[mysticmermaid108]

The Legend Of Oceana Cove Characters, Gacha edition lol!

In order:

Princess Lia

Princess Lia (Human)

Calypso

Calypso (Human)

Isabel

Isabel (Human)

Isabel (Pre-Curse)

Captain Rose

[babynorppa]

It's been more than a year and I still think about that magical moment at Barcelona gig 🩷💜💙

Barve Oceana became some sort of bisexual anthem to me that day. The one that tells a story about a person who got tired of the boundaries imposed by society. A story about wishing to run away to a place where you can be understood, be yourself in the most authentic way. And that place won't be too small for all of the dreams you want to achieve. Oh, no. You'll have so much opportunities there.

But most importantly you'll be able to breath freely there. Cause you will be a stranger to everyone there. And you'll finally feel that comforting sense of personal freedom. Happiness and love won't be on credit in that place too, they'll be fully experienced. Experimented. There won't be the same familiar faces, same old people. There will be new ones. Braver, smarter, less judgemental, more open to this world.

Will be that place a new city or country? Who knows. Maybe it's about some community of people who gets you. An online one. Or an offline one. Doesn't matter. You'll be accepted there. That's what is important.

Or maybe that place itself is an unreachable dream. Is it even possible to end up where the rainbow meets its end? Probably not. But it's good to have the visualisation in front of you. So you'll try to get to that place where pearls stay in seashells and not on necklaces anyway. Might get hurt in the process, might come back to the starting point. But that's just how life goes. And it's good to experience it in all of its glory. Without limiting yourself.

[rjzimmerman]

2 Endangered Whales Found Entangled in Fishing Gear, With 1 Likely to Die. (New York Times)

Excerpt from this story from the New York Times:

Two endangered whales have been found entangled in fishing gear off the coast of Massachusetts, and one of them is likely to die from his injuries, according to the federal agency that monitors the oceans.

The mammals were identified as North Atlantic right whales, one of the world’s most endangered large whale species. They face threats in their habitats from entanglement in gear and collisions with vessels, and there are now fewer than 370 left in the world.

On Dec. 9, an aerial survey spotted the whales swimming about 50 miles southeast of Nantucket, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement on Tuesday.

One whale, identified as male #5110, has serious and most likely fatal injuries. A picture showed that he had a thick line resembling a fishing line that passes across his head and back.

“This designation signifies #5110 is likely to die from this injury,” according to the statement. That whale, which was first seen as a calf in 2021, was last seen in April, swimming in Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts.

Oceana, a conservation group, said that when such an entanglement occurs, a fishing line can be so tightly wound around a whale’s body that it “cuts into flesh and bone” and causes an infection.

The second whale, identified as adult female #4120, has two lines exiting the left side of her mouth and extending half to two thirds of the way down her body, the federal agency said.

Biologists believe the female whale has a so-called sublethal injury, meaning that the injury will not kill her but “can reduce or impair” her well-being.

The female whale was seen in July without any entanglements about 50 miles off the coast of Long Island in New York.

[melabea]

merfolk id pack!

includes names, 1stpp, 2ndpp, 3rdpp, genders, alterhuman flags, & other terms!

names:

Abyssal, Alkali, Allur, Bay, Brim, Brine, Brooks, Cecaelia, Cloud, Coastal, Coral/Coralie, Cordelia, Delilah, Dooriya, Flood, Gale, Irv, Jubilee, Lake, Mari/Maris/Marina/Marine, Maritime, Mere, Merrick, Misty, Oceana, Pollyanna, Riverine/Riviera, Seashore, Seaside, Seawater, Serena, Shore, Siren/Syren/Syrin, Storm, Summer, Sylph, Thalassa, Themis, Tide, Whirlwind, & Windstorm

1stpp: (xi/xe/xy/xine/xyself)

abyi/abye/aby/abyine/abyself, ba/be/bay/bane or bine/bayself, bri/bre/bry/brim/bryself, bro/brook/bry/bron/bryself, clo/cloud/cly/clone/clyself, coa/coast/coy/coan/coyself, cor/coral/coray/corine/corself, flo/flood/flooy/floine or floodine/flooyself, la/lake/lay/laine/layself, mari/marine/mary/marine/maryself, mer/me/mery/merine/meryself, oc/ocean/oceany/ocine/oceanyself, ri/rive/rivery/rine or riverine/riveryself, sea/se/seay/seaine/seayself, shor/shore/shory/shorine/shoryself, si/siren/sireny/sine/sirenyself, storm/storme/story/stormine/storyself, thalassic/thalassi/thalassy/thalassine/thalassyself, ti/tide/tidy/tine or tidine/tidyself, whi/whirl/whirly/whine or whirline/whiryself, & wi/wind/windy/wine or windine/windyself

2ndpp: (xou/xour/xours/xourself)

abyss/abyr/abyrs/abyrself, bay/bayr/bayrs/bayrself, brim/br/brs/brself, brook/br/brs/brself, cloud/clour/clours/clourself, coast/coar/coars/coarself, coral/cor/cors/coralself, lake/lakr/lakrs/lakrself, marine/mar/mars/marself, maritime/mar/mars/marself, me/mer/mers/merself, ocean/ocear/ocears/ocearself, rive/river/rivers/riverself, sea/sear/sears/searself, sea/seashore/seashores/seashoreself, seaside/seasir/seasirs/seasirself, sea/seawater/seawaters/seawaterself, sho/shore/shores/shoreself, siren/sir/sirs/sirself, sto/storms/storms/stormself, thalassic/thalassir/thalassirs/thalassirself, tide/tider/tiders/tiderself, whirlwind/whirl/whirls/whirlself, whi/whirl/whirls/whirl, wind/wir/wirs/wirself, & wind/windstorm/windstorms/windstormself

3rdpp: (xe/xim)

aby/abyss, bay/bays, brim/brims, brook/brooks, cloud/clouds, coast/coasts, coral/corals, flood/floods, lake/lakes, marine/marines, maritime/maritimes, mari/times, mer/mers, ocean/oceans, river/rivers, sea/seas, seashore/seashores, sea/shores, seaside/seasides, sea/sides, seawater/seawaters, sea/waters, shore/shores, siren/sirens, storm/storms, thalassic/thalassics, tide/tides, whirlwind/whirlwinds, whirl/winds, whirl/whirls, wind/winds, windstorm/windstorms, & wind/storms

genders: (all terms are links)

merfolk, mereic, mermaidcore, sirenish, merlikic, merblood/merfolkblood, sirenblood, mermonster, sirenmonster, autimeric/autimerfolkic, autisirenic, merplayful, merpuplayful, merplaymate, mergender, phosirenial, merive, gendermerpup, & merenvic

alterhuman flags: (all terms are links)

mermaid constelic, siren, merfolk alterproxy, siren alterproxy, mer/merfolk linosus, & mermaid kin

other terms: (all terms are links)

merfolk 4 siren/siren 4 merfolk, queer mer, mer privawor, siren privawor, merforial, mercollector/merhoarder, merspesque, miscemer/miscemerfolk, merchronal, sirenvior, mervior/merfolkvior, merinurvesi, aldermermic, merane attraction, & mermare attraction

banner made by us!

[kurooscoffee]

Here's Bojan reading out and answering my question about Barve Oceana x SSOL 😭🥹🫶

"In Barve Oceana you tell a story about the protagonist whose dreams are too loud and too big for this tiny town.

Meanwhile, in Sunny Side of London, you sing about a place where everyone is free as a dove, free to be themselves.

Would you say that the protagonist of Barve Oceana has finally found the place where the rainbow ends and where the pearls are in seashells and not on necklaces?"

[nossumusstellae]

Hello world!

DO NOT FOLLOW/INTERACT if you post ADULT/NSFW, anti-LGBTQIA, mysoginy, or other far-right nonsense. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED.

IF YOU SUPPORT TRUMP: FUCK OFF. 🖕

Hello Tumblr,

My blog name is NosSumusStellae. That's latin for "we are stars."

My pen name is Ella Murphy.

I am a writer and a pixel artist.

My current project is a novella called The Starsinger Chronicles. I have been working on this novella for over two years. Writing it has taught me a lot about both writing and myself.

I hope you join me on this journey through the moonlit waters of the Oceana.

Let's dive into the depths, shall we?

Longer intro post

Travel back in time with my blog archive!

My pixel art is currently on Lospec!

My released stories:

Reflections Collection (Republic of Doyle fanfic) (warning: contains mild Newfoundland swears)

Reflections Playlist

Max's Short Fiction Game Submission

Beyond, a story with only one true line of dialogue

Stories for a DnD Adventure

My novella, The Starsinger Chronicles, will be released April 2025.

Weekly short story tag: #ella's short story saturday

Ask games: worldbuilding fruity asks mystery emoji ask character asks nature-themed asks

No more anonymous asks. Sorry.

Also coming soon: SHADOWS, the sequel to Reflections. Taking place ten years after Reflections, Jaye Avenheart is back, and this time, her past has come back with a vengeance...

[sparkles-oflight]

Polaroid Photos - Part 4

Master Post | Chapter 3

This took... embarrassingly long.

And like. it's not even good.

So... I've been up to many things in the past... couple of months.

Been to three countries, wrote a short story, helped write another fanfic, helped with a music album, showed up on Kris' Instagram stories not once but twice, started my masters, had a car accident, you know, life things.

Now... this is the last chapter of this story, and I feel like it was a bit rushed (SOMEHOW?????). Some of the parts that seem super important that are "skipped" have been covered in other fics in my fanfic universe (everything's on the link below the chapter, or you can check out the master post that also has the link to the fic list).

This chapter doesn't have a source list, tbf it's all fiction and more of a "connecting everything" kind of chapter so... Yeah.

I'd like to give a shout-out to @vecnokriv-nikolicel for proofreading this ;) - I was in serious need of a native lol. And now, without further ado, let's get onto the last chapter of this fic.

Jan was tired.

Jan was always tired. Today, though, he had spent the day recording the music video for Barve Oceana at the beach and then he went out to party with the crew. So, all he wanted was to rest.

Rest is not something Bojan likes to give people.

It was early in the morning when Bojan called him. Jan would rather sleep, but something in Bojan’s voice sounded urgent, so he agreed to let the small nuisance come during the afternoon.

When Bojan arrived, he showed a shy smile as he greeted Jan. Jan raised an eyebrow at this but allowed him into the apartment.

- So… uh… - Bojan started after sitting on the couch – So, this is not easy, and I need you to bear with me.

Jan nodded along to his friend’s speech.

- I need you first to promise you won’t judge me.

- Depends on what you d-

- Jan, promise. It’s important.

- I promise. – Jan said reluctantly.

- So, Martin doesn’t know. Actually, the only one who knows is Luka, but only because I was drunk and-… – he gestured nervously – I wanted to trust you, Jan. 

He sighed.

- It’s really important. – Bojan reaffirmed.

- Okay, okay, I get it. Tell me.

- So… I might or might- Okay, I am… I am bi.

- Okay? – Jan gestured for Bojan to continue, only to realize there was nothing else – Is that it?

- What!? Is this not a shocking event for you!?

- Not in the slightest.

- I also know you are not straight? – Bojan continued unsure – I mean, I figured two gays in a band was unlikely, but I know you and I… Well…

While Jan wasn’t exactly out to the band, he also didn’t hide his sexuality from them. After the breakup, Jan had a few opportunities to hook up with someone from the same sex, to reaffirm that yes, he is Pan. Jan only told Kris about the name of his label, but one time he was too drunk to drive, and Bojan had to pick him up at the gay bar. When Bojan came, he caught him making out with someone.

- I like guys too. – Jan stopped his rambling – If that’s what you are asking.

- Okay, so… uhm. I don’t know if you knew this but – he bit his lip before proceeding – Me and Kris kissed once.

Jan remained silent.

- And… we were just teens, and it was stupid because we were drunk, and Kris was single at the time. I think.  But then I couldn’t get it out of my head, and I figured… I am in love with Kris. I can’t even run away from it. And I tried, I tried so hard. But yesterday… Yesterday Jure tickled me into the sand, remember?

- I remember that.

- And tonight, I dreamt it was Kris. And Kris was kissing me. And he was-

- I don’t need the details.

- Yeah, sorry. But, Kris is straight and-

“Jan, you don’t have the right to out someone”, a voice in his head told him “Not even if it’s to help these two idiots?” he contested. He chose not to out Kris. That’d be just an asshole move on his part. Besides, Kris and Klara were a good couple. He didn’t want to ruin the band for what could have been.

- Jan, can I ask you for something?

- Uh, depends?

- Can we have sex?

Jan choked on his own saliva. When the fuck did shame leave Bojan’s body and when is it thinking of coming back!?

- I’m sorry? – Jan asked.

- I was thinking-

- You don’t say.

- Let me finish. I was thinking “I only kissed Kris when drunk, do I really like guys, or was it just the alcohol? And what if I don’t like the sex?”. And, you know, you promised you wouldn’t judge me and all, and- I promise I won’t tell anyone. And you don’t have to do it and-

- Bojan. – he stopped him – Bojan, I… this is a very touchy subject. You should think of this before-

- Isn’t the past 4 years of looking at Kris and feeling like I love him wholeheartedly not enough time to think of this? I just wanted to experiment before- Fuck this is silly, but. If Kris was single, if he wasn’t straight, I would like to be ready for that hypothetical scenario.

Jan couldn’t lie: Bojan was confusing. But even if Bojan was confusing, so were Jan’s feelings. He too would like to imagine the possibility of Martin not being straight. And that’s why he goes out when he can, to experiment. Bojan is going through the same thing as him.

- And I wanted to try with someone I know I can trust. – Bojan said under his breath.

Jan sighed. How much trouble would he be in if Martin found out about it? Would Martin think Jan and Bojan were together if he knew? Would he even be acceptive of their queerness? Would he think all the time Jan wanted to spend with him was only because he wanted to get into his bed rather than a genuine feeling?

There was no point in thinking about that.

- I’ll help you. – he announced – But only under the condition you will not tell anyone. Not even Martin.

- Pinky promise. – Bojan smiled and extended his pinky to Jan. Jan promised as well.

- And I’m not fucking you.

- What? I thought that was kind of the point.

- Blowjob, take it or leave it.

- Okay, fine.

- So, how do you want to do this? – Jan asked.

- Ugh… kissing first? I like some foreplay first. So, make out?

- Sounds good to me.

It was weird. Jan and Bojan had kissed before and none of them had come out to each other because they weren’t attracted to each other. Not romantically, at least. Jan knows even when Bojan thought he was straight, he was still physically attracted to Jan and who is he to judge?

The moment had passed. His facial hair touched Bojan’s sweaty shoulders as he kissed the singer.

- So? – Jan mumbled against the smaller one’s skin – Good?

- Oh, yeah. – he smiled as he sighed – We should do this more times.

- Absolutely not.

They laughed. Jan felt his eyelids feel heavier from the tiredness, but Bojan’s voice had to interrupt his sleep schedule.

- Janči. – Bojan called.

- Uhm.

- Have you ever been in love with a man?

- No. – he promptly lied.

“Sorry, Bojči, but I can’t tell you this one”.

- Well… I guess I’ll have to figure it out on my own.

- In the meantime, we can sleep. – Jan said, snuggling closer to Bojan.

- Yes, but a shower first!

- No. We will be disgusting for now. – Jan tightened his grip on Bojan’s waist and they both fell asleep.

The following year, they decided to spend vacations together as a band in a cabin in the woods to finish the album. During one of those nights, Jan talked to Martin about his feelings. Martin was caught by surprise but also curious. He was a firm believer he was straight, but Jan revealing those feelings made him want to try being friends with benefits.

Jan adored Martin. Sometimes he would bring him home, other times they’d “help each other” in backstage areas or during studying sessions. His favorite part of the whole thing was getting to see Martin’s skin and being able to touch it all he wanted and trace his body after sex carefully, like a fragile sculpture. The only problem was that Jan was always the one initiating the interactions, and Martin would go along. Eventually, he began saying “no” to any intimacy. At some point, Martin started saying “no” altogether.

Jan was scared he had done something wrong, but the more he looked back at their interactions, the more he realized his feelings weren’t reciprocated, and Jan eventually arrived at the conclusion that… Martin wasn’t even queer. From the very beginning, his position was that he was “curious”, not that he was attracted to the same gender. And that made Jan feel guilty. He knows Martin would have a hard time saying “no” because of his personality and because of the band.

When Martin announced his departure, it was the last straw.

He hadn’t warned Jan, or Bojan, or anyone. He just dropped the bomb on them.

Jan’s main support after the announcement was Jure who he ran to and confessed everything that went on between them. Jure took him to Martin’s house where they talked about it.

“I’m not into guys, Jan, I’m sorry”, Martin told him.

They had their last show with Martin at Križanke and then they recorded a video announcing Martin’s departure. After it was done, he ran to the bathroom, Kris and Jure ran after him.

- Janči. – Jure said as he entered the bathroom.

Jan was in the sink, washing his face.

- So… uhm, we are all sad with his departure and I’ve only been here for a year so I can’t say much, but… the band can still move forward, Janči. 

Kris put his hand on Jan’s back.

- We have done it once and… - the younger began and Jan turned to him – and we can do it again. Even if it’s just the four of us. Martin could never be replaced.

There they stood. The two people who knew about his and Martin’s situation and yet… Jan hugged Kris with all his might as he felt tears run down his face.

Kris saw familiarity in the way Jan was acting. He didn’t like it. He was too scared of Jan shutting down again like he had done with Karolina, and they couldn’t afford that anymore…

- I won’t shut down. – the older guitarist whispered in his ear – But please hold me for a while.

Jure joined the two of them into a group hug with only the older two crying. Kris remained still.

- Kris, what’s wrong? – Jure asked.

- I’ll smoke outside.

He left them and they stayed to clean their faces.

After some time had passed, they decided to look for Bojan. He was coming from the outside and he looked out of it.

- Are you okay? – Jure asked the singer.

- I… - he looked scared – I just saw Kris have a breakdown with Martin. I think we should talk to him.

- Let me handle it. – Jan offered – It’s the least I can do for him from what he has done to me.

Jan drove Kris home, and he let the older one stay there the night. He told him what Bojan had told him.

- I don’t want to talk about it anymore. – Kris said.

- Oh, I know how you feel about “not talking about it anymore”. Trust me, I know. But you need to stop running away from these things. You can’t just NGVOT everyone.

Jan expected a laugh out of Kris, but instead, he got angry.

- Oh, yeah? What the fuck do expect me to talk about, uh? – he got up from where he was sitting – Oh, I know. I could talk about how the band is EVERYTHING to me and seeing it constantly changing or breaking apart makes me uneasy about my future because I can’t picture myself doing anything else with anyone else! 

Kris grabbed Jan’s shoulders and began shaking them.

- I could tell you about how I’m scared of having to work a “regular job” to pay bills and not being able to because I suck at dealing with people or because I can’t function on “regular” working hours. - he continued - Or how I can’t live strained to a place! I could tell you how you guys are my second family and I’m afraid of not being able to take care of you, to fail you. Because, yes! All of you came to me for help! And I can’t help you! I don’t know how to even help myself right now! And maybe… maybe Ema was right. I can’t even take care of my fucking relationship right now. I haven’t seen Klara in a while or talked to her properly, what the fuck can I even do right, Jan!?

He paused for a moment and released the older one’s shoulders.

- I could tell you all about it, but I don’t want to talk about it.

Jan didn’t know what to say, so instead, he pulled the younger one into a tight hug. Kris began crying as Jan played with his hair.

They talked about it and Jan met up with Bojan and Jure.

- Kris needs a vacation. This has been too much for him, not to mention his degree. So, he’s taking two weeks to go to the Netherlands. Is that okay?

No one objected.

- Martin gave me the info about the bass player he mentioned. – Jure said – His name is Nace Jordan. His CV is amazing. I think we should give him a listen.

- Martin’s trust is all I need. – Bojan said.

- We can do this after Kris comes back. – Jan said – I’m not exactly in a rush to find a “substitute” for Martin.

- Martin can’t be replaced. It’s the four of us now.

“It’s the four of us now”, such a weird sentence, Jan thought.

Kris didn’t go to the Netherlands as he got COVID before his trip. Jan visited him at his apartment a couple of times to leave him some food at the door. It was a bit sad that he couldn’t see his best friend face to face during that time, but they still talked on the phone a lot.

After Kris got better, they finally decided to meet up with the famous “Nace Jordan”. Jan researched all he could about the guy. He wanted to make sure his resume was as good as Jure described it. Kris thought Jan must have gotten sick because he was impressed by the fact that Jan researched.

- Hi, I’m Nace Jordan.

- Bojan Cvjetićanin – the smaller one shook his hand – I’m pretty sure I’ve met you before…

- I play in television shows, so maybe.

- Ah, that must be it.

- Kris Guštin. And I know you. – he affirmed – I did some research, and you played at my High School prom.

- Oh, I played for Gušti’s kid himself?

- You sure did.

Nace laughed at that. A laugh so loud it could fill the whole room with a strange warm feeling.

- Maček. – the drummer took his hand – You already know me.

As they talked, Jan stayed quiet. There was this feeling of uncertainty that filled Jan’s body.

- Whoaw, you really like to stare, uh? – Nace turned to him.

Jan noticed he was the only one still sitting on the sofa holding his instrument, unlike all the others who got up to greet Nace.

- Jan… - he whispered.

- Yes?

- Jan. – he repeated in his usual tone – My name is Jan Peteh.

Nace looked skeptical at Jan and there was a clear shift in the environment with him leaning closer to Jure as to ask something. Bojan got closer to Jan and sat on the sofa’s arm.

- Jan is like a cat. He needs time, don’t worry about it. – Bojan messed his hair, and Jan forcefully removed his hands and hissed at the singer.

- I see. – he chuckled.

- I think we should give Nace a listen. – Kris suggested.

Nace was perfect. He didn’t know all their songs, but he could already play some. Martin told him that they don’t play with music sheets, and everything was done by ear which explains why he doesn’t know their whole repertoire, but he proved to be a fast learner.

Nace also seemed to have a great personality and amazing values shown in his interview with Kris and just like Jure he seemed to fit in perfectly with the band – just how Martin had promised.

The problem was that he wasn’t Martin.

Nace was shorter than Martin. Nace wasn’t skinny like Martin. Nace’s arms were filled with tattoos unlike Martin’s. Nace’s voice was different from Martin's. Nace’s personality wasn’t Martin’s.

“It’s the four of us now”, Jan thought.

- So, who votes for Nace to stay? – Kris asked after the four of them when they were left alone.

Everyone raised their arms.

- Okay then. – Kris announced – Nace will be our on-stage bassist. I’ll tell him to get in.

Nace seemed pleased with Kris’ announcement, and they quickly began talking about how it would work. Jan didn’t pay much attention. He just wanted to go home.

A couple of days went by until they met for practice again, to which Martin showed up to help Nace. It was weird seeing them both. Did everyone just accept Martin isn’t going to be in the band anymore? Jan said he did, but his heart is still recovering from it.

- I’m going for a smoke. – Jan announces as he leaves the room.

Once outside, he called his mom and asked how things had been at his parents' home. She tells him the neighborhood gossip – who’s getting married, who’s having a kid, who died, who is moving out, who’s graduating… things he doesn’t really care about, but lets his mother talk about.

- And when are you thinking of graduating? – his mom asks.

He chuckles. Martin was helping him out with that. But now that he isn’t in the band anymore, they rarely talk.

- I know… - she said – You have the band.

- Yeah…

- I would just really like to see my son graduate.

- Aaaaah – he sighed – Your son would like to be done with university quickly too.

- And I also want to see you with a girlfriend and get married soon.

- Mom, I’m 22.

- Do you know what I had gone through at 22 already? I’ve been working since I was 15.

- Me too.

- No, I mean real work.

Jan chose to ignore his mom’s remarks about his music career. He knows his parents still don’t see his and his brother's professions as jobs just because it’s in the artistic field.

After some more chatting, he ends his call. He turned to his side and Nace was there.

- Calling home? – he asks.

- Sometimes I have to.

- Do you have some light? – Nace asks as he waves a cigarette.

Jan takes out a lighter out of his pocket and lights Nace’s cigarette.

- Thanks.

A moment of silence goes by, and it’s Nace who breaks the ice.

- Do you hate me?

- No, why would I?

Jan was scared. His intention was never to hurt Nace. He seemed like a great guy! Jan was just shy…

- I’m not here to replace him, you know.

- I know…

- It’s just another gig. I work with other bands too.

- Uhm.

- Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. – he smiles at the younger one.

- You are right.

- What’s something you like? I like animals.

- I like animals too. – Jan shyly smiles.

- Do you have pets?

- I have a cat. His name is Igor.

- Igor? – Nace laughed and that got a chuckle out of Jan.

- Keeps me company. You?

- I have two turtles and a dog.

- Do they fight a lot?

- Only for my attention.

Jan finished his second cigarette as Nace’s pocket began buzzing. The older one looks at it and his facial expression softens.

- It’s my girlfriend. – he picked it up – Hi, bejbi.

Jan excused himself and returned to the inside, only giving a glance at the bass player one last time before entering the building. Nace had a sweet voice, Jan thought.

He decided he would take one step at a time with Nace. There was something in his stomach that told him to be away from him, but he was going to let that feeling win. He was going to fight it. That’s how they began hanging out even outside the shows and eventually…

- Nace, would you like to join the band? – Bojan asked.

They had a meeting before Bojan asked him directly. They wanted to enter Eurovision – a long-time dream – and for that, they needed a bass player. They all agreed Nace had to be the one, but that implied Nace would have to leave the other bands he worked for.

- You have some time to think. – Kris added.

Kris had become closer to Nace too. Almost as close as he was with Jan, but only because they happened to be neighbors. That and Nace was always Kris’ “safe space” when things got too chaotic with the rest of the band. Despite being the youngest, he always acted as the oldest sibling of this family.

- You guys are serious? – Nace asked and everyone nodded – Of course, I want to join!

Bojan was the first one to shake his hand and then throw himself at Nace – clinging like a koala onto him.

That’s when they began their whole Eurovision journey.

The night before their semi-final performance, Kris walked with Jan to his room. Both wanted to say goodnight to each other. It only made sense since they began this journey together. But Jan sensed something was off with the younger who couldn’t stop fidgeting with his hands.

- Nervous? – he asked.

- No. You?

- I am.

- I guess that’s normal.

- What are you thinking about? – Jan glanced at his fingers.

- It’s just…

Kris sighed and rolled his eyes.

- Bojan’s still not back at the hotel. I know he had… I know he was invited to a party with Jere.

- Are you worried he will drink too much?

- No, I know he wouldn’t do it. We agreed on it.

- Then what is it?

Kris stayed quiet for a little longer.

- I’ll be- Actually, no. I’m not fine. – he confessed – It’s weird because I should be happy. I’m at Eurovision! I’m performing at the biggest stage of our lives! I’m doing what I like with my friends. I have a family I love and a girlfriend waiting for me at home-

- “And yet”. – Jan intervened.

Kris didn’t reply.

- Can I ask you something? – Jan waited for Kris’ nod – How are things with Klara?

- Well… not bad. Just. I don’t know. I- Jan, can I ask you something and you promise you won’t laugh or judge me, and you’ll answer with the truth?

Jan nodded. He knew he’d eventually get asked about it.

- Remember when were… 17? 18? Whatever. When the band was broken up, you took me to a… - he lowered his voice – gay bar-

- Oh, for fuck sake, Kris. Grow the fuck up.  GAY BAR! – he shouted.

- Yes! So, you remember it!

- Of course, I remember it.

- And you got me out of there… - he massaged his forehead – I kissed someone there. Who did I kiss, Jan? 

- Do you really want to know?

- Yes! It has been plaguing my mind for years! Please tell me! Do I know him? 

- Don’t do anything stupid, please. – he paused – It was Bojan. 

Jan watched as Kris’ face began changing expression. His frown leaving his forehead, his jaw dropping ever so slowly, his breath hitching.

- What…? – he asked – Jan, I told you to be honest with me.

- I am being honest.

- Jan, is this some fucking joke to you!?

- Kris, I’m not lying!

- Why- Why would I!?

Kris sat on the floor, tears barely being held back.

-Why would you lie about this!? What the fuck is wrong with you…

Jan sat next to him and held him as the tears began flowing down.

- I kissed him? I’ve been in love with one of my best friends for years? Does he even know? Does he know that we… that I… Does he?

Jan kissed his best friend’s temple.

- But… I love Klara too. I think. And now Bojan is off with… I lost him, Jan?

- I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Just… for now, one thing at a time.

He pulled him even more strongly into the embrace and petted his hair.

- You need to rest. – said the older – Tomorrow is a big day. We will make our family and friends proud. The whole country proud. And we have time to help you with those feelings. Not like Bojan is going anywhere.

Jan took him to his room and wished him goodnight. As he headed to his and Jure’s room, he bumped into Nace.

- Good night. – Jan said.

Nace gripped his arm firmly.

- What happened?

- Uh? Nothing happened.

- Jan, I can tell you are not doing well.

- And how would you know that!? – he hissed at him.

The older one sighed and massaged his forehead.

- Jan… I’m just worried.  You don’t have to lash out at me.

Jan looked to the floor. They had made so much progress in the last couple of months, it felt unfair to treat Nace like this.

- You are right. – finally, he said – But I can’t tell you what’s going on. It’s not about me. But I’m all right.

- All right… - Nace let his arm go – Just know that… if you need anything, you know where I’m sleeping at.

Nace pulled him closer and kissed his cheek, cupping his face with his hands.

- Uhm, Nace. Don’t do that.

- Why not?

It’s true that they are comfortable around each other when it comes to physical touch, but one thing is when they do it in private or on stage where there’s a certain barrier that protects them. Here… in the middle of the hallway, there’s nothing.

- Let’s just not… Not here.

- Uhm. I see. – the bass player said, slightly disappointed.

Eurovision went well. In fact, it skyrocketed their careers. But it also broke some relations.

During the summer, Jan was invited to Nace’s home. Nika, his girlfriend, had broken up with him and he needed reassurance. Usually that’s Kris’ job but he was sick, and Jan wasn’t going to leave him alone, nor did he want to. And it was right there and then, in Nace’s apartment, as he took care of Jan’s hands that were burned by hot spilled tea, that Jan accepted his feelings for Nace.

He was utterly in love with Nace. With his kind nature, his caring soul, his brown eyes, his loud laugh, his love for animals… with everything about Nace.

There was one person he wanted to run to tell all about it: Kris.

He didn't get the opportunity to because not long after, Klara too would break up with Kris. After Kris called Jan to tell him about the news, Nace, Jan, and Kris met up at the older’s apartment to have a sleepover.

As they played Uno, Kris threw knowing glances at Jan. Jan had indirectly confessed to him that he had a crush on Nace on the phone, and he was just waiting for the perfect moment to talk about it.

The minute Nace left to go to the bathroom, Kris forgot all about the Uno.

- Nace? What’s your obsession with bass players? – Kris smiled.

- What’s your obsession with “one year older than you” people? – Jan smiled back at him.

- Touché.

It wouldn’t be until January of the following year that Nace and Jan would act upon their feelings.

It happened one day when the two were left alone in the London apartment. Jan kissed Nace in that intimate moment. They decided to get together after that, but Jan asked it to be a secret. Being queer out in the open was something he struggled with and Nace promised to wait for as long as he needed. Thought they did tell the band about it.

The first challenge they had to confront as a couple was Damon’s photoshoot. The Englishman could tell something was up with the two of them. So, he asked to have them together in the shoot.

- You can leave your coats there. – the photographer instructed.

As Damon talked about his ideas for the shoot, Nace held Jan close to ground him. 

- If you feel comfortable, you can kiss too. – Damon said – But you don’t have to! It’s only if you feel okay with it. And I’d consult with you about which photos you want to be posted or not.

They agreed on it. While Damon left them alone inside the shower as he prepared his camera, Jan entangled his pinky finger in Nace’s.

- Are you okay? – Nace asked.

- It’s just the usual fear.

“The fear of being mistreated for being queer”, Jan thought. Nace threw him a knowing glance.

- I’m here to protect you.

- Nace, you can’t kill a single fly.

- Listen, flies are interesting. You’d be surprised by the amount of fly species there are.

Jan chuckled at that. He loves his animal nerd.

- Ready? – asked Damon.

- Ready. – they both replied.

After they got a couple of shots taken, they closed the distance between each other. Their eyes met each other, their noses touched, their mouths were centimeters apart and it seemed as if the word had stopped. As if no one would hurt them, as if they could show all the love they have for each other out in the open.

Damon didn’t ask anything out of them, but a couple of seconds of them staring at each other led them to kiss. They kissed as if they had never loved anyone.

There was one song playing in the background. Marco Mengoni’s Due Vite.

Turn off the light though you may not feel like it Let's stay in the dark enveloped only by the sound of the voice Beyond the madness that dances in every thing Two lives, look at the mess

Jan’s fingers traced Nace’s cheeks, and he left marks with his nails that scratched the surface. Nace’s hands were on his hair, pulling ever so slightly. And they smiled at how clumsy it was. They were just discovering each other after all. And that journey of discovery lasted months and months on end.

Now, they aren’t clumsy anymore. Jan has scratched Nace up and down and knows what he likes. Nace learned how to pull Jan’s hair just the right way. Now, they wake up next to each other, in each other’s embrace.

Jan is the first to wake up, this time. He checks his phone and scrolls over to a particular phone conversation.

Fran: Listen, I wouldn’t personally do it so soon, but I also know what kind of person you are. I’m sure he’s going to love it. You are an amazing guy, lil crazy at times, but I’m 100% sure he’s into that. So, go for it, Jan.

Fran: For me, it was the best decision of my life

Fran: Actually, I’d say it marked the beginning of my new life

Fran: I’m sure you’ll feel the same too

Jan Peteh: Grazie, Fran

Fran: Here for whatever you need! :)

Jan felt an arm pulling him closer and a breath close to his neck.

- Good morning. – Nace said with his sleepy deep voice – What time is it?

- Early.

- How Early?

- Around 11 am.

- That’s not early, Jan. – he smiled.

- Nace.

Jan said his name with such conviction the older one opened his eyes and sat on the bed.

- Is something wrong? – he asked.

- No. – Jan reached for Nace’s hand – Everything’s fine. More than fine. – he let out a chuckle – I just… I’ve been doing some thinking. Uhm. You don’t have to take this to seriously, but.

Nace’s eyes followed Jan’s movements. His hands reached for his bedside table and he took out what looked like a small black box.

- Uhm, so I was thinking that, you are really important to me and there’s no one else I’d rather be around with it. I can’t imagine anyone else. What I’m saying is… - he opened the box – Mister Jordan, will you make me the happiest man in the world and-

- Yes! – Nace said sealing Jan’s lips with a kiss.

- Really? Isn’t it too soon?

- Maybe? A little? But I’m also in my thirties.

- Shit, never mind you are old. – Jan joked and Nace lightly hit him with the elbow – Hey!

- What I am saying is… We are already grown and we don’t have to get married right away, but we can be engaged for as long as it takes us to get to it.

- So you don’t want to marry me? – said Jan ironically with a huge smile on his face that was wiped off by Nace kissing him.

- There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side for the rest of my life. You are my guitarist after all.

- Uhm… I see…

- Do you think the pets will get along?

- Oh, they better.

- Now… I feel like I should give you something to commemorate. - Nace smirked.

- Oh, like what?

- I think we could do a reenact of last night’s events, but this time, I’ll be on top.

- Oh, you have no idea how I’d love that.

♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩

Underwhelming ending? Who said that?

Don't worry about it everyone.... because I have one final fic planned to wrap up this universe :)

and then I can finally do the sailor moon au yayyyy

But it will probably be posted... next year ;)

Polaroid Photos Universe | Recommended next: A sem ti povedal

[aristocraticvision]

I know it's been quite some time, but I was wondering whether anyone was still interested in seeing the continuation of my Oceana stories? It's a lot of work, so if not, I'll move on -- but if so, I'll consider starting back up again as we get into the holidays. Thanks!

[blue-aconite]

let me drown || chapter III - bradley’s summer part III

Summary: People aren't always what they seem.

Warnings: Allusions to smut, jealousy, swearing, angst, cheating, drinking

Word Count: 6.3k

Pairings: Bradley Bradshaw x OC

Authors Note: It’s here. Enjoy. Minors DNI. Each chapter will be labelled with warnings individually.

Thank you to my amazing beta @writercole​, this fic wouldn’t be what it is without you. I love you.

Virginia, Oceana Naval Air Station, Summer 2018

Bradley slammed on the brakes a bit harder than necessary, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel too tight. Thea was quiet in the passenger seat, playing with the hem of her jean shorts as he sat in silence in the driveway. 

Dinner had been tense, to say the least. Bradley’s mood had only gotten worse as Athena continued to pester them. At first she had taken an interest in Thea, asking her all sorts of questions. It was innocent enough but Bradley knew there was nothing innocent about his WSO. He had kept quiet though, hand resting on Thea’s knee as she answered Athena’s rapid questions.

Bob and Hangman had seemed oblivious to the tension at first, eager to catch up since they last saw each other. Bradley hated how well they seemed to get along. Like Hangman and Bob were actual friends. It felt wrong. Hangman wasn’t a friendly guy and Bob should know that. Especially if they spent months together on a carrier. He couldn’t exactly put his thumb on why it bothered him so much, but it did.

Hangman and Bob eventually ran out of things to talk about and turned their attention to Thea. To his dismay, his girlfriend and Hangman got along like two peas in a pod. Bradley hated it. He hated how Hangman made her laugh, trading life stories like they’ve known each other for more than an hour. And he hated the way Hangman looked at her. He shouldn’t be looking at her at all. Thea was taken. She was Bradley’s girlfriend and Hangman had the audacity to flirt with her when Bradley was sitting right next to them.

Bob hadn’t interfered, smiling and sharing anecdotes from his and Hangman’s time together. Bradley hated that too. Nobody had seemed to care that Bradley wasn’t really a part of the conversation. Nobody except Athena. She spared him the occasional glance, something vicious dancing across her features each time he caught her watching. 

When Athena then veered into more intimate details of his and Thea’s relationship, Bradley slammed a fist on the table and told her to stay out of it. His outburst startled the occupants of the table, as well as several other patrons of the restaurant. He had excused himself to the bathroom for a chance to calm down. He hoped that Athena would keep her mouth shut while he was gone. 

There had been a tentative knock on the door, Thea was hovering outside the door, worry etched onto her face. He stepped out of the bathroom, refusing to meet her eyes. 

“Are you okay?” She asked as he closed the bathroom door behind him, not bothering to answer her as he tugged her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. “Bradley, please, what’s wrong?”

“Can we just go home?” He had asked instead of answering Thea’s questions. He wanted to go home, wrap Thea up in his arms and never let go. She sweetly told him to head for the car while she said goodbye, never the one to push. 

The drive home had been quiet, Bradley’s anger still rushing through him. Thea shifted uncomfortably the entire way, opening and closing her mouth several times but never saying anything. 

She exited the car and Bradley wondered for a split second if he should go back to base but Thea called out his name, stopping in the doorway. “Are you sleeping in the car tonight or what?”

He followed her into the bedroom and they got ready for bed in silence. At least she wanted him here. Thea was already in bed when he exited the bathroom, phone pressed to her ear. 

“Yeah okay. Tell them sorry for cutting dinner short. ‘Kay, I will. I love you, goodnight.” The term of endearment threw him for a loop until he realised she was probably talking to Bob. He got under the covers, desperately wishing he could just pull her into his arms. 

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Thea kept her eyes trained on the ceiling, fingers fidgeting on top of the duvet. Bradley doesn’t know exactly what’s going on so he settled for the one thing he did know. 

“I didn’t like the way he looked at you.” It’s childish and he knows it but it’s also true.

Thea frowned, turning onto her side to study his face. “What do you mean?” Bradley isn’t going to insult her by asking how she could have missed the obvious.

“Hangman. He looked at you.” Bradley’s tongue darted out to wet his lips, taking a deep breath. He could see Thea’s hand moving in the corner of his eye and when she made contact with his naked skin, he sucked in another breath.

“Babe, we were talking. Of course he was looking at me. Would have been quite rude not to.” She poked his side, trying to lighten the mood. 

“He didn’t need to look at you like that,” He whispered. 

Thea inched closer. “Like what Brad?” Her lips pressed against his bicep, ghosting over his skin.

“Like he wanted you.”

Thea barked out a laugh, coughing when she realised he was serious and didn't find the whole thing amusing. “Oh honey. He was being polite. That’s all. And even if he did look at me like that, it doesn’t matter. All I want is you.” Thea crawled on top of him, kissing his nose when she settled on his chest. When he didn’t answer, she continued to press kisses to his face, tongue darting out to trace his bottom lip.

Flipping them over was easy and Thea gasped his name when he pressed her into the mattress. He lets his hands roam, enjoying the way she shuddered when his fingers traced along the waistband of her underwear. Her touch faltered as his hand skimmed over her shirt clad stomach, their foreheads pressed together. 

“Please.” He whispered against the hollow of her throat, lips finding her skin. He pulled back to look into her eyes, repeating his plea. It’s a cheap shot but he could try. She hesitated and Brad decided to throw caution to the wind as he pressed his hips closer. 

“Thea. Please, I want you. Say you want me too. Say you’re mine.” He begged. Tell me you belong to me. Tell me you don’t want anyone else. Tell me I am the only one. Tell me you don’t want him.

 “I love you, Thea.” He tried again, leaning back slightly. An uncomfortable tightness grew in his chest, very much unlike the tightness of his boxers. Her silence sent him into a downward spiral of doubt and insecurities, hands reaching inside his chest and squeezing his heart. 

“Brad. Bradley. Look at me.” As if she could sense his panic, Thea reached up to frame his face, thumbs stroking his cheeks. “Promise me this isn’t because of what happened tonight. Promise me what you’re saying is how you really feel.”

“Of course it’s real.” It’s also so Athena would leave him alone but Thea didn’t need to know that. She didn’t need to know about the bet. But he did love her, so much he thinks there’s no room for him to feel anything else than this overwhelming need to constantly be with her. 

“I love you, too, Bradley.” He didn't need to hear more, reaching down to press their lips together. Thea reached blindly for the light, the room descending into darkness as he slowly pulled the shirt over her head. 

“I’m yours Bradley. I want you.”

“Nice of you to skip out on the bill, dickhead.” Was Athena’s way of joining the conversation he and Bob currently was involved in. The bar was packed with people, nothing new for a Friday night but Bradley had hoped to avoid Athena tonight. Even if he had made good on the bet, Bradley had hoped a single text would suffice and then everything could go back to normal. 

He was nursing his fourth beer when his backseater joined him and Thea’s brother at the bar.

“I said I was sorry. And we did pay you back.” Bradley muttered, rolling his eyes. Athena waved down the bartender, asking for a beer, eyeing Bradley up and down. 

Bob smiled politely when she joined them, munching on a few peanuts. “Isn’t Hangman here? We were talking about going to the golf course before dinner ended.” He angled the cup of peanuts towards her, a silent offer. 

“No, he’s meeting someone tonight I think.” There it was again, the white hot jealousy igniting within him every time they mentioned Seresin. Everything about the man infuriated Bradley. His friendship with Bob, the very obvious way he looked at Thea. 

“Well, I’ll see him tomorrow. You up for some golf Rooster?” Bob’s invitation was genuine but Bradley could think of a hundred other things to do before meeting Hangman again. He swallowed a mouthful of beer before answering.

“Sorry, but I’ve got some solo simulations to run.” There was no need to mention that he’d never played a single game of golf in his life, except on Wii. He detested the sport, there wasn’t anything remotely fun about it.

Bob smiled brightly, so like Thea’s smile. “Yeah, Thea mentioned that earlier when we spoke. Sorry man, totally forgot.”

Bob downed the last of his water before bidding them goodnight, citing that he and Seresin planned to meet up early the next day. 

Athena pounced the moment he was gone, turning towards Bradley with a wicked glint in her eye. “So? Tomorrow’s the deadline, Bradshaw. Sealed the deal yet? If not, we could always call Jake. He’d be down to fuck her in a second, she’s all he’s talked about since dinner.” As always, she pushed the right buttons and Bradley forced himself to let go of his bottle before he broke it. 

“Fuck him. I saw the way he was looking at her. She’s mine. Tell him to back to fuck off,” Bradley paused, letting out a heavy breath. “I did it. So you can back off now.” 

“Nice. Honestly, I didn't think you had it in you chicken. I’m proud. Next round’s on me.” Athena smacked his arm, looking way too pleased. Bradley had a feeling she wasn’t going to behave any different. Before he could say something, Orca and Spot showed up, nodding their hellos.

“What is this I hear about you buying Simons? What did we miss?” 

“Bet Bradshaw here free drinks forever if he fucked lil Floyd within three weeks.” Bradley choked on his beer, patting his own chest to get rid of the fluid in his throat. He turned to Athena, anger coursing through his veins. What the fuck was she doing?

“Hey look at that, big man Bradshaw. Good for you. Was she any good? She looks like she’s good.” Orca nudged his side, filthy smile in place, his blue eyes shining with interest. Bradley had every intention of walking away from the conversation but Athena clucked quietly under her breath, making crude gestures with her hands. 

Spot grimaced, looking around the packed bar. “Tone it down man. What if Floyd hears? Don’t think he would appreciate listening to how Bradshaw railed his little sister.” He ended his sentence with a laugh, proudly accepting the high five from both Athena and Orca. 

“Come on Rooster, share. She’s a pretty thing, isn’t she? She’s like a damn princess, all happy and shit.” Athena mocked, waving down the bartender for another round. Bradley sighed audibly, taking another gulp of his beer. 

Orca and Spot laughed in tandem, making kissy faces at him. “Bradshaw, don’t go all shy on us now.”

“Maybe she was terrible. Fuck chicken, is that it? It was bad, wasn’t it? Fuck, I knew I should have let Hangman loose. You should have seen them at dinner. There were fumes coming out of this one's ears.” Athena patted Bradley on the arm. All three of them were laughing now, trading insults. 

Bradley wasn’t drunk but he had consumed enough beers to have his judgement clouded. And when Athena once again mentioned Hangman, and his very obvious attraction to Bradley’s girlfriend, he had enough. 

“Fuck you, Athena. Hangman isn’t coming anywhere near my girl, ever. And for your information, I fucked her until she cried. So shut the fuck up.”

Orca thumped him on the back, hooting wildly. “Hell yeah Rooster. Good man!” For a split second, pride filled Bradley and he joined in the laughter, reaching for another beer. 

“Guess I misjudged you then, Bradshaw. As promised, I’ll back off.”

“Damn right you will,” he spat. “And no mention of any of this to anyone else, you understand? Any of you. I will make sure you’re all grounded.”

“Grounded for what?” Bob asked as he appeared over Bradley’s shoulder. 

All eyes turned to Bradshaw as he squeezed his eyes shut for a second before turning to his girlfriend’s brother. “Nothing.”

There was a look on Bob’s face that said he knew more than he was letting on but Bradshaw was too impaired to begin to interpret it correctly. “Mhmm,” Bob hummed as he turned to the rest of the group. “I’m gonna head out. Behave, don’t make me come back to pick up any of you drunks.”

The group bid goodbye to the WSO and turned back to Bradshaw, the looks on their faces begging for details. Unfortunately for him, he was just drunk enough to give them what they wanted.

When Bradley woke the next morning, Thea’s side of the bed was empty and his head was killing him. Rolling over slowly, he spotted a glass of water and Advil on the nightstand, a note laying next to them.

Babe,

Golfing with Bob this morning, didn’t want to wake you. You came back pretty late last night. Drink plenty of water, there’s food in the fridge.

I love you, Thea

Guilt coursed through him as he remembered last night and how he had bragged about their sex life with the rest of his squadron. It was a private matter and he felt threatened enough by Athena to spill details that weren't his to share. Bile rose in the back of his throat and he threw off the covers before sprinting to the bathroom, emptying the contents of his stomach into the toilet. 

He heaved until there was nothing left, disgust and shame mixing with the hangover, filling his entire body. How could he have felt even a tiny bit proud last night as he shared the most intimate details of his and Thea’s relationship? How could he once again let Athena influence him? Each time he tried to step away, Athena was there, shoving another drink in his hand, mocking him quietly, out of earshot of the others. 

Part of him had wanted to tell her how Thea was a thousand times better than Athena could ever hope to be, how he had never had what he and Thea shared while Athena and he fooled around. The other part wanted her to leave him alone, as promised. 

Bradley sat back against the bathtub, head in his hands. He only had himself to blame for this. If he was lucky enough, his squad would keep their mouths shut and word would never get back to Bob about last night. He’d rather avoid a fist to the face. And either way, Bob was playing golf with Hangman today, so he wouldn’t be around the guys anyway.

Bradley frowned, swallowing thickly as he sluggishly moved back to the bedroom, reaching for Thea’s note. ‘Golfing with Bob this morning’ stared back at him, the nauseous pit in his stomach making itself known again. 

If Thea was off with Bob this morning, it also meant she was hanging out with Hangman. Bradley crumpled the note in his hand, trying to calm his anger bubbling to the surface. 

After Bradley had explicitly told Thea that Hangman wanted her, looked at her, even though she was with Bradley, she had gone off to spend the day with him. Without telling Bradley about it. She had deliberately kept it from him. Before he had left for the bar last night, he asked about her plans and Thea had just told him she was going to stay at home and catch up on chores.

Now she was off, meeting the one man Bradley had warned her off from. How could she? Maybe it had been her plan all along. Maybe Bob wasn’t even there, maybe it was just an excuse so she could meet Seresin alone. 

Thea had told Bradley she loved him four nights prior but if she could lie about this, who knew if what she had told him that night was true? He was spiralling, mind going over every possible scenario. How Hangman probably had his hands on what was his right this second, how Thea had lied to him. 

The ping of his phone interrupted his train of thought, alerting him to a new message. Scrambling, he pushed off the floor only to see Athena’s name flashing across the screen. It’s a picture attached in the text message and Bradley felt like vomiting again. In the picture, clearly taken from a distance, Thea is laughing, head thrown back and her hand on Hangman’s arm, matching smile on his face. Bob is there too but Bradley can’t tear his eyes from how she’s touching him. 

Another message pops up beneath the picture. ‘Lookin’ cosy, don’t they?’ appears first and the three dots indicate that Athena is still typing. Fury fills his veins as she sends another picture, this time of Hangman and Thea getting into the same car, Hangman’s hand on her wrist. 

Bradley threw the phone across the room, watching the screen crack as it hit the wall. His heart pounded against his ribcage, blood rushing to his head as he tried to control his breathing. 

Somewhere he could hear the front door opening, Thea calling his name. Was she checking to see if the condo was empty? Was Hangman waiting in the car? Did she bring him here, thinking Bradley had already gone back to base.

“Brad?” He looked up to see Thea hovering in the doorway, concern written all over her face. “Babe, you look awful. Have you eaten?” She moved towards him but stopped short when Bradley stumbled to his feet, fire burning in his veins. 

“Is he here?” He spat, nostrils flaring as he stared her down. He wouldn’t let her lie to him anymore. 

Thea looked genuinely confused. “Is who here? Bob dropped me off but he couldn’t stay. Didn’t you see my note?”

“Oh I saw plenty!” Bradley laughed harshly. He moved then, bending down to grab his phone. The screen was cracked in three places but it miraculously still worked. He punched in the code, Thea’s birthday, opening his messages. The picture of her and Hangman getting into a car together lit up the screen. 

“This! I saw this. What the fuck is going on? Why were you with him?” He showed the phone in her face, the pictures that Athena sent him on the display. Bradley watched her face closely as she studied the phone, brows furrowing.

“Babe, I told you. Bob invited me for a round of golf and Jake was there too. Apparently they’ve played together before and me and Bob always used to play back home. Bobby said he invited you too. He said you declined.”

Bradley snorted. “Yeah, and you obviously found that particular opportunity very good. A whole fucking day, alone with him!” Tired of being cooped up in the bedroom, he shoved past Thea and headed for the kitchen. 

“An opportunity? Brad, that doesn’t even make sense. And Bob was there too? I don’t understand why you hate Jake so much. He’s been nothing but kind.” Her footsteps alerted him that he was being followed. 

Bradley spun on his heel, making Thea smack right into him. “HE HAD HIS HANDS ON YOU!” The force of his voice made Thea take a step back, eyes wide. Bradley watched as confusion crossed her face, mouth opening and closing. She was stalling for time. To come up with yet another lie.

Brad swore, jaw clenching. “I saw you two. You let him touch you. You’re mine and you let him touch you!”

Thea blinked, lower lip quivering. “Babe, what are you talking about?” He fumbled for the phone again, showing her the other photo Athena sent.

“Brad.. where did you even get this? Look, he was joking about something, okay? I don’t understand why you’re so upset. We played and then we had lunch. Bobby drove me home afterwards.”

She’s lying. If she had sounded guilty, Bradley might have had believed her but all she did was sound confused. Probably to throw him off.

“Stop, just stop! Just admit you clearly came along just so you could see him. Tell me, did you plan this? When I went to the bathroom during dinner maybe, hm? Did you plan to meet up with him, and then let me fuck you the same night? You feel good now, when you’ve had us both?” He couldn’t stop, not now. Bradley needed to know the truth. The tears on Thea’s face might have hurt less if he wasn’t so angry, so filled with disgust and jealousy. 

“Had you both? Bradley, there’s nothing between Jake and me. I love you. There isn’t anyone else.” She cried. Her tears did nothing to stop him. 

“STOP LYING TO ME! JUST ADMIT YOU FUCKED HIM!” Bradley slammed his hand down on the counter, rattling the items on there. Thea shied away instantly, backing up until her body hit the wall. Bradley didn’t care, continuing his rant. “Was he good? Better than me? ANSWER!” 

Thea pressed closer against the wall, sobs catching in her throat. “Please stop. Brad, please.” When he stayed quiet, Thea took a deep breath and straightened up. 

“Look at me Bradley. Look at me. I don’t understand why you would think there’s anything between Jake and me. I’m with you. Okay? I’m right here. I love you. So please, just stop, just -“. 

“SHUT UP!” Bradley grabbed the nearest item, hurling it towards the wall. He realised his mistake a moment too late as the glass crashed into the wall, Thea’s hand flying up to cover her mouth. The fear in her eyes was evident and Bradley immediately backtracked. He tried to apologise, moving towards her at the same time.

“Don’t.” Thea held out a hand, stopping him in his tracks. 

Bradley’s hands shook as he tried to reach for her but she moved away, further from him. “I said don’t.” 

He tried to say her name but Thea only shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. “I think you should go. You need to cool down.”

Her voice is quiet, barely above a whisper but Bradley heard her. The anger was still burning and he scoffed, reaching for his keys. “Sure. I’ll go. Don’t forget to text Seresin that I’m gone so he can swoop in.” 

He turned on his heels, collecting his phone and jacket on his way out. Thea moved, asking him to stop it and just calm down. But he knows he’ll do something he’s going to regret, so Bradley opts for slamming the door behind him, rattling the windows.  

He pulled out of the driveway, knuckles white as  he tried to control his breathing. He arrived at Parlor Bar before his mind caught up and for a moment he sat in silence in the car. He should go back, get on his knees and apologise. Wrap her up in his arms and never let go. But Seresin’s hand on her stays in the front of his mind and with that, Bradley made up his mind. He needed a drink. 

“Well, if it ain’t Bradshaw. What’s got you down?” Athena mocked as she joined him at the bar. Bradley is already 5 beers in and not interested in entertaining her. Thea’s betrayal still stings and he downed the rest of his beer, signalling the bartender for another. Athena ordered a beer as well, leaning back in her seat. He didn’t answer her so his WSO made her own conclusions. “Aw, did you and the princess have a fight?” 

Bradley swivelled around on his stool, beer spilling from the glass. “Fuck off. Leave me alone. This is all your fault.”

Athena snorted, taking a sip of her beer. “I fail to see how it is. I delivered on my end. You fucked lil Floyd, and I backed off. If there’s a problem in paradise, I’m pretty sure it’s your fault, Rooster.”

“You did this. You forced me into accepting the bet.” Rooster argued, anger bubbling over. The bartender backed away after sliding an Old Fashioned in front of him and Bradley swept it down with one gulp. 

"FORCED you?" Athena scoffed, a mirthless laugh following. "Bradshaw I didn't force you to do anything. Everything you did was on your own. Did I taunt you? Yeah. But you're a fucking Navy pilot, jackass. You should be above that. Guess they were wrong about you too."

Bradley stood suddenly, the stool rocking on its legs before clattering to the floor. "You fucking bitch. You can't handle the attention not being on you for three seconds and I'm the one who should be above it?" 

Athena chuckled again, a mischief flashing in her eyes before she bit her lip and closed the distance between them. "You think I'm jealous of her? You think I’m jealous of your unicorn princess? You think I didn't have attention? Bradley, I've even had your attention this whole time."

"You fucking liar," Bradley spat. The room was spinning slightly, the amounts of alcohol he’s downed in rapid succession making itself known.  

"Maybe," she smirked as her hands settled on his hips before one hand skimmed his waistline and down his zipper. "Or maybe you're trying to lie to yourself."

Bradley hadn't even realised his cock had hardened in his pants while he was fuming at his coworker. Neediness overtook him at that point, fueled by the alcohol coursing through his veins, nearly enough to have him seeing double. Flashes of Hangman touching Thea in his mind, touching his girlfriend, was enough. He crashed his lips to Athena’s and pressed his length further into her hand. "Your room. Now. Fucking whore."

Waking up hungover two days in a row hadn’t been Bradley’s plans for the weekend, yet he awoke feeling like he’d been trampled by a herd of elephants, throat drier than the Sahara Desert. Trying desperately to fight the nausea, Bradley rolled out of bed while shielding his eyes from the bright life, trying to navigate his way to the bathroom. 

His head was pounding and he didn't remember how he even got home. After the fight, he hadn’t believed Thea would even let him inside the house, nevermind back into her bed. Regret flowed through his body and the pit in his stomach grew. A movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention and he thanked every God there was for Thea letting him back inside. 

He stumbled into the dresser, cursing as his foot caught on the bottom of it. There shouldn’t be a dresser there, Thea had hers by the entrance, not the door to the bathroom. Bradley stopped in his endeavour to reach the bathroom and rubbed his eyes, looking around the room. 

A flash of panic went through him as Bradley realised this was not Thea’s bedroom. The silhouette of the body buried beneath the blankets moved, only to reveal the last person Bradley wanted to see. Athena.

His heartbeat accelerated, bile rising in his throat as he spotted his clothes strewn across the room, Athena’s naked body among the sheets. Pieces of the night before flashed before his eyes. 

“No no no,” Bradley whispered, something foul and ugly building within him, “Fuck!”

He reached down to collect his clothes, trying to escape before she woke but the nausea wouldn't let him. Bradley sank to the floor, back against the wall as he tried to desperately stop the tears. His phone is buzzed in the pocket of the jeans, the cracked screen lightning up with Thea’s name. The bile returned again and Bradley scrambled to his feet and rushed into the bathroom before emptying his stomach over the toilet. After heaving what alcohol was left in his system, Bradley struggled to his feet, hands grasped at the sink.

What the fuck was he going to do?

“Good morning sunshine. You look like you’ve had better days.” Athena appeared in the doorway. He felt sick as he looked at her. More memories of last night popped up, his hands on her body, her mouth on his skin. He coughed violently, his throat still dry despite emptying the contents of his stomach moments before. 

His face twisted. “What time is it?” 

“Closer to lunch. Thanks for last night by the way. Nice to know the unicorn princess hadn’t turned you into a saint.” Bradley couldn’t stop the tears from falling when she mentioned Thea. 

His heartbreak turned into anger when Athena laughed. “Oh, does the prince need a tissue, hm?”

“Fuck you.” He fumed, turning on shaking legs to look at her. Athena grinned, tongue darting out to wet her lips. 

“You already did, if you don’t remember. I honestly thought it would prove to be a challenge to get you into bed, but you went oh so easily. Now, tell me. Who is better? Me or your little girlfriend?” 

Bradley bit back his response as her words reached him. Get into bed?

“You planned this.”

Athena scoffed, leaning against the doorframe. “I wouldn’t say that it was a plan. You’ve always been so easy to manipulate, Bradshaw. I just had to press the right buttons. I did think you would change after meeting her but it seems like you’re just the same,” she pauses for a second, taking in his reaction, “honestly, I just wanted to see if I could.”

Bradley opened his mouth but words failed him. Athena took two steps, invading his personal space but his feet refused to move, frozen to the spot.

She patted his cheek. “Thank you for your service, Lieutenant. You can see yourself out.” 

He had hoped Thea wouldn’t be home when he finally made his way over to her place, but luck wasn’t on his side. 

“Brad, oh good, you’re back. Listen, I feel awful about what happened. I need you to know that nothing is going on between Jake and me. Okay? I’m with you and I love you. There’s no one else. He’s just a friend. And he didn’t do anything remotely close to flirting with me. Bob was there the entire time, you can ask him. Just.. please, I don’t want us to fight.” 

Thea kept rambling and he felt sick to his stomach. “Thea, babe.. I am so sorry.” 

She paused for a moment. “Thank you. I understand that you were angry but your words really hurt me. I don’t understand why you don’t trust me.” The sadness in her voice brought a wave of anguish. Bradley knew he needed to tell her, but how could he when she was trying to fix his mess?

“I do trust you.” Is the only thing he can say. He does trust her. His own insecurities are at fault here, his own stupidity and inability to deal with his emotions. 

“Okay, good. Uh, you kind of stink. Sorry. Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll make some food and we can talk more.” Thea is already moving around the kitchen, pulling out various ingredients from the pantry. 

“I’m so sorry.” He says again, not knowing what else to say.

“And I forgive you babe. I just want this to be over, okay?” Thea mixed the eggs into the pancake batter, eyes trained on the stove.

Bradley swallowed thickly. “I made a mistake.”

Thea slowed her movements. “What do you mean?”

 Bradley bit his bottom lip, sniffling quietly. 

“After you told me to get out yesterday, I went for a drink. At Parlor Bar. You told me to calm down, so I went for a beer. I thought it would help.” 

Thea pushed the batter to the side. “Okay. Like I said, I can smell it on you. It’s fine Brad.”

“No it’s not. It’s everything but fine!” Bradley wailed, rising to his full height. His heart plummeted to his stomach as Thea’s face fell. 

“What’s going on?”

Bradley hiccuped, wiping away the tears with the back of his hand. “Athena showed up. At the bar. She figured out that we fought. Uh, I had a lot to drink. I was still angry, and jealous. God, I was so jealous. He’s everything I’m not, you know? And seeing you two together just bugged me, I-”

“Bradley.” His name falling from her lips stopped him in his tracks. It’s cold and harsh. 

Thea choked up, hurt painted across her face. “What did you do?”

“I’m so sorry.”

She’s quiet for a long time, long enough to make him fidget uncomfortably.

“Did you sleep with her? Did you fuck her?” In the short time they’ve been together, Bradley has never heard her speak like this. He keeps quiet, his eyes trained on the floor.

“Answer the fucking question, Bradley! Did you sleep with her?” Thea’s voice shook, the trembling of her voice breaking his heart in the process. 

“Yes.” 

Thea laughed, the betrayal swimming in her eyes. “So after you accused me of sleeping with Jake, after you asked me if I felt good about something I hadn’t even done, you decided that the best course of action was to fuck your ex?”

Bradley leapt from his place against the kitchen counter. “I was wrong, okay?” He paused, swallowing hard. “Sweetheart, listen, it didn’t mean anything. She didn’t mean anything. It was a mistake. I was drunk, and I was angry and -” He fumbled for the right words, trying to fix the mess he had created. 

“I TRUSTED YOU! I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING BRADLEY! One fight and you run back into her arms?” Thea dipped her head back as she sniffled and tried to stop the tears. His heart broke as she cried, taking a step back as he approached. 

“Sweetheart…-” Bradley tried to reach for Thea but she pushed him away. 

“Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare touch me after you’ve been with her.” Her hands trembled, with anger or betrayal, Bradley didn’t know. All he knew was that she slipped further from him with each second. He had to make amends. 

“Did it mean so little to you?” Thea whispered. “Did I?”

“No. You’re everything. I love you.” Bradley didn’t know what else to say at this point. At first, he thought that maybe she would forgive him but after her reaction, he knew that it’s over. 

Thea laughed through her tears. They’re standing on opposite sides of the kitchen but the distance between them feels bigger. “If that was true, you wouldn’t have slept with her. You don’t do this to someone you love.”

Bradley’s chin meets his chest, head hanging low. “I’m sorry. If I could take it back, I would.” 

“Stop saying you’re sorry. It won’t fix this.”

“What can I do? Please, tell me what to do.” He pleaded, trying to round the island but stayed back as she shied away from him. “Please.”

She huffed at his words. “You can’t do anything, Brad. It’s already done.” 

“Thena, honey, please…-” 

She looked up, hands balling into fists by her sides. The hurt in Thea’s eyes slowly burned into anger, her mouth twisting in disbelief and fury. “What did you just call me?” Fuck. 

“Babe..-”

“We’re done.” Thea spat, face twisted in pain. There was an odd calmness in her voice and Bradley hated it. He wished she would scream at him. It would have felt better.

“You know, I’ve given you every part of myself. All of me. I trusted you. And in return, you’ve broken all those parts,” Thea whispered. Bradley cried, wishing desperately that he could turn back the time. 

“Get out. This,” she pointed back and forth between them, “Is over.” 

Bradley looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red and puffy. He looked as hollow as he felt. His image mocked him, a cruel smile twisted on his face. 

His fist made contact with the glass before he could think about it. Blood mixed with glass crashed to the floor but it was only a dull ache compared to agony in his heart. It was overwhelming and he needed to feel something, anything else. With a swipe of his arm, he shoved the objects in his desk to the ground. He watched as they broke but it didn’t make him feel any better. 

All he could think of was Thea’s face. The tears on her face, her anger and the betrayal he had committed. The damage was done, there was nothing he could do to fix this.

Bradley’s hands shook as he reached for his phone. He knocked over the bottle of Jack that sat on his nightstand but paid it little attention. 

With trembling fingers he punched in a number he hadn’t called in years. As he waited, he both wished for the person on the other end to pick up and not pick up. He didn’t even know if this was the right number anymore. 

“Hello? Captain Mitchell speaking.”

Bradley let out a sob. He’d almost forgotten what Pete sounded like. He swallowed hard before answering. 

“It’s me. It’s Bradley. I’ve fucked up, I need your help.”

Taglist: @wildbornsiren​ @therebeccaw @imjess-themess @antiquitea @fuckyeahhangman @writercole @hederasgarden @yanna-banana @wkndwlff @bobfloydsbabe @hollandorks @anniesocsandgeneralstore @ereardon @luminousnotmatter @roosterscock @thedroneranger @fandomxpreferences @top-hhun @princessmisery666 @bradshawsbitch​ @princessphilly @a-reader-and-a-writer @green-socks @angstybluejay @seresinhangmanjake @ayorooster​@notroosterbradshaw​ @indynerdgirl @gigisimsonmars @girl-in-the-chairs-void @bradshawbabes @unhinged-btch @horseshoegirl @sadpetalsstuff @bradshawbaby @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @ummjustfics​ @septemberrie​ @somenamewithepineapple​ @seresinsweetie​​ @crescentwolf​ @seresinhangmanjake​ @sylviebell​ @waklman​ @roosterforme​ @rosiahills22​ @dempy​ @i0veless​ @ilovewriting06​ @genius2050​ @demxters @amortentiadrops @teacupsandtopgun @hangmanscoming​

[rubyzbestbluuee]

hiiiii guyuyysss

if i can convince my school to let me use Wattpad again then im gonna continue the Foreign Parasite AU story :33

also, I AM BACK!!!!! :D

hi :3

priorities list (in no particular order):

Oceana [My second Minecraft mod]

Poll results drawings [i have been too busy to draw them.]

Art requests [When people give me them, PLEASE I NEED ART REQUESTS I'M OUT OF IDEAS 😭😭 I HAVE AN ENTIRE POST ABOUT IT LINKED ON MY PINNED]

Finding my sanity /j

Drawing old characters

Swimming

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

anyways im sure you guys are happy im back :3

you'll get more scrumptious art to eat and maybe stories to read

do i remember anything else i needed to do? nope, feel free to remind me tho

SEEYA SOON >:3

[the-sky-queen]

Since the @sonic-au-collision reblogged my Render art from yesterday, I thought it would be fun to do a little post explaining what With Great Power Comes is to anyone interested!

With Great Power Comes AU is a Sonic Prime AU and it asks the question of what happened in the Shatterspaces after Sonic and Shadow went home? And where were the variants of Sonic and Shadow this whole time?

The AU is split up into three main parts for the different Shatterspaces. I have plans for a fourth part, but it's not really developed yet.

Part 1: A Spark Soaring Down Through the Pouring Rain - the New Yolk story. This one follows Nine, who didn't stay behind in the Grim and instead went back to the city to help the Resistance drive off the Chaos Council for good. He very quickly discovers Momentum, Sonic's counterpart here, who has been a mobian slave since he was four years old. Nine vows to not only set him free, but help rehabilitate him afterwards. In a sense, Nine is trying to repay all the ways Sonic helped him. Along the way, Nine meets Render, Shadow’s counterpart and a computer program that the Council is using as their new enforcer. There's a whole mystery going on with him, but I won't spoil it. :D This part is the most developed right now, currently sitting at 8 chapters. Go check it out!

Part 2: We Disappoint, We Disappear, We Die But We Don't - the Bosscage Maze story. This one follows Thorn as it's revealed that she knew Lark, Sonic’s counterpart here, before the events of the show, but they had falling out and she hasn't seen him since. Miraculously, Lark shows back up one day, but he collapses on the spot. It becomes clear quickly that someone did something to Lark that caused him to pass out, but who? Thorn, Lark, and the Scavengers need to figure that out before it's too late. (The Shadow variant, Oleander, hasn't shown up yet, but he's cool. He's half plant!) This part is currently sitting at only 2 chapters, but I'll be focusing on it more once part 1 is finished. Also, if you like Sonamy, this is the story for you, because Thorn and Lark are a couple and they are adorable!

Part 3: The Difficult Balance Between A Blessing And A Curse - the No Place story. This one sadly isn't posted at all yet, as I've had to rework it a couple of times, but here's the basics. The crew of the Kraken (now with added Rusty Rose!) come across Splash, Sonic’s counterpart here, and invite him to join their crew. Splash as it turns out, is the adopted son of Oceana (the ocean goddess who essentially IS the ocean) and as such has some really cool water powers. But everything goes sideways when Torrent, Shadow’s counterpart, shows up. He’s got water powers too, along with a grudge against all life. If Splash can't figure out how to talk him out of his revenge quest, all of No Place is doomed.

If anyone would like to know more, feel free to send me an ask! My inbox is always open.

[chewbokachoi]

Because I feel like rambling forever about my Star Trek trash fire--picrews and of the link from this Picrew maker - introducing 3 of the characters that appear. It also just so happens these are the 3 oldest Star Trek characters I've got! Figured I'd start off with them. They're in the same story as zh'Ezkel, but her bio and T'val's bio will be for another day.

Expect a lot to change as I review Starfleet ranks and jobs also I'm trash at character summary things like this where I can either never stfu about them or splutter out a few sentences.

Lieutenants Warden & Ward - I put them together because they're effectively everywhere together both in-story and meta-wise and this is the first time they have ever had last names hot damn.

Random note: Oceana is one of my oldest characters and I've had her in one canon or other world or another since I was ~7 or so

-Names: Oceana Warden & Nick Ward -Rank: Lieutenant (I messed up on the pips in the picrews forgive me) -Department: Insurance Security -Age: "35" -DOB: ??? They'll say within a month or so of each other -Nicknames: Merry for Oceana and Pippin for Nick -Very Brief bio: Little is known about these two other than they are incredibly close (friends? a couple ??). They showed up one day, seemingly out of nowhere, and joined Starfleet a couple years after their records materialized. The only one who seems to know a whole lot about them is their Andorian friend from the Academy days, Sabrin. ...And good luck getting him to tell you anything about them. -Current status: Recently transferred to serve under Captain Viráy of the USS [tf are names]. New to the ship and on there for a very specific mission, the two are eager to pretend nothing is amiss if it means spending time with their friend Sabrin again.

These two share everything, by the way. Every. Thing. The poor CMO knows if one shows up for a penicillin shot, the other will be there once their shift is done.

-Name: Zaelisabrin th'Gaoli -Rank: Commander -Department: Medical -Age: ~40 -Nicknames: Sabrin -Very Brief Bio: Youngest of three, Sabrin's clan set up had it set that if he joined the military, he'd join Starfleet. Initially hesitant, Sabrin did accept the task if it meant doing right by his family. He signed up when he was in his early 20s, after he and his quad had a family started. He is, miraculously, a father of five very chaotic, curious teenagers. -Current status: Chief Medical Officer under Captain Viráy for the last eight years, Sabrin feels he has finally found his place in Starfleet. He is very happy to see his friends Oceana and Nick once more, and while he knows that means Some Serious Shit is about to go down (it's never normal around those two), he isn't going to complain. It's also a welcome distraction from the family drama that's his separatist brother.

Note: I'm pulling a lot of Andorian lore from The Last Unicorn's Among the Clans but also mixing it with the DS9 relaunch-related canon.

Thanks for coming to my Trek Talk!

@afraidofrabbits as requested!

[oceana-official]

( 🐬 ) . . . — ELEANOR SAGE PARKER, better known as SAGE, is a korean-american artist under BIGHIT ENTERTAINMENT. she's the first member announced of OCEANA, as a LEADER, LEAD VOCALIST & SUB RAPPER.

in the group's story line, she is the oldest and FIRST PRINCESS in the kingdom of oceana.

( ⚓ ) . . . — BASICS !

BIRTH NAME : eleanor sage parker

KOREAN NAME : han seulgi ( hangul: 한슬기 )

NICKNAMES : gigi, park, ele, green, sagie

BIRTHDAY : 8 june, 2000

BIRTH PLACE : colomar, france

ZODIAC SIGN : gemini

NATIONALITY : french

ETHNICITY : korean

FAMILY : mother and father, one older brother,( 1997 ), one younger brother ( 2004 )

LANGUAGES : korean (native), english (100%), french (85%), japanese (75%)

( 🐚 ) . . . — BODY !

HEIGHT : 167 cm (5’5″)

BLOOD TYPE : O+

BODY MODIFICATION : earlobe piercings on both ears, three tattoos on her arms.

FACE CLAIM : roh yoonseo ( actress )

( 🦭 ) . . . — PERSONALITY !

STRENGTHS : kind, empathetic, compassionate, intelligent

FLAWS : perfectionist, stubborn, impatient, overthinking, self doubt

( 🪸 ) . . . — MEMBER'S INFO. !

STAGE NAME : SAGE

AGENCIES : bighit Entertainment ( 2015 - now )

TRAINING PERIOD : 2 years and 6 months

GROUP : ØCEANA ( 2017 - now )

POSITION(S) : leader, lead dancer, sub rapper, sub vocalist

INDIVIDUAL FANDOM : garden(s)

REPRESENTATIVE EMOJI : 🐬

( 🦀 ) . . . — MISC. TRIVIA !

since sage is the oldest of the five, she naturally tends to act as a motherly figure to the other girls. She often checks on the members to see how they're doing and takes care of them when things are well.

she is known to have a strong intuition and often times, her gut feeling and her intuition turns out to be true.

sage is also a great actor. she made her acting debut in the Korean drama our blues as a character and captured the hearts of many. she has also since then acted in a Korean movie named 20th century girl as the second female lead and in the kdrama crash course in romance as the main female lead's daughter.

she is the type of person who would drop anything and everything for the people she loves. she is said to be one of the many social butterflies in the kpop industry as her friends list is too long.

originally born in the picturesque town of colomar, the parker-han family has moved a several of times and sage has lived in a lot of places that she hopes to visit one day. currently her family lives in the Scottish highlands living a peaceful life with sage in Seoul.

true to her name, eleanor is a true nature lover. she tries to be in nature as much as possible and it's quite easy to spot her on a walk outside on the days where she doesn't have any schedule.

eleanor is also known for her creative ability and her beautiful paintings. after much pressure from fans, she has a seperate instagram page just for her art. rumours say that she and hyunjin of straykids talk for hours long about art.

when oceana did live in the dorms, she used to have a seperate room whereas the other members shared it with eachother. this was the outcome of a intense game of rock paper scissors. the groups go-to decision maker is the said game. now all the five girls live in their own in their apartments but are within 30min distance within eachother.

© layout heavily inspired by @hvurglass 's, @saesvns and @n-vrld 's aesthetic, all the rights goes to mona and matty !! ♡♡