#oh and also. eclipse's voice oh my god. i want them to hold me forever.

[fear-ze-queer]

i did not expect to have my heart ripped right out of my chest while playing dlc for a five nights at freddy's game but here we are

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers DARK FATE ー Ayato Dark [Prologue]

Monologue

ーー Past the underground waterway,

there’s a portal connecting to the Demon World. 

I stood in front of it,

and after taking a deep breath,

gently pressed my hands against the door.

Then pushed.

A heavy sound echoes in response,

as the gates slowly opened.

Seeping through the crack,

was a never-ending darkness.

And thenーー

ー The scene starts in the forest of the Demon World

Yui: ( ...Ayato-kun...I wonder if he’s okay after being so badly injured? )

( ...I’m worried... )

( Either way, I should hurry to the castle so I can confirm whether he’s safe or not! )

( It should stand out amongst the other buildings, so I’m sure I’ll be able to find it if I just get a move on... )

( If I don’t, then... )

...

*HOOOOOWL*

Yui: ...!

( T-That was the howling of a wolf just now, right? )

*HOOOOOWL*

Yui: ( Again! )

( I-I should hide somewhere! )

ー The scene shifts to the abandoned building

Yui: Haah, haah...

( I guess I’m fine for now? )

...Phew...

( I just entered the first building in sight but I wonder if it’s safe here...? )

( ...I wonder what the others are up to right now. )

ー A flashback ensues

Ayato: Rest assured…Chichinashi. You belong to me. No way in hell I’m handin’ you over to some darn wolves!

ー The flashback ends

Yui: ( ...Ayato-kun... )

( I want to rush to your side...I’m worried... )

( After all, if something were to happen to Ayato-kun... )

...

*HOOOOOWL*

Yui: ...!!

( N-No way! They’ve chased me this far!? )

*HOOOOOWL*

Yui: ( They’re getting closer. )

( W-What should I do? I don’t know where to run. )

???: ーー Oi!

*Rustle*

Yui: ...!!

Ayato: Shh...! Don’t make a sound...!

Yui: ...A...Ayato-kun...? 

Ayato: Yeah, it’s me. So don’t go pissin’ your pants.

Haah...Geez. Why did you come here when you were told to stay behind in the human world...?

You really are an idiot! From today onwards, you’ll be known as ‘Baka Chichinashi’ (1) instead!

Yui: ...S-Sorry...

But...I was worried about you...

Ayato: ...You...

Yui: Say, are your injuries okay now? Did they finish the treatment?

Ayato: Fool. Who do you take me for?

As you can see, I’m in tip-top shaー Ugh...

Yui: A-Are you okay!? Don’t push yourself...

Ayato: Hmph. You should worry ‘bout your own body.

...So, about those wolves...

Yui: I can’t hear them anymore but...

Ayato: ‘Kay, seems like they left. God...

Yui: Y-Yeah...Thank god...

...Ah...But how did you know I was here, Ayato-kun? Is this building close to the castle perhaps?

Ayato: Nah. If anything, the exact opposite.

It’s just...For some reason...I just knew.

As if you were calling for me.

Yui: Ayato-kun...

Ayato: So, you didn’t have another one of your clumsy moments and hurt yourself, right?

Yui: Yeah, I’m fine.

Ayato: Hm...Well, that’s good then.

Yui: Um...Thank you for worrying about me when you’re not having an easy time right now either.

Ayato: W-Worry? I’m not concerned or anythin’! Don’t get the wrong idea! Che...!

Anyway! We can’t stay here forever. Let’s get back to the castle already!

Yui: Yeah...

( How strange...When Ayato-kun’s with me, I suddenly feel this safe... )

Ayato: ...Oi, why are you grinnin’ for by yourself?

Yui: Eh? I-I’m not smiling!

Ayato: Nah, you were definitely smiling! From ear to ear! I saw it with my very own eyes!

Haahn...Don’t tell me you were having dirty thoughts at a time like this?

Yui: Eh!? O-Of course not!? Iーー

???: ーー Playtime is over.

Ayato: ...!? And you are...?

Yui: ( W-Why is he here!? )

A-Ayato-kun, this is Shin-kun’s older brother.

Ayato: ...I see. I get it now.

I thought somethin’ was fishy ‘bout those two, but I guess you guys are also...from this world, huh?

Carla: ...

Ayato: ...! Oi, answer me!! You bastards are Vampires as well, aren’t you!?

???: ーー Vampires? Think again.

I’d rather not get grouped together with you guys ー capiche!?

*THUD*

Ayato: ...!?

ー Ayato collapses

*Thud*

Yui: Ayato-kuーー

???: Woah there. You’ll be coming with us too, Komori Yui-san.

*Thud*

Yui: ( Ah...! Uu... )

ー She collapses as well

Shin: Ahー ...Geez. It’s so hard to hold back and not actually kill them...

So, Nii-san? What should we do next? Do we kill the guy?

Carla: ...Shin. Leave him alone. Take both of them to the manor.

Shin: Roger. Haah, that being said, these two sure are a handful...

*TIMESKIP*

???: ...Oi...

Yui: ( Nn...This voice...? )

Ayato: Are you ‘kay, Chichinashi!? Get a grip...!

ー Yui opens her eyes

Yui: Ayato-kun...

Ayato: ...

...Geez. Even though you were still breathin’, you didn’t move at all like you were dead or somethin’...You’re not hurt anywhere, right?

Yui: Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you...But...Where are we...?

Ayato: Beats me. However, it seems like we were taken back to the human world.

Those Tsukinami guys, the one with the scarf and  the other with the eyepatch...It’s probably their manor, no?

Yui: ...I guess so...?

Ayato: Haah. Even if I’m not in the best shape right now ‘cause of the Lunar Eclipse, I still messed up big time...Fuck...

Yui: ...I wonder why they brought us here...?

Ayato: Don’t ask me. ...But well, I doubt they’re gonna give us a warm welcome.

Yui: ...R-Right...

...

Ayato: ...Ugh.

...Oi, how to put this...Don’t make that face.

This isn’t a worst-case scenario or anythin’.

After all, I’m still here by your side! So why should you worry?

Yui: Ayato-kun...

Yeah...!

( He’s right. Ayato-kun’s here with me, so it’ll be okay... )

*Knock knock*

ー Shin enters the room

Shin: Ahー Sorry to interrupt, but do you have a minute?

Ayato: You...!

Shin: Stop, stop! No need to bare your fangs at me right away, don’t you think? I did knock for one, didn’t I?

Ayato: Like that matters one bit! You just dragged us over here for god knows why!? 

Now move out of the way. We’re headin’ home.

Shin: I’m afraid you can’t. You two will be heading towards a banquet now after all.

Yui: A-A banquet...?

Shin: Exactly, a party! Sounds lovely, no?

Unlike you crude Vampires, us Founders have class.

Ayato: Founders...!?

Yui: ( Founders...Now that he mentions it... )

ー A flashback ensues

Reiji: In the Demon World, one more species going by the name of the ‘First Bloods’ exists.

They are said to be the ancestors of every species living in the Demon World.

Ayato: The fuck? That’s a first for me. Besides, I’ve never run into one of those over at the Demon World either.

Reiji: Of course not. They suffered defeat in a war against our Father and Demon Lord Burai, before being banished to a castle.

They are forbidden from leaving.

Laito: Then wouldn’t it be impossible for them to show up here in the first place?

Reiji: You are indeed right. But well, they possess the abilities of the wolf, eagle, snake and bat all at once.

Therefore, it would be possible for them to transform into wolves as well. I simply wanted to bring it up as one possible explanation.

ー The flashback ends

Yui: ( Could those Wolves have been...? )

Ayato: I’m no expert on Founders, but you guys should be locked up somewhere, no?

Shin: Well, I guess you could say that.

However...Our time of having to endure the suffering has come to an end.

ーー No, we will end it with our own hands.

Yui: ...?

Ayato: Argh! You’re not makin’ any sense!

Anyway! Just get out of the wa...Ugh...

Yui: Ayato-kun!

Shin: Ahーah, are you trying to act tough in front of your girl (2) even though you’re not quite fully recovered yet?

Let me tell you straight-up. You have no chance at getting away from us while severely wounded like that.

If you understand that, you should just listen to us and come to the banquet.

If not...I’m sure even an idiot such as yourself knows what will happen to your little girlfriend over there?

Ayato: ...

Shin: Ah, right. By the way...She’s actually kind of my type, you know?

So you know, I personally wouldn’t be against having some fun with her, if you get what I mean.

You could say I’d love to turn that cute face of hers into a teary mess.

Yui: ...Uu...

Shin: If you don’t mind that, then be my guest and go wild?

Ayato: ...Tsk...

...Fuck...!

Yui: ...

ー The scene shifts to the living room

Shin: ーー Come on in.

Yui: ( It smells good in here... )

( I thought that maybe we’d be moved somewhere else when he brought up the banquet. )

( But are we truly...simply invited? ...But we shouldn’t trust them just yet, right? )

Shin: Take a seat wherever you like.

Ayato: I will do just that! My place isーー

Shin: ーー Wait! That’s where the owner of the manor sits. Good grief. Just how stupid are you?

Ayato: Shut up...!

Yui: A-Ayato-kun. Let’s just sit here together, okay?

Ayato: Che...

Shin: Haha, you really are a disgrace to all Vampires, having a human order you around like that.

Ayato: Aah!? That’s notーー

???: ーー What is this ruckus?

Shin: Hey, Nii-san. Perfect timing. I was having some trouble because our guests tonight don’t seem to have any basic manners.

Carla: ...

Ayato: Che...Starin’ at me like that.

Carla: ...

Ayato: What’s your problem!? Got somethin’ to say to me!? Then speak up!

Shin: Hehe...Too bad. Nii-san would never fall for such an obvious taunt. Anyway, just take a seat for now.

Ayato: ...Che...Fine!

...So? What’s the point behind this farce?

We’re not actually here to enjoy a meal together, right? Get to the point already.

Carla: ...

How pretentious...I truly do pity you for being born a Vampire...

Yui: ( I-I wonder why? I feel as if Carla-san has a perfect grasp on the situation... )

Ayato: Hmph! Don’t talk as if you know me!

Carla: ーー But I do.

You lot are fixated on that woman over here, all because of the heart which has been put inside her body. Am I right?

Yui: Eh...?

( H-How does he know about my heart...? )

Carla: Furthermore...Ayato, you were the first one to attack that heart’s previous owner, were you not? (3)

Ayato: ...

Shin: You guys don’t know anything about us, but we know everything.

That means we’re at an advantage in this situation.

In other words, you guys are on the losing side. I’m sure even an idiot understands that?

Ayato: ...Tsk.

Yui: ( W-What to do? I wonder what they’re after...? )

Shin: Besides...Hehe...

Ayato: ...What?

Shin: Oh noー... I was just thinking you’re quite the pitiful little guy? I almost feel bad for you.

Ayato: What do you mean?

Shin: Oh? I’m sure you know that better than anyone else. If you’ve forgotten, shall I remind you?

Carla: It seems like the lack of love and care you received from your Father Karlheinz...

Combined with Cordelia’s cruel treatment has twisted you quite a bit.

Ayato: Wha...!? Try sayin’ that one more time, you bastard!!

Yui: A-Ayato-kun, calm down...!

Ayato: ...

Carla: Hmph...It appears to me that said woman over there is keeping you in check for now.

However...

People do not change that easily.

Ayato: ...

Shut up...Not another word!!

*SHATTER*

Yui: A-Ayato-kun!

Ayato: Oi, Chichinashi! I don’t want to stay here one second longer! Let’s go!

*Rustle*

Yui: Ah...!

ー Ayato drags Yui along.

Shin: Ahーahー ... We worked so hard to prepare this banquet and he made a complete mess of it...

Well, in the end, Vampires are nothing but lowlives who can’t go one minute without throwing an angry tantrum.

That being said...They were only here for a little while, but this room already stinks of Vampire...

Honestly, it makes me gag...

Carla: ...Exactly...

ーー Get rid of it. Throw out everything they touched.

Shin: Fufu, gotcha, Nii-san.

ー The scene shifts to the bedroom

Ayato: Fuck...Why is this whole place so damn sturdy!?

My punches don’t have any effect.

Yui: ( We started looking around in search of an exit, but the whole manor is highly secure. )

( So in the end, we had no other choice but to return here... )

Ayato: The fuck’s their problem...? How do they know all those things...?

Yui: ( I wonder what the Founders’ goal is...? )

( Besides, why do they know Ayato-kun that well...? )

Ayato: ...Fuck...

Yui: ( I wonder if there’s anything I can do for him right now...? )

...Hey, Ayato-kun...?

ー She embraces him

*Rustle*

Yui: ( I hugged him in the spur of the moment, I wonder if he’ll get upset...? )

Ayato: Yui...

...

Yui: ( Ah...He wrapped his arms around my back... )

Ayato: ...Haah...

Yui: Don’t worry, Ayato-kun.

Ayato: ...What? Are you trying to comfort me? Shouldn’t it be the other way ‘round?

But...Well...Guess it’s fine. Since it’s you...

Hey...Nn...

ー Ayato bites her

Yui: ...Ah...

Ayato: Come on, let me have a little taste.

Yui: ...Go ahead, Ayato-kun.

Ayato: Nn...Hah...Nn...

Yui: ( If I can be somewhat helpful to him by being by his side, or by giving him my blood, then I don’t mind that at all. )

( I want to be there for him. ...I’m sure that feeling will never change, no matter what lies ahead. )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) Since he’s talking about changing her nickname and I never translate ‘Chichinashi’ to English either, I decided to keep it consistent and put the idiot (baka) part in Japanese as well.

(2) 彼女 or ‘kanojo’ can mean both ‘girlfriend’ or ‘she/her’ in Japanese. However, I’m pretty sure Shin usually refers to Yui as あの女 or ‘ano onna’ or something else along those lines, instead of ‘kanojo’. Therefore, I decided to translate it as ‘girlfriend’ in this particular sentence. 

(3) I actually had a lot of trouble translating this sentence. The phrase 手をかける or ‘te wo kakeru’ can mean both ‘to lay hands on’ in more of a negative sense, as well as ‘to care for’ or ‘to rear’. However, it doesn’t really make sense for him to say Ayato cared for or looked after Cordelia, so I interpreted it as Carla referring to the fact Ayato was the one who started when the triplets murdered her together. 

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<- [ Sakamaki Prologue ] [ Dark 01 ] ->

[trustsn01]

Avatrice Short 41

“Ava, this is your soulmate Beatrice. Beatrice, this is your soulmate, Ava.”

Ava didn’t think twice about the place. Sure, she did wonder what they were talking about when they listed all these supposedly “good deeds” she’d done when she was alive. As far as Ava knew, she’d been dealt with one bad luck after another and this was her due. The good life from the good place. 

A soulmate though?

She didn’t think that was remotely real. To be fair, her soulmate looked easy on the eyes at least. Her morals though? Ugh. Beatrice looked like she hasn’t had much fun in her life. Ava could show her. 

Or maybe she could focus first on ensuring she didn’t lose her spot in this place. 

Oh. Beatrice could help, right?

Right. Her soulmate. Surely she was obligated to help Ava out lest they get separated—and wouldn’t that go against the whole point of having soulmates?

Don’t fall in love with her. 

That was her first thought when Ava was introduced to her. She was in the good place precisely because she kept true to her faith and avoided all temptations. She knows she did well. Heaven surely wouldn’t lord someone like Ava over her secret while she was alive. Would they?

You can’t fall in love with her.

A fraud. How fitting, Beatrice thought.

Ava wasn’t who she was supposed to be and yet despite all her bad habits and tendency to leave chaos in her wake...

Maybe they do deserve each other, Beatrice mused. A fraud for a fraud.

Because as hard as she thought she couldn’t and wouldn’t—Beatrice was falling.

This IS the Bad Place!

Maybe this was the whole point of the Bad Place. It is meant to punish, was it not?

“I don’t want to forget you.” Beatrice held tight on to Ava’s hand.

Ava shook her head. “I don’t want to forget you either.”

“I wonder how many times have we been here. In this moment. About to lose each other and about to be introduced to another life we’re supposed to live for eternity with someone else.”

 “Ava this is your soulmate, Lilith.”

“Hell, no!”

“What do you mean ‘no’? Ava, that is rude. You’ve yet to get to know Lilith.” Adriel smiled at Ava. But Ava knew something wasn’t right. And by the look on Lilith’s face, she knew it too.

“Beatrice, this is your soulmate, Teresa.”

“Hi.” Teresa held out her hand while her other hand consciously ran through her hair.

“There must be a mistake.” Beatrice whispered. 

Adriel cocked an eyebrow in her direction, letting her know her words were audible.

“I’m sorry. I think...I just don’t think she’s...mine.” Beatrice faltered at first, but grew stronger especially with the last word.

 “I refuse to believe this is where we’re meant to be. God or whatever can’t be this cruel.” Ava held on just as tightly. She looked at the woman beside her as they looked at the setting sun. In awhile, Adriel would surely catch on to them once more.

“When I was alive, I tried so hard to be everything my parents wanted me to be. I did everything right. When I thought I’d found the love of my life, I rejected her because I thought it was wrong. That what I felt was wrong.”

“Do you still believe that?” Ava asked, heart in her throat as she waited for an answer.

“Yes.” Ava felt her heart break right as Beatrice looked into her eyes. She meant to pull away but Beatrice pulled her closer. “Only because what I feel for you eclipses anything I ever thought I felt for her. And THAT can’t be wrong. We aren’t a mistake. I refuse to believe that.”

 “There you two lovebirds are.” 

The voice surprised them both. Caught unaware, Ava nearly stumbled but Beatrice caught her with both arms and that was how they faced off the despicable man in their midst.

Ava in Beatrice’s arms.

“Wow, I must admit it took a little bit longer to find you two this time around.” Adriel chuckled.

“You can’t keep doing this.” Ava hissed.

“I beg to differ, Ava. I can actually keep doing this. I mean...what’s it been? If we’re going on your petty human measurements, I dare say we’ve been at this for 25 years.”

Both women’s eyes widen in a mix of horror and fear.

“I can keep doing this. Forever if need be. I mean, you two make it even more interesting to be honest. Best assignment ever!” Adriel laughed out loud.

“You’re punishing us for what? For loving each other? Is that it?” Beatrice felt the tears but struggled to hold on to them. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of her pain.

Adriel stopped laughing and looked at them curiously. He tilted his head slightly to the side and stared at them.

“It doesn’t matter.” He said. “In awhile, you both wouldn’t even remember any of these.” He raised his hand, ready to snap his fingers for the nth time.

“You can’t keep us apart.” Ava warned, her eyes seeking the other woman’s as she spoke the words.

Beatrice nodded solemnly. “No one can.”

Adriel paused. 

“Are you saying the big man himself can’t keep you two apart?”

The question took them aback. Ava looked at Adriel and saw his focus completely on Beatrice.

Beatrice froze.

Could she? Does she dare doubt?

She felt her fingers being squeezed and her eyes returned to focus on the woman in her arms.

“I...” Beatrice started. “If He is in fact everything I’ve been taught He is to be...He wouldn’t keep us apart. He would love me—us—exactly as we are.”

Adriel switched his focus to Ava. “You think you deserve the likes of Beatrice? You were hardly worth ANYTHING when you ended up here.” He casually pointed at Beatrice with his thumb. “At least her biggest sin was being an idiot.”

“Hey!” Ava tensed and struggled to disengage from Beatrice’s hold. “You can keep on talking shit about me for the rest of fucking eternity but you WILL NOT call Beatrice names!”

“Ava, no!” Beatrice moved to stand in front of Ava as she glared at Adriel. 

“Ava may not have been the kindest when she was living. But she was HONEST. Life dealt her pain and suffering and she knew no better. No one gave taught her how. No one gave her a chance. And she’s done so much since she’s been here. She tried to do better and she’s done just that! It’s just you and the likes of you who seem hellbent on continuing to punish her even now.”

Adriel took a seat on a nearby tree stump, crossed his arms, and offered them a  smirk.

“This is new.”

Beatrice frowned at him in confusion, though still wary to let her guard down around him.

He waved his hand about in a way that belied his interest as he spoke. “All this time, the two of you ended up here. Again and again and again. Different ways, but ultimately the same.”

He yawned, placed his hands above him as if stretching out his limbs.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I could do this forever, but you two were seriously beginning to depress me.”

“What?” Ava was the first to give in to the confusion.

“You,” he pointed at the slightly taller woman, causing both to tense in preparation for some sort of attack. “kept on lying to yourself. Pretending to be something and someone you’re not. Let’s not even touch upon the things you know about your parents but turned a blind eye and kept on believe otherwise because it’s what was comfortable. It’s what hurt less.”

In a split second, memories flashed through Beatrice’s head about meetings in the middle of the night, her parents’ guests and the subtly armed men that followed, the money she knew they shouldn’t have but they do. 

“You know about the lives that were ruined because of your family. But you didn’t do anything, did you? And the woman who thought you loved her...oh, she paid the ultimate price.” Adriel wagged a finger in Beatrice’s direction.

“You knew about her being an undercover agent because she trusted you. Trusted you to do the right thing.”

“Bea?” Ava’s voice rang through the tension-filled air but Beatrice barely heard her.

“You rejected her. And yet, despite her feelings of pain, she did her job because it’s what was right. Hell, she even tried to save you.”

The memories of how she did finally began to make sense.

“You called her a liar. In the middle of it all you dared to call her a liar. I mean, not to make fun of my man Peter at the gate but damn. He had nothing on you the way you denied her findings in front of her coworkers, but also denied even knowing her and testimony she was counting on you to disclose about your folks.” Adriel slowly clapped in obvious mockery.

“Tell me, do you think you still deserve anything at this point? Let alone a chance with this girl? Or anyone, really.” This time, he gestured towards Ava with a jut of his chin.

[camillemontespan]

ten years from now [AU. drake walker x camille montespan] [part eighteen: mojitos and sunrises]

@ibldw-main  @pug-bitch​  @jovialyouthmusic​ @katedrakeohd​ @rainbowsinthestorm​ @emichelle​ @dcbbw​ @sirbeepsalot​ @notoriouscs​ @burnsoslow​ @marshmallowsaremyfavorite​ @gardeningourmet​ @pedudley​ @marshmallowsandfire​ @princessleac1​  @simplymissjulia​ @kingliam2019​

'So let me get this straight,' Riley said, her blue eyes boring into Liam's. 'You were engaged to this girl Camille, about to get married in a few months at the Met, and you both visited her hometown in Texas to invite her old friends and see her grandmother. While there, she was reunited with her ex-best friend who turned out to also be her ex boyfriend who she lost her virginity to, and she fucked him. You were oblivious. Then you both come back to New York, she meets up with the ex boyfriend across town and fucks him again. Then her grandmother has a fall and Camille goes back to Texas to see her in hospital. When she comes back to New York, you are making her favourite dinner in a bid to apologise for not being able to leave work to go to Texas when she bursts into tears and tells you that she fucked the ex boyfriend twice and kissed him in some sort of maze.. You walk out and now the wedding is off. Have I got all that right?'

Liam nodded. 'That's it.' 

Riley stared at him. 'What a fucking bitch.' 

Liam let out a surprised laugh. 'Wow, don't hold back.' 

'But she is!' Riley cried, indignation flooding her face. 'You're a nice guy and from what you've told me, you did everything to keep her happy. You sent her grandma roses! Like, you are the ideal husband! But she gave that up to have dirty hotel room sex with her redneck cowboy ex boyfriend who she dated ten years ago!'

Liam sipped his scotch and shrugged. ‘Pretty much,’ he said. ‘Though he wasn’t a redneck-’

‘He slept with your fiancee, trust me, he is a redneck,’ Riley interrupted, her nose flaring. She shook her head. ‘What an asshole.’

Liam raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re quite opinionated, aren’t you?’

Riley sipped her drink and regarded Liam with a cool expression. They were the only ones left out of their colleagues; everyone else had gone home. But Liam and Riley had gotten more drinks and Riley had listened as Liam told her about his recent woes. 

‘What you see is what you get with me,’ Riley told him. ‘I don’t sugarcoat anything. I’m 100% honest. It scares some people..’

‘I think it’s refreshing,’ Liam assured her. ‘I like it.’

Riley’s cheeks turned pink as she cast her eyes down to study her glass. Liam smiled and gestured to the waitress for another two drinks. 

‘So you’ve heard my story,’ Liam said. ‘What’s yours?’

Riley squared her shoulders and looked at him straight on. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘Just tell me about you. Where you’re from, family, dating history, college?’

Riley rolled her eyes. ‘Okay, so I’m from Jersey-’

Liam winced. Riley laughed. ‘Oh, I know. I know. So yeah, I’m from Jersey.  I have two older brothers but we don’t speak anymore. Three ex boyfriends - I dumped them.  I attended Art School and graduated with distinction.’

Liam’s eyes widened. ‘Oh wow. So why are you working on Wall Street if you’re an artist?’

The waitress dropped off their two new drinks which Riley took gratefully. She took a long sip and smacked her cherry lips together. Liam’s eyes flicked to her bottom lip; he quickly looked away. 

‘Because the money is fucking good,’ she answered bluntly. ‘Why do you work on Wall Street?’

Liam blinked. A slow smile formed on his face and he chuckled. ‘Because the money is fucking good.’

Riley raised her glass and clinked it against Liam’s. ‘Let’s toast to money.’

‘To money,’ Liam said grandly. ‘Though it isn’t the be and end all.’

Riley rolled her eyes. ‘Fine. It’s not. But it does let us buy all the drinks we want and that is what matters.’

Liam laughed and tossed the scotch down his throat. Riley regarded him silently, her eyebrow quirking up; she looked quite mischievous. 

‘I have a guilty pleasure,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Do you promise not to judge me if I tell you it?’

Liam smiled. ‘Tell me.’

Riley drained the last of her scotch. ‘I love karaoke bars..’

Liam threw his head back as he laughed. ‘Oh god, you’re so not cool,’ he teased.

‘I know I’m not!’ Riley cried. ‘I never try to be. I love karaoke bars. Wanna come to one with me?’

‘I don’t sing-’

‘Doesn’t matter,’ Riley interrupted. ‘It’s fun.’

‘I can’t..’

Riley sighed. She looked at Liam with a steady stare, clearly not taking any of his excuses. ‘When was the last time you did something that was fun?’ she asked. ‘That was new? That forced you to just let go?’

Liam considered her question. He couldn’t remember. His life had been a conveyor belt of early mornings, late nights in the office and trying to make Camille happy.  

He sighed. ‘Fine. Let’s go to a karaoke bar..’

Riley stood up and dragged him to his feet. ‘No need to act like you’re heading for your execution,’ she quipped. ‘Come on, I know a place two blocks from here.’

Liam followed her out of the bar towards the karaoke bar that was lit up in neon.  As he listened to Riley talk incessantly,he felt like he was leaving behind a life of grey and was now entering a world of colour. 

*********************************************

Liam and Riley were now hammered on mojitos. They had hired a private room for an hour and Riley had squealed in excitement when she saw that there was a dressing up box for customers to rifle through. She threw a feather boa around Liam’s shoulders, telling him that he looked fabulous.

He watched her as she sang along to Total Eclipse of the Heart, badly. But she didn’t care. She belted out the ballad, closing her eyes and swaying, even raising her fist in the air like the diva she was. Liam had laughed and enjoyed watching her. He felt relaxed. He had even loosened his tie.

‘Okay, your go!’ Riley said, throwing herself down on the velvet booth next to him. ‘Entertain me!’

Liam groaned but he still stood up to look through the catalogue. He considered his options before throwing caution to the wind.

Riley’s eyes widened as she heard the opening bars. ‘Oh my god..’

Liam threw his shoulders back and adopted a haughty pose. He wrapped the feather boa around his neck and placed a bowler hat on his head, keeping his eyes to the floor as he waited for his line.

‘At first I was afraid, I was petrified...kept thinking I could never live without you by my side..’

Riley clapped her hands, laughing as she watched Liam start the song.

But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong, and I grew strong and I learned how to get along.. FROM OUTER SPACE!’

Liam twirled on his foot, the feather boa flying around him as he started to strut drunkenly across the room, swinging his hips.

‘I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face, I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key..’

‘YEAH BABY!’ Riley shouted, pointing at him. ‘You tell her!’

Liam continued to sing. He became more extravagant as the song went on; he twirled; he spun; he pointed at Riley; he tossed his hat in the air and caught it. For some reason, he had abandoned his usual quiet persona and was now this ridiculous, camp performer. But he didn’t care. He was enjoying himself. He felt alive.

He looked at Riley, who was watching him in wonder, and gave her a wink. She blushed.

Liam grinned and continued to dance and sing, his voice growing in confidence and volume. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt like he had unlocked the old Liam. The Liam who used to go out and have fun. The Liam who enjoyed life. The Liam before he became a Wall Street minion. The Liam before he got cheated on. The Liam before he met Camille.

He felt happy.

*********************************

Drake opened his eyes. As his vision adjusted, he realised he was lying on the couch with Camille curled up against him. For a moment, he smiled, his heart flipped and he felt content. Until he realised that he had accidently fallen asleep and was in Camille’s grandmother’s house. 

He glanced at the clock on the wall. 6am.

‘Shit!’ he hissed, bolting up. Camille jumped, her eyes opening as he disturbed her slumber. Yawning, she looked up and visibly reeled back when she saw that she had been sleeping beside him.

‘Drake!’

‘We fell asleep,’ Drake told her. ‘Fuck, I should go. It’s 6am..’

Camille jumped to her feet. Her dark hair was tousled and she had sleep in her eyes; she looked perfectly imperfect. Drake’s heart flipped again but he pushed it down as he stood up and arranged the cushions on the couch so Gisele wouldn’t have to tidy up after them. 

‘Sorry,’ Camille whispered. ‘I didn’t realise we had fallen asleep. Must have been the whiskey.’

Drake sighed. ‘It’s alright, my fault too. Heh. Anyway, I should go..’

Camille followed him silently out of the living room, wrapping her arms around her body. She unlocked the front door; the sun was beginning to rise, casting a golden glow. She smiled up at Drake. ‘Thank you for tending to the roses,’ she said. ‘I really appreciate it.’

Drake smiled bashfully. ‘Happy to help,’ he told her. He moved to leave the house but stopped short when he looked up at the morning sky. He cast a look back at Camille who was leaning against the threshold, looking slightly embarrassed. 

‘Do you want to watch the sunrise with me?’ he asked without thinking. ‘The lake will look gorgeous right now.’

Camille tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled down at the floor. ‘I’d like that,’ she murmured. ‘That sounds.. Perfect.’

Drake grinned and held out his hand for her to take. Camille took his hand, her hands soft and small in his, and together they wandered up the road towards the ranch. Drake smiled to himself as he kept repeating the mantra ‘baby steps’ in his mind. Baby steps. Baby steps. 

**************************************

The water was glimmering gold. Camille let out a gasp as she took in the sunrise and how beautiful it was. She sat down on the jetty with Drake beside her and they watched the sun slowly come up, greeting the day. 

‘This is beautiful,’ Camille whispered. She cast a look at Drake and reached out to take his hand. ‘Thanks for inviting me to see it.’

Drake blushed. The sunrise had cast his face in a golden glow; his brown eyes changed colour in the light, turning green, which meant his eyes were always a surprise.  Camille loved Drake’s eyes. He was smiling as if he couldn’t believe his luck, the kind of smile that made the butterflies in Camille’s stomach start fluttering wildly, and a strand of his dark hair fell over his left eye, making him look shy and awkward. He looked like the boy she had known all those years ago. But when he turned to look at her, Camille could now see the man he had grown into and she couldn’t help but feel the butterflies flutter even more. 

‘I love watching the sunrise,’ he told her. ‘It’s peaceful. If you want.. We could do this again?’

Camille smiled. ‘I’d love that.’

Drake gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her in close to him; Camille inhaled his scent. He smelled of whiskey and the forest. He smelled like home. 

[soveryanon]

Reviewing time for MAG174!

- I absolutely ADORED how the sound effects were telling a story by themselves, giving a graduating sense of dread, with variations and quieter moments. With the wind blowing and occasionally howling, getting stronger, almost covering Jon’s voice at some points, it really felt like the sounds were competing with the words to give The Vast’s statement? (And in my mind, it felt like the team of editors competing against Jonny! It was so nice!)

I also loved how the steps of the colossus were adding a bit of pressure and gravitas, both to the statement and to the conversation: the distant low-pitched impact right after Martin’s “Do it.”, asking Jon to smite Simon? It was an easy trick, but it worked SO WELL to highlight the “Oh SHIT” moment! It was more subtle at other points of the arguments, but still reinforcing the feeling, that ideas were violent by themselves while the words were hammered in.

- I reaaaaally liked the tone Jon used in the statement, too, because it was very soft and rhythmic? There wasn’t the edge of cruelty that we had heard in other statements + combined with the fact that the focus wasn’t much on victims-hurting-other-victims-because-forced-by-the-Fear-system this time around, the statement felt more existentialist and overall a bit of a breather, which, ha. Fitting for The Vast, I guess. (Still people suffering, still people in pain, but one of the less upsetting statements this season, for me?)

- A bit surprised that Simon didn’t go for a space-related domain, but this one also made sense given what he had told Martin in season 4:

(MAG151) SIMON: I’ve actually been toying with the idea of trying to do something with the scale of humanity itself; you know, emphasise all that “overpopulation” nonsense, but… honestly, it just… doesn’t ring true for me. We’re all just so tiny and pointless, you see; it’s hard to really get past it. […] Do you know when the last ritual I attempted was? MARTIN: I… I don’t know, that space station? SIMON: Oh goodness no, that’s the future my boy!

Was this domain Ex Altiora made a reality, or it’s “just” that The Vast tends to be a bit less creative – big thing, too big for the human mind to compute, threatening you?

(MAG046, Herbert Knox) “It told the tale of a small, unnamed town high on a clifftop that sees a monstrous creature about to approach. The poem is unclear on whether it is a beast, a demon or a god, as it uses the words interchangeably. It is seen far-off, its head and body lost amongst the clouds. The majority of the story details the villagers’ attempts to prepare to do battle against this creature, but each time they devise a counter-measure, the thing gets closer and is shown to be far larger than previously suspected, rendering their preparation insignificant. At last, when it is almost upon them, its impossible vastness undeniable, the villagers surrendered to despairs, and hurled themselves off the clifftops onto the rocks far below.”

Still laughing a lot that Simon called this one “Junior” (I mean, he was proud of naming his last ritual “The Awful Deep”…).

- It was interesting how both statements dealt with the same situation from different perspectives, and how each related to The Vast? Edward was part of the colossus, Mehreen was watching it approach and threaten to crush her.

Edward was part of the colossus that we could hear since the very beginning (the impact followed by gusts of whistling wind marking the colossus’s footsteps, which were putting a strain on the bodies, including Edward’s, intertwined all through it): he was part of a whole, lost in the whole, in pain and faced with two alternatives (staying there, suffering and submitted to movements he didn’t control, or falling). It was very odd because it felt almost comforting that the other hands brought him back in when he was expelled from the whole since, at that moment, he feared the fall the most (“He is falling, and he is so small, and so afraid he wonders if he will ever hit the ground. He does not want to die smeared over that flat and hateful wasteland far below, and he flails, limbs throwing themselves violently around, trying to catch a hold of something, anything to save himself.”) – it felt like others were… saving him? Helping him? Still leaving him the choice (“Despite his dread, it takes only a moment for him to make his decision: he reaches out with his other arm, and feels it gripped by a dozen hands as, slowly, inexorably, Edward allows himself to be pulled back into the great, suffering colossus.”)? Though in the grand scheme of things, he was still stuck in an unpleasant, excruciating painful situation, but… compared to previous statements, it was still partially on his terms, instead of something that was absolutely inflicted to him with no way out? Amongst the small things that made me go “!”, the “every body” (“Every muscle in every body tenses all at once”): going back to the original meaning of the phrase, with the fact that “everybody” is, at the core of the word, “every body”. I felt like it was working well with the concept of The Vast: the fact that individuals aggregated together form something larger.

For Mehreen’s part: part of the horror, in her case, was that The Vast played on her sense of her responsibility/duty, not only on what would personally happen to her and her only. She was the only one able to take care of her “family” while they had various reactions to it: the daughter (who is helpless), the husband (who is in denial over what’s happening – this one sure hits differently with the current pandemic), and the mother (who is… only “berating” over wrong decisions). But what interests me the most is how she was dealing with memories: we’ve seen in previous statements that people’s memories are a fuzzy thing, twisted and rewritten to further feed the fears. It was obvious with Mehreen’s family (the fear “gave” her people to have to care for, further isolating and crushing her towards the threat), but I find it very interesting that compared to previous domains, she felt… on the verge of awareness about it?

(MAG163) ARCHIVIST: “Next to him, Charlie saw Ryan, who he’d known since childhood – though the other details were hazy. Ryan gave him a thumbs-up and an encouraging smile – before his face exploded inwards to a sniper’s bullet, peppering the boat with shards of bone and gore.”

(MAG164) ARCHIVIST: “There was never a time before the disease, no matter what the old bastards tell you. It has always been in the village, always festered in the dark corners where nobody could stomach to check, where good neighbours wouldn’t dream to speculate.”

(MAG165) ARCHIVIST: “Its pace remaining as it ever was, it does not care for coming pains as you are torn. Doesn’t it know who you are? No… And soon… neither will you. […] You will be someone again, someday. […] “I’m still Hannah!” you try to scream, but are you? No. Perhaps there’s some Veronica as fragments there, or Julian, or Anya, but… no. You feel the last of names and “who” you might have been be torn away and borne towards new bodies. New pages, blank; determined to be people.”

(MAG166) ARCHIVIST: “When had the crushing pressure in his chest become literal? When had the empty promise of the horizon finally vanished completely, replaced by the pitch darkness of this “forever wall of earth”? Sam did not know. Time had no meaning here. […] His existence was static, and eternal. Immutable. “Sleep” was only a memory, because even the prospect of unconsciousness might have made his present state slightly more bearable. Food as well, he knew, must be a thing, for he could feel the hunger, but his imagination failed to picture it. The only smell he knew was the damp, and the dirt.”

(MAG169) ARCHIVIST: “How long as she lived here? How long have these cramped, dingy rooms in the back of this sprawling rundown tenement been the place her heart calls home? She cannot recall, but long enough for her to grow into love for it, to cherish every rusted appliance, every crumbling piece of plasterboard, every – flickering – lightbulb. […] Sabina cannot… picture their faces, but knows that should they wake to see the state of the place… their anger would be blistering. […] What floor was her flat on again? Surely, it can’t be this high. […] Limping and desperate, she turns to see her furniture in flames, the bookshelves full of memories, that she can’t quite place [STATIC RISES] but knows are precious to her, curl and float away as ash. The photos on the wall of her family whose faces seem indistinct but she knows that she loves, begin to blacken, as the glass pops out of the frame.”

(MAG174) ARCHIVIST: “When it had first covered her home, bathing the street beyond her window in unexpected shade, she had thought it an eclipse. There wasn’t supposed to be one then, she is… sure of that – although if pressed, she could not have told you what day it is today. Before the shadow fell, she is sure that the sun was shining brightly – although, if pressed, she could not have pictured it. And the humid heat of a lingering summer had left the world sleepy, and unprepared – although, if pressed, she remembers the heat, but not the season. […] Mehreen cannot quite make out their faces as she bundles them into the car, old and shuddering as it coughs into life. Does she remember having a child? A spouse? Does she remember her mother having such a cruel sneer? It doesn’t matter. They are here now, and she has to save them.”

(+ Martin’s predicament in MAG170, when his memories were escaping him and he was mostly able to remember the painful parts only, or Francis’s “friends and families” being only brought in to deepen their pain. If Martin was any indication: it’s really upon remembering who he truly was and the bits of his life that weren’t unpleasant that he managed to free himself from the house’s influence, enough for Jon to find him and, it seems, give his protection again.)

It’s all very dream-logic: the rules are new, you just accept them as is, and you only go “… Wait” as an afterthought. What is interesting regarding Mehreen is that the interrogations felt like she was on the verge of waking up – or was that Jon, as a narrator, who was able to perceive that these bits of information were falsehoods created by the nightmare? Was that distancing just a special flavour in this domain, or something linked to the fact that they’re getting closer to the Panopticon / to The Eye’s domain?

- … Vast-typical, but I’m still !! that there are apparently domains without ground:

(MAG174) ARCHIVIST: I’m not entirely sure what you were expecting, it’s The Vast. The clue is in the name! MARTIN: Yes, alright…! ARCHIVIST: Just be glad that this is one of the domains that actually has ground to walk on.

Let them fly, Jonny!!

(… Though there are probably also Vast domains with only water. Deep, deep water.)

- NOT A SURPRISE but Everything About Simon This Episode Was Beautiful.

(MAG174) MARTIN: Fine! Fine. How about Simon. How close are we to him? [STATIC RISES] ARCHIVIST: Hum… Close, [STATIC FADES] but he’s able to move a lot faster than we are in this place. MARTIN: Meaning…? ARCHIVIST: Meaning I know where he is, but… if he doesn’t want us to reach him, I don’t know if we’ll have much of a chance. MARTIN: … So… So what, we’re just going to trust him to… [CHUCKLING] show up to his own execut– [SIMON CRASHES ON THE GROUND] MARTIN: [SURPRISED SCREAM] ARCHIVIST: [TINY CHUCKLES] MARTIN: Jesus! ARCHIVIST: Uh… Apparently! [CLEARING AWAY RUBBLE] SIMON: [STRAINED] … Hello…! [BONES CRACKING] [GROAN] Hello. Dreadfully sorry. [SIGH] I only just noticed you were both here! That’s the problem with having such a big place, you know – [INHALE] you can miss things if you’re not careful.

* Simon was probably NYOOOOOM-ing in the sky until then. I’m only surprised that there wasn’t a direct “Enjoy Sky Blue” reference.

* The fact that Simon crash-landed. What an entrance.

* =D And the self-inflicted prophecy has been fulfilled: Jon met Simon Fairchild. (MAG124: “Fairchild seems to travel far and wide for his victims, with no motivation other than… variety. I do not think I ever wish to meet him.”) Though honestly, Jon took his meeting with the old man faaaar better than I would have thought – I was assuming that he would get on Jon’s nerves much more easily.

* Martin’s prophetic words AND Jon’s “Apparently!”: was it to answer Martin’s comment about Simon showing up, or Martin’s scream of “Jesus!”. (Peter called him a “grubby Jesus” behind his back, Jon is allowed to call other avatars the same!)

* Old man popping back bones and dusting off rubble. Simon, ilu.

* I’m still such a fan of Simon’s breathlessness and intonations! You can hear that he’s a Vast avatar from the way he talks and breathes!

* I am laughing so much:

(MAG174) SIMON: Good to see you again, Martin! And you must be the famous Archivist, Herald of the Ceaseless Watcher, Harbinger of the New Age, etcetera. Lovely to meet you at last. ARCHIVIST: [SHORT EXHALE] SIMON: Simon Fairchild, at your service.

Over that “etcetera”. SIMON…………………… (It was so dismissive while, at the same time, HE chose to give Jon honorifics and nobody had asked.)

Really love how he’s still so funny and amiable while being absolutely awful =D Someone is having a great time.

- That someone wasn’t Martin.

(MAG174) SIMON: And how are you, Martin? Still trying to save the world and all that? MARTIN: … Yes. SIMON: Pity. … Well. Armageddon… it’s not for everyone, I suppose. I’m quite enjoying it, of course. Although… Junior over there can be a little bit of a handful. [DISTANT LOW-PITCHED IMPACT, FOLLOWED BY GUSTS OF WIND] MARTIN: [AGGRAVATED INHALE] I might have guessed you’d be happy living in this nightmare. SIMON: I mean… not that it matters but… yes I am! Honestly, I think you could be too if you set your mind to it. But I’m not one to tell you how to live your eternity. MARTIN: … No. You’re not. Because I’m done listening to you! SIMON: I’m sorry? I’m not sure I follow. MARTIN: All those lies you told me… You helped to do this, you turned the world into your… your playground! SIMON: Hum… Not to be a pedant, but if you recall, I was actually doing a favour for Peter. And if Peter had won, none of this would have happened. Also, not to make excuses but they weren’t exactly lies, just… oversimplifications of complicated truths! And guesses. … A lot of guesses. [FOOTSTEPS] … A–almost all guesses really, now I come to think about it. MARTIN: Shut up! I don’t care.

… I would have loved to hear Simon and Elias interact, because “oversimplifications of complicated truths” as a new way to say “lie” is right up Elias’s alley (purposefully misleading, making guesses and presenting them with more certainty than you hold). It’s horrible that, technically, Peter was probably the most transparent avatar of the lot regarding his convictions? He was genuinely fearing The Extinction, he was genuinely hating Gertrude, he was genuinely trying to get Martin to join The Lonely for his own interests.

- Ooooh, how the tables have turned…

(MAG166) HELEN: Oh, hello! [FOOTSTEPS] In a better mood, are we? Feeling more secure now you’ve learned how to kill~? ARCHIVIST: [SHARP INHALE] Something like that. MARTIN: Will you tell me how he did it? ARCHIVIST: Martin… MARTIN: He just keeps going all vague about it! HELEN: Oh, goodness. You see what you’ve done to the poor boy, Jon? He’s coming to me for clear answers. [HELEN LAUGHS AND LAUGHS] ARCHIVIST: Shut up! HELEN: It’s very satisfying though, isn’t it? Teasing out vague information; you see why Elias got a kick out of it. ARCHIVIST: Shut up! MARTIN: Jon…! HELEN: You’re right, Martin. He is tetchy…! MARTIN: I didn’t say he was te– HELEN: So! So! An explanation.

(MAG174) SIMON: Goodness! We’re rather tetchy, aren’t we? ARCHIVIST: We’ve… [CHUCKLING] not been having an easy journey. MARTIN: Jon. ARCHIVIST: What – it’s true, we haven’t.

Jon&Simon vs. Martin, just like Helen&Martin vs. Jon (down to the “tetchy”).

- I’ll be laughing forever over Simon fleeing the heck out of the situation and saving his own life in the process:

(MAG174) MARTIN: That’s enough. Jon? ARCHIVIST: Uh… Yes? MARTIN: … Do it. [DISTANT LOW-PITCHED IMPACT, FOLLOWED BY GUSTS OF WIND] ARCHIVIST: Uh… SIMON: “Do” what? MARTIN: … Kill him. ARCHIVIST: Uh… SIMON: Han–hang on. Can he do that? MARTIN: He can, and he’s going to! [FOOTSTEPS] SIMON: Oh! ARCHIVIST: [STAMMERING] Oh, uh… SIMON: Right, just, hum… Seems a bit rude, to be honest! MARTIN: … Jon? ARCHIVIST: J–just give me a moment, I– SIMON: In fact, yes! You know what? I’ll, I’ll probably just be going, then! I–I–I’d prefer to keep existing, if it’s all the same to you, hum…! MARTIN: J–Jon?! ARCHIVIST: I– SIMON: Been lovely chatting to you! Good to see you guys! MARTIN: [STAMMERING] SIMON: Feel free to pop by again when you’re feeling less, uh. Murdery. MARTIN: Jon!! SIMON: Byeeeee! [SIMON DEPARTING / YEETING HIMSELF OUT] [WIND GENTLY HOWLING] [SILENCE] ARCHIVIST: [SIGH] [FOOSTEP] MARTIN: You let him go. ARCHIVIST: … Yeah…

SIMON. Some have mentioned that Simon was a cartoon character and, yeah. Absolutely. The sudden stammering and amiability while he was behaving like a coward? The fact he really didn’t want to die despite his Grand Talks about the meaningless of one’s existence in The Vastness Of The Universe?

(MAG151) SIMON: It’s all a matter of perspective, you see. My patron has gifted me with… quite frankly, an absurdly long life. An appropriate gift, and one that serves to provide a certain distance from things. Of course, a paltry few centuries is nothing, really, but it’s more than most get. And even in that brief time, I’ve seen all sorts of ebbs and flows to balance off things. […] MARTIN: Assuming The Extinction doesn’t derail everything…! SIMON: Which is why… I’m happy helping Peter. But! If it does: then I’ll either be dead, which will be fine, or… I’ll adjust. […] Life has continued through dozens of apocalypses already. Ice ages; pandemics; calamities; extinctions… The only reason this one feels special is because, well… it’s happening to you. And that’s the sort of solipsism that tends to come with loneliness – in my experience. So. My feeling is that I’ll help out where I can; but ultimately, if this “Armageddon” comes off, then… so be it. Either billions suffer and life goes on; or billions suffer and life doesn’t. In the grand scheme of things, it’s all… much of a muchness.

Slightly hypocritical, uh? When it comes to himself, he’s ~insignificant~ but still ready to cling to his own life as long as he can enjoy things.

- Jon explained his reasons for stopping the Smiting Avatars quest, and they’re very sound arguments… but it’s still interesting that it confirms that the only avatars he killed (Not!Sasha, Jude, Jared) were the ones who marked him, while Jon was more lenient towards the ones who hadn’t (Arthur Nolan, Oliver, Simon, Helen if we assume that Michael marked Jon first, and that Michael!Distortion and Helen!Distortion are different enough). Helen has not been super threatening this season, but she has tried to upset him on purpose, making fun of him, and yet, Jon didn’t really raise the possibility of eradicating her (he only mentioned that it would hurt them both, but mostly Helen, if he were to use her corridors). I’m reassured that he’s not trying to mindlessly kill avatars but it’s still curious…

(And I still wonder how Jon would react in front of Daisy and Melanie, who marked him for the Hunt and Slaughter…)

- I’m still very curious about Helen trying to push so much for murder?

(MAG174) HELEN: I just wanted to add my vote to the disappointed side. MARTIN: Wait, really? HELEN: I was rather looking forward to watching an old man metaphysically explode. ARCHIVIST: [SIGH] HELEN: Honestly, I feel a little bit cheated. The others were exceptional fun. ARCHIVIST: … Y–you were watching? HELEN: [CHUCKLING] Of course! As much fun as the new world is, I am not about to miss a real, honest-to-godless demigod murder spree! [LAUGHS AND LAUGHS, ECHOING] MARTIN: [SIGH] You’re really not helping. HELEN: I’m not trying to! ARCHIVIST: Look, it’s none of your business. Either of you. [DISTANT LOW-PITCHED IMPACT, FOLLOWED BY GUSTS OF WIND] MARTIN: Like hell it isn’t! ARCHIVIST: Martin. MARTIN: Don’t “Martin” me! Sure, he looks like a harmless old man, but if– ARCHIVIST: I know, Martin – I know all the things he’s done. HELEN: Fantastic…! So, rip him up! Pop him! Oh, oh, but, hum, just give me a bit of a head-start so I can find a good spot.

* Helen, absolutely proud that she’s “not helping”.

* … Helen, you REALLY sound like you have a death wish.

* Helen had already watched Not!Sasha’s smiting in MAG165 (since she commented about it in the following episode), and now acknowledged that she watched the others. It’s the third time she’s appeared in front of Jon&Martin. For someone who claimed to be enjoying the new world and be exceptionally busy… Helen has been spending a LOT of time looking at Jon&Martin’s journey. Why…? Is it because their conflicted feelings are feeding her? Is it because she’s monitoring them? Is she hiding someone (Annabelle, or Georgie&Melanie) inside of her corridors…? She had contributed to Jon getting his last mark (it’s still a bit unclear to me, but Peter&Martin were discussing about “the door” at the beginning of MAG158: she might have given Peter the tunnels’ map), but we still don’t know much about her intentions apart from “enjoying the chaos” (which… would be enough considering The Distortion). Why is she so encouraging of Jon’s murder spree, in a way that is so transparent…? Is it a remnant of the original Helen Richardson, trying to feel better about her own choices by having Jon succumb to the temptation of monsterhood like she has…?

* It’s… interesting that Jon couldn’t apparently tell that she had been “watching” when he smote the other avatars. I’d have thought he would be able to tell but, apparently, if he’s not focusing, he can’t know that she’s there.

- When it comes to the episode feeling like a “breather”: technically, it wasn’t hard after last week! But it was significantly less tense, and there was progress regarding Jon’s own boundaries and what he wants to do with his powers, and… cute bantering. Jon being a chirpy little SHIT from the start of the discussion segment:

(MAG174) MARTIN: [SIGH] … [BAG JOSTLING] Is it much further? ARCHIVIST: [SMALL CHUCKLE] Yes. MARTIN: Urgh…! ARCHIVIST: I’m not entirely sure what you were expecting, it’s The Vast. The clue is in the name! MARTIN: Yes, alright…! ARCHIVIST: Just be glad that this is one of the domains that actually has ground to walk on. MARTIN: Whatever. [DISTANT LOW-PITCHED IMPACT, FOLLOWED BY GUSTS OF WIND] S–so how far are we from the other side? And–and don’t say time and space don’t work here, that’s a cop-out and you know it. ARCHIVIST: [SIGH] Fine! Three days. MARTIN: Thank you. [SILENCE] … Wait. Wait, what counts as a day? ARCHIVIST: [CHUCKLING] What an excellent question! MARTIN: Oh my go–! You can be infuriating sometimes, you know that? ARCHIVIST: [ANGELIC] … Yes!

… No static =D While on two other occasions, Jon used his powers to “know” about things:

(MAG174) MARTIN: Fine! Fine. How about Simon. How close are we to him? [STATIC RISES] ARCHIVIST: Hum… Close, [STATIC FADES] but he’s able to move a lot faster than we are in this place. […] MARTIN: … You’re removing evil from the world! ARCHIVIST: I, I’m not, though, am I? [STATIC RISES] The tenement fire is still burning; the mortal garden is growing wild; the carousel i– HELEN: Ugh! [STATIC FADES]

So Jon didn’t even try on that first one. I mean, Martin brought it onto himself – how could Jon describe distances without Objective Time And Space except by “far” and “close” (like in MAG167, where Jon confirmed that they could rest a bit since the next domain was still far from them)? Martin is the little kid on the car backseat, uh.

… But also: Martin closed the last episode saying that the kids from The Dark’s domain would “just need to hang on a little longer”, and that the faster they would reach the Panopticon, the faster they could put a stop to this. No wonder he was impatient to reach the end of this one, since he knows now what the kids’ nightmare looked like.

(I’m still REELING over Jon’s “Yes! :)” over knowing that he’s infuriating sometimes. He knows and he’s proud of it and knows that Martin is dating this infuriating prick =D)

- … So, once again: avatars know about Jon’s status and that the apocalypse happened through him.

(MAG164) HELEN: What would I have to gloat about? Much as I am delighted by this brave new world in which we find ourselves, I can take no credit for it. This was all… you!

(MAG165) NOT!SASHA: Well, of course you want to wallow in my shame like your voyeur master!

(MAG166) HELEN: We’re all here, Martin. The Stranger; The Buried; The Desolation; all of us. But The Eye still rules. All this fear is being performed for its benefit. And so, there are now exactly two roles available in this new world of ours: the watcher, and the watched. Subject, and object. Those who are feared, and those who are afraid. And Jon, well… he is part of The Eye; a very important part.

(MAG168) ARCHIVIST: “This report is being sent to: The Great Eye, that watches all who linger in terror, and gorges itself on the sufferings of those under its unrelenting, stuporous gaze! And its Archive, which draws knowledge of this suffering unto itself. […] Perhaps once it might have horrified me, or given me some sense of pursuing the ultimate release of the world that you have damned.”

(MAG169) JUDE: Fancy seeing you both here. To what, exactly, do I owe the pleasure, the honour, of being graced by the great and powerful Archivist, harbinger of this new world, and his, uh… valet…? […] Just messing around~! Wouldn’t want to keep you from your oh-so-special business, Your Holiness.

(MAG171) JARED: Mm. … So, is there any way this doesn’t end in me dead? I’m guessing that’s on the docket if you’re here. Unless you’re just here to smell the flowers.

(MAG172) ARCHIVIST: “THE SPIDER: Oh, Francis… It’s such a shame, but I couldn’t do such a thing even if I wanted to! The man in the audience saw to that!”

(MAG173) CALLUM: … You’re the Eye guy, right? ARCHIVIST: That’s right. CALLUM: So you’re like… real important. ARCHIVIST: [HUFF] I suppose I am!

(MAG174) SIMON: Good to see you again, Martin! And you must be the famous Archivist, Herald of the Ceaseless Watcher, Harbinger of the New Age, etcetera. Lovely to meet you at last. ARCHIVIST: [SHORT EXHALE] SIMON: Simon Fairchild, at your service. [FOOTSTEPS] ARCHIVIST: I know who you are. SIMON: [CHUCKLES] Of course you do! I imagine you know pretty much everything by this point. How is it? How does it feel? [SHUFFLING] ARCHIVIST: … Strange. SIMON: Yes! I can imagine. These gifts can feel very disconcerting at times. I’m sure you’ll get used to it eventually. […] We don’t get many visitors these days, and, well. You might be the closest thing the universe has ever had to an important person! ARCHIVIST: Uh… I, hum… SIMON: I mean, obviously you’re still ultimately finite and all that, but [INHALE] altering the very fabric of reality, that’s… [WHISTLE] That’s pretty good going, all things considered. […] HELEN: [CHUCKLING] Of course! As much fun as the new world is, I am not about to miss a real, honest-to-godless demigod murder spree! [LAUGHS AND LAUGHS, ECHOING] […] I honestly thought that actually ending the world would be enough to stop you whining, but no! You’re the most powerful person, in a world where the worst consequences imaginable have already happened! Absolute power, with zero responsibility! What more can you possibly need to just – enjoy – yourself – a tiny – bit!

So, nothing new, but still eternally laughing that Jon was apparently marked as harbinger-of-the-apocalypse and that nobody cares about Jonah.

- I’m squinting at what Simon said regarding Jon’s powers:

(MAG174) SIMON: Well, in that case, thank you for swinging by to my… huge corner of the apocalypse. We don’t get many visitors these days, and, well. You might be the closest thing the universe has ever had to an important person! ARCHIVIST: Uh… I, hum… SIMON: I mean, obviously you’re still ultimately finite and all that, but [INHALE] altering the very fabric of reality, that’s… [WHISTLE] That’s pretty good going, all things considered.

Because it reminds me of the wording used for Hill Top Road?

(MAG139, Eugene Vanderstock) “But it seems the fight scarred the place in a way far deeper than simple fire. A scar in reality, that I believe has since been compounded by the interferences of other powers.”

(MAG146) HELEN: There is… something wrong, with Hill Top Road. You know it as well as I do. Some strange “scar in reality” at the centre of… whatever it is the Spider is spinning.

(And it’s still interesting regarding Jon’s status: if he is the one who “altered the very fabric of reality”, can he alter it back? Can he alter it in another way again? It still feels like if someone can do anything about the new configuration, it will be him…)

- I’m suuuuuuuuuuuuper glad at Martin’s rant and anger towards Simon, because it’s… coming close to talking about his own feelings regarding the apocalypse – the fact that he was misled all through season 4 to believe that The Extinction was the most urgent threat, and the fact that he was used by Jonah to give Jon his last mark with The Lonely, and the fact that… Martin chose to not kill Jonah Magnus’s body, unaware that it was still playing the game (and making Elias win). Martin hadn’t mentioned his own guilt so far, the fact that he was used by Jonah (and by Peter, and that Simon played with him a bit) and that he could have technically prevented everything if he had just stabbed Jonah in the Panopticon. I wonder if he will talk about that at some point?

It’s also interesting that this episode ended with the awkwardness of Jon inviting Martin to “lead on” before remembering that he’s the one knowing about the direction and correcting himself (“Follow me, then”) while Martin had expressed some anguish over the fact that he was “following, al–always following, never leading; never leading” in MAG170: it feels like there could be some feeling brewing over his own uselessness and powerlessness right now? Or like someone (Annabelle, Helen, Jonah) could definitely try to use it against him – Annabelle already did (“Does he even need you at all?”), which Jon kind of appeased the following episode (“Yes, Martin, you are my reason.”), but it could still come into play.

- Overall I’m not surprised that Martin absolutely wanted Simon dead in these circumstances – and it might be why he embraced the smiting spree so easily, because it could allow him (through Jon) to hurt back the avatars and monsters who had toyed with people? Peter is already dead, and Jonah is still far away. I reaaaally didn’t like the smiting spree, but I can understand how Martin had wanted to embrace it as a short-term solution; that’s the closest thing he could have to get some power back. (Simon admitted that The Extinction and what he had told Martin had mostly been “guesses”, but I also still wonder if it’s not going to be relevant, though not exactly as defined by Adelard… Simon had told Martin, in MAG151, that cataclysms and end-of-the-worlds had technically always been a thing depending of the point of view – it doesn’t mean that everything was bollocks.)

- Once again, what is Martin’s status in the new world? Because Simon’s comment definitely sounded like he was seeing Martin as one-of-the-avatars:

(MAG174) MARTIN: [AGGRAVATED INHALE] I might have guessed you’d be happy living in this nightmare. SIMON: I mean… not that it matters but… yes I am! Honestly, I think you could be too if you set your mind to it. But I’m not one to tell you how to live your eternity.

We haven’t seen Martin use Lonely powers apart from the end of MAG149, and his status was ambiguous in the Lonely house from MAG170, but mmmm…

- I’m laughing so much over Martin still being petty over Jon sparing Simon, because it sounded ONCE AGAIN like jealousy and it makes Martin out to be so over-the-top:

(MAG174) MARTIN: Why did you let him go– ARCHIVIST: Uh… MARTIN: –Jon? ARCHIVIST: I don’t… know, I just–! [SIGH] I didn’t want to kill him. MARTIN: Why not? Because he was nice to you? [FOOTSTEP] Because he was charming, because he was fun? ARCHIVIST: No, I–I–I, I just…

Martin is a bitch and I LOVE HIM. (Also, that sounds like Martin himself found Simon charming&fun.)

I’m able to appreciate his over-the-topness because he also gave genuine reasons, was aware that it was a bit humiliating:

(MAG174) MARTIN: … Good point! [SMALL CHUCKLES] I’ll keep my apology, then. [RUSTLING OF CLOTHES] [BAG JOSTLING] [SMALL CHUCKLES] … I do kind of wish you’d waited until after Fairchild to have your crisis, though. ARCHIVIST: You really want that old man dead…! MARTIN: I mean, su–, yeah, sure, when you say it like that it sounds bad! ARCHIVIST: But what did he do to you? MARTIN: … He threatened to throw me off a rollercoaster. ARCHIVIST: Ah! MARTIN: … Okay, I, I know it sounds like a joke, but– ARCHIVIST: No, obviously, he’s an avatar of The Vast, I understand, it’s a scary threat coming from him. MARTIN: Yeah! ARCHIVIST: It just… doesn’t sound like a scary threat. MARTIN: Thanks for that.

Martin sounds INCREDIBLY PETTY, once again, but it’s also very valid: back in MAG151, I appreciated how his “How do you feel about… rollercoasters?” / “Uh… neutral” answer had protected him from both of the usual outcomes (getting recruited as a Vast avatar or fed to it as a victim), but it’s true that it was still a threat, thrown casually by a powerful avatar who was flexing that he could just kill him if he wanted to. It doesn’t feel good to be spared just because your potential tormentor decided that you were “no fun”.

It was cute of Jon to very awkwardly try to break it down, and kind of make it worse in the process – because yes, it sounded like a ridiculous threat said like this… but also, Simon would have done it, and it was a genuine threat.

- I’m absolutely delighted that Jon explained his feelings regarding the smiting – a mix of firmness and getting his points across, and that Martin apologised for pushing him in that direction ;w;

(MAG174) ARCHIVIST: I–I just–! … This whole… “avenging angel” thing, I–I’m not… It doesn’t feel right. MARTIN: … It seemed to feel right when we were avenging all the wrongs done against you! ARCHIVIST: I know. I–I–I know, alright? But, well, th–… [SIGH] That’s kind of the problem, I have all this… power and, and I, I want to use it to try and help, but I… I don’t know, I mean, I do. Uh… I’ve done so much damage, an–and anything that might help to balance that is–! [SOFT SIGH] … But killing other avatars, it, it’s not… I, I don’t think it makes anything better. I think it just makes me worse. MARTIN: … You’re removing evil from the world! ARCHIVIST: I, I’m not, though, am I? [STATIC RISES] The tenement fire is still burning; the mortal garden is growing wild; the carousel i– […] [SIGH] I, I, I… [SIGH] I’m sorry, Martin. After meeting the child, I thought… I’ve been… I really hoped things would be simpler, you know? A nice, straightforward apocalypse. MARTIN: [INHALE] No… [SIGH] No, I’m sorry. Cheerleading you when you’re on a magical murder spree probably… wasn’t a great idea. ARCHIVIST: I started it. MARTIN: … Good point! [SMALL CHUCKLES] I’ll keep my apology, then.

Sentence of the episode for me: “But killing other avatars, it, it’s not… I, I don’t think it makes anything better. I think it just makes me worse.”

I’m glad that Martin was able to keep (some of) his pettiness in check enough to hear him out, though, and that he apologised (I really didn’t hear the “I’ll keep my apology, then” as something serious, but as cute banter between a couple who are back on the same wavelength: Martin had already admitted that he behaved poorly – it’s not something he can exactly take back); and on the other hand, that Jon also explained how it didn’t work. It’s like Martin isolating himself during the statement: they’ve made a mistake, they’re ready to acknowledge it, and they decide to not make it again. (Though, where was Martin during the statement portion this episode? At least in MAG171 and (partially) MAG172, he had stayed close to Jon.)

Right now, the problem with Jon’s powers really isn’t whether he can but whether he should – and the fact that he feels like it might be negatively impacting him is a valid argument (+ the ethical concern, not mentioned, of being judge/jury/executioner all by himself). The season began with The Eye wanting Jon to leave the cabin, wanting for the cabin to be his “chrysalis”, and… that cannot be good.

- I still lovelovelove how, since the reveal in MAG158 that “Elias Bouchard” was actually Jonah Magnus, Jon&Martin… are still mostly sticking to “Elias”.

(MAG158) ARCHIVIST: Uh– yes. And I’d wager that Elias’s body, uh… BASIRA: Gotta be Jonah Magnus, right? ARCHIVIST: I’d say so. BASIRA: [SIGH] And he’s been body-hopping like whatever was in Rayner. […] PETER: … No. No! This isn’t fair, do you have any idea what you’ve done? You knew, he must have– MARTIN: Elias– … Jonah had nothing to do with it.

(MAG160) MARTIN: Are we… … Are we safe here? ARCHIVIST: [SIGH] Safe as anywhere else. If Elias wanted to find us, I imagine he could, but… I doubt the police will be able to. […] Does she know if they’ve found the old prison yet? The… Panopticon, Elia– … Magnus’s body.

(MAG161) MARTIN: [SIGH] Gloating, Jon. [CREAKING SOUND] Elias won, and there were some tapes he’d kept for himself, and he wanted to gloat. So, he sent them! ARCHIVIST: He’s not… MARTIN: I–I don’t see– ARCHIVIST: … “Elias”. MARTIN: Jonah, then. I don’t know, I find it hard to think of him as… I don’t really like to think of him!

(MAG162) ARCHIVIST: No, no, lo–look… I, I–I was listening, and I–I was filled with this… hatred. This anger; I–I wanted to leave, and hunt down Elias, a–and…! MARTIN: W–wow, okay… […] Do you think it’ll do anything? Confronting Elias? ARCHIVIST: [INHALE] I… [SIGH] Maybe? MARTIN: No, I’m serious. Do we… [PAUSE IN THE PACKING SOUNDS] Is there a chance that we can undo this?

(MAG164) MARTIN: What about Elias? [STATIC INCREASES] ARCHIVIST: He’s inside the Panopticon; the tower, far above the world. MARTIN: That one? ARCHIVIST: Yes. [PAUSE] MARTIN: How is he? ARCHIVIST: Hard to say. The, the way this works, this… “new sight”, the knowledge is, is… [SIGH] It’s somehow wrapped up in the Panopticon? An eye can’t… see inside itself. MARTIN: Mm. ARCHIVIST: But I can feel him in there. MARTIN: Hm. That sounds… gross. ARCHIVIST: It is! [CHUCKLES]

(MAG167) ARCHIVIST: Help us with what? MARTIN: ‘xcuse me? ARCHIVIST: Annabelle, help us with “what”? Our–our, our journey, killing Elias, vanishing the Entities – what?

(MAG174) MARTIN: Thanks for that. … Hang on, you’re still down to kill Elias, right? Uh, oh, Jonah, whatever. ARCHIVIST: I’m still going to confront him. [INHALE] I don’t know if killing him is something I’m even… capable of, but if I can and I have to, I will. MARTIN: Yeeah? ARCHIVIST: Don’t worry. I won’t hesitate.

Because: same. He still doesn’t really register as “Jonah Magnus” to me.

I’m also laughing a lot at Martin, who began the season with “I don’t really like to think of Elias :/” and, since then, has most often been the one to breach the subject of Elias (+ we can add MAG170: “I mean, the interview was weird, I… I don’t really remember the man who talked to me. Just his eyes. They stared at me; th–through me, and… and, I–I knew that he knew what I’d done. God, I…! I was so scared, but… but then he smiled and shook my hand…! What was his name? [CREAKING] He said I “had the job”…! [CHUCKLE] That he “looked forward to working with me”! … I was still so scared I could barely move my arm…! I was so terrified I’d let him down…!” – even when he was losing his memories, still remembering Elias’s eyes, and THIS is how MartinElias can still w–)

I really wonder if they’ll even try to call him “Jonah” when face-to-face with him, or… will still stick to “Elias” out of habit.

- … Well. That is, if Elias still has a face. We know that some part of him still remains in the Panopticon-Institute (MAG164: “He’s inside the Panopticon; the tower, far above the world.”), that Jon can still “feel” him there, but the fact that Jon can’t know more about it (because “an eye can’t see inside itself”) combined with the fact that Jon’s anger towards him was a key point in making them leave the cabin and the confrontation with Elias is still their current goal… keeps making me think that Elias might not be in the same state as he was in MAG158. Stuck in layers and layers of spiderwebs? Merged with the Panopstitute (since his powers relied on Magnus’s body staying in the middle of it)? Stuck inside of his old body? What is the part of Jonah Magnus can feel inside the Panopstitute: is it Jonah Magnus’s body or his consciousness? Is it still both?

- Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Jon.

(MAG174) MARTIN: Hang on, you’re still down to kill Elias, right? Uh, oh, Jonah, whatever. ARCHIVIST: I’m still going to confront him. [INHALE] I don’t know if killing him is something I’m even… capable of, but if I can and I have to, I will. MARTIN: Yeeah? ARCHIVIST: Don’t worry. I won’t hesitate. MARTIN: … Right. [DISTANT LOW-PITCHED IMPACT, FOLLOWED BY GUSTS OF WIND] [INHALE] Right, alright then. Good. … Let’s go, then. We don’t want to keep him waiting!

“I won’t hesitate,” he hesitated, hesitatingly.

Well. Not exactly: Jon’s tone was casually firm, but also felt a bit distracted and, most importantly… why the need to add so many conditions, Jon.

* “if I can”: true that, unlike other avatars until then, Elias is tied to Beholding. Can Beholding’s powers be used against another Beholding avatar? Elias resisted the compulsion in MAG092 (… or so he said, before spilling everything ~on his own terms uwu~ – he, at least, was able to delay the effects), so Jon’s cautiousness is understandable.

* “if I have to”: that one is a bit more unexpected, because that’s… a big condition. In what circumstances would Jon “have to” kill Elias? It’s good, though, because it implies that it’s not about plain revenge anymore, but whether it could help the situation.

Anyway: the shift to “confront Elias” is a good one! … And gives me the feeling that Elias either won’t be in a state to be confronted, either will have further contributions to make.

(- Martin’s “We don’t want to keep him waiting!” also brings to mind that Elias is probably aware that they’re coming, right now. He’s in the middle of the seeing-it-all tower: unless he’s already incapacitated, they won’t be taking him by surprise, and he might be prepared to welcome them.)

- … Welp, I was feeling like we were hitting rock bottom last week, hope-wise, but this episode felt… like a breather (ha)? Not exactly hopeful per se, but definitely lighter (Martin firm about wanting to save the world, Jon finally wording what was bothering him with the smiting, Martin apologising, Jon and Martin reaching an understanding, not playing Helen’s game and thinking about the Elias case). So, #BackToWorryingOverDaisy – Jon didn’t want to kill Simon, doesn’t want to kill avatars just for the sake of it, but there is still Daisy running wild…

(And I would still feel a bit (lot) miffed if Jon were to kill her, given that she’s part of Basira’s story, that Basira promised her and that Basira arguably got the worst of it when it came to being manipulated without achieving/“winning” anything in season 4? I think it’s more likely that Jon could have the power to incapacitate her and give the time for Basira to fulfil her promise, if there is no other way, but I don’t know, I keep hoping that there could be another way with the fact that Jon can change the rules (turning the feared into the afraid, changing the “fabric of reality”) and that Daisy had a connection to The Eye (she signed a contract in season 4)…)

   MAG175’s title is mysterioooous. If MAG174 hadn’t happened, I would have said “Vast” but… Mm. Only Spiral and Hunt left when it comes to domains, so I would wager Spiral, more specifically with digital fuckedupness, reminiscent of MAG065? (But I could also see how it could tie with Hunt if thinking about beginnings, and it could go very well with Extinction too… if this one ends up relevant again). In itself, the title feels perfect for lore about the new reality (tying in with a few meta considerations and comments which have been made by various avatars), so mmmmm: could also be a switch in perspective with Annabelle or Elias, I guess…

[natashaashleymarvelromanoff]

You found me

 this is my Fix-it fic for endgame! Spoilers ahead.

the ending broke my heart so i had to write my own version. please be kind i haven't written in over a year so it may be messy but the love for my ship is still there ❤

They’d finally won. For the final time they had won.

“okay so, take the stones back to their original timelines and places Steve. They need to go back exactly where we found them.” Bruce explained to Steve. Each stone had to go to the exact point where they were taken or the timeline they had created would go to shit.

Getting ready to jump Steve smiled at Bruce’s concern and replied.

“ Don't worry Bruce I've got it.” Steve shut the briefcase and locked it, ready to go.

“Are you sure you don't want me to go with you cap?” Sam approached the blonde. He’d just got back. He didn't want to leave his friends again.

Patting Sam on the shoulder, Steve turned to Sam. “No its okay. I can do this, besides i don't think we'd have enough particles to take both of us back. I'm gonna be fine.” reassured Steve. He really was gonna be fine. He will be at least.

“Okay, okay, just be careful.” Defeated by the captain, he obliged. Though Sam still worried about his friend. Steve pulled him in for a hug and then they let go. Steve was ready to carry out his mission. He turned around to see his oldest friend .

“Be careful out there punk.” Bucky said. Steve signed and hugged Bucky. It was good to have them back.

“Don't worry buck. I'm gonna be just fine.” They both pulled away and smiled at each other.

Pulling away from his friend Steve stepped onto the platform of the time machine and locked out to his friends. Banners voice calling out.

5

He activated his helmet.

4

He breathed deep.

3

And back out.

2

Squeezed his eyes shut.

1

All of a sudden steve was gone. Right in front of their eyes, the two men released a little breath they were holding.

“Okay and bringing him back in”

5

4

3

2

1

Bruce flicks the switch.

Nothing.

Sam's brows furrow. The doctor is confused too, but for some reason Bucky is oddly calm.

“Where is he?” Sams asks worried

“I - I- i don't know he should be here?” Bruce stammers, flicking more switches to try and get Steve back, maybe he pressed the wrong one? Sam goes over to help but they can’t figure out what wrong.

It's almost like the hairs on the back of Bucky's neck stick up. He can feel something's different. Turning away from the bird and doc, Bucky looks into the distance to see two figures sitting together on the bench by the lake.

He breathes deeply while looking at the couple.

Bucky can hear Sam and Bruce chattering in the background about trying to bring Steve back. But he knows that it’s not going to happen. Not now.

“Guys” he calls. they both turn to him, and follow his line of sight. When they do they see two people sat down near the water. Sam is confused as he looks at bucky.

“Go.” The brunette waits behind as Sam makes his way toward the people.

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

Vormier.

He’ll never get used to that.

Jumping out from his time jump, Steve catches his breath again.

The darkness of this world consumes him and he settles his eyes upon the hill that awaits him.

Steve looks around as he treks the mountain. Knowing what happened here Steve can't even find one beautiful thing about this place. Not the eclipsing sun, not the two towers at the top. Nothing. He didn't want to be here one more second than he had too. He just wanted to return the stone then leave.

As he approached the top a figure emerged from the shadows. Almost Startling him.

“I don't mean any harm, i just want to return this.”

From the briefcase he pulled the stone out. Bright orange. And held it out to the figure in front of him ready to return it.

“It's been a long time captain.” A rough voice emerged from the blackness.

Steve’s eyes widened, He knew that voice, suddenly Steve became defensive and pulled the stone back towards him. Red skull.

The red face came out of the black but it held no danger. Steve could see it didn’t, he could tell. The Red skulled man floated over to Steve and took the stone from him, returning it back to the sky. Ready for the next sacrifice to be made for the stone to be used once more.

As he did, the flying mass of darkness turned to him again and said

“I believe there is someone waiting for you captain.” Red skull moved to the side, allowing Steve to pass onto the ledge.

No, it couldn't be? He locked forward in shock, this couldn’t be real, life isn’t that generous.

“Natasha?” He spoke in a whisper, almost too low for anyone to hear but she did. Stood in front of him was Natasha. His Natasha! She was alive?

The redhead turned at the sound of her name, her braid whipping around she turned that fast.

Green met blue over the few meters they were apart.

“Steve?” Natasha trembled, she's been up there for hours, she’d almost given up hope. She’s tried to return to the present but it wouldn’t let her, she figured the wristband was fried or the particles weren’t working or the machine back home wasn’t running.

“Oh my god” the soldier breathed, he dropped the briefcase and ran to her as she did the same. They met In the middle, their bodies slamming against each other from the impact. Their arms wrapping around each other tightly not wanting to let go. Eyes filled with tears on both parts, both crying for the person they thought they would never see again.

“Natasha, i thought id lost you.” he buried his face into her neck, hot breath heated her skin every time he panted, but she couldn't complain. Here in her arms was Steve. The man she lo- her friend.

“How? I thought you were dead, Clint said you sacrificed yourself?” They both pulled back but didn't let go of each other. They probably never would again.

“I did. I'm sure i did. I'm not supposed to be here, what happened, did you win?” She asked hurriedly, she was just as confused as him. Did her being alive mean they didn’t get the stone? She didn’t have a clue what was going on or what happened.

“Yeah we won. We got them back.” he smiled at her when he said it. She let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding. Then she smiled.

“We won.” The redhead laughed. After 5 years, they did it.

“I'm still confused though, how can i be back? I shouldn't have been able to come back, it’s undo-able.”

Suddenly their daze was interrupted by the same back mass as before.

“Time has been changed forever. You changed the course of history when you took the stones. You finished your mission which is why your bringing the stones back. You finished your mission, you change history. Whatever you did to fix what was wrong fixed everything.

Not only what happened in the future but also what happened here. You shouldn't be alive but you are thanks to the stones.” He explained to Natasha.

The stones brought her back. When they fixed the future. When Bruce used the iron gauntlet , he brought everyone back including her. A 1 in a million chance.

“You my dear are indeed a miracle of the stones. You are a precious anomaly, a loophole. You should spend the rest of your life in gratefulness as the stones have given you another chance at life.”

Then he was gone.

A miracle? No. Natasha thought.she looked at Steve her mouth parted in shock. This was all too much.

“Tasha? Are you okay?” Steve asked concerned, he cupped Natasha cheek, gently pulling her face towards his to look at her. Her eyes showed confusion and shock.

“Im fine. I'm more than fine.” She told him and he pulled her into another hug.

“I've got one more stone to take back. The space stone. You need to come with me.”

“I'd be more than happy to come with you, please for the love of the stones get me of this planet.”

Steve smiles at her response, giving her the tile code and co-ordinates she punched them in her suit ready to go, now the machine back home was working again she could travel. Steve picks up his briefcase with the last infinity stone inside and they jump. Together.

1970

Its loud and busy with the sound of soldiers.

When they land they both wince at the surge of light since Vormier was so dark. They have to be careful. The two people look around to find themselves in a closet of some kind?

Steve turns to Natasha whilst retracting his quantum suit.

“Nat stay here. I need to grab a uniform before anyone sees us, they were about to catch us last time i was here and they're probably still looking, if we got the time right.”

She tightly nods at him, agreeing stay here, normally she would have a snarky remark or refused but not this time. Steve carries on.

“I won't be long.”

“Okay, be careful.” She watches as he leaves the room, and waits for him to get back to her.

He manages to dodge the people after him and put the stone back where it was down stairs successfully, all he had to do now was get back to Natasha.

Carefully walking through the hallways trying to avoid people he stops all of a sudden. It’s an office.

Margaret carter.

Peggy.

he stares at the words on the door, one last time couldn’t hurt? Steve pushes the door to enter.

There in her office is the woman herself. Peggy carter.

The brunettes head turns at the sound of her office being entered but she does as double take when she sees who is there.

“Steve?” Her eyes glazed and wide. This can’t be real? He’s been gone for over 20 years? How?

“Peggy.” He smiles at her.

“I don't understand, what- how?” She stammers as she walks towards him, eventually putting her hand on his face to check he’s real.

Steve lets out a breath. And lowers his eyes.

“Peggy, it’s hard to understand, i can't tell you a lot but you do deserve the truth. i'm from the future, i'm not the Steve you remember. We had a mission, i had a mission and being here is part of completing it.”

“The future?” She gasps. Her Steve from the future? It’s not possible… could it be?

The brunette is interrupted by her office door swinging open, and a red head making her way inside.

“they found me, i had to knock them out but it won't be long before there looking for me.” She says as she enters, checking no one is following her. She hurries over to Steve and grabs his arm in urgency, which doesn't go unnoticed by Peggy.

But Peggy just smiles.

Natasha freezes when she realises they are not alone, she looks at the brunette, instantly recognising her as Peggy carter.

Still smiling Peggy offers her hand out towards the other woman.

“Peggy carter.” Natasha is amazes. She truly is, it was an honour to meet her. Natasha meets her band in the middle to shake it.

“Natasha, i have to say, its an honour to meet you agent carter.” She offers back her name in respect. Natasha almost feels like trembling, she never thought she’s ever meet her and yet hear she is.

Peggy's lips are still smiling as she meets Natasha, Peggy new she liked her instantly. There’s something about Natasha that She can see why Steve likes her.

“Believe me, its an honour to meet you Natasha.” Peggy returns.

For a second Natasha is confused, why is Peggy honoured to meet her? Her head tilts slightly to the side as she wonders.

“Its an honour to meet the person Steve loves. He deserves love more than anyone and im glad he found it with you and moved on. I really am.”

The blonde and redhead realise Peggy thinks their together but before anybody can explain, soldiers are bursting their way into the room. Immediately asking agent carter for her assistance in finding the intruders. Natasha and Steve quickly hide behind the bookshelf in her office, tightly hugged together to hide themselves completely. Peggy stands tall as she’s told of the intruders and says she’ll be there soon.

the agents leave the room and Peggy motions for them to come out again now it’s safe. the soldier and spy come out from the bookshelf and continue their talk with Peggy.

“I need to go now, but I’m happy that your happy Steve. And I hope you two can find the life you always wanted, you both deserve it I’m sure. I mean it Steve. I'm so happy happy for you.”

She kisses him on the cheek and leaves the room going after the agents. Both Steve and Natasha watch as she leaves, Natasha watching in adoration and Steve watching in nervousness.

Natasha starts to set up her return jump when Steve stops her. Placing his hand on hers, and looking into her green eyes.

“stay.”

That’s not what she was expecting. “what do you mean?” The redhead was confused her brows knitting together.

“I'm an idiot. A big one. I've been telling people they need to move on but i couldn't even do that myself. I was so stuck in the past and stuck on Peggy that i couldn't see what was right in front of me. The person who's been there for me ever since we first met. Since New York, Hydra, the accords, and Thanos. The person i spent 2 years on the run with.”

He breathes deep as he looks into her eyes, his next words making his stomach shiver in anticipation.

“Natasha. I love you. I do. I love you so much. And i know what i'm about to ask isn't easy. You have a family back home. They all think your gone but you could see them again. But i need to ask you.”

She takes in a breath, this was all too much, he loves her? But see barely has chance to say it back when the soldier spoke again.

“Stay here with me?”

Stay? Could she do that? All she knew was that wherever Steve was, was where she wanted to be.

“Stay here with you? In the past?”

“Yes. we have a chance to have a life here. To get a life” he chuckles to himself slightly, remembering their conversation.

“I know its a lot to ask but i love you. And there's no other way id want to spend the rest of my life.”

That’s all she needed to hear.

“Yes.” She smiles at him, pulling on each other They meet in the middle for a hug and cry with each other softly.

“Id follow you to the ends of the earth if you asked me too.” She says to him, she pulls back slightly from their hug, she really would follow him. Smiling at her words, Steve leans down to catch her lips into a kiss.

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

2023

One shaky step at a time, Sam slowly makes his way towards the 2 people sat on the bench.

He knew who they were but didn’t want to admit it to himself. His thought was confirmed when he got closer

Steve.

And Natasha? No it couldn’t be? The lady has aged but he still knew her face, how was that possible? She was dead?

“Steve? Tasha? What is going on?” Sam stammered his question.

Sam is entirely shocked of course, seeing his two best friends again after 5 years but now seeing them old? And Natasha Alive?

Sams asks “what happened”

The older couple looks at one another unsure how much they should say.

“We wanted to stay.” Steve offers his reason. But Sam can’t be angry. How could he be?

“I woke up on Vormier, it was so dark and I was alone, but then Steve found me and we decided to stay in the past.”

Sam asks about what happened Natasha says that she woke up on Vormier, Steve found her and they stayed in the past, together. Sam notices they are wearing wedding bands. And smiles in happiness that they finally end up together.

“We stayed. But i thought you might need this.” He pulls out his shield,

“Try it on” Natasha says.

Sam pulls it up and straps his arms into the shield. It feels good he thinks.

“Looks good on you” the woman says. And she smirks, the same smirk Sam remembers.

Sam pats his hand on Steve's hand, thanking him. But there's a glint in his eye. Steve's hand. Hes wearing a ring. But so is Natasha. He laughs to himself. Finally, he thinks.

Sam turns towards the two of them and asks.

“So you gonna tell me about how you two ended up together then?”

They both smirk and say no.

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

It’s a slow melody, playing from one of the record players, it's one of Steve's favourites.

Slowly swaying in the living room are two people, a soldier and a spy.

Natasha and Steve.

It's the middle of the night. The both of them engulfed in each others arms as they sway, Natasha's head laid on Steve's chest, as he rests his on top of hers. It's a beautiful night, the stars stinging in the sky and the weather warm enough to enjoy and they cant help but get lost into each other.

all of a sudden a loud noise breaks the silence.

they both whip their heads at the noise and stop dancing but before Steve can go to check Natasha says she will, she never gets tired of checking on him and she never will. She enters the upstairs room across from theirs to find her baby James crying in his crib.

Her eyes soften when she sees her son with tears In his eyes.

“Oh James, what the matter sweetie?”

She gently picks him up in her arms, supporting his head and soothes him. Rocking his side to side, he was only a month old. Soon enough thanks to the comfort of his mother's arms he stops crying, definitely a mummy's boy, she thinks.

Steve stands in the doorway watching his wife and son and then joins them in the room, quietly walking his way in, he stops next to Natasha and wraps his arms around her waist as she holds their son.

Their little miracle. She calls him. She thanks the stones for that. Whatever they did to bring her back, it worked. A little too good. Because she was never supposed to have this, her own little family.

She sacrificed herself and never expected to come back from that. But she did, and now she had the most amazing things she could have ever had in life, Steve and their son, James. God she's never forget the moment she realised she was pregnant. It was a miracle. Their miracle.

Just as James drifts of again into blissful sleep, Natasha lifts her head to look at Steve, and smiles at him. He leans in to kiss her, but she's just as eager so they meet in the middle, their kiss is so soft, sometimes they could just drown in each other. They pull apart and lean their foreheads against each other.

“i'm glad i found you.” He says to her.

“I don't just mean on Vormier, i mean when we met. I was in the ice for 65 years, i didn't think had anything left, and them i met you and I guess It was just meant to be.”

Her eyes tear up as he speaks sweet words. Rocking their son in her arms she openly smiles at him, placing their son in his bed, she then wraps her arms around his neck. Pulling him down to her.

“I'm glad i found you too. Your my family Steve. You've given me something that no one else could. I love you so much.”

She leans up to kiss him again. Both getting lost in their little moment of happiness.

They made the right call. And neither of them regretted it for a single second.

[splendidlyimperfect]

dude,,,,dude,,,, stinguegratsu ot4 and "i'm too sober for this" please,,,,

This was way too much fun to write, oh my god. 

Pairing: Natsu/Gray/Sting/RoguePrompt: “I am way too sober for this.”

“I am way too sober for this.”

Rogue crosses his arms over his chest as he watches Sting and Natsubelting out ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart,’ giggling drunkenly and leaningagainst each other while they sing.

Gray, who is only slightly more sober than the two of them, raisesan eyebrow at Rogue.

“What, you don’ wanna embarrass yourself in front of everyone?”Gray asks, leaning forward on the couch and wrapping an arm around Rogue’swaist. He presses a sloppy kiss to Rogue’s cheek and Rogue sighs, running hisfingers affectionately through Gray’s hair.

“You know I don’t sing, love,“ he says, kissing Gray’s head.“Besides, the two of them are embarrassing themselves enough for the four ofus.”

Yukino appears behind them, plate of hors d’ouevres in her hand.Gray takes a couple, giving her an tipsy smile.

“You don’t regret the karaoke machine yet?” Rogue asks. Yukinolaughs as Natsu and Sting move on to a pop song that Rogue vaguely recognizesfrom Sting’s ‘dancing while cleaning’ playlist. “Your new neighbors might notbe too fond of you,” Rogue adds, rolling his eyes.

“That’s why they’re all here,” Yukino says, gesturing around thenew house at the crowd of unfamiliar faces. “I figured they wouldn’t be so putout by a party if they were invited to it.”

“Good plan,” Rogue says, looking around. He knows a couple ofpeople here as regulars at the café, but the rest of them are strangers.

“Also, your boyfriends are adorably entertaining,” Yukino adds,giving Rogue a sweet smile before heading off to mingle with the rest of theguests.

Gray snuggles up to Rogue, slipping under his arm and moving untilhe’s practically in Rogue’s lap. He tips his head back and gives Rogue anadoring look, and Rogue enjoys the softness in Gray’s normally guardedexpression.  

“You’re affectionate tonight,” Rogue murmurs in Gray’s ear. Grayhums happily and nuzzles Rogue’s neck.

“’s cause I love you,” he says simply, taking a sip of his beer.“An’ I’ve had… a few of these.” He looks up at Rogue, then at the kitchenwhere some people Rogue don’t recognize are mixing drinks. “They’ve got that-the tequila you like.”

“Oh?” Rogue raises his eyebrows.

“Y-yeah, the- remember when we played ‘Never Have I Ever’, an-andNatsu said he wanted to-”

“Yes, I remember,” Rogue interrupts, laughing and kissing Gray’sforehead.

“’s that stuff,” Gray says.

“I’m driving us home, remember?” Rogue shakes his head.

“Pff.” Gray waves his hand. “’s what Uber is for.”

Rogue laughs, giving only a mild protest as Gray stands up and dragshim to his feet, then into the kitchen for a drink.

“Who gave Rogue tequila?” Natsu pokes Gray, who looks up at himwith a sheepish grin. Natsu rolls his eyes, flopping down on the couch next toGray and leaning against his shoulder.

“You smell like candy,” Gray says, resting his head on Natsu’s.

“Mm. Sting got me to try somethin’… it was pink?” Natsu frowns,gesturing vaguely toward the kitchen. “Tasted like Skittles.” He turns to Grayand grins. “Wanna try it?”

Before Gray can protest, Natsu kisses him, and to Gray’s surprise,he does taste like Skittles. Gray hums appreciatively, running his fingersthrough Natsu’s hair and enjoying the kiss for a moment before Natsu’s firstquestion catches up to his slightly addled brain.

“Wait.” Gray pulls back from Natsu, trying not to look at how pinkhis lips are. “Why- how’d you know Rogue had th-the tequila?”

Natsu doesn’t respond, just points over to where Rogue is standingwith Lucy, who is laughing at something he said and gesturing at the karaokemachine. Gray’s eyes widen when, instead of vehemently protesting, Rogue nodsand wraps an arm around Lucy’s shoulders.

“Oh, shit,” Gray whispers.

“What’d you do now?” Sting asks, appearing on Gray’s other side andkissing his cheek. He follows Gray’s gaze over to the karaoke machine and burstsout laughing.

“Man, he’s gonna regret this tomorrow,” Sting says. “Do we stop himor film him?”

Natsu already has his phone out. Gray thinks about smacking it outof his hands, then recalls the dozens of embarrassing videos of himself in thegroup chat, and lets Natsu hit ‘record.’

“If he sings ‘The Black Parade’ I’m gonna die,” Natsugiggle-whispers, camera shaky in his hands. Gray snorts, but Sting shakes hishead.

“Mm. Tequila-drunk Rogue likes country music.”

Both Gray and Natsu turn to Sting, frowning at him with twinexpressions of inebriated disbelief.

“Rogue,” Natsu says slowly, looking back over at their boyfriend,“likes country music.”

“Our Rogue?” Gray adds, squinting at Sting and wondering exactlyhow much all of them have had to drink. “Our boyfriend? You can’t-”

And then the music starts, and Gray realizes with incredulous amusementthat Sting is right.

“Holy shit,” Natsu whispers as Rogue and Lucy began to sing. “He’sgonna- he’ll murder us tomorrow.” He keeps filming, and adds, “totally worthit.”

Gray has heard Rogue sing before, obviously – in the shower, orunder his breath while they cook – but never like this. The song is twangy,distinctly country, catchy as hell, and Rogue sounds… well, amazing. His voice isdeep and rich and – considering how much he’s had to drink – surprisingly inkey.

“C’mere.” Sting reaches down for Gray’s hands, and before Gray canprotest, Sting pulls him to his feet. Gray frowns as Sting places a hand onGray’s waist, then takes a step back. “Dance with me?” he asks softly, givingGray the sweet, sunshine smile he can never refuse. “Please?”

“Only ‘cause you’re… ‘cause you said please, an’ you’re theprettiest,” Gray says, leaning in and kissing the pink flush that creeps acrossSting’s cheeks.

Luckily, two-stepping doesn’t require too much coordination oreffort on Gray’s part, and the two of them move around the living room to the soundof Rogue singing. Gray lets the words wash over him, enjoying the voice that herarely gets to hear.

Youand me goin’ fishin’ in the darklying on our backs and countin’ the stars, where the cool grass grows

Sting’s hands are warm beneath Gray’s, and everyone else in theliving room seems to fade away as they step around empty plates and manage notto crash into the coffee table. Sting’s steps are smooth, and Gray can feel theheat of Sting’s fingers on his hip.  

Downby the river in the full moonlightwe’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night, just moving slow

“Rogue’s gonna kill Natsu tomorrow,” Sting comments mildly, gesturingover to the sofa where Natsu is moving the camera between the two of themdancing, and Rogue singing. Gray feels like he should probably be annoyed, butNatsu is giggling with Yukino, and Gray loves Natsu’s laugh.

“Mm,” Gray says quietly, leaning forward and resting his head onSting’s shoulder. “But- he’s good. Rogue is. His voice, it’s- really pretty.”Sting hums in agreement. “He should- should sing for us more.”

Stayin’the whole night throughfeels so good to be with you

As the music fades away, Gray kisses Sting, then looks over atRogue. Rogue’s cheeks are flushed and he’s got his bangs pushed out of hisface, showing off his wide smile. When Rogue looks over at them, Gray thinks hecould get lost forever in the dark of Rogue’s eyes.

“You’re a sappy drunk,” Sting murmurs, and Gray realizes that hesaid that out loud. He’s about to protest when Rogue moves over to them, andhe’s so fucking gorgeous that Gray really doesn’t give a shit what anybody elsethinks.

“Hey, baby,” Gray says softly, grabbing Rogue’s shirt and pullinghim in for a kiss. Rogue tastes like liquor, like salt and tequila and Gray’salmost desperate for it, licking at Rogue’s lips as he brushes his fingersthrough Rogue’s hair.

“We do have an audience,” Sting reminds them, and Gray feels hischeeks flush hot as he pulls back from Rogue, glancing over at where some ofYukino’s coworkers are staring at them and giggling. Sober Gray would probablyhave the decency to be embarrassed, but right now, drunk Gray’s not interestedin anybody but his boyfriends.

“You’ve got a pretty voice,” he says to Rogue, kissing him oncemore as Sting squeezes his hand and then returns to the couch where Natsu andYukino are laughing over the video. “You should sing more often.”

“Hm.” Rogue rubs his nose against Gray’s, running his thumbs overGray’s cheekbones. “This is…” He pauses for a second, frowning as if waitingfor his thoughts to catch up. “All of this is- it’s your fault.”

Gray snorts, letting out a sound that definitely isn’t a giggle.

“I’m serious!” Rogue says, placing both hands on either side ofGray’s face and staring at him intently. “You…”

Gray tips his head to the side, and they stare intently at eachother for several seconds before Rogue shrugs, whatever he’d been going to sayforgotten.

“Hey, you two!” They both turn to Natsu, who’s grinning at themfrom the couch. “How ‘bout you give us an encore?”

“They are going to hate themselvestomorrow,” Natsu whispers, trying his best to hold his phone still as he films Rogueand Gray. “I love it.”

Sting is giggling hysterically with his head in Natsu’s lap – the Jelloshots have finally caught up to him – and Yukino is sprawled halfway over Sting’slegs, sipping on her beer.

“I mean, they’re not bad,” she admits, tipping her bottle towardthem. They’ve moved on to Shania Twain now, and Natsu can’t keep it together asGray turns to him drunkenly and sings, he’sgotta be a heartbeatin’, fire-breathin’, breathtakin’, earthquakin’ kiiiiiiind…any man of mine…

“I am living for this,”Natsu cackles, bringing his hand down to Sting’s hair and running his fingersthrough it. Sting makes a purring sound and pushes his head up into the touchas he taps out the beat on Yukino’s thighs.

“You should- you need t’ have parties more oft’n,” Sting mumbles atYukino, who laughs and kisses him on the forehead. “I like them singin’. ’snice.”

“It is,” Natsu says, voice suddenly soft. The music fades into thebackground, and Natsu blinks, looking down at Sting fondly. Sting gazes back upat him, adoration written over his face, and Natsu leans down to kiss him.

When he looks back up, Rogue and Gray are laughing so hard they’renearly falling over, a new ridiculous song playing in the background that theydon’t quite know the lyrics for, so they’re making up the words as they go.

Natsu keeps the camera rolling, know that while it will embarrassthe hell out of Gray and Rogue, Natsu will treasure how happy and carefree theylook for a long, long time. His boyfriends do kind of look like idiots upthere, but they’re his idiots, andall Natsu can do is smile.

[lilacopal]

moonlight🌙

moonlight: in which lana and kai watch the eclipse of the blood moon with some friends, and both experience some butterflies in the moonlight while with some new people. AN: I’ve always done writing but I’ve never posted it anywhere so please take it easy on me lol. I hope you enjoy this will be one of many things I start to write

_

two best friends straight out of college still figuring out what to do next, where will you find them? los angeles obviously. it was lana’s dumb idea is what kai will tell you. which it was, she’d never been and everyone is going there so why not?

kai wasn’t sure about the crowds and all the traffic, but lana promised if it was too bad they’d go back to the chilly east coast. at the moment lana was driving the two of them to a friends house. they were in a cherry red car (don’t ask them what kind they won’t know) with the hood down and music blaring. they both had their hair blowing wildly looking like a bit from a movie.

“we’ll be at mali’s soon, are you excited for the blood moon?” lana asked kai happily.

“i am i’ve never watched something like this before so this’ll be fun” kai replied with a bright smile.

not too long after, they made it to mali’s house, lana had met her online she was a beautiful singer and they bonded over music, then lana told her all about kai, her best friend. and when they decided to go to LA she welcomed the two of them to her and her brothers place with open arms.

after parking they grabbed the small amount of suitcases they had attempting to hold all of them to avoid taking trips. both of them being lugging their stuff immediately regretting not taking trips.

“guys do you need help?” a voice asked laughing, it was mali coming out of her front door laughing at the two girls.

“yes please” lana yelled back then dropping all her stuff dramatically.

mali came over and helped her pick up her stuff.

“kai hun do you need help? calum come out here and help the girls with their stuff!” mali shouted.

from the front door came a tall boy who looked like he could be mali’s twin, he was wearing a snapback but you could see dyed blonde hair sticking out, also like his sisters. kai looked over at lana to see her making a look. her friend didn’t date much throughout college due to overstressing herself with work and dealing with breaking up with her high school boyfriend.

so kai seeing this glimmer in her best friends eyes was rare. it warmed her heart a bit, made her hopeful to see her happy again. kai herself wasn’t big on dating but she absolutely was not against the idea. who knows what LA could bring?

calum came over to her and took some of the bags out her arms.

“thanks, so much. i’m kai and over there is lana” she introduced herself.

“no problem and i’m cal. mali told me you guys were coming to watch the eclipse with us?” he asked as they made it into the house.

“yea we are, i’ve never seen an eclipse so i’m excited, lana is obsessed with space so this is right up her alley” kai remarked.

“hey stop making me look like a nerd we just got here!” lana hollered.

“i am not” kai yelped.

“no it's okay, that’s a cool thing to be into” calum laughed at their bickering.

“thanks” lana gushed with a grin. the short girl was already smitten, she started to feel flutters in her stomach and was feeling giddy.

mali lead them to her guest room that the two of them would share so they could unpack and settle in. soon their friends were arriving and then they’d watch the moon turn blood red. which kai was considering somewhat romantic and was wondering if lana was feeling the same.

“lana, my dearest friend i saw your look a little while ago” kai stated.

lana, who was laying on the bed look up from her phone looking a bit pink in the cheeks.

“what look? i don’t remember giving you any look” lana lied.

“yes you do, when calum came out you looked quite intrigued” she teased.

“so what if i did? he’s good looking, gorgeous like his sister” lana replied trying to seem unphased.

“it's been a long time bubs, if you’re looking for something it's okay to start now.” kai assured her.

lana took a deep sigh, “like you said it's been so long, maybe it's been so long for a reason?” she questioned aloud.

“or maybe you just haven’t found anyone and if calum might possibly be it, then you should find out. we aren’t going to be here forever” her friend pointed out.

“ugh i hate when you’re right” lana groaned putting her face into her hands. kai pulled her friend in for a comforting hug to help ease her for the anxieties of the nights possibilities.

_

after unpacking all their clothes and such and organizing their shared room, they went outside to help set up for the eclipse. it was nothing fancy some chairs around a fire, with a table covered with smores stuff and a telescope for looking at the moon.

it was pretty chilly outside for a night in LA, kai couldn’t help but roll her eyes at lana for wearing a tight white crop top, well at least she was wearing pants. the two of them we’re sitting next to each other by the warm fire, lana had her head leaning on her shoulder and was cuddled up to her.

“you’re so warm” lana looked up to her more as she snuggled up to her more.

kai giggled at her “well maybe if you wore clothes every once in a while you’d be warm to”

“hey i had to work my ass off to get this somewhat toned, stomach” she protested.

“you’re ridiculous, both of you are but mostly lana” mali chimed in from across from them.

the three girls just chuckled at each other for a moment. lana was very happy to be in LA, boston wasn’t feeling like home anymore. college was good but stressful, it drained her emotionally. also having a bad break up that you can’t move on from isn’t fun either. but she felt like this visit was another chance, a better start to adulthood. maybe she could move on from the past a bit.

speaking of moving on, calum came out with two other boys who looked about their age maybe a bit older.

“hey guys, this is roy and ashton” he said.

“hi, i’m lana and this is kai we’re friends of mali’s” she introduced them. she was kinda excited to start to meet more people, but obviously not as excited as kai.

kai had the look, that lana had on her face earlier. and god did she want to tease her about it but she was willing to sacrifice her entertainment to be a good friend.

both boys greeted them and she could immediately tell that her best friends eyes where on ashton, she’d give it to her he’s good looking. she knew her besties type and he was it, but it had more to do with his bright smile, kai melted at guys with good smiles. lana grinned with excitement at her friend, kai just gave her an eye roll.

the group made small talk about life and other things. both girls kept stuffing their face with smores and all kinds of junk food. everyone was fun and all got along well. it also helped that mali had a good playlist going. even if lana didn’t know the words she’d find a way to jam out to whatever song was on. she swayed her hips to the beat subconsciously nodding her head a bit, kai looked over to see calum watching her.

kai then glanced to her phone she was getting some likes from twitter on her online art. she pulled up the picture and sighed overly critiquing the work.

“sorry to snoop but that looks really good” she saw ashton, whom was sitting on the other side of her, looking at her phone.

“oh thank you and don’t worry that doesn’t really bug me” she blushed.

“okay cool. are you an artist?” he asked.

“well kind of? i majored in art in college, mainly to be a teacher for younger kids” she explained.

“that’s interesting, i don’t think i’ve met an artist. or kind of an artist” he laughed at himself.

she giggled with him, he had a really cute laugh. it made her feel fuzzy inside, like she had clouds in her brain. they continued some small talk, he talked about drumming and being in a band. how he has a younger brother and sister, and a lovely mother. kai talked about her two younger brother and her mom mostly, her dad only a bit. she also mentioned how lana loved her youngest brother who is 12, and he loved her a lot too. they had a funny relationship, there's videos of a teenage lana singing mariah carey to him in the car when he was in kindergarten. ash talked about all the videos of cal doing the goofiest things like carrying a microwave and wearing an afro in a live stream.

they both were so distracted, well at least kai was she almost forget why she was there in the first place. until she heard lana squeal and point at the sky frantically waving her arm up. calum went over to the telescope to adjust it so it was pointing directly at the moon and waved lana over. she went over and kai noticed that calum stayed behind her with his hand on her hip and she smiled.

everyone took turns looking up at the moon. kai had to admit it was quite beautiful, it was quite the beautiful night in a lot of aspects. she had a good feeling about LA something told her they’d be here for longer than planned. and maybe that wasn’t so bad.

_

kai and ash continued to talk for the rest of the night and exchanged pretty much all forms of contact. ash said he wanted to make sure he could reach her for emergencies, she laughed at this and obviously gave in to his ridiculousness. by the time he left it was early in the morning, when he did leave she walked him to his car and he kissed her cheek. a simple gesture that made her melt into goo on the inside.

but she wasn’t the only one currently melting, maybe it was the moon but blood red love was in the air. lana was in the backyard still with calum she was using the telescope pointing out her favorite constellations to him. she even showed him his aquarius constellation, it is aquarius season.

“that is orion's belt, another favorite, his greek hero story was my favorite” she was completely nerding out, no matter how hard she tried.

“you know so much about this stuff you’re like… a space babe” calum jokes. she was taken back in a good way her face was pink for the hundredth time that night.

“hey! what’s that supposed to mean?” she gasped waking him in the chest then turning away from him quick.

“no! i’m not try to make fun of you. you’re truly, something different, something special” he promised, turning her back to face him.

she opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by her own shivering. maybe a short sleeve shirt wasn’t a good choice for the night. calum smirked at her and pulled off his green sweatshirt.

“arms up” he stated simply. she listened and did as he said he slipped in over her head, the it fell to her thighs. she giggled looking at her sweater paws.

“you’re lucky you’re cute i don’t usually give my sweatshirts to girls who choose clothes that’ll make them cold” he clarified.

“i’m glad then, that i’m not one of many girls that get calums hood sweatshirt for the night” she fake gasped.

“i promise i’m not like that” he replied somewhat defensively.

“i don’t think you are but some guys are. trust me i know” she smiled forcefully.

he put out his pinky “i pinky swear that i’m not like that” she grinned. locking her pinky with his. now to her this means she’ll just have to stay for a while to see if he keeps it. something tells her he will.

_

kai lays in the big bed in the guest room still feeling light as a feather, floating in the sky. she’s cuddled up with her cute pink bunny pillow, not too far from her wa lana’s matching blue koala one. she wasn’t sure when lana would come in the room but she wasn’t focused on that really. then she slowly began to fall asleep.

to then a few minutes later to be awoken by lana ripping her suitcase apart. she looked over at her friend who seemed to be changing.

“what in the world are you doing?” kai asked.

“shit” lana whispered “nothing”

“lana valentina what are you doing?” kai growled.

“i am just changing into something comfier” lana defended herself.

kai eyed her she was in athletic shorts and a sports bra her usual sleep clothes, she liked being naked. but she didn’t look like she was planning on staying.

“where are you going?” she asked again in a warning tone.

“to cuddle with you duh” lana lied. kai glared she knows a liar when she sees one.

“fine i am going to calum’s room to cuddle, strictly cuddle. no nasty i swear on my life, may god strike me down if i’m lying” she blurted.

“its okay i believe you i just don’t like when you lie. you can just be honest.” kai huffed.

“i’m sorry, i’m just a bit on edge i’m not sure how mali will feel about me getting with her brother. so i was trying to be sneaky.” she admitted.

“did you see how he was acting all night towards you? eyeing your dancing, being all touchy mali saw her and roy gave approving nods to him, many times. don’t worry” kai reassured her.

“thank you” lana pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. they exchanged good nights and lana tip toed out the door.

_

the two best friends loved LA. they arrived feeling empty but then became fulfilled with the small bit of hope they needed. adulthood was going to be exciting, refreshing and heartwarming. and all it took was for someone to make them feeling like they were always in the moonlight. ✨

[impala-dreamer]

Broken Crown - Chapter Seven

~Sam Winchester has never had the best timing. Now, as he and Dean close in on a chance to save Mary and Jack, and in turn the entire world, Sam falls in love. He can only hope this time will be different.~

Reader, Sam

2,128 Words

Chapter Warnings:  Light Angst. s13 Spoilers. Talk of past traumas.

Broken Crown Masterlist ~ My Masterlist ~ Become A Patreon ~ Find My Original Works on Amazon

It took much longer to explain than Sam had hoped, but thankfully Y/N was able to follow along easily. Being able to skip the whole ‘the supernatural is real’ speech was helpful too. Sam found it almost comforting that she understood already; there was no easing her into the idea of his life, because it was her life too. While she was far from a Hunter, being chased by demons for her entire adult life put things in perspective.

“What makes you think I can open the…”

“Rift,” Sam reminded her.

“Right. Rift. How do you know I can open it? 

Sam sighed and shrugged, tossing his hands up as he sat back. “Honestly, I don't. We're just grasping at straws right now and you're the closest straw we can find.”

“Oh.” Y/N looked down and away; a sadness overtaking her features. “What if I can't?”

“Then...we...figure something else out. Either way, we're going to help you stay safe, Y/N. I promise.” 

Sam leaned forward as he spoke and reached across the table to take her hand. Y/N flinched as he approached, pulling her hands back quickly and groaning as the movement tore at her injuries. 

“Shit, I'm sorry,” Sam whispered, falling quickly away. 

“No, it's OK.” Y/N went to stand up and teetered a bit, falling back down, dizzy. She clamped a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. 

“Are you alright?”

“I...yeah. Just, everything kinda hurts, ya know?” 

Sam smiled sadly. “We should change your bandages today, too,” he offered, “if you're up to it.” 

Sam moved briskly down the hall, his bootfalls echoing gently as he carried the med kit to Y/N’s door. They had put her up in what was generally considered to be Castiel's bedroom, but since he never slept or stayed around long enough to need a private room, Dean didn't think he would mind. Also, it was the only other room set up for company, as they were unconsciously preserving both Jack and Mary's bedrooms for their return. Sam had yet to go through and clean out the five other bedrooms; there didn't seem to be a point. It wasn't like they had a ton of guests anyway. But now that he thought about it, his life did feel a lot fuller lately. It was nice to have company, other people who stayed there, and he wondered vaguely if Y/N would stay long. 

He didn't knock. He should have, but his mind was elsewhere. It was back in the field of wildflowers that had become the landscape for his dreams, both night and day. When his mind wandered, it brought him back there; he could feel the sun, smell the petals, taste the air. It was comforting and distracting all at once, but Sam didn't worry on it too much; it was just a fantasy.

Had he not been so wrapped up in the imaginary sunshine, he would have minded his manners. As it was, Sam opened Y/N’s door without so much as pausing or calling her name first. The portal opened and Sam woke from his daydream to see her slowly pulling her shirt over her head, stripping to allow better access to her wounds. 

Her back was to him, and she did not hear his approach. Sam was drawn into the room, still light and buzzing from the daydream. He floated towards her, his eyes sliding up and down the delicate curve of her back. Her hair fell down in slow motion as she tossed the shirt aside, landing like silk against her shoulders, and Sam's heart skipped too many beats. It thudded in his chest and he took another step, sighing as he neared her.

Y/N felt him approach and jumped away, gasping in shock and scrambling to cover herself. “Sam!” she yelped, ducking down to grab up the shirt she'd thrown away. She held it to her chest, modestly hiding as her face burned with embarrassment. 

“Oh my god, I am so sorry.” Sam spun around, finally shaken back to reality by her cry. “Y/N, I am so sorry. I should have knocked.”

“Yeah, ya should have!” she agreed loudly, still clinging to her shirt, afraid to move and accidentally give him a peek. 

“I'm so sorry,” he said again, raising a hand to shield his eyes. “I-I can go. I should go. I'm gonna go.”

Y/N laughed at his stuttering and reached out, laying her hand on his elbow. “It's OK,” she smiled. “Too late now.”

Sam slowly turned back and found that pretty smile once more. It was so bright and lovely that it almost eclipsed the broken blood vessels that covered her face. Almost. 

“So, uh, bandages.” Sam cleared his throat and gripped the med kit, holding it up as evidence. 

Y/N nodded and took a step back, wrapping the shirt across her chest like a bandana. “Where do you want me, doc?”

“On the bed,” he said with a little too much enthusiasm and they both blushed. “Please.”

Biting her lip, Y/N sat carefully on the edge of the bed and waited for Sam to come over. “All ready for ya.” 

Sam laughed awkwardly and set the kit next to her. He pulled the chair from the desk by the door and sat in front of her, close enough to do what he needed to do, but trying not to let his knees touch hers. He tended to her face first, gently dabbing the cut on her brow with the alcohol swab, cringing apologetically when Y/N winced at the cold pain. 

“Sorry.”

“Hey, Sam?”

“Hmm?”

“I wanted to ask you… when you saw my license… why did my birthday scare you?”

Sam paused, his hand hovering over her cheek. “It didn’t scare me.”

Y/N raised her good eyebrow. “Mind reader, remember? It freaked you out. Why?”

Sam gave her cheek another dab and then sat back, tossing the now pink square onto the lid of the kit. “November 2, 1983, my mother was killed by a demon. Burned our house down, made my dad crazy, basically… that’s the day that set my entire life in motion.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.”

“I had no idea, Sam. I’m so sorry.” Y/N looked up at him with big, sad eyes.

Sam shrugged, reaching forward to peel away the tape on her shoulder. “Thanks,” he said softly. “I guess seeing that exact date… I don’t know, it shocked me a bit.” 

“I can imagine. That’s horrible.” She shivered as if the memory were hers. 

“It’s OK,” he said, trying to brush it off. 

“It’s not OK,” she argued, dropping a hand onto his wrist. “Sam, that’s terrible. I’m sorry you lost her.”

He smiled politely, holding back the pain she was inadvertently sending to the surface. “It’s...it’s in the past. Mom’s back now. Well, sort of. Well, she is but…” As he rambled, Sam ripped the bandage off her neck too quickly and Y/N gasped as the tape pulled her cut back open. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

He scrambled to staunch the thin stream of blood that flowed from the base of her neck, his worry rising with each second. Y/N grabbed his hand and looked him in the eye firmly. 

“Relax. It’s alright. Let’s talk about something else.” He nodded and she went on. “You said you knew why I can do what I can do. What’d you mean?”

Sam took a breath and steadied his hand. “I think,” he began to explain, “that you're like me. Or, like I was.”

“What, awkward around girls?” 

Sam straightened up, shocked by her words, but her teasing smile calmed him instantly. “Yeah, I guess,” he laughed.

“Sorry, ya left that one open for me. I had to.” 

He reached to continue his work, and took a deep breath. “You're funny.”

“Sometimes,” she admitted with a slight shrug. “I just like to see you smile. You don't do that a lot.”

Sam paused, looking up from her shoulder and into her eyes. “I guess I haven't had much reason to lately. Or ever.”

“That's terrible.” 

Her eyes were so big and filled with genuine sympathy that Sam nearly forgot what he was doing. They sat like that for a long moment, each staring into unfamiliar yet somehow comforting eyes, until Sam's hand slipped and brushed against her chest.

They broke apart, ripping their eyes away, sheepishly trying to ignore the tension between them. Sam cleared his throat and went on, talking as he cleaned her cuts. He spoke of his mother's deal with Azazel, and the blood he was fed as an infant. He theorized that the same had been done to her, given the timing and her preternatural skill set.

“It seems to fit,” he said, carefully peeling the last bandage away. “But I could be wrong.”

“I wish I knew,” Y/N sighed. “I can't imagine my mother dealing with demons.” She gave a far off laugh, stuck in a memory.

“I uh, I saw how they died. I'm sorry.”

Y/N shook her head, biting her lip and staring over his shoulder at nothing. “The news reports were wrong. I... my dad was dead before the crash. He...I killed him.”

Sam's fingers left her skin and he sat back. “What happened?”

A thin film of tears covered her eyes and she blinked them away. “It was an accident. I’d been having...I don't know, fits, I guess. The voices were attacking me for months and then suddenly I could move things, do things, make stuff happen and…” Her voice trailed off, but Sam didn't speak or move, letting her talk at her own pace. “When I would get upset, bad things would happen. Real bad. That night, we'd all gone to dinner for my mom's birthday. Mikey was there too, my little brother. He lived in California, we hadn't seen him in forever. We started joking around about how he had his life already together and going well and I was still some loser with no direction. It was just ribbing at first and then… they all kept at it and I started getting upset and my dad…” Y/N stopped and looked at Sam, her eyes fully red now with the painful memory. “I didn't mean to. I just…everyone was yelling and the voices were so loud. I could hear my family's thoughts as well as their words and everyone… I just… I exploded and the next thing I knew, Dad's slumped over the wheel, I...I think I stopped his heart. And then the crash and…”

When Sam spoke, his voice was coated in sadness that mirrored hers. “It wasn’t your fault,” he whispered, and her eyes flashed back to his. 

“It absolutely was my fault, Sam.” She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “I killed my family. I couldn’t control...whatever this is inside of me and now they’re all dead. I did that. No one else.”

“You couldn’t control it,” he argued gently. “That’s not your fault. You had no guidance. You didn’t mean to do it.” 

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t bring them back, does it? It doesn’t erase what I did. It doesn’t…” Y/N grit her teeth and closed her eyes. “...doesn’t get rid of this...rip inside of me.”

“I’ve done things,” Sam said, trying to ease her suffering just a bit. “Horrible things. Things I wish everyday that I could take back, undo, just… fix. But I can’t. I can apologize, I can beg for forgiveness, and I can move on, try to do the right thing, make the world better from here on out. You can’t go back.”

Y/N batted a tear from her cheek and pulled in a deep breath. “Keep moving forward, right?”

“Yeah,” he smiled softly. 

“Your mom,” she said, clearing her throat and looking back at him. “She’s alive now, you said?”

Sam nodded, noting her need to change the subject. “Yeah, it’s… complicated, but she’s alive.”

“That’s amazing.”

“It is,” he sighed. “I just hope we can get her back.” 

The last clean bandage fit into place and Sam smoothed the final piece of tape over her skin. Before his fingers moved away, Y/N grabbed them in hers and squeezed them tight as she looked up into his eyes. “Sam, I want to try to help.” 

He smiled and closed his free hand around hers, loving how warm and soft she was. It felt right to hold her like this, to be this close. “I don’t know that it’ll work,” he said sadly. 

Y/N returned his smile and bit her lip. “Can’t hurt to try.”

[553butterfly553]

Another Girl From The Well-Sesshomarux OC 2

Rin and Kirai had made their way to the nearby mountains. Their trek there was peaceful and no one bothered them on their journey. A few people did look at Kirai a bit oddly for the way she was dressed, but they said nothing to her since she was with Rin. The problem started when they got to the foot of the mountains. A man stopped them before they could go up the path that would lead them to where they were heading. “Wait, you two are not safe to go up the mountain.” The man spoke with worry in his voice. “Why not?” Kirai questioned irritated yet again. “There is a witch up there. She is insane. We are all afraid of her here in this village. She might kill you if you mess with her.” “It'll be fine. We need to get some herbs. So we need to go. Thank you for warning us though.” With that, the two girls continued their journey. They headed up the path and were stopped when Rin spotted a little cabin. “That wasn't here before. It's new.” “Want to go check it out? I guess that'd be the witch's home.” “Sure.” Both girls knew it wasn't smart, they just were more curious than anything. So, instead of picking herbs, they headed over to the little cabin. As they got closer, they could see it was small but was beautiful. The pathway leading to the door was made of completely crystal stepping stones. They were a blue/purple color and sparkly in the sunlight. There were actually precious stones everywhere around the cabin. They all were different colors and shined brightly in the light. It gave off the feeling of being totally inviting, even though the man said the witch might kill the two girls. So, with the feeling of friendliness in the air around the beautiful cabin, the two girls approached the door and knocked on it. It took a few moments, but eventually, someone opened up the door. Standing there was a young girl, in her early 20s. She had pastel pink hair and silver eyes, showing that she was a witch and not human. She wore an eclipse pendant with even more precious stones in it. Her shirt and skirt were all black with hints of purple and silver around the edges. Instantly, Kirai gasped and so did the witch. “Oh my goddesses and gods, it's been forever since I last saw you!” The witch exclaimed happily as she opened her arms as if to hug someone. “I know right!” Kirai and the witch did indeed hug each other but then froze in confusion. “Um, wait who are you?” “What is going on?” Rin asked, incredibly confused at that moment in time. The two split apart and just looked at each other. “You look exactly like a friend I had back in America. I haven't seen her in years though.” Kirai explained simply as her face went red with embarrassment due to her actions from a moment ago. “You are the spitting image of my late sister. For a moment I almost thought she'd come back to life. She disappeared many years ago, so she has been presumed to be dead.” The witch explained sadly. “By the way, my name is Safaia Tsuki.” “I'm sorry.” Rin and Kirai both spoke in unison with a sad look in their eyes. They both understood the feeling of loss that the witch was feeling. “It's quite alright. I have a feeling she'll be back one day. Anyway, do you two want to come in?” “We shouldn't, we just wanted to say hello. We're actually going to pick some herbs and get home before dark.” “I see, well how about I pick some with you? I haven't had too much human contact for a long time. Well actually ever since I moved up here a month ago. Everyone in the village thinks I'm evil.” “How come?” “I get a little crazy when it comes to crystals. So that makes the people a little nervous of me.” “Oh? A little crazy how?” “...You'll see...” The three girls then set out and made their way to the meadow. Suddenly Rin stopped and bent down. “Oh, a pretty purple crystal!” All at once, Safaia leaped towards the crystal making a strange growling type noise that scared the hell out of Rin and Kirai. Both girls jumped backward in horror as Safaia landed on all fours where Rin said there was a crystal. “Holy fuck!” Kirai yelled out as she grabbed Rin protectively. Both girls were terrified as Safaia dug out the crystal and held it to her chest. “No one touches my precious babies!” She then took a moment to collect herself once again and stood up, brushing herself off in the process. “My bad guys. My bad.” “It... It's good.” Kirai hesitantly spoke, still a little scared of the witch. She then began to laugh though. “You know, my best friend used to act like that too, maybe not as insanely as you, but similar.” “I think we're going to get along nicely,” Safaia spoke with a huge friendly smile on her face. “I agree,” Kirai responded with a smile of her own on her face. “Now let's get those herbs Kagome wanted!” Rin was excited to be helpful. She had a list of the herbs and a basket to put them in. So with nothing stopping her, she went to work. Safaia also went to work, gathering her own herbs, while Kirai just stood there, confused. “Um, I have no idea what I'm looking for. I've never looked for herbs before.” Kirai felt bad about not being able to help like she'd been wanting to. “It's okay, you just stand watch and guard us.” Standing guard was quite a boring job. Kirai wanted to do something other than just stand there. However, she was soon lost in her thoughts as she thought back on how her life led her to where she was now. The surprising thing was, Rin seemed to read her mind and questioned her about it suddenly. “So you said you ran away from home and ended up at Kagome's family's well house. Why did you run away?” Rin questioned, not really knowing she shouldn't have asked such a personal question. “Oh, um... Well, that's complicated.” “How so?” Safaia asked as she joined in on their conversation. “I... don't really remember why. I can remember arguing with someone but I don't remember who that someone is.” “That's weird, do you think that's because you hit your head when you fell down the well?” It was Rin once again asking the question. “Yeah, that's a possibility.” Kirai rubbed her head as she thought back on if she really did hit her head or something. She wasn't sure of anything at that moment. All she knew was that she was confused. Her mind was all scrambled, leaving her not confident of her own thoughts. ~ As the three girls were picking the herbs, they began to feel an ominous presence. The witch and Rin were the first ones to notice it, while it took a little longer for Kirai. “What is this feeling? Is something bad coming our way?” Kirai questioned as she was getting a little freaked out now. “Yeah, most likely demons. Do you guys have any weapons on you?” Safaia asked as she pulled out her witchy witch stuff. She had powders for killing the demons. “Of course we do,” Rin spoke a little harshly as she pulled out her bow and arrows. Kirai pulled out the sword she had but just stared at it. “Hey Rin, I know I said I can handle this earlier, but I'm starting to get a little freaked out.” Kirai was unsure of herself, but as the 10 demons approached them, something took over within her. The sword she was holding began to glow a dark blue color. “Hey was this sword supposed to be all magical and shit?!” “Uh... Not that I can think of.” Rin responded, quite unsure and shocked at what she was seeing. “The dark blue is coming from you. It almost seems like you have priestess powers, even though they are so dark.” Safaia noted in awe. “It looks just like my late sister's powers...” “Really?” Kirai looked at her sword surrounded by the dark blue light and smiled. She now had confidence that she could defeat the demons. As the demons drew closer, Rin began to shoot arrows. They had a little bit of pink priestess power along with them, which successfully took out any demon she hit. She only had 4 arrows though, which only killed four demons. Next was Safaia's turn. She threw her powders at the demons which instantly killed them as it touched them. With her witchy witch stuff, she took out 3 demons that came near her. They quickly understood to stay away from her, so they all began to go after Kirai. Kirai swung her sword at the demons, causing a wave of blue-black energy to come shooting out from the weapon. As the wave of energy touched the demons, it instantly killed them in the form of dissolving them. It seemed like the power from the sword was like acid. It shocked the three girls who witness it. “Well... Um, that was new. I've never seen a human do that before.” Safaia commented after the initial shock wore off. “I agree. I thought only demons could do something like that.” Rin noted next, as her shock began to wear off. “That was cool though, right?” Kirai seemed oblivious to the surprise of her companions. She was only focused on how amazing she felt now that she was able to wield such a weapon with such power. She was a little unsure though. She was confused about why she had such abilities. She was just a normal human after all, right? “Well, let's not just stand here. Let's gather what we came here to get and head home before more demons arrive.” Safaia finally spoke with a tone of finality. She wasn't giving the other two girls the option to just stand around and do nothing. So, Rin and Kirai did as they were instructed to. They gathered their herbs and put them safely in a basket. Once their task was done, they headed to the crystal witch's home to say goodbye. “I hope we can meet again soon. We'll come and visit you every so often.” Kirai spoke with a smile on her face. She and Safaia hugged and felt a spark between them, but neither woman was sure of what it meant. So, they let it be, for now, hoping their questions will be answered another day. “It was great meeting you, even though you scared me a little bit when it came to that purple crystal,” Rin spoke with

her own smile on her face. “Yeah, sorry about that. It's why the villagers are afraid of me. I should probably work on that... well, I would if people would stop messing with my crystals.” Safaia smiled back at the two girls. She was glad to finally have made two friends. She had been alone after the disappearance of her sister, so it was nice to end the loneliness after so long. With that, the two girls began to head back to their own village. With Safaia waving them goodbye, they headed out and began to walk down the path that would eventually lead them home. Both girls had a sense of peace as they walked away. Not only did they gather what Kagome needed, but they made a new friend in the process. However, Rin was still a little uneasy about Kirai's show of powers. She hoped they didn't mean anything bad, while Kirai still felt proud of herself at the use of them. She didn't quite understand what her powers could mean. However, to both girls, that was a problem for when they got back to the priestess, Kagome.

[mrgrant9559-blog]

Witch Way Is Right? Part 4

A/N: Ok, you uglies are starting to multiply so I gotta make a Part 4... In this one, Reader is going to have to make a choice he thought he wouldn’t have to make until he was older... NOT LIKE THAT!!! Also, sorry to the guy who gave me the prompt to write this, but I guess I’m going in a completely different direction compared to what you sent me... I really hope you enjoy what I came up with and once again I’m sorry... ON WITH THE STORY!

Summary: (Y/N) is a male witch and also comes from a family of witches. When (Y/N) is backed up in a corner by his brother, who chose the dark path, he is forced to choose his own fate, choosing the light path. This causes an Ecliptic War between Light and Dark Witches. During this war, an eclipse (both solar and lunar) is happening, and won’t end until one brother is left standing. With the help of the Avengers and other helpful heroes, will (Y/N) be able to defeat his brother, or will the world be forever secluded in darkness?

Subject: Avengers x Male!Reader

Characters: (Y/N), Peter Parker, Ned Leeds, Tony Stark, Brother OC

Tags: @writeyouin @thegreatficmaster @avengersohyeah @lzzywinchester @uselessace

Word Count: 3,097 words?! I had no idea I was doing that much!! My bad 😅

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

________________________________________________________

Third Person POV:

“So what do you say, (Y/N)? You comin with me or am I dragging your unconscious body outta here?” Alex said as his eyes started to glow a purple hue. (Y/N) knows he has to fight him, or at least hold his own until his parents are conscious again. It won’t be easy but he can’t make it look hard either.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a spell that makes your voice less irritating, would you?” a familiar voice sounded through the halls. (Y/N) tried looking around to find the source of the voice. Then a web was shot at Alex’s face, covering his whole mouth as Spider-Man dropped from the ceiling and landed next to (Y/N). “Oh nevermind, I figured it out.” Spidey joked.

“Spider-Man?! I can’t believe its really you! Your voice sounds... familiar though.” You said.

“Uhhh... I-I get that a lot.” He stammered. You couldn’t put your finger on it, but looking at him from a close distance, you couldn’t help but notice how tall he was. Almost the same height as you. For a “Spider-Man”, he really seemed like a high schooler. Maybe he’s a student at Midtown High, too. In the middle of your thoughts, Alex ripped the webbing off his face with a irritated grunt.

“You know, most spiders tend to have 12 eyes. Let’s see how well you can handle that, shall we?” Alex said with his eyes once again glowing purple as he was starting to conjour up a spell. “Ton kánei pio aráchni!”(Make him more spider-like!) He chanted. You start to see Spidey squirm around and yell as he seems like he’s in pain but you can’t really tell. You unexpectedly fire a blast at Alex, causing him to fall back on his ass. This gives you and the webhead enough time to hide. You run through the halls dragging Spidey with you until you find the Custodian Room to see whats wrong with him.

Reader’s POV:

“Spidey, are you hurt? Do you feel different? Talk to me! Whats goin on?” I asked worried. Who knows what my dumbass brother did to him.

“Yeah, I think I’ll be alright.” He says with that same familiar voice, and I start to get suspicous. Why does he sound so damn familiar. I got an idea.

“Take off your mask!” I suggest.

The hero looks at me with his mask displaying wide eyes. “What?! No way! I can’t have you know who I am, ok? Not like this!” he says.

“Look, man, I need to see if my brother did something weird to you. I heard him say something about 12 eyes before he casted the spell. Plus, I can tell by the sound of your voice and your height that you go to this school, so you either show me now or I find out on my own eventually.” I say matter-of-factly.

He sighs and then looks up at me. “Alright fine, but please don’t freak out!”

“Yeah yeah, whatever. Now hurry up before my brother finds us.” I say quickly. To be honest, I don’t know how much time we have before my brother barges in, so we gotta be quick about this. He takes off his mask and I can’t believe my eyes! “PARKER?! OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!” I yell in horror.

“I told you not to freak out, (Y/N)!” He says annoyed.

“No Peter. Ugh, it’s not that at all!” I say as I try to shield my eyes. He looks at me confused. Or at least I think he’s confused.

“What the hell is it then? Did your brother really put some wierd spell on me?!” He asks. I grab my phone out of my pocket and go to the camera app. I put it in selfie mode and hand it to him. He looks at it and now it’s his turn to freak out.

“OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE FUCK?! I HAVE 12 EYES!!! He yells.

“See?! I told you! Ugh, just look at them going in different directions and stuff.” I say in disgust.

“FIX IT!! YOU CAN FIX IT, CAN’T YOU?! He asks worriedly.

“Yeah I can fix it. Just calm down and let me concentrate.” I say calmly. I need him to relax because I’ve honestly never tried to reverse someone’s spell, let alone my own brother’s.

I remember when I was about 9, Alex accidently gave me a second head when he said in Greek, “two heads are better than one.” To this day, I don’t know if it was on purpose or not. I also remember my mom saying the spell backwards and my second head was gone. Thats it! “Inhcára oip ienák not!” I chanted and Peter went back to having only two eyes. He frantically started touching his face. Relief washed over him as he realized he was back to normal. He looked at me as if I had just saved his life, which I guess I sorta did.

“How’d you do it?” he asked.

“I remembered when my mom reversed a spell Alex accidentally put on me when I was younger. She just said the spell backwards and it wore off, so thats what I did. Honestly, I didn’t know if I’d even be able to reverse a spell from a fully powered dark witch.” I admitted.

“I don’t know what I would’ve done with an extra set of eyes. Thanks, (Y/N). Really.” He said thankfully. I was so focused on fixing Peter’s eyes, I didn’t even notice the door had been opened.

“Yeah, (Y/N). Thanks. If it wasn’t for you and webhead over here screaming like bitches, then it would’ve taken me longer to find you two.” Alex said as his eyes started to shift to a purple hue once again. “Speaking of bitches, Peter! I would’ve never guessed a scrawny nerd like you would be Spider-Man.” Peter hurriedly tried to find his mask and he put it back on, but I really don’t see a point. Alex points two fingers towards Peter and flicks them to the side as he says, “Árchise!”(Begone). Peter flies through 6 classroom walls like they were nothing.

“PETER!” I yell as I try to get up to check on him but my brother casts another spell to stop me in my tracks.

“Leavin so soon? We haven’t even gotten to the blood shed, yet.” He says. He uses his magic to spin me around so that I’m facing him and he repeatly says, “Sýnkrousi!”(Crash!) 10 times and every time he says it, I’m thrown to each wall in the hallway. After the final wall throw, he then says, “Makriá mazí sou!”(Away with you!) and I’m thrown through some more walls to the school gym. I’m lying on the floor still breathing surprisingly. Alex said he’s gonna drag my unconsious body outta here, but if he keeps this up, the only he’ll be dragging is my corpse.

My body aches and I’m sure there’s blood coming out of my nose, not to mention the blood running down the left side of my face from my head having an open wound on it. My Mom and Dad are unconsious I’m guessing from the works of Baron Mordo so I know they’re not coming. Peter must have connections with the Avengers but like I said I earlier I don’t think they’re on good terms after that huge war at the airport. Which means I’m on my own. And if I’m on my own then that also means I have no choice but to use my trump card. I start to shift so that I’m on my knees. My parents told me to use this spell only on emergencies, but this seems like more than an emergency. It’s life or death!

I don’t know how but I find the strength and mental courage to stand on my feet. I’m out of beath still but that doesn’t stop me from doing what needs to be done. I close my eyes and concentrate. I’ve only heard of people using this spell at 18, so I’m kinda curious as to what might happen to me if I’m doing this at age 15. After I’ve fully concentrated, I cast the spell by saying, “Écho epiléxei ti moíra mou!”(I’ve chosen my fate!).

Suddenly, two different colored portal emerge in front of me. One is Purple and the other is Gold. Purple being the Dark Path, which is what my brother chose, and Gold being the Light Path, which is what I’m choosing. Even though my parents are gonna be mad at for choosing my path before I’m done with high school, they won’t be mad at me like they were with Alex when he chose his path. I just hope they understand cause like I said before, I have no choice. I begin walking towards the Gold portal and the closer I get to it, the warmer I feel. Like, I was really destined to chose this path! I’m just a few steps away from it until I hear my brother yell in the background.

“STOP!” He says. “(Y/N), don’t go to the Light path! Think of all the damage we could cause together! We could rule this world with an iron fist and become Gods! No one would be able to stop us!” He tries to convince to join him, but what he’s saying just causes me to move faster towards the Gold portal. I donmt want the world to fear, I want people to look up to me. I wanna be on kids’ lunch boxes and back packs. I wanna be a hero! And thats exactly what I’m gonna do!

I fully walk through the portal and I feel different. I feel older and more experienced. Peter lands down next to me in his full Spider-Man suit and I notice that I’m now taller than him. What the hell happened to me? I turn towards him and his mask gives off this surprised expression.

“Peter, are you ok?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m fine but are you ok?” He asks and I’m confused.

“What do you mean? I feel great! In fact, I feel better than great! I feel like...”

“You’re 18?” Alex interrupts. “Dammit (Y/N), you idiot! We could’ve became something greater! Everyone would know our names in fear!”

“I don’t want people to fear me, Alex! And I especially don’t want to be known as a god. I’d rather be known as a legend. A Hero!” I argue. I can’t see Peter’s face, but I can tell he’s looking at me with a smile. I can see Alex’s eyes glow purple again.

“You know the difference between a God and a Hero? Heroes die!” He says as he shoots a powerful energy blast towards me, causing a mild but destructive explosion.

The gym is engulfed in smoke and I can hear Alex laughing like he won, but I’m far from done with this fight. I snap my fingers and the smoke dissappears to reveal Alex’s face go from happy to shocked. I looke to my right and see that Peter is still alright. I guess my protection spell worked. I cause my eyes to glow gold. I look at Alex and he looks scared. Serves the asshole right.

“Beydaan maeak!”(Away with you!) I say as a portal suddenly appears behind Alex and he’s sucked into it and sent to the dark realm. I look around and notice all the damage thats been done to the school. I realize that I have to fix it sense it’s kinda my fault.

My eyes glow gold again as I chant, “Iieadatan bna!”(Rebuild!). The rubble and and debris from the broken wall in the gym started to repiece itself like a jigsaw puzzle. The smoke and dust started to disappear into nothingness. I also decide to erase everyones memory from what happened 5 minutes ago to now. I’ll let Peter and Ned keep their memories. I feel like I can trust them with knowing this about me. Plus, if Ned can keep Peter’s secret, then I’m pretty sure he can keep mine, too.

I notice that these spells just come to me naturally. I don’t need a spellbook or anything like that, and usually I’d be exhausted after using 3 spells in a short time but now I don’t feel anything. Must be one of the benefits of choosing your path. That and so much more, which I can’t wait to find out.

“Mimhat aldhaakirat!”(Memory eraser!) I conjour and a gold ring appears around me and expands throughout the school. I look to the side and notice that Peter is gone. He must’ve left to go put on his regular clothes. I never really had the time to actually soak in the fact that my friend is Spider-Man. Which means, he must have connections with the Avengers. I wonder if he’ll put in a good word to Tony Stark for me!

“I guess thats that. Now to go check and see if the spell actually worked.” I said. I walk towards the double doors and peek through the halls. Everything seems back to normal. No hole in the ceiling. No broken pipes dripping water on the ground. People are walking to their next class as if nothing happened. I decide to do the same just to seem normal for a while, which might be harder than I thought sense I’ve aged 3 years. I’m walking towards class and see Peter come up behind me. He winks at me but his face is still a little scratched up. I snap my fingers and his face is instantly cleared. He looks at me surprised until he remembered the cuts on his face.

“Yeah, I almost forgot about my face. I’ve been doing this so much, I’m just used to having a couple scars and making dumb excuses about them. Thanks alot, for everything. I’m sure if you weren’t there, then I’d have more than just a couple scars on my face.” He said.

I look at him and smile. “Don’t worry about it, Pete. I’m just glad we got away with it scot free.” I say as I’m about to pull open the classroom door. Once we walk in, my eyes go wide as I look at the classroom and only see... MY PARENTS?! My dad has his arms folded above his chest and my mom has her hands rested above her waists. My dad starts to walk closer to us and I swear, my spine grows colder with each step he takes. “Hey, guys!” I stammered, “You guys remember Peter, right?”

“Oh we remember Peter. What we DON’T remember is our 15 year old son suddenly being 18! What the hell did you do?!” He says as his voice gets louder with each word.

“Well, you see ,” I stammered again, “I had to fight Alex on my own because you guys were unconscious and he was really powerful, so I had no choice but to choose my path and I did.

Now, it was my mom’s turn to speak. “What do you mean we were unconscious? We were awake the whole time. We just heard about what happened on the news. How could you choose your path without telling us, (Y/N)?”

“I had no choice, Mom! If I didn’t he was gonna kill me for sure! I mean, what did you guys want me to do?!” I questioned.

“Honestly, son. This may come off as a shock to you, but we wanted you to choose the Dark Path.” My dad said and I’m surprised my eyeballs didn’t pop out of my skull. They wanted me to choose dark?! That’s crazy!

“Are you guys for real?! Why on Earth would I choose the dark path. I mean you guys have taught me all my life that we have to live as light witches!” I say.

“I know, son but we would’ve kept you on the right path we promise we would. Now, with your brother choosing dark path and you choosing light path, well you have no idea what you two have started.” My dad says while looking at me with a stern looks.

“What are you talking about?! What did I start?” I ask.

Suddenly, I hear the classroom door open and someone walks in. “I’m sorry but am I interrupting something here?” the man says. I turn around and I can’t believe who it is!

“Mr. Stark! What are you doing here?” Peter blurts out.

“Oh, I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d say what’s up to my favorite web-slinger. Also I came here for your friend here. (Y/N) is it?” Tony said. My parents and I are still surprised that he’s here. Even though I have a huge crush on Captain America, I’m still a huge fan of the billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.

“You want me?! What for, sir?” I ask.

He takes off his shades and I can tell he’s serious. “Well I noticed all the crazy shit that was going on over here, so I sent in a couple micro drones to see what was going on and they spotted you with a gold, flashy, ring expanding around you. So, I assumed that random Eclipse outside was because of you and this evil brother of yours I was hearing about just now.” He says.

“Wait. What eclipse?!” I ask. I ran out the classroom door, ran through the hall towards the school doors and noticed it was dark out already. I made it outside and looked up to see a total solar elipse in the middle of the sky right above us. Is this what my parents were talking about? If so, then I have a feeling I’m in a lot more trouble than I thought.

“Breathtaking isn’t it? You must have some pretty unique abilities to do something like this. Ever thought of joining the Avengers?” Tony says standing to the side of me while looking at the eclipse with his shades on. If I wasn’t so confused right now, I’d be on the ground, hyperventilating with excitement. My parents and Peter walk out the front door and towards us. My parents look up and they have a sick look on their face. Like something they wish would never happen just happened.

My mom has tears roll down her face as she says, “It’s starting already? I thought we had a little more time!”

“What is this? What the hell is going on?!” I ask in confusion

My dad looks towards me and says, “The Ecliptic War.” What the hell is an Ecliptic War?!

________________________________________________________

I guess we’re about to find out in the next part! I really hope you guys enjoyed, I know I dragged the story on longer than expected but the more I wrote, the more ideas I got. So I really hope you guys enjoy the direction I’m taking with the story and sure you guys follow so you can know when Part 5 is coming... Anyways, bye, my uglies!!

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers DARK FATE ー Reiji Dark [Prologue]

ー The scene starts in the underground waterway

Yui: ( I’m sure Reiji-san will be upset with me if I follow after him. But even so, I... )

Uu...

ー She pushes open the portal

*Creaaaak*

*THUD*

ー The scene shifts to the forest in the Demon World

Yui: ーー I’m here...

( This is the Demon World...It’s as dark as ever. Even more so right now, with the lunar eclipse still ongoing... )

( Oh no. I don’t know the way...It’s pitch-black, I can barely see a thing. )

( Which direction should I go? )

( I want to meet up with Reiji-san as soon as I can... )

*HOOOOOOWL*

Yui: ...!!

( The howling of wolves...Don’t tell me, they’re nearby? )

( Those wolves which attacked Ayato-kun... )

ー A flashback ensues

Yui: Ayato-kun!!!!

Ayato: Fuck…That hurt! The fuck’s your problem!!?

ー The wolf continues its assault

Ayato: Guh…Chichinashi, don’t you dare move from underneath me…!!

Yui: B-But…!

Ayato: Shut up…Guah…!!

*RIIIIIIP*

Ayato: …Guh…Uu…!!

ー The flashback ends

Yui: Ugh...

( Oh no...I remembered, and now my body won’t stop shaking. )

( Perhaps I made a mistake by coming here all by myself... )

*HOOOOOOWL*

Yui: ...! Again...

( Also, I feel like they’ve gotten closer than before... )

( Either way, staying here is dangerous. I should look for a place to hide. )

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to inside the abandoned building

Yui: ーー There’s a house all the way out here...

( The building seems to be quite old and there doesn’t appear to be anyone living here right now... )

( Perfect. I’ll use this as my hiding spot. )

*Rustle*

Yui: ...Phew.

( I finally got to catch my breath... )

( However, I can’t stay here forever. Perhaps it isn’t too late to turn back after all... )

*Thud*

Yui: ...!!

( I heard a noise coming from outside right now...Don’t tell me, there’s someone here? )

( What should I do? Where can I hide...? )

( Ah! I can hide behind those curtains! )

ー Yui moves behind the curtains

??? 1: The noise was coming from here, right?

??? 2: Yes. I am positive.

??? 1: ...You’re right, it definitely reeks of something in here. Oi, search the room.

??? 2: Yes, sir!

Yui: ( ...Who could those guys be? Are they perhaps Vampires...? )

( Oh no. Who knows what they’ll do to me if they find me. )

( Please, don’t let them check here...! )

??? 2: ーー There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. Should we turn back?

??? 1: Hm...

Yui: ( Thank god. Seems like they’re leaving already. If I just stay hidden like this, I should be able to go unnoticed somehow... )

??? 1: ...?

??? 2: Is something the matter?

ー He opens the curtains

Yui: ...!!!

??? 1: So this is where you’ve been hiding. Hah, how naive.

*Rustle*

Yui: Ow! No, let me go...!

??? 1: A woman, huh? And a human, on top of that. Where did you come from?

Yui: F-From the human world...

??? 1: Why did you come here? Did you come with a specific reason in mind? Or perhapsーー

...Hm?

Yui: Eh...?

??? 1: What is this scent? For a human, it’s somewhat...

Oi, woman! Are you truly a human?

Yui: I am...

??? 1: Suspicious. Seems like we need to investigate you more thoroughly.

ーー Oi, take this woman to our castle.

??? 2: Roger!

Yui: No way...! Stop, please! I have somewhere I need to go immediately, so...!

??? 1: Keep quiet and follow us!

*Rustle*

Yui: Kyah...!

( At this rate, I’ll get taken with them...However, I’m no match for these people... )

( No...I’m scared...Save me, Reiji-san...! )

???: May I ask what you are going to do with her?

Yui: Eh...?

Reiji-san...!!

( This is the real one, right? I didn’t think he’d actually come for me...! )

??? 1: ...! You are Karlheinz-sama’s...

Reiji: Long time no see, Zweig-sama. I suppose it must have been since the last evening party.

Yui: ( Reiji-san knows this person...? )

Reiji: By the way, would you kindly let go of the lady?

Zweig: My sincere apologies! I was unaware of the fact that she is your prey...

Reiji: No. She is my lover.

Yui: Eh...?

( He said that like it was nothing... )

( But I’m happy. He’s willing to refer to me as his lover in front of others. )

Zweig: ...I see. In that case, I should return her to you.

Reiji: Thank you very much.

Zweig: However, what was she doing here?

This is the Demon World and on top of that, the lunar eclipse is still ongoing. It is extremely dangerous for a human woman to be wandering around the woods by herself.

Reiji: You are absolutely correct. This was a blunder on my part. ...I am extremely ashamed.

Zweig: No, I was not blaming you or anything...

Well, let us move on from that. In the end, nothing happened after all.

Reiji: Once again, my sincere apologies.

Well then, we shall take our leave now. ーー We are leaving, Yui.

Yui: Y-Yes.

ー The scene shifts back to the forest

Yui: ーー I’m so sorry, Reiji-san. I caused you trouble.

Reiji: Is that all? Nothing else you should say?

Yui: Well...I acted recklessly despite my promise to remain in the human world...

Reiji: My thoughts exactly. Good grief...I was right sending a Familiar down there to check just in case.

Who knows what could have happened if I arrived just mere seconds later.

Yui: ( He’s upset... )

( Of course he is. I caused him trouble because of my own selfish acts. )

Reiji: I doubt you are aware, but those men were part of the Snake Clan, also known as Vibora.

Yui: Snake...? So they’re not Vampires?

Reiji: Yes. However, that does not make them any less dangerous. After all, they are highly territorial.

They were patrolling around the abandoned building to keep an eye on possible intruders wishing to enter their territory which lies just past that area...

If one were to set foot inside their territory, not even a fellow Demon would make it through unscathed.

You were truly playing with fire.

Yui: ( I see... )

I really am sorry...

Reiji: Haah...Well, I suppose I can let it slide. Nothing happened this time after all.

Please use this as a lesson and refrain from being so reckless in the future.

Yui: ( Huh? He only scolded me. In the past, I would have received a severe punishment... )

Reiji: What is the matter? Making such an odd expression.

Yui: Uhm, I was just thinking you’ve kind of changed.

Reiji: Why would you say that all of a sudden...?

However, if I have truly changed, then that would be...because of you.

Yui: Eh?

Reiji: Well then, let us head home.

ー He offers his hand

*Rustle*

On certain CGs, little black roses will appear on the screen. If you click on them, you get an extra line of dialogue.

“Look at those flushed cheeks...Seems like my lover is quite the shy one per usual. Although that is part of what makes you so adorable.”

“You honestly are hopeless without me. I suppose I would be able to rest at ease if you were constantly connected to me like this.”

Yui: Ah...

( He grabbed hold of my hand... )

( His hand is so big...His fingers are long too, it really feels like a man’s hand. )

( I wonder why? This isn’t the first time he has touched me, but my heartbeat’s going crazy... )

Reiji: Why do you avert your gaze?

Yui: I-It’s nothing...

Reiji: I shall not allow you to keep any secrets from me. Answer me, Yui.

Yui: Well...I feel somewhat embarrassed...

Reiji: Embarrassed?

Heh. Why are you still flustered over this? We are lovers. Therefore, it is only normal for us to hold hands.

Or would you perhaps prefer another method?

Yui: Another method...?

Reiji: I will tell you if you so wish...But when I do, I assume your cheeks may turn an even brighter shade of red.

Yui: Uu...

Reiji: Fufu...You truly are a straightforward person.

Yui: ( ...I wonder if he’s teasing me? )

( However, even that makes me happy. )

( His voice is so gentle, therefore I can tell that he cares for meーー )

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to the entrance of the Sakamaki castle

Reiji: Well then, we have arrived.

You are dirty, so you should take a shower first.

Yui: Yes. Uhm...Is Ayato-kun alright? If possible, I’d like to see him...

Reiji: Ayato has yet to regain consciousness. There is nothing you can do even if you go see him.

Yui: I see...

( Vampires usually have a speedy recovery. Yet, he still hasn’t woken up... )

( I wonder if he’ll be okay...? )

Reiji: ...Well, would you like to go take a quick look?

Yui: Eh? I can?

Reiji: It is written all over your face that you are worried sick.

I doubt you can relax and take a shower in your current state.

Yui: Thank you very much!

ー The scene shifts to one of the bedrooms

Yui: ...

Ayato: ...

Yui: ( He really won’t even budge. ) 

( I don’t want to think this way, but it’s almost as if he’s dead... )

Reiji-san, how’s his condition...?

Reiji: The wound on his left arm is the only physical injury. It is recovering quite well, but to this day, he has not shown any signs of awakening.

He might have hit his head hard on something.

However, I am not a medical specialist, so I cannot say for sure...

Yui: I see...

Uhm, do doctors not exist here in the Demon World?

Reiji: I believe I have mentioned this in the past as well, but the profession of ‘doctor’ does not exist here.

Aah, however...

Yui: Does something come to mind?

Reiji: Yes. There is one thing.

Father’s pharmaceutical department. If we go there, they could examine Ayato’s symptoms.

Yui: Really?

Reiji: Yes.

Well then, we have been here long enough, no? Let us leave.

I doubt you can relax in those dirty clothes.

Yui: Ah, just a little longer...Ayato-kun has some sweat on his forehead, so I’d like to wipe it off.

Reiji: I shall do that.

Yui: But...

Reiji: ...You are rather dense.

Yui: Eh? What do you mean?

Reiji: You wish to remain by Ayato’s side that badly? More so than spending time with me?

Yui: Eh...?

( Don’t tell me, is Reiji-san jealous...? )

ー Reiji steps closer

Reiji: Good grief. To think you would make me go this far...I assume you are prepared to get punished?

Yui: N-No way...I was simply worried about Ayato-kun, that’s all...

Reiji: Are we talking back now? In that case, I assume those defiant lips should be first to receive a penalty.

Nn...

*Smooch*

Yui: ...

Y-You can’t...Reiji-san...Ayato-kun’s right there...

Reiji: He cannot tell since he is asleep. Come on, keep still.

Nn...Haah...

Yui: ( They’re only light kisses, yet it’s making my head spin... )

( At this rate, I’ll... )

Reiji: Fufu...You look as if you are about to melt any second now. It would be troublesome if you were to collapse on me as well, so I will leave the follow-up for some other time.

ー Reiji walks away

Yui: ( Geez, Reiji-san...! )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

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<- [ Sakamaki Prologue ] [ Dark 01 ] ->

[justanoutlawfic]

Happy OQ Valentine’s Day!

So, this may be a complete wreck but I’d like to draw your attention to a few things before you read you’re present ;) 1. Im pretty sure I gave away my identity already because... 2. I’m working off my iPhone (it’s sad but it’s true lol) and... 3. Mobile Tumblr just refusesss to make things easy on me. 4. And also, I waited to write this last minute like most other things in my life. But aside from all that, I do hope you find even a tiny bit of enjoyment in this. Our beautiful sunken ship deserves a bit of light today ❤️ P.s. I’d love to write for you again in the future if you’re ever interested. HOPIN’ AND WISHIN’ AND PRAYIN’ (An Outlaw Queen fic) The shadows blanket the road this far out. They stretch from the tops of the evergreen trees and cast most of the road in darkness. Except for tonight, there are a few bright beams filtering down from the full moon in the sky. The only sounds come from the crickets and wildlife beyond the pines and it’s a solitary, lonely kind of peaceful. She’s made a habit out of coming here; slipping out just after Henry’s gone to sleep and spending a precious few hours hoping. Hoping for what, she isn’t quite sure. Maybe for the resolute acceptance of how things have turned out. For her heart to stop aching and move on already. Sometimes even, she’s loathe to admit, she wishes for a freak accident that would take Marian away and right the universe again. But mostly, she hopes he’ll appear out of thin air, grinning how he does, as he steps back into Storybrooke and into her life. She knows it won’t happen, that he might as well be in another realm altogether. She understands why he’s gone, respects it even, but it doesn’t keep her from peering out down the road and wondering where on the other side he could be tonight. The pavement is cool beneath her thin slacks but she likes sitting at the very edge where she can pretend the red line in front of her crossed legs is the only barrier keeping them apart. As if the two of them sit apart, the protection spell a curtain that only need be pulled back and they’d be face to face. She lifts the flask next to her and the moon beams off its shiny surface as she indulges in another sip. She’s not drunk, but the alcohol numbs things just enough, blurs the edges so she doesn’t actually cry. And it would be all to easy to let herself embrace her emotions and sob in self pity. He was supposed to be her second chance; her redemption for the awful woman she’d been—and he was, for however brief a time. His integrity made her better. His morals brought her back to that seventeen year old girl she once was. Just “Regina”, not “Her Majesty” or “The Evil Queen”. He saw the real Regina under all those layers of guilt and anger and regret. And perhaps what makes her feel more despondent than anything is that she’ll never get a third chance. She got so unexpectedly lucky with Robin. She didn’t deserve him to begin with, but only he could have been her soulmate. Only he could understand every sordid detail of her past and still have the audacity to not only love her, but choose her. Regina runs a hand through the front of her dark hair as she sighs. She misses him. She misses having another person unconditionally in her corner, misses not always feeling like the third wheel, misses the smell of damp earth and aged redwood. She wants to scream to the heavens, or this “author”, or whatever higher power there might be that it’s so unfair! Only she knows damn well how fair her pain is; how cosmic and condemned her story has read. It’s her punishment for choosing revenge when she could have chosen forgiveness. Daniel’s death was the great catalyst of her life. And while she knows there are many who let their grief morph into hatred, there had been another way. It would have been harder, maybe taken longer, but she might have come out the other side a better person; a hero. She won’t make that mistake again. While it feels just as bad as it had years ago, even worse actually; she cannot tarnish what Robin stood for, just to try to ease the ache. If anyone was undeserving, it was that man. He had made mistakes the same as any of them, sure, but he worked for his redemption. Robin had found a way to do what she never could. He turned his pain into purpose. A purpose full of love and selflessness and renewal. And now he’s been hurt once more, entangled in the web of her retribution; collateral damage for the penance she was paying. He had not known just what loving the Evil Queen would cost him, even if she had truly made a change. Yet, he had opted to accept the shit hand he was dealt and if only it weren’t for her he wouldn’t be hurting because of it. He might even be overjoyed to have his late wife back; his family reunited. She prays for that as she slowly pushes herself to her feet now. She decides it’s the only thing she can do to wish him well, Marian too. If only she could have granted him a memory spell before he’d gone so he could forget about the wreckage she’d brought into his heart. Of course, her thief would never have taken the easy way out. And Regina can’t help but to hold on to the thought of him remembering her, remembering the true, sacred, magical connection they shared. She suddenly has to lift her fingers to her face to brush away an errant tear. She will not feel sorry for herself, at least not anymore tonight. Staring out down the still, vacant road out of Storybrooke, she sniffles and squares her shoulders to reign in her emotions and she hopes above all else that Robin finds the kind of happiness she knows he deserves. This chapter of her story is closing, and she needs to let the dust settle on the pages and find a way to move on. If her heart is going to take it’s time mending, then she must stop her late night visits. She has a son at home and new, delicate friendships, and a town that seems forever under threat, and a population of people who she owes debts so great she may never repay them. But she must try. She turns on her heel and heads back to her silver benz parked just off the shoulder, opens the door and gives one last, longing gaze down the vacant road. In her mind, the protected barrier shimmers and parts and her handsome thief appears, Roland at his side, tiny hand clutched in his. Regina abandons the door, unconsciously letting her feet carry her forward a few paces. She let’s her eyes slip closed and smiles wide with the image of them behind her lids. “Regina”, he says. And it’s not until she reopens her eyes that it occurs to her the tone of his voice had not been quite right. “Regina!” As if awaking from a dream, her focus snaps back to reality and he’s still in front of her, rushing towards her more accurately, his arms outstretched. The the next moment she can feel him against her chest, can smell his woodsy scent right under her nose. “Oh thank God, Regina!”, he nearly cries in relief and it’s all she can do to catch her brain up to what’s happening. Maybe she’d had more to drink than she thought? He pulls out of the embrace, but doesn’t completely withdraw his touch. He must have sensed her shock, perhaps too overwhelmed to see her to notice she didn’t hug back. “Regina?” Her eyes scan over his body, willing herself to believe it’s really him, but they land instead on the dimple faced child grinning up at her. “Gina! We come to visit you!”, his little voice hits her ears and she raises her eyes back to Robin’s anxious gaze. The acceptance breaks around her and she throws her arms around his neck, afraid he might disappear. “Robin!” It’s the only thing she manages to say while she’s this overcome with emotions. He holds her back, just as tight and whispers her name quietly against her head and she finally finds her voice. “Wha—why—what are you doing here?”, she breathes in disbelief. Her hand falls to Roland’s head below and caresses his locks to finally acknowledge him, but she needs to grasp her current reality before she makes a fool of herself. “It’s Zelena”, he tells her with a bit of disdain, “We’re all in danger. I had to come back to warn you all, to help fight” He glances down at his now frightened son and lifts him into his right hip for a soothing hug while Regina blinks in confusion. “What are you talking about? Where is Mari—“ “We can’t talk about it now”, he cuts her off urgently, gesturing with a discreet nod to the boy in his arms. “Listen, I promise I will explain everything later. But we don’t have a lot of time to gather the others and make a plan”. He slides a gentle hand down her arm as if to assure her it’ll be alright despite his ominous warning. Roland wiggles in his grasp and his father sets him on his feet a moment before he bounds off a yard or two and squats down to examine a rock on the pavement. “I’m just so happy to see you, Regina”, Robin cups her cheek in his chilled palm, “didn’t think I would again”. His words rush off his tongue before his lips are pressed to hers, desperate and needy, fueled by the current perils only he knows they face and his all consuming love for her. It is a reunion kiss that can only come from resolutely believing they’d be separated permanently. Regina responds with all the heart she can muster, their lips moving fluidly together as if the last few weeks had not eclipsed. When they finally break for air they are both grinning like fools, foreheads resting together as their breathing falls in sync, and she swears she suddenly feels whole again, as if her arm had been missing and has just now been returned. She lets the feeling wash over her, soaks it in selfishly for a minute because she knows how fleeting this absolute contentment is now. There are still a thousand questions running through her head, a dark cloud churning and billowing over their little town and every life in it, but with Robin’s hand in her own things feel possible. She tightens her grip and they start toward her car, ushering Roland away from his picture in the dirt as they go. They let their hands slip apart to round the car and Robin opens the back so Roland can hop inside excitedly, insisting that he’s mastered belting himself in. Once he’s safely buckled and shut in, Robin pulls his handle but catches Regina’s eyes over the hood. They both have a flurry of emotions hidden in their expressions, but one sticks out above them all and Regina knows this one to be the only true importance in the world. “I love you”, Robin declares, the lines around his eyes wrinkled from the joy on his face. Her chest swells with such happiness that her dark eyes moisten with tears and she doesn’t care that her voice cracks when she finally speaks the words herself. “I love you”. Fin

[roseyhyuck]

we only have forever ° mark x reader

edit: it’s on wattpad now !

astronaut! mark lee x reader

                  • genre:

 fluff, angst (if u squint)

• warnings:

uh, mentions of divorce ?

• a/n:  this is (obviously) a non-idol au, i’ve also changed the reader’s and mark’s, dates of birth to fit this au. also, i’m aware that you probably won’t be sent up into space for 5 years (5 years without gravity is a lot on the body), but uh, ignore that for the plot ??  oh, and excuse how many time skips there are?

On September 15th, 2017, a seven year old you watched as Cassini burned into Saturn’s atmosphere, and seven year old you cried. Because how could you let go of something you so strongly believed discovered so much of your future? You were so tired of letting go of things you cared so much about, so the stars, and planets, and the whole universe was what you fell in love with and held onto, so dearly. They could never leave you and they never would, because, from star dust we come, and to star dust we will return.

The first day of middle school was the scariest thing you had experienced so far. You felt like pluto out of everyone there, and much like pluto, you experienced quite a lot of change in such a small amount of time. Your parents divorced, you moved from Toronto to Vancouver, and were at, of course, a new school. It was a foreign feeling, having no company to eat lunch with, but the first thing that came to mind was “you won’t be lonely in space, you’ll have the whole galaxy to be your friend.”  That didn’t stop your anxiety though, it didn’t stop the fear of making no friends, or the teachers hating you, so you tried to push it to the back of your head and act like it wasn’t there.

Quickly, you made friends - and you grew fond of the giggly boy who hung out with the foreign exchange students that were either older or younger than him and was part of a performance group. Being the careful person that you were, you never told anyone, and even when you jotted down your feelings onto your feelings into your leather journal, you never refered to him as his name. Nobody would’ve guessed that you liked Mark Lee, or that you used the universe to describe him, or that Saturn was your favorite planet out of the main ones, or that you called the only boy you had ever liked “Saturn.”

It changed though, it took one sleepover, your journal slipping out of your bag as you went to get a glass of water, and your friends snooping around to realize you liked someone. But like said before, they would’ve never guessed that the boy you said had a smile that shone as bright as the stars, and eyes prettier than Neptune, was the dorky boy whose friends were mostly all in high school.

Calling him Saturn actually benefited you; you studied more about the planet and space itself, it was odd, but you did it. In the end, you were in the top of your astronomy class - a class you didn’t share with Mark. To you, that was okay, it only meant that you could spend this class on the one thing you loved more than Mark, and that was astronomy. And by chance, on your way to that class, you were looking at your phone instead of straight ahead, only to be knocked off your feet and your books scattered everywhere. Whoever did it muttered “sorry” multiple times before and while offering a hand to help you up. Taking it, you stood up, only to bend over and pick up one of your books. When you finally looked up - it was Mark Lee.

But instead of you, he was looking at your books, his eyes shining like stars.

“You like astronomy?” He asked excitedly, and you only nodded, a little dumbfound. Smiling, he asked another question, “What’s your favorite planet?” You couldn’t help but smile. God, of you course you couldn’t. “Saturn. What about you?” And if you thought his smile couldn’t light up more, you were wrong, because it did, and you remember that on that night, when you got home, you wrote in your journal, “his smile turned into a meteor shower!!!”

School dances were never something you cared about - not until it was themed after the universe. You didn’t have anyone to go with, due to the fact that most friends you made didn’t last very long - but Mark did. Whenever you forgot to text him, or get your nose out of a book, or look away from the night sky long enough to take a proper, deep breath, he made sure you did. One of the many, many reasons he was your best friend.

He was your best friend and the boy you were in love with.

You didn’t stop calling him Saturn in your journal, but you did start calling him Saturn here and there, and because of your first meeting, he called you Cassini here and there - because you crashed into him, just as Cassini crashed into Saturn.

So for prom, he went in a tan and white suit, and you went in a soft yellow and silver dress. It didn’t match by any means, but it had its reasons, and you loved those. Your’s and Mark’s outfits didn’t match the theme - you two weren’t blue, or purple, or some shade of pink, no, but you two were a shade of something in the galaxy, it  meant something. He was dressed as Saturn, and by chance you called him that in front of your middle school friends, and they about fell out of their seats. One of them, Marie, rushed up to you, “So that’s Saturn?” She seemed half shocked, half excited as your face paled and you only nodded. “Do you still l-” She began to ask before you cut her off, “Yes, I do.” Walking past you, she went up to a confused Mark, “Did you know that (Y/N)’s liked you since sixth grade?” And before you could hear the reply, you left the room, and texted your mom to pick you up.

You couldn’t do this. You couldn’t lose the one person who meant the world to you - who meant more than the stars and planets combined, to you. So you stood outside the front of the school, trying to blink back tears as you waited for your mother and prayed that she came before Mark found you, but of course, she didn’t. Mark bursted through the doors, his cheeks flushed, and he stared at you, in your outfit that didn’t match his yet he helped you pick it out, and was almost more excited about it than you were. Your arms were crossed over your chest in defeat. “(Y/N), I- I, um” He said, only to stutter, and you felt bad, because you truly believed he was coming up with an excuse, and that he didn’t like you back, and of course you expected it.

“I like you too . . . If you still like me, that is.” Mark spoke, wiping his sweaty hands off onto his pants. And on that night, you two shared your first kiss, and your first big memory as a couple.

Silently, you watched, a smile spread across your lips as you stared up. Breathing out, you were shrouded in darkness as the sun and moon lay together. Asking for visit to Australia to watch a solar eclipse was weird for a graduation present. And Mark asked the same thing - of course he did; he couldn’t stand a day away from you, do you think he could handle two weeks away from you ?

“It’s really pretty” You whispered, your face lighting up with joy. “Not even half as pretty as you though” Mark replied, smiling down at you. While you watched the eclipse he watched you, because love does that - it makes you forget even your most favorite things.

Sitting on the couch across from you, was Mark holding his letter, an excited smile on his face. After so much hard work from you both, today you’d find out if either of you were going into space.

If either of you would finally get to live among the stars you so desperately wanted to be apart of.

He believed you were more likely to be sent up there, and when you asked why, he dodged the question and never did you get an answer. It bothered you but every time you asked, he acted like you never spoke a word about it, and it confused you deeply, but now, you would both see if he was right - and he wasn’t. You tried to mask your disappointment with excitement for him, but he could see right through, he could see as you tried to keep your voice steady and any light in your eyes. He knew it was faltering , so he pulled you close to him and whispered, “I swear I won’t do it if you don’t want him to.” Why would you not want him to? You frowned and looked up at him, “I do want you to go.” Searching your face, Mark shook his head and replied, “You’re lying, I know you are.” That was enough to feel the tears build up in the corners of your eyes; you playfully punched his arm, your voice cracking as you spoke, “I promise I’m not, you’ll just have to go up there and enjoy it for me.” Tilting his head as he tried not to cry - you knew he was going to cry, of course he was - he rested his head on your shoulder. “But, (Y/N), I can’t enjoy anything without you by my side.” You wrapped your arms around him, “But I’ll be with you every step of the way.”  

You and Mark made promises on many things: stay happy, take care of yourself, make sure he enjoys universe for you, and, the most important - don’t fall out of love. That one you promised so strongly on, because he didn’t want to spend five years away from you, missing you, not even on the same planet as you,  only to see that you had fallen madly in love with someone he never heard of, or worse, someone he had heard of. You also promised to watch him take off, and not to cry over him. The later was one you both knew you couldn’t keep, but he made you promise it so that you’d at least try not to.

There you stood, on top the hill you two would meet up on at nights he had off, to star gaze, so that you could watch him take off - on a ship that was named “Cassini II.” Standing there, you told yourself he’d never know if you were or were not watching, so where you were didn’t matter - but you were so, so wrong. He knew you weren’t with everyone else watching, and it broke his heart, because he thought you weren’t watching at all, and that you didn’t even care to say goodbye.

But it hurt less to say goodbye. Because it felt like you weren’t really doing it. Because it felt easier to deny that he was gone. Because you were so used to saying goodbye, and he was the only person you could never say goodbye to. Instead of goodbye, the night before, you wrote in Mark’s new journal, on the front page, “we only have forever.” Now that it was the beginning of forever, it seemed more like you had nothing, and that world was coming down you, and that tears wouldn’t stop coming. You prayed they’d stop coming, so that you could watch him leave, no matter how hard it was to watch. You wiped the tears away, and watched as he slowly went up, seeing him leave this earth to go to space. “Off to infinite you go, my dear, Saturn” You whispered to nobody but yourself.

To think that he was going to join the same place you compared him to in middle school, was both heart breaking, and beautiful.

He spent two years in training, five in space, and during his time in space, you enrolled in college. It was an astronomy class because what else would you study in ? An actual subject that could land you a job that supported you ?

Your professor decided to spend one class watching the landing of Cassini II, and to study the first Cassini. When it was on the big screen, the spaceship landing, you held your face in your hands, a dofus grin on your face with tears in the corners of your eyes - because your sun and moon was home. He was finally home. As it landed and the astronauts got off, you wiped the tears from your eyes, knowing that one of them was the boy you promised to love with all of you being and until you died. You finally made it past forever, something that was supposed to be impossible.

When you got home that day, you called his mom to know when you could finally see him, and you two planned for you to see him next week. And now it’s next week, you’re standing outside his door with your fist raised, ready to knock on the door, and for some reason, you’re afraid. Of him having fallen out of love. Of him having had changed. Of so many things, but when your knuckles come down on the door and he opens, the first thing you could ask as tears entered your eyes was, “Was it beautiful?” He smiled at you, a teary eyed smile, and replied, “Yeah,” you let out a breath before he continued, “but not even half as beautiful as you.”

[austennerdita2533]

A/N: Thanks for another fantastic fandom event ya’ll! I can’t wait to finish reading all the goodness over on A03. Anyway, here’s my contribution to the KC Vaycay Exchange for the lovely @honorableotp. (Post-canon AU. Angst. Hurt/Comfort. No Hayley or magical spawn.) I played this song on repeat for a while as I wrote in case anyone’s interested or wants to listen to it while/after reading. I hope you like it. :)

Links here if you prefer:

(A03) (FF.net)

Comments are always lovely

xx Ashlee Bree

Emptied of You

“You are the knife I turn inside myself; that is love. That, my dear, is love.”—Letters to Milena, Franz Kafka

“Go on and think of me as a she-wolf with a heart made of teeth if it makes you feel better,” she said, “I don’t care. But I’d do it again.”

Jaw taut, Klaus stood at the far end of his en suite balcony with his left hand tucked into his pocket and his right hand holding a drink made of something smooth and strong. He glared out at the rising moon, almost wishing his siblings weren't out of town so he could use them as bait. Or shields. Anything to save him from this bleeding hell!

Caroline approached from behind, her boots clicking against stone, conviction resounding louder with every step she took forward.

“Did you hear me? I said I’d do it again.”

“Yes,” he replied as he emptied his liquor in one swig. He let the glass slip from his fingers to crash down onto the street below. Ah, such sweet music destruction made. “Yes, love, I’m sure you would.”

“Don’t you understand why? Can’t you—” Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost trembling, and Klaus tensed as her touch ghosted hesitantly over his shoulders but never made contact. “Won’t you at least turn to look at me?” she asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It would be foolish. Reckless as hell.”

“Oh.” He heard the uncertain shuffle of her feet as he exhaled, the quiet sniff of her nose, and he swore the light she wore around her in aura dimmed for a moment before it shined something warmer but more clutching against his back. He felt that invisible tether between them, tugging, tormenting him like the lash of a whip.

Although it was difficult, he knew he needed to resist falling back toward her again. Klaus swallowed hard, then dropped his head with his fists clenching at his sides, “I’m always soft for you, Caroline, that’s the problem,” he sighed.

“You’re the sun beneath my bloody skin that I can’t stop chasing. You’re the light zipping through my veins that I can’t keep myself from reaching out to try and hold no matter how many times I’m left burning or singed through with holes…and yet you still have the audacity to ask me why. Truly?” His laugh was wounded, caustic. “We both know you’re smarter than that.”

“Tell me, love, why would I be daft enough to turn around,” he added, grumbling, “when I know one look at you would melt me directly where I stand?”

“Right,” she deflated. “Okay.”

He nodded, “I’m glad we understand one another.”

She took a step back.

“Of course.”

Frustrated, weary, conflicted, and more than tempted to drink away this surprise confrontation with alcohol, he massaged his forehead.Then, after he dragged a hand down his face and closed his eyes in anticipation of her imminent retreat, dreading and desiring it simultaneously, something strange happened: Caroline moved closer. Lunged, truth be told. Her arms snaking around his middle without warning.

A noise somewhere between a whimper and a sigh escaped her when she pressed her cheek against the fabric of his shirt and breathed him in. Pulling him close—too close. Reeling him in on that god-awful tether like prey. She melded into him like a solid into a liquid, her heartbeat a frenetic song against the muscles of his back, her tears a tap dance along the exposed skin of his neck, the darkness of separation vanishing beneath the fire of her desperation since she seemed determined to hang from the ladder of his spine. To never let go of it again.

This new proximity to her created a vortex in his chest which cracked like icebones then stitched him up like needleheat. One of his hands slipped near hers of its own volition: hovering but not touching, wanting but not taking.

Klaus couldn’t bring himself to fight against her warmth. He couldn’t fucking breathe.

How did this happen, he wondered? To armor himself in iron only to be disassembled by a single touch. Why was her embrace a nirvana no mountain of pain could snuff out?

Anger and grief lingered, of course. It proliferated in the air around him, piercing his heart like a storm made of daggers every time he attempted to speak, but not enough of it remained to shrug her off. To break free. In the end, she stuck to him like a lost shadow while he choked on the pleasure of suffering.

“I need to tell you something even if you refuse to look at me,” Caroline said in a tone which was equal parts cautious, pleading, and wishful. “Will you let me?”

“I’m listening,” he replied.

Six months ago, Caroline had thrown his name at the dark like a spear and fled. She’d let the bold, broken letters of him bleed from red to black to gone against the fabric of her retreating back, her doubts muffled by the sound of her scurrying feet as she’d taken off with nothing— except a mouthful of forevers.

(Those, as consequence would have it, she’d left unsaid.)

With a lump of cowardice in her throat, plus a mixture of guilt and woe rawing her stomach, Caroline had freaking run. Run away from it all.

She’d hastened away from a southern city pulsing with magnetism; its streets crowded, forever bustling, as shouting friends reveled in culture or debauchery. It was a place she knew she’d thrived for the past five years. A place she’d grown to love for its sultry sunset moods, its whispered twilight lovers, and its jazzy saxophone blues which soothed lost or lonely souls beneath the moonlight. It was where cobblestone histories wrote tomes against stones and buildings and people who were too wrapped up in cuisine or celebration to lend an ear, the wind full of forgotten moments. It was where agelessness chimed from chapels, where flowered herbs grew atop graves but never disturbed the consecrated bones.

She’d first tasted the power of possibility there. Yes, Caroline had folded herself into New Orleans’ arms with her eyes wide open, her heart neither open nor closed but eclipsing as she’d strolled beneath the eye of her first hurricane to (finally) dance to the tune of dangerous beauty.

Throughout her stay, she’d helped witches set fire to the clouds, the sky purpling with magic that deserved to be returned to their capable hands. She’d schooled vampires on how to fight with control, patience, and fortitude by using their minds as well as their enhanced senses. She’d chewed through the bonds which had chained werewolves to the phases of the moon and had set them free to follow their own feet, all the while encouraging them to stay with smiles which promised mercy. Loyalty. Friendship. Family.

She’d also killed with kindness almost as often as she’d seethed with rage to become a weapon of her own making: gracious, grisly, and great. The city had taught her that true magic sometimes dwelled in shadows beyond the reach of the sun, its black sparks sleeping perhaps, but never dying. And although New Orleans had enchanted her with its ambiguity, Caroline had panicked when she’d realized how exquisitely darkness suited her and had decided to escape before it could claim her completely.

But there was also more to this getaway. Something worse, and, arguably more…problematic. (Borderline reproachful, honestly.) You see, it wasn’t just a what she’d fled from, but a whom. Plural.

The Mikaelsons.

Rebekah, Kol, Freya, Elijah, and Marcel, who, with their offerings of blood, censure, teasing, bickering, and protectiveness, had come to regard her as kin (with a ‘double-cross-me-and-I-will-stab-you’ kind of attachment, of course, but whatever), indulging her with things like a a room of her own, beignets, excellent booze, bitching, arguing, broken furniture, and headaches for days. They’d welcomed her as one of them with fangs and fists, with trust and reliance. Not only had they fought with her side-by-side to bring peace back to New Orleans, but they’d also managed to find time to initiate her into their (ridiculously) dysfunctional family tribe. That meant Caroline had participated in everything from Thursday night sing-offs with Kol and Marcel to screaming matches with Rebekah over ‘borrowed’ shoes, and from French Quarter ‘suit’ business with Elijah, to discreet matchmaking for Freya, to swanky parties with costumes, and to refereeing over presumed family betrayals.

It had been absolutely freaking exhausting at the time, and, yet, weirdly… enjoyable, too.

All that said, Caroline had left them all behind. Deserted them all without warning. She’d left no crumbs for them to follow, no allusions as to where or when she could be reached again. No explanations as to why. She’d done nothing but tuck this short, half-assed note between the pages of Elijah’s favorite Mozart symphony before strolling out the front door:

I’ll already be gone by the time you read this. Off somewhere on my own. I promise I’m safe so it’s no use coming after me, especially considering I learned how to disappear from Katherine. Stay put, do your thing. Know I don’t want to be found.

Don’t kill each other, okay? I’ll miss you.

—Caroline

P.S. Tell him I’m sorry, but my heart’s a wandering thing.

Yes, she’d run from, him, too. (Run from him most, probably.)

Klaus.

She’d abandoned the tortured, tender man who unapologetically bulldozed every damn wall she’d tried to erect between them since their worlds first collided back in Mystic Falls. A man who, when he wasn’t shoving her out of her comfort zone (and on her ass), or driving her mental with his arrogance, cynicism, jealousy, paranoia, temper tantrums, etc. would scrape the pits of heaven or hell to give her anything she desired. Everything. Oh, how he would kill to kiss his dynasty of night beneath her skin! How he would die to feel her soul finally sink into his with a wolf’s bite, clutching almost possessively! How brutally bad he wanted this “thing” between them to last!

Despite his patience and how he’d never prodded for more than she gave him, however, Caroline could feel that one unfulfilled hope of his growing hungrier and hungrier with need the longer she’d stayed. Intensity had rippled from Klaus like a soft, shimmering shadow. It’d stretched out like it wanted nothing more than to caress the monsters free from her head, and she’d watched as it clouded over his face with worry and disappointment each time she’d retracted, pulling away from him and into herself. Tucking her monsters into coffins he couldn’t penetrate.

“Please, why won’t you let me?” he’d seemed to ask without speaking, his eyes searching, his touch digging gingerly for skeletons he couldn’t find. “Why won’t you let me in to comfort you? We’re the same, you and I, we’re the same.”

His wishes thumped. They’d sparked beneath his chest with a fire that melted into honey each time their eyes met or their limbs had tangled beneath the sheets until morning. Like a hummingbird, he’d hovered. He’d waited, and waited endlessly, for her to invite him all the way in so he could entomb his lovelines somewhere precious and warm around her heart where they would keep. Wanting only to know he belonged to her in a way that tackled levity and uncertainty for good.

But all Caroline had for him at the time were little half-smiles. And lips that half-kissed. And forever dreams that half-existed. And fears which had compounded into restlessness so strong and so irresistible, they’d ushered her away from him with no farewell spoken between them.

It had been unbelievably cruel to do that, not say goodbye, selfish even, but that word always tasted like rubber in her mouth any time she’d tried to say it to him in the past—wrong somehow. So she’d kept silent. She’d let it crash and burn in the blackness behind her while she’d chased the sunrise alone.

In the end, the colors of dawn had streamed in through that still-misty window to grip Caroline by the soul. They’d stirred her to her feet as a message had ribboned through her bones, pleading for her to heed it:

Seek.

Find.

Learn.

Know.

Go on now. Go, go…

And she had. She did.

“I left to hunt the light,” Caroline announced after clearing her throat.

“The light?”

She nodded against his shoulder. “I followed it in order to see where it led…to explore places I never knew I needed to see.”

“Without me.” Klaus meant it as a question but it came out blunt and flat. Like the period at the end of a lazy sentence.

“Yes,” Caroline said, exhaling slowly, “without you.”

“With no forewarning, no parting line?”

“Yes.”

Klaus frowned. Repressed the urge to mutter something about her ‘tiresome bloody explanations’ by scraping his knuckles across his lips. “Why? Why couldn’t you have at least tried talking to me about it first?”

“Because I…because I couldn’t.”

“Why?” he repeated.

“There was so much blood between us, Klaus! It was everywhere, it was in everything,” Caroline said, each syllable fraying his confusion into disillusionment, “rushing so hard and clumping so deep that most of the time I couldn’t tell where the hell you ended and where I began. We were bound by blood in too many ways, you and me, and I didn’t want to see it, okay? I didn’t want to know it. I was so—”

“Ah, I see,” he interjected. He stiffened when he perceived her intended meaning: so soft but puncturing, so honest but injurious. It caused him to razor his reply with more sharpness than wryness, “And I suppose you’re saying it’s too messy for your liking, right? That my past atrocities have stained too much of your life for you to have been able to stay or truly care for me?”

“What?”

“Really, sweetheart,” he continued in that brusque, callous way of his that made a laugh sound diseased, “I thought you’d shoulder guilt better than this by now. You should’ve saved yourself the expense of a trip back here because—”

“Stop.”

“It’s fine. Go.” He waved her away. “I understand.”

Using her fingernails like a vise, Caroline clamped down hard on his elbows before he could break free to sulk. Or worse, to tear into an innocent throat. Tension plucked between them like pliant tendons refusing to snap. It stretched his thoughts in so many different directions he couldn’t weave them together in a manner which made sense or didn’t ache from the strain.

“My God, why are you so freaking infuriating!?” she asked, probably rolling her eyes. “You can’t survive without hearing the sound of your own voice for five seconds so you jump to conclusions before you give me a chance to finish speaking! I can’t take it!!!”

“Perhaps you should’ve stayed away then.” He hated how bitter and waxy the retort tasted on his tongue, how hollow it sounded as it left his mouth, but he said it anyway.

“I have tried, Klaus! Believe me,” Caroline snorted weakly, her voice resigned to some emotion he couldn’t decipher, “I have tried long and hard to stay away from you. Do you have any damn idea how much time and energy I’ve wasted trying to keep myself from crashing into the truth?”

A jolt of something old and familiar fired across his chest at this. He inclined his head to the side ever so slightly, ears burning. What was it? What was she saying?

“I mean, not only did I baulk at princess bracelets and shred horse drawings, but I spent months in Mystic Falls being bitchy and hostile and mean. I hurled insult after insult at your face! I told myself one romp in the woods would be enough to get you out of my system. I helped my friends devise ways to kill you, remained with Stefan despite knowing he’d always put his brother and Elena before me, swallowed all of my cares for your family, for New Orleans, and cursed when the universe saw straight through my charade.”

“Writing off our connection as ‘no biggie’ for years,” she paced behind him, “I tried to deny. Ignore. Forget. And push it all away. I’ve wanted to believe that we, us, were casual and not meant to be more so I snipped the dark from my heart. I sprinted after the light because I thought it’s where I belonged.”

Klaus gulped, his throat dry and rough all of a sudden. “And is it?”

“I know I’ve been awful, hurtful beyond words,” Caroline continued, “and I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry, Klaus…” She paused for a moment. Collected another breath before reaching out to touch him again with tender trailing fingertips, “But I can’t do it anymore, okay? I can’t.”

“Do what?” he said.

She sighed heavily. “Pretend.”

“Pretend…what?” Confusion, so many conflicting thoughts, galloped in his head.

“That I can endure a life emptied of you,” Caroline offered simply, “because I can’t. I won’t.” In an effort to somehow illustrate this point further, she shook her head, letting her forehead roll back-and-forth along his shoulder. “Am I making myself clear yet?”

“And your wandering heart?” Klaus asked as he scratched his teeth along his bottom lip and remembered the pain that line from her letter had wrought. Recalling the overwhelming sense of loss that’d slammed into his chest like a skyscraper full of bricks, his knees nearly shuddered as the memory hit him afresh.

He’d sensed her hesitancy toward commitment throughout their five years together, of course, but he thought it’d give way with a little more time as a couple. Months, years, decades, centuries—who cared precisely when? He’d been in no rush. He’d believed her nomadic feelings were bound to settle eventually. Or perhaps it would’ve been more accurate to say he’d ‘naively hoped’ they would. That is, until she took off with her fucking wanderlust and had left his heart to rot without her. “What of that? Hm?”

“It wandered away so it could drift back. Back to where it’s belonged all along,” Caroline answered.

“I suppose you mean here?”

“I do. Only I was too stubborn to see it. Terrified, really.”

“How illuminating. So after all this, after everything,” Klaus started, his tone harsh, “you expect me to forget the torment of losing you? Forget how you left me feeling both drowned and deprived at the same time?”

“No,” she replied, “I don’t. All I’m asking is for you all to try and forgive me enough so I can care for you like I couldn’t before.”

“Oh?” he clenched, his back still turned to her, his heart pumping loud and red with a yearning just at the edge of a bruise.“And how’s that exactly?”

“Recklessly. Completely.”

Klaus bit back a scornful sound. All of his undead fears pricking, poking, prodding at the  shreds of hope which still survived in a small area behind his ribs. “Why should I believe you?”

“Maybe because I’ve never lied to you before, so why would I start now? Or maybe because I needed to leave,” she sucked in a breath, “for my heart to know home was more than a place for me, and that I’d want to find my way back to it for good someday soon.”

Stepping closer, Caroline folded her hand into his then twined their fingers together with a squeeze so ripe with feeling, that it was as if she’d crossed the world just to hold it again.

“I’m done making wrong turns, Klaus. No more running, no more careless mistakes. Home is forever now, okay?”

“Home for me is…” She paused, but there was no shame in what came next, no irony. “Well, you,” she said frankly.  

One. Two. Three seconds of hybrid defibrillation. Then—

A growl which disintegrated into a moan almost immediately. His head spinning, spiraling, his stomach lurching up into his throat only to plummet down through the ground past his toes to feast on disbelief. Fists of fury unraveled like rope, his posture softening the moment he pulled her in front of him and caged her between his arms against the railing with no way out. She would listen now.

“Damn you,” he blurted out.

Silence.

“How in hell do you always manage to say things that have me dying to kiss you when I should want nothing more than to tear you apart with fangs?”

Caroline shrugged then. Reached up a hand to cup his face.

“Sorry, but it’s not like I can help that I’m in love with you, you know? Besides,” she added with a twitch of her lips, thumb scratching along stubble, “it all comes out in moron supposedly, anyway. Or so they say.”

Trounced, conquered, and not to mention a tad stunned, Klaus raked over her face with a combination of anger and attention in his gaze at this. He drank her in like the starved beast he was while the knife of her words—which she’d never spoken before but were ones he’d longed to hear for many years past—twisted and turned inside of him, slicing deeper this time, making him pant because he still hungered for the blade of her mouth. Still coveted the spikes of her heart. He always had. And in that moment when he pulled her against him to let their mouths and bodies collide, shutting her up hard and fast, her love’s blood seeping in to fill up all the places she’d emptied inside of him six months ago, magicking the two of them back together like a dawn-kissed midnight which could bloody well last forever, the poor bastard knew he always would.

[mattcullen]

Babe talk to me about charmer and nurseydex and what happens when they go on double dates!!!

BABE YES (also i love people calling me babe idk why but ty)

(the timeline that i’m working with btw is the same as my post about nursey and dex sharing a room and in that nursey and dex got together on nursey’s birthday in their junior year - this isn’t really relevant but CONTEXT)

okay so they go on double dates a lot

they just have a great time together guys

their first double date is kind of an accident tho

it’s the beginning of march so nursey and dex have been together for about 2-3 weeks

honestly it’s barely a date tbh

dex and nursey decided to sneak back to the rink after a late practice just to play some shinny/mess around/make out pressed up against the boards 

chowder and farmer kind of have a similar idea (tho less hockey more teaching farmer to skate without holding onto the boards/chris) and show up about half an hour after n&d

there’s kind of an awkward pause when c&f step on to the ice and everyone realises what’s happened 

this is only broken when farmer tries to skate forward and v dramatically windmills and lands on her ass

from there nursey and dex abandon the puck and their sticks and help chowder drag farmer around the rink

she eventually gets her balance and begins to pick up speed, causing an impromptu race that ends in them all collapsed in a heap giggling after chowder tries to swipe at nursey’s knees, who in turn grabs at farmer who is immediately in front of dex

it’s dark by the time they head back to the haus and they’re all leaning on each other, chowder and farmer holding hands and dex’s arm wrapped around nursey’s waist, it’s cute okay??

as they part ways in the hallway chowder states that this was the nicest double date he’s ever been on

and so starts the barrage of group dates

under the cut bc again i have no self control

farmer drags them all to karaoke one night

chowder and nursey are Excited

dex gets very drunk

dex has a surprisingly good voice for someone who has been mainlining margaritas since he arrived

they don’t talk about farmer and nursey’s painful 2am rendition of total eclipse of the heart

they don’t

they get pizza a lot together

pineapple discourse is banned after half an hour into their first pizza date

(nursey and chowder are for, farmer and dex are against)

(dex’s exact words were pineapple is a fruit and fruit is a sin and sin does not belong on pizza)

(dude i think u burst a vein in your head)

dance class

nursey thinks it would be fun, dex wants to be swallowed by the earth (but he’s also seen people dance the tango and he rly wants to dance the tango w nursey so he’s powering through)

nursey invites chowder and farmer too so dex won’t be as embarrassed

they learn a lot of things that evening:

chowder has extremely sensual hips

farmer can spin really well in heels

nursey is really good at the tango

dex can pop a boner just about anywhere

this is another double date they don’t talk about 

but nursey thinks about a lot

they travel down to barnstable, ma for the ghost hunter’s tour for halloween their senior year

they all manage to finish it but nursey almost has to duck out before the jailhouse at the end

he only goes in after dex promises to stand behind him the whole time with his arms around his waist because “this way nothing can sneak up behind you derek, it’s like having your back to the wall” “yeah if the wall if tall and muscular and hot” “i’m sorry i thought you were scared do you not need me to hold you” “no yes i’m very scared please hold me forever oh my god”

farmer is a rollercoaster enthusiast and drags them to six flags new england o f t e n

nursey’s favourite coaster is wooden cyclone bc he loves the whole wooden supports thing and the sounds they make and he’s not the biggest fan of heights so he likes that it’s very twisty

dex however loves tall rollercoasters so his fav is superman (nursey only goes on it w him the first time they go, after that they establish a pact that yes they love each other but it’s not worth dragging nursey onto a rollercoaster that’s going to give him a panic attack, ever)

farmer’s go to is mind eraser. she is immediately drawn to any inverted coaster bc she loves to feel like she’s flying completely unsupported

chowder loves pandemonium - actually he loves riding pandemonium at night bc it’s all lit up! and it’s different every time!! and it’s so fun!! and yeah okay you spin a lot and wow farmer you don’t look too good do you need to sit dow-okay you threw up cool do you want some water? 

they tried cinema double dates but they’re both those couples that pick shitty movies and then go and make out in the back row so the only time they go together it kinda becomes a competition to see who can hold out on making out with their partner the longest like some weird celibate game of chicken and in the end they decide it’s probably best if they go to the cinema as separate couples

they hang out at the beach/pond together a lot

farmer likes to go all out and wear a bikini and shorts, lie on a towel with a floppy hat and a book

this rubs off on the rest of them and soon they’re the weirdos in the swim gear by the university lake sunning themselves in mid april

it gets so bad that one time nursey and chowder bring a bucket and spade and try to make a sandcastle out of mud

okay i’m out of ideas but feel free to add more