#okay so i had time to clean my wips so ill try to do the whole benji week (and yasammy) even tho is really late 😅
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iffasart · 2 months ago
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Benji week day 2!! [Growth spurt]
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Their height difference is EVERYTHING
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not-krys · 2 months ago
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[Repost] Eyes - Ophelia x Kennyo
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Part of this set of WIP Wednesdays
It seems like every time I put these two together, banter just happens, but it's okay, they're having fun...? I think...?
Raw, unedited writing below. Brief mentions of dead bodies. It's more about Kennyo trying to convince her that she doesn't have to live like this, but Ophelia is having exactly none of that.
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Even closing her eyes, Ophelia could still see those hollowed irises, those blue lips, the wrinkles on that face robbed of any color. She had never felt any affection towards that old man, her previous husband, but finding him like that certainly did something to her then. Years later and whole universes away, she still couldn't stomach seeing a dead body, an unfortunately common sight in this war-torn era of her new home.
She handled as much as she could, wrapping bandages around wounds and giving prayers for the lost souls, but she hid away as soon as dusk fell, surrounding herself with fragrant incenses and a cotton cloth held to her nose, easing what she could of her nausea.
When she felt she could breathe again, she could smell ginger tea beside her and warm blanket was around her shoulders.
"You shouldn't have." Ophelia said, taking the warm cup into her hands.
"It's never easy, even amongst the most experienced of us." Kennyo's deep voice resonated in the room, the jingling of his staff tinkling as he placed against the nearby wall. "You can still-"
"No." Ophelia said firmly. "Not to Katsugayama."
"Ophelia-"
"I've lived that life and I hated it. I'm not going back."
"Stubborn."
"Kenshin and I get along like water and oil. And I don't want to be some side piece for Shingen to show off."
Kennyo frowned as he sat down beside her.
"I'm not going to Katsugayama. And Sakai is also a flat no, in case you were about to ask. I'm staying here." She sipped her tea, grimacing lightly.
"Is being here really that much more preferable than being safe and comfortable in a city?"
"I have my reasons for wanting to stay."
"Enlighten me." Kennyo said dryly.
"You're the monk here." She matched his tone.
"You're hilarious."
Ophelia chuckled, sounding hollow. She brushed back her hair, her finger easily running through it now that it was shorter than it had been her entire life.
"City life means putting on airs. I would have to be a Lady again if I go back. A Noble Lady. Being a noble means something, being someone that I don't want to be again. I hated the person I had to become when I was a noble."
She stared into her tea, eyes down-turned.
"Here, I'm just like everyone else. A normal person. It's a harder life than what I'm used to, but not much more so. Despite being of the noble class, my family struggled to get by. Cooked our own meals, mended our own clothes, cleaned the manor as best as children could, treated our own illnesses and injuries as a doctor was expensive in Revaire nor could they always be trustworthy. Everyone hated being perceived as poor despite the turmoil going on."
She sighed.
"That's why I like being here. It's because I don't have to play pretend here. Everyone is equal. You pull your own weight and help with where you can. Going back to *that*
 it makes me sick just thinking about it."
Kennyo was quiet, lost in thought.
"And I am getting better at handling things here, I think."
"All the incense in here say otherwise, Lady."
"Perhaps I should take up incense making, what do you think?"
"Fresh air is free and less work, you know."
"Now who's trying to be funny?"
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ohnoanotherficblog · 2 years ago
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HOW SPIKEMUTH GOT CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE
Chapter One: Fuck that Evil Fairy Godmother
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dumb fic i had a idea for while playing pokemon sheild. hope you enjoy
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CWs: Gambling, Alchol (in good fun but still) also im on mobile so long post
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While the Galaran Gym Challenge tournament is indeed the greatest gaming event in the Galar region, there is one little known event known to precious few amoung the high elite of Galar that also does hold the same amount of joy, nay, jubilance: Gym Leader Poker night.
Held usually in the castle of Hammerlocke, the game was full of shouting, cursing, Piers's karaoke machine, and usually, a little too much booze.
Unfortunately for today, Raihan had business to attend to, and no one else wanted to do it. So the others all drew lots, and naturally, Piers had to pick the smallest.
Better of this way. Raihan usually wipped the floor with everyone but Opal, Alister, and Piers anyway. Really, the game was mostly for a game of competitive fun, and so Melony and Nessa could have their own little side mission of passive aggressively seeing whos cocktail recipies were more well liked.
At any rate, game night was on in Spikemuth. And it had been a LONG time since Piers had visitors.
Everyone seemed a little uneasy coming in. Milo offered to help clean the place up, which Piers said was a very sweet offer, but him and his flowers would grow better anywhere else. Melony and Nessa did not comment, but Nessa's stupid, snotty little face said everything. Kabu started a lecture, which in turn almost started a fight, until Melony came with more booze. Opal took every penny that night, and at the end, Piers could not be more glad to be rid of everyone.
He journeyed back to his home and kicked off his shoes, and snorted. Ugh... everyone was so overbearing. And Opal looked so intense all night, no wonder she took home everything. Like a terrifying fairy godmother, that woman.
Piers snorted to himself as he undressed down to an undertank and boxers. How many years of being co-workers, and the old hagbag hadnt so much as visted? what a joke. She could get lost for all he cared. He didn't need to give her the satisfaction of being terrifying, even in his head. The witch was probably more scared o 'im!
Thats when he heard a knock on the door.
"Look, whatever you're selling, I dont want it," he called back through the doors, turning on his TV. The doorbell rang, and he rolled his eyes, than froze.
He didnt have a doorbell...
"Okay. Who is it."
"Its me," came Opal's voice. "I have something for you."
"Whatever it is, I dont want it. Scram."
"Dont make me break down this door."
"Don't make me call in my crew."
Suddenly, her tone shifted dramatically, from fairy godmother to angered unseelie.
"Listen, punk, if you dont open this door, I will insure everything you know and love is pink and glittery in a way that hurts your eyes for the next several months."
Piers side, internally unnerved. His eyesight was badly adjusted as it was...
"Fine." Piers opened the door. The wench was standing on his porch in her elegant poker attire, staring at him intently. In her hand she held a throughly too decorated envelope.
"For you. Tonights poker winnings. Use it to better your city, or else I'll make things needlessly complicated for you. Paperworks. Audits. The whole shebang."
Piers looked at the envelope, seething with rage.
"Ill kill you for this. I need you to know how dead you are."
Harmless fairy godmother again.
"You wouldn't hurt a sweet old woman whos just trying to help, would you?"
"You're a menace."
"And you're a punk who needs to clean up his city."
Piers really didnt know what to do, so he growled. She chuckled, and left.
Stupid, Civic serving, kindly old witch.
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ambi-apocalypse · 4 years ago
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WIP Challenge! Fantasy Mystrade AU
@dawningday84 Thank you for the tag! I have never written a fanfiction before, however I do have some old RP with some friends back from 2013! The most intense one was like a fantasy Mystrade where Mycroft is going off to be wed to Moriarty so the kingdoms don’t go to war and the handsome Knight Captain Gregory has to escort him there. My friend and I went back and forth on calling Mycroft a princess and his majesty, so hopefully that’s okay. (Also Mycroft is a powerful mage) 
Ill post it down here in the read more, and if enough people like it ill post more. We Canadian so you will see fun names in the story cause its like the great north, eh!
Finally able to focus, Greg chased after Mycroft, the hand not holding his sword being held by the graceful digits of the Princess. They were ducking and swerving through the chaos of the flames, dragons breath exploding into fire and downing trees in their path. When he spotted the gap in the flames his heart leapt, they might actually be able to get away but it was short lived when another tree fell in the way, branches flaming. "We'll never make it," he shouted as Mycroft continued to pull him along. The man was leading them to their deaths, they would never make it through the flames alive. Raising a hand to shield his face in the last moments of life, Greg allowed himself to be pulled through the flames. There was a tickling sensation running through his skin and Greg thought himself on fire, he opened his eyes fearing the worst but found that as they jumped over the fallen tree the flames did little more than lick at his boots. It must have been Princess, protecting them with what magic he had left. He was so astonished that once out of the way of the flames Greg had to look back over his shoulder and let out a laugh of triumph. Immediately his lungs filled with smoke from the surrounding area. Apparently the princess had pushed the smoke out of the area surrounding the carriage and it now hovered in the direction they were heading. They were running blind into the forest, with no sense of direction and even less protection. Greg would surely have missed the sound of the river had it not been for the yell he heard only milliseconds before. He swung his sword down, burying the tip into the earth and holding on to the hilt for dear life as his legs dangled over the edge of the rapids. His body slammed against the cliff side, blurring his vision and making him dumb for an instant. As he came too all he could see was the roaring of waves, in the distance a figure in white being dragged along. For the second time that evening his heart stopped. The princess was being swept under and away down the river. Without a thought to his own safety, Greg released his sword and plunged into the frozen waves below.
The carriage jerked forward in a quick motion, it held the future of the Aurora Borealis kingdom. A marriage of the young Princess Mycroft who was to be wed to the opposing kingdoms Prince Moriarty, it was the one and only thing stopping a full out war of magic and bloodshed. Mycroft sat in the carriage, clothed in beautiful white silk robes, showing that the princess held the strongest magic of that kingdom. He opened the window with a flick on his finger, looking out to see his protector walking alongside the carriage. A Silver Knight, powerful and loyal, strong and handsome. "Dear knight," Mycroft called out from the window, "What is your name?" he asked, resting his chin on his hand, giving the knight a charming smile.
Greg was a knight, ever since he could remember he had wanted to be one, following in the footsteps of his father in the defense of the Aurora Borealis Kingdom. So that was mainly what his life had consisted of all these years. Training and going to war, defending against the opposing kingdom Niagara ruled by the merciless Moriarty's. There was no one that he hated worse, having watched his late father killed before his eyes on his first mission by the Prince himself. There was a vengeance he had for the man, one that seeped into his very bones and when he had been named a Silver Knight, he vowed he would personally make sure of the man's death. But Aurora Borealis had fallen on hard times, most of the magic users being killed off in the last battle. They had nearly lost everything against the cruelty of the Moriarty's, all but their Princess, and now he was being asked to deliver the man to the gateway of hell and see him married off to the very man he detested the most. He was stationed to walk beside the carriage the entire way, beside the door of it's cabin while the rest of the knights fanned out around it making sure that no harm could come of their beloved Princess. He was shaken from his thoughts as the window came down and the Princess stuck his head out asking for his name. He'd never spoken to the man before but something inside him fluttered at the privilege of being addressed. "Gregory Lestrade Sir. Son of the late Benjamin Lestrade."
Ah, a Lestrade, Mycroft knew full well that this young man's father was killed by Moriarty's hand. Truly a terrible loss for the kingdom, this man's father was their strongest knight, hopefully this new silver knight could prove just as worthy. "Sir Gregory, a pleasure to meet you. I knew your father, he was very kind. You bare a strong resemblance to him, but you have your own unique features as well. Like your lovely dark brown eyes." Mycroft chuckled softly, trying his best to hide his sadness and fear. To marry Moriarty, was close to marrying the devil himself, nothing good could come out of being with that man. Except the promised peace of the Aurora Borealis Kingdom, but Mycroft knew deep down that he was going to be killed as soon as he wed Moriarty. Killing off the last of the magic wielders of the Aurora Borealis Kingdom, that's all Moriarty wanted.
Greg could feel the blush covering his cheeks and he turned away. To be complemented by someone as radiant as the princess was something rare. "Yes sir, my mother's eyes. Or so I'm told, I never knew her. Died while giving birth to me." Though he was small at the time of all this the first few years of his life had been spent with a nursemaid, his father refusing to see him because of the death of his wife. He blamed Gregory for her death and only after he became an apprentice knight did his father start to appreciate him. It had been very difficult but the relationship they formed afterwards was as strong as if they had been friendly to one another the entire time. "If you'll excuse me for being blunt Sir, I don't think any good will come of this union. The kingdom might be safe but at what cost? You're the last person alive gifted with the use of magic, clearly Moriarty is just planning on using you to his advantage." It was more blunt than he had expected to be, usually a knight was expected to hold their tongue in the presence of royalty. Their decisions were law and even if you didn't believe in what they had decided being a knight meant holding your tongue and doing what was asked of you.
Good gracious, that was blunt. Perhaps the compliment gave the knight courage to say that, Mycroft thought as he raised an eyebrow to the remarks said by Gregory. He shook his head, smiling, eyes now looking at the beautiful night sky that held the Aurora Borealis. Mycroft just for a split second showed in a saddened expression  that he was going to miss this lovely sky, his life. It was all going to be taken away from him, but he had to stay strong for the kingdom and it's people.... People like Gregory Lestrade. He sighed, taking in the scent of the night air, "The good of the Kingdom will come at the cost of my life. There is no other solution. To go to war now, would mean certain defeat." he paused, looking down at the knight, admiring him with icy blue eyes. "Sir Gregory, trust me. This is the only way." Mycroft smiled sincerely.
He wouldn't allow himself to smile back, Greg didn't believe that this was the only way. Sure the times were hard for the kingdom but selling off the one thing that every citizen held dear? Was that really the right way to go about things? And to hear the words come from the Princesses mouth, to hear that the only way the kingdom would survive was to walk him to the guillotine and happily watch the man they hated kill the princess. It was unfathomable that things had come to this. Greg wasn't exempt from the feelings most citizen's had for their princess. He was gorgeous, pale skinned and flaming hair, face dusted with freckles. Such a rarity in the kingdom that almost any man would lay down their life for the man. Greg Lestrade was no exception, he had in fact asked for the post when he found out that the Princess was to be sent away to marry the devil. "It is the only way," he sighed, eyes looking around in the dark tree's for his men. "But is it the right way? When the cost is your life."
Mycroft chuckled, reaching out of the carriage window and tapping the knights nose lightly, "You are a silly man. Life will move on, my death will keep the peace. It's perfectly fine." he smiled sweetly, but it soon fell. The creatures of the night had fallen silent, movement seemed to stop all together. There was no breeze, a sudden smell of burning flesh hit Mycroft's nose. The knights that surrounded the outskirts of the carriage were now a blaze. They were screaming as they burned to death, through the darkness of the forest. Dragons. One landed directly on top of the carriage, it's mouth opened revealing a green gas that was soon to be lit. A small click sound was all it needed and the carriage was now enveloped in the blaze.The whole forest was soon in flames, smoke filling the once clean air, loud screeches of the dragons could be heard from the destruction.
Greg was so distracted by the Princess touching his nose that he hadn't even noticed the calmness that suddenly surrounded them. Everything fell quiet and the world seemed to slow as a piercing scream struck through the night air. Then one after another the men he had been trying to find in the darkness erupted into flames, their skin igniting like torches as they ran about desperate to put the flames out. Greg spun around, eyes following the path of fire that seemed to be encircling the carriage, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Gaze flashing about, he tried to locate the culprit of the attack. "To me!" he shouted, hoping anyone who might have survive the blaze would make it back to him to form a barrier of protection. However, his hope was cut short when the carriage shook behind him. Lifting his sight to the top he found his eyes met with the sight of a creature he had only ever met twice in his lifetime; the scaly figure deemed a sign of death to all who came past it. A dragon. Not just one but several. "Your highness!" he cried, wrenching the door from the carriage open and grabbing hold of the man. Without any other thought, he pulled Mycroft from the cabin just seconds before the gas was lit and the carriage enveloped in flame. The two were sent soaring through the air and to the hard ground meters from the devastation, hair singed from the close call. Greg coughed as he pulled himself into a crouching position, lungs filling with smoke and eyes watering he frantically looked about him for any sign of the man he was supposed to protect.
Mycroft landed hard on his right shoulder and arm, he groaned trying to get up. He erupted in a fit of coughs, the smoke falling heavily on him. This was impossible, dragons never attacked at this time of the year, they rarely initiated an attack. Yet, there were so many circling them, and it seemed that all those knights were dead. Mycroft coughed and wheezed, the smoke was getting thicker, he needed to get rid of it immediately. He stood shakily, raising his left hand high, summoning a white wind to surround his hand. With a flick of Mycroft's wrist the white wind exploded into a magnificent and powerful blast, pushing all smoke away. Now with the smoke cleared, the princess snapped his fingers creating a small spell circle around him. Water danced around Mycroft, he guided strands of the water onto all nearby fire. The large mythical creature was persistent in killing the both of them, and from the size, it was the leader. Landing only a few meters away from the pair, it opened its mouth for another fire blast. Mycroft spun and whipped the rest of the wet element towards the beast, trapping and holding its head in a bubble of water. He looked over to Gregory, "Quickly, kill it!" Mycroft ordered in a rushed tone, he flinched as he felt the dragon tug and pull from his hold.
On his feet before Mycroft had even asked, Greg was drawing his sword and holding it out in front of him. He could hear the uproar of the wind and wings, both seeming to struggle in the black air that surrounded him. He couldn't get a focus on anything, the fires from what remained of his men giving little light to the area. He heard movement just to his left and turned, swinging the sword as he went but it connected with nothing. Damn it, he needed to see his target to be able to land any blow. What he found when he turned however was the Princess, surrounded by a ball of water which seemed to float around him, never touching the white robe. Greg had never seen someone perform magic this close up before. Sure he'd been in battles with mages but he'd never actually been watching them perform the magic since he was too busy with his own battles to take time to look. Looking usually meant death so he had avoided any glances. But this, this was a thing of beauty and for a moment he felt his breath leave him. The water danced around the man, then in front of him, small streams swirling through the air from the bubble to put out the fires. He was brought out of his daze as the wind around them seemed to grow warm once again with the heat of fire, the ground shaking as a large dragon settled on the ground before them. He could see it's chest puff out, building the flame within its throat, small amounts of green gas leaking from between its teeth as the beast sneered above them. This was it, they were going to be burnt alive, he had failed. But as he was thinking that Mycroft had outstretched his hand and the ball of water was suddenly surrounding the monster's head, holding it still. There was no time to think, Greg took off at a run towards the creature. Sword raised above his head he brought the steel down just where the water met scale, slicing through the dragon's neck in a fluid motion. Green blood sprayed out at him as he stood still, sword touching the ground while the body of the creature fell to the ground. Breath coming in gasps from the sudden exertion of strength, killing a dragon was no easy task and he had used most of his strength to see to it's immediate death.
Dragons were impervious to magic, for a mage to conjure up so much mana just to hold the creature was something short of a miracle. Mycroft staggered forward, gasping for air as sweat dripped off his brow. That small display against a dragon drained him completely, against a normal enemy, Mycroft could summon demons and blast elements for hours. Days even, but a Dragon was a mages downfall and there were six more swarming them over head. This was no time for a break, he had to push himself to move on at all costs. Mycroft regained his composure quickly, standing straight up and already looking for a way out. There was a gap in the flames that seemed to swallow the forest whole, the trees would provide them with cover. Mycroft's gaze fell back over to the silver knight, he raced over to him, lungs filling with smoke. "This way!" he said breathlessly, taking hold of the knights free hand, lifting him up from his kneeling state. Mycroft ran to the gap in the flames, saying a small spell that made the pair weightless and able to jump and pass through the flames unharmed. The smoke was caught in the princesses throat as he continued to run blindly, coughing and gasping for air. With most of his senses silenced, Mycroft didn't hear the roar of the waterfall. "Ahh!" he yelled, tripping and falling into a river, the rapids pulling him under.
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yikesharringrove · 5 years ago
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Hello! I absolutely love you’re writing, it’s always so creative and fun to read! If it’s not too much trouble could you please do 1 and 7 from the fluff prompt?
Thank you so much! đŸ„ș getting nice comments about my writing seriously makes my heart so happy.
1: “how much did you drink?”
7: “wait, no, don’t take kissing away from me.”
Prompt List! Request Stuff! Please!
Read on ao3.
So this is actually something from a longer fic I am going to start. I have so many WIPs right now it’s a mess.Modern College au where everyone is queer and everyone is happy. This was super fun to write! The gang plays Never Have I Ever.
Billy knocked on the apartment door.
He had gotten out of work later than he had hoped, shitty customers demanding service a minute before closing, pushing back his closing and cleaning duties almost an hour. It’s fine. He’s fine.
So, he’s the last to arrive at the party.
Jonathan opens the door for him, obviously high as a kite, with a Billy! Hey man! Billy claps him on the shoulder, shuffling past him in the little entryway.
He can hear footsteps running from deeper in the apartment, Steve appearing at the end of the hallway, muttering billybillybillybillybillybillybilly with every step. He jumped into Billy’s arms wrapping his legs around his waist.
“Hi.” His eyes were glazed, and he had a big dopey grin on his face. “I missed you.”
“Yeah, Baby? I missed you too. How much did you drink?”
“Robin’s been making me drinks!” Robin made the best drinks out of the gang, but they were deadly. She could hide copious amounts of the cheapest alcohol ina pretty good cocktail. It helped too that Steve loved the sugary stuff. Billy once made him a daiquiri and he about lost his damn mind. “I’m a drunky little skunky.”
Jonathan was laughing behind them as Billy carried Steve into the kitchen, fixing himself a drink before heading into the living room with the rest of the gang.
“You two make me ill,” Robin deadpanned as Billy sat down in Steve’s empty spot, Steve settling into his lap.
“Rob, if you could quit being home of phobic, that’d be great.” Billy grinned at Robin. Steve was giggling, resting his head on Billy’s shoulder, shoving one of his hands up Billy’s shirt, resting it against his tummy.
“I think they’re sweet together!” Nancy cooed.
“That’s because you dumped Steve in high school and still feel bad about it,” Barb interjected, everyone howling with laughter as Nancy’s face went red.
“Okay, okay. We had a pretty good game of Never Have I Ever going on, we need to get Billy caught up.” Jonathan winked at Billy from across the cozy living room.
“Oh, that’ll be easier. There isn't a lot I haven’t done. Is that why Stevie is so sloshed though?”
“Yeah, Robin may have been targetting him a little.”
“That’s his own fault for telling me SO many DETAILS about all the sex you two have. We also made him take a shot every time he called you ‘Daddy”.” Billy threw his head back and laughed, Steve making a disgruntled sound at Robin.
“Okay, well I’ll join in. Whose turn is it?”
“Mine.” Barb squinted at him. “Well, never have I ever been born in California.” Bily raised his glass at her, tipping it back and taking a drink. It was her girlfriend’s turn next. Alicia didn’t know Billy all that well, so she was silent for a minute, trying to rack her brain until Barb grinned and leaned over to her and whispered something into her ear.
“Never have I ever had a mullet?” She said it as though she was hoping it wasn’t true. Everyone roared with laughter.
“It was only a mullet for like, two months. It was growing out weird!” Billy still took a good-sized gulp. Steve ran his fingers through Billy’s long hair.
“I like the end result just fine, but those two months were, not awesome, Bill.” Billy tried to look as offended as possible. He knew the mullet was a poor moment for him.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on my side!” Steve laughed, putting his hand back in Billy’s shirt. “That’s okay, I forgive you.” They kissed lazily and sloppily.
“Can you two not suck face for like, five seconds?” Robin yelled over them.
“I have an idea!” Jonathan was practically vibrating in his seat. “If they can go one hour without kissing, we all take a shot, if they kiss, they both have to take,” he counted everyone quickly “three shots each.”
“Wait, no! Don’t take kissing away from me!” Steve shrieked indignantly.
“That many shots are gonna fuckin’ kill Steve at this point, I think,” Billy said.
“Then split it up differently, but either way, six shots must be taken.” Jonathan leaned back in his chair and smirked at Billy. “Should we vote on it?”
Robin raised her hand, grabbing Heather’s arm and shooting it into the air as well. Barb laughed and raised hers, Alicia following suit. Jonathan counted hands, Nancy laughing with hers in the air.
“You all are bullies. Mean, homophobic, bullies.” Steve was pouting in Billy’s lap. He was clingy, totally physically affectionate. If taking three shots didn’t kill him, going one hour without kissing Billy certainly would.
“So it’s a deal. Let’s keep playing then! And you two, now kissing.” Robin winked at them, taking her turn. “Speaking of which, never have I ever kissed a boy.”
Everyone except Barb drank, her and Robin high-fiving.
“Fine, fuck you, Buckley. Never Have I ever kissed a girl.” Billy raised an eyebrow. Everyone drank.
It was Steve’s turn. This should be a mess.
“Billy, what’s something I haven’t done?” He loudly whispered. Billy smirked wickedly, leaning forward to whisper into Steve’s ear, throwing a wink to Nancy.
“Never have I ever had a pregnancy scare.” Jonathon and Nancy when matching shades of deep red while everyone laughed.
“I forgot about that! God, you two are straight.” Robing hooted through laughter.
“That was cold, Billy.” They had both joined in on the laughter, Nancy’s breakdown about a missed period well in the past. “I can get you right back though. Never have I ever, had a chlamydia scare.”
“Well played, Byers! I didn’t know I told you about that!” Billy threw back his drink, shifting Steve off his lap to get a refill. Steve whined and clung to Billy tighter. Steve was a fucking barnacle when he was sloshed. Billy sighed and picked him back up, just taking Steve with him into the kitchen.
“When the fuck did that go down?” Heather yelled into the kitchen.
“Before I knew you all. Some guy I had been fucking around with in California told me he had the clap and I had to get tested, but I was fine,” Billy shouted back.
“Whore!” Robin called as he waddled back into the living room. He couldn’t flip robin off, holding two cups in one hand, the other support Steve’s ass. They flopped back onto the couch with very little grace.
“Never have I ever,” Nancy was thinking, biting the inside of her cheek, deciding who she wanted to fuck over. “Um, never have I ever dated someone with blue eyes.” Steve reached for Billy’s fresh drink, but he lifted it out of reach and pressed the water he had brought for Steve into his hand instead.
“Oh, thank you, Bill.”
“Just ‘cause I don’t wanna deal with you yaaking all night.” Steve huffed. “I’m just kidding. I don’t want you to get sick, though.” Steve drank about half the cup, leaned in and kissed Billy.
“YES!” Everyone was cheering.
“We fuckin’ got ‘em!” Jonathan and Nancy high fived.
“They couldn’t even go twenty fucking minutes!” Robin was shrieking.
“I forgot! I forgot!” Steve was red, Billy was just laughing his ass off.
Barb began lining up shot glasses on the table, taking the bottle of shitty vodka Alicia handed her.
“Okay, you can switch it up any way you want, but six must be taken. That was the deal.” She grinned at Billy, he just rolled his eyes.
Billy ended up doing all six shots.
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smolpunkblog · 4 years ago
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2020/feb/23
I was planning on going my second date with C, instead of dreading the experience, I was shaking with excitement. 
I’ve never felt so excited to see somebody before, and I didn't feel a shred of doubt or anxiety. He was coming around 3, because he had prior commitments. I spent the morning doing my regular chores, before dollin up myself. 
when 3 rolled around, I told him to park into my houses driveway, because my folks weren't home. Currently I want to keep me seeing him a secret- I dont want my parents being unreasonably strict about me being over at a boys house. He came into my house, and funny enough, he spent the next 5 minutes wooing over my dog.
After that, he went to the washroom before finally greeting me with a big grin and bear hug. We both left shortly after, heading to a nearby harbour, we both never have heard or been to it before. We talked a lot or just listened to his Spotify playlist on shuffle. Once we’ve arrived, a lot of the establishment was being forced under construction. 
It wasn't too cold today, but it was windy. Thankfully this time I remembered to bring a pair of gloves. We walked around the deserted harbour and condos in circles while holding hands. Our plan was to go through some trails, but we couldn't find them in sight. We eventually decided to give up and use my phone for clues, while I had my phone pulled out and I leaned to look, he leaned against me, letting our foreheads kiss. 
We eventually found the trail hidden near the entrance, we spent the next couple of hours walking along the trails. Looking back at it, a lot of our conversations dragged along, or we sat in moments of silence. I didn't hate any of it, it just felt like lovely moments enjoying the brisk trail. We eventually realized we were practically lost, the signs never ended up linking to each other, so we eventually cheated out of the forest, running down the hill onto the street. Once we got back into his car, we were starving.
We headed to his favourite burger place, which was ironic considering last date we had burgers too. There I froze with anxiety at ordering, and decided to copy him, he paid. As we ate, it was some awkward silence, sometimes moments like this make me want to beat myself up. I hate it when I cant think of anything. After we ate we sat in his car.
He looked at me with panic, and confessed that he just received a message from a friend that their roommate came positive. And the he was in recent contact with them (not the positive roommate). I could tell he was panicking, but in all honesty, I didn't feel a shred of fear. He described to me how he wasn't in contact with their roommate, and his friends haven't been in contact either. I asked him what he wanted to do, did he want me to go home better, which he replied to no, he wanted me to come over to his. We ended up having a long, reassuring hug. (im sorry if you read this and get upset, you are valid in your anger. It was a selfish decision)
We ended up at his house, I wasn't sure what I was expecting it to be, but the reality settled that im at his house. It also feels weird going into someones house for the first time. He looked at me, and told me that if we go to the front ill be forced to confront his parents- I said that was okay. Usually im not up for meeting new people, but I really wanted to push myself. I went to the front and surely enough his mom was right there. She was pretty. I immediately say hello, and thank her for having me over, he is quick to introduce me. His dad comes in the room shortly, scurring down to the basement (C room) to grab laundry. The family cat follows behind, enticing both me and C into awes. 
After the awkward hellos, I head down into the basement with C. I end up sitting with C at the dining table in the corner of the room. There he leans on me as I look through his Pokemon card collection he laid out for me. He slowly wrapped both of his arms around my arm, it didn't feel too comfortable. I slowly nudged his arm, and guided it to my hips, 
he softly whispers ‘oooh? is this allowed’
I nodded in embarrassment, and then his grasp became more firm.
After looking through his card collection, we both end up behind his couch looking at his bookshelf. He was retelling the books that he's read, while wrapping both arms around me. We ended up shuffling to see his movie collections, this time one of my arms wrapped around his neck. 
After the long time of his rambling (good rambling, im just too nervous to talk). We end up sitting on his bed, the room was open concept so everything was near each other. There he had a pile of clean laundry, we end up folding it together (sock duty). After that, we slowly end up cuddling on his bed, ive never cuddled with someone before. It was very comforting, sweet, and made me incredibly sleepy. A bit awkward because I didn't know what to do with my hands.
After I shifted over to him, because I knew id pass out
he softly wooed ‘ooooh you're turning to me huh?’
I nodded, and we ended up hugging, before he whispered 
‘can I finally kiss you?’
I said yes, and we kiss. I thought it'd be a lot more soft, but he was more passionate than that. Ive never kissed someone seriously before, it was always half asses or just uncomfortable, so these types of kisses were new to me. It felt wet, deep, and fast. I tried my best keeping up with his motions. At one point his hand touches my ass before he asks 
‘am I allowed to touch your butt?’
I said yes, and he eventually continued to fondle my butt lightly. We break from kissing to staring into eachothers eyes, I cant keep the eye contact for long before breaking in embarrassment. I laugh and he hugs my closely, kissing my cheek lightly. 
I keep shuffling around, readjusting my body, in the process his hand sneaks its way under my shirt. 
He quickly yanked his hand away after touching the skin of my back, ‘am I allowed to touch you under your shirt?’
‘No, that's too far’ I said quietly, he nodded and apologized. I wasn't upset with him, because the moment I felt his hand on my skin, I wanted to do more than innocently kissing. 
And that's a bit too intense for a virgin on her second ever date. 
I lean down to him and we get back to kissing, in the moment while trying to grab my waist his hand lands on my boob, 
he yanked it away before apologizing and asking if it was okay (I know he's sly and sneaky)
I said it was okay, after all it was over my bra and shirt. 
He eventually is ontop of me, our legs are intertwined, he has one of his hands glued to my ass. The other is groping my boob while he kisses and stares at me. During this I feel my legs twitching in excitement, and my hips shaking in desperation. He even giggled, and I probed him on it in the moment
he confessed with a bit of a sharp breath, ‘your tits looked amazing on our last date’ 
I was getting pretty turned on. and realizing this, I told him to stop touching my boob. He looked pretty concerned, before I admitted
‘when you touch my boob like that, its really turning me on’ 
He ended up having a shit eating grin, before kissing my cheek all over. I ended up ontop now, leaning down and kissing him lightly before whispering, ‘lets go watch anime now’.
When I got up, I went to the washroom. Lets just say- when I wipped, the toilet paper came out drenched. 
We soon after sat and cuddled while we watched an anime episode, he did end up reciting the turned on thing. I nudged him for that.
I had to head home soon after, because going back at 10 was a bit too much for my mom, even if I did tell her it was my friends. On the drive back it was quiet but peaceful.
He parked a bit away from my house, and we hugged a lot. We planned on meeting each other again after he gets his test results back. 
We then kisses a couple times more before I headed back home. 
I then spent the rest of the night fan grilling to my friends. 
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epicstuckyficrecs · 5 years ago
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2019 New Writers Fic Rec
After seeing some Discourse on Twitter, I decided to make a fic rec with some of my favorite new writers! All of these writers only started posting Stucky fanfic in 2018 or 2019. So here are some “new” writers and some of my favorite fics from them! (in no particular order)
PS: sorry for not putting the trope, word count and rating as I usually do, I wanted to try and make this fic rec quickly! 
PS2: also sorry if I chopped all your summaries, but some of them are hella long and this post is already... pretty long.
PS3: this went way past “favorite new writers” and just became “great new writers” because I wanted to prove a point, oops. 
verzacefatale 
You be yours and I'll be mine : “Oh, god. We got married, didn’t we?” 
14-Inch Cock and a Few Hundred Bimbos : There are some things in life, Steve muses as he stares down at his crotch, that nothing can prepare you for. His dick suddenly growing six inches in length and another two in girth, just because he opened a box in a Hydra dug out that maybe he should have read the instructions on before he did? How was he to know it was literally magic that would make his cock grow huge?
~
2bestfriends 
Collar Full of Chemistry : AKA a fantasy BDSM romance featuring heavy mutual pining, feelings denial, and enough kink to blackout a bingo card. 
Like Real People Do : AKA the "Lumberjack Steve/Twink Bucky" fic of our hearts.
~
deadonarrival
100,000 Miles And Feeling Very Still : Steve Rogers took a job at NASA and his life is pretty okay. Maybe not great but he has some good friends and things seem to be mostly stable. Except one day their new astronaut recruit walks in and everything in Steve's life goes upside down.
Latte Art and Slow Dancing in the Dark (WIP): Bucky is a somewhat well-adjusted former army sniper that got his shoulder blown out. He took his discharge and went home to finish school and is working on his international relations masters. His best friends and roommates (Nat & Clint) are CIA agents and tip him off that their local Sbux is hiring. He gets a job there and meets none other than the hottest guy on earth.
~
voxofthevoid
(series) couldn't get the boy to kill me (ongoing): Captain America and the Winter Soldier are a terrifying duo on the field, working together with a well-oiled precision that tears through their enemies. Captain Rogers and Agent Barnes are distant coworkers, all polite nods and mission briefings. Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes are fire and gasoline; the sparks between them have no choice but to roar into raging infernos.
happily ever after has bite marks in it : In which Bucky is aggressively okay with his self-imposed exile from society, and Steve is a werewolf who’s nothing like the Brooklyn boy Bucky still dreams of.
darling heart, i loved you from the start (but that's no excuse for the state i'm in) : Or, the one where Steve saves the mind stone for last and decides to fuck the timeline beyond all recognition, which regrettably involves crawling delicately up Hydra's asshole and less regrettably involves showering a very confused Bucky Barnes with affection.
(series): i'm guilty of treason (i've abandoned control) : S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Bucky Barnes is captured on a mission and meets Commander Steve Rogers, the erstwhile Captain America.It escalates quickly.
four dreams in a row where you were burned : When Steve uses the last of his Pym Particles to travel to 1944 and save his best friend, he doesn’t have a plan beyond leaving behind the battlefield and living his life alongside the people he loves. But the life that finds him is not the one he expects.
~
deisderium
much tattoo about nothing : Steve Rogers gets a lot of email requests, but never one like this: James Barnes wants to use his healing factor to practice tattoos.
(series) tits out, lads : On the walk back from Azzano, Bucky keeps touching Steve's chest. Then he touches it some more. And more.
Let Them Eat Cake : Bucky wanted to know why their new pastry chef had gun calluses on his right hand.
deep dive : In which single dad Bucky Barnes has a crush on his daughter's dive team coach and thirsts awkwardly. 
thot through the heart (and you're to blame) : In which Bucky is a baby vampire, a disaster, out to have a good time, and hopelessly in love with his roomate; and in which Steve has a few secrets of his own.
Political Animals (WIP) : or—Steve’s best friend is the U.S. Constitution and he can’t seem to stop fucking a hot Republican. They shouldn’t fall in love, but somehow they do.
~
thedoubteriswise
time on my hands (could be time spent with you) : "You doing okay, kid?” Steve releases a breath, deciding how honest he wants to be. No point in lying. No point in telling the truth, either. "Glad to see you.""That’s not what I asked, but same to you, punk."
honey don't feed it, it will come back : He’s stroking the cat’s fur, which is soft and fine now that it’s clean. He looks so open and inviting. Steve doesn’t close his eyes, watching Bucky’s gentle fingers and trying to come up with a plausible excuse to go touch him.
Ill With Want : Bucky pretends to be asleep when Steve crawls into bed, too tired to feel guilty over the quivery pleasure that settles in his belly when Steve’s arm brushes his. He drifts to sleep in a comfortable haze and tries not to wonder where this feeling was two hours ago when he had Marie in his lap.
~
steebadore
Controlled Release : Bucky's just having a little trouble...finishing. Completing the mission. He can squeeze the trigger but he can't make the shot is what he's saying. Which is why he's here, loitering outside a nice brownstone in Park Slope, trying to find the courage to knock on Captain Come Control dot com's door for his three o'clock appointment.
it takes a lot to know a man : Bucky flips to the next page, and the world around him grinds to a halt as his brain struggles to process what he's seeing. The noise of the train fades and static fills the inside of his head as he looks down at the sketches of the metal-armed guy without the mask. It's—that's him. It's Bucky's own goddamn face staring back at him from this stranger's sketchbook.
~
AidaRonan
Quench : Or the one where archeology intern Bucky Barnes meets actual archeologist Steve Rogers and reaches levels of thirst scientists once believed to be theoretically impossible.
Carnal Synchronicity : AKA A Tale of Two Stevies
Fraternizing With the Enemy : Steve and Bucky are both the presidents of their respective fraternities. Steve thinks Bucky's frat is filled with selfish party animals who care about little else. Bucky thinks Steve is a giant pretentious douchebag who owns too many Lacoste polos. They hate each other. Passionately.
~
lockedlocke
I just need you to show me : A quick google search tells him that the app he needs to get for something quick and easy, with no strings attached is Grindr. He downloads the app while he watches a bit of a Simpsons episode. It doesn’t take long, and when the app is downloaded, he looks at black icon with the yellow mask.
Pride : So here he was, at Pride despite the fact that he’d rather be at home. It’s hot, boiling and his feet hurt a bit from standing all day. Converse might be nice shoes, but Jesus they were terrible for his knees.
~
mcwho
it never hurt nobody : “I thought we agreed that that was creepy.” “No,” Bucky says slowly. “I asked you what you thought about people calling their boyfriends daddy, and you said you thought it was creepy, and then I asked you what the hell you’d done with my grey sweater after you did laundry, and we never talked about it again.”
(series) the serum amplifies : Little PWPs about Steve and Bucky’s sex life and the serums effect on it.
~
missandrogyny
don't know where i'm going (but i'll get back to you and me) : AU where Bucky is an assassin who just can’t seem to kill Steve
~
LeeHan
The Right Partner : Steve meets a beautiful man with a bright laugh on a sunny day in Italy. Captain America meets the elusive Winter Soldier moments later.
The Best Way to Wake : James Buchanan Barnes lay in a glass pod in the middle of the table, frozen since he fell. Steve’s hands were on the glass before he realized he’d moved. “Get him out,” Steve whispered, his hands searching for a clasp, a keypad, something.
~
amethystkrystal
Taking This One Step At A Time : In the weeks that follow, Bucky's omega urges start going haywire, and he realizes that night with Steve may have left him with more than just a fond memory.
Realignment : After assembling their own Infinity Gauntlet, the Avengers defeated Thanos and brought back everyone who disappeared. But their victory came at a great cost: in order to take the Soul Stone, Steve had to sacrifice the Captain America mantle and all the super-soldier strength that came with it.
~
cydonic
Home Is Wherever I'm With You : This is what happens when you buy a house to flip having only seen the online images: you get more than you bargained for. Bucky Barnes brings all the tools to handle a dilapidated home, but he's hardly prepared for a smart-mouthed child (with poor aim), a crying baby, and the hottest dad he's ever seen in his life living right next door.
~
deadto27
The Sweetest Spark : Steve Rogers runs a successful business. He has great friends and a great life. It seems like he has it all. So why is he sitting in a diner on a Friday night alone? Maybe he's just a little lonely. Maybe Bucky Barnes can help with that.
Maybe This Christmas : Bucky’s not going home for Christmas. But it’s fine. He’s spending Christmas alone in his apartment, but it’s cool. He’s not feeling up to seeing his family after his accident anyway, plus he has to work. He’s totally fine with it. But then he runs into Steve, literally, and suddenly his Christmas isn’t looking so empty after all.
~
NachoDiablo
Reconcilable Differences : AKA, "What To Do When Your Zany Fake-Relationship Scheme Actually Works."
~
odetteandodile
If Only In My Dreams : Bucky is a highly successful cooking and lifestyle blogger. He writes all about life in his Connecticut home with his D.H. (darling husband). Only problem? It’s all complete fiction.
So I Took a Faithful Leap : Bucky doesn’t fall and Steve doesn’t crash. The Howling Commados take out the remaining Hydra bases
and then they go home, just like all the other allied soldiers. Steve buys a farm in Washington state, and tries to relearn how to be at peace.
Art Thief, Heart Thief : Agent Steve Rogers is facing a series of art thefts that has him stumped, and looking for a break in the case. Convicted art thief and general high end criminal Bucky Barnes wants to make parole and happens to know all of the right people who could make Steve's job easier.
Under the Hawthorn Tree : A young man wanders into the woods one night, and wanders until he isn't a young man anymore—but something else. Seventy years later, another man follows him. Inside of a magic ring, they meet.
~
canistakahari
don't threaten me with a good time : Steve's taken him on vacation to a cabin in Canada in the middle of winter, so it's obviously the perfect time for his body to go haywire. Bucky is determined to stick it out, though, partly because he's a stubborn bastard, but mostly because he feels some kinda way about Steve.
Heckin' Chunker for Love : On the inside of the big floor to ceiling window of the office across the street, someone has used Post-it Notes to spell out a message: W H A T I S Y O U R C A T ’ S N A M E ?
(TBR) All of Your Love is Sunlight : Sometimes the path to happiness involves bad timing turned good, a butt plant, and a little everyday magic. For Steve and Bucky, it's all that and more.
~
birdjay
(TBR) STAR PLAN : He’s the most gorgeous thing Bucky’s ever laid eyes on.He’s his new tentative boss. Maybe. If this interview goes well enough, anyway. “So, Mr. Barnes?” Steve asks, blinking at him from across a particle board table. “You ever work security before?”
stay : The platform buzzes, and suddenly goes quiet. The cycle has finished. Bucky doesn’t bother to look. There’s no way Steve’s coming back when he has the chance to stay. He moves to walk away, to move on with his life, somehow. “Buck -- ?”
(TBR) The Conservation of a 17th Century Painting : Steve can’t even remember the last time he’s spoken to someone actually interested in art, who coincidentally is also someone he’d like to bang. Actually, no. He’s never had that happen.
~
dragongirlG
Searching Every Lonely Place : After the Battle of New York in 2012, Steve searches for Bucky with the help of the Avengers as he bumbles through a series of comedic misunderstandings with undercover HYDRA agents.
Reclamation : The Winter Soldier’s mask never falls off when he fights Captain America on the overpass and the helicarrier. That doesn’t stop the Soldier from recognizing Captain America and wondering why the man’s face is haunting his scattered memories.
~
megs_bee
Nothing Good Ever Happens On A Tuesday : Recently discharged soldier James Barnes is back in Brooklyn, down an arm and missing five years of memories, but he’s got his PTSD mostly under control, a fancy metal prosthetic, and what’s starting to feel like it could be a half-decent life. What he doesn’t have is any memory of the kid looking at James and asking him, “Are you my daddy?” -- or the gorgeous blond guy standing next to her.
A Ghost Before You Were a Ghost Story : “I’m sorry to wake you, Sir, but there appears to be an intruder on the roof. ”Tony finds the camera showing a figure standing alone on the roof, black tactical gear blending into the black night sky. Barely a shadow among shadows, save for the glint of silver along the figure’s left side. The Winter Soldier.
~
VenusMonstrosa
Extant : After a sudden and violent storm forces the crew of Insight III to perform an emergency evacuation, astronaut James Barnes was believed to have died and was left behind on Mars. Two years later, Commander Steve Rogers still refuses to let go. Fortunately, so does Bucky.
Through The Woods : There’s a legend in Mansewood, nearly as old as the town itself, about a pack of werewolves that once lived in the forest. They say only one survives; a monstrous and snarling beast with fur like a blizzard and fangs the size of daggers. Steve doesn’t care about any of that. He only wants to know if it prefers T-Bone or ribeye, and would it please stop tracking dirt through his house? He just mopped the floor.
~
BlueSimplicity
(series) You Are Responsible For What You Tame : After the events in DC and on the helicarriers, and the realization that his friend Bucky Barnes is still alive, Captain Steve Rogers swears that he will do anything he can to find him. It is easier said than done, as Steve searches desperately for any hint or clue that will lead him to his friend. Steve searches, but Bucky does not want to be found. And so begins their game of cat and mouse, as Steve does everything in his power to convince Bucky to come home.
~
GoldBlooded
A Midsummer Knight's Dream : Sir Steven, knight, alpha, and baron of a small countryside estate, receives an invitation to a Royal Tournament: It’s a winner-take-all competition, and the prize? The hand of Prince James, the kingdom’s most eligible omega, in marriage.
Feast On This : Steve, Sarah, and Bucky are headed down to Florida to visit the Barnes family for Thanksgiving. Bucky's tired of the interrogation about his love life from his Ma, and Sarah suggests the simplest solution would be for he and Steve to fake it for a few days. How hard can it be, right? After all, they've shared a bed before. After all, it's only pretend... Right?
Luck of the Irish Stroll : Every year Steve and Sam go on the Irish Stroll Bar Crawl, and ever since their first time on the Stroll four years ago, Steve and Sam cross paths with Bucky and Natasha. Every year Steve’s world is rocked by the gorgeous, blue-eyed man that has captivated him since they first locked eyes fighting over a couple of pints of Guinness from the bartender. But Steve's starting to want and need more of Bucky... will this be the year he can make it last for more than one night?
~
girlbookwrm
(TBR) (series) The Hundred Year Playlist : Steve and Bucky, start to finish. "Come on, pal, it's me. Take another hundred years if you want, I'll still be here."
sidereal : Captain Rogers never did a self-portrait; we can only speculate who his soulmate — or soulmates — might have been.
~
ClaraxBarton
Holding On : “Your poll numbers are way down, and we need to get them back up.”
~
stfustucky
Salt & Sugar (collab with GoldBlooded) : Steve Rogers is a bigshot celebrity chef in New York City, and Bucky Barnes is a classically trained pastry chef in Moscow. When billionaire and mutual friend Natasha Romanoff calls on them to collaborate for her Memorial Day Benefit Gala, they both brace themselves to spend the week working with some jerk they're bound to hate. 
Honestly, Fuck Brooklyn : Or, the one where it takes yet another apocalypse for the somewhat oblivious Bucky Barnes to figure out that his dorky artist boyfriend Steve is actually Captain Goddamned America.
~
writeonclara
How to Woo the Winter Soldier : Or: Steve courts the Winter Soldier.
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snizabelle · 4 years ago
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Okay. So. 
I’ve been working on this fic about how Garrus’ parents first met and I’ve been poking away at it F O R E V E R and I’m REALLY trying to finally pull the trigger and finish it to the point where i can actually post it so I’m like....actively forcing myself to post a WIP. it’s still in super early stages so just...tell me what you think or don’t like oh my god just take it i don’t care anymore holy shit.
-------------------
"Freeze!"
He pointed his gun at the figure crouched by the ledge in the ruins, overlooking the sandy valley below. It was a usual sight, the ancient ruins were large, old, and crawling with bounty hunters, vagrants, and thieves.
The suspect remained still, as they hadn't been moving in the first place.
I told an unmoving person to 'freeze', he thought. Spirits, I am a fool.
He tried again. "Stay where you are!"
That's even worse. I wish I was dead.
It wasn't even his first day on the job. He had already spent 6 months on this crappy planet and dealt with his fair share of riffraff. Nolvion may have been a dwarf planet in the back end of the terminus systems but you wouldn't think it with the amount of scum it collected. The small security outpost he was a part of was the only thing driving it back, though the real objective was considered classified.
He tried to keep his hands from shaking as his thoughts continued to scream through his head. "Look just get up-no stay where you, uh, raise your- (aaaAAAAUUUGH!!)
After what seemed like an eternity the suspect stirred. They were wearing thick, but shoddy, ill-fitting armor, head obscured by a large standard-issue helmet.  Without turning, they raised a single finger, indicating whatever Castis was spouting could wait.
Wait....what?
"I - excuse me!! I am an OFFICER of Fort Audax! I DEMAND you turn around slowly with your hands in the air!!" he sputtered.
There was a brief pause. The suspect then stood a little straighter and sighed as if this whole thing was leaving them incredibly put out. Then they turned and-
There was a deafening sound and the floor flew up to meet Castis' head. He felt his jaw crack on the ground and tasted blood in his mouth. He could feel a bruise forming where the kick had landed on his mandible.
He scrambled to his feet, head pounding. The culprit stood there, seemingly baffled.
"Did you just ...!" Castis felt only anger now. "...assault me?!”
He heard a noise that sounded like an 'uh oh' noise muffled in the helmet.
Castis barred his teeth. You're goddamn right 'uh oh'. He may have been a terrible negotiator but he was pretty damn good at hand-to hand-combat.
Before the offender had a chance to do anything else, Castis had lunged forward and grabbed their wrist, twisting it, forcing their knees to buckle. Before they could react, he headbutted them on the bridge of their helmet, causing the cheap material to crack. As the assailant fell backward, Cas swept their right leg, hearing a distinct crack as they fell backwards, helmeted head thudding on the ground.
Panting, Castis steadied himself and surveyed the assailant. There was no movement. He walked carefully around the body and pushed their discarded rifle away with his foot.
"Vakarian! Come in Vakarian!"
A voice crackled onto the communicator on his omni-tool.
Cas answered the comm, still trying to catch his breath. "This is Vakarian."
"Status report."
"Sir,” he panted "Suspect attacked me, but I have rendered them unconscious. Sustained minor injuries. Suspect is unarmed and incapacitated."
There was a pause. The voice cracked again "Just shoot them."
Cas clenched his jaw. "I repeat: the suspect is unarmed and incapaci-"
"I heard what you said." There was a shuffling sound as though the person speaking was shifting, agitated. "Do it."
Cas swallowed hard, fingers clenching and unclenching. He chose his next words carefully. "Sir....It would be more...prudent... to bring in the suspect for questioning and proces-”
"DAMN YOU VAKARIAN!!" Cas jerked his head back so violently it smacked the stone wall lightly behind him, "DO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS EVERY TIME?! DO WE HAVE TO SPEND HOURS WRITING PAPERWORK FOR EVERY TINY INFRACTION JUST SHOOT THE STUPID -"
He hung up without thinking. Damn. Gonna pay for that later.
He glanced over at the motionless figure.
Just shoot them.
***
Well, that didn't go well.
Marcella was in incredible pain. Hopefully, her leg wasn't broken but it certainly felt like it was. 
Damn it all. Usually, one kick to the face made rent-a-cops drop like drunk elcor. Should've sized this one up better. You're getting real sloppy.
The crackle of the cop’s comm echoed over to her.
"Just shoot them."
Spirits..... If I had known it was my last day alive I would've....would've...
She struggled to think of something meaningful one could do in their last hours while the comm screeched. There was abrupt silence and she heard the scraping of boots as the officer turned around.
Shit. Shit! Not like this!
More silence. From inside the helmet, she peeked open her eyes for a second to see what he was doing. He was leaning in close. Inspecting her? There was a hunting knife on her hip. Maybe if he leaned in close enough she could get him in the neck. It was her only shot. She felt her helmet jostle and snapped her eyes shut again. Hot air rushed her face as her helmet was removed.
Just play dead. Don't move...!
She heard a thunk as her helmet was tossed aside. Her hand was laying under her back by her left side. She could feel the shape of the knife pressing against the back of her thigh. He had straightened up again. Her fingers inched toward the knife, touching the hilt.
I could just go for it... maybe he'll be so surprised he won't react? Or I'll just get shot in the face. Well, I'm dead either way.
There was another loud crackle as his comm buzzed. and almost made her jerk.
"Female. No markings." She heard the cop say. "Taking into custody. Will report in 0500."
What...?
She relaxed her fingers, retreating from the hilt.
Interesting.
***
Faldos can flay me for all I care.
Castis holstered his gun and submitted his report verbally in his comm. "Female. No Markings-"
Do things right or not at all.
He walked over to his bag, still laying where he set it by an old pillar. He shuffled through it for a bit, though as usual, it was perfectly organized. He retrieved his handcuffs and turned.
The suspect already had one leg up on the ledge and was in the process of climbing over.
"Hey-! You- F-FREEZE!!" He drooped the cuffs, awkwardly grabbed for his holstered gun and pointed it at her back.
She froze accordingly. "Uggggh come ON!"
Slowly, she turned, hands begrudgingly in the air. Her eyes were a piercing blue. She had no clan markings but had a slight scarring on her left mandible. She blinked at him, seizing him up. He felt a strange pulling in his chest.
“Well?” she said expectantly. She sounded slightly amused.
"S...state your name!" He could feel his face grow hot in embarrassment.
She smirked and said nothing.
Castis blinked nervously but didn't relent. 'You are trespassing. You are not authorized to be here. Show me identification now or I will take you into custody."
She shrugged her shoulders, the universal sign of indifference.
'Are you aware you attacked an officer of Fort Audax?
"Well yeah,' She shrugged again. 'I figured the uniform wasn't for show.”
Castis felt himself burn, "Excuse me?!"
She smirked again, seemingly excited she was able to get under his skin.
He exploded, "GET ON THE GROUND NOW!!"
Her smile faded. 'Well,... I'll try." She visibly struggled to kneel on her left leg, glaring at him all the while.
Castis felt a brief bout of shame wash over him.
"Hey, uh...I'm sorry if I was too rough. it's okay I have medi-gel if you need it.”
She continued to glare "I’m fine."
She tried to lean on one leg and winced.
"No, you're not. You're hurt."
Castis stepped forward.
'Really? You kick my ass then offer to clean me up?" The suspect's eyes flashed. "Go ahead and give me two pops in the back of my head when i kneel down, make it quick okay?"
Castis slowly lowered his gun to the ground. He took a few more steps forward and raised his hands. "I promise I'm not gonna hurt you."
The perp raised her eyebrow plates but said nothing.
"Do you...would you mind if I...?" Cas took a few more cautious steps forward.
She paused for a second then extended her leg almost dramatically.
'By all means, admire your handiwork."
He shuffled close to her and knelt by her outstretched leg. Dispensing some medi-gel, he began to apply a numbing agent to her upper thigh. He was uncomfortably close.
Look forward, look forward look forward, don't be weird don't be weird -
"Enjoying yourself?"
His head snapped up to meet her gaze.
"NO!"
She was smirking again.
His face burned as he hastily rubbed the rest of the medi-gel on her thigh as quickly as possible. He staggered to his feet rubbing the excess off his hands.
"Alright, how does it feel now?"
The suspect leaned on her leg gently, then gave a few light stomps.
"Hrm, not bad." She took a few light steps toward him.
"Do you make a habit of sensually patching up every girl you brutalize?"
Castis felt his face burn even hotter. "Y-you..attacked me first!"
She shrugged, "Eh details...'
Details?!
"Either way, since you refuse to provide any form of identification - and you ATTACKED me,” Castis glared, “ - I'm going to have to take you in."
There was a long pause.
She sighed then extended her wrists.
Castis blinked. "Really?"
"It's only fair, you patched me up." She looked off in the distance as though not wishing to engage in the situation.
"Well....good!” Cas huffed a small sigh of relief, finally things are gonna stop being needlessly difficult.  He approached her warily.
"Now please extend your-"
She's already doing that you WORTHLESS-
"YEP just like that, uh, lemmie just-"
He lifted his notably empty hands.
Cuffs. YOU NEED CUFFS AAAAA-
"Just.....one...second." Cas mumbled awkwardly
The suspect blinked lazily at him, seemingly bored.
Castic did an awkward run by the pillar where the cuffs lay absentmindedly. He grabbed them and whirled around.
"Okay! Now let me just-"
She was gone.
"HEY!!"
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wakandan-flowerz · 5 years ago
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What Would You Have Me Do Finale
A/N: This is my entry to the WIP Festival! Hope you all enjoy!
Warnings: Angst, smut, mentions of death, dark thoughts. Italics are flashbacks
M’Baku looked through your doorway. It was gloomy outside, bringing a dim light into your room. You laid pregnant and in a sweat. You winced as you turned over. You placed at hand on your protruding stomach, trying to find some comfort in your sleep. M’Baku shuddered he couldn’t watch you like this. Was this how it was before? You fighting the pain, trying to give birth to Shola. How could he have ignored you then? Why wasn’t he there? He knows the answer to that but, he had to question himself.
M’Baku thrusted, kissing her neck and licking along her lips. Ayomide moaned and kept her hips bowled for him. “Faster.” She harped.
M’Baku loved when she begged. He loved her voice, hitting his ears and vibrating through him. Sweet, harmonic. M’Baku moved his hips at a quicker pace, driving into her. Giving her every rigid inch, making her cry and arch into him. Her nails sharply gliding across his back. He welcomed the sting as he pounded into her.
M’Baku would have Ayomide almost everyday and walk back to the palace a new man. This was routine. He’d sneak away to her house and come back, going unchecked. He would take a different entrance to avoid the gazes of guards and servants. You being pregnant there was more focus on you. However, he didn’t have the energy. M’Baku wanted a reprieve from his life, from you and his children. He just didn’t have room to care for much right now and Ayomide was the greatest stress reliever he could ask for.
M’Baku made it to side entrance of the palace, a door installed into the cave side. He turned down the hallway and stopped short when the doctor almost bumped into him.
“Lord M’Baku.” The doctor said. “I’ve been looking for you. We needed you earlier for Lady Y/N and the baby.”
“What about it?” M’Baku sighed.
“The Chieftess
isn’t doing well. The pregnancy is taking a toll on her body and we fear something may be wrong with the child.” He said.
“Okay.” M’Baku said, trying to piece things together.
“Sir
we can’t insure that the mother or baby will be of full health at the end of this pregnancy. We’re not sure if the child will make it to full term.” The doctor said.
M’Baku sighed. “So
what can be done?”
“We’ve placed doulas and guards with her. She’ll have to be monitored at all times. We were hoping you may talk her into bedrest.” The doctor said.
“I’ll speak with her.” M’Baku groaned. He continued down the hall. He found his way to your shared bedroom and saw you, sitting up in the bed and breathing along with a doula. “Y/N.” he said, walking in.
“M’Baku!” you said with a faint smile. “We’ve missed you the past few hours.”
“Hmm.” He responded. M’Baku sat at the end of the bed, leaning over to you. “I spoke with your doctor.”
“You’re worried?” you asked.
M’Baku opened his mouth to speak and sighed. “Let’s just follow the doctor’s advice. For your health and the baby’s.”
You hummed and settling back into your pillows. “I haven’t seen much of you lately. Can you have dinner with me tonight?”
“No.” M’Baku said.
Your head tilted at his tone. There was a sourness, like you had said something wrong. “Do you have something to do for the council?”
M’Baku frowned at you, pressing on. “Rest, Y/N. I’ll see to you later.” He got up and turned to the doula attending to you. “Watch over her.” He started walking towards the door, swiftly as if there was something driving him to leave.
“I love you.” You said.
M’Baku didn’t respond, turning out of your sight passed the door. You placed your hands on your stomach, sighing. You weren’t sure what to say or do. Baffled, you turned to your breathing exercises.
M’Baku fluffed another pillow and put it squarely with the other as you returned from the bathroom. You walked sluggishly and weighed down. With your swollen belly and your illness, you just didn’t have the energy anymore. M’Baku came to your side and walked patiently with you to the bed. You still didn’t like him touching you. However, you couldn’t deny help at this point.
“Your lunch will be arriving soon.” M’Baku said as he pulled the blanket up your legs. “The doctor wants to give you some type of tea. It might give you some of your strength back.”
You nodded as you rest back against the pillows. “The children?”
“They miss you. Mayowa is doing his best. Hopefully, we can have a family day. Whether it’s in here or maybe we take you outside for fresh air.” He said.
You looked around the room and thought about how just last month all of the kids were in the room, playing, drawing you pictures and showing what they learned in school. It seemed like so long ago. Happiness in general seemed so long ago.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” M’Baku said. “Anything at all, my love?”
You looked at him and wanted to growl. “Don’t call me that.” You said.
“Y/N, please.” M’Baku said beginning to reach for your hand.
“No.” you said snatching away. “You can’t try to be sweet with me after all this time! You don’t get to do that.” You started to cough as you got riled up.
M’Baku tried to hush you as you leaned up coughing. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” You leaned back into the pillows and took a deep breath. “I’m going to send someone else in here to sit with you for lunch. Give you a break.”
M’Baku tried not to hang his head as he left the room, admitting another defeat. He found himself in his office, trying to distract himself with work until there was a knock on his door.
“Come in.” he said.
M’Baku’s advisor, Masego, walked in. A solemn look plastered his face. M’Baku sat back in his seat as clearly there was going to be more bad news.
“I spoke to the Chieftess’ physician. Her condition has proceeded to worsen.” He said.
“They are trying whatever they can. My wife is strong. She will be fine as will my child.” M’Baku said.
“I know, sir. But there is something we must think about. I know we didn’t do it on the Lady’s last pregnancy, we should think of the worst case.” Masego said.
“It won’t come to that.” M’Baku said sternly.
“The Chieftess has been bedridden since she almost lost the child. Are we even sure if the child still lives?” he asked.
“My child still lives and will live among us soon. My wife will rise from her bed like before and keep her health.” M’Baku said in a low growl. “You will do your best to watch your mouth and speak positively over my wife and my children.”
Masego bowed, but just as quickly raised his head. “I just aim to speak truth to you, sir. No matter how harsh that may be.”
M’Baku watched the advisor leave and shut the door. He sighed as he rested his head in his hands.
Having dinner with the children was awkward. M’Baku didn’t like staring down at the other end of the table and not seeing his wife there. He said a silent prayer to Hanuman that you would make a full and speedy recovery. That’s all his prayers were now. Only for you and the child’s wellbeing. Every utterance to Hanuman was to make up for the lack of prayers from years ago. He wanted to the husband you needed.
You laid in bed, a sweat building on your forehead. A rag washed over your face, wiping it clean. You groggily looked over and saw M’Baku at your bed side. From what you could tell, it was late. He looked tired, but here he was, up with you. “Where are the kids?” you said.
“Asleep.” M’Baku said. “They wanted you at dinner.”
You looked at him and turned away, opting to glare at the ceiling again. You shut your eyes and gritted your teeth. One of the worse things about being bedridden was not being able to enjoy your family. Being stuck like you were years ago made you yearn for them more. Even Phelisa. “I miss them.” You whispered.
“I’ll bring them tomorrow. We can all come and be a family. We need it.” M’Baku said.
“I want my children.” You said. “Not you.”
“Y/N, please.” He said.
“Stop begging me for something I no longer have for you.” You said. “You sit here at my bedside and beg my forgiveness and adoration when I have none.”
“Y/N, please. I want us to reconcile and be together again.” M’Baku said. “Hold my hand to the fire, but forgive me and take me back.”
You would have rather watched him burn. In your state, no amount of accountability would make you his wife again. You were too detached. Your body was draining itself to nourish a child and there was no room for seeking to have relationship with this man. “No.” you said. “Get out.”
“Y/N, I am to care for you for the night.” He said. “I’m not leaving you. I’m going to right my wrongs. I will care for you and your child. I will be the husband I should’ve been.”
You scoffed. Your anger bringing more heat to your face. You shuddered as she tried to sit up. Your body ached and a cramp came over you. You winced and clutched your swollen belly. “Please, lay back.”
“No.” you said. You swat his hands away as he tried to reach for you. “Get away.”
“You are in no condition to getting up, Y/N.” M’Baku said. You swatted at me as you tried pulling your legs over. M’Baku stood like a brick wall in front of you, trying block you from standing. You tried kicking him as M’Baku did his best to restrain you without hurting you. “Y/N, stop this!”
You let out a frustrated grunt as you forced yourself to stand. You felt this rush like a massive tide taking you. You stumbled back on the bed, clutching your stomach. You cried at the tinge of pain in your abdomen. M’Baku saw the look of pain and horror on your face. Something made him rush and go to the door. He yelled for the guards on standby to find a doctor and some help. He looked back to you as you continued to whimper on the edge of the bed.
“Hold on, Y/N.” he said as he crossed the room. M’Baku fitted his hands beneath you and pushed you further into the bed. When he pulled his hand away, there was blood. He looked to find your gown with a growing stain of crimson.
“Sir, you need to help us make a decision.” The physician said.
The grave tone of the doctor called for M’Baku’s attention. He looked up from his work and daydream of having his mistress wrapped around him. “About?”
“The Chieftess’ condition worsens. We suspect that labor will earlier than expected. We must know, sir. If the situation becomes dire, do we save her and the offspring?” he said.
M’Baku took a deep breath. “The child. Save my child.”
The doctor almost looked taken aback by the decision. The Jabari watched how loving and doting M’Baku had been in the past over his wife and her pregnancies. She would be the center of attention. Somedays, no business could be done until the Chieftess was attended to. Now, it seemed as if the Lord of the Jabari could care less.
“Very well.” The doctor said.
Later, M’Baku laid in the bed that belonged to his new fancy. He stared up at the ceiling and thought how good everything felt. How in this moment pleasure had taken over his body and mind. How there was need to care about a wife and children. A reprieve he wanted to last longer than him being aroused. To fill this bliss forever. Could he walk away from his wife and children for this? Trade in the life he had known for something fresher. Something more exciting. No more mundane. He would love it.
“Stay with me.” Ayomide said.
“I wish I could, my dear.” M’Baku said as he rose from the bed. “But, I must return.”
“Come back tonight. For dinner.” She said.
“Dessert as well?” he asked, leaning over to her.
Ayomide moaned and gave him a passionate kiss before answering. “Of course.” She said.
M’Baku promised her he would come back. He made his way back to the palace. As always taking a secret entrance and creeping back into the halls as if he never left. Everything was as usual. Until a guard rushed to him out of breath.
“Sir, we’ve been looking everywhere for you.” The guard said.
“What for? What has happened?” M’Baku asked.
The guard stood up straight. He took a deep breath and his face fell. “Lady Y/N went into labor.”
M’Baku sat on his knees in the shrine to Hanuman. The great wood statue stood towering over him. A chill ran over M’Baku. He sniffed as he wiped another tear from his eyes. “I come before you more humble than ever before. I know I have done wrong by my wife, my children and my people. I have fallen and while before I sought redemption, I now ask for you to save my wife. Save my wife and my child. I will hold myself accountable. My sins are mine and mine alone. Don’t let my penance be paid by loss. I will trade my life for theirs. Just don’t take them for me. Whether she lives the rest of her life with me or without me
just give her peace. Give her all. Bless my beloved wife. Bless my beautiful children. Smite me instead. Please, my life for hers.”
M’Baku gazed down upon Shola, small and precious in her blanket. He leaned in, kissing her forehead. His firstborn daughter, his little girl. He smiled. Another blessing. He looked over at you. Fresh sheets draped over you though you sweated through them. “How is she?”
“Lady Y/N is ill, very ill. It seems the complications from the pregnancy will continue. We have not seen patients like this before, but we are committed to doing our best. With praryer, medicine and rest, we hope she will make a full recovery.” The doctor said.
“And my daughter?” M’Baku said, using his finger to move the blanket from her face.
“Since she is early, we will monitor her. She appears to be healthy despite not being carried to term. But, things can take a turn.” The doctor said.
M’Baku watched you wince in your sleep. He pressed his lips together, a silent prayer to Hanuman for the both of you. He nodded and crossed over to your bedside. With sweat on your brow and your skin losing it’s vibrance, he was slightly frightened. You were rarely sick. To see you so weak did something to him and he didn’t like it. “Do your best.” M’Baku said.
The doctor bowed as M’Baku left the room. A chill remaining in the room as he retreated. M’Baku wiped tears from his eyes as he stalked down the hallway. He tried shaking the terrible thoughts from his mind. Though he found himself in Ayomide’s bed, he still had thoughts of you in his mind. In one hand, he prayed for you. In another, he was caught up burying himself in someone that wasn’t you.
“The infection is spreading. And she has been experiencing postpartum.” The doctor said.
“What?” M’Baku said.
“She isn’t healing. And she refuses to feed the child. She rambles as if she is close to death. Her mental and physical health are continuing to deteriorate. We aren’t sure what to do.” He said.
M’Baku had to see for himself. You were slumped in bed, a grayness to your skin, lips chapped. You looked weak, like you were already a corpse. “Y/N.” he called.
“I know now without a doubt
you have ended me.” You said.
“What?” M’Baku said.
“I lay here withering away because of you. You were my life and how fitting it would be for you to be my death.” You said.
“Y/N, my love.” He said.
“Love? What is love, but poison disguised as something sweet. A treat turned rotten. A cancer taking over a body in silence and in it’s last stages ripping through you so violently.” You said. The hysteria had set in. You weren’t here anymore. You had a blank look in your eye, your mind in a haze. “You’ve killed me. I gave you everything and you killed me.”
M’Baku listened to you, ramble. He was frightened. Was this a curse? Did Hanuman seek to take you from him in such fashion? To be tormented then fade away into insanity? M’Baku kneeled at her bed and reached to take her hand. “Please, Hanuman. Restore the health of my wife.”
“Now, you pray for me. Oh, joy. Maybe, I’m not so damned.” You said.
M’Baku rose and got into the bed, cupping your face. “Stop this.” M’Baku said. “You can’t talk like this. You are going to be fine.”
“Only when I’m rid of you.” You said.
M’Baku couldn’t bare it. He left in a huff. His chest began tight as he sob in his office. What did he have to give to have you again? What could he do?
You sat outside with your children, watching them play. Songezo laid in front of Phelisa encouraging her to crawl to him. Shola scrambled on paper as Uuka braided her hair. Mayowa sat next to you on the ground. “Mama, I’m glad you are feeling better.”
“As am I
” you said.
“Can I ask you something?” he said. You looked down at him, putting a hand on his head, caressing it. “Will you leave him now?”
“What?” you said.
“Mama, I heard you.” Mayowa said. “One night, you were arguing with him. You told him once you gave birth you would leave. Are you still going to? Will you take us with you?”
You sighed, looking at the other bunch of your children playing. “I’m not in the best state to make a decision like that. And your brother still needs much care before I can take him anywhere.”
“But when you are ready? Will you leave him
for all he has done?” Mayowa asked, looking up at you.
“Don’t worry about me and your father. You are 13. You have other things to think about. The only thing I need from you is to care for your siblings.” You said.
“But you know I can help, Mama. I’m old enough. If you need help moving or
” he said.
“Mayowa, my burden is not yours. Though you are more than capable and mature, I need you to remain a child in this situation. Stay out of it, my love.” You said.
Things became easier. You weren’t bedridden anymore. You just had to be escorted around with guards, nurses or Mayowa would tend to you. You held your newborn, Ajayi. He was growing and healthy. You thanked Hanuman for you to be so lucky. No doubt, this would be your last child. There was no need for your body to go through this strain again. Ajayi squirmed in your arms as he drifted off to sleep. You gently laid him in the crib in the center of your room. You smiled as he gave a soft moan.
You were about to walk away when you heard a light tap on your door. You looked to see M’Baku in the archway, looking timid and humble. “May I come in?” You nodded and waved him in. “How are you feeling today?”
“Fatigued.” You said. “But, I’m fine.”
“Thank you.” He said.
You looked up at him confused. “Thank me? For what?” You asked.
M’Baku stepped further into the room, almost dragging his feet. “Everything. I want you to know how much I really do appreciate you for everything you’ve given me.” M’Baku said. “I know now there is nothing I can do to make you love me. And I accept that. I have prayed to Hanuman for you and our children. To forsake me as long as He showed you favor.”
You saw the sincerity and sadness in his eyes. A softness that seemed to be all he wore now. His eyes were puffy as if he had been crying. His mouth drooped, causing wrinkles. He sighed as clasped his hands together.
“If you want this marriage dissolved, I am prepared to facilitate that. I see no point in forcing you to be with me in this union. It is clear I have nothing that you want nor do you have anything left to give me.” M’Baku said. “I can live with my guilt and shame. As long as you can find some happiness, be it with or without me, I will be content.”
You glared at M’Baku. Once a proud man who stood tall and was a beckon for you, now stood before you broken and defeated. You almost felt sorry for him. But alas, you were given your way out. What were you going to do with it?
“When I’m ready, we’ll talk.” You said.
M’Baku nodded then looked to the crib. “May I?” he asked.
You waved him forward. M’Baku walked over the crib and looked down at his son with a smile. “He looks like you.” M’Baku said. “Beautiful.”
You chuckled as M’Baku ran a finger along his cheek. “You can see him whenever you like.” You said. “Even after I leave. I’m not going to rob you of being a father.”
“How can you be so gracious? Even after all I have done to you.” He said.
“Well, what would you have me do?” you said. “I loved you. A part of me still might love you. I won’t deny you gave me the best years of my life. You’ve taught me a few things and made something I didn’t expect to be. For the best and worse. But despite everything, I do believe I can find it in my heart to forgive you. Maybe not now. Maybe not in a year. But I could. But, I also can’t do it still married to you. Not like this.”
M’Baku turned to you, nodding. A few tears rolled down his eyes. “If I could go back and change things I would.”
“But you can’t. We can’t do anything about it now.” You said. M’Baku sighed, fighting a sob. You wiped his tears and caress his cheek. He clutched your hand, keeping it to his face. The last time you put a hand to his face was for a slap. M’Baku missed your touch. He was savoring this, knowing he would never get it again. You neared him, closing the space between you. M’Baku looked at you, vulnerable. You searched his eyes. Before you would look at him and have a hate flow through you. Now, that hate was quiet. You only felt sorrow and pity.
M’Baku craned his head down into you. Your answer was to lean your head back, welcoming a kiss. The kiss was soft and gentle. Something neither of you felt in a long time. You knew what you were doing and you didn’t mind it. A last taste of each other.
M’Baku pulled away from you. He removed his hand from your wrists, trying to regain his composure. You watched him back away from you. “I’m sure the children told you they are excited to see you at dinner tonight. I hope you enjoy your time with them.”
Ajayi turned 1 before you and M’Baku finalized the divorce. It wasn’t messy or loud. Just a quiet departure. You kept your promise and let him have as much time with the children as you could. You co-parented in harmony. You still had an admiration for each other but, you were very clear that you could never love him again. He accepted that, gracefully. Your children understood in time. Phelisa only saw you as her mother and as you understood, she was your daughter. You remained close. As you forgave M’Baku, you thought Mayowa to do the same though it took him the longer than it did you. It became important to you to keep your family together. Something M’Baku was grateful for.
In the end, it was a shock to most when you opted to be buried next to M’Baku. You cared for him in life and up to his death. You saw him through everything, might as well keep doing it. After all between the both of you, there was still a dormant love.
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incorrect-dishonored-quotes · 5 years ago
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Sure! This is going to be long though, bc OCD isn't that well known, so I'll be over-explaining things.
Before I dig in, if you're going to portray OCD it's important to know that it works in a cycle, like most anxiety based disorders do. Anxiety causes an intrusive thought (or an "obsession"). The brain tries to deal with it by doing an action, either by going out of your way to do or avoid something associated, or perceived to be associated, with the thought (or a "compulsion"). But the catch is the compulsion only gives temporary relief from the intrusive thought, so round and round and round you go. A common example is having the fear of someone breaking into your house and killing you, so you make sure the doors are locked, over and over and over again.
Okay, now to Corvo.
Although psych illnesses usually show up in late adolescence, there are other cases where the show up early bc of genetics (like me) or later in life bc of trauma and OCD is no different. In Corvo's case, I'd say the latter.
Checking the locks when you're afraid of someone breaking in kinda makes sense, right? Well, not all compulsions do make sense, and the intrusive thought and compulsion aren't logically related. Those kinds are extremely hard to explain, like my dad had an aunt who would blow on her wrists to make sure she was still alive...So, I'm going to stick to ones base in some logic like the locking the doors one.
Considering the events that happened to Corvo, and things going on around him there are a few different OCD types that come to mind.
The Washer: This is the most stereotypical OCD, and what most people think of when they hear OCD. This type makes people wash themselves despite how raw their skin can get. I've actually been there in the past, around the time I was learning about germs for the first time in school. The best way I can explain it is that I could feel the germs on my skin. Bc of the Rat Plauge, this makes a lot of sense for Corvo.
The Cleaner: Very similar to The Washer, but these two don't always go hand-in-hand, although they often do. This OCD has people cleaning other things. Dusting, scrubbing floors, Windex and Pledge. I've been fortunate enough not to have this one, for it often has people up late at night cleaning. Again, with the Rat Plague, makes sense that his truama would manifest this way.
The Checker: Double checking, triple checking, and so on. This one is rather broad, bc what people with this kind check on and how many times vary. For Corvo, he can't lose another emperess. Checking perimeter, going on extra patrols on the night, and mirco-managing the palace gaurds would fall under this.
The Researcher: This one is rather new in the times. With access to limitless information in our pocket, obsessively researching something to get the full story or to make sure you don't have a medical problem is easy, although time consuming, sleepless nights under a computer screen are common, and something I can be prone to once in a blue moon. In Covo's situation and time period, keeping tabs on his & Emily’s allies, digging up dirt on them, and trying to either prove he can or can not trust them would count as that. And as Spymaster after Hirams fall, he certainly has the resources.
You mentioned Daud, so I'll add one that I think would apply to him, other than that I can see him as a Checker and Researcher too.
The Organizer: Everything has a place, and everything is in its place all the time, or they spend time straightening, evening things out, and adjusting. As someone who works as the mastermind behind a gang of heretic assassins, this is one I can see manifesting in Daud.
That is all for now, I think. More OCD Corvo will be seen soon in one of Dani's story wips, which should be coming out soon!
-Tad
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xxx-cat-xxx · 6 years ago
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Safe
*has three hours of undisturbed free time*
*sits down to work on 2.5 WIPs*
*writes a new thing instead*
...and itÂŽs short and light and fluffy. The setting is partly stolen from this amazing fic by Ranni which all of you should read, but the story is different and her writing is anyways leagues above mine. Emeto and fever and a bit of delirium. Dedicated to the awesome @taylortut who helped me with the middle part.
“Got up on the wrong side of the bed today?” Clint teases when he takes in Tony®s slumped figure at the wooden stillage they euphemistically call “table”. The whole safehouse is a joke, a last-minute solution SHIELD has ordered them to stay at after a surprise attack during a team training in the woods.
“Didn®t actually get into bed at all,” Tony rebuts grumpily, turning over his spoon in the gunk that is supposed to be cornflakes. “No chance of sleeping with you snoring at 150 decibel.”
“Can®t have been me. I know from trustworthy sources that I sleep as soundless as an angel.”
“Trustworthy sources”, Tony snorts. “What, Natasha? Of course, our little assassin is the epitome of honesty and openness...”
It stings more than it was probably supposed to, and they spend the remainder of the breakfast in grumpy silence, that is, until Bruce comes in and frowns at them.
“What®s going on now?” he asks, only slightly resembling an exasperated parent scolding his kids.
Tony has apparently given up on trying to eat his cereal soup, resting his forehead on one palm instead and staring at the table. Clint huffs out a breath.
“He®s in a mooooood,” he pronounces.
“The only thing I am - “ Tony starts, then cuts himself off with an audible gulp.
“S®cuse me,” he manages through a shuddering inhale, bolting upright and taking off towards the toilet. A moment later, they can hear him vomiting noisily through the cardbox walls.
“The sound of barfing. Ruining your breakfast like nothing else does.” Clint comments, but there®s worry edged in the crease above his brow.
“I®ll go check on him,” Bruce says, setting down his untouched cup of tea on the counter.
“Tony? You still alive in there?” he asks after knocking on the locked bathroom door a couple of times.
“Barely,” comes the dramatic reply after a minute. He hears a flush, a shuffling on the floor, and then the door opens, revealing Tony®s pale and sweaty face.
“You alright?” Bruce asks, looking him up and down with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, my stomach doesn®t really like that poisonous stuff Clint insists on calling emergency supplies. Just need to, y® know, get it up...”
“Uh-huh,” Bruce nods, then his hand goes up to cup Tony®s forehead with a speed that wouldn®t seem possible for him.
“Well, no, that®s not it,” he assesses. “You®re definitely running warm.”
“I®m hot, Brucie,” Tony grins at him, then his expression turns into a grimace when he swallows heavily and clasps a hand over his lips.
“Oh god,” Bruce hears him moan before he turns back to the toilet and continues retching miserably. “Trapped in a fucking shack in the middle of nowhere and now that.”
Bruce closes the door with a lopsided smile, knowing that the man is alright as long as he is still complaning.
Tony returns to the kitchen after a while on shaky legs and in a piss-poor mood, still cradling his stomach and adamently refusing the water and pills Bruce tries to make him swallow.
The ensuing discussion on whether or not he may join them in today®s patrol quickly turns to whether or not Bruce should stay with him in the hut, but Clint sides with Tony on the latter (”He®s a big boy, Bruce, and if I leave you alone with him being in this kind of mood, I risk coming back to the house broken into ruins.”)
When they leave, Tony is already curled up on the couch and doesnÂŽt even come to see them off, proving to Bruce that he must be feeling much worse than he lets on. He shuts the door with a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach.
When Bruce and Clint return long after dark, Tony is stretched out on the couch, sleeping at last. He looks tense and ill, the distinct flush on his cheeks and the dark shadows under his eyes making him appear at least a decade older.
The medicines are still lying untouched on the table, but thereÂŽs a half-empty glass of water and a trash can on the ground next to the couch. It looks like it was cleaned rather hastily, the smell of sickness still hanging thickly in the air, causing Clint to ruffle his nose.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” he calls out, while Bruce takes off his jacket and then accidently knocks over the unstable coat-tree near the door, which hits the ground with a loud bang.
“What - “Tony wakes with a start, flinching and getting up halfway before his eyes focus on his teammates. “Oh, it®s you.”
He slumps back down, grimacing and rubbing the back of his hand over his face exhaustedly.
“How are you feeling?” Bruce asks, making his way through the cramped room after setting the coat-tree back up.
“I®m better,” Tony says, sitting up, slowly this time, and blinking hard against the dim ceiling lights, headache written boldly all over his face.
“Well...” Bruce says, not quite buying it. “What®s your temperature?”
“I don®t know. This shithole of a safehouse doesn®t actually feature a thermometer.”
“How many times have you thrown up?”
“God, you ever heard of the right to privacy?” Tony scowls. “You®re gonna ask about my trips to the bathroom next?”
“Tony...”
“I don®t remember. Enough that I don®t wanna eat anything in the next few centuries. Happy now?”
“Not exactly,” Bruce sighs. “You®ve gotten worse, haven®t you?”
“I am fine, mom.”
“Sure,” Clint comments from where he®s started to rattle with the pots in the kitchen. “You know that movie, 28 days later? You®d easily pass for one of the characters, and I®m not talking about the human ones."
Tony doesnÂŽt give a comeback, just rests his head back against the worn-out couch and closes his eyes with a moan, and thatÂŽs when Bruce knows itÂŽs serious.
They eat quietly. Tony has turned a telling shade of green at the mention of food and buried his head back into the couch cushions, so they let him be. After dinner, Bruce tries to read while Clint busies himself carving small figures out of pieces of wood he found in the forest. He coaxes Tony into finishing the glass of water before refilling it and heading off to bed.
He awakes to someone shaking him at the shoulder, talking in a hushed and slightly panicked voice.
“Hmm?” he mouthes eloquently.
“Bruce, we gotta go. Fast, be quiet.”
“What?” Bruce blinks the sleep away and sits up. Tony is supporting himself on the frame of the bed, swaying lightly. It looks almost comical, but the fear on the other man®s face is real. “Hey, Tony, what®s going on?”
“They are coming,” he says frantically. “We gotta leave, now. Wake Clint, then get going. I®ll cover you from the windows as long as I can.”
“Who®s coming, Tony?”
“I®ve seen them. I®ve seen them on the cameras. Jarvis said -”
“There are no cameras here, pal. And when do you think you talked to Jarvis?”
“I... Bruce, I®m serious, we need to leave,” the other man urges. He is panting as if he®s just finished a marathon, his shirt is drenched in sweat, and his eyes are darting frantically across the room, scanning for threats.
“Okay,” Bruce says in a soothing voice, pretending to play along. He gets up slowly and takes Tony®s wrist into his hand, confirming a racing pulse. “What about you wait in the living room while I get the others?”
“Hhm,” Tony nods in agreement and sways a little harder. Then his eyes widen. “Pepper, we need to get Pepper out of here - “
“Pepper®s safe, Tony. Everyone is.” He slings his arm around the engineer®s shoulder and supports him back to the living room couch, then sits him down, looking at him intensely. “Do you hear me? Everyone is safe, okay? But you®re sick.”
“I... I don®t know. Can®t trust...”
“You can trust me, alright?” Bruce chuckles, a bit of sadness swining along. “Never thought I®d say that to anyone again.”
He is not sure whether Tony is listening. The other man is focusing on something behind BruceÂŽs back now, eyes glazed over with fever.
“Stay put,” Bruce directs, hoping that the engineer will obey for once. “I®ll bring something to get you rehydrated and cool you down a bit.”
A glass of water that thankfully stays down and a couple of cold washclothes later, Tony seems to be coming back to himself a little bit more.
“You®re - you®re trying to put me on ice? Like g-god-damn Steve Rogers?” he presses out between shattering teeth.
“Hey, you®re back,” Bruce sighs with relief.
“Never l-left, as far as I know. Wish I had. Still in f-fucking Arkansas on a boy scouts outing, or whatever we®re playing here.” Tony shivers harder as Bruce presses the washcloth back against his forehead. “Hey, what d®you think you®re doing here?”
“You were out of it for a bit. Sleepwalking, delirious babbling, the full package.”
“Oh.” If Tony is even the slightest bit embarassed, he manages to hide it masterfully. “Did I at least write some obscenities on Barton®s face with a marker while I was at it?”
Bruce snorts. “You wouldn®t be alive if you had.”
“Speaking of living, I sort of wish I wasn®t.” He groans as another chill runs through his body. “This is awful.”
“No wonder with a fever like that,” Bruce replies.
“But we®re safe here, aren®t we?” Tony adds after a beat, a tick too inconspicuous for Bruce not to catch the shadow of fear that®s left lingering in his eyes.
“Yeah, we are,” he reassures. “As safe as we can ever be.”
He hesitates for a moment, trying to find the best strategy for getting Tony to agree to Bruce staying with him. The man looks dead exhausted, but Bruce has known him for too long to believe even for a second that heÂŽd go to sleep voluntarily while knowing that someone is looking after him.
“Mind if I sit here for a moment and read?” he asks innocently. “Have a hard time going back to sleep in the middle of the night.”
“Sure, no problem,” Tony waves absent-mindedly. “Believe it or not, the couch is actually more comfy than it looks like."
He is still trembling lightly and spreading heat like a radiator when Bruce drapes a thin blanket over both of them. His head lands on BruceÂŽs shoulder and itÂŽs only a couple of minutes until his breathes become deep and regular. Bruce turns over a page, trying not to jostle him, and vows silently to keep the bad dreams away for the rest of the night.
When Clint enters the living room in the morning, TonyŽs head is resting on BruceŽs thighs, his legs are draped over the armrest and he looks almost, almost peaceful. BruceŽs head is tipped back against the couch, glasses askew, one arm with the book still caught between his fingers resting on TonyŽs back. He is snoring ever so lightly. 
Clint tiptoes back into the bedroom to fetch his phone, then takes a photo with a widening grin on his face. He is about to send it to the AvengersÂŽ group chat when he thinks better of it and saves it to his personal drive. As a reminder of happier times, he names it, knowing that he is going to need it one day.
Link to Chapter 2
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moeruhoshi · 6 years ago
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Unfinished and unedited WIP i dont know what to fucking do with--its been so long and i still can’t come up with an endiiiiing
Her father had locked her away so many years ago, after the death of her mother, not wanting to bother himself with even so much a sight of his grieving daughter. She was sent off to a castle no longer in use, dreary and dread, archbishops and dukes residing here many years ago. A staff was employed to keep her healthy and alive; the only traits her father cared for until she was ready to send away, again, for marriage. Pleasantly enough, her mother’s things were also sent out of the castle along with her; books, clothing, bedsheets, crowns. Lucy had the spirit of her mother by her side, not that it helped much to dampen her feelings of loss and loneliness.
And as she grew older, the staff grew smaller and smaller, soon she was all who was left, goodbyes pardoned for the poor who received illness or were ordered to return to the capital. Lucy enjoyed taking care of herself, being able to do as she liked when she liked, although etiquette still burned true in her veins. Unlearning the proper ways to stand, eat, and walk were ones hard to reprogram. She wondered someday if her father would even send for her, or continue to keep her far beneath his reach in an old castle left to perish empty and alone. Someone back home was at least thinking of her, or else food deliveries were sure to stop.
“See you again, Princess!” Zoldeo waved as he drove away her cart, Lucy waving back, sighing to herself as she was once again left without company. The two always had somewhat pleasant conversations as they moved her grains, potatoes, and other perishables from the cart and into her kitchen, his tales usually of the constant buzzing lifestyle in the center of the kingdom. Lucy missed the busyness of the streets, horse hooves on cobblestones, children laughing and begging their parents for a treat. She missed the festivals and fireworks, or really any sound that wasn’t constant flourishing wind. She never braved leaving her home farther than the garden she created in fear of getting lost in the surrounding woods without a guide to help her find her way.
The princess turned on her heel as the servant was now out of sight, flinching as the leaves rustled behind her back. It was probably a bunny, she assured herself, hoping to be able to treat it with a carrot if it trusted her scent enough. A whimper revealed itself, whoever behind the leaves unable to breach them.
“H-Hello?” Lucy called as she edged closer to the boundary of the trees, peering ever so slightly into the shaded area. She gasped, eyes casting over an injured dragon nearly a foot or so taller than her, wings furled trying to hide the gash on his side that only continued to drip blood into the grass.
“Oh goodness, are you alright?!” She asked as she stepped over the shrubbery to observe him more closely. He growled as she tried to carelessly touch his scales, Lucy backing away with an apology.
“Let me help you, okay? I promise I’ll be gentle,” She smiled softly, holding out a hand for him to sniff in acquaintance. His snout pat her palm as he accepted her scent, gruffing in approval to allow her to continue. Lucy thanked him as he pulled away his wing, eyes wide as she took in the entirety of his injuries.
“Let me see your eyes,” She mumbled to his craning head, their deep yellow muddled and shaky. “Poisoned...”
“Well, you’re lucky to have made it so close to my home,” She scratched the underside of his chin lightly. “Do you think you can walk? I’d be able to help you much more if you come inside. I’ve studied my mother's medicine books, so I should be of some help,”
It was a rather grueling task, one Lucy would be grateful to never have to do again. She helped the dragon to his feet, wincing as he did, apologizing for stirring his pain. They hobbled around the side of her castle and aimed for the much grander front entrance through which he’d be able to fit. They plopped against the harder tile floor, Lucy groaning as she fell to her back by his side, wiping the sweat having trailed from her hairline.
“I have not carried so much as an apple basket compared to even the slightest bit of you, Sir Dragon,” She puffed, receiving only but a glance as he adjusted himself. The foyer was quite large, stairs coming from either the west and east wing to meet at the center of the palace, a large painting of the late queen hanging above them. She moved to close the large wooden doors, dragon curled in the middle of the room.
“Not as comfortable as it could be, I know,” She spoke more to herself than the dragon, if he could even understand what she was saying as she moved to ascend her staircase. “I’m much more comfortable having you move again once we close that awful wound. Let me gather some supplies and hurry before that gets anymore infected.”
There was only so much the princess could do in this empty home of hers, reading being the most common and effective escape. Books were able to take her to far away lands, lead her on adventures with the friends she made every page, find ways out of sticky situations and conquer villains thought to have been unbeatable. After reading all the fictional books she could get her hands on, there were those of a more boring genre but provided Lucy with valuable information. She enjoyed those on gardening and apothecary, taking into account which plants outside were safe for her to eat and those she could turn into salves or soaps, ointments to ale ailments she may mysteriously encounter. She collected jars of her creations, reusing ones from her jams and marmalades, Zoldeo often arriving with empty ones she had asked for. Bandages and thick thread as well, she had a knack for sewing dresses and attempted her hand at a pillow suture, just in case. The stories she read were wonderful at sending the message to be prepared. Of course Lucy just liked learning in general and was glad if any of her skills could come in handy; but having to care for a dragon may not have been one she anticipated.
He watched as she came back with an armful of jars and white rolls, setting them down in front of him before she made her way towards her kitchen, telling him she would be needing a water and rags as well.
“I’m glad it’s just us here, otherwise I’m sure someone would have a fit over the mess I’m about to make,” She laughed, setting down the sloshing bucket next to his side. The cut wasn’t long but it appeared deep, or along an artery that more speedily exposed him to the effects of the poison. She took a mortar and pestle, picking dried leaves out of several jars to crush them together in almost a near fine powder.
“I’m going to mix this into the water to help clean out anything that might be in your wound,” She explained, popping open another jar with sticky white paste. “Now, is it alright if I help you fall asleep?”
He gruffed and shook his head, almost glaring at the blonde for suggesting what could be an opportunity for her to easily betray him, relationship too new for his trust.
“That’s alright,” She chuckled, smearing the paste below his nostrils with her thumb. “This should help ease the sting of me clearing your injury, don’t lick it or you will fall asleep,”
“Now please, try not to hurt me while I do this,” She sighed with a nervous smile, petting the dragon from the base of a horn down his neck, satisfied as he released a small purr. She took one of the few clean rags she brought with her, dipping it into the water before ringing it out above the jagged cut. He howled, tail thwomping against the floor as she continued, gobs of clustered blood sticking to leaves and small twigs, some small pebbles and rocks flooding out.
“Shh, it’s okay,” She reassured him as she cleaned around the wound as well before preparing to stitch him up. The dragon whimpered as she pressed the edges together, dipping her needle into the remaining water before piercing through his scaled appearance. Luckily more was closer to the soft underbelly of his skin, making it a slightly faster process but still uncomfortable as he continued to cry out.
“Now this,” She gestured to another jar of thicker, gloopy looking ointment. “Will help heal you faster, I’ll apply it everyday until there’s nothing but a scar,”
Lucy smiled as he became dazed, head falling by her side as she washed away the remaining blood and brushed her fingers carefully over the stitching. She stood up after pasting his bandages on, sighing at the bloody slosh around them, pushing up her sleeves as she went to retrieve fresh water and a mop.
“Let’s make you something to eat, something to get rid of that poison, hmm? Not too much, I don’t want your stomach pressing on your wound.” She huffed and wiped the sweat from her brow, the dragon having laid still while she cleaned up the aftermath. He furled his wings as she walked away, returning some time later with a grunt or two, heaving a pot of stew in front of him.
“You sure are making the lady sweat, Sir Dragon. I hope it’s not too hot, but I’m sure you won’t mind it. You breathe fire, don’t you?” She smiled as he nodded, dipping into the pot with a sniff. “There are a lot of herbs, to help get rid of those nasty toxins. I’d hate to know whoever tried to hurt you. Not a hunter I hope?” He shook his head, mildly lapping at the soup to curb his hunger.
“Something else in the woods?” She gasped as he nodded, Lucy’s hand stroking softly against the scales of his neck as she watched him eat. “Goodness, I’ll do my best to be careful going outside, hopefully whatever it was has already gone away.”
“It has gotten quite late, I didn’t even notice the time,” She yawned gracefully behind her hand after returning from the kitchen again. The dragon had curled in on himself, eye glancing as she gave him one last scratch for the day.
“Will you be alright sleeping by yourself? Do you need a blanket?” His chest seemed to rise with a chuckle and another shake of his head, his eyes closing as they rested against his claws.
“I’ll be upstairs if you need anything...do you have a name? I think it’s a bit rude to simply call you ‘Dragon’. Although I doubt you can answer,” She giggled, kneeling to his side. “Shall I call you Gonzales?”
He seemed to turn sour at the name, disagreeing instantly as she pouted.
“No one likes that name, I personally think it’s cute,” She humphed. “How about... Kaen? It means flame,”
He shook his head again, gesturing to a tapestry hanging above her with a large sun needlepointed into it.
“The sun? Taiyo?”
He disagreed, continuing to nod towards the tapestry in suggestion.
“Summer, maybe? Natsu?” She laughed as he nodded, clapping her hands together. “Natsu it is! Well then, goodnight, Natsu.”
Lucy gave him a chaste kiss upon the tip of his snout before gracefully taking her leave to her room upstairs, happy to finally take off her dampened dress.
She yawned as the sun shone brightly on her edge of the woods, coaxing her to move out of bed and get ready for the day. The princess dressed in much lighter clothing this time, excited as she skipped down her stairs to the one she was taking care of.
“Good morning, Natsu!” She chirped as she opened the curtains, the dragon grunting as the sunlight flooded in. “Its a bit improper to be so loud, but I never get to greet anyone in the morning.” The princess sighed as he lifted himself for her to inspect his eyes.
“Oh good, they’re not so red anymore. I’ll make us some breakfast and then give you a bath, hmm? That should help make you feel better. Some more ointment and fresh bandages too.”
Natsu seemed too tired to care either way as she walked off to conduct their day. He lazily opened an eye as she came back with another soup again in its large pot, listing their ingredients and their benefits before going to fetch a bucket of water, bringing down a whole collection of jars again to mix bubbly water and began to scrub him with a content smile.
“Do you like that? What a good boy,” She giggled as he purred, Lucy brushing along his tail, the dragon wagging it and turning to nudge her with his snout. The bristles continued to stimulate his scales, Natsu almost ready to roll over at the tickling sensation. He licked her cheek lightly as she moved along his back and over the patterned spikes, Lucy laughing and caressing his head as it rested on her shoulder. He mumbled and pressed against her as she made her way up his horns, sighing delightfully.
“Now that we’re done,” The blonde hummed as she pasted on his clean bandages. “Would you like to hear a story?”
“This one is one of my favorites,” Lucy sighed as she set down a stack of books she was all too eager to bring down and share with the dragon. “Although I don’t think you’d be too happy that the prince tries to defeat the dragon, hmm?” She giggled as he shook his head.
“It’s a lovely story I always thought, my mother would read it to me whenever I was upset. I think it’s wonderful when he rescues his princess at the end,”
“Oh, goodness, I haven’t introduced myself, have I?” She smiled as she stood from her place at his side, taking the edges of her skirt to offer a deep curtesy.
“Princess Lucy Heartfilia of Fiore,” His eyes seemed to widen as she bowed to him. “My father sent me here after mother died, if you’re curious why I’m so far from home.” The conversation fell short as she sat back down, pulling a book from the stack as she turned to him with a smile.
“Now, this is a story about my best friends. My mother wrote it for me,”
And so, Lucy spent her days eager to finally wake up with someone by her side, not literally but caring for the dragon was enough to fill the loneliness she had been experiencing all these years. They would eat together and she would redress his wound, occasionally give him baths as well. The two spent most of their time curled with Lucy leaning against his neck, the princess going on to read him each of her favorite books, dramatizing the adventures and trying her best to make them come to life, thoroughly embarrassed when all the dragon would do was look at her. He always looked like he was on the verge of speaking, which made Lucy curious and a bit upset, she missed the ability to speak with another person, but Natsu responded well enough. There were nights she fell asleep in the middle of reading, curled against the dragon, his tail moving to act as a blanket. She’d wake up dreary and warm, quick to apologize for drooling on his scales. He’d greet her each morning with a lick to her cheek, Lucy giggling as she pushed his slobbering tongue away. It had been almost a month since their meeting, Natsu nearly healed, Lucy’s salve working wonders and herbs working quickly to flush the toxins out of his system.
“Good morning, Natsu,” Lucy yawned delicately behind her hand as she made her way down the stairs, stopping halfway as she saw him padding around more actively, looking antsy as he eyed the drawn curtains.
“Oh, would you like to go outside? I’m sure you’re tired of staying cooped up in here, and your wound has just about healed!” Lucy smiled as she walked towards the large door.
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theraen · 6 years ago
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😭bring me to tears! (Please note,I cry easily!)
Okay so I haven’t written a crying scene yet in this wip but I once wrote a fanfic I never finished (what a surprise) so I thought I could post it? It’s heavy and terrible and has a lot of trigger warnings. I’m giving you just the crying part; if you want, you can read the other chapters on ao3 but you’ve been warned, okay? Please take care 💙💙
Fandom: the 100Ship: clexa (Clarke Griffin and Lexa)Rating: ExplicitTrigger warnings (I’ll put them all, and then I’ll capitalise the ones that apply only to this part): CANONICAL CHARACTER DEATH, VIOLENCE, GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION, Self-Harm, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempt, Depression
***You never thought you could hate Fridays so much.Yet here you are, Clarke, on a Friday night. On a desert roadside in the middle of nowhere.Nothing’s there. Not even the moon.
Lexa is dying.
«It’s going to be all right,» you whisper between tears while you try not to choke «You just have to hold on for a little more.» You gently stroke her cheek, afraid to hurt her even more «Help is coming.»
That’s a lie, and you know it. Nobody’s coming. Her mobile phone got lost in the accident and yours is just a black, cracked screen. Who killed you is burning in the pyre of their car. You pretended to call help just because Lexa wouldn’t stop screaming. Now that she can’t, though, you feel like utter shit – you feel like dying, again and again. Even more than how you already are.
Lexa coughs, and there’s blood on her hand. Blood as red as the one soaking the other hand, the wound, the balled-up shirt that can’t stop the bleeding.
«Clarke–»
ïżœïżœShush» you stop her, and look back into her eyes. They’re filled with fear, fear of a monster that you cannot slay «Save your energy. You can do this.»
«I’m-I’m dying, Clarke.»
NO.
There’s firmness in her fleeting voice, as if all were already written. As if she had already seen it.As if it were obvious.It’s not.It is.She’s dying, Clarke. You know that since the moment you haven’t seen her getting out of the car on her legs.You can cry. It’s natural.
«You’re not dying,» you scream, and you break, again and again.
You’re so lost you don’t notice that Lexa’s hand that should be keeping pressure on the wound went up to clean the tears and the blood that are painting your face. And it doesn’t matter that you have a degree in Medicine and you save dozens and dozens of lives on a daily basis, at this point you are nothing. You just are Clarke, and you don’t know what to do.
«Don’t be afraid,» she reassures you «Everything’s going to be all right.»
«YOU’RE NOT DYING» you say louder, more desperate and desperate as the time passes «In a minute the ambulance will be here and we’ll go to the hospital and the doctors will fix you and you’ll live. You’ll live.» And you believe it for a second. Only a tiny second that makes you hope you won’t die with her «Then I’m gonna get you home and take care of you. And when you’ll be better we’ll make sweet, sweet love.»
Lexa almost bursts into laughter when you say those words – actually she just crumbles, barely not fainting. But the look she gives you is the same of every morning. It’s the same of when you wake up together in the same bed and start giggling like little girls.
«It’s not just sex? Since when-since when do we make love?»
«Since the beginning,» you whisper, with a sheer smile «Sorry if I never told you.»
She smiles too. And sighs. She seems happy.
«I’ve always known it.»
She closes her eyes.
«NO LEXA LOOK AT ME-»
She pries her eyes back open, and apologises. She’s cold. You give her your jacket without taking your eyes off her. She smiles again.
«Go on,» she asks «You stopped where we make love.»
And you don’t understand that she wants to die lulled by the sound of your voice. You don’t understand but you cry anyway – and this time you’re not ashamed – and go on anyway.
«What do you want to know?»
«Everything. Will it be beautiful?»
You nod, bite your lips, die a little more.
«More than anything else. I will be on top of you and will tickle you, cause I know that even if you always play it cool, you’re just as scared as I am. I will cover every single part of your body with kisses, slowly, with devotion, taking all the time in the world. Because we deserve it.»
When Lexa closes her eyes again, you let her go.She’s shivering.You sob, without shame.
«Our hands will be intertwined in the perfect joint we never needed to find. And we will love each other, and the rest of the world will disappear. And there won’t be anything else but us and the shrinking space between us, and the sound of our kisses, our fingertips, our moans.»
You try to breathe. You fail. Tears fall down your face and land on Lexa’s hair, getting confused with the blood and the asphalt. The sky watches you die, unmoved. For a second you ask yourself what there will be after. After death, after this godforsaken night, after someone will have found the two of you and will have saved only your life.You already know it, don’t you? Do you know there will be nothing?You go on anyway.
«When you’ll come you’ll do it quietly, without a noise, like always. Only a lament that will leave my name on your tongue – wrinkled nose and tiptoes – and my lips on yours, and a smile that will taste too much like a confession. Cause it’s what I’ve always whispered you, you know?» you reveal, then close your eyes. The only thing tying you to this world now is her. And yet you feel her slip away from your fingers. And yet it’s like you could see it, that thread that’s growing thinner and thinner threatening to leave you floating, alone, in the void «While you held my head with your thighs and I made you bend your back and see the stars, and beg a god neither of us has ever believed in. I whispered you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you »
When you open your eyes you get lost in hers, filled with you. They shine like tears, like a delirium, like the words she never said to you.
«Clarke,» she breathes. And watches away.
This time you are the one screaming her name, without emitting a voice. You see the light leave her eyes and scatter in the darkness of this pitch black night. But you don’t even grab a spark of it. You shatter, cry, stay silent. You curse the stars and life, and death, and pain. And love.
Because you know it and it’s driving you crazy.This will be the only way you’ll be able to remember her.Dead, in your arms. While she calls you.And she loves you.
***https://archiveofourown.org/works/12727275/chapters/29024412
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endless-vall · 7 years ago
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Happy (?) New Year - Estela x Mc fanfic
Summary: The gang had planned out New Year’s Eve perfectly, but an old wound of Mc’s threatens to ruin the night. Author’s note: Anon requested a fic where Mc falls ill due to a wound, but hides it from the gang, set in book 2. I decided to write that in the “New Year” chapter. This marks my last request (from the last batch) & also kindof my last WIP! Woohoo! I’m excited! I also touched on a issue here, when Aleister accused Mc of hiding important things from the gang, like she did in the past. This is an aspect we see in Mc in the books, so I think it’s realistic enough. Mc also cares about the gang deeply, and just wants them to be happy (along with other things like... safe.) Anyway, I hope you enjoy this piece! Sorry for the long delay!
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Mc clenched to her side, entering her bedroom. Good, She thought. No one saw her struggling. The wound was getting worse lately, and she wondered if it was time to come clean. A while ago, in an encounter with the saber-tooth tiger, she got a strike of his claws, resulting in an ugly cut in her stomach. Michelle had treated to her wound, and they managed to befriend the watchers (and as a result of that, the saber-tooth tiger himself), and Mc didn’t want to cause any drama. At first, it almost healed properly, but lately
 She was getting these strokes of dizziness and nausea hitting her out of nowhere, followed by a pulsing pain in the cut. She wanted to tell Michelle and ask her to take a lot at it, but everything was happening so fast. She didn’t even get a chance to tell Estelaïżœïżœïżœ
And suddenly, a group called The Arachnids were after them and they had to flee. Maybe it was the snow
 The cold could’ve made her more susceptible to infections, and she could’ve caught something. They were just on their way to find a shelter. We’ll just reach there, and I’ll tell her. Mc promises herself. The problem is
 They arrive, and decide to celebrate the New Year, along with everyone’s birthdays. She could wait another day
 It won’t hurt her
 Right? Just so she won’t buzzkill everyone. So she puts on a brave face, and decides to wait for until after tomorrow. She can do it. Everyone spend the next day preparing. They dressed up nicely, put on decorations all around the house, and cooked an entire set of meals, for everyone. Everyone talks to each other, Immersed in complete bliss, forgetting all of their problems, just for one night. Mc, though, is a lot worse. She tries to hide it, but the pain is barely tolerable, and her head is certainly somewhere else
 But everyone’s having such a nice time
 “Is everything okay?” It’s Estela’s voice, that bring her back to reality. Mc ‘wakes up’, shaking her head, and blinks at her beautiful girlfriend. “I’m sorry, what?” She finally questions, back. Estela’s reaction grows even more concerned, and she furrows her brows, as she repeats her question. “Are you okay?” She asks, this time her voice is soft, her tone worried. “I- I’m? Yes, of course
 I’m great!” Mc exhales. “Have you seen this party? It’s going to be amazing!” She fakes her excitement. It’s not that she’s not excited, it’s just that it’s hard to focus on celebrating when she feels like throwing up and never leaving her bed again. Estela nods, slowly, but it still looks like she’s not buying it. “Yeah, sure
 But are you sure? You seem
 I don’t know. Different.” Estela voices her concerns. “It’s just the weight of everything that happened lately.” Mc makes excuses. That seems enough to convince Estela, and she cracks a weak smile. “Hey,” She puts a hand on Mc’s shoulder. It’s supposed to be reassuring Mc, but actually, it just makes her realize how heavy Estela’s hand feels on her shoulder, and she spends a few moments praying she won’t collapse right there, right then. “I know everything seems crazy. Hell, it’s been that way since the moment we arrived
 But this is exactly why we’re having this party. To forget about all of this and have a normal evening for a chance. Try to focus on that and have a nice time tonight.” Estela tells her, finally taking her hand off her shoulder. “Right.” Mc looks relieved – but for the wrong reason. Still, she smiles at Estela, the latter smiling back at her. “I’ll try.” She promises, and Estela heads to help with the last preparation of the party. Just when Mc thinks she’s off the hook, Aleister approaches her. She’s really not in the mood, but she forces a smile, anyway. “Hey, Aleister. How’s it going?” She makes small talk. Aleister looks her face over, squinting his eyes at her. “Spill it.” He hisses. She blinks at him. He couldn’t have noticed
 Could he? “I don’t know what you’re talking about—“ She plays innocent. “Mc. Save the act for someone who’ll actually believe it. I’ve been watching you for the past few days and I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know that there’s something. And even your precious girlfriend doesn’t seem to know it, so I’ll repeat it just once
 SPILL IT.” He tells her again. Aleister’s intentions are pure, this time, but Mc’s not planning to ruin the night. And she’s certainly not planning on telling him about her injury before she tells Michelle or Estela. “Listen.” She raises her voice. “I don’t know why do you think you’re seeing here, but I’m sorry to tell you you’re eyes been fooling you. I also don’t know why do you think watching me is a good idea, it’s creepy.” She tells him. Their bickering seems to catch some attention, around them, but she doesn’t notice. Her friends are yet to gather around them, but some are raising their eyes and looking their way. Especially Zahra, who’s most attentive to them. “Mc, I’m not playing your games. Something is up and you’re going to tell me what it is. We deserve to know. You have a habit of keeping thing to yourself, thing everyone around me, should know.” His voice is stern, and he makes some good points. It’s easy to agree with him, meaning her friends are probably going to take his side. “Aleister, It’s not what you think it is
” She pleads, people are starting to form around them. “THEN TELL ME.” He simply replies. “Hey! Leave her alone.” Estela steps in, clearly upset with Aleister. This was supposed to be a night that’s all about happiness, and yet, Mc already feels like she succeeded in running it. “Guys, let’s clam down
” Quinn and Diego steps in too, making Estela back away too, still wary for Mc. “She’s hiding something!” Aleister tells them. Grace approaches them too. “Mc
 Is it true?” She asks, voice worried, and eyebrows furrowed into a concerned expression. “I
-“ She starts saying, finally admitting defeat, when the pain in her stomach reaches a new peak, and she clenches to her side. “Aggh-“ She falls to the floor, blood running down her dress. “Mc!” She hears Estela’s voice, her eyes fluttering shut. “Someone get Michelle!” She hears again, before everything grows dark. She isn’t sure how much time had passed, when she wakes up. She just sees Estela sitting beside her, half asleep on a chair. However, when she notices her moving, Estela immediately blinks awake, and reaches for her hand. “How are you feeling? What were you thinking? Mc?” Her voice is both accusing and worrying. Mc can’t blame her, though. “I just wanted everyone have one drama-free night.” She admits, her voice low. The truth is she’s feeling much better. She doesn’t know what Michelle did but that girl is a magician. Rising to a sitting position, Estela rushes to her side. “Mc?” She asks. “I’m fine, really.” Mc assures her, taking her hand in hers. “I’m so sorry for making you worry.” She can’t help but letting her face fall. “Hey, none of that.” Estela takes her face in both of her arms and pulls it up, towards her. “I’m not mad at you
 I’m just
 I was so worried.” She tells her. “I lashed out at Aleister, accusing him of doing something to hurt you
 But then Michelle took care of you and she told us everything
 how your wound got bad again.” Estela briefly tells her. “I should apologize to him.” Estela concludes. “Me too.” Mc admits. Aleister didn’t mean to harm her. And honestly, she probably would’ve passed out anyway. Both share a quick chuckle. “Yeah
” Mc notices Estela’s still in her dress. “Is the party still going out there?” Mc asks, looking towards the door. “Yeah
” Estela shrugs. “You were out only for a couple of hours. Michelle found some antibiotics and immediately started treating you, but after that
 They resumed it. They didn’t wanna party when you’re so bad, but
 I told them you’d kill us if we didn’t.” Estela chuckles. “Good.” Mc tells her, making her smile. “We should join them.” Mc tells her, trying to get out of her bed. “Oh no way miss! You’re staying right here and getting some rest.” Estela scolded. Mc chuckled. “I promise to behave!! I’m better. See?” Mc put on her best puppy face, with a wishful smile. Estela folded her arms on top of her chest, but after a few seconds, her gaze softens. “Fine.” She finally tells, and helps her up. Mc changes into a different dress, and they both head out to the party. It’s just a few minutes before midnight. Phew. Mc thinks to herself. They didn’t miss the entire thing. “Mc! How are you?” Diego is the first to jump up to her, as soon as they immerge out of the room. “You shouldn’t be out of bed yet.” Michelle said in a instructive voice. “I’m fine, I’m better.” Mc tells her. “Thank you for everything,” She said in an apologetic look. She knows she should’ve told Michelle sooner. “I’m not persuaded yet.” Michelle told her, scolding at her. “Michelle, please.” She pleaded with her. “Just for a little while.” She eyed the clock standing in the corner of the room. Michelle looked briefly into that direction, realizing it’s almost midnight, and that Mc probably just wanted to spend the new-year with her friends. Everyone turned to look at Michelle too, anticipating her answer. ... “FINE.” She finally lets out, everyone around her sighing in relief. “Yay! Thank you!” Mc jumps and hugs her, excitedly. “... And thank you for everything, I mean it.” She says after she breaks apart from her. “Of course, just... Next time, will you promise to be more careful?” Michelle asks, still worried for her. “Don’t worry, Estela already made me promise that.” Mc chuckles, and Michelle sends a thankful smile to Estela. “But sure.” Mc agrees, nodding. After that, the party resumes. Music echoes through the corridors, everybody mingles. Her friends approach, one by one, and sounds their concerns for her, as well as their relief she’s okay. Even the toughest sells, like Zahra and Aleister, are glad she’s okay. “About that...” Mc tells Aleister, struggling to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry for what I’ve said.” She faces him anyway. “You were up to something and you were right, and I tried reverting the attention from it, making things only worse... Thank you for calling me out.” She apologizes, sincerely. Aleister nods, Grace at his side, hands around his arm. “I’m sorry too.” He says quietly. It’s a rare event for him to apologize, but maybe it’s something about the festive feeling of the new year’s. “I should’ve trusted you.” He continues, Grace wears a proud smile as she looks up at him. “No, you were right to call me out.” Mc insists, and Aleister nods. “But I probably should’ve done it another way.” He adds, finally. Estela apologizes for lashing out at him, to which he just smiles. “I’d do the same for Grace,” He notes, so he understands, and they go back to partying. They go out to the outside lounge, everybody getting ready for the big countdown. It started snowing around them, as if to match the perfect atmosphere. “Guys, it’s time!” Diego calls excitedly, and they start counting back. “10... 9... 8... 7...” Mc holds Estela’s hand in hers, squeezing it lightly. Estela offers a smile, which she returns. “6... 5... 4...” They turn towards each other, both blushing for some reason. There’s something about this moment that’s magical, and they both feel it. “3... 2... 1...” And they share a passionate kiss, holding each other’s faces in their arms. Mc pulls Estela closer, and Estela leans down, deepening the kiss. Their tongues dance around in their mouths, in perfect harmony, like they were made for each other. A long moment passes, until they break apart from each other, beaming at the other. They look around, a few other couples kissing, and then turn back to each other. There’s a brief second of consideration, before both pull again, in the same time, into another desirous kiss. “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
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sssoto · 7 years ago
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Creator’s update #2
Hey guys! I’m back with another update to keep y’all posted on what I’ve been up to (= I’m getting this up a week later than I wanted to, but hey, what can ya do. It’s still very much up to date, I just didn’t have the time to get this typed up last week, buuuut making up for that now!
Mood: Juuuuuust chillin’~
Music I’ve been digging recently:
This is basically just gonna be a looooong list of Selena Gomez, because dammit I’m into her music right now. The girl is gorgeous and I’ve always liked her music, but I used to be more into her old stuff, and now I’m just living for all the songs I didn’t listen to as much from the time she released her Stars Dance album and onwards. These are just a select few of the songs I’ve been listening to on repeat for the past week or so lol.
Selena Gomez - Fetish (ft Gucci Mane)
Selena Gomez - The Heart Wants What It Wants
Selena Gomez - Do It
Selena Gomez - Me & the Rhythm
Selena Gomez - Me & My Girls
Selena Gomez - Nobody
Selena Gomez - Save the Day
Selena Gomez - Like a Champion
Writing
So I DID ACTUALLY DO SOME WRITING THESE PAST FEW WEEKS OMG.
I finished editing an entire scene I’d been struggling with for the looooongest time (and now I’m having trouble with the next scene, sigh you just can’t win). For that scene, I had to rearrange three different scenes and combine them into one in a way which made sense, and geez it wasn’t fun. The real struggle is finding out what to keep and what to cut, right? I dunno ‘bout you guys, but I’m very reluctant to cut anything until I’m sure I don’t wanna use any of the prose somewhere else.
The light came to me late one night (as it usually does) when this random line popped in my head as I was mulling over what to name my second chapter. Okay, backtrack, I title my chapters, and ever since I started revisions and essentially condensed the first four chapters down to three, I couldn’t figure out what to name the second chapter. The other two chapters could easily just take on the titles they had previously, but the structure and overall focal point of the second chapter had changed so much that I needed to rethink the title (at least if I wanted it to be a good title lol). So chapter 2 was untitled until just recently, when this line came to me and finally made me decide on a name: The Find. A find in this sense refers to an archaeological discovery (my main characters study and work in the archaeological field), and you might see how it plays into the chapter in my excerpt later this post. But yeah, this line came to me, and along with that came the realisation that I could move a whole paragraph from the scene I was revising in chapter 3 to chapter 2, since that paragraph was oriented in a pretty similar fashion to what I was going for with that new line. Does any of this make sense? My thought process is a little strange lmao.
Anyway, so knowing what I needed to do with chapter 2 gave me the push I needed to move on with that scene I struggled with in chapter 3, and I finally managed to restructure all the bits and pieces of those scenes I had to combine. It became much easier because I’d moved an entire paragraph that didn’t really fit in that scene anyway to a place where it was much better suited lol. Since the new dialogue was already written out, it was pretty straightforward to draft new narrative to go with it after I had reassembled the pieces (though I’m sure it’s all veeeeery rough cuz I’ve not given it a proper read through yet).
It all worked out in the end, and I’m so happy I made that progress wee! And I think I know what to do with the next scene, so it’s just about kicking my ass into gear lol (special thanks to @coffeeandcalligraphy who helped me brainstorm for this scene, ugh bless my friends). I already knew the next scene needed to be edited a lot, because basically the entire thing was just filler. The first half was a way too long narrative summary with a bunch of unnecessary detail which could be condensed significantly, and the next half was a scene also way too long for the purpose it served, and to make matters worse, it also introduced a bunch of pointless characters that never show up again, so the scene just feels kinda forced. I’ve done some trimming on the narrative summary, and I’ve cut out the scene that follows, so what I need to do next is add some details that pertain to the timeline and illness change (if you read my last post, you might recall me mentioning that I was doing these revisions in the first place because I aged my characters up and changed the illness of my MC’s sister), and then I’m gonna draft a new much shorter scene that’ll serve the same purpose the previous scene did, but without so much pointless, contrived detail, and without friggin’ introducing new characters that’ll never appear again, my god Soto what were you thinking.
But you know what, I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. I’ve made an important discovery during these edits, which I discussed with @shaelinwrites, who herself was recently stuck in revision hell with her manuscript I’m Fine, and we both agreed; it’s honestly much easier to draft new, better prose than trying to elevate very old less mature prose. As I’m revising these chapters, I sometimes get the feeling that my prose isn’t very complex or sophisticated, but then when I get to draft completely new lines or even paragraphs, I wonder how the new words seem so much better than the old ones. Then I look back at the date and remember that these chapters I’m revising were written in friggin’ 2014. It’s no wonder the prose ain’t that sophisticated lmao. It’s hard work improving something which at its core is less refined!
With that said, I think it’s time for some excerpts. I didn’t show any last time since I hadn’t been working much on my writing recently, but this time I have stuff to show!
Excerpt:
He seemed a hidden gem waiting to be uncovered, layered deep in the crusts of his own humility and class, a rare find with all the potential it entailed – academical and monetary.
This was the line I talked about which basically solved all my problems for me lol bless this line. And bless @shaelinwrites who convinced me to get rid of an unnecessary word, THANK YOU GIRL, I WAS DUMB, YOU WERE RIGHT, THE WEASEL WORD HAD TO GO.
Excerpt:
They arrived in Naples, grandest seaport of the Mediterranean, without incident. The capital of the Sicilies was a majestic sight when approached from the sea, rather alien with its numerous colourful structures raised on slanting green hillsides amongst sprouting palms, so very different from the grey, uniform London back across the English Channel.
Just some description; looking at pictures of Naples helped a lot for this lmao. I’m still not entirely happy with it, it needs a good clean up and stuff. Buuuuuut you know what, it’s progress, and that’s all that matters right now!
Chapters edited: 2/16
Current total word count: Around 123k (I’ll give a more precise number when I’ve gathered all my chapters in one document)
Current total chapter count: 16
Look at the lovely progress on chapter 3 since last update <3
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Art
So honestly I don’t have a lot of WIPs to show in the art department this time around, because a) I’ve mostly been finishing up the sketches I showed last time, and b) the new stuff I’ve started are secret projects I’d rather not reveal yet. So don’t blame it on inproductivity! d:
Like I said, I’ve finished some of the WIPs I talked about last time, and even better, I’ve posted them as well, so you can go and take a look at the final product: the Disney portraits, and my portraits of the Armstrong siblings.
And with that said, can we just marvel at this improvement?
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Sometimes it can feel like you’re never getting anywhere, and that’s when it’s important to gaze back at your journey and see how far you’ve come. I’m certainly pretty happy with how my skills have developed in the past two years! I want to do more “draw it again” pieces in the future so I can track my own development n.n
The only thing I feel I can show a WIP of (that I’ve not already shown, anyway) is this character portrait I’m working on for Serena. Used my girl Selena Gomez as reference cuz she’s the best face claim for Serena I’ve come across <3 It’s actually this portrait’s fault that I got into this entire Selena Gomez groove, and oh how grateful I am for it because Selena Gomez slaaaaaays.
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I’m not entirely sure I’m gonna keep the portrait like this for her official character portrait though, because I feel it’s a little risquĂ©~ for a Victorian portrait LOL. I mean, slay that hair, Serena, you know ya sexy af, but gotta stay in character with your setting, yanno? Lmao I dunno, I need to rethink it a bit, but regardless I’m digging the sketch thus far!
I think the next thing I’m working on will be lining and colouring Owen’s portrait, and then I also have all these secret things in the works that I wanna make progress on so I can reveal them. Aside from this, I’ve been hard at work on setting up commissions, and I’ll soon make an announcement, so keep an eye out for that if you’re interested in getting a portrait done by me!
Youtube
It’s been a month since last update, and I upload new videos every Friday, which means I’ve got new videos to announce to y’all! So if any of you like kpop, vocal covers, or speedpaints, here’s where you should look :D
I’ve actually gotten pretty good at this Youtube thing (thanks to the scheduling feature, it saves lives), so my uploads are fairly consistent. I upload every Friday; every other week it’s a vocal cover (usually kpop, but not exclusively), and the other week it’s a speedpaint, so *hint hint* you should subscribe if you haven’t already *hint hint*. I’ll soon run out of covers to upload though, so I should record some more... Ahem.
Anyway, here’s the most recent one I uploaded. The song is a bit obscure if you’re not a dedicated 4minute fan, but it’s one of my favourites!
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And my second cover can’t be embedded due to copyright, but I’ll leave a link for it here so you can check it out! It’s for the song So Good by Kara. The acapella for this one was super fun to record what with all the harmonies and background vocals and stuff.
And of course, I uploaded a few speedpaints as well! There are actually four up on my channel now because one of the speedpaints was split into two parts to prevent a 45 min video lol. So if any of you are interested in seeing my process, check them out! The first one was a birthday gift I made for the amazing @juliajm15 back in March <3
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And the second, split into two parts (lineart and colour), is one I find particularly interesting since it’s more elaborate. I really do like how the colouring came out for this piece!
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So yaaassss, remember to subscribe if you’re into this sort of stuff!
Bonus: Fanart feature!
So you guys, I have some really amazing friends who make some really amazing fanart for me, and I must share.
Where to even begin? I seriously get all teary-eyed when someone takes the time to make something because they enjoyed my story and characters so much *cries*. If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably seen me gush about all the amazing artwork @juliajm15 has done for me over the past couple years, but I wanna shine some light on two of my other good friends and loyal supporters who made some incredible and thoughtful tributes to my little labour of love!
First up are some amazing edits as well as a drawing done by Rachel over at @coffeeandcalligraphy.
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This pretty thing is a fan book cover Rachel made for my first book, Memoirs! I love the aesthetic of the title so much, and there’s some actual symbolism in there with how she chose to colour coordinate the elements; green for Daniel, red for Serena. Just knowing how much thought and care she put into it makes my sentimental little heart swell <3
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These two edits are just GORGEOUS. Once again done by Rachel, she made this for my birthday last year <3
For the first one, she used lyrics from Elton John’s Daniel because I’d mentioned that this song was the perfect message for Hazel to give Daniel, and the little doll reading the book is sooooo adorable because Daniel and Hazel have this thing with reading fairytales together *cries* and then it’s wearing a white nightgown too, which is basically what Hazel always wears since she’s confined to her bed!
For the edit beneath, she picked an actual quote said by Serena to Daniel, and the summer aesthetic with the greeneries and the flower in the background to symbolise the summers they spent together, bah it’s too much! The care and thought put into this makes me emotional all over again, and these edits are just so lovely!!
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And last one: my darling, Daniel! Rachel actually made this for our friendship anniversary a short while ago, and I still feel bad that I didn’t think to make anything for her lmao. She used the ref I found for Daniel, and his face honestly is just so friggin’ adorable, and then she used a quote from Renaissance to go along with it! I seriously have the best and most thoughtful friends in the entire world, like wow.
Another one of my friends who’s been giving me a bunch of cute fanart lately is @sarahkelsiwrites! Just take a look at this adorable drawing she did of Hazel:
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Hazel is a very beloved character, but she doesn’t get nearly as much love in terms of artwork as my other characters, so it’s always so nice when someone remembers her <3
And okay, but this one kills me:
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I literally screamed when she sent me this. LOOK AT HIS TATS HAHAHAHAH. So for some context, basically @coffeeandcalligraphy has a weird fetish for angst, and we started talking about how our characters have different kinds of angst. I started calling her characters angsters, because they angst like it’s cool to angst, aka gangster, aka angster. Rachel then said that Daniel’s angst is elegant, which turned into a really lame pun, and the rest is history...
Long story short, don’t mess with E. Angst’s tea, yo. Much British, very angst.
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And the last one and I DIE CUZ MY BBY LOOKS SO HANDSOME <3 <3 <3 So Sarah brooded that somehow, everytime she tries to draw a girl, it turns into Daniel, but yanno... Can’t complain.
LOOK AT THE SMOOTH LINEART THO. I couldn’t draw smooth lineart for the life of me until I’d had my graphic tablet for like two years. Ugh I love how Danny looks here, his expression is so perfect! Thank you so much @sarahkelsiwrites and @coffeeandcalligraphy for the amazing gifts, I feel so blessed to have such generous, thoughtful and talented friends! <3
So that was all for this time around; I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’ve been working on! I’ll be back soon to summarize my progress on all my projects again, so until next time, folks!
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kusunokihime-a · 8 years ago
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OKAY rant part two time for @littlelilypetal – this time about the more general plot of Arc Three because...reasons.
Also small disclaimer AGAIN for anyone else who pops in here, curious: this is from a fic written from a verse I wrote with two friends LONG before I joined Tumblr. It was written over literally hundreds of pages (I have the threads saved don’t try me boi, and the fic itself is 300,000 words and counting), and it’s very dear to me. It’s nothing that has to happen here, but it’s still a thing, and any whining about OC x Canon pairings will be met with fingers in my ears going lalala can’t hear you.
SO. Small disclaimer: this first part here is still a bit of a WIP, as my original draft had a plot hole in it. This is my attempt at fixing it xD
Arc three starts technically before the end of Shippuden, aka before Sasuke leaves. Ryƫ ends up going with him to raid Obito's old lab to make sure all the Uchiha bodies and parts are properly disposed of or buried. Among them is Itachi's body.
Now, RyĆ« at this point already has Itachi's permission to resurrect him (as noted in the other rant lol - he’s gotta come back and clean up his mess, and take care of his kids), she just doesn't have the means how, as she's lacking his body. And, of course, the body he had was ravaged by illness and worn out, let alone missing its eyes. So, while clearing the lab, she takes a DNA sample without Sasuke's knowledge, and then proceeds to help him clean up. She hasn't told Sasuke her plans yet, as she's still not 100% sure it will work.
As a test, she uses her soul retrieval technique on Neji, managing to retrieve his soul and replace it into his healed corpse. Knowing she can get it to work, she moves forward.
(Quick note about that technique: it's HELLA dangerous. Basically, a person uses a very thin connection to their body, and goes into the void to take ONE soul at a time. BUT, the longer a soul has been departed from the mortal plane, the further away it is – so she can't just take anyone who's died like a hundred years ago. Her limit is like...a few months, at best. But the void constantly eats at her chakra, and if she stays too long, she'll just...die. So it's a powerful technique, but EXTREMELY risky and limited. Hopefully it seems balanced that way ='D)
So, Sasuke then leaves a few months later, and she begins her work. At this point she’s still working in the hospital, focusing on surgeries to give her more time at home with the twins, who are about 8 months at this point. But, after her shifts, she sneaks to the basement of the hospital (aka the morgue), where there are cryogenic pods for storing bodies. They're almost always unused, and it's there she pours every spare ounce of chakra she has into regrowing an entirely new body for Itachi. It takes her months, and she nearly kills herself doing it, using up too much energy, but eventually she finishes it.
After her collapse, Tsunade confronts her, and she has no choice but to reveal her plans. Of course, Tsunade FLIPS her table, because one: that's hella dangerous, and two: how is this going to work? A few select people know the truth behind Itachi, but there's a few issues with him being revived. One is that he's still guilty in most eyes. And even if they break the truth behind the massacre, that's highly dangerous. The administration of Konoha – the Hokage and the elders – WIPED OUT an entire clan due to dissent. If the other clans learned of this, it would surely break the village apart.
Ryƫ announces she has a plan. Due to her connections with Sasuke as his guardian/sibling figure, she's also bumped into most of the Konoha Twelve during her years in Konoha. Most of which are heirs or at least high-ranking members of large clans. She plans to speak to them first, as they're likely the most receptive after everything they faced in the war, and knowing Sasuke's loss as his friends and comrades. By securing their agreement to help with the issue, she hopes to avoid a total meltdown.
She also has a few favors owed to her by the HyĆ«ga, who are arguably the most powerful clan now that the Uchiha are “gone”. One for attempting to protect Hinata during Pain's invasion (I didn't elaborate on that in the other rant, but if I wrote the whole thing out we'd be here for DAYS lol), and then of course reviving Neji. She plans to rely heavily on them and her friendship with Hinata to help keep the other clans in line, by talking to her and Neji first. Hopefully, that way, the HyĆ«ga - already knowing the plan - can lead by example by being calm, and hopefully help the other clans keep from flipping tables.
Unfortunately, Tsunade lets the plan slip to Sakura...who then tattles to Sasuke. She confronts Ryƫ about it, asking why she wouldn't tell him, and Ryƫ argues that she didn't want to get his hopes up if it failed. But, Sasuke shows up anyway, and agrees to stay and help with the plan to break the news about the coup and the massacre.
With Tsunade and Sakura's help, Ryïżœïżœ performs her technique, their Byakugƍ helping bolster her chakra alongside her sage state. Normally, Itachi would have been dead far too long. But thanks to Edo Tensei, the “distance” has sort have been...reset. It wipes her out, but she manages it, and returns the soul to his rebuilt body!
Of course, one thing they have to deal with is getting Itachi mobile. The body is basically the same as a newborn's – it has NO muscle strength, so he ends up needing months of physical therapy to get up and moving. And until he's fit (and able to defend himself, as there's fears he'll be attacked), they work with the young heirs of Sasuke's generation to move their plans forward. RyĆ« has a meeting with the Konoha Twelve and explains everything, and of course they all agree to help.
Once Itachi is ready, the elders are called into a meeting with Tsunade...only to find themselves surrounded by the leaders and heirs of all the major clans. They reveal that they know the truth, that Itachi has returned, and if they refuse to admit to it, they can Edo Tensei summon Hiruzen to confirm their story. Basically backed into a corner, the elders are forced to step down, where they can't bring about anything else like the massacre.
The last thing that remains is Itachi's official pardon. Tsunade decides to use Kakashi's coronation as a platform, as everyone will be gathered anyway. He explains the truth behind the massacre, and official pardons Itachi. But there are some in the crowds that look...less than happy about it.
So, from there, the general premise is how the Uchiha have to get back on their feet – forming an alliance with the HyĆ«ga, and doing their best to settle into Konoha again.
But it doesn't end there :3c
One day, while Itachi is speaking to Kakashi about rejoining the shinobi force, Ryƫ senses an intruder in the compound, walking up the Naka river. She runs out to confront them...only to realize that it's SHISUI.
(which is actually the Shisui from my sideblog lolol)
BASICALLY...I think it's bull that Shisui leapt into a RIVER to dispose of his body...like...really? There's a HUGE chance it would have washed up on shore and been found by gods know who. SO, MY Shisui instead went into hiding – the only way he could know his body was safe was to keep it alive, but have everyone THINK it was dead. Even Itachi. Of course, he PLANNED to die later, but couldn't be 100% sure it would be safe. So instead (super short summary), he lived in a cave along the Naka for about ten years and learned echolocation via chakra from bats (think Toph from ATLA, only with chakra lol)
So...suddenly, Shisui is alive. Ryƫ is ecstatic, of course...but Itachi is PISSED. Because...had he known Shisui was still alive, he might have kept trying. He might not have had to kill the clan. A LOT could have been different. So...it takes time for him to come around, due to the guilt he feels about the massacre, and now knowing there was a chance it could have been avoided. But in reality...not really.
So now we suddenly have five blood Uchiha rather than three: Itachi, Shisui, Sasuke, and the twins. It's obviously nowhere near the clan it was before, but it's more than it was!
And this is where things start to go to shit, lol
So, remember those people, unhappy about Itachi's return? Well...there's a rather volatile group who feel the same way. See, some of the old Root members, led by Danzƍ, still harbor a LOT of resentment, and are still loyal to his memory. Among them is Okano Sumire, a woman obsessed with Danzƍ, who was a high ranking officer under his regime. She's been plotting revenge against Sasuke already for “killing” Danzƍ (though he technically committed suicide), and now she's got a whole lot more to be pissed about. With the massacre's truth revealed, Danzƍ's name is now just...dragged through the mud. And with the revelation of Itachi, she now also knows that the twins are blood Uchiha.
So, she regathers the scattered remnants of Root who are still loyal to Danzƍ, becomes their new leader, and basically begins plotting to wipe out the Uchiha for GOOD, as she feels they are all guilty for Danzƍ’s death and subsequent dishonor.
This causes the family problems all throughout Arc Three. It starts small – threats left on their doorstep, people jeering at them in public, etc. Though it's partially helped by the HyĆ«ga, who – as the Uchiha's allies thanks to RyĆ«'s work with them – do all they can to help bolster the tiny clan's reputation. But Sumire begins spreading dissent into the village with rumors and lies, and eventually things starting getting dangerous, including RyĆ« and the twins being attacked in broad daylight. She manages to hold them off with barriers, but she's obviously pretty freaked out after being attacked in the middle of the street with her KIDS with her.
So that's like...the main conflict, alongside the twins' conflict with each other. They end up on a team with Mirai, as I mentioned, with Shisui as their team leader. They later enter ANBU when able, and do their best to counteract Root. The rest of the story is basically them trying to wipe out Root before Root wipes THEM out. Of course they don’t face it alone, but it’s also pretty much THEIR problem.
And, uh...there's a rather volatile event just before the actual epilogue where it's Ryƫ who confronts Sumire...and someone gets killed.
But I won't spoil that :3c
ANYWAY. So yeah. That's the basic conflict (well, conflictS) of Arc Three. I had to kinda change things a wee bit after chapter 700 and Boruto became a thing, but...it's mostly unchanged. Just gotta account for other kiddos, like Sarada. Otherwise, I’m completely ignoring the PLOT of Boruto, and just sticking the pairings/kids in it to keep close-ish to canon.
But uh..yeah! Second rant, finished xD
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