#our little library snoops!

[happyheidi]

[luna-azzurra]

Character Careers That Aren't Clichés

(because fictional economies deserve better too)

Look. I get it. I do. A hot CEO. A dreamy small-town baker. A moody artist who somehow lives in a massive Brooklyn loft despite only selling two paintings a year. Those characters have their place.

But if you want your story to feel fresh, real, alive — sometimes you’ve gotta ditch the Insta-ready jobs and actually think: What does this person do at 9 a.m. on a Wednesday? What would they complain about after a garbage day at work?

Here’s how to get careers that feel like they belong to an actual human, not a catalog model...

❥ The "Unexpected But Perfect" Career Pick something that makes your reader go, wait, what? and then oh my god, that's so them. Like:

A chaotic, disaster character who’s actually a surprisingly competent funeral director. (Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s weirdly perfect.)

The quiet, overlooked character who’s a locksmith. Always helping people get inside things. Always a little lonely themselves.

The job should reflect the character’s secret self.

❥ The “Soul-Crushing Job They’re Too Good For” Reality Check Not everybody is their Dream Job Self yet. Some characters are stuck. Flipping burgers, filing invoices, answering phones for screaming Karens named Marge. And you know what? There’s story gold there. Give me the character who’s quietly making art out of coffee foam because it’s the only creative outlet they’ve got. Give me the character who’s wasting in a job they hate, but who hums with what could be underneath.

Failure and frustration? Delicious character fuel.

❥ The "Job That Messes With Their Brain" Career Certain jobs change you. Make you hard in weird places and soft in weirder ones. Lean into that.

A paramedic who's numb to blood but cries at dog food commercials.

A social worker who can’t listen to their friends' minor drama without tuning out completely.

A vet tech who talks to animals better than people.

The job should bruise them in little invisible ways.

❥ The “Work Family or Work Frenemies” Setup Office dynamics are like nuclear reactors: volatile, ridiculous, and perfect for drama.

Give them the boss who’s a passive-aggressive nightmare in group emails but buys everyone surprise cupcakes on Fridays.

Give them the coworker they want to strangle and defend to death when someone outside the office talks crap.

Make their work life messy. (Because it IS messy.)

❥ Actual Career Ideas You Can Steal Because I Love You (yes, you have my blessing, take 'em, twist 'em, make them yours)

Travel nurse who secretly dreams of putting down roots

Archivist in a creepy, half-forgotten library wing

Theme park mascot who has existential crises inside the costume

Home inspector who lowkey loves snooping through strangers' houses

Court stenographer who writes fanfiction on the side during boring trials

Aquarium maintenance tech (yes, it’s a thing, yes, it’s hilarious and tragic)

Disaster clean-up specialist (like post-floods, fires, crime scenes , very spicy potential)

Final Truth Bomb: Your character’s job doesn't have to be their whole identity. (Shocking, I know, Hollywood.)

But it should still touch them somehow. It should rub off on the way they move through the world, the way they talk, the way they size up a stranger in five seconds flat. Because we are all shaped by how we spend our hours, whether we mean to be or not.

[artsninspo]

Richmond Inc. | Terrance's Interlude

to be read after part 008

「 ✦ full library & archive ✦ 」 「 ✦ aaron pierre & characters library ✦ 」

♠ authors note: a few of you wanted some insight into Terry's mind, so I wrote this quick little snippet that should explain a few things about him.

♠ warnings: mentions of a mothers death & sexual thoughts

♠ summary: following the events of part 008, we get our fist look into the thoughts of the man himself Terrance Richmond.

♠ pairing: Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre - Rebel Ridge) X Lorence Cole (Black Fem OC)

♠ word-count: ~1.1K

⌖ - Secure Location, Monte Carlo, Monaco

Looking at her suit again he counts the points of impact sustained during the firefight that they’d found themselves in. The worst was at her hip where the decoy had shot when she was trying to help him. Impressions from glass shards as they fell, the worst of which had cut through her dress just under her breast. Then there were the impressions on the feet. While Cassandra hadn’t encountered any fire it was clear that he could have lost Lorence. The realization unsettles him. He paces the length of his room in the safe house while in deep reflection. He’d founded Richmond Inc. because he had the ability to kill proficiently. Only he’d learned quickly that taking lives never fulfilled him the way preserving them did. Lorence Cole’s life was one he couldn't fathom being taken from her. The thought alone caused him chest pain. Her presence in his life felt serendipitous; and he was the last person to believe life's intangibilities. The harshness of life had killed his ‘faith’ in anything outside of what could be proven. If miracles existed and karma was real his mother would have never been killed after committing her life to the improvement of others. If life were fair Lorence would have never even been in that kind of situation.

“Rich, she’s stable. Nothing's broken or sprained, no clots, just a few bruises and a pulled hamstring” Joel says entering the room to update Terry. Joel has always considered Lorence a sister to him and yet he waited to suit up while his boss hadn't spared a moment to plan or protect himself.

“Is she still crying?” Richmond asks, laying the suit back down.

“No, she's trying to make sense of it all��

“She go through shock?” Terry asks.

“Yeah, the shakes,” Joel responds. 

“The authorities are snooping around. Do you want me to handle it?” Joel asks.

“Take point” Terry nods, needing a moment.

“Keep your phone close, in case I need anything” Joel sighs earning a nod from his boss in response.

“Will do” Terry nods.

He’d been too late for his mother. He’d been on the phone with her as she wrapped up with patients for the day. He’d been asking for fast food for their Friday night tradition. He heard the fear in her voice as the client came into her office, he heard her beg the man to stay calm. His babysitter was in the process of calling the authorities when he heard what he’d learn later was the sound of bone cracking and his mother screaming. He’d froze then before deciding to run the ten minute drive to his mothers office. Only then he hadn't been strong enough to keep pace. He hadn't been old enough to drive either. He arrived after the police to see a bloodied woman being lifted onto a gurney. He knew she was dead the way her hand hung lifelessly. Taking a breath Terry shakes the memory out of his head, the trauma of the event bringing him back to the moment where his heart raced so violently he thought his life was over right there. Lorence’s screams had brought him right back there.

He’d redeemed himself and somehow he still felt like a failure for not saving her from the predicament altogether. Being in Lorence’s presence had him thinking of his mother more than ever. His mother was unconventional, she didn’t dote on him like most boy moms do. He was the apple of her eye but never to his own detriment. She spoke to him like he was an adult explaining all of her actions thoroughly. She told him all the secrets to life she knew, and all the paradigms she’d studied even if he wouldn't understand them at such a young age. She called their outings field trips. He was often the only kid in the company of adults. To make things more interesting they played observational games where he learned about body language. Signs of deception, truth, discomfort and the whole nine yards. He’d imagined his mothers smirk on several occasions when Lorence rejected his attempts at kindness. Pride is poison. His mother would often say - she’d been right. Putting his pride aside had worked wonders with Lorence and was the reason he reached the venue to protect her.

His thoughts go back to the truth, the full extent of it. The reason he’d been so tense during his first meeting with Lorence. The reason he’d grilled her was to be sure she was a qualified candidate and not a desperate attempt by Cassandra to pull him out of depression. It would’ve worked too if she'd been a hooker like he thought. If it weren't for the barber's cape covering him, every attendee in the room would’ve known he was thinking with his dick. He found himself staring all the time during those first few weeks of her employment waiting for her to disappear, for her to not be real, for her face to be some kind of high level prosthetic sorcery. His thoughts would oscillate then to her coming into his office and letting him have his way with her. He's order her to strip and then fuck her right there in his office. Terry dug deep to find deceptionand ulterior motives but there were childhood and graduation photos to confirm she was real and exactly who she claimed to be. He’d verified the metadata on his own. Lorence’s presence was making him so crazy he looked into the social media profiles associated with her to be sure nothing was a foot. Then he sought her out a few times, only she avoided him like the plague. That had made him angry, women seldom refused his advances, half the time they came to him but not Lorence who looked at him like he was the boogieman. Eventually Richmond took the hint because just seeing her around made him feel again. He found himself thinking about her at random. Looking through her files for information about her. Weighing his options. Trying to conceive of ways to get closer before giving up altogether. But the other night had changed all that for him. She had let her guard down and walked alongside him for hours. She was unguarded and somehow more beautiful. She was real. And by some strange coincidence she’d come to know Joel and started working for him just as he’d begun to give up. It was unspoken, the minute he’d seen her eyes - he’d been hers. After possibly losing her, now it was time to accept it.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this quick look into Terry's mind. Chapter 009 should be out sometime before the end of this week. Just in case you missed it (I don't think any of you did 😆) I was playing coy about the origins of Terry's attraction. No Lorence doesn't look like his mother. There's no weird Oedipus complex going on. But there is a reason Cassandra would know Lorence is his type. Lets see if any of you can guess it 😉

next part 009

TAGS:

@wnbweasley @becauseimher @ariiaeltheedonn @woahthatshitfat @miniaturehideoutmentality @kokobells @ffenthusiastt @sowhatariyana

@theegoddessofmelanin @fictionalreads @roxytheimmortal @fairytale07 @rampsen @rosey1981 @lauraaan182 @lynaye1993 @g1g1l @writingsbytee @different-fandomz @rose-bliss

@loveschrisbrown20 @cherrybeedotcom @ariiaellbtheedonn @motheroffae @prettylilteine @thabiddie23 @next-bex-bet @magik22 @slvt4her @blckblossom @gopaperless

@naughtynolly-blog @daddiespamm @blackmoonchilee @nikkireeds553 @lovedlover @akiwioflife @shurisleftearring @piscesdashcam @bettybelle @kaystacks17 @notapradagurl7

@hotebonynearby  @armani9-9 @wildcardmelaninfreak @blackgurlkillinit @rigatonitony

[carolrain]

Bookshelf Snoop Cruise

@mostlyinthemorning asked us to share our bookshelves so we can all look at one another's books, so here I am.

I didn't dust even though it was badly needed, and I just moved in have been in this house five years but can't seem to get it together, so this feels a little imperfect and vulnerable.

This is an old photo (now it has a stack of dusty books on the top too!), but the picture books are organized all by color. Some are from my childhood but most are not:

More children's books, but these are all mine. This is also an old photo taken when I first set them up, as evidenced by the lack of dust and all that empty space. These are mostly by author's last name:

Cookbooks, recipe binders, sheet music, cheap little photograph books, random green tiger (??), broken Rainbow Dash mug, years-old child-made diorama, stack of book covers, arranged by vibes and neglect:

Okay, I have twelve more photos, so I'll make a break here and hope this is intriguing enough that you click through.

This is a small, unresolved disaster that requires an explanation, I think. I made this bookshelf out of an old set of drawers. I got the idea from Pinterest! It was very cute! However, I am not a woodworker. Or a physicist or an engineer. Or someone with proper tools. But here it was in happier days in a crowded little apartment that also looks extra junky because I was in the process of moving out:

Then I moved it halfway across the country in a truck and it became even less stable:

Which is why my nonfiction collection looks like this:

The books don't even all fit, and I want to put a piano where it is. So I need a new bookshelf and a better location.

The nonfiction is in Library of Congress call number order (I do not have spine labels, just a spreadsheet):

Mmm, well, a lot of psychology, religious studies, marriage and family, women's studies, words and writing, and a surprising number of books about cats.

And then my main collection is organized by birth year of the author. So it is a march through time (Homer through Casey McQuiston). This is fiction, literature, biography, some literary criticism shelved with its subjects, etc.

Here's the first shelf. I will zoom in a little for better snooping, and then I'll show you the other shelf.

(I really think this is the exact bookshelf that Noah Reid has in some of his Instagram videos? The green shelf behind his piano? Am I making that up?)

So that was The Odyssey through Sarah Vowell (b. 1969), and then it continues over here on the second and third shelf from the top, where the order starts to disintegrate. I haven't decided if I'm keeping the horizontal ones, so they are not interfiled, and there are a few authors I can't find birthdates for.

The top shelf is anthologies and a little bit writing-related.

And then, down here, reference books, and a bit of oversize and miscellaneous.

Not pictured: Maybe a dozen books in various places around the house (nightstand, table, next to two different chairs) that I'm "currently" reading; a small stack I just bought at a library book sale; a handful of oversize nonfiction; approximately thirty craft books in a tub; two more bookcases and a raskog cart full of my preteen's books, a tub of YA books from my youth in the garage; and, inexplicably, a collection of my ex-husband's childhood books (also in the garage) that he thinks the child should want to read and cherish, but she disagrees.

Well. Does anyone else want to share their bookshelves? I'll tag @jamilas-pen @a-noble-dragon @trickiwooao3 @characterassassination-at-9am @flowertrigger but anyone should jump in.

And I'll tag back @mammameesh, who has already posted and tagged me as well.

[annachum]

Considering how Stella is hardly ever present at Octavia's childhood drawings

I can imagine some very awkward conversations between Stella and Octavia in Sinsmas

Stella : All that I've done for you, from help tutoring you to escorting you to fencing lessons -

Octavia : That was usually dad

Stella : Wha - * pauses * Then what about all the times I accompany you to those theatre lessons your grandmummy ( Amethyst ) signed you up for?

Octavia : Again, it's usually dad who takes me there.

Stella :..... Do you even have ANY appreciation all that I've done for you?

Octavia : Well, you are hardly ever there with me except for all those times in public events or trying to get me into one of your parties. You are almost always at those parties anyway, so I don't understand why you even try act like you're involved all of the sudden.

Stella : BECAUSE YOUR GOOD FOR NOTHING FATHER SOILED OUR NAME WITH THIS IMP!!! HE ABANDONED YOU FOR HIM!!!

Octavia : * gets up and leaves with headphones in her ears *

Stella : Octavia?! COME BACK, YOU UNGRATEFUL GIRL! ALL THESE TIMES I LET YOUR FATHER RAISE YOU AND YOU TURN OUT AS UNGRATEFUL AS HE IS!

But Octavia didn't hear it. She just wandered to the guest room and began snooping for the truth of things.

Andrealphus : You know, dear Via, your mother sacrificed SO MUCH just to put up with your sorry father.

Octavia : Like those parties that she hosted that nearly blew up the finances?

Andrealphus :.....

Andrealphus : Yes about that....it was STOLAS who influenced her to do this!

Octavia : * raises eyebrow * Really? Last I remember he was more of a library person than a party person. * leaves *

Andrealphus : * face palms and sighs * This girl is getting more stubborn by the day.

Upon Octavia finding out the truth of things

Stella : * pops up at the basement * ( icily ) What on Earth are you doing?

Octavia : Mother -

Stella : * looms closer, menacingly * Didn't I tell you that. The. Basement. Is. FORBIDDEN?!

Octavia : No. Stop. I've seen it all and I can't unsee it.....is it true you abused Dad all these years.....and he didn't tell me?

Stella : * froze, then tries to act tender to Octavia * Via, dearest, please * about to approach her *

Octavia : * demon voice * NO! ENOUGH! * demon form and magic burst to push away Stella *

Octavia : All these years, I tried SO HARD to truly connect with you. I TRIED to make you see, all my accomplishments, including my theatre classes and fencing classes. * almost in tears * But I see now that you cared for only yourself rather than me, YOUR OWN DAUGHTER. And....not even Dad. I thought you at least tried to make things work between you and Dad....BUT YOU SENT ASSASINS TO KILL HIM!

Stella : WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU -

Octavia : * shows Stella the drawings of Stella killing Stolas *

Stella : * demon voice * YOUR FATHER'S POISON ON YOU IS FAR GREATER THAN I ANTICIPATED. I THOUGHT ID WHISK YOU AWAY FROM YOUR SORRY OTHER RELATIVES!

Octavia : ENOUGH LIES! I SEE THE MONSTER YOU ARE! WELL, IF YOU WANT A FIGHT, STELLA! I SHALL GIVE IT TO YOU! LETS FUCKING GO -

Stella instantly burns Octavia's arms with a snap of her fingers

Octavia : * tries to extinguish it with magic, but the fire is stronger than she thought *

Stella : * sneering * Pathetic. That's what you get for disobeying your MOTHER. Is THIS how you repay me? As if me destroying your father for you isn't enough, I shall do a little reminder of who's in charge here....

Octavia : * screaming in pain * STELLA! NO! YOU ARE HURTING ME!

Andrealphus : * comes in just in time * Oh, Via! Just in time to call you that some RUFFIANS are infiltrating the castle!

Octavia : HELP ME FIRST, ANDRE!

Andrealphus : Yeah, about that. * Snaps his fingers, entire basement went from wildfire to polar ice, and Octavia passes out in a mind control trance. *

Bonus :

After a dramatic ass fight to save Octavia later ( which includes Vassago breaking the mind control spell on Octavia and Vassago create a portal for Stolas and Octavia to escape )

At Blitzo's office

Stolas : * fretting as he helps heal her arms *

Octavia : Dad....I'm sorry.....I shouldn't have said those horrible things....* crying * I shouldn't have....

Stolas : Via, listen to me. I. Forgive. You. And you were indeed under mind control. Just rest and let me take care of you.

Octavia : Thanks......* telepathically floats a bowl of canned chicken soup Stolas made for her and eats it * Where are the others?

Stolas : Oh, they have unfinished business to attend to, but they will arrive shortly

Stolas and Octavia had a long heart to heart talk, and the two began singing You Will be Okay together ( reprise )

Soon after that, IMP and Vassago returns via Vassago's portal

Blitzo : YEAAAAAAAH! WE DONE IT! THOSE 2 POMPOUS FREAKS RAN AWAY!!!!

Vassago : Well, they are going to Sloth.....but we need more back up than ever on an upcoming battle between Pride and Sloth

Millie : I'm glad we are all safe and sound now!

Moxxie : Jeez, FINALLY away from the Marquis' bitch whining!

Loona : You okay, girl? * hugs Octavia *

Octavia : Yeah.....Thanks, Loona

And then Vassago did a protection spell on Octavia to protect her from further mind control attempts, and then Stolas and Vassago had calls with the rest of the Goetias, and arrangements are made for Octavia to stay with her paternal grandparents after New Years day for extra safety, until the whole mess is over

Well at least Octavia can spend Sinsmas at the IMP office Sinsmas party. Loona also prepared for a sleeping bag for Octavia in her room. It isn't much, but Octavia already felt like home with her new family

[captonite]

Learning To Love Her

(Post-Hospital Comfort Scenes – Pancakes, Stick-Figures & Soft Brother Moments)

Dean vs. Pancakes

The day Sachi came home from the hospital, she was quieter than usual—which was saying something. She shuffled around in Dean’s hoodie, the sleeves comically long on her small arms. Sam had to keep tucking it over her fingers so she wouldn’t trip.

Dean watched her curl up on the couch with a blanket and a sketchbook, her bandaged side stiff. He hated how pale she looked.

“She needs to eat,” Dean mumbled.

Sam nodded. “You gonna cook?”

Dean blinked. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll… I’ll make pancakes. She likes those, right?”

Sam raised a brow. “Since when do you make pancakes?”

Dean shrugged, already heading to the kitchen. “Since now.”

He destroyed the first batch.

Burnt the second.

Third came out okayish—a little floppy, a little undercooked—but covered in whipped cream and strawberries.

Dean plated them with dramatic flair and walked over, setting the plate in front of Sachi like it was a gourmet meal.

She blinked at it.

Then at him.

Then quietly mumbled, “Did… did you make these?”

Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. I, uh, kinda suck at it. But they’re edible.”

She picked up a fork. Took a bite.

Then her eyes went wide.

Dean stiffened. “Bad?”

She shook her head quickly. “Best pancakes I’ve ever had.”

Dean smiled. Bright and real.

“Good. Because that whipped cream? It cost like five bucks and I almost stabbed a dude at the grocery store for the last can.”

She giggled. Just a little.

Dean’s heart cracked open a little more.

---

Sam and the Stick-Figures

Sam walked past the library, arms full of books, when he spotted her at the table.

Sachi was alone, brow furrowed in concentration. Crayons, markers, and a sketchpad scattered across the table.

He didn’t mean to snoop. He really didn’t.

But when he saw the drawing, he stopped cold.

It was a picture of the bunker.

Three stick figures stood in front of it.

One was tall with long hair and a book.

The other had a tiny smile, spiky hair, and pie in one hand.

And between them—a smaller figure. Messy hair. A bandaid on the belly. A speech bubble that read: “I’m okay!”

Above it, she’d written:

“My Family”

Sam swallowed hard.

She looked up and saw him staring.

Her eyes went wide.

He rushed to speak. “That’s really good, Chubs.”

She blinked. “You… You like it?”

He nodded. “Yeah. A lot. Is that me with the book?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Mmhm.”

He crouched beside her. “Can I keep this?”

She hesitated. “You want it?”

“I want everything you draw,” he said softly.

She smiled.

A real one.

Sam felt his throat tighten.

---

Dean: The Blanket Tuck-In Master

That night, Dean passed her room and heard soft, labored breathing.

Not quite crying. But not sleeping either.

He pushed the door open gently.

Sachi was curled up small on her bed, clinging to one of Sam’s old sweatshirts like a teddy bear.

Dean walked over, knelt down beside her.

“You okay, baby?”

She sniffled. “Just sore.”

He brushed her hair back.

“You’re safe here. I promise.”

She hesitated. “You’re not mad I got hurt?”

Dean’s voice cracked.

“Mad? Sweetheart, I was terrified. Thought I was gonna lose you.”

He pulled the blanket up and tucked it around her, gently and slowly.

“You’re our baby, Chubs. You’re not going anywhere.”

She blinked sleepily. “You called me Chubs.”

Dean smiled. “Yeah. Deal with it.”

---

BONUS: Sam's Overprotective Mode, Activated

The next week, they were at a gas station when a car rolled up.

Two men got out.

Big. Rough. Familiar.

Sachi froze.

Dean saw it first. The color drain from her face.

Then the older man sneered. “There she is. We’ve been looking for you, brat.”

Sachi clutched Sam’s jacket.

Dean stepped in front of her, hand on his gun. “You better back off.”

“She’s our blood,” the guy snarled. “You had no right—”

“She’s our sister,” Sam snapped. “And if you lay a hand on her again, I’ll bury you.”

The man reached for his belt—

Sam moved first.

Punched him so hard he hit the pavement.

Dean tackled the other one.

When it was over, both men were groaning, face-down.

Sam turned to Sachi, kneeling in front of her.

“You okay, baby?”

She nodded tearfully.

Sam pulled her into a hug.

“No one’s ever gonna take you again. Ever.”

[jiliansky-blog]

I will find my way back to you. Chapter 7. The key and the Hell.

Pairing: Morpheus x FemaleReader

Rating: PG

Words: 1770

You need to calm down your own jealousy because he had other problems on his hands. And you didn’t want to trouble him with knowledge of Fates words as well. And then you didn't even have a chance to talk.

Everything started the next night. When you were talking about the way to gain immortality, Morpheus thought it was impossible. And then you were interrupted.

“My lord,” said Lucienne. “There are a lot of delegations.”

“What delegations?” he asked.

“Fairies and gods,” she replied.

“What is going on?” you asked.

“I have a feeling that they came because of the key,” Morpheus sighed. “Now everyone wants it for themselves.”

“Oh god,” you sighed. “Now you have full hands.”

“I suspect that was Lucifer’s purpose from the beginning,” he said. “You should stay there while I talk to them.”

“What? Again?” you asked.

“It’s not safe for you,” Morpheus said. “No one of them is mortal. And all of them can have their plane for you.”

“But they don’t even know who you are,” you said.

“Your presence here is enough,” he replied. “They can think you are important to me. And then I can use you as a pawn.”

“And am I?” you asked.

“What?” he asked, looking at me.

“Important for you?” you smiled.

“Perhaps,” he smirked. “And I would like you to stay safe. Don’t mess with things or powers you don’t understand.”

He didn’t give you the chance to answer. He just went away and left you in the library. Sometimes you want to kick him hard.

“Is he always like that?” you asked Lucienne.

“Almost,” she replied. “Why didn’t you tell me about Fates?”

“I didn’t want to worry him,” you said. “And now he didn’t have time for this.”

“Yes, that was very unexpected,” she said.

Actually, you were a little bit worried that he would stop loving you after all of this stuff. Or he won’t let you come here while there are a lot of other creatures.

When you poked at the library, you could take a glance. You see, someone is there. In the corridors. A blonde man with pointy ears. He looked at you with curiosity. How did he know you were here?

“What’s wrong?” asked Lucienne, when you returned to the library.

“I think one fairy saw me,” you said. “Shouldn’t they all be in the throne room, discussing some matter with Morpheus?”

“They should,” she frowns. “Perhaps, he was snooping around. You better not go outside anytime soon. Just in case.”

You sighed with annoyance. But perhaps she was right. You didn’t know what to expect from Morpheus’s guest. Also, you wanted to go to his bedroom, but now you can’t. You thought he could go there after the meeting if he was too tired.

“Don’t worry.” Lucienne seemed to read your mind. “He will come here. He can sense your presence even now.”

“I see,” you replied.

The waiting was too long. You thought that you were going to wake up, waiting for Morpheus. And finally, he came.

“Hey?” you smiled at him. “How was the meeting?”

“Long,” he said. “There came more than fairies and gods. Angels, demons, and other representatives from other realms.”

“What are you going to do now?” you asked.

“I need to think to whom I am going to give the key,” he said. “And not to think about what it can cause in the future.”

“And are they going to stay here?” you asked.

“Yes,” he nodded. “This night. So you better wake up. See later.”

He kissed the top of your head, and you woke up. Why has everything suddenly became so difficult with this key?

Morpheus

I had trouble with the key matter. But I couldn't notice that Y\N was troubled by something else as well. I could take a look at her mind, but I didn’t want to. I was sure she would tell me when she had to. Furthermore, I have enough worries for now.

“Is everything alright, my lord?” asked Lucienne when Y\N was gone.

“For now,” I replied. “I hope anyone from our guests will cause any trouble. I wouldn’t want to take measures.”

“Y\N said that one of the fairies was in the corridors,” he said.

“Did he see her?” I frowned.

“I suppose yes,” she nodded. “But she hid after that.”

“Did she get in any trouble?” I asked.

“Not that I know,” she replied.

“I see,” I said. “Thank you for telling me.”

At least a little bit clearer, her strange behavior. And also, did she really think that I forgot her as fast as I returned from Hell?

“She is very determined, isn’t she?” asked Lucienne.

“She is,” I smiled softly.

She wanted to say something else, but changed her mind. She just sighed and returned to work. On the next day, some representatives wanted to change my mind. And demons had other offers. They brought Nada.

“Give us the key, and we will return the soul you wanted,” said Azazel.

“What about you? Let Nada go, and I will think about your offer.” I asked, annoyed by this blackmailing. They forget where they are.

“We can eat her, and we can eat you two!” they said.

I almost laughed. They dare to play and threaten me in my own realm. I let him think that he won and then caught in a trap, saving Nada’s soul.

“You forget that you are in my world,” I said, looking at the bottle. “I control everything here. You can do me harm here.”

“We have your girl!” said the other demon.

“Not anymore,” I said. “Now leave.”

Then fairies came to ask me a second time. They brought a girl with them.

“We can leave Nuala to serve,” said the blond fairy. “Or bring you something else that you desire, if you give us the key.”

“I don’t need anyone to serve or anything else from you,” I said. If I let this fairy girl stay here, Y\N wouldn’t understand.

“And what about the girl?” asked Cluracane, that blonde fairy.

“What girl?” I narrowed my eyes.

“That I saw in your palace,” he said. “I suppose she is a human.”

“She is merely a dreamer who wondered about my castle by chance,” I said. I wouldn’t give him the chance to mess with her.

“I see,” he smirked. “So I will wait for your answer.”

After that, I made the decision to give the key to angels. They should take care of hell. God created it, so it is going to be his worry now.

Then I came to the room where I left Nada. She looked tired and lost. But when she saw me, anger and betrayal flamed in her eyes.

“So you take me to your kingdom eventually,” she said, displeased.

“Only to free you from Hell,” I said. “I was wrong. I am sorry.”

“Is that the only thing you want to say?” she said. “I am sorry. You damned me to death and ten thousand years in Hell.”

And suddenly, she slapped me. At that moment, the door opened, and I saw Y\N, who stared at us with confusion. And then her expression grew cold.

“Am I interrupting something?” she asked.

“Y\N, that is Nada,” I said. “The woman I told you about.”

“The woman who was in Hell,” she said.

“The woman whom he condemned to Hell,” Nada said.

“I’m sorry, I just want to know something,” Y\n replied. “If you knew that the relationship between mortals and the Endless was forbidden, why did you come here back then?

“I didn’t know he was Endless,” she frowned.

“Oh, so you found your way in, to a different realm,” Y\n continued. “The way is not just falling asleep, and who did you expect to see? Human?”

“How could I know?” she hissed. “I thought, maybe a prince from another dimension.”

“I think you didn’t think at all,” Y\n said. “You were acting on a whim.”

“And what about you?” she asked. “Who are you?”

“She is my partner,” I said.

“Another mortal?” she almost screamed. “Are you insane, girl? Do you know what follows? How dare you blame me?”

“We didn’t do anything to destroy my world,” Y\n replied calmly. “And actually, I love him strong enough to look for a way to break this rule.”

“I…” Nada was lost for worlds. “I need to rest.”

“Of course, you can stay here.” I left and took Y\n with me to the other room. I was shocked by the entire conversation. Furthermore, I didn’t expect Y\n to attack her.

“Oh, she can stay in your room now?” Y\n asked.

“She was confused and tired,” I said. “I didn’t expect you to attack her. You were wrong. It was my fault; what happened to her?”

“Yes, it was, but she is not an angel,” she said. “She could know what or who she finds in another dimension. Her actions are strange. I’m sorry, but she didn’t care for you.”

I felt hurt and betrayed again. And I didn’t want to dwell on it.

“You didn’t know what you could do after what you said,” I said. “The love confession is a death sentence in my mouth.”

“Or nothing,” she said. “I would feel if something happened. Listen, I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t argue with her. I just…I’m afraid to lose you.”

I sighed too. Likewise, I didn’t want to hurt her, but it was pleasant to know that at least someone was afraid to lose me.

“If you want, I will make you another room.” I smiled.

“No, I don’t want another room,” she smirked. “I want you.”

“Are you alright, though?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied. “You?”

“It’s over,” I said. “I gave away the key. Now everyone shall leave my palace before tomorrow. So I wouldn’t recommend you walk through corridors.”

“No one saw me,” she said, hugging me. “And I missed you. You were so busy these days, I hardly talk to you.”

“I missed you too,” I kissed the top of her head. “I just try to keep you safe. I don’t know what others can do. Especially when Cluracane has seen you.”

“Is that a fairy?” she asked carefully.

“Yes,” I nodded. “I know that he saw you. And he was interested in you. That is why I need to be careful for me.”

“Alright,” she smiled and kissed my cheek. “But please, can you stay with me?”

“Very well, if you will be an obedient girl,” I smiled. “And you won’t try to get into more trouble.”

“I promise,” she smiled, and I kissed her. I almost forgot how to be loved.

@shadowqueen1318 @mypsychoticlove @justathirstyhoe​ @ladymoztaza @sapphireonline @deniixlovezelda

[wholoveseggs]

Moonlight - Chapter Thirteen

A woman’s life is turned completely upside-down when she encounters some demons in the woods.

I will be putting specific warnings for each chapter as they come out, there is smut and violence in some but I'll tag those chapters accordingly.

If you rather read this on Ao3- Link is here

3k Words - Warnings: None.

{Masterlist} - {Chapter list} Chapter Twelve - Chapter Thirteen - Chapter Fourteen

Union

The ceremony was about to begin, and she still hadn't seen him. Patience had always been her virtue, but her nerves were starting to fray. She was mere moments away from achieving her goal, the taste of it almost sweeter than blood.

To calm herself, she started snooping around, making her way up to the second floor. Almost immediately, she found the library, and it was like being transported back in time to the old hall. Picking up a book and flipping through it with the same enthusiasm she had an eternity ago, she could almost feel his arms around her again, his lips trailing along her shoulder. Back then, she was a different person, a lost and broken soul who knew nothing of the world. The girl she used to be could never imagine the beautiful people and places she would come across, as well as the fulfilling lives she would lead. Yet, that girl possessed something Emma wanted more than all of that, something she hoped to have again.

The sound of live music reached her ears, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. She wandered back towards the ballroom from the second floor. That's when she saw him, standing next to Klaus, looking down on the proceedings. He looked amazing, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his dark suit impeccably tailored. Still as handsome as ever. Klaus turned and looked at her, giving her a cheeky smile, pressing his index finger to his lips. Fucker, she thought.

She moved closer, standing next to him, and looked down at the bride and groom as they exchanged vows. For the first time in centuries, she looked up at Elijah's face, his dark eyes fixed below. He hadn't noticed her yet, his gaze filled with deep sorrow as he watched the bride. Her heart broke for him; he was exactly as she remembered, but there was more pain hidden behind his eyes. She wanted to reach out and caress his face, tell him that everything was going to be okay. Below them, the bride and groom kissed, and the crowd erupted in howls and cheers. That's when he looked at her.

It was like something had cracked open in her mind, and everything she had forgotten about her human life came flooding back. Tomas' face swam to the surface, his agonized screams echoing as Elijah twisted his leg. How could she have forgotten the look in his dark eyes as he snuffed the life out of her husband? The problem was that he was giving her the same look now.

"Emma," he said coldly, glancing at Klaus, who leaned against the railings, watching them with an amused look on his face. "How?" He muttered to Klaus. "Is this the work of Finn or Esther?"

Deep pained humiliation coursed through her whole body. She felt incredibly stupid for doing this. A small, sad part of her had hoped for an epic reunion. She had imagined his arms wrapping around her as they both whispered apologies for ancient mistakes. Her cheeks flushed red, and she started to walk away, ready to run as far away from New Orleans as possible.

Klaus chuckled, "It's really her brother. Our one and only lost little lamb has finally found her way home."

Elijah grabbed her arm; it was the first time in a long time she was up against someone stronger than her. Flashes of Tomas with his hands around her throat clouded her mind with fear.

Then she felt his hand caress her cheek, his eyes raking over every detail of her face. He looked deep into her eyes, with the same warm look he used to give her.

"Emma," he said, his voice cracking. He placed a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her into a tight embrace, his familiar scent overwhelming her senses. The feeling of being in his arms made her feel so safe and protected, just as she remembered.

"Hello, dark one," she said softly, burying her face in his shoulder.

"How?" He stuttered, pulling back to look at her face, his hands gripping her waist.

"Well, after we parted, I kept on living. Yada yada, centuries passed, now I'm here," she responded, her nerves completely destroying her ability to speak eloquently.

He chuckled, affectionately tucking her hair behind her ear as a warm smile spread across his handsome face. She felt Klaus moving behind her, heading to another room. Elijah's eyes locked onto him, his expression hardening, his smile disappearing into a thin line.

"Forgive me, I will be right back," he said to her softly. "Please, do not leave." He let go of her and followed his brother, his shoulders hunched and angry.

Emma stood there for a moment, looking down at the wedding party. The stunning bride was greeting her guests, a beautiful smile on her face as she held hands with her new husband. Emma let out a long sigh, a sense of relief washed over her, then a sense of dread. I finally found him, now what? She thought.

She couldn't help but eavesdrop on Klaus and Elijah arguing in the other room. Naturally, Klaus wanted to kill the groom, and noble Elijah wasn't going to let that happen. "Face the facts, you are even now forcing yourself to deny. You want Jackson dead just as much as I do. In fact, I think you want it more."

It amused her how little they had changed over the centuries. Elijah would always do what's right, regardless of what he desired. Klaus would always tell you the painful truth, regardless of how it would hurt you. She could hear Elijah follow Klaus deeper into the compound, probably finding a more private location to continue their argument. She wandered in the other direction, taking in the decor of their home; everything about it was just so them. She heard the sounds of a baby cooing, a strange sound to hear in the present environment. She followed it and, to her surprise, found Cami sitting in a rocking chair, holding precious new life.

Cami looked up at her, her expression mildly fearful. "You shouldn't be here," she said, gripping the baby closer to her.

"Fucking hell, Cami, do you think I'm going to hurt the baby?" Emma laughed. "What did I do to make you think I'm some sort of diabolical monster?"

Cami let out a relieved sigh, "I'm sorry; it's been a crazy few weeks."

Emma took in the room, a beautifully built cradle and one of Klaus' paintings on the wall. "Is this… Klaus's child?" Emma stuttered, rendered speechless by the revelation.

"Yes," said Cami softly, smiling down at the baby. "Her name is Hope."

Emma felt tears welling up in her eyes. It was probably the most beautiful news she had heard in a long time. "That's… She's… Beautiful."

Emma looked at the perfect baby girl in Camis arms; she couldn't believe such miracles really existed.

Cami looked up at Emma, "How was your reunion with Elijah?" She asked, surveying Emma's face, she could see that her eyes were a bit teary; the icy beauty was actually moved by the existence of Hope.

"Brief," Emma said, walking to the window and looking down at the street below. "Hopefully, to be continued."

"What happened between you two?" Cami asked.

"He went off to argue with Klaus," Emma responded.

"No, I meant what happened back then." Cami prodded, her eyes fixed on Emma's blank expression; the woman reminded her a lot of Elijah. She controlled her emotions so well it was almost frightening.

Emma looked at Cami, her expression softening. "What have you heard?" She asked.

"That the entire family loved you, protected you, and killed for you. Then one day you disappeared," Cami said cautiously.

"That is a bit of an exaggeration, Marcel is such a little gossip," Emma replied.

Cami chuckled, "True."

Emma turned and sat next to Cami, looking down at Hope with a sweet smile on her face. "Alright, I'll tell you, but I expected client confidentiality."

Cami nodded, watching Emma closely.

"And Hope, I expect you to keep your mouth shut," Emma joked, gently squeezing the baby's foot.

Cami stood and placed the baby in her crib, then sat down with Emma, giving her complete attention.

Emma shifted uncomfortably for a moment and then began. "Long story short, I was a naïve village girl who caught the eye of a certain Mikaelson. He saved me from a wretched existence, and I traveled with him and his family for a time. All I craved was absolute freedom, and they granted it to me. I reveled in their company, partaking in every hedonistic act I desired. Klaus and I had a particular affinity in that regard." Emma paused, her gaze on Cami with a wistful smile. "Yet, as time passed, there was only one thing I couldn't obtain—eternity."

Cami nodded, her interest piqued. "They didn't want to turn you?"

"Elijah didn't," Emma said in a hushed tone. "He believed I wasn't ready, and I began to resent him for it. I thought he wanted me to remain his delicate little flower, something he needed to protect. Little did I know, he saw a darkness within me, and he understood that if I were turned, it would consume me."

Cami reached out, taking Emma's hand in a reassuring gesture. Emma's façade of perfection had crumbled, revealing the vulnerable village girl beneath.

Emma took a deep breath, composing herself, and continued, "I persuaded Klaus to turn me behind Elijah's back. I begged him. He relented, thinking he could guide me. However, once I rose from the dead, I went on an uncontrollable rampage."

Cami couldn't help but shudder at the mental image of Emma wreaking havoc.

"After a few days, Elijah found me; I had left a trail of devastation through an entire town. When he saw me, I was drenched in blood, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of my victims. I told him that we could now be together for eternity." Emma released Cami's hand, turning her gaze away in shame.

A few moments passed in silence, Emma's face painted with a mix of pain and regret. "I'll never forget the look on his face," she whispered, "He was heartbroken and ashamed of me." She wiped a tear from her cheek, shaking her head slightly and composing herself.

"So I ran away, literally, vampire sped away for hours," Emma chuckled bitterly. "It took me years to pull myself together. When I finally mustered the courage to search for them, they were long gone. The town I massacred had attracted Mikael's attention."

"What did you do next?" Cami asked.

"I encountered other vampires, although during those times, we didn't identify ourselves as such. I made sporadic attempts to locate the Mikaelsons over the centuries, but eventually, I abandoned the search. I moved forward with my life, dedicating myself to bringing beauty into the world rather than chaos. Fell in love numerous times and broke numerous hearts. But Elijah's face was always there in the back of my mind, like a ghost I could never forget."

Emma shrugged and stood up; she felt jittery and exposed. She walked back to the window, watching the raucous wedding party dance through the streets. She loved the culture of this city; it was so rich and lively.

"So, there you have it, my story. Feel free to incorporate it into your thesis if you wish. My research focused on how the fear of damnation can influence one's perspective on the meaning of life," Emma stated with a playful grin, turning toward Cami.

Cami smiled back, genuinely interested. "What were your findings?"

"I'll let you know when I've figured it out," Emma chuckled.

They both fell into a comfortable silence, watching the party below as baby Hope slept. Emma could faintly make out Klaus and Elijah arguing from across the compound; she parsed through the sounds of the party below, honing in on their location, she couldn't resist listening closer.

"It's amusing, listening to you defend the man who married the woman you love. But then you have always coveted that which is not yours to have." She heard Klaus yell.

The sound of a saxophone prevented her from hearing Elijah's response, so she walked away from the window, hoping to catch it again.

"... now perhaps a better man has entered Hope's life and seeing that you are shaken to your core." She heard Elijah respond.

"You have the audacity to analyze me? That's ambitious, considering your psychological deficiencies. How was your time with my therapist? Was it helpful? Because it was a great risk leaving you alone with her. These days, who knows what you might do." Klaus yelled, his voice full of Shakespearean rage.

Emma looked to Cami as she casually watched Hope, a gentle smile on her face. She really wanted to know what was up with Elijah; it was definitely more than a broken heart.

"Anything you can tell me about Elijah's mental state?" Emma asked Cami.

Cami's eyes widened, "I think you should ask him yourself," she said, giving Emma a sympathetic look.

Emma sighed; Cami was right, she just didn't want to have that difficult conversation with him. She could hear the guests returning to the compound for the reception, along with footsteps coming towards their location.

"I see you've met my daughter," said Klaus, passing by her and taking his child from Cami.

"She's beautiful," Emma replied; it warmed her heart to see her old friend like this. She had never seen him so at peace.

She sensed that Klaus wanted a moment alone with Cami, so she said a quick goodbye and headed back towards the ballroom. She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Elijah, his dark eyes full of sadness.

"Emma," he said softly. "I apologize for earlier; I had important matters to discuss with my brother,"

"It's alright," Emma replied; she suddenly felt very awkward around him.

"Can we talk?" He asked, motioning to an empty room.

She nodded and followed him, sitting on an ornate loveseat. She watched him cross the room and turn on a lamp; its warm glow casting shadows on the bookshelves.

He grabbed a bottle and two glasses from an old globe bar stand. She observed his hands as he poured; it was a strange sensation to look back on your life and see what stands out. For some reason, she always remembered his hands.

He handed her a glass, then sat across from her, his face shrouded in shadow. She had waited for this moment for centuries, going over in her head what she would say. But at the moment, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I'm sorry about the bride; her name is Hayley right? I was told you really care for her." She said, immediately feeling foolish for bringing it up.

He looked down at his drink, his brow furrowed. "She did what had to be done for the family," he said quietly. He looked at her, surveying her face, his eyes slowly descending down her body. "Why are you here? After all this time."

"I was feeling nostalgic," she responded, giving him a sweet smile. "Clearly, my timing isn't ideal."

Elijah let out a little chuckle, taking a sip of his drink, then his expression grew sad again.

"Are you alright?" She asked; she didn't like seeing him this way.

"I'm fine," he said quietly.

She knew better than to push him on this. Time had separated them for so long, but she still knew what he was like. Chronically closed off.

They sat in silence, both awkwardly sipping their drinks. Emma was internally admonishing herself for her cowardice; she needed to say her piece.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," she stuttered, breaking the silence between them. "For how we parted. For how I hurt you. I've never forgotten the look on your face from the night we parted."

Elijah shook his head, "No, Emma, you had just turned, and you were still traumatized from your time with Tomas. I abandoned you when you needed me most."

"You didn't abandon me, I ran away," Emma replied, a mix of long-dormant emotions began to rise in her chest.

Elijah opened his mouth to respond, then closed it. He stood up and reached out his hand to her. "Come with me,"

Emma followed him to the second-floor balcony; the sound of the wedding party growing louder as they approached. With one hand he intertwined it with hers, the other he placed on the back of her neck, pulling her in close, swaying her gently to the music.

She looked down at the other guests dancing and a smile came to her face. She looked back at Elijah, who was observing her with an affectionate gaze.

"I looked for you, searched all the villages, even went back to the clearing," he said softly. "I was so heartbroken that I–"

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please, I would like to propose a toast." Announced Klaus from below, interrupting their dance.

Emma could feel Elijah's body grow rigid; he let go of her and moved to the railing of the balcony, looking down at his brother.

"I want to welcome you all. As you know, last spring, Hayley and I had a daughter. Due to tragic circumstances, she was lost. Now she has returned home; her name is Hope."

The crowd began to murmur, looking around at each other in surprise.

"She will live here among you, her pack, her family. We implore you, protect our daughter. Teach her, love her, as one of your own."

Klaus looked up at Elijah, a wicked smirk on his face.

"Jackson," continued Klaus, raising his glass to the groom. "I invite you and your bride to live here. Uniting your proud and noble people in peace."

Emma looked to Elijah, his face in utter shock. She knew she couldn't fix this; his heartbreak was his own to work through. The endless Mikaelson family drama was something she didn't miss.

"Welcome to the family, mate. To Jackson and Hayley!"

Elijah turned and stormed away, leaving Emma behind. Is this the worst wedding I've ever been to? she wondered. Definitely top five. Fed up with the day's events, she made up her mind to leave, making her way back down the stairs toward the front exit. On her way, she passed the bride. Emma couldn't help but wonder how the bride felt about all this, whether she even had a choice in the matter. She knew all too well what it was like to be caught between the two brothers; it wasn't a pleasant place to be.

{Masterlist} - {Chapter list} Chapter Twelve - Chapter Thirteen - Chapter Fourteen

[sportswriters]

i think he knows - u. simón

pairing: unai simón x female!reader | f | mutual pining | wc: 2,610 | warnings: none | note: they got history together hehe | 🖊: ella

“didn't you study together?”

ilse’s loud voice allowed me to fully understand the question she had asked. i followed her finger with my eyes, trying to figure out who she was pointing at, until i saw the little yellow dot in the shape of a person in spain's penalty area.

“ah,” i reflected for a moment, facing the crowd of people shouting around me. football made people behave strangely. “yeah.”

she’d pointed to unai simón, the starting goalkeeper for the spanish national team at the world cup.

“how do you know that?” i asked, curious.

i had never told her about simón. ilse and i became friends after i finished high school, when i managed to do a one-year exchange in costa rica. she was a very outgoing native who adopted me as her friend for the rest of my stay and even when i left a year and a half later, we were still friends.

i couldn’t decide whether or not it was depressing to reveal that she was the only friend i’d ever had. being a nerd at school didn’t open doors for me in terms of lasting friendships, but it did bring me many academic and professional opportunities. even though ilse was the daughter of the leader of the medical team and was following the world cup so closely because of him, i was there on business. her father was my boss and i was part of the medical team for the costa rican national team.

“i snooped through your yearbook,” ilse confessed, nudging my arm and then discreetly pointing to simón grabbing the ball again. she didn’t even seem upset that her team was losing 7-0. “he’s very handsome. do you think he remembers you?”

simón once found me dirty with paint; a group of stupid boys were playing a prank on the group of people they called nerds and as i passed the door to the chemistry lab, a rope was pulled and a bucket of colored paint fell on my head. i was annoyed enough to realize that i couldn't cope with a bunch of dumbasses, so i turned to leave and bumped into simón. i soiled his shirt and didn't say anything.

another time, at an ice-skating event on the school playground, i decided to risk skating, which was a bad idea. i only realized it when i slipped on the ice, fell backwards onto the ground and took him with me. all of our encounters were imminent disasters, always resulting in my complete humiliation. i remembered him.

“i don’t think so,” i replied, keeping the humiliating memories to myself. “he was quite popular.”

and, as the ridiculous tradition dictated, guys like him didn’t look at girls like me. i was always studying, stuck in the library, spending time in the biology lab, while all he had to do was be handsome and join the school football team. two completely opposite people who never stopped to say anything more that their own names. i really didn’t think he remembered me, but was pathetic enough to have never forgotten the crush i had on him.

i thought i would never see him again… until i found out that he had become the official goalkeeper of the spanish national team and had been signed by a spanish club. now, i was surrounded by his image. just like now.

“wow, that sucks!” ilse muttered as the referee blew the whistle, ending the game. “can i swear at your country?”

she looked at me expectantly. i laughed and shook my head, hitting her arm with a weak knuckle, while the coaching staff and the team’s reserve players dispersed around us.

“just a little bit,”i replied.

ilse began a session of cursing in her mother tongue and with the ugly looks she threw at every spanish player on the pitch, anyone could tell what she meant. suddenly, ilse softened her expression and turned her face towards me, smiling.

“no one will curse you more than me for cheering for the rival team,” she said.

“i was born in spain,” i retorted, as if that was enough of an argument. “and you don’t know if i supported them.”

ilse gave me a look, as if she knew i did. i made a disgusted face, not at all guilty for wishing spain would play well in their opening game, even though i sympathized with the boys from the team that had given me a job.

“what?!” my best friend exclaimed. “with a goalkeeper like that, even i was cheering! and you went to school together!”

i realized that she wouldn’t leave me alone with that fact. it was only the team’s first match day in the group stage, which meant that i would still be in the same atmosphere as my former schoolmate and that ilse wouldn’t miss the opportunity to talk about him whenever she could.

“you should go and talk to the boys,” i suggested.

she let out a dramatic sigh, but went along with my suggestion. my best friend turned her back on me and i watched as she talked to some of the players, saying words that i couldn’t hear because i was kind of far away. standing there was making me restless, so i joined the others and checked that everything was okay with the first team of players who had played today. they had lost seven to nothing to spain, a bad start for a world cup opener, but apart from emotionally, physically they were perfectly fine.

i noticed that the stadium was emptying, the pitch occupied only by the players, the coaching staff and the media team. the boys started exchanging polite greetings with the spanish players and i handed out water to some of them, i could feel ilse’s gaze on me the whole time. when i stared back, standing in the midfield, she gave me a silent look, pointing with her head at me, but i didn’t understand what she meant.

i threw a bottle to navas, who caught it masterfully and gave me a thumbs-up and a grateful smile. ilse kept shaking her head and i was about to turn around and ignore her when my body slammed into someone. as i turned, simón was right in front of me.

he was sweaty, still wearing his uniform, but without the gloves on his hands. the spain goalkeeper — and my former crush from my teenage years — raised his face towards me, a smile on his lips. then i understood ilse’s signals.

“sorry,” he mumbled in english. “i didn't see you there.”

i swallowed, feeling the sweat in my hands. for a moment, i felt like i was in high school again, where i bumped into him most of he time during a humiliating situation, but things were different now.

“it’s okay,” i replied, barely noticing that i had used my mother tongue to communicate, which gave me away. “it was my fault.”

unai simón narrowed his eyes at me.

“you speak spanish?”

i pursed my lips and shrugged.

“yes”, i agreed. “i work with the costa rican team, but… i’m spanish.”

he looked confused for a moment. his brow furrowed and his smile grew until his expression softened in total recognition.

“y/n?”

my heart skipped a beat. hearing him say my name had paralyzed my body. even when we studied together, i don’t think i ever saw him call me by my first name or even refer to me, although he was never cruel or anything like that just because he was popular, in fact, simón was always kind. he took me home covered with paint, not caring if i got his car dirty. he took me to the infirmary during my ice-skating accident. he removed all the offensive stickers that had been placed on my locker door.

“yeah, that’s me.”

surprisingly, the smile on his face widened even more. i rubbed my hands on the cloth of my pants, not knowing what to do with them, since i had handed over all the water bottles and wasn't holding anything else to occupy me.

“i think you know who i am, since you didn’t ask,” he said, scratching the back of his neck, his mile diminishing, but not completely. his beard gave him an even younger look and i wondered how he had become so handsome in just a few years. “i mean, i know you know who i am, i meant…”

“i remember you, simón,” i interrupted, explaining. “i’m just surprised you remembered me.”

he looked around quickly, but no one was paying attention to us. i took advantage of those seconds of distraction to keep noticing how handsome, charming and, as ilse would love to point out if she were with me now, how hot he was.

“i hope i’ve never been a jerk to you for you to think that,” he said, distracting me with the movements of his hand running quickly through his beard. “but the comical situations we always found ourselves in made you stand out.”

i snorted, realizing only now that we were communicating in our mother tongue and not in english.

“humiliating situations, you mean,” i corrected.

waston walked past me and we exchanged a quick high-five before he headed straight for the dugout.

“no,” simón disagreed with me. “besides, you saved me.”

i blinked at him, trying to understand what he meant. i saved you? there was nothing in my memory about that.

“you must be confusing me with someone else,” i said, moistening my lips, a little puzzled.

“no, y/n, i’m not,” the goalkeeper hastened to reply. “the swimming championship, do you remember?”

once a year, the school held a sports championship for the students to take part in and compete against teams from other schools. i never took part in anything, except as a spectator, but once, in the swimming championship, the members of the football team got into a fight with the rival team and simón was pushed into the pool.

he couldn’t swim and the pool was too deep, so on impulse i threw myself into the water and pulled him out. as soon as i got him out of the pool, my blood pressure dropped and i fainted, practically forgetting about it. i knew i had saved someone from drowning, but i didn’t know it was him.

“i didn’t remember it was you,” i confessed.

damn.

a revelation at this point of my life changed my perspective a little. he never talked to me afterwards, so i was never going to remember anything if it wasn’t said now.

“i’m sorry i never thanked you enough for that,” he said, seeming to read my mind. “but i’m glad i found you here now. i can thank you and dedicate our victory to you. i wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t saved me.”

i smiled, because i didn’t know what to say. my pulse quickened and i took a deep breath, recovering from the vast sea of emotions that was consuming me in that unexpected meeting.

“you’re welcome, simón,” i murmured. “but you’re here on your own merits. may ilse never hear me, but i was rooting for you.”

he laughed, the sound sending a shiver down the back of my neck.

“wait a minute, did you say you work for the costa rican national team?”, he returned to the subject, only just realizing the information. “what? didn’t your country have a vacancy in the area?”

this time i laughed, shaking my head.

“it’s not that,” i explained. “i did an exchange program in costa rica and met some people. one of these people is the daughter of the head of the national team’s medical team, so i did an interview and was called up.”

only now did he seem to notice the FIFA badge around my neck, announcing my name and role: orthopedic doctor.

“you’re on the wrong team, l/n.”

i laughed again, shrugging.

“don’t worry, player,” i murmured, with a smile. “i intend to go back to spain.”

his eyes looked at me in a new way, a smile wandering on his lips. the world around us seemed to disappear for a moment and i felt nervous in his presence, but not for the wrong reasons. it was just the realization that he still had an effect on me, even after so many years.

“when you get back, pay me a visit.”

unable to say anything, i just nodded positively, sealing a silent promise that i didn’t even know if i would keep.

“and if you need a better job, please come and join your team,” he added.

spain was my home and i knew some of the players in the spanish national team, but wasn’t sure if they could be my team, as simón was keen to stress. in any case, i had liked the feeling the phrase had given me, so i didn’t turn down the invitation straight away.

“i wish you’d noticed me before,” i said, a little absent-mindedly, but it was too late to turn back now.

i mentally cursed myself for letting it slip, simón looking at me with genuine surprise before moving a little closer to me.

“i’ve always noticed you, y/n,” he confessed.

the feeling of butterflies in my stomach overwhelmed me. it seemed that teenage sensations never ceased to be part of us, even in adulthood. he had been my first crush and, as far as i could tell, he still was. i was about to say something, anything, but we were interrupted.

“hi, y/n!” gavi appeared, smiling at me.

i blinked, turning my attention from the goalkeeper to the youngest player in the team and smiled. i had met gavi during my time at barcelona, when i had to take part in a training session and replace the orthopedist for a season.

“hi, gavi,” i returned the greeting. “you look bigger than last time.”

he laughed and hugged me quickly, knowing that i didn’t care that he was sweaty.

“do you know each other?” simón asked, confused.

“yeah, she was our doctor for a while at barcelona,” gavi explained. “anyway, sorry about that, y/n, but i need to steal our goalkeeper for a minute,” he continued, turning to simón. “they’re calling for a team photo.”

simón nodded in agreement and gavi said a quick goodbye, leaving us alone again.

“am i going to see you again?” he asked.

i didn’t know that answer, but i wanted to be positive about it.

“i hope so,” i replied. “gavi has my number.”

he shook his head slowly, looking thoughtful.

“if our team lifts the cup, i’ll dedicate it to you,” he said, breaking the distance between us. “it was great to see you, y/n.”

simón took his time kissing my left cheek and i barely noticed that i was holding my breath as he approached. his beard brushed against my skin, sending shivers down my spine, and i saw his smile as he pulled away and turned his back on me.

i let the air out of my mouth and swallowed, feeling sorry for my poor heart, which was beating faster than anything. my eyes watched him walk away, analyzing his every move and interaction with his colleagues. when he looked at me from afar, catching me still staring at him, i accepted my defeat.

there could be no doubt that my teenage crush on him had been with me all my life until that moment and i wondered if he knew that.

actually, i think he knows.

i think he’s always known.

[downwiththeficness]

The Usurper-Chapter Twenty One

Summary: Lilah McNamara stole things for a living. It was tedious work and often dangerous, which made it just exciting enough to keep her interested. After botching a routine job, Lilah finds herself standing amid monsters. Wholly unprepared for the horror of living under Amaru’s reign, Lilah decides to use her well honed skills to thwart the queen’s plans and prevent the end of the world.

Word Count: ~3,600

Disclaimer: I do not consent to this work being copied or posted to other sites of blogs.

Start at the Beginning Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Read on AO3 Masterlist

Lilah sat at a small, round table across from the brothers Gecko, wondering if she made the right choice. Ten minutes of arguing about how to get into Mr. Lyle’s private collection had dissolved into what seemed like age-old bickering about a job gone wrong. She listened to them in turn, learning little bits and pieces about who they were as people.

Seth was quick to anger and wore his emotions proudly on his sleeve. Likely a career criminal, Lilah wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t done some serious time. Richie, on the other hand, was razor sharp and impulsive enough to refuse to plan more than a few core details. This only seemed to exasperate his brother. Lilah wondered if Richie secretly relished how Seth would throw his hands up in frustration. Even with their back and forth, it was nice to be working with a team again. It was nice to have another thief to bounce her ideas off of, even if it sometimes resulted in a fight.

Lilah hadn’t realized how long she’d been listening to the sound of her own thoughts. With both brothers still arguing back and forth, she tapped the screen of the cell phone sitting to her right. The date was wildly further into the year than she anticipated. Months had passed by while Lilah was in the caves with just two people to talk to—two people and a petulant blood queen. Now, she had a different pair of people to talk to. Lilah was undecided if this was an improvement.

“You think some old book collector is going to have a vault. That’s what you’re telling me?” Seth asked with clear irritation.

“It makes sense,” Richie explained. “Look at the specs on his office.”

Seth rolled his eyes, “Tell me how he’s going to get a vault up fifteen floors.”

“In pieces. Obviously.”

“He’s a thousand years old. He can’t lift a cup of coffee, let alone the parts it would take to assemble a vault this size.”

Undeterred, Richie said, “He wouldn’t have to do it. He could hire someone, or have his son do it.”

The argument continued. Lilah set her elbow on the table and rested her head in her palm. It was amazing how long they could keep this up. Truly. The stamina they had was inexhaustible. Lilah turned her attention to the laptop she’d bought with money Javier had definitely given her. She noticed an alert in her notifications and tapped it.

“Ah, shit,” spilled from her mouth in a long, slow pair of syllables.

The brothers stopped arguing mid-sentence. “What?” Seth asked.

“The mark is dead.”

“What?” he repeated with more emphasis.

Lilah turned the laptop around, “He’s dead. The maid found him this morning.”

Richie peered at the screen, “Somebody got to him before us?”

She shrugged, “I doubt it. He was, like, a hundred. Probably natural causes.”

“Its good for us,” Seth asserted. “Funerals mean confusion. People will be in and out for days. We can probably walk through the front door, grab the book, and out the back without anyone noticing.”

He was right. Except, “We don’t know where the book is. I think someone will notice a stranger snooping around his private library. Especially since most of the it will be put going up for auction.”

“They’re auctioning it?”

“That’s what the article says.”

Richie tapped his hand on the table, “Even better. An auction means they have to catalogue everything. A list will have to be posted before they take bids.”

Seth rubbed his chin, “So, we sit on our hands for a few days and wait for someone to do the work for us.”

“Exactly.”

Leaning back in her chair, Lilah made an effort to keep from sulking. For three days, she had been trying to get on the same page as her new partners, all the while ignoring the massive elephant in the room. Lilah knew that Brasa would take a little while to recuperate, but she had no idea what he would do once he regained his strength. She hoped that she could be done with this job beforehand, hoped that scoring the book and figuring out how to stop Amaru would be enough to soothe the betrayal of leaving him while he was incapacitated.

Javier sent her a text now and then, letting her know that Brasa was stable and healing. He even emailed her the translation program so that she could begin reading the book once she got her hands on it. Other than that, there was no new information and Lilah was beginning to feel anxious and worried. She kept picturing what Brasa looked like the last time she saw him. Broken. Bruised. Bleeding. She’d take on all his anger if it meant that he didn’t look that way when she saw him next.

“Well,” Seth cut into her thoughts, “if there’s no more work to do, I’m going to get a drink. You want?”

Lilah nodded, “Yeah, I’ll take a drink.”

Richie stood with them, saying, “I gotta feed. I’ll catch you later.”

Lilah didn’t miss the way Seth flinched when Richie said the word, ‘feed’. She guessed that he still hadn’t quite gotten used to the fact that his brother needed blood to survive. Lilah wondered what he would say if he knew that she also drank blood from time to time and that she was slowly becoming less and less human because of it.

She followed Seth out into the bar, listening as the ambient sound of glasses clinking and conversation grew steadily louder. For such a dive, the place was fairly busy. Their clientele was standard for the area—truckers who needed a good meal, locals who liked cheap beer and live music, the occasional sex worker looking to get paid. As such, Lilah didn’t turn any heads when she walked across the floor. The feeling of anonymity was refreshing after weeks and weeks of people staring at her from a distance.

Seth sauntered casually behind the bar and plucked a bottle from the mass of them sitting on the shelves. The bright, sunny yellow label signaled caution. Lilah arched a brow at Seth while he turned and grabbed two glasses. In the few days since they met, Seth poured a truly impressive amount of liquor down his throat. Although she couldn’t fault him for needing to numb the insanity going on, Lilah also needed clear heads when they actually started the real work.

Several people at the bar were eyeing him along with a table full of women who couldn’t be more than twenty five. Lilah couldn’t tell if it was because he clearly owned the place or because he was handsome in a rough and tumble kind of way.

He sat on the bar stool next to her and poured each of them a serving, “You ever do something like this before?”

“Drink?”

“Steal.”

Lilah scoffed, “I told you I was a thief.”

“Yeah, but that can mean a lot of things. Me and Richie, we like banks. Other people like to knock over a gas station. They’re not the same.”

She hummed ambiguously and sipped at her drink. For someone who drank a lot more than she did, Seth had terrible taste in liquor. What she wouldn’t give to the little bar cart she was used to. Lilah might even take some of Brasa’s ‘wine’ over what she was now struggling to swallow down. “What’s your point?”

He lifted a shoulder, “My point is everyone has a job they’re most comfortable with. What’s yours?”

“I thought that was obvious.”

“Clearly, its not.”

Lilah shifted on the stool, “Relics, mostly. Art, carvings, sometimes pottery.”

“Books?’

“Sometimes.”

“Ever steal anything famous?”

“I think that probably depends on what you would call famous,” Lilah said. “I got a lot of heat for snagging a sapphire off an ambassador’s wife at a party. It took like six months to find a buyer and I quit doing jewelry after that. Wasn’t worth it to me.”

Seth set his glass down and stared at her, “The Austrian Ambassador?”

“Uh, yeah, I think so. To be honest I can’t tell the difference between German and Austrian.”

“Did you sell to a man in Colorado?”

She thought about it, “We did the meet up in Montana, but I think he had a ranch in Colorado.”

He kept staring at her with eyes that were narrowed and almost confused, “You’re McNamara.”

Lilah smiled, “That’s me.”

Seth made a kind of hissing sound and poured more liquor into her glass, “I cannot believe it. I worked a job with a guy in Dallas who swore up and down that you were a man.”

“That’s happens,” she says. “I usually do most of my work remotely. Its safer, you know?”

He spent another minute or two saying that he couldn’t believe it, then, “Did you actually steal that painting from right under that old guy’s nose?” When she nodded, he said, “You have got some balls, you know that?”

It was so rare that Lilah actually got credit for the work she did, at least in person. She felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment, but couldn’t help the pride in her voice, “I do have balls. I also have this rule where I have to get in and out clean. Its what has kept me out of jail for so long. This thing with the book can go a lot of ways and I don’t like that we don’t even know where it is.”

“We’ll get it,” Seth assured her, “Like Richie said, the list’ll come out and then we’ll know for sure.”

A barely suppressed round of giggles reached Lilah’s ears. She peered around Seth to the women at the table. They were still staring at Seth. Lilah was also getting envious glances. She smiled and said, “Looks like you have a fan club.”

“Nah,” he replied, not even bothering to follow her gaze. “I’m just fresh meat. Gets me laid, though.”

Lilah had no doubt and said as much. Guys like Seth were a dime a dozen in her line of work. Brash, mysterious, and most importantly, temporary. One or two nights of adrenaline soaked fucking and he would be gone. Nothing but a crazy story they tell their friends when they’ve had too much to drink.

Seth spun his glass between his thumb and middle finger, “It gets old, sometimes. The song and dance, giving just enough compliments and lying about who I am and where I’ve been.”

She sympathized with him, “Don’t I know it. I tried to date early on, but it never worked out. Too many lies and it always comes down to,” her voice took on a mocking tone, “you never open up. I feel like I don’t know you.”

“That’s because they never know you. They always get hurt if they know you.”

Something about his voice was far away, as if he was reliving a memory. Again, Lilah sympathized with him. Having any kind of close connection was untenable in their line of work. He was lucky that he had his brother. Until Brasa, Lilah didn’t really have anyone. Sure, there were colleagues and a few trusted associates that she teamed up with when a job called for it, but there was no one who she shared anything personal with. Certainly, no one who knew of the place she called home.

“Maybe I should look in another direction,” Seth said, perking up. “You interested?”

“No,” Lilah answered immediately. Then, realizing that she might have been rude, she added, “Sorry. You’re cute, and all, but you’re a walking, talking alarm bell and I don’t go for that.”

As the words tumbled out of her mouth, Lilah realized she was all kinds of hypocritical. Less than a week ago, she was rolling around in bed with the epitome of danger. She was touching him and kissing him and...Lilah gave herself a hard shake.

“Ouch,” he winced. “Fair assessment, but ouch.”

She apologized again, “Besides, even if I were interested, Brasa would cut your balls off and make you eat them if you laid a hand on me.”

Seth rolled his eyes, “I’m not afraid of him.”

“You should be. He’s a lot more powerful than you think and the only thing holding him back is Amaru.”

At the mention of the queen’s name, he sucked his teeth, “We’ll deal with her soon.”

“Yes, we will. Or, we’ll all die horribly.”

Seth laughed and picked up his glass to toast her, “To dying horribly.”

Lilah tapped her glass against his, “To dying horribly.” She took a drink and struggled to swallow it down. He had really, really bad taste in liquor. “Listen, I’m gonna get out of that lady’s way. Its, like, three in the morning and I need some sleep.”

“Sure, sure. See you.”

She waved at him and slipped from the bar stool, poured a healthy serving of alcohol into the glass, and took it with her. After making a stop in the office to grab her laptop, Lilah sidestepped a dancing couple and walked down a hallway marked ‘staff only’. With the keys Seth gave her, she opened the lock to her new room. It was small, furnished with only a bed and a nightstand, but it had an en suite bathroom. Lilah wouldn’t have to worry about a customer walking in on her while she showered.

Alone for the first time in hours, Lilah dropped the laptop on the bed and sat heavily on the mattress. She pulled Brasa’s phone from her pocket and tapped the screen. No messages. The clock told her that she’d gone almost twenty four hours with no word from Javier and Lilah debated checking in. She decided against it. Javier had enough on his plate without constantly reassuring her.

Lilah still needed reassurance. She needed comfort, and there was only one other person she could talk to. Without thinking about it, she pulled up the keypad, tapped out a number, and hit call. The line rang several times before someone picked up and croaked, “Hello?”

“Mom?”

“Lilah? Is that you? What time is it?”

She winced, mentally calculating the time difference, “Yes, sorry. I just got off a flight and I’m a little disoriented.”

“No, no. Its fine.” There was movement on the other side of the line, “We haven’t heard from you in months, Lilah. Where have you been?”

“I got sent out to this middle of nowhere place in Europe. No service. I just got back.”

“What kind of design needs to be done in the middle of nowhere?”

“You’d be surprised,” Lilah drawled. “How’s dad?”

“Oh, you know, he’s working on another paper. Something about a samurai tablet they found in the Middle East.”

Frowning, Lilah said, “You mean Sumerian?”

“I guess. You know I’m not good with those things.”

‘Those things’ were anything to do with ancient history. Lilah’s father was one of the foremost researchers into ancient civilizations in the East. He lectured across North America to supplement his university income and sometimes he took Lilah with him. She remembered being six years old and sitting in a half empty auditorium. Her father would promise her ice cream if she was quiet for the hour or hour and a half it took for him to get through his presentation and answer questions. Lilah never told him, but she would have done it for free.

“So, what’s been going on since I talked to you last?”

“Well, your cousin got married. The wedding was beautiful. Reba did the whole thing in white lilies. Thousands of them, can you imagine?”

“Thousands of white lilies? Did her parents take out another mortgage on their house?”

“Oh, god! I forgot to tell you. She got that promotion she was talking about all those months ago. Said that they nearly doubled her pay.”

Lilah made a sound of approval, “Good. She deserved the promotion two years ago. They ever figure out that Doug was a double dealing dipshit?”

“Did they ever,” her mother replied, laughter in her voice. “Reba told me they walked him out in handcuffs. It was like something out of a movie.”

Grinning, Lilah laid back on the bed and passed a hand over her face. She could picture Reba with her wild mane of curls and bright fuchsia lipstick telling this story over a glass of white wine. She never drank red, said it stained her teeth. Up until Lilah began working as a thief, she and Reba had been close. When they were kids, they spent almost every summer together at the cabin. Then, when Reba got her license, they puttered at the mall in their free time. Lilah knew that the distance between them now hurt Reba more than she would say. It hurt Lilah, too. But, there wasn’t anything Lilah could do about it. Like Seth said, the people who truly knew her would only get hurt.

“How about you? What kind of place doesn’t have service?”

Sighing, Lilah answered, “The cave kind. I’ve been working in a literal cave for a few months.”

Her mother laughed, “I don’t believe it.”

“Its true. There’s this mega rich asshole who wanted me to help with creating an underground house.”

“You’re not an architect, Lilah.”

“I know, I know. My job was more or less to design the ambiance.”

“I hope they paid you well.”

She rolled her eyes, “About average.”

A scoff, “Leave it to the rich to underpay their staff.”

Lilah found herself wanting to defend the situation, “It was alright. I got free room and board. Had a nice selection of alcohol that I didn’t have to pay for. They even gave me a stipend for clothes.”

“Well, I suppose that’s something.”

It was a shame that Lilah couldn’t bring all those nice clothes with her. Not that she had anywhere to wear them. Aside from the bar, the only place Lilah ever went was to the local food mart to pick up the occasional supplies to fill the shelf Seth assigned to her in the kitchen fridge. She sure as hell wasn’t going to wear them when they finally nailed down a plan to get the book. The silk and chiffon would draw too much attention.

“You know,” her mother said casually, “your father’s birthday is next month.”

Lilah pressed a hand to her forehead. Her mother was a lot of things, but subtle wasn’t one of them. “Yeah,” she mumbled. “I know.”

“Will you be stopping by to celebrate?”

Guilt rested heavy on her shoulders, “Not this year. But, soon. I have a few things I need to take care of and then I plan on taking an extended vacation. A couple months, at least.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Let us know when you’ll be here and I’ll make up the guest room.”

“I was, uh, hoping I could use the cabin.”

“Of course. That won’t be a problem. I’ll make a stop before you get here and dust a little. Maybe get you those awful oatmeal cookies you like so much.”

“Hey,” Lilah barked, offended, “They’re good for dipping in coffee.”

“Yes, I know, dear. But, they’re hard as a rock.”

“That’s why you dip them in coffee.”

Her mother hummed in a way that said she didn’t agree, but wasn’t willing to argue. Lilah could hear the fatigue just beneath. “Listen, I’m going to let you go. I’ll call you in a few days. Say hi to dad for me.”

“I will.” Her mother’s voice softened, “I love you, Lilah.”

“Love you, too.”

She ended the call and put the phone on the nightstand beside the bed. Lilah didn’t bother to fight the homesick feeling in her gut. It was so easy to forget that she had a family and a history when everything in front of her was crisis and horror. A part of her wanted to book a flight and haul ass up North, just to get away from it all. It was fool’s dream. Her problems in Mexico would just follow her to Canada and all she would accomplish would be putting the people she loved in danger. Better to handle Amaru here and relax later. Damn it.

Lilah drifted into a light sleep for a while. She woke a short time later soaked in sweat. Her whole body burned from the inside out. She held up a hand and was surprised that there wasn’t steam gently wafting from her skin. Vaguely panicked, Lilah scrambled to the bathroom and ran cold water into the tub while she tore off every piece of clothing she was wearing.

Dropping down into the tub was a shock to her body. The water felt somehow colder than ice, sending jagged pain all along her limbs. Lilah made herself stay right where she was, listening to the sound of her teeth chattering. The cold didn’t last long, heating up surprisingly fast with the fire burning brightly inside her. She emptied the tub and filled it again. And again. After that, the fever broke and she laid in the tepid water while her world slowly came back into focus.

When she could stand, Lilah emptied the tub a third time and turned on the shower. She soaped off the sweat and grime while her brain tried to come up with some kind of explanation. All Lilah could come up with was that the experience was fucking weird and she hoped it didn’t happen again.

Exhausted and still faintly shivering, she pulled on some sleep clothes and padded to the bed. It didn’t matter that the mattress wasn’t as nice as she was used to. Lilah dropped into sleep so fast that she barely registered the moment the deep dark of unconsciousness claimed her.

[whackacole3]

LOVE BETWEEN LIFE AND AFTERLIFE; ENCOUNTERS

full: After hearing about a murder that happened on campus, Illari went to investigate herself... little did she know that would change the trajectory of her life forever.

chapter: While on a bus ride to the dormitory from the public library, Illari sees an article about a murdered woman. She felt connected to this woman and didn't know what to do or how to explain it. So, she did something extremely out of character and went to the murder scene to snoop around.

[theuniverseawakens347]

This is Garret he’s racist - colorist HATES LIGHT SKINS WE ARE SEEN AS SEX OBJECTS TO BE FUCKED W BUT SEND THE BLACK MAN TO DO IT BIT ALSO TALKING W CASHAY SHES BEHAVED AND WELL SPOKEN ENLUGH I WONDER IF SHELL LET ME STICK MY DICK IN HER -

NO YOU FUCKING IDIOT.

.. you talk to James WHOS A CRACK HEAD USING THE DRUG TO LIVE HIS SIN OF YELLING AT WHOMEVER HES RACIST TOWARDS FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL REASONS vs the Mexican woman in the library yelling SAME THING .. SHE SEEING PPL HER DED ANCESTORS FOR BEING FUCKING RACIST AND BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE FOR HER CHOICES IN HER LOFE POSITION ROGHT NOW - SAME W JAMES BUT NOT SEEING THINGS HES HEARING VOICES. - ANCESTORS FUCKING YOU UP FOR BEING A SHIT HEAD AND PUTTING TOO MICH FUCKING STRESS ON ME AND DARNIECE AND MY WHOLE BLOODLINE TRYING TO BALANCE SHIT OUT IN OUR OWN LANE BREAKING CURSES.

NOW YOU GOT PPL LOOKING AT BEN LIKE HES RACIST - BUT ITS TINA TO THE WHITE MAN AND BEN TRYING TO DEFEND HIMSELF BUT NOW THE OUTSIDERS CONFUSED ON RASIM BEGINNING THINK ITS JUST STRAIGHT HIM - WHITE MAN N A AFRICAN TURNED AMERICAN FAMILY OF SAVAGES TRYING TO GET BACK FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF PICK A NIGGERS WHEN IT WAS UR OWN KIND BEING JEALOUS OF SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE TRIBE DEEMING SOMEONE KN UR TRIBE THE BEST AT X Y N Z - AGAIN YOU WERE GIVEN WHAT YOU CUD HANDLE HAD YOU STAYED IN UR FUCKING LANE N TENDED UR GARDEN BUT YOU SAID NO I WANA FUCK YOU OVER BC IM ALways the last picked in basketball teaming - YOU NOT PRACTICING UR SKILL SET TO GET REWARDED YOU STEALING FROM SOMEONE ELSE OR SETTING UR KIND OF FOR MURDER YOH WISH YOU WAS LIKE BUT DONT SEE YOU JUST NEED A LITTLE EXTRA PRACTICE TO GROW THAT SHIT DUMBASS DDG - sexyy red glorrilla who got a bigger ass or tits or prettier w make up on cause our music suck outside the beat and one or two bars here n there - LETS JUST TWERK - OKAY RAPE CULTURE CONFRATS ALL THE WOMEN AND MEN NOW FUCKING AIMLESSLY AND BOOM BABIES W PARENTS WHO DONT WANT EM IN FULL UNLESS THEY MAKE MONEY BC THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO LOVE AND PARENT THEMSELVES TO BEGIN W - MOMMY N DADDY WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF YOU FOREVER TIL YOU DIE I DONT WANA GROW UP BUT ILL FAKE IT TO THE CAMERA OR THE OUTSIDE FAMILY MEMBERS OR JUST ENOUGH TO YOU TO GET WHAT I WANT AND NEED - LEE GARLINGTON IN FULL AND HOWARD NUGENT PROJECTING THEIR DEPRESSIONAL ERA MOMMY N DADDY ISSUES ONTO ME N MY TRIBE ACTUALLY WORKING LUR ASSES OFF .. SHAUNTE ALWAYS IN SNOOP BUSINESS CLEANING UP SOME ASS WIPE MESS 2pac CAUSE A NIGGA GOT TWO CARRIED AWAY W NOT UNDERSTANDING SELF SABOTAGE AND EXTENDING IT TO THE WHOLE FUCKING FAMILY - INTER RACE SHOW ALL GENERATIONAL CURSES. 🤬 FUKING DICKS.

“How do we get away from the white man chains on us” - EXAMINE YOUR OWN WHITENESS IN YOU .. WE ALL THE SAME FUCKING PPL - U FUCKED OVER AFRICA AND NATIVE INDIGENOUS PPL FOR WHAT!? Cows brains cannibalism - CONGRATS IDIOTS. EVERY DAY YOU WANT ME MAD N STARVING. SO FUCK YOU - I DIE WE ALL FUCKING DIE - LEE WHY YPU NUMB MY HYPOCAMPUS SINCE BIRTH - DARNIECE HER BLOODLINE HUNTS US SINCE THOMAS JEFF right .. Benni Frank. - GEORGE WASHINGTON .. illuminating the idiocity with Benni frank dropping in here and there semion toko - U DONT DESERVE GOD CAUSE YOU KEEP DOING DUMB SHIT TO DIE SO IMA DIE W YOU .. but YOU still gon be miserable- 3/4 EARTHLY WIPE PUT. CAUSE YOU WAS GIVEN SOOOO MANY FUCKING CHANCES TO GET IT RIGHT - NEVER TOLD YOU I WAS GOD TIL NOW BC AGAIN WHY TF WOULD YOU HARM ANYONE INSTEAD OF WORKING ON YOURSELF!??? - self harm new perspective LEE GARLINGTON HOWARD NUGENT Suicidal PARENTING

[newwavenosferatu]

|Confirming Obfuscator VPN...|

|Obfuscator Confirmed. Do Not Disable|

Another night, another catastrophe narrowly avoided. I had caught wind of a collection of rare Kindred texts being held somewhere in the city. I teamed up with MM, a Malkavian who specializes in Kindred on Kindred combat.

After some snooping about, we heard there's an abandoned church near Greenwood that some licks have made their haven, and word on the street is they either have the texts, or know who does. Unfortunately, they had a ghoul guard that my companion recklessly rushed at, exposing our position and taking fire. She was now pinned behind a dumpster, trading silenced shots with this poor guy. I say that because he wasn't a match for both of us, and we ended up killing him. Again, not something I love doing, but with these texts maybe Signe will respect me again, maybe I can get one tiny bit of acknowledgement. Anyways, we made our way inside, MM being obvious and ready to be a distraction, myself unseen. The main area of the church with the pews and everything was empty, but we were poking around and found a human relaxing in a room. After some intimidation, they confirmed that this was the haven of a coterie and that they have an extensive library. I let MM walk into their library and answer the inevitable "who the fuck are you and what the hell are you doing here". Luckily for us she is rather charismatic, and convinced them not to kill us. After this I revealed myself and explained a bit about who I am and what I do, and it seems our interests are very similar. A group of Autarkis who have no love for any sect. Those who have received my previous transmissions will know I am playing the Cammy game at the moment, operating under their rules, but I really don't care about them. The Anarchs are fine, but I don't want to join them and be called to help for every little fight and skirmish.

Anyways, we all talked for a bit and after I spilled some information on the local Court and a bit on the Anarchs, they decided I was at least worth a shot. I'm staying with them for the moment so to have a look at their library, which includes a rather old copy of the Book of Nod, Transcribed fragments of the Encyclopedia Vampirica, along with summaries and histories of the sects. How I do love that sweet Kindred lore.

Oh, and I owe them a ghoul.

|End of Transmission|

[dangan-infinity]

The Final Volume - Chapter 2 Post

Whether it was harder to find a book that called to you or run from it, you all eventually managed to complete your task. Where the shelves had spun off into infinity before, a familiar red door appeared in one of the aisles. Word spread quickly, and soon you'd all assembled before it. Time to move on, as always.

The handle turned without resistance, and the churning wasteland stretched out before you. Another bridge, another car ahead. Maybe that one would give you some way to end Neko-Neko's game. Was that what you were hoping for? Were you hoping for much of anything, at this point?

Either way, you found yourself passing through without hindrance, the air outside the Train a little warmer on your face. 

At least, most of you.

With a faint sound only vaguely reminiscent of slamming into a wall, Jack marched straight into something that bounced him and only him back into the library. He stumbled but stayed on his feet and tried again, a little faster—but the result was the same.

Perhaps it’s Viper’s guilt at burning the checkout register, perhaps it’s something else entirely, but hearing Jac—no, Jagal, trying his hardest to take the books, she knew she had to try and do something. Maybe she didn't know why keeping these books was so important to him—but she could hazard a guess, after they’d snooped so much into his life. His mother, his father, his sister especially… it had to be hard for him. To be forced to think about them again. And once again, she’d messed up someone’s chance at healing. 

“Hey—” He bounced back from the door, and she reached forward, just lightly gripping onto his bag. “Jagal—” Maybe he’d listen if she talked to him. The true him, not… Jack. Worm her way in there, she knew it could go very badly. Very, very badly. But equally, she wanted him to understand that she wasn’t out to hurt him. Not at this stage.

Jack warily tugged his bag out of Viper's grip. How did she know his name? Had she—

"...."

No. Absolutely not. It must've just come up somewhere else, at some point. Not like it was his most tightly-guarded secret.

“I don’t think they’ll let ya take ‘em wit’ ya—I-I can ask. But ya prob ain’t gonna be able t’.”

Jimithy stepped up, as unamused as ever.

"Already told both of you, you can't check out a book that doesn't have a register. A real one."

"And you can't leave with a book you haven't checked out. Put it back." He grimaced. "Or on a return cart, fine. But you're not leaving with that. Don't waste any more of our time."

Viper picked at a thread on the end of her glove. “It’s… prob best ya leave ‘em here anyway. I dunno if ya’d want ‘em ta get hurt… damaged…’n all.” Viper raised her gaze to him—having tilted it to the floor. “Look, I’unno if I’ll get anywhere. An’ I know ya gonna try’n act like ya rejectin’ every bit’a niceness. But I wanna know ya. An’ I don’t care how much ya try’n stop me.”

Tag-teamed, huh? It was true, Jack didn't have any registers, and the train out there couldn't be safe for a book unless he never tried to open it. Would being damaged hurt them? Surely not, if they were already dead, but...

"....."

"Fine."

He withdrew a slim volume from under his hoodie and set it gently on the floor. Not even the return cart, huh.

"Not like I'm much 'f a reader, anyway."

He stepped through the door, this time without any kickback—apparently that was the only one he'd had. Those of you who hadn't made it past before all the ruckus followed him out.

Even after all that, it was just back to the usual march. Everyone onto the bridge, onto another door...

Everyone. Right?

The fastest walker had already laid hands on the next door by the time you realized your head count was down one. It didn't take long after, though, to find Jack back at the library doors, propping them open with one hand. He swept a look across you all, hesitating briefly at Viper. But only briefly. With a swift step, he was back on the carpet.

"I'm not leaving her again."

The doors slammed shut before anyone could even think about getting in the way. The handle spun with a ratcheting noise and locked back into place again. Anyone trying to turn it wouldn't succeed.

...Ah. Well.

Considering the party involved, it was hard to feel bad about leaving him behind. A relief, if anything. Though you couldn't be sure exactly how this place worked, if he could still come after you later... Maybe it would have been more of a relief if you were sure he'd die in there. 

Not... not that you wanted a person to die! But, well, if it had to be anyone...

"Jack? The game isn't over yet...! I-I can't guide you home if you're not here, nya..."

"Eh, it'd be too obvious if he did the next murder, anyway."

"We're sure the rest of ya can do better by yourselves!"

"B-but there isn't any food or water in that car! As his Stationmaster..."

"That's his own problem. We don't gotta call every single death a murder if it ain't one."

"We've wasted enough time here, don'tcha think? Onward!"

"........"

Despite the particularly split personality at play, Neko-Neko still gestured expectantly at the next car. No more dilly-dallying on your part.

No reason to, anyway. Whether it had locked automatically or Jack was manually blocking it, the library door wasn't about to open. Was it even your business to keep trying? If none of you would be blamed for him choosing this fate, why try to save him? He certainly would've done no such thing for you.

Something still felt rotten in your stomach as you moved forward.

[Forum Post]

[felix-kumara]

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” Felix wasn’t sure how much he wanted to get into with that so he went with the emergency room story. “Right. In a nutshell; I was tackled and landed on my leg and my bone popped right out the side. I still have a scar. But yeah, my mum always hated my brother and I playing the game so when she heard I was in the hospital, she came in my room sobbing. It was hard to watch, honestly. I’d never seen her so upset about something before, but I’m just thankful she wasn’t there when it happened. She was at every single game no matter how much she hated it, but that day she was held up at work. I’ll always be thankful for that inconvenience of hers that day.” Felix cared about his family so much and he hated to see them hurting. It was one of the many reasons why it hurt so badly that Paedyn could never visit Australia with him; his parents and brother hardy got to see her. Time zones made FaceTime calls difficult, even.

Felix followed Emerson and listened intently to her speak. He knew about the judgements that were passed onto the Cassidys because of their parens, but hearing more details about just how much it affected her made his heart ache a little. “Sometimes it’s hard to think back on surviving what’s hell for so many people only to find yourself in a new hell when you’ve gotten older. High school wasn’t really hell for me but it always felt like people wanted something from me. My parents have money, I was popular, sure, but I felt used a lot. For social status, if that’s what you want to call it, or for the hope of getting some of my parents money from me. It was hard to know which friendships were genuine and which weren’t. I think I still have bad judgement on that most of the time.” All the friends Felix shared with Cassandra now acted like he was the bad guy for breaking Cass’ heart. “And it probably sounds so vain, but these good looks are a curse, you know.” Felix told her in a playful tone, trying to lighten the mood even a little. “Not everyone wants a real relationship, some people just want a good time from you.” He tried to keep his tone from becoming somber once more, but he’d be lying if he didn’t feel at least slightly objectified at times, although he knew it couldn’t possibly be the same as other people faced daily, it was still hard.

Felix slowly his steps until he stopped midway between the library doors and the first few shelves, watching silently as Emerson touched the spines of with the tips of her fingers while he listened to her. “Well, fuck everyone at Aurora Bay high. Emerson of high school may not have felt safe apart from her books, but Emerson of Oceania bookstore, is safe with me. And you, Emerson Cassidy, are a delight to be around.” His tone was playful and light but he meant what he was saying. “In fact, I’d say you should be our very own prom Queen.” Felix grinned because he’d been struck with an idea he needed to find a way to execute. “You just need a crown.” And with that, he was off to snoop around the library until he found something to make a crown out of. He had no idea how to do it but he thought that it surely couldn’t be that difficult.

@emersonxcassidy

"That sounds like a resounding yes to me." Emerson replied with a teasing little grin. Not that she expected anything less really; Felix was personable, was sweet and kind of goofy and a good friend. Add onto that the obvious fact that he was charming and attractive? Of course he was popular in school. Especially now that he'd mentioned he even did sports? It was a no brainer. "Although...emergency room? What's the story there?" Vaguely she knew rugby was rather...physical (and dangerous), but Emerson didn't otherwise know the first thing about it. Or sports in general.

They quite definitely came from different worlds.

"Definitely not boring, especially since I asked." She looked up at him again as they walked, her steps slow but nearly unconscious as she walked the halls again for the first time in years, muscle memory kicking in as she easily turned a corner and went down a hallway, some speakers in the school funneling the music through the halls still. "And my high school days....definitely weren't anything like yours." Emerson's voice quietened a bit then, something flickering on her expression before she looked away and finally nodded towards a doorway, relief on her face as she found it unlocked and she opened the door, easily finding the light switch and illuminating the school's little library. "This is where I spent my days."

Again Emerson's footfalls slowed as she walked into the familiar room, the smell of old books hitting her, music still able to be heard inside as she looked around, fingers absently grazing over books as she passed. "My entire life was practically plagued by the fact that I was a Cassidy. The daughter of criminals. Addicts. They never saw me, they saw the stain of my parents. And then in high school, especially my later years....I was seen as the sister of a convict more than anything else." She'd told Felix about her past and her family's history, but it was always a bit vague, never wanting to touch on it too much. "It's why I read so much. The books never judged me, and the worlds in the pages were ones I could disappear into."

She kept walking as she spoke, a sad little smile on her lips as she looked at familiar shelves, at comfortable little spots she'd spend so much time in she often fell asleep in here. "It didn't matter how smart I was. How I was always willing to help if anyone needed it. It was all overshadowed by....everything else. So I came here. A lot. The librarian was kind to me. I mean, I did have friends, and sometimes I was with my brother's friends....they're the ones that took care of me, when Jamie was sent away. They watched out for me when he couldn't. But mainly I was here. I kept my head down and blended into the background as best I could and...that was how my high school days were. Spent here in this room. Quiet and safe. My own little sanctuary."

[geeky-politics-46]

So Close, Yet So Far - Part 2

Continuing "So Close, Yet So Far".

Smut - Explicit content - NSFW - 18+ only!

Pairing: Doctor Stephen Strange x Reader

Summary: After seeing you two could live happily ever after, Stephen confesses his true feelings for you. Will you feel the same?

Warnings: Smut (NSFW) - 18+ ONLY - vaginal sex, unprotected sex, oral sex, pet names, language/swearing, creampie, porn with minimal plot, mentions of masturbation

"Wow. I don't mean this in a mean way, but you look like crap Doc." 

You sauntered into the library where he had already set up for the day. He wasn't really paying attention to the book in front of him but more just zoning in and out. He was afraid if he thought about anything else for too long the images he saw of you last night would fade. He didn't want to concentrate on anything else until those images of your face and body as he pleasured you had burned themselves into his mind's eye. 

Yet at the same time he had to concentrate on anything else. He needed to not think about it. Partly out of fear that he would seek out that universe again. Peek into your honeymoon together. Partly out of fear that if he did look he would never leave that universe. He had already tempted the darker fates too much by even looking in the first place. He never should have done it, but now that he did he would never be the same. He would never see you the same. 

He would look at you and see his wife. See you in his arms dancing in that white dress. See you underneath his naked body moaning his name. He would now always see you and wonder what could be if he could find the balls to tell you he wanted you. That was what he was trying to do now. Trying to figure out the right way to ask you to be his.

It took him a moment to even realize you were talking to him. Eventually your eyebrows quirked upwards and you waved your hand in front of his face to get his attention.

"Yeah. Sorry. I just... didn't sleep well I guess." 

You walked around the table & took the seat next to him. Casually putting your feet up and crossing your ankles on something Wong would have yelled at him for even touching. Peeking forward to get a better look at the spine of the book Stephen had in his hand. You were always so curious about everything. 

That was part of why you & Stephen got along so well. You both liked to make trouble by sticking your noses into stuff. That was also part of why Wong liked having you around too. You liked to listen to him talk about anything and everything. You could get even the quietest people to blab their entire life story to you within 20 minutes of saying hello.

Stephen knew he stood very little chance of not eventually telling you about the boundary he crossed. About him snooping in other timelines. The question was could he keep from spilling the beans about what he saw. Or what he did with the images of what he saw.

"I don't think I slept that great either. I still feel exhausted. I did have the weirdest dream last night. It was crazy. You and I were married. We were..." 

A blush crept over your cheeks and you seemed to think better of what you were originally going to say. After rephrasing your thought you continued.

"...Well I guess it was our wedding day technically. White dress and everything."

Oh shit. Did his little trip to see that other universe somehow pull you with him? Had your dream been the same wedding night he saw? The one where you said you wanted him, your new husband, to fuck you all night long? 

He tried to keep his face neutral. He couldn't exactly tell you that you may have played tag along on his little voyeuristic adventure where he jerked off while watching himself fuck you. Not only would that violate a ton more boundaries. It also made him sound both like a stalker and an egomaniac at the same time. He wasn't sure what to say. Should he say he had a similar dream? He wanted to tell you that he liked the sound of your dream. He wanted to flirt with you like he normally did, but his brain had stopped working.

You were mindlessly playing with your left ring finger. Seemingly twirling an invisible ring. Biting at your lower lip as he could tell some image was playing behind your eyes. It was the same way you had been biting your lip when he was kissing at your neck. 

"Must have been from seeing you all dressed up last night. You do clean up very well, Doctor Strange." 

You glanced sideways at him with a flirtatious teasing smile as you picked up the mug in front of him and took a sip of his coffee. Wrinkling your nose and making a face at the fact that it had now gone completely cold. He couldn't help but break a smile and small chuckle at you. The way your nose crinkled and wiggled was adorable, like a sweet little mischievous bunny rabbit. Maybe he could call you bunny when you were his?

Wait. He was getting ahead of himself again. First he had to figure out a way to ask you out. Oh, he should ask you to a nice dinner alone since you said he looked good dressed up! That was actually a good idea. It was just a plus that both versions of him had a thing for you all dressed up too. 

By the time he snapped from his thoughts, you had his mug in your hand walking out of the room. You yelled back towards him that you were going to get him hot coffee in a bigger mug, as you would also be drinking it. You liked using his things, and borrowing his jackets and sweatshirts. Basically if it was Stephen's you decided you had free reign to use it. Wong had insisted that was part of your way of flirting with him. Reinforcing his argument by saying that you never steal his stuff, just Stephen's.

The sight of you wandering back into the library pulled him back to the present. As if to reinforce his train of thought, sure enough somehow on your way back to the library, you had found and were now wearing Stephen's light blue Columbia sweatshirt. He did like seeing you in his clothes. Especially things like this that you had a tendency to take a nap in. Then by the time you gave them back they smelled like you. 

As you set the now steaming larger mug down in front of him, he looked at you questioningly as he scanned over the sweatshirt then to your face. You smirked and rolled your eyes at him. You knew you weren't in trouble. 

"What? I was cold, and you won't let me snuggle in Cloakie. Plus it's comfy and it smells nice. So shut up."

"It's not a blanket you know. The Cloak of Levitation is a sacred relic."

You playfully rolled your eyes and reached out to scratch the collar of the Cloak like it was a puppy. It's collar wiggled around Stephen's neck, tickling him a little. A self-satisfied smirk on your face at the garment's reaction. 

"You're just jealous of that time it snuggled with me when I fell asleep on the couch." 

He responded without really thinking about what he was saying. Shrugging as he admitted the truth.

"Maybe I am..." Suddenly he felt particularly brave, "... But maybe I was jealous of it." 

He paused a moment before his next question.

"Go to dinner with me? Just you and me. You said I clean up nice, I think you clean up nice too. I could get used to seeing it."

A quizzical look coming over your face, a sparkle in your eye as you questioned him. Trying to prod at him to find his motivation.

"Like a date?"

"Yeah. Like a date." 

"O... Okay." 

You answered confidently, without any real hesitation. Before either of you could overthink or change your mind he stood up and walked to the entryway of the library. Turning back to face you like he was going to say something, only to change his mind and smiled broadly at you instead. Pleased when he saw the blush that had crept back up onto your cheeks.

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

He shouldn't be this nervous should he? I mean he had gone out with you before. It was just never explicitly on a real date before. He stood pacing back and forth at the bottom of the staircase obsessively adjusting the sleeves and collar on his suir waiting for you to meet him there. He was usually early and you were always five minutes late. You balanced well.

When you came around the corner you looked radiant. You were actually wearing the same dress from the other night. 

"I thought maybe you liked this dress."

You had clearly seen through his attempt to play cool and not stare. He blushed and looked at his shoes trying to compose himself. Finally gesturing to turn and lead you to the front door.

"Actually, Stephen, I have a little bit of a different idea if you are open to suggestions." 

As he started turning back to face you you pulled him to you by his tie and kissed him before he had the chance to say anything. Pulling him into you and wrapping your arms around his neck. Letting his hands come to rest on your waist once the initial shock had passed and he let himself sink into the kiss. You let your mouth open and let his tongue start to dance against yours. Only pulling apart when you both finally needed to breathe.

You could feel his hands lightly shaking from taking him by surprise. Bringing your gaze up to his to look in his shimmering crystalline blue eyes and letting one hand drift up to let your fingers trace the gray at one of his temples. Shrugging your shoulders and casually finishing your suggestion.

"We could just stay here."

He closed his eyes and chuckled before he opened them again. Just to make sure this wasn't a dream. Quickly he reached into one pocket and pulled out his sling ring, opening a portal to his bedroom. Not wanting to waste the time navigating the Sanctum's stairs and hallways just in case you changed your mind. 

His lips started moving back toward yours and he started pushing you back through the portal before he could manage to get out his response. Whispering against your lips as he shrugged off his suit jacket, "Yeah, let's do that. That is a much better idea."

In between kisses he began confessing all the things he had been holding in, now that it was clear you felt something for him too. He wanted to make his intentions clear. That he didn't want this to be just a physical thing. He didn't want a one night stand or to be friends with benefits. He wanted you for as long as you would have him. 

"Before we do this, I want to make sure that we are on the same page. I want everything you dreamed about the other night. Everything I saw the other night. I don't want to ever let you go. I want you to be mine, & I want to be yours."

He stood holding your face in his hands at the edge of his bed. He wanted to hear your thoughts, your assurance that you wanted him the way he wanted you before he pushed you down on the soft blankets. Once he got you laying down he would have a hard time stopping himself.

"Do you know how long I've wanted you to kiss me Stephen? I thought maybe the other night was finally when you were gonna make your move. Then when the night ended and we went our separate ways I thought maybe it wasn't meant to be. I mean I flirt with you every fucking day. Believe me, I want this. I want us."

He smashed his lips into yours and started devouring you with a new passion. Pushing you to lay on the bed before bringing himself to lay on top of you. He let one hand trail down your side to your thigh where he promptly pulled your leg up to wrap around his hip. The bottom of your dress bunching up in the process. Your bare leg now warm under his touch. 

As he began kneading the newly exposed flesh he brought his lips to trail down your jaw and neck. Feeling the heel of your stiletto dig into his ass as he bit at the supple skin at the base of your throat. Pulling the first delicious moan from you as he started to soothe the newly sore spot with a lick. 

You reached for his tie and started working the knot loose. Getting frustrated before you could completely untie it and just pulling it over his head. He smiled as he buried his face against your cleavage. Pleased at how much you seemed to want him too. He started pulling at the straps on your dress only realizing after a moment he should probably unzip it first. Neither of you were thinking too clearly as you tried to shrug off your clothes. Too excited to finally feel each other's skin.

After a moment you both gave up the ghost of trying to make undressing romantic and just stripped yourselves to your underwear on your own. You let your eyes roam over each other's bodies as you came together and embraced each other again on the center of the bed. Smiling and placing soft kisses on each other's lips. Stephen was the one that made the first move by gently lowering you onto your back.

"You are even more beautiful than I imagined, bunny. By the way I'm calling you bunny now."

You started laughing at the new pet name, prompting your nose to start twitching and wiggling. Stephen placed a sweet kiss on the tip of your nose.

"... and that is why." 

"Just shut up Stephen." 

You quickly kissed him before he could start talking again, grabbing the band of his boxers and pushing them down in one quick shove. He growled at your assertiveness and let his lips descend onto your bare breasts. Starting to lick and suck at your nipples just like he had in the alternate universe. Like he knew would make you moan his name. 

Swirling his tongue around one and then the other before pressing kisses down your sternum. He nipped at your low belly and your hip bones as he started working your panties down. Your hands grabbing into the gray patches of his hair making him all the more eager to finally claim you as his. 

He couldn't help but groan when your cunt was finally revealed to him and he saw your labia glistening with arousal for him. You were wet for him. The lust in his eyes making you spread your legs wider for him. Diving forward he placed a long lick up your slit. Pulling your clit into his mouth and sucking on it gently as he placed little kitten licks over it. The sensation making your eyes close and your back arch to press harder against him. 

He couldn't wait any longer and neither could you. Stephen pulled himself back up your body. Nuzzling and tickling your sensitive flesh with his facial hair. Placing random wet kisses as he went. Once he was back at eye level with you you cradled his face in your hand, just like you had done in the timeline he saw. Just like you had on your wedding night. 

"I want you to fuck me all night long Stephen." 

He couldn't believe his ears. You were echoing almost the exact same words that had been playing non-stop over and over in his mind. He quickly positioned himself so he could slide against your slick prepping himself so he would be able to enter you in one smooth thrust. His hips starting to rock against yours. Feeling your wetness coat him completely.

"Just so you know, I will never get tired of hearing you say that." 

As he finished his statement he angled himself to push inside you. He swore he was in heaven when he felt your warm wet heat stretch around him. Stalling when his thick cock was fully sheathed in your cunt. Savoring how tight you were and the little whimpers you made. Only starting his thrusts when your legs wrapped around his waist and he heard you mewl a soft 'please'.

He started slowly but it didn't take long before his speed started to build. He could feel your hips rocking forward and back as he thrust in and out. Your bodies moving perfectly in time with each other. A symphony of moans and the soft slapping of wet skin pushing you both closer to the edge of climax. 

"Fuck, Stephen you cock feels so good. Fucking me so good baby. Don't stop, please don't stop."

He groaned and buried his face in the crook of your neck. His hips bucking against you harder and faster. His hands moving to grip your ass to rock your hips harder against his pelvis adding more stimulation against your clit. 

"You feel so fucking perfect bunny. Your pussy feels like it was made for me. Need you to cum for me. I can feel you starting to squeeze me. Cum on my cock bunny. I'm not gonna last long."

He had your hips lifted completely off the bed when a particularly deep stroke hit you just right. A loud moan coming from deep in your throat as he worked to hit that same spot over and over. Feeling your pussy start to flutter and the muscles of your legs contract holding onto him tighter. Your nails digging into his back as he felt your arousal flood both of you and a wordless cry come from your mouth. 

Knowing that you were cumming around him, Stephen let himself go completely. Fucking you hard and fast. Grunting and groaning as he bit at your shoulder. As you felt his cock start to twitch and spurt inside you, you locked your ankles together to hold him as deep inside you as you possibly could. Wanting to take every drop of cum he would give you. Loving the sensation of his warm cum filling you. Humming in satisfaction as you felt him slowly relax on top of you. 

You lay there with him still wrapped up in arms, legs tight around him too. Placing slow sweet kisses on each other's lips and nuzzling your noses together. Just enjoying the feeling of finally being with each other. Something both of you had long thought about and wished for.

When you finally did separate, Stephen promptly rolled you into his arms. Bringing your head to lay on his chest. Feeling him press kiss after kiss into the top of your head. You lay listening to his steady heartbeat, playing the evening over in your head. Breaking the silence as you thought about what he said when he confessed his feelings for you. 

"Hey, what did you mean earlier when you said you wanted everything I dreamt about and everything you saw the other night?"

"Well, umm... It's a long story but, your dream wasn't a dream. It was us, it was real. It was just another universe. Unsurprisingly, I love you in every universe."

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

Back to main masterlist

Stephen Strange Taglist: @starkiller-queen @glitterylokislut @verycollectivecreator @chatampr @maskmare931 @lovecleastrange @wheredafandomat @mkixx @evelynrosestuff @katefullerrr @littlepinknightmare @foofarny @stygianoir @moonroyalt @saturnsbabe69 @blaxdet @blackrose-92 @ironstrange1991 @rindulacre @nancy-thompsons @wolfatheartandsoul @dangerouslittlefairy @n0obmaster-69 @oliveoilthoughts @onebatch--twobatch @yourmajesty13 @blondekel77 @lil-sweater-slut @gwephen @taramaria @sinceimetyou @possessedjoker @coeurgrenaty @cc13723things @just--a-magpie @supervengerslock @strangelockd @dont-feel-so-good-peter @kingsmanperfecthartwin @ghost-lantern @thefalconandthewinterwidowshield @itssmaugtheterrible @katherinemaximoff @veryfancydoilies @cute-angi @mochacake2016 @prix19 @alexfanficnook @anotheroddfish @mando-is-the-way @xourownsidee @baes-x @dreamingsmile @negar77rd @imaginesfreetotake @rougepetale @tis-vereon @divinearchangel @hiddlechive @lucimorningst4r @the-royal-petals @ginnykate @thatesqcrush @friendofplenti @yuugenmomo @holdmyowos @lokislov3 @captaincarmel164 @folklore-mcu @mydearestalmira @petalcranberry @singhfae @emotionsareforuglypeople