#persephone x louise

[petaltexturedskies]

When Hades decided he loved this girl he built for her a duplicate of earth, everything the same, down to the meadow, but with a bed added. Everything the same, including sunlight, because it would be hard on a young girl to go so quickly from bright light to utter darkness. Gradually, he thought, he'd introduce the night, first as the shadows of fluttering leaves. Then moon, then stars. Then no moon, no stars. Let Persephone get used to it slowly. In the end, he thought, she'd find it comforting. A replica of earth except there was love here. Doesn't everyone want love?

Louise Glück, from "A Myth of Devotion" in Poems 1962-2012

[llovelymoonn]

jihyun yun some are always hungry: "reversal" (via @feral-ballad) \\ x \\ louise glück averno: "persephone the wanderer" \\ charles bukowski come on in!: "hurry slowly" (via @tamsoj) \\ jihyun yun some are always hungry: "reversal" (via @feral-ballad) \\ julie myerson sleepwalking

kofi

[sunflowersandsapphires]

A Duplicate of Earth

When Skies Are Gray, Chapter 1 

Series Masterlist           Next Chapter

pairing: Frank Castle x fem!reader 

summary: Frank’s life has reached a crossroads: he can either continue to seclude himself and pursue a dark, lonely future, or he can open himself up to connecting with someone again and maybe achieve happiness. Being the grump that he is, Frank has already committed to the lonely path, but his curious new neighbor might just turn that around. 

Warnings: minors DNI, swearing, implied depression, implied eating disorder (the reader is going to be in recovery in this fic, if it gets graphic I will absolutely warn y’all. This is mostly therapeutic for me lol). 

a/n: This fic was so fun to write!! I love grumpy Frank with all of my heart and I think he deserves to have someone teach him how to feel joy again. So this is my attempt at that. It is loosely based on the poem "A Myth of Devotion" by Louise Gluck at the beginning of the chapter (which is SO Frank!Coded imo, like absolutely fits his fears and self-deprecation) and the myth of Hades/Persephone.

Lastly, a HUGE thank you to @saradika for the beautiful free divider I used in this fic!

w/c: 5.4k (poem not included, this is 17 pages y’all)

When Hades decided he loved this girl he built for her a duplicate of earth, everything the same, down to the meadow, but with a bed added.

Everything the same, including sunlight, because it would be hard on a young girl to go so quickly from bright light to utter darkness

Gradually, he thought, he'd introduce the night, first as the shadows of fluttering leaves. Then moon, then stars. Then no moon, no stars.

Let Persephone get used to it slowly. In the end, he thought, she'd find it comforting. A replica of earth except there was love here.

Doesn't everyone want love? He waited many years, building a world, watching Persephone in the meadow. Persephone, a smeller, a taster. If you have one appetite, he thought, you have them all.

Doesn't everyone want to feel in the night the beloved body, compass, polestar, to hear the quiet breathing that says I am alive, that means also you are alive, because you hear me, you are here with me. And when one turns, the other turns—

That's what he felt, the lord of darkness, looking at the world he had constructed for Persephone. It never crossed his mind that there'd be no more smelling here, certainly no more eating.

Guilt? Terror? The fear of love? These things he couldn't imagine; no lover ever imagines them.

He dreams, he wonders what to call this place. First he thinks: The New Hell. Then: The Garden. In the end, he decides to name it Persephone's Girlhood.

A soft light rising above the level meadow, behind the bed. He takes her in his arms. He wants to say I love you, nothing can hurt you but he thinks this is a lie, so he says in the end you're dead, nothing can hurt you which seems to him a more promising beginning, more true.

Tracing his fingers along the page, Frank reread the stanzas. He was not quite sure what kept drawing him back to this piece. He’d never been a fan of modern poetry, more drawn to the subtlety of the Victorian era. Yet every night this week, when his sweat-soaked body bolted upright with a gasping breath, he read through this piece while his heart rate slowed. 

He has a blurry memory of the story from his childhood. Studying the Greek gods in school, reading excerpts of the Iliad or whatever. He has always been drawn to this specific myth, for whatever reason. Hades and Persephone, darkness and light. But he doesn’t remember it feeling so…corrupt. 

The story he had learned was one of great romance: two unlikely lovers fighting against the odds, reshaping the earth to remain together. But the way Glück illustrates the story illuminated a more sinister interpretation. One night, in an insomnia-induced haze, he’d read page after page about the two gods, trying to find a definitive answer to the question that bounced around his mind. Did Hades ruin poor Persephone? Was their love itself ruinous?

Glück sure seemed to think so. Maybe that was what sparked his interest in the piece. The idea that love could tarnish something so pure—Frank sure had a fair share of experience with that. 

With a hefty sigh, he closed the book, glancing at the clock. 4:05 am. Digging the heels of his hands into his eyes, he weighed his options. 

“Up for a jog, Max?” Frank murmured, looking to the canine who was curled up in his crate. The dog just snored. “Suit yourself, bud.” 

Slipping into a pair of athletic shoes and a light sweatshirt to accompany his sweats, he stepped out the door and towards the stairs, almost colliding with a young woman frantically darting down the hall. 

“So sorry. Have a nice day!” The figure whisper yelled at him as she ran past. 

He takes a second to regain his bearings, before plastering on a scowl and heading off on his run. 

The outing was refreshing to a degree, but his mind was still plagued with thoughts of his wife and the darkness that had consumed her, just as it had Persephone. 

Curtis let his eyes follow the pacing form in front of him as he let out a sigh. Having been a friend of Frank’s for some time now, he wasn’t a stranger to moodiness or the other man’s incredibly fiery temper, yet Frank had been worse than usual lately. It seemed like the drop of a pin could set him off these days, and Curtis could practically see a cartoon storm cloud following him around with the way he’d been glowering lately. Curtis had hoped David would be able to shed some light on the cause of the behavior, but the technician was as clueless as him. 

They (they is a term very loosely used, given that David was overtly opposed to the idea,) decided to ask Frank about it the next time he visited Curtis. So, here they both were, watching Frank stomp across the floor and waiting for him to explain himself. Finally, Frank turned to them. 

“You gonna keep starin’ at me like I’m a goddamn explosive or are ya gonna ask me your fuckin questions so we can move on?” Frank’s growl made David flinch. 

“Hey, easy there, big guy. This isn’t an interrogation.” David pleaded, trying to wipe off the coffee he had inadvertently spilled on himself. 

“We’re here to help you, Frank. Same as always. Something’s been eating you away recently and we wanted to check in.” Curtis reasoned, looking between David and the marine. 

“M’ fine.” Frank grunted, draining the rest of his own coffee and stalking over to the machine for a fresh pour. 

David rolled his eyes, gesturing to Frank pointedly. “Told you he wouldn’t want to talk about it.” 

Apparently this was not the right thing to say, because Frank stilled with the pot of coffee in his hands. “You two are talkin’ ‘bout me now? Am I entertainin’ enough for ya? Jesus.” He slammed his cup down, grabbing his jacket from the seat next to Curtis and heading for the door. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, did you have somewhere else to mope?” Curtis asked with a raised brow, almost amused by how childish Frank was being. 

“Anywhere but here would be nice. That way I’m not interrupting your fuckin’ drama club.” Frank snapped, twisting around to face Curtis. “You wanna make me your pet project? Fine. Keep doing it when I’m not fuckin’ here.” 

“Frank, we weren’t—we were just worried about you, that’s all. You’ve been really…down lately and—“ David struggled to reason with the furious man. 

“Oh, have I? So sorry to be such a goddamn stick in the mud, Lieberman. We all know life has been real nice to me so I should be more grateful, ‘s that it?.” Glaring at the pair of men before him, Frank threw on his jacket and walked out, slamming the door behind him. 

Curtis sighed, sipping his coffee and turning to David. “I should’ve known better than to think he would talk this out. He says he’s fine, we treat him like he’s fine. He’s a grown ass man who can work up the balls to ask us for help if he needs it.” 

David barked a laugh. “We both know he won’t though.”

“Yah…you’re probably right about that.” 

Frank was still fuming as he trudged through the city streets at sunset. His mood had been worse than usual lately, but his friends’ inquiry just made him feel guilty and stupid for not knowing why. Things hadn’t been too bad recently. The past few missions he’d taken on had gone smoothly—to the point where it had been over a month since Curtis had to help stitch him up, and that had to be a record. Not to mention, he’d stopped an international arms dealer last week while on his own job, putting him on Madani’s good side for the first time in his miserable life. 

His fist clenched around Max’s leash, but the dog seemed entirely unbothered by his irritation. Happily trotting next to him, gazing up with adoration every once in a while. 

Frank sighed as they reached the entrance to his building, stopping his brisk pace for a moment to give the dog a scratch. “I’m sorry I’ve been out so much, bub. We’ll do this more, promise.” 

Max simply spun away from him, sniffing the air. Frank gave a weak chuckle, shaking his head at the dog’s ambivalence. The pair started up the stairs towards their floor, Max pulling harder than usual. When they reached the landing, Max froze as Frank headed for his front door. Stumbling backwards briefly, Frank tried to start moving again, but Max held firm—letting the leash grow stiff between them. 

“Max. C’mon, bud. Le’s go.” The pit bull simply gave Frank a piercing look, before abruptly jerking backwards, wriggling his head. 

“Max, what the hell, stop that!” Desperately, Frank tried to grab his dog, but Max was too quick. Within moments, he’d slipped free of his collar and taken off. 

Frank sprinted after him, heart sinking as he realized Max was beelining for an open apartment door. The last thing he needed was a goddamn dog-induced injury suit. 

Reaching the doorway, Frank saw Max sniffing around a young woman happily—the same woman who had almost run into him this morning. To Frank’s disbelief, she laughed. The sound was surprised, but bright and it pulled at his heart in a way he did not have time to unpack. 

“Hey, big guy!” You held your hand out for Max to sniff, which he did enthusiastically. “You lost?” 

Max gave you a few exuberant licks before sticking his nose back to the ground and snuffling around your kitchen, clearly looking for something. 

Eventually, Frank unfroze from his stupor and spoke. “I am so sorry, ma’am. He’s never gotten loose like that before. Max, c’mere.” 

Seemingly through with his rebellious phase, the dog sauntered up to Frank, tail wagging, before turning to allow Frank to reattach his collar. 

Standing in front of Frank, you gave another beautiful laugh, beaming up at Frank from where you were standing before him. “That’s quite alright. I’m never opposed to a new friend. Besides, my kitchen is quite literally filled with dog treats at the moment, so I can’t exactly blame him for his actions. Still smiling, you pulled a tray of dog biscuits from the counter next to you, giggling as Max sat down expectantly. 

“Can he have one? They’re chicken flavored, if that’s an issue.” You looked at Frank, questioningly. Still mortified by his dog’s outburst and quite honestly shocked that this gorgeous woman was still talking to him, he stammered. “Uh—yah, that’s. That’s fine.” 

Your smile widened as you grasped a few treats. “Here, bubba.” Max snatched the treats from your hand, greedily gulping them down before moving closer to you and holding up a paw. 

Laughing again, you set down the tray and crouched to shake his outstretched paw. “Well aren’t you a talented pup. What’s his name?” You turned to Frank, one hand scratching behind the dog’s ears. 

“This is Max…And I’m Frank.” His vocal chords seemingly operating on their own, Frank cursed himself for the honesty. Why on earth did he feel compelled to give this woman his life story? 

“Nice to meet you, Max!” You ruffled the fur on the pit’s head, chuckling as he kissed your arm. “And you as well, Frank. My name is-“ and your name tumbled off your lips. You held out a hand to him. Frank gave a small grimace of a smile, grasping your hand and repeating your name back to you. It was beautiful and more than suited you. 

“It’s very nice to meet you ma’am. I should, uh, we should go.” Frank said lamely, tugged on Max’s leash to exit your apartment. 

Grinning at him still, you waved goodbye. “Have a nice night, Frank. Stop by anytime” 

The next time he saw you, you were struggling to lug massive cardboard boxes into your apartment. It had been a few days since Max made your acquaintance and he’d been avoiding damn near everyone, which had only worsened his bad mood. 

As he took a few steps towards his front door, trying incredibly hard to not stare at your beautiful figure in the low cut sundress you were wearing, a loud crash caught his attention. 

“Shit!” You cursed, jumping back quickly to avoid smashing your foot underneath the box you’d dropped. 

“You, uh, need a hand?” Frank grumbled, shuffling closer to you. 

“Oh, hi Frank! Sorry I was so focused on this thing that I didn’t see you.” There was that beaming smile again. Frank shied away like it would burn him. 

“Ain’t a problem. So…you want help?” He asked again, rubbing at his nape as he blushed. Why on earth would you want his help when he acted like he’d never met another human before? 

“That would be amazing. This bed frame is way heavier than I was prepared for.” You kicked the box lightly, glaring at it. 

Frank shifted it up into his arms with ease. “Where would you like it?” 

“The room to your left please!” You chirped, pointing him in the room’s direction. “Thank you so much for your help.”

Frank set the heavy box down, turning back to you. “Looks like you needed it. You ain’t exactly dressed for lifting this.” Frank scoffed, before realizing in horror what he’d just said. 

“You don’t like my dress?” Your voice was soft and you looked at him with round eyes. He cursed himself for being born. If the world was fair, no one would ever make you look like that. His darkness was all consuming. 

“Oh, shit, I wasn’t thinking. I—“ 

You bit your lip, a sly grin spreading across your face. “I’m teasing you, Frank. I came right from work and didn’t have time to change. It’s a ridiculous outfit for building furniture. Please, sit! I have something for you.” You ushered him over to your couch. 

Frank tilted his head ever so slightly, surprised that you weren’t immediately put off by his harsh demeanor and towering stature. After a moment of thought, he practically collapsed to the cushions, the exhaustion of the past few weeks crashing over him. He was acutely aware that he hadn’t been sleeping well, but he hadn’t realized the ache that had settled in his bones until now.

You retreated to your kitchen, pulling a tin of cookies out of your pantry and offering them to Frank. “As a thank you for your assistance: my world-famous chocolate chip cookies.”

Gently lifting the tin from your hand, Frank felt the corner of his mouth quirk down at the thought of mooching off of you when you’d just met. “It wasn’t any trouble. I don’t want to take your food.” He grumbled, eyeing the tin for a moment before you groaned. 

“You’re killing me here, Frank. Indulge me, please!” Your eyes flickered between the tin and his grumpy face pointedly. He rolled his eyes, pulling a cookie from the box. 

The cookie was truly one of the best things Frank had ever eaten. Soft and buttery with a sprinkle of salt on top. He finished the treat in three bites, licking his fingers before your giggling reminded him that he was being observed. 

“So…are they sufficient payment?” A shit-eating grin appeared across your face and Frank felt his mood lift even further despite his brief embarrassment. 

Popping his thumb out of his mouth, he felt himself flush. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

You waved a hand, brushing aside his embarrassment. “Oh please, I’m just glad you liked it! Half the reason I bake for other people is for the compliments.” 

“You deserve them. That was…a damn good cookie.” Frank rubbed a hand over the back of his neck but you seemed completely unphased by his stiff social skills. “What’s in that box?” He nodded to the opened one in front of your couch, snatching another cookie from the tin. 

“Well, I moved in a few weeks ago and didn’t have the foresight to order my furniture in advance. So,” you spread your arms, gesturing to the myriad of tools and wooden pieces on your floor. “Tonight is night one of furnishing my apartment.”

“That seems…like a real chore.” 

“Oh it is. But I’ve been sleeping on a mattress on my floor for three weeks, so I sort of need a bed frame. Like ASAP.” You narrowed your eyes at the box in the other room like it had bested you in a fight. 

“Did ya, um, did ya want some help with…” Frank trailed off, gesturing to your inanimate foe. 

“Oh gosh, I couldn’t ask you to do that. I wouldn’t wish IKEA furniture on my worst enemy.” You laughed, shaking your head. 

“Ain’t a problem, if you’re ok with me snackin’ on those miracle cookies while I work.”

“Ok, one:” You began, holding out a finger. Frank bit a lip to keep from laughing. Bossy little thing, aren’t ya? “You can eat all of those cookies if you help me build that motherfucking thing.” A boisterous laugh burst out of Frank at your pretty mouth cursing so openly. “And two: you will be snacking on them while we work because I would actually be the devil if I made a sweetheart like you build the hellscape that is the ‘Songesand’ all on your own.”

“Trust me, I’m no sweetheart.” 

You grinned at him. “We’ll see about that, sweetheart.” 

Hours and an empty tin of cookies later, you were ready to call it quits. 

“If this bolt doesn’t tighten all the way, I swear to God I am going to lose it.” You pouted dramatically, dropping the pieces you were attaching to the floor with a clatter. 

Frank huffed a tiny laugh. “Lemme see.” Inspecting the piece, he unscrewed the bolt a tad and tightened it with ease. You groaned. 

“I swear it was broken a second ago. Are you a witch or something?” You flopped to the ground with a sigh, looking up at him through thick lashes. 

“Nah. Just good at building things, I s’pose.” 

“Well, I really appreciate your help. Can I cook you dinner? As a thank you?”

“I don’t wanna overstay my welcome…” Busying himself with the furniture in front of him, he avoided your studious gaze. 

“It’s not a big deal. And it would actually encourage me to eat today.” 

Frank whirled to face you. “You haven’t eaten today?” 

You shrugged, “Yah, I tend to get distracted.” 

“That ain’t good for ya.” Frank sighed, trying to decide what the priority should be. “A’right. If it’ll make ya eat, ya can cook for me.” 

You smiled, your eyes catching his with a soft gaze. “That’s so sweet of you.” And, with that, you bustled away to start dinner. 

Throwing himself back into the task at hand, Frank had your bed frame assembled and was pulling your mattress onto it in no time. Brushing his hands together, he returned to the living room, tidying up the scraps of cardboard and styrofoam littering the ground. 

“Frank, please sit down! You’ve just saved me hours of work, I can clean up.” You raised your voice so he could hear you from the kitchen. 

“It’s no trouble.”

“Dinner’s ready anyway. Sit, please!” You encouraged, handing him a bowl of some delicious smelling pasta. 

Eagerly digging in, Frank almost moaned at the first bite. “How are you so good at this?” He asked, stuffing another forkful into his mouth. 

You giggled, “Culinary school, and years of practice.” 

“Culinary school, huh?” 

“Yah…” You laughed a little sadly, moving the pasta around in your bowl. “I’ve always liked cooking and I had this crazy dream of opening a bakery a while ago.” 

Frank swallowed, forcing himself to continue the conversation even though he could feel himself blushing at his inability to talk like a normal fucking person. “You’re really good at it. What happened?” 

Stiffening slightly next to him, you waved off the question. “Oh you know, killer capitalism and all that. But, I work in a cafe which means I get to bake to my heart's content without all the nitty gritty business stuff. Like taxes.” You made a face at the thought and Frank snorted. 

Finishing his dinner, he noticed you studying him again. It had been a while since someone had shown such genuine interest and care towards him. His heart fluttered in a way he hadn’t felt in years, and it struck a nerve. Minuscule grin falling from his face, he stood abruptly. 

“I gotta go.” 

“Oh, ok.” He didn’t dare look at your face and risk seeing it fall. 

Pacing to your doorway, he turned towards you marginally. “Thanks for the food.” 

“Thank you for giving me a platform to sleep on tonight. You’ve saved my hips a world of pain.” Your smile was small but genuine. You seemed almost…hesitant. As he was about to tread down the hallway to his own place, you wrapped him in a sudden embrace. “Have a goodnight, Frank.” 

His heart tugged, insisting that he return the embrace, but he couldn’t risk it. Instead, he squeezed your shoulder and quickly headed home. 

After another night of restless sleep, he woke up in an even fouler mood than before. Yanking the door open on his way to work, he almost stomped over a package sitting on his doorstep. Given that it was just past 5 in the morning, he was a little suspicious of the bag at his feet. Gingerly picking it up, he turned it around and, despite himself, broke into a small smile. 

The brown paper bag had a handwritten note, “Don’t be a stranger, Sweetheart” with your signature and phone number underneath. Stapled to the present itself was a brochure for one “Rainy Day Bakery”, complete with pictures of your smiling face surrounded by other employees. Feeling his shitty mood melt away, just a little, he opened the bag and found a short stack of fresh chocolate chip cookies. He sank back against his door, closing his eyes. 

Screw it.

Twirling around the kitchen, softly singing the lyrics to the song playing overhead, you placed your tray of bread into the oven. 

“God. You’re worse than usual today.” Your coworker, Stacy, groused, hefting a giant sack of flour up onto your prep table. You laughed at her, nudging her shoulder. 

“It’s a great day, Stace! It’s beautiful outside and we’ve had steady business all morning. Plus, Janet is letting me try out some new flavors this week and I am stoked!” You squealed. 

“How did I ever become friends with morning people,” She fake gagged and you smacked her. 

“You love our exuberance, don’t lie.” 

“Yah, yah. Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. 

“Did someone call for a morning person?” Your other primary coworker, Leo, entered the room with a dramatic spin. 

“The only thing worse than one of you, is both of you. I’ll take the counter.” Stacy mumbled, stalking back out to the front of the store. You and Leo giggled after her, knowing she was hiding a smile. 

“So, what’s on the docket for the rest of the day, princess?” Leo positioned themself at the stainless steel bench next to you, looking ready to take on whatever weird ideas you threw their way. 

“I’m thinkin’ more classic cheesecakes, those did well last week. Then maybe lemon meringue bars or key lime minis? Something citrusy. Thoughts?” You tilted your head, awaiting their response. 

“Let’s do the lemon pie shortbread bars. Those are always popular. You want to prep the dough, I’ll start juicing?” 

“You read my mind.” Whipping out the ingredients, the two of you danced around each other in a practiced waltz. You’d been friends since culinary school and had pretty much been a package deal for every employer afterwards. You acted as a well oiled machine, and the cafe was booming because of it. 

As you gently pressed large wads of shortbread into pans, Stacy poked her head back through the staff door, breaking your focus. “Someone’s here for you, princess.” 

Scrunching your brow, you shouted over your shoulder. “I told her I didn’t have time to grab lunch this week.” 

“It’s not your mom. It’s some guy. Says he’s your neighbor?” 

Your hands stilled. “Yah, ok, I’m coming, Stace.” Scooting past Leo—and their eager, teasing grin—you gave them a pointed look. “Stop it.”

“He came to visit you. At work.” Leo singsonged. 

“It might not even be him.”

Leo rolled their eyes back to the pot in front of them. “It’s him.” 

Traipsing after Stacy into the customer portion of the cafe, your face broke out in a massive smile as you saw Frank at the register. His arms were crossed and he looked nervous, eyes shifting around, trying his best to avoid Stacy’s cold gaze. 

“Hey, Frank! Welcome to Rainy Day! What can I get ya?” You placed your hands on your hips and looked at him with excited expectation. 

“Coffee?” You giggled at his simple response which made his blush deepen. “I uh, shit, that sounded stupid. I don’t know…”

“It didn’t sound stupid, sweetheart. I was just thinking about how nice it is to not have to make a super complicated drink. Stace can you get me a large cup of the dark roast. I’m assuming hot and no cream or sugar?” You looked at Frank, waiting to see if your prediction was correct. 

“Fuck, am I that obvious?” He groaned, his face beet red as he avoided your eyes. 

“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the simple things, Frank.” 

Stacy passed over the drink. “2.50.” She stated with no emotion, feigning disinterest in the conversation. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw her giving Frank a subtle once-over. 

Frank passed over a ten. “Keep the change.” 

“Aw, that’s so sweet! Thank you,” your lopsided grin was a permanent fixture whenever he was present. It was going to be the death of him. He’d do anything to make you keep that smile. 

“I—um, wanted to visit your cafe, since you asked me to, I mean—“

Your smile softened as his nervousness peaked. “I appreciate the visit, Frank. Come by anytime. Oh! Before you go, actually,” You fluttered off, daintily grabbing a pastry from the case to your left. You handed him a beautifully decorated confection, but your signature smile held a tinge of anxiety. You clearly cared about his opinion, he wasn’t really sure why. 

“I, uh, didn’t order this.” Frank announced gruffly, holding the pastry in his hands as if it was trying to bite him. 

Rolling your eyes, you laughed cheerfully, “I know, silly. You think I’m going to let you leave without breakfast?” Hands back on your hips, Frank felt a familiar warmth bloom as an almost imperceptible smirk flickered across his mouth. Bossy. 

“Are you really chastising me for skipping a meal after what you said yesterday?” He quirked an eyebrow. 

“Do as I say, not as I do.” You shrugged, looking between him and the pastry. “Well? Don’t leave me hanging!” 

“Are you always this demanding?” Frank scoffed with a slight twinkle in his eyes. 

“Yes.” Stacy and Leo called in unison, making you gasp in false betrayal. 

“Fine, I’ll eat it myself.” You held out your hand to retract the pastry, but Frank drew it closer to himself. 

“Never said I wouldn’t try it, Sunshine.” Your exaggerated pout nearly disappeared at the nickname. “Pretty sure you’ll pop your lid if I don’t.” 

He took a bite of the pastry, savoring the incredible combination of flavors. “‘S real good, what is it?” 

“Baklava inspired croissant. It’s something new I am trying and you strike me as someone who wouldn’t be satisfied by my whimsical ideas alone. You’re…honest, it’s nice.” 

Taken aback, Frank hesitated before swallowing his mouthful. “I…uh—thanks.” His voice was soft. He wasn’t quite used to receiving compliments about anything other than his ability to end a life. 

“Sorry if I was too pushy, a lot of the people who come in here are more concerned with their hipster image than truth. It’s nice to have someone who gives their actual opinion on my work, is all.” You bit your lip, eyes trained on his. 

“I was just teasin’, Sunshine. You can boss me around whenever you want.” 

You grinned. “I think I’ll take you up on that, Frankie.” You winked, making him chuckle. 

“Oh, you’re a handful, aren’t ya?”

“No turning back, Frank. You’re my friend now. Ask my coworkers, I’m not easy to get rid of.” You batted your eyelashes at him and he shook his head, looking to Stacy and Leo behind you. 

“Trust me, I’ve tried.” Stacy gave a tremendous sigh and Leo shoved her. 

“Well, thanks. For the…coffee and stuff.” Frank ended with, lamely. 

“I’m glad you liked the pastry! If you ever want to be my guinea pig, let me know. I’m pretty sure my friends are tired of me asking.” You chuckled, looking sheepishly at Leo and Stacy who gave dramatic nods. 

“I’d uh…I’d like that.” 

You beamed. “You’re a lifesaver, truly. Just text me if you’re ever up for trying things. You have my number now.”

“I do. I…uh, gotta run but…thanks again” Frank gave a curt nod to the three of you. 

“Have a good day, sweetheart.” You waved him goodbye. 

You were definitely going to be the death of him. 

Your phone buzzed, startling you out of your post-work tv-induced trance. 

Unknown: Hey. This is Frank. In case you need my number or whatever. 

You: Hey Frank! Haven’t talked to you in forever 😉

Frank: Sorry to bother you

You: Don’t be silly. You could never bother me. 

You: Are you hungry?

Frank: I guess? Why?

You: There’s a cute little Persian place that just opened a few blocks from here. I’ve been dying to try it but was too embarrassed to go alone. They allow dogs on the patio, if you and Max are interested?

Frank: Sounds good. Be over in a sec. 

Your heart spun around in your chest. Dashing to your bathroom, you fiddled with your outfit and hair, reapplying makeup and adjusting your floral patterned dress. Catching your own eyes in the mirror, you scolded yourself. Frank wasn’t fully a stranger anymore, but you didn’t know much about him. He didn’t wear a wedding band, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t involved with someone. You were getting ahead of yourself. The knowledge that your efforts might be futile weren’t enough to make you wipe off your fresh coat of lipstick, though. 

A knock at your door broke you out of your thoughts. Rushing to open it, you were spellbound. Frank had cleaned up, probably not for you personally, but your naive little heart couldn’t help but hope. His wavy hair was pushed away from his face and his beard had been trimmed. Wearing his signature dark jacket, he looked…marvelous. 

Prying your jaw from the floor, you smiled at him. “You look really nice, Frank.” 

“So do you, sunshine. Max was napping and refused to get up. Is it alright if it’s just us?”

“More than.” You grinned up at him sweetly. 

“Lead the way, Sunshine.” His deep voice rumbled. You grabbed one of his large hands in both of yours (which definitely did not make him blush) dragging him to the stairs. 

Frank knew he was treading a dangerous line. This was the 4th time in a week he’d seen you, but he couldn’t get enough. Your smile was intoxicating and your bubbly yet demanding personality was goddamn enchanting. For fuck’s sake, his hand that you had held still burned with warmth and he never wanted it to fade. He knew his darkness could ruin you, but he was defenseless to your lilting voice and endless optimism. 

Which is how he found himself across from you in a quaint little spot a few blocks from your building. Strings of colorful lights spanned the perimeter. Apparently you knew one of the chefs because the kitchen had prepared a tasting menu of sorts for the two of you, and Frank was not above reaping the benefits of what you’d sown. 

Dish after amazing dish was placed in front of the two of you and Frank was putting them away, you were eating less but seemed to be enjoying everything just the same. As you both moaned around a bite of a sort of lamb stew, your eyes twinkled. 

“So, Frank, how was your day?” The question was eager and genuine. He was still taken aback by your desire to know him, to care about him. 

“Fine. Yours?” 

“My day was lovely! I made a couple of my favorite recipes and had a handsome visitor at the cafe. Now I’m having a fantastic meal. I’m a lucky gal.” Eyes still sparkling, they scrunched as you smiled. 

“A handsome visitor, huh?”

“Oh you’d like him. He’s all tough and brooding, but I just know there’s a good man underneath all of that.” 

“Ya just know, huh? What’s hiding underneath all that happiness of yours then, sunshine?” 

“An overwhelming sense of curiosity.” You smirked at him. Your flirty tone traveled straight down in his being. Giving a breathy laugh, he deflected. 

“How are you so…peppy all the time?” At his question, your seductive gaze faded to a much more solemn one. 

“I don’t know, I guess it just became a habit… My, uh, my dad died. When I was young. My mom didn’t handle it well. So, it started as a defense mechanism? I suppose? But now…now it’s just who I am.” You averted your eyes, picking at the dish in front of you. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a downer.” You forced a small laugh. 

“Hey,” Frank’s firm yet gentle tone forced you to look at him once again. “You’re not a downer. Anything ya wanna tell me, I’ll listen, yah?” 

You nodded, smile coming back to the edges of your lips. “Thanks, Frankie.” 

“Can I ask you another question?” When you nodded, he continued. “Do you put, like, crack in those cookies of yours? I swear you gave me an addiction, sunshine.” 

A laugh escaped you and his heart soared. There’s my girl. 

Taglist: @cheshirecat484

[szeptember]

WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL

Louise Glück, Persephone the Wanderer / Tony Kushner, Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches / Jürgen Ovens, Jacob Fighting the Angel / Hermann Hesse, Demian / Léon Bonnat, Jacob Wrestling the Angel / Rosanna Warren, Departure: Poems / x / Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice / Eugène Delacroix, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel / Belden C. Lane, The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality / Alexandre-Louis Leloir, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

[namesforall]

Dark Academia Names

Here is a collection of names that give off the feeling of a library on a rainy day. Next to the names will be M, F, or X depending on the gender it's most commonly associated with.

Abilene - F

Agnes - F

Amadeus - M

Annalise - F

Aurelius - M

Benedict - M

Beryl - X

Blanche - F

Blythe - F

Brittain - F

Catherine - F

Celine - F

Charlie - X

Christopher - M

Claire - F

Corvid - X

Cyrus - M

David - M

Deborah - F

Edith - F

Esther - F

Ezra - M

Florence - X, M

Genevieve - F

George - M

Gwendolyn - F

Harper - X, F

Hemlock - X

Imogen - F

Isaiah - M

Josephine - F

Julius - M

Kate - F

London - F

Louise - F

Luther - M

Margaret - F

Milan - X

Minerva - F

Neville - M

Norman - F

Ochre - X

Octavia - F

Oliver - M

Ophelia - F

Percival - M

Persephone - F

Phoebe - F

Quincy - M

Romulus - M

Ruth - F

Samuel - M

Sombre - X

Tempest - X

Theodore - M

Ursula - F

Valerie - F

Vincent - M

Weston - M

Wren - X

Xavier - M

Yarrow - X

Zephyr - X

[lesbianboyfriend]

@preachersdaughtermp3 tagged me to post some fav songs with names in the title!! kiss kiss ty reid <33

evelyn / gregory alan isakov

persephone / allison russell

newton’s first / the altogether

susie save your love / allie x, mitski

thelma and louise / dyke drama

send my love to john / rina sawayama

grace kelly / mika

cleopatra / the lumineers

tom thumb / bitter ruin

brutus / the buttress

this was so hard to narrow down omg did you guys know that there are so many beautiful songs in the world…gonna tag @andromerot @merricatcoded @kittysghost @vulpinesaint @stephaniesays1968 @romcomfemme if you guys would like!! mwah mwah

[fragbot]

What will you do, when it is your turn in the field with the god?

- from "Persephone the Wanderer," Louise Glück (x)

[tcrmommabear]

A Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy sounds like a book written by Sephie and Louise, I wonder why... Haha

“It’s because I’ve actually written it.”

The room goes quiet with this revelation, four sets of eyes trained on the woman sipping tea. Her wife sat beside her, the smile just a little too perfect to be genuine. Though, her shaking shoulders revealed how hard she was trying to keep from laughing.

“You’re… Joking, right?” Haru tried, her own smile sheepish. Persephone gave a small “ah”, setting down her tea cup so she could look fully at the younger woman. More moments of silence, Persephone stone cold.

“Of course not. Though, it’s not entirely my book.” came her airy reply. “Louise helped alongside me.”

The eyes transferred from Persephone to Louise, a catty grin directed to the tea.

“Of course I helped. You needed experience for the piracy part.”

“Ah, that was such a wonderful honeymoon.”

[monatorasart]

✨New stickers drop and a restock of Tiny Tina✨

Busy days, but it’s been fun :)

If you are interested in any of these stickers, they are available in my Etsy store. Link is below:

https://etsy.me/3j9N3SE

[purple-spring]

A soft light rising above the level meadow, behind the bed. He takes her in his arms. He wants to say I love you, nothing can hurt you

but he thinks this is a lie, so he says in the end you're dead, nothing can hurt you which seems to him a more promising beginning, more true.

- ‘A Myth of Devotion’, Louise Glück

[texaschainsawmascara]

All of us like stairs, one step after another, going up, going down, but always going the same way.

Letter to My Rage: An Evolution - Lidia Yuknavitch / Lady Snowblood / In The Blood - John Mayer / Autumn Sonata (x) / The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Kundera / On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong / Milk and Honey - Rupi Kaur / The Joy Luck Club / Enough - Suzanne Buffam / x / The Chronology of Water - Lidia Yuknavitch / Lake Mungo / tbd / Family Tree (Intro) - Ethel Cain / Gretel & Hansel (2020) / Pahanhautoja [Hatching] (2022) poster description / Mini’s First Time / Salt - Nayyirah Waheed / Ordinary People / Persephone The Wanderer - Louise Glück

[petaltexturedskies]

Doesn't everyone want to feel in the night the beloved body, compass, polestar, to hear the quiet breathing that says I am alive, that means also you are alive, because you hear me, you are here with me. And when one turns, the other turns—

Louise Glück, from "A Myth of Devotion" in Poems 1962-2012

[blackacre13]

Okayy but Cate's look on Goya Awards night was def a Hades/Persephone au🤝. Can you do another oneee pleaseeee.

x.

Here's Part 9; Part 8 is here :

“Yes?” Debbie hissed, tapping her foot.

“Your—hair,” she whispered, her voice going hoarse as Debbie’s fingers felt at the top of her head, letting out a surprised quiet curse as she pricked her finger on something, pulling what seemed to be a crown of red thorns into her hands as she stared down at in in aw. Red. Angry. Sharp. And growing from a place and a goddess whom Demeter believed had no life left in her alone.

“It seems there is life in me after all,” Deborah smirked, not minding the prickle against her fingertips as she placed the crown back on her head, feeling her own rebirth flickering through her full of fury and rage.

“So? Where’s your little virgin queen?”

Lou’s eyes were already rolling before the nymph came into her view. She should have known she would appear sooner or later to cause a mess of things. As if Demeter hadn’t been enough help ruining perfection already.

“Minthe,” Louise sighed, her nostrils flaring, abandoning her cup of ambrosia as she frowned at the woman.

“How’s that married life treating you?” The water nymph smirked, sauntering into Lou’s own private chambers with no invitation or warning to boot. “Where is that little thing anyway? Demeter’s little cherub right?”

“Deborah,” the blonde seethed, trying not to let her jaw set to harshly, but Minthe had always known exactly what buttons to push. “And she’s not a cherub. She is my wife. My love. The queen of this realm, and you will treat her as such.”

“Ohhh, Hades,” Minthe giggled, shaking her head. “How quickly you forget yourself. Don’t you remember how much fun we used to have?”

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it fun,” Lou huffed. “Maybe good practice for listening to souls beg for forgiveness though.”

“You tease me, Hades.”

“It’s Louise,” the blonde growled. “Or your majesty, rather,” she smirked. “My lord, perhaps. The least you could do after a millennia of disappointment and aggravation is respect me for my title. Deborah, too. I know what you’re thinking already.”

“She’s such a bore,” Minthe sighed, ignoring the respect of calling Lou anything at all immediately as she frowned down at her nails. “You need fire. Passion. Lust. You were never one for brides and love and marriage and romance.”

“Jealous?” Lou grinned, sitting back against the bed, feeling triumphant with herself. She had never felt she was deserving or capable of love, but Debbie had proven that she was and then some. It had completely changed her. Changed the underworld. Changed fate.

Minthe stalked closer, her hand brushing through the ripple of dark silk sheets, the blonde now panicking at the literal corner she’d backed herself into. The old Hades settled things physically, sure. Made everything a game. Made everything sex. But that wasn’t her anymore. Hadn’t been her in years even before Debbie came into her life. But she certainly wasn’t going to spiral backwards into a life of self-loathing and lust and distraction when things had been so wonderful. When she had Debbie. Her wife. Her love. Her queen.

“She’s a child,” Minthe hissed. “You never needed a queen. You’ve always been satisfied to simply have people serve you, Hades…My lord,” she winked as an afterthought. “I can show you the pleasure you’ve been missing.”

“And I can show you the door,” Debbie’s voice rang out suddenly, just as Lou’s heart had leapt into her throat, a feeling of ice in the air as Minthe crept closer, her knees starting to crawl across the bed.

It was a literal nightmare of Lou’s in the flesh. A past lover. Her one and only wife. Meeting now. And under circumstances that would have Deborah’s mind running faster than Lou’s lips could explain.

They trusted each other. Lou knew that. But Lou was an ancient Goddess. She had been around for thousand of years and taken multiple lovers in turn. To scratch an itch. To pass the time. She’d never courted anyone, persay, nor even had a serious relationship, but she knew what this looked like. Looked like she had taken up something on the side to keep her occupied while Demeter had stolen Deborah from her and her realm.

And even though it was the furthest thing for the truth, Minthe was the epitome of the underworld. Desperate to punish. Eager to tease. Always aimed to torture.

“Louise,” Debbie hissed, her voice sounding angrier than Lou had expected. She had been waiting for the empty echo of heartbreak or perhaps confusion, but the hurt sounded bitter and angry. “Dare I ask you about the nymph in our bed?”

“Debbie,” Lou breathed, closing her eyes with a flutter as she tried to collect herself, praying the other woman would give her a moment to explain the situation and her past to Debbie. “This, unfortunately, is Minthe.”

“Minthe?” Debbie repeated, nodding her head slowly, her eyes prickling with tears.

“And it’s not what—“

“Hades, baby,” Minthe purred, smirking as she crawled forward, not even giving Deborah a second glance as she moved towards Lou.

Lou’s eyes were practically black with hate as she shot a glare at Minthe, thinking about how much she’d like to throw her back against the walls of the cavern or slap her across the face or hang her upside down over the flaming lake, but her mind was whirring, torn between running to Debbie and explaining and apologizing or punishing Minthe first, but it didn’t matter.

All she heard was an aggravated shriek and a wicked laugh from Debbie, the nymph suddenly disappearing, only leaves of what seemed to be mint falling to the sheets as Deborah looked over at Lou, smug and confident.

“Well, I don’t think Minthe will be a problem for me anymore,” Debbie smirked, stalking towards the bed, her robes flaring behind her. Lou was only now noticing the thorny crown growing out of her head. “You, Louise, on the other hand. Have some explaining to do, my love,” Debbie hissed, her hand pressing against Lou’s neck as she let out a moan at the touch only to whimper as Debbie pulled away, suddenly finding herself restrained against the bed, thorny vines gripping around her neck and wrists. “Shall we try that again, my sweet?” Debbie hissed, venom dripping into the question.

[deliahscrush2003]

My OC Masterlist

[ * main • bold is available • italic is unavailable ]

AGENTS OF FATE || FANDOM: FAIRY TAIL ||

Kindred Blanche *

Seiren Blanche

Tora Blanche

AS THE WORLD CAVES IN || FANDOM: MY HERO ACADEMIA ||

Nakao Nakano - Profile Unavailable

Sachiko Yoshinaga - Profile Unavailable

Kai Kaneki - Profile Unavailable

Ren Mitsugi - Profile Unavailable

Sora Sakurai - Profile Unavailable

Ryota Oba - Profile Unavailable

Mai Endo - Profile Unavailable

BREATHE FOR ME || FANDOM: TEEN WOLF ||

Vanessa O'Connor *

Claire Rhodes - Profile Unavailable

Phoebe Mason - Profile Unavailable

Tatianna Valerio - Profile Unavailable

Tristan Dufort - Profile Unavailable

Lyra Vega - Profile Unavailable

Leo Vega - Profile Unavailable

BORN IN A THUNDERSTORM || FANDOM: ATTACK ON TITAN ||

Carina Gunner *

Else Gunner - Profile Unavailable

Brie Gunner - Profile Unavailable

CHILDRE OF PROPHERCY || FANDOM: HARRY POTTER ||

Cecilia "Cecily" Malfoy

Ariel McKinnon

Sapphire Etoile

Bethany Meadowes

Lucinda Lestrange - Profile Unavailable

FARREN THE VAMPIRE SLAYER || FANDOM: BTVS ||

Farren Emerson - Profile Unavailable

MINDS OF THE DAMNED || FANDOM: CRIMINAL MINDS ||

Persephone Shaw

MYRIAD OF SCARS || FANDOM: WOLFBLOOD ||

Niamh O'Connor *

Avery Jameson

ONCE A KING OR QUEEN OF NARNIA || FANDOM: NARNIA ||

Sylvia of Narnia *

Layla of Calormen - Profile Unavailable

Callis of Archenland - Profile Unavailable

Janus of Archenland - Profile Unavailable

SHE WAS THE FIRST || FANDOM: THE MAZE RUNNER ||

Ada *

Angelo

THE BLOOPERVERSE || FANDOM: X-MEN (MOVIES) ||

Louise "Lou" Hammond *

Johanna "Jo" Ferguson

Casey Cassidy

THE BABYSITTER CLUB || FANDOM: STRANGER THINGS ||

Michelle "Shelly" Hargrove - Profile Unavailable

Stephanie "Steph" Harrington - Profile Unavailable

THE CHAOS THEORY || FANDOM: JURASSIC PARK ||

Julia Simmons

THE SEDA SERIES || FANDOM: STAR WARS ||

Serina Seda *

Rivin Nox

THE SURVIVORS SERIES || FANDOM: RESIDENT EVIL ||

Kylie Pryce - Profile Unavailable

THE TWIN RANGERS || FANDOM: POWER RANGERS ||

Tamsin "Tammy" Oliver *

TRUE BLUE || FANDOM: PACIFIC RIM ||

Indianna "Indy" Taylor *

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

FANDOM: CURSED.

Reagan of Cinder *

FANDOM: FEAR/ THE WALKING DEAD.

Raine Campbell *

FANDOM: HUNGER GAMES.

Dyanna Faustus

Hugo Havillard

FANDOM: PERCY JACKSON.

Leah Castor *

Bright Riddlan

FANDOM: PRETTY LITTLE LIARS.

Lauren "Lori" Dolian *

FANDOM: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES/ THE ORIGINALS.

Fiona Reyne *

Ava Reyne.

Kenna Reyne.

Elide Reyne.

Augustus Reyne.

Hugh Reyne.

Bellamy Delacorix

Marion Delacroix

Killian Whelan.

Thea Whelan.

Carter Ryan.

[ [ Curious? Don't be afraid to let me know ] ]

[trekinist]

Thanks to @twink-frank for tagging me!

5 songs ive been listening to on repeat:

1) Belicoso - Calva Louise

2) MONTERO - Lil Nas X

3) Kid Midnight - IRONTOM

4) Persephone - Doll Skin

5) Mary - The Happy Fitz

last movie i watched:

I think it was half of Miss Congeniality, which we bailed on because the main character is so unlikable

currently watching:

BDG’s most recent video

currently reading:

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics; The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers; The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley

Tagging @chatot4444 @taran-wanderer @im-still-thinking @team-rnjr @whore-frank @antspaul and anyone else who wants to play

[catsafarithewriter]

“Don’t be mad but.....I stole a dragon’s egg.” Why do I picture Louise saying this to Persephone when she thought a baby dragon would be a great gift but all goes wrong afterwards? Lol just the thought of that makes it funny

I have three separate asks with this specific prompt, so I’m guessing ya’ll really like dragons, huh? XD (Each ask is with a different character too, so I’m doing all three too.) One lost ladies ship coming right up! 

(Inspiration hit suddenly, so for anyone else waiting for their prompts, I shall get to them, I promise!)

x

It had been at least three days since Louise’s last bout of tomfoolery and, really, that should have been Persephone’s first clue that chaos was on the horizon. 

She had grown complacent, she decided in hindsight, and honestly she should have known better. But they were celebrating their anniversary - well, one of their anniversaries; they had married several times in several different worlds - and Persephone had dared to believe they were simply due a romantic walk through an underground market. Browsing, exploring, maybe topping it off with the shadow-puppet show... 

She was just admiring the many masks on display when her wife careened around a corner and grabbed her paw.

“Hello, love!” Louise called over the fast-approaching sounds of chaos. “My darling, my dear...” She hauled Persephone down a tunnel. “My beautiful and wonderfully understanding wife--”

“What have you done?”

“Done? Why would you assume I have done anything?”

“THIEF! CRIMINAL! RUFFIAN!”

Persephone raised an eyebrow at Louise, not the easiest of tasks when one is sprinting down a rapidly narrowing burrow. “Call it a wife’s intuition.”

“Fine! I may... Now, don’t be mad, but I may,” Louise shouted, “have stolen an dragon’s egg.” She motioned to the bag she had tucked under one arm.

“Is that all you’ve done?” Persephone bellowed back. She gestured loosely with her free hand to the hoards of guards hot on their tails. “Oh, thank goodness, and here I was thinking you’d gone and done something reckless!”

"Now, don’t be mad--”

“You should have warned me before pulling a stunt like this!”

“I’m warning you now!”

“You,” Persephone panted, “and I have very different definitions of the word ‘warned’.” They came to a partial cave-in, and she relinquished her wife’s hand as she scaled it with a single running jump. She landed on the other side just in time to see Louise clear it with a spinning flip. 

Persephone gave her A Look. “Careful. Your von Gikkingen is showing.”

“Gotta keep in practice for when I show up my brother.” She wove her hand through Persephone’s paw and continued the helterskelter sprint. “Anyway,” she continued, annoyingly not out of breath yet, “you know we couldn’t just leave it there. They’re the ones selling a dragon’s egg! That should be illegal!”

“I know, but did you consider there were subtler ways to steal it than grabbing it straight off the shop floor?” Persephone demanded. 

“I didn’t just grab it!” Louise retorted, mock-insulted laced into her words.

“Oh Bast, you did the light show, didn’t you?”

“It’s a perfect distraction! Harmless, distracting, snazzy-- OH!” Louise’s wide-brimmed hat flew off as they skidded around a corner, and Persephone caught it with a well-practiced snatch.

“I keep telling you that you should get elastic for this thing,” Persephone admonished. 

“It would spoil the look though.”

“It’ll spoil the look even more if you lose it or it flies off into a river somewhere.”

They slowed as they came to an empty tunnel, dimly-lit with infrequently-used torches, and Persephone passed the hat back to Louise. It sounded like they had thrown off their pursuers by scaling the cave-in. “So, now we’re the caretakers of one dragon egg. Any ideas how we’re going to get it back to its kind?”

“We could always look after it,” Louise offered. She gently rolled the egg out of the bag and admired its shimmering sky-blue surface. “Just until we find its family again. I mean, how hard can looking after a dragonette be?”

Persephone, who had already gone through motherhood once, and that had been with a kitten and not a flying lizard with the ability to spit fire, snorted. “Louise, honey, we are not raising a dragon.”

“I mean, of course we aren’t; we need to get this little fella back to his folks, but having a dragon on our side would be pretty neat, wouldn’t it?”

“HALT! Come back and pay for that, thief!”

Out of nowhere, a short, chameleon-like creature appeared, no taller than the cats’ waists and sporting yellow streaking pattern across its face. 

“This?” Persephone asked to Louise. “This is who you stole from?”

“It’s not my proudest moment, but--”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” she demanded. 

“He was selling a dragon’s egg!” Louise protested. “It’s not stealing if you take something that was already stolen!”

The shopkeeper bared its teeth. “If you don’t pay for it, then I’ll have to make you.”

Louise stepped forward, wielding her parasol between them. “Oh yeah? And who’s going to make me? Persephone, hold the egg.”

“I’ve got the egg. But, Louise--”

Louise threw back the kind of confidently charming smile that Persephone had fallen in love with - and also the kind of smile that usually preceded something reckless. “Don’t worry, love. I think I’ve got this covered.”

“Uh-huh,” Persephone said, all while really wishing that for once, just once, Louise would read up on the worlds before charging into them. She stood back and waited to intercede when she was needed. She watched as Louise swung her parasol in a loose arc designed to firmly knock the shopkeeper off-balance and then miss as the creature vanished. 

“It looks like a chameleon, but its skin is actually more akin to cuttlefish,” Persephone called. “It can change colour to blend in with its background.”

“And you’re -- ow -- you’re only telling me this -- ow -- now? Stop biting me!”

“It’s called practical learning!” Persephone said. 

“And what am I learning? Ow! Cut that out, you little--”    

“To include your wife in your criminal habits. And maybe plan things out for once in your life.”

“Sure, sure -- ow -- next time I’ll draw up a diagram for you.” 

A lucky swing of the parasol found its mark and something slammed into a cave wall. The nothingness shimmered, and yellow scales glitched into view. Beady black eyes stared at them. 

“See?” Louise panted. She straightened, rolling her shoulders back, and approached the shopkeeper. “That wasn’t so difficult.”

“Alright, dear. Just watch out for it’s--”

Persephone faltered as the shopkeeper snapped open its mouth and shot out a long, long pink tongue that slapped Louise’s cheek. 

“--tongue...”

“It licked me! Did you see that! It licked me! It... oooh, that can’t be good...”

Persephone gently set the egg to one side, and rose to her paws. “Let me guess: tingles, sparks, and now you’re beginning to lose all feeling in your cheek?”

“That about sums it up.”

“Then you’d better sit down before the paralysis spreads to the rest of you and makes you sit down.”

“Paralysis?”

“Relax. It’ll wear off.” Persephone ducked as the tongue made another attack and squatted down in front of the shopkeeper. “Hello, sir.”

“Pay up,” he growled.

“No, I don’t think I’m going to do that,” Persephone said. “And before you even consider another lick, just remember that I have a cutlass strapped to each side that can fell ship masts, so consider what it can do to a tongue.” She casually leant both arms on the pummel of each weapon. 

The shopkeeper swallowed nervously and pursed his lips shut. 

“And, given from the almighty smack you’ve just taken, I’m going to guess that your camouflage ability has taken a jolt. Don’t worry - once the stress wears off, you’ll be as as good as new, minus one of your wares. But you’re not going to be vanishing any time soon, am I right? Don’t speak, just nod.”

The shopkeeper nodded. 

“Now,” Persephone continued, “what my wonderful, but slightly over-enthusiastic wife said earlier is true. It’s not really stealing if the thing in question was already stolen. And what you have - had, sorry - is most definitely not something that would be parted for any money. In fact,” and she tilted her head to one side, recounting the facts, “I believe trading dragon eggs is illegal in all worlds in this sector, am I correct?”

Another nod. 

“And a fine, upstanding merchant like yourself would never dream of selling the eggs of a sentient species. So, what is going to happen is this; we are going to go our separate ways - my wife and I will return this egg to the family that you ‘found’ this from, and you are going to go home and reconsider your life choices, capiche?”

More frantic nodding. 

“Good, good. Louise, how are you faring?”

“My legs feel like ants are running up and down them.”

“Ah, that’ll be the pins and needles stage. You’re about a sixth of the way there.”

“Wonderful.” 

Persephone knelt down by her wife and lifted Louise into her arms, balancing precariously to sit the egg in Louise’s dipped lap.

“Have I told you how much I love you?” Louise mumbled.

“Not in the last hour, but you’d better make it quick before the paralysis hits your tongue.” Persephone glanced back to stare daggers at the shopkeeper, just daring him to attempt anything, before her attention was called back to her passenger just as the paralysis did indeed hit Louise’s tongue. “Love, please stop talking. You’re drooling on my coat.”

Louise slurred something that may have been, ‘I love you,’ in the very loosest sense of the phrase. 

Persephone kissed her forehead. “I love you too. Now close your mouth otherwise I’m going to tell your brother all about this little adventure.”

Louise made a disgruntled sound but didn’t attempt to add anything.  

And now off to return a dragon egg to its family. 

How difficult could that be?