#sassy ella

[snitchdorvda]

"¿ha sido?" pregunta a su nuevo interlocutor con cierta gracia en la mirada. "¿ya terminó para ti, bart?"

💀Baile

—Oh claro ha sido una velada encantadora— expresó con una sonrisa un tanto falsa aun sin fijarse quien había decidido acompañarle en la mesa. Era evidente que no le apetecía estar en aquella fiesta pero tenía que seguir ayudando a su padre.

[oddinary4bts]

☆last update: 17/10/2024

☆a/n: here is my new masterlist! It's going to be... a lot better than the old one hahaha. Please don't hesitate to send an ask if you want to talk. Fyi, requests are closed at the moment, so please do not send any! I always feel bad when I have to say no to your requests haha

masterlist guide

☆a for angst | s for smut | f for fluff

☆all the content on this masterlist is 18+ so minors, please DNI

☆warnings are on each series/fic directly, not here so please check them out!

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All rights reserved to @/oddinary4bts, 2022-2024. Do not copy, repost or translate.

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as you all know, I mostly post for BTS so here are each of the members' masterlist! In here you can find all one-shots, series, milestone celebrations (you can find the link to the prompt list for the celebrations on each one-shot) that I have written for BTS.

EMOTIONS OF THE SOUL | a, s, f | one-shot when Namjoon reappears in your life after thirteen years of absence, you find yourself unsure of what he means to you, and of what you mean to him. Anxiety reigns over you, but will it be enough to drag you away from Kim Namjoon? ➳Namjoon's instalment of the Life Goes On series

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CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION | s | one-shot Request!! Could you do 98 on the smut list with namjoon and reader? Maybe he wants to try getting fingered and is a little embarrassed because he’s normally in charge or something? Wherever your inspiration takes you!❤️❤️❤️ ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

FOREVER | a, s, f | one-shot three years ago, your relationship with jin ended in fights and tears. When life puts him back on your path, you catch a glimpse of light in his eyes that you thought had died when you broke up. Will your relationship blossom into a well-deserved forever or will you lose the love of your life again? ➳Seokjin's instalment of the Life Goes On series

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SWEET | a, f, s | one-shot Congratulations on the milestone ! Can we get a Drabble of idol Jin coming back from the military and trying to sort out his situationship with the girl he left behind when he went into the military? ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

NOW WE REIGN | a, s, f | one-shot when working on a collab together makes you and Min Yoongi seek comfort with the other, you discover there’s more to life than loneliness. Only, hurdles mark your path in Min Yoongi’s life, and it’s unclear what the outcome will be. Will you be destroyed by him and his world, or will you learn to reign over it, together with him? ➳Yoongi's instalment of the Life Goes On series

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SINFUL LUST | a, s, a bit of f | series in an attempt to spice up your bedroom life with your boyfriend Min Yoongi, you suggest bringing another man into the action. Yoongi seems reluctant at first, but when you mention his friend Jeon Jungkook, he can’t deny his attraction. All that’s left to do is to convince Jungkook into participating...

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THE WORST COWORKER YOU'VE EVER HAD | s | one-shot Ooooh how about a little enemies to ? Smut with Yoongi where OC/reader makes him come his pants? Little sassy/angry/ bratty vibes? Prompt 58 from the smut list? Feel free to adjust however inspires you!! Love your work!! ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

TWO HUNDRED AND NINETEEN DAYS | a, f | one-shot Ella! Congrats on your milestone, you deserve it! Can I request this one from the fluff list, with Hobi please? 23. “I fell for you without even knowing it and, jesus, does it hurt that you can’t see it.” ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

I WANT TO BE WITH YOU | a, f, s | one-shot moving to Seoul has always seemed like a good idea, until the bubble bursts when you realize your new neighbor is Park Jimin, and he's not the sweet angel you've always imagined him to be. Will the reality of Park Jimin forever be a nightmare, or will he turn into a sweet dream? ➳Jimin's instalment of the Life Goes On series

CRAZY FOR YOU | s, a, f | one-shot you’ve known Kim Taehyung your whole life. When you meet again at a party hosted by your best friend, alcohol looses your lips and you spill your secrets to your childhood crush. Will Taehyung give in to your desire, or will you be struck by remorse? ➳Taehyung's instalment of the Life Goes On series

THE BOY WITH GALAXIES IN HIS EYES | s, a, f | one-shot you had never thought the night sky could be found in someone’s eyes. That is, until you met Jeon Jungkook and his gravity pulled you in. Will he crush you with the galaxies in his eyes, or will you learn to explore his worlds and make them yours? ➳Jungkook's instalment of the Life Goes On series THE FIRST TIME | s | drabble ➳a The Boy with Galaxies in His Eyes story

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SINFUL LUST | a, s, a bit of f | series in an attempt to spice up your bedroom life with your boyfriend Min Yoongi, you suggest bringing another man into the action. Yoongi seems reluctant at first, but when you mention his friend Jeon Jungkook, he can’t deny his attraction. All that’s left to do is to convince Jungkook into participating...

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THE FORGOTTEN SPACES | a, s, f | series you've been dancing on the same dance crew since your teenage years, and you finally have an important role in it. It feels like life is taunting you when your rival comes back after disappearing for a year, ready to tease you every chance he gets. Will the teasing turn into more, or are you going to take him down with you? ➳sequel of What Was Hidden, a Taehyung fic written by @daechwitatamicrecs

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WHEN THE END COMES | a, s, f | series seven years after you've started dating Jungkook, long distance creates a wedge in your relationship. When the only solution seems to be breaking up, you go your separate ways even though love still lives in the two of you. Will you find a way back together, or has the end come for you and Jeon Jungkook? ➳The Forgotten Spaces' sequel

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NOVEMBER SUN | a | one-shot whenever he breaks, the november sun shines on him. and jungkook chases you across the sky - but you've gone some place he can't reach you now.

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TO GIVE A HELPING HAND | s, a, f | series ch 1 | ch 2 | ch 3 you’re a fan, you're untouchable, yet Jungkook finds he’s far too attracted to you.

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CHASING CARS | s, a, f | series when your brother goes to study on a semester abroad, your life collides with his best friend Jeon Jungkook, who's coincidentally your roommate. Will you survive the collision, or will you crumble into dust?

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COFFEE STAIN | a | one-shot you grief, and it’s the expression of your everlasting love for Jungkook.

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WHAT'S WRONG? | a, f | one-shot hii i have an angsty drabble request for jk x reader pleasee but with a happy ending :) Reader overhears Jungkook talk to his friends and mention how she’s always clinging on to him and doesn’t let him breathe sometimes and that she’s annoying because she’s too loud and energetic. When he comes back home she acts the complete opposite and tries to avoid him without letting him know what’s going on, until he realises that he actually prefers her clingy and loud🥺 Sorry if i went into too much detail ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

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THE BANE OF YOUR EXISTENCE | s, a | one-shot A drabble with jungkook, smut 87 and angst 12 / 99, tysm 💘💘💘💘 ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

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THE COINCIDENCE OF FATE | f | one-shot Hey!!! Do u think u could make an JJK FF about two people falling in love bc of fate and coincidences? ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

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LET ME KISS YOUR MOM | f | one-shot Okay so I saw this pic and almost cried cuz he looks so sweet and happy! Could I get something fluffy about dad jk? Maybe yall went surprise him at a performance or shoot or u can make up something else just the vibes I got from this pic made me (please see the post for the pic) ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY | a, f | one-shot In that case I’ll request jungkook x oc with angst and fluff❤️‍🩹 He forgets her birthday😭😭 ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

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UNEXPECTED MESSAGE | s | one-shot

I would like to read a smut fic with little bit of plot where it involves girl x girl x jungkook. Pls there aren't many fics on this. Congrats and take care Stay healthy ➳part of a follower milestone celebration

I do not have a lot of skz fics so I don't have much to say except that I hope you enjoy it <3

ALWAYS BEEN YOU | a, f | one-shot when two estranged best friends meet again at their friends' wedding, an old spark reignites. You swear to yourself that you won't fall for Hyunjin again, until alcohol blurs the line between you two. Is it your fault if you find yourself drowning in the familiarity that is him?

and last but not least, here are my ateez fics! hope you guys enjoy these ones just as much as you enjoyed the rest <3

LOVE IS A LASERQUEST | a, s | one-shot years after your break-up, Choi San comes to you for help. In an attempt to save his life, you escape to your uncle's cabin in the woods far from civilization. Will nostalgia and longing make you fall again, or is Choi San just spinning more lies to you?

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BE WITH YOU | s, a, f | series coming soon

you've come to the end of my masterlist. if you have any questions, or want to discuss any of my fics, don't hesitate to send an ask!

[simply-sammm]

what would your design for scp- 105 aka Iris look like? also knowing her she would act like a sassy sister towards Cain and Able lol

Me tardé un montón, pero finalmente lo terminé! He visto que muchos le dan un diseño muy... "alegre" podría decirse. Para mi no, se nota que ella aun tiene secuelas de Omega-7 y seguir confinada en la Fundación no ayuda... (Pero bueno, tampoco estoy muy al tanto del Lore actualmente así que no sé como ella se encuentra en la "actualidad") Además, ha quedado más que claro que trabajar junto a Abel mucho tiempo termina jodiéndote mentalmente.

[ad-astrah]

Finally Watched Cinderella's Castle Digital Ticket (Twice) and I Gotta Get My Feelings Out Somewhere, Somehow (Part I)

Feel free to light up my DMs to chat about it!

And now, for my personal highlights/live reactions:

immediately I'm drawn in by Nick Lang's silly narrator voice and the way he warns us of what's coming. Especially the "muRrrDder!"

Jeff Blim cut his hair. JEFF BLIM CUT HIS HAIR. Not that I didn't like the long locks, but something about his Aladdin Era short hair gets me, man.

Jeff Blim literally getting to own the stage like the man was born to

Jeff Blim's slutty bard getup with the artfully messy hair and the heavy guyliner. That sinful bastard.

"Let's go." I'll follow you anyway, slutty bard.

Okay 80s rock jam! Hell yes.

idk why but I just love the line "There are tales in those walls, are they true or are they tall?"

THIS SET, THO. 80s vibes. Muppets vibes. Princess Bride vibes. Spooky, ethereal fairytale vibes. I love it! Props to the team who designed and built it.

prance, slutty bard boy, prance around that stage.

Jesus Fuck, I've only seen Joey's puppet but I'm already SOLD. Nick and Matt Lang and whoever else had a hand in making these puppets fucking OUTDID themselves! Did they use the Black Book and resurrect Jim Henson?

Throughout the show, the muppet vibes just absolutely amaze and delight me. Makes me feel like a little kid, spellbound by this fairytale. Except it's much darker, more gruesome, way more explicit, and extremely horny.

Oh look, it's Joey's Jingle/Jangle (whichever elf he was) voice from Black Friday.

Love me some o' dat non-binary representation from Ragweed. Starkid once again screaming GAY RIGHTS bitches.

I'm getting some of Jeff's Aragog from AVPS in this Narrator. Anyone else?

Stupid STUPID butcher!

Jon Matteson's accent. *giggles madly*

Angela IMMEDIATELY having to pause for applause before she finishes her first freaking line. The queen deserves it all, though.

The foreshadowing of the Stepmother cutting off Ella's feet. O_O

"It's furryyyyy and fouuuuul and full o' maGOTTTSSaaaaaggghhhh!"

Angela doing the little spinny finger thing in a guy's face to fluster them just like Max did to her character in Nerdy Prudes. I love these physical running gags. My fave being the Smoke Club, though.

OIIIINK oinkoinkoinkoinkoinkoink

Sir Preston asking for help from the audience. His "ELLAaaaaa....nooooo....."

The lighting in this entire show is SO COOL.

Again, Jeff just louging like a whore about the set like its his bitch. I live for it.

James' COSTUME. He looks SO FUCKING GOOD. Props to the costume folks...and to James' rockin' genes.

"But nothing compares to the juice and the hairs..." Oh no. Ohhhhh no I see where this is going. Don't say it, James, don't-- omg he said it.

er ee er ee er ee *window rolling down*

I thought the Prince drawing bewbies on the frosty window was funny already, and then he goes WAH WAH WAH and pretends to pinch them and I fucking lost it.

The Prince checkin' out DAT AZZZZZZ XD

"I'd wager she's wetter now than when I first found her bobbing in the river." OH MY GOD. PRINCE. THAT'S HER NOT-MOM.

If his highness has had every STD and beaten it, that's so fucked up but also damn, that boy's immune system is killin' it. Literally.

"Poor mad EllaAH"

"This is one thirsty FUCKING house." For real, omg.

"The offer stands firm. Come calling if you are!" *screams*

Jeff miming being crew and pulling the ropes for the curtains.

*audience member sneezes* "Bless you."

Angela's diction is next fucking level. PUNY. PINK. KIND.

The epic troll reveal! The puppets are SO GOOD.

THE FROG FUCKING TURNING AWAY AS SHE ASKED FOR IT TO DO SO SHE COULD KILL IT. CHRIST.

This bayou boogie song of Ella's is an absolute KILLER BOP. Holy shit. And it's SO perfect for Bryce's funky, sassy voice.

Speaking of which, BRYCE'S VOCALS. I'm gonna scream about them for forever and ever and ever. I love her voice SO FUCKING MUCH. I could listen to nothing else for the rest of my days and die a happy little gay.

"ohhhh woah woah waohhh" *flips the bird* She's such a queen for that.

"It needs oregano" WORK BITCH

Bryce's stage presence is fucking INSANE. I dunno how she's not on Broadway, but thank goodness we got her!

SIRE MANY TADPOLES!

GOD I love this absolutely depraved, horny little bastard of a prince.

It's amazing Tadeus hasn't murdered the prince yet. The man deserves a medal for the literal shit he's put up with.

Bugette?! I thought you choked on shit died and were consumed by the Hive Queen?

Rancilda being a typical troll and loving lurking under bridges and telling riddles.

Schuyler Sister vibes from the song with Justine and Lucy. So cute.

Justine and Lucy are SUCH real ones for IMMEDIATELY believing Ella about her family being trolls and for saying "fuck the ball, we're leaving NOW."

Shake dat ass, Mariah!

Lauren's physical comedy as Rancilda is NEXT LEVEL. I'm wheezing over here!

iSNn'tT it A BiiIItTcH?!

I LOOK GOOD IN THIS. What an absolute fucking BANGER. This song is gonna play in my head on repeat for the next decade. What a next level villain song.

Also this gives me some strongass Joan Jett vibes. "I love wearin' the skin of dead girls rock 'n' roll!"

and I hEEeaARr yoU'Re RiiiCCHhH

Seriously, is this the next Top Chart breakup revenge song? It should be.

"I really LIKE that song!" XD Putrice. I love how much of an absolute BIMBO she is.

Rancilda singing the song again. "SHUT UP STUPID BITCH, THE SONG'S OVER." "Okaaaaiiii"

Matt Dahan's ability to riff off the main songs and create motifs is otherworldly.

General MacNamara? Is that you?! Oh wait, nope. Still my slutty, slutty bard.

I LOOOOOOOVE this badass electric guitar intro, holy shit.

Kim Whalen, the queen, getting the bitchin' entrance she deserves.

Starkid is so, so good at their sound design to help immerse you in a scene without blowing a big budget or doing anything elaborate.

...Kim. My girl. Your arms must be tired.

She's just standing there, but Kim's stage presence is still so strong.

I can't get over how Jon's Sir Hops-A-Lot's voice is just a small...ahem. Hop, skip, and a jump away from Wiggly's.

JOEY. THAT ACCENT. You ABSOLUTE genius idiot. I love you for this stupidass voice.

Joey's bowl cut makes me giggle like mad.

I love these two puppets SO much.

GIT IT, KIM.

The call and response bit with Ella and the Goddess reminds me of Hamilton when Washington is dictating his Farewell Address. I know it's gotta be in other musicals, too, but that's the clearest comparison for this nerd at the moment.

Jeff sneaking in the "castle on a hill" song reference in this song.

Kim and Bryce dueting together is just Power incarnate. Holy cow. It's so good.

"You shall be as radiant and terrible as I." Ooooooh. Yes. Gimme.

The Narrator sneaking out from amidst the ensemble to finish off the song was really neat.

That fading spotlight before curtain for intermission with just Ella's face in view is so beautiful and haunting. What an epic close to Act I.

Also, it seems like this was also a strategic way to imply Ella's outfit being transformed there on stage during the song without actually having to do the tricky costume designing quick-change theater miracles of an ACTUAL outfit transformation. Which is really brilliant. Leave the audience to wonder until post-intermission about what Ella's starlight dress will look like.

[eahwidow]

Descendants The Rise of Red X Ever After High - Characters that I think they're similar and could be good friends with each other:

Bridget x Ginger - They're both pink-haired, sweet characters who are in fact lonely and just want to bake sweets for everyone, plus they're destined to be villains. I feel like Bridget and Ginger would love to bake together and share recipes with each other!

Red x Raven - They're both rebellious princesses who want to forge their own path and not end up like their villainous mothers. Red and Raven would totally bond over their shared evil mommy issues and artistic hobbies (Raven plays guitar and Red does grafitti art AND sew according to the BTIOTLW book).

Chloe x Darling - I mean.... They share the same surname and they're both princesses who trained to be knights + they're lesbians. HOWEVER, I feel like Darling would be much more understanding towards Red than Chloe given that she did have to lie about her White Knight identity and helped Raven sneak away from EAH during the Dragon Games even when half of the school was against her.

Ella x Briar - Beyond their sassy and not-so-royal personalities, they both understand and feel resentful about the lifes they've had or will have, willing to do whatever it takes for a better life. I feel like Ella would totally love being around Briar, who would make sure to spoil her and bring her along to some crazy shenanigans.

[wondergotham]

Love To Hate

Request: “Can you do a James Hook x reader enemies to where reader is also a vk and part of Uliana’s crew but for some reason they hate each other and fight a lot to the point the others get annoyed at them and often tease them about how they act like an old married couple and should just get together already, then something happens that make them realize they realize they do have feelings for each other and they finally do get together? Sorry if it’s a lot”

Pairing: James Hook x Reader

In the long hallways of Merlin Academy, two people were notorious for their constant bickering: James Hook, the hotshot pirate, and Y/N L/N, the sharp-tongued VK. Daughter of Hans.

They had been rivals since they met, their competitive spirits igniting every interaction. Whether it was a simple argument over who could make a potion quicker or a debate about the best VK, their fiery exchanges were the stuff of local legend.

“Nice job making Uliana angrier, Hook!” You shouted, hands on your hips, as they saw their friend run off in a fury chasing after Bridget and Ella.

"You alright Uli? You're looking a little pink." You mocked how James had chuckled at Uliana as she transformed into a flamingo moments ago.

“At least I said something, you just stood there with your mouth wide open. Even Tick-Tock's mouth is smaller than yours.” He shot back, grinning despite the annoyance.

"Hmm I'm so flattered you were looking at my mouth." You smirked as you all continued to run behind Uliana.

Your friends, fed up with the relentless bickering, teased you. “You two act like an old married couple,” Hades would chuckle.

“Just get together already!” Maleficent added.

“Yeah, right!” You would retort, rolling your eyes. “I’d rather date Prince Charming.”

But beneath the surface, a tension simmered, one neither of you could quite acknowledge.

-

One rainy afternoon, you were flipping through your Defense Against the Dark Arts notes. A few textbooks are laid across from you. Loose sheets of paper are scattered on the desk.

You were reading about how to deflect specific hexes when a certain pirate sat down next to you.

"Studying for DADA? Never thought you would turn on your own people Villain Princess." Hook smirked.

Oh how you hated that nickname so much. And he knew it, clearly trying to get a rise out of you.

"I don't know what you're talking about." You dismissed.

Hook reached over and snatched the book holding it away from you with his good hand.

"James give it back!"

Thankfully no one was on the second floor of the library so you could be as loud as you wanted.

"I will once you tell me why you're studying so hard for this class when your father is the Prince Hans of the Southern Isles." Although Hook didn't really see an issue with it he just loved annoying you.

"Why? So you can laugh and tease me? No, thank you."

He noticed the way your eyebrows furrowed. The sharp exhale as you fought to get the book back.

It started as a joke but now it seemed like you were onto something serious.

"Is it really that bad darling?" He asked.

"You don't understand." You stood up trying to walk away but he quickly stood up and placed his hand on your shoulder.

The book long forgotten.

"Then tell me. For once don't argue with me." His eyes had a different expression. One you had never seen until now.

He was pleading for you to tell him.

You wanted to give him a sassy remark. To ask why he couldn't mind his own business. But today you were defeated you didn't want to argue anymore.

"It's my dad." You sighed. "Ever since I came to Merlin Academy his mission for me has been to come back home with a prince on my arm."

Hook stared at you intently trying to ignore the feeling in his stomach at the thought of some stuck-up prince holding you.

"Every time I come back for the holidays or when the school year ends he asks the same question."

"Have you found a prince yet? Our royal bloodline depends on it."

"He doesn't ask how I've been or how I'm doing in class. Me marrying a prince is all he cares about. But I don't want that." You whispered the last part shaking your head.

But Hook heard you, "Then what do you want darling?" He stepped closer to you.

You looked away trying to avoid his gaze. That was something you couldn't tell him. Not yet at least.

"Y/n tell me." There it was the same look in his eyes as before.

"I don't know. All I know is I do not want to marry a prince and live unhappy for the rest of my life. But I cannot tell my father. I'm afraid of what he'll do. Which is why I take DADA in the first place." You stated lifting up the book.

"If he tries to lock me up or do anything to try and force me to marry a prince I'll be more than prepared. He doesn't care enough to ask about my class schedule so he won't find out. I'll be ready if he retaliates."

"I don't know what to say." The young pirate's eyes shifted as his brain tried to find the right words. "Your father is not who I thought he was love. My problems with Tick-Tock are nothing compared to yours."

A sudden storm rolled in, dry lightning cracking across the sky. Heavy rain began to pour. It hit the stained glass windows of the library furiously.

It was time to leave. You had to get back to your dorm.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you anything." You quickly grabbed your things heading to the flight of stairs that led to the first floor.

You blew it, you idiot. Hook thought to himself as he ran after you.

Thankfully the dorms were right around the corner from the library.

As you opened the door to the common area you realized James was still following you. Once he made it inside you turned to look at him.

“This is your fault,” You said, shaking off droplets from your hair. “You always pick the most inconvenient days to bother me”

Even with your damp hair and slightly soaked clothes you looked ethereal. The small droplets on your eyelashes make them stand out even more.

He chuckled, his voice teasing. “Maybe you should learn to pick better weather for your study sessions.”

"I wouldn't have gotten soaked if you hadn't been such a jerk. I knew I shouldn't have told you anything." You shook your head tears threatening to spill.

Again you tried to walk away but James wrapped his hand around your wrist.

"I didn't mean to upset you, lass." He admitted. Your eyes softened as you looked at him.

"Look I know we haven't been the best of friends. But if this is really bothering you my best advice is to confront it. If you keep trying to deflect or trick your father it will make things worse darling. Take it from a pirate you have to face your challenges head-on."

The boy could almost see the gears in your mind turning as you let his advice soak in.

"Perhaps you could tell your father how you feel when he visits you? If you believe he'll retaliate he won't be able to do anything since he'll be on the grounds of Merlin Academy. And if he does you have us to back you up. VKs stick together."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. For the first time, you actually had a decent conversation with James Hook. One that didn't end with petty remarks.

"I never thought about it that way. Maybe you have a point....Thanks for the advice pirate,” You said softly, nudging his side. “I didn’t think you’d care enough to stick around.”

“Yeah, well,” He replied, rubbing the back of his neck “Maybe I’m not such a jerk after all.”

The air between you both shifted, a moment of vulnerability emerging. The teasing comments from your friends echoed in your minds, but now it felt different. You were no longer rivals; you were allies, working toward a common goal.

“Hmm we'll see about that." You said causing James to chuckle.

"You know,” A playful smirk appeared on his face, “if we stopped fighting, we might actually make a good team.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting we team up? Like, in life?”

“Maybe,” He teased, “but only if you promise to stop telling others that I love crocodiles.”

“And you stop calling me Villain Princess.” You shot back, but your tone was light, and playful.

-

Days turned into weeks, and your dynamic with James began to change. You still argued, but the fights were laced with a newfound flirtation. Your friends noticed the shift immediately and doubled down on the teasing.

“You two are practically dating.” Morgie smirked one morning in the dining hall.

“Shut up!” You shot back, though your cheeks flushed.

Maleficent just held back a chuckle. Thankfully it was just you three because the others were still in bed.

“I think you guys look cute together.” She smiled.

-

One evening, while the group was walking to Uliana’s lair, you caught James staring at you.

“What?” You asked, smiling.

“Nothing,” He replied, quickly looking away. But your heart raced, and you realized that your feelings for him had blossomed into something deeper.

That night, James lay awake, replaying the moments with you together. He could no longer deny it: he had feelings for you. But what would that mean for your rivalry? What would it mean for your friends?

-

The next morning, James decided he couldn’t keep it to himself any longer. He marched over to your dorm, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Y/n!” He called, through the door as he knocked.

You opened it and looked up, surprise etched on your face. “What’s going on?”

“I need to tell you something,” He said, his voice steady despite his nerves.

You moved over so he could step inside your dorm room. The door closed softly.

“Is it about how you finally admit I have better Swordsmanship?” You teased, a grin spreading across your face.

“Actually, it’s about how I think I might… like you,” He blurted out, his cheeks turning pink. “Like, really like you darling.”

The teasing faded from your expression, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. “You’re serious?”

“Yes.” He said, his heart racing. “I know we’ve fought a lot, but I can’t ignore it anymore.”

You stepped closer, a grin forming on your lips. “Well, I guess that makes two of us. Because I’ve been feeling the same way.”

James’ breath hitched. “But your father love. I don’t want him to hurt you if he finds out we’re together.”

His soft hand caressed the side of your face. He held you like a delicate flower.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I told him. I couldn’t wait until next month so I made a phone call.”

James’ eyes widened in surprise.

“He was upset. But he’ll come around I know it. Plus my mom can talk some sense into him. The point is we don’t have to worry James.” Your eyes sparkling with happiness.

James pulled you into a tight but comfortable hug and kissed your forehead.

“Love you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. I always knew how brave you were.”

“Thanks to you James. I couldn’t have done it without you,” You replied, your heart soaring as you shared a tentative smile.

-

As the weeks passed, the teasing from Hades and Morgie continued, but it was now accompanied by genuine support. And the girls were very happy for you both.

You and James found yourselves laughing. Spending a lot of time together.

One evening, as you both walked through the halls, James reached for your hand. Your heart raced as he entwined his fingers with yours, a smile spreading across your face.

“Looks like we really are an old married couple now,” You said, glancing at him with affection.

“Yeah,” He replied, wrapping his arms around you. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way gorgeous.”

In the heart of Merlin Academy, amidst the laughter and teasing, a new chapter began for you and James—one filled with love, friendship, and the promise of a future together.

[gir-posting]

ella enchanted makes me really sad. because it's a fun hammy satire about cinderella being a feminist whose obedience to other people is an honest to god curse bestowed on her at birth. and the reason she ultimately falls in love with the prince in the story is because he's the only person who recognizes that something keeps forcing her to be obedient to the whim of every person who meets her and almost every single one abuses it. and he's the only person who (while not knowing about the curse) gives her actual agency of choice. and on top of everything else anne hathaway gives one of the most chilling and heartfelt performances she possibly could have when by all means she could have just collected a check and moved on like everyone else in the movie

but then there's the funny sidekick character whose entire joke is that he's a short fraidy cat jew that doesn't WANNA be a theater performer (like every other person in his species) he wants to be a lawyer. and the one who cursed ella to begin with is a sassy, inconsiderate, tempermental black woman that can't see past her nose. and it just completely takes you out of it once you notice

[inkbutterflyuniverse]

I was thinking about Descendants and Cinderella's family.

So many people were like "how can Chad be like that" and if we don't have a canon answer, I will make some hypothesis.

Before talking about Chad, we have to talk about the difference between the young Ella and her present version.

The younger Ella was sassy, she lived a hell of a life at home, and even at school she didn't have many friends. She was lucky to have Bridget as her friend.

The older Ella is calm, in love with her husband, believes that it was just a prank and that Bridget shouldn't have dramatize like that.

I already said in my review how I don't think they really were best friends, so I won't develop it again here, but if your BFF got pranked and humiliated, and that you're just like "relax, it was just a joke", then this is not a best friend behavior.

What I believe happened at that ball:

Ella was grounded, and the young Fairy Godmother bibbidi bobbidi boo her into a beautiful dress so that she can go to the ball.

(Why? Was it part of an exam, to help someone? Was she friend with Ella and it was never show? Did Bridget asked her? She certainly wasn't her godmother)

Because she wasn't supposed to be there, Ella didn't go with Bridget who was left alone in the ballroom. The prince sees Ella, and invites her to dance.

Then, for some reason, Uliana and his crew weren't caught by Merlin and pranked Bridget, making people either laugh or run when seeing her.

Humiliated by Uliana and his crew, and left alone by her only friend, Bridget grew up resentful. And then, when Ella appears in front of her (maybe the day after?) all she had to say was "it was just a prank" and telling how happy her night was.

So not only was she humiliated, but her friend dumped her for some boy she said she didn't like and told her that it was nothing.

Feeling like no one likes her, she closes her heart and decides that it's time to stop living in a world of fantasy where everyone will like you, because it's impossible. So, she decides that of she can't be nice and friend with everyone, she will be a ruthless leader that everyone will be forced to respect. That way, nothing like that can happen again.

My opinion:

No wonder she became like that. I feel like Uliana's prank wouldn't have had that much repercussions, if she had a friend to comfort her. I know some people won't like this, but for me, Cinderella was also the villain.

We know that Uliana was never nice to Bridget, and that people fear her, but Bridget still tries to be friends. Which means that Uliana's prank wouldn't have been the first time she did something. Probably the worst, though. And if her best friend wasn't here for her, it could explain why she turned like that.

Now, about the children:

We saw that Chloe had no idea of what was really her mother's life when she was younger. We see that she doesn't know how to wash the ground, as she wasn't comfortable with that broom in her hands. We saw her touching one item, breaking it, and just saying I'm sorry, believing it would fix everything.

We know that Chloe had good grades, that she volunteered, and that's why she got her new shoes. But as said by the young Ella, it's how she was raised, as a princess. A princess has to be good at school, she has to be nice and help the people who need it.

Chloe did what was expected of her, and she never questioned it.

Now, let's imagine that it's the same for Chad.

(Disclaimer: I didn't read the book Beyond the Isle of the Lost, but I've read a review, and that person was talking about the special chapter with the OG!VKs at Cinderellas Burgh. So don't hesitate to tell me if some elements are incorrect, it's just was I gathered)

From that book, Cinderella and Charming don't know how Chad really is. They believe he's a great person and they don't know about what he did at Auradon Prep (the girls doing his papers, siding with evil Audrey, breaking into Carlos and Jay's room...) but Chloe knows he's not that great.

Let's believe that Cinderella and Charming raised their kids so that they could be great royals. But they obviously forgot to teach them practical competences.

If they expect their children to have great grades, to help people, etc, and that for some reason, Chad had some difficulties. Using his charms, he flirted with girls, who did his papers, and then he got good grades. And his parents were proud of him. Then, after graduation, he decided to become a pro player in Tourney because that was the only thing he was good at. He didn't need someone to play for him, and none of his parents play that sport.

I want to believe that Chad had some pression, that he believed he had to be like that for his parents to be proud. If his younger sister was always that good at school, and that she was rewarded, it could have accentuate that feeling.

When we see him in Descendants 3, taking Audrey's side, we can see that he's scared, that he's nervous, and that he just wants to live. He doesn't want to be asleep like the others, that's why he offers her to be her minion. But he did nothing as a minion, and that's why Audrey locked him up in the cottage. Chad left screaming and running when Mal and Uma found him. He obviously developed claustrophobia (if he wasn't already claustrophobic, we don't know).

And at the end of the movie, Chad welcomed the people from the Isle, so maybe we could assume that it made him rethink his actions.

We know that Chloe is the heir to the throne, and there's no way Chad's parents would have remove it from the succession because they don't know how he behave. So, maybe Chad's high school experience made him rethink of his future, and he decided that he didn't want to become king.

So, what's my point?

I won't say that Cinderella was a bad mother, because it isn't true. But I believe that she was very focused on being a Royal, and that she didn't wanted to be like her stepmother. So she never taught her children anything outside of being nice, and being royal. She didn't taught them how to wipe the floor, how to dust, how to wash their clothe... things like that.

I believe that being with her prince changed Ella. The snarky teenager disappeared, and she did everything to fit in the royal family. It's like if Prudence in Cindrella 2 achieved making her a real princess. And that she stopped to cook, and to sew, and to visit her friends in town.

In conclusion, Cinderella changed as she grew up and maybe it wasn't for the best.

[sassyfurypenguinblr]

Los demás me preguntaban

qué me molestaba tanto

al verte a vos con ella.

No era envidia,

no eran celos,

no era su escasa

belleza.

Era tristeza, tristeza por no

ser más la elegida.

Tristeza porque había perdido

mi lugar y había sido

reemplazado por

otra.

Y yo me merecía seguir

estando a tu lado.

Porque no he sido mala,

cuando podría haberlo sido.

Porque incluso en nuestras

batallas, intentaba protegerte.

Porque estuve contigo desde

siempre, aunque no me hayas

visto.

Por todas esas razones, ahora

te pregunto..

¿Quién es ella para habitar

en mi hogar?

¿Quién es ella para recorrer tu

rostro, tus manos, tu cuerpo?

¿Quién es ella, que ha sido capaz

de tocar tu corazón?

¿Quién es ella, que ha derribado

a nuestro amor?

¿Quién es ella, que a pesar

de haberlo intentado, no me

ha podido igualar?

-sassy💓

[baki-tiene-un-simp]

I'm the anon who asked for headcanons with a good cook s/o, I hope you're doing well ^^

Can I ask Retsu and Oliva and anyone else with a s/o who is the parent of a pretty sassy and very ironic but nice girl at heart. Who is about twelve years old and really having a hard time coming to terms with men as a new step father , how would they be accepted by her? Please

Ps: I still love your writings so much <3

Situation: Being stepparents / Siendo padrastros.

Characters: Oliva Biscuit and Retsu Kaioh.

Oliva Biscuit.

Oliva actively tries to show that he is a good man and that his stepdaughter can trust that he is not trying to alienate her from her father/mother in any way.

Expensive and lavish gifts may be seen by his stepdaughter as a way for Oliva to “buy” her favor, but this man is not really trying to bribe her with gifts. He just has a lot of money and the need to buy nice things for the important people in his life.

At the same time, Oliva gives his stepdaughter her space, he doesn't want her to feel like he's invading her space, so he doesn't ask his S/O to move in with him or let him spend the night in their house. He dies for that to happen.

Over time, Oliva will be able to prove that he is a good and trustworthy man, he's just too big and visibly intimidating.

Retsu Kaioh.

Retsu is a really patient and calm man, he is able to get along with people effectively, even if it takes him some time. He understands that this whole transition is difficult, especially for someone so young, and he doesn't want to aggravate a relationship that hasn't started yet.

He is easy going with his interactions, first with occasional greetings and small talk that doesn't force his stepdaughter to engage with him if she doesn't want to. He goes little by little.

He is bonding with her little by little, making breakfast for everyone, taking them to a park to get some fresh air, taking her to school and picking her up too.

Retsu is putting his trust in time, he knows that if he avoids putting pressure on his stepdaughter and doesn't force her to get used to him, she will manage to accept him, at her pace and because she will want it that way.

Versión en español.

Oliva Biscuit.

Oliva trata activamente de demostrar que es un buen hombre y que su hijastra puede tener confianza en que él no pretende alejarla de su progenitor de ninguna forma.

Quizá los regalos costosos y lujosos sean vistos por su hijastra como una forma de Oliva para “comprar” su favor, pero realmente este hombre no está tratando de sobornarla con regalos. Solo tiene mucho dinero y la necesidad de comprarle cosas bonitas a las personas importantes en su vida.

Al mismo tiempo, Oliva le da su espacio a su hijastra, no quiere que ella sienta que él está invadiendo su espacio, por lo que, no le pide a su S/O que se mude con él ni que le deje pasar la noche en su casa. Se muere porque eso pase.

Con el tiempo, Oliva podrá demostrar que es un hombre bueno y confiable, solo es demasiado grande y visiblemente intimidante.

Retsu Kaioh.

Retsu es un hombre realmente paciente y tranquilo, es capaz de acoplarse a las personas con efectividad aunque le tome algo de tiempo. Entiende es difícil toda esta transición, principalmente para alguien tan joven, y no quiere agravar una relación que todavía no empieza.

Es tranquilo con sus interacciones, primero con saludos ocasionales y pequeñas pláticas que no fuerzan a su hijastra a relacionarse con él si no quiere. Va poco a poco.

Está relacionándose con ella de poco a poco, preparando el desayuno para todos, llevarles a un parque para que tomen aire fresco, llevándole a la escuela y recogiéndola también.

Retsu está poniendo su confianza en el tiempo, sabe que si evita presionar a su hijastra y no la obliga a acostumbrarse a él, ella logrará aceptarlo, a su ritmo y porque ella así lo querrá.

[jazzandother-blog]

Jazz critic Leonard Feather called her “the most important singer to emerge from the bop era.” Ella Fitzgerald called her the world’s “greatest singing talent.” During the course of a career that spanned nearly fifty years, she was the singer’s singer, influencing everyone from Mel Torme to Anita Baker. She was among the musical elite identified by their first names. She was Sarah, Sassy — the incomparable Sarah Vaughan.

El crítico de jazz Leonard Feather la llamó "la cantante más importante surgida de la era del bop". Ella Fitzgerald la llamó "el mayor talento del mundo para cantar". En el transcurso de una carrera que abarcó casi cincuenta años, fue la cantante de las cantantes, influyendo en todos, desde Mel Torme hasta Anita Baker. Formaba parte de la élite musical identificada por su nombre de pila. Era Sarah, Sassy, la incomparable Sarah Vaughan.

[sivyera]

Disney princesses and their sexualities, my headcanons.

ft. snow white, cinderella, aurora, ariel, belle, jasmine, pocahontas, mulan, tiana, rapunzel, merida, elsa, anna, kida, esmeralda

! please keep in mind that these are my headcanons and my opinion, you don't have to agree with it but don't be rude, thank you!

a/n: my headcanons does not follow the plot (if they have a partner/love interest or not, yk)

༺☆༻

Look, all of these princesses have at least some interest in women. I'm gonna try to write a reason 'why' do I think that

Snow White; Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

Bisexual. I mean she found her Prince Florian and they say that they lived happily ever after but I mean look at Florian...He's 34 and not very... handsome (sorry not sorry) so I think that she'll eventually want to explore more and more. She's also a very kind and loving soul who will probably fall in love with one or the other gender.

Cinderella; Cinderella

Bisexual but prefers men. So Ella grew up mostly with her two step-sisters and step-mother and they were abusing her. So I guess she has some kind of a need to rebel against their rules? and I guess they can be pretty homophobic so that's why Ella has the need to try out something with a woman, otherwise she looking mostly for men.

Aurora; Sleeping Beauty

Lesbian. Okay hear me out. I think that Aurora is a lesbian because she grew up with three women in middle of nowhere so I don't really think she could think of a man... She was raised by women and she lived with them most of her life so she seeks women. She cannot imagine a household without a woman and she definitely cannot imagine herself without a woman.

Ariel; The Little Mermaid

Pansexual. Ariel is interested in humans and your gender doesn't matter to her. She wants to explore and she's very curious so I think she will spend her time studying women and men separately. For sure she wouldn't care who her partner will be if female, male, non-binary... she doesn't care, she just wants to be loved.

Belle; Beauty And The Beast

Bisexual prefers women. Gaston is always flirting with her or showing off his muscles in front of her and he's just annoying her, so I think that's why Belle prefers women, because she's so tired of Gaston's (men) attention. She wants to be free and share her opinions on different books with someone intelligent and not dumb as Gaston. So that's why she's looking for women most of the time.

Jasmine; Aladdin

Bisexual. I really don't want to put 'bisexual' to everyone but.... Well Jasmine is pretty sassy and free-spirited. She need a bit of adventure in her life so she will see for someone who can protect her (man) and someone who can comfort her, understand her problems and someone to talk to all day long (woman). So I guess it only depends on who will stole her heart first.

Pocahontas; Pocahontas

Lesbian. She never seemed interested in Kocoum BUT she was very interested in her female friend, Nakoma. She's pretty curious, brave and free-spirited... she has a loving and caring soul which needs the same 'kind of soul' back. She need someone kind and gentle who is matching her energy... and she just really love boobs.

Mulan; Mulan

Lesbian. Mulan is more masculine then feminine. In the first movie she was really uncomfortable with all that make-up and the dress and was more comfortable in armor or shorts. So she seeks for someone who is almost the exact opposite of her; someone feminine.

Tiana; The Princess and the Frog

Bisexual. Tiana is confident and a hard-worker so she needs someone active. She has really close relationship with Charlotte and at the start of the movie, Tiana is disgusted by the thought of marriage and dating a man. But that was when she was a little kid, after she grew up she started to find men attractive but she still was interested in women, that's why she's bisexual.

Rapunzel; Tangled

Pansexual. Rapunzel spend 18 years locked up in a tower so after she get out she was REALLY curious about everything and everyone. She lived only with her 'mother' so she's interested in women but Eugene saved her so she began to be interested in men. After all she just wants to be loved and she wants to love, doesn't matter who, it will be the one who she will fall in love with.

Merida; Brave

Lesbian. I don't think I have to explain this one, Merida doesn't like men in the movies, she acc annoyed and disgusted by them. So it's no secret that she loves women.

Elsa; Frozen

Lesbian. Again I don't think I have to really explain this one either. It was confirmed that Elsa will have a female interest in Frozen 4. She is also independent and strong woman and I feel like she's getting more masculine which she shows in Frozen 2.

Anna; Frozen

Pansexual but prefers men. Does that make sense? I mean Anna is really kind and loving person. She will help anybody in need and comfort them in bad moments. But she always dreamed that she will marry her 'prince charming' and live happily ever after so that's why she seeks men, but if she wouldn't mind if she fell in love with a woman.

Kida; Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Lesbian. I don't know why but I just feel that she is a lesbian. She's independent and strong, she doesn't need a man. She also dominant and I kinda feel that she's also a bit masculine... that's why she want a woman. She also want woman because she admired her mother as a child so it brings her some kind of comfort.

Esmeralda; The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Bisexual. I mean she's pretty sassy and again independent, a bit masculine which she shows when she's with a woman, but there are many racist people around so she needs to be careful, that's why she also like men, because they can protect her and make her feel safe.

i hope you like it guys and i hope you don't mind that i posted this, because it's something a bit different than what i usually write? it's something short before christmas so i have 'cartoon movie' mood, if that make sense... so if you want something with disney/pixar let me know! also don't worry guys, i'm working on your requests.

-love sivyera

[readyforevolution]

Jazz critic Leonard Feather called her “the most important singer to emerge from the bop era.” Ella Fitzgerald called her the world’s “greatest singing talent.” During the course of a career that spanned nearly fifty years, she was the singer’s singer, influencing everyone from Mel Torme to Anita Baker. She was among the musical elite identified by their first names. She was Sarah, Sassy — the incomparable Sarah Vaughan.

[xxgothchatonxx]

I really liked Rebecca, which is a relief because to be honest I was worried she’d be my least favourite part.

To clarify, my initial worry had nothing to do with Awkwafina. No, my worry was that Rebecca would be a dull cardboard cut-out Badass™ to offset the wackiness of the rest of the film.

Basically (unpopular opinion time *braces for impact*) I thought she’d be the Chloe to Renfield’s Lucifer.. Ren having all the personality and Bec having none - but turns out she was a lot more like Ella from Lucifer (who I adored- ok they’re not exactly the same character but you get what I mean?). Quirky and sassy while also having enough moments to breathe and get a bit more serious/emotional.

And yeah, I did like Awkwafina in the role! She was given good material to work with, and she was fun to watch!

I thought her story was pretty solid. Dealing with a fuckton of corrupt in her workplace, while also having an extra dose of family loss, and later having a confrontation with the villain, which is also pretty sensual - yeah I TOTALLY don’t have a type! 😂

I also liked her dynamic with Renfield. Ok I should preface this next bit - I like this dynamic as platonic, but I also can see them as a romantic couple. I reckon the chemistry was there and if it did turn explicitly romantic in the movie, that wouldn’t have bothered me. I would’ve been like “aww, good for them!”

With that said, I did like that their relationship in the film was platonic. There’s a recurring theme in this film about the importance of having good friendships when you’re dealing with shitty relationships, and I thought that was pretty cool.

So, all in all, i quite enjoyed Rebecca. I thought she was funny, and I was rooting for her to win in the end... and yeah, fuck you, Kyle.

[namorslutfanfiction]

Ok so I’ve not seen narcos Mexico which is basically a sin at this point but I am obsessed with Rafa!!! So he’s obviously such a soft sweet lil baby boy so I was thinking what if he met a woman who was strong and sassy and also into *cough cough* gardening *cough* and he just melts for her but she’s a hard to get maybe cos they’re rivals and she has a reputation to uphold being a strong independent woman ??? Maybe some smut with them giving into the attraction ??? Idk I’m just excited I want to keep requesting stuff cos I love your writing. Also I think the power dynamic would be such a twist cos tenoch/namor just scream daddy to me but Rafa screams soft sub baby with a big old praise kink amongst other kinks 😂

Oh rafa is our baby and definitely wants to be used.

Summary: Rafa loved women. Rafa loved weed. Now he found a woman who loves weed just like he does. And he is immediately down bad

disclaimer: I smoke, I have no idea how it's grown. so I'm making shit up.

drug use, fluff, smut.

"Comportarse," Felix shot at Rafa as the door to his office opened. Rafa smirked at him and lit his blunt. Felix had said he was meeting with a supplier who insisted on being seen. Rafa was certain who ever this pendejo was, that their weed couldn't hold a candle to his, but he had shown up because Felix had asked. But if the guy said the wrong thing then he'd shoot him, but Felix didn't need to know that.

When the first man walked through the door, Felix stood to shake his hand but he refused, "Yo no soy el que estás esperando. Es ella."

The henchman stepped aside as the real guest arrived. Rafa and Felix watched you walk in the door. Felix schooled his surprise and greeted you cordially. Rafa on the other hand was instantaneously smitten. You weren't dressed to the nines like Sofia and her like. Instead you wore jeans that hugged your curves, worn in boots, and a loose button down that had the sleeves rolled up. You hair was braided back but had little bits of frizz from the humidity. You were beautiful.

Rafa didn't hear a word as you and Felix talked. He was wondering why Felix hadn't introduced him. He was wondering why you were ignoring him, you hadn't even spared him a glance. The narco heard the words "Es una nueva variedad de marihuana."

That wasn't possible, no one had made a new strain except him, at least there in Mexico. Felix looked angry, not used to a woman being so frank and aggressive with him. You slammed a paper on the table, pointing out numbers that Rafa didn't care to understand.

"The system you built is a monopoly! You ruined the livelihood of my field, pendejo. No one will work with me because you supposedly have the best in the market. But mine is better," You screeched at the slick leader.

"You're pretty confident for such an insolent witch," Felix shot back, he pointed at Rafa, "His work is better than anyone's and I bet my life and this entire business on that. You can't compete so don't try."

Rafa's eyes were wide when you turned and glared at him. You whipped your head back to Felix, "What this joto? I'm supposed to believe he has any smarts in that rat's nest of hair?"

For some reason that set Felix off and he stood and raised his hand to slap her. Rafa moved on instinct, pointing his gun and cocking it at Felix. Felix was stunned out of his anger, "Qué chingados?"

Realizing what he had just done he pointed the gun at you, "Vete a la chingada."

You smirked at him then turned to Felix, "You've got some real idiots working for you."

"Pinche pendejo," Felix growled at Rafa then sat back down in his seat. Rafa followed, trying to hide his embarrassment. He focused on the blunt that he had let burn down half way without taking enough hits. He resigned himself to getting higher and examining your curves and the confident smirk on your face. When you got up and left the room, Felix turned around and smacked Rafa hard against the side of his head.

"What the hell is wrong with you cabron? She was talking shit and you pull a gun on me?" Felix looked incredulous.

"Who was that, Felix? How come you didn't introduce me? When is she coming back?" Rafa rattled off, jumping up from his seat on the couch.

"No mames, guey. Already? She didn't even look at you," Felix shook his head, of course Rafa the lover boy was thinking with his dick.

Before Felix could stop him, Rafa ran out of the office and tried to beat you to the lobby. But when he got there he was just barely able to see you being driven off in a pick up truck.

...

"The only reason you're here is because I want to knock her down a peg or two. She's arrogant and needs us to show her that. Other cartels would not be so nice after she came in here acting like a maldita bruja," Felix explained as he paced with a cigarette in his mouth.

"There's no way she has anything worth anything, but I'd like to make sure she knows that," Rafa said, feigning interest in the business side of things.

"Don't fuck around, Rafa," Felix grasped him by the back of his neck, "She's young, but she's smart. We can use her later so don't scare her off."

The doors opened and you were once more preceded by your henchman. Once again you were dressed casually, and you took a seat across from Felix. You noticed Rafa standing behind Felix, but didn't greet him. "You want to make a deal or not?"

"I don't need your weed. But I might need those ideas you have. I had Rafa look over them and he thinks they are promising but so far unproven," Felix explained, gesturing to the narco behind him. You noticed the hungry look from Rafa, and smirked. He was an easy book to read.

"I can prove them, just give me time and financial support. There will be a more potent strain ready for the market in a year," You replied confidently.

"We will see. You will go with Rafa to our field. For security you have to be blind folded once you get to a certain point. Rafa will be able to tell me if you're the real deal or not. If you're not then I suggest you back out of this business before you get killed. If you are then we may have use for you. This is your only chance, chiquita. Make use of it," Felix finished with such a sense of foreboding that you weren't sure how to reply. He stood and buttoned his suit jacket, "If you'll excuse me I have a comandante to talk to. Rafa, take care of her."

Then the lead narco was out the door to deal with supposedly more important duties. You eyed Rafa, taking in his open shirt, flamboyant fashion sense, and fluffy hair. He was kind of cute in an arrogant idiot kind of way. You reached your hand out to him to properly introduce yourself. He smiled at you and kissed your hand, "Hola, Rafael Caro Quintero. La princesa me puede llamar Rafa."

His smile was unbelievably charming and you couldn't help but laugh at how obviously attracted he was to you, "Well Rafa, take me to this so called 'best of the best' marijuana."

...

Rafa personally drove you to the field. On the way there he was explaining his process and asking you questions about your own. The chemistry was palpable as you finished each others sentences. You talked about similar experiments and different ideas you both had to create different strains and up the potency.

It was hot and the both of you were laughing and sweating. You had to admit, the man knew his weed. His dark skin looked delicious in the bright sun and the trickle of sweat down his neck was distracting. You noticed him pull the car off the side of the road then reach into the back for a strip of thick cloth.

"It's time then?" You asked, knowing that secrecy was important.

"Turn around, princesa, I'll put it on for you," Rafa said, looking apologetic. The already long drive had allowed you to bond over your shared interest.

"Don't tie it too tight," You requested as you turned your back to him.

"I'll be gentle," Rafa whispered, making a shiver run down your neck. His hands were warm as he moved your hair out of the way and gently placed the cloth over your eyes and knotted it behind your head. His hands rested for a moment on your shoulders and all you could hear was him taking a deep breath. "You can turn around now."

You did just that, reaching out blindly to face the front of the car again. Rafa took your wrist, making you jerk. "Calmate, I just want to show you where the middle is so you know where you're facing."

Rafa placed your hand at the edge of your seat, touching the middle console. It took you a moment to get comfortable with the loss of sight as the narco started the car and continued the journey to the fields.

After a moment of silence you spoke, "Don't kill me in the middle of the desert, please. At least not before I come up with that strain I told you about."

That made Rafa laugh. The sound was warm and infectious. You felt him take your hand, "No, hermosa, no one will touch you. It's been a long time since I've met someone who knew weed the way I do."

You were surprised at the affection, and even more surprised that you welcomed it. But you felt the same. Especially as a woman, you had never felt understood by anyone about your affinity for the plant, until now. This flashy narco was matching you move for move, and it was exciting.

...

Rafa told you to keep the blindfold on as he guided you to the actual field after he had parked the car. It didn't escape you that this felt more like a romantic surprise rather than a test of skills. You could hear the sounds of workers, and from the breeze you were definitely on flat lands. The smell of the fresh plant was in the air, and to the side you could tell there were kilos of it drying for transport.

Rafa guided you gently and then placed your hands on what you immediately knew to be a large marijuana plant. You immediately stepped forward and pushed your noise into the buds. There was silence as you took it in, already coming up with information at a mile a minute.

"What can you tell me?" Rafa asked. Then you were off, talking about the notes, the potency, the maturity and when it would be ready to harvest. There was silence and you hesitated.

"Rafa," You worried about bruising his ego, but reminded yourself this was a test, "There's something wrong with this one. Everything is fine except there's a weird syrup smell at the end. Something too sweet. It would smell awful once you burn it."

You felt him approach you and you immediately went into a defensive stance.

"I'm not going to hurt you, princesa. I'm just going to untie the blindfold," Rafa's voice was amused.

When you opened your eyes it was too bright to see. You shielded your eyes waiting for them to adjust. Eventually you could make out Rafa's smiling face. "So how did I do?"

"Eres brillante!" Rafa exclaimed, "I test all my men this way. All of them and you were the only one to catch the mistake. I purposely have those three plants that are no good. No one has caught it yet, but you."

You fought the urge to smile, "Well of course. I told you. I know what I'm doing."

You glanced behind him, taking in the watch tower and different sheds. The irrigation system and the people working and roaming. You realized that the field must be behind you.

"You can look, princesa, I think you'll like what you see," Rafa said as he guided you to turn around.

You felt your eyes grow wide as you took in the sheer size. You stepped back as you tried to take in the full scope. But it went off in all directions, as far as the eye could see. It was beautiful.

"Rafa," You turned to the man smiling at you, "This is insane. Incredible. How many acres? How many plants? What's the yield? Do you have then maturing progressively or all at once? How many kilos are you putting out?"

"Slow down, princesa. Would you like to see more of it?" Rafa asked. You nodded, unable to hide your glee. You didn't care about appearing tough or strong. This was your 'kid in a candy store' moment. Rafa took your hand and led you into the fields.

Hours went by as you walked the fields, ignoring the heat or the fact that you were walking around with someone who should be a rival. Instead you were having the time of your life. His system was pretty self sustaining but you were able to make suggested that made his eyes light up and his laugh explode. Rafa was growing on you like a literally weed.

...

The next day Rafa reported back to Felix, singing your praises.

"You should have seen it, cabron! She knew exactly what was wrong with it. She figured out the irrigation issue I had for months. I have never met anyone who could understand the nuances and delicacy of those plants," Rafa was giddy and Felix was amused.

"So I should back her?" Felix asked, although he figured he knew the answer.

"No," Rafa said, a smirk on his face. "No, whatever she comes up with won't work without the space and work I have already done. She's mine. Buy her out and she will work on the fields with me. Give her whatever she asks, but make sure she works with me, and no one else."

The possessiveness didn't surprise Felix, it was to be expected of the narco who fell fast and hard to the point of lunacy. "She's not going to like that, Rafa. You ready for her to fight you on that?"

"She'll come to me. Remember Felix, as long as her people are taken care of, then all she'll want to do is work on the weed," Rafa said, taking a long draw from his blunt.

"Tomorrow, I'll buy her out. But I want that new strain in 10 months not a year, Rafa. I need it before anyone else comes up with something better," Felix reminded him.

"No one has ever come up with anything better than me. But this, if we work together. This will be our masterpiece," Rafa had a faraway look on his smug face making Felix shake his head.

"Just make sure it's on the market by my deadline. I don't care if you fuck her with it. Make it happen," Felix dismissed Rafa.

...

"You're an ass," You immediately punched Rafa as hard as you could in the stomach. You had been dropped off at his mansion with the orders to stick to him like glue or be killed by Felix himself. "I would have been fine working with you but having that bastard leash me to you is not an attractive arrangement, pendejo."

Rafa waved off Chapo and Cuco who were ready to shoot you for attacking their boss. The narco in question was dressed as usual and laughing. "Your family is taken care of right? That was the most important thing, now the next important thing is working on that strain."

He came up to you and grabbed your jaw, "Together, we can do that. Together, we can do a lot of things."

You hated that you were turned on, "You shouldn't have forced me, Rafa. I don't like being forced."

"Then you can leave if you want. We can work on it together but you don't need to stay, I won't force you," Rafa challenged, his voice soft as he spoke close to you. The smoke from his mouth surrounding you was heady. He released your jaw, "Chapo, take her back."

Rafa turned but you called out, "Rafa. Shut up, pendejo, you know I'm going to stay."

You grabbed your bag and brushed past him into the sprawling mansion. You heard him laugh as he rushed to catch up to you and show you your room. You found it difficult to keep your surly attitude in the face of his excited ramblings.

...

It took 6 months to get the strain perfected and by the end of the 10 month deadline it was debuted. The mansion was partying and high as a kite. Debauchery was everywhere and the handles of liquor and packs of cocaine that Felix had sent as congratulations were being parsed out to the party goers.

You had no interest in partying with the boys and their sluts. You were up on your balcony, watching the pool from above. The band was loud and the people louder. There were people swimming naked in the pool, the area stank of weed, and you could see Neto and Cuco snorting lines through a window.

You didn't like coke, didn't like how fast it made your heart beat and your mind move. You preferred the mellow relaxation that the right strain of weed gave you. You crossed that with tequila and you were floating in your own little world, with a smile on your face.

The last 10 months had been invigorating. Working with Rafa was like working with a ball of pure energy. He was far more intelligent than he let on, reserving it for his treasured plants. You had met your match in that field. Someone you could genuinely bounce ideas off of and experiment with. He was charming, funny, and caring to a fault.

You were surprised he hadn't made a move, but you suspected that Felix had something to do with that. Maybe a threat about the deadline and not fucking around. It was disappointing and frustrating.

Rafa was fucking around, just with some rich chick named Sofia who rubbed you the wrong way and made you want to shoot her through the eyes. But she hadn't been around in the last few months, and Rafa had been ranting about how much of a spoiled bitch she was. You hadn't seen her at the party and were more than thankful that you didn't have to fight the urge to vomit if she had arrived.

There was a knock at your bedroom door and you called for them to come in. It was Rafa. He stood in the middle of your room apprehensive. In his hands he held a handle of tequila and two glasses. "Ay guey. I was going to invite you to share a drink with me."

You looked at the soft expression and could tell he hadn't had any coke. He hadn't since Sofia had left. At most he was high from his own plant and looking to get crossed like you. You looked at him, all of him. Rafa's hair was perfectly fluffy, jewelry draped on his dark skin, and wearing a silk shirt that was open too low. You felt heat pool between your legs.

For months you had been touching yourself to the thought of him. You had laid jealous in your bed when you knew he was with Sofia. And now here he was looking pathetic and ready to be eaten. He'd made you wait long enough.

"Rafa, is Sofia gone for good?" You asked as you walked back into the room and closed the balcony doors. You held your own handle of unfinished tequila and swung it lazily in your hand.

Rafa scoffed at the question, "That bitch is dead to me. Has been for months."

You could see him watching you. His eyes roved your body and there was a hungry look in them. You were wearing a silk robe, a gift from him a few months ago on your birthday. There was nothing underneath it.

"Is that why you wanted to have a drink with me? Because she's not around anymore?" You asked, taking a swig from your handle.

"What? No. I don't care about her. This celebration is for us. We did what we planned and now we are going to be richer and so far above any competitor that they will never reach us. This is all thanks to you," Rafa said, looking actually offended that you suggested otherwise.

You smiled at him then. The high was making you reckless, and the alcohol was making you hot. But the way Rafa looked at you was making you wet. You took another swig from our handle and approached Rafa. You locked eyes with him and put your hand on his chest.

His breathing quickened as you pushed him to sit on the end of your bed. You gripped his jaw, ran your thumb across his bottom lip, coaxing his mouth open. With one more glance at him, you spit the tequila into his mouth slowly, and he drank it. You locked eyes as he took the last drop and then you grabbed his hair and kissed him roughly.

Rafa whimpered into the kiss as you wrapped a hand around his throat and devoured him. His kisses were as intoxicating as the tequila. Months of unanswered desire came flooding out as he pulled you to him and thrust his tongue into your mouth. He tasted of the weed you had both spent months working on together.

The hours and days spent together had left you wanting more from him. But at every turn, at every lingering touch, and held glance he pulled away from you. He had always hesitated but in the end would put space between you. Your frustration at the memory got the better of you and you found his jaw again and pushed him away.

"You're such an idiot you know that? You could have had me naked in your bed for months. You could have had me on my knees or across your lap, but you kept pulling away, like you hadn't thought about it since the day I walked into Felix's office and you lost the ability to breathe," You blurted out. You regretted it, not wanting him to know just how desperate you had been.

But Rafa's gaze softened, his grip around your waist tightened, "Felix told me not to fuck around with you. Not until the strain was ready. The only reason I was with Sofia again was because I needed a release because I couldn't have you. Sofia left me because I called out your name the last time we fucked."

It took you a moment to take in what he said, then you laughed. Laughter fueled by your high and the alcohol. "You brat, you called out my name while you fucked her? No wonder she was so mad."

"It's the only way I could get off. I had to think about you, imagine I was inside your wet pussy," His vulgar admission was met with another desperate kiss from you. You pulled moans from him as your hand travelled downward and palmed his hard on. When you were satisfied that he was as needy as you felt you pulled away.

"Get naked, Rafa. Let's see if all that fucking I heard was as good as it sounded, or if that Sofia bitch was just a good actor," You jabbed, as you untied the robe and dropped it to the floor.

Rafa stopped for a moment with his shirt in his hands as he finally laid eyes on your naked form. He completely lost any comeback he had in mind as he took in the sight of your supple skin and curves. "Te ves deliciosa."

You got impatient and placed a palm on his chest. You pushed him on to the bed then went to work at removing his boots and jeans. When his cock was out and weeping you fought the urge to take it into your mouth. That was for another time. This was about you getting yours. You looked at Rafa as you lay next to him, stroking his cock playfully.

"Rafa, you need to make up for leaving me so wet all the time," You purred into his ear before sucking on his earlobe. He moaned softly and nodded. "How are you gonna do that, baby boy?"

He didn't even react to the name, just looked at you with eyes that begged to be bossed around, "Whatever you want, princesa?"

"Are you going to make me ride you or are you going to fuck me into this bed until I cum onto your cock a few times?" You asked, tracing circled along his chest, leaving his weeping cock unattended. You were fighting the urge to straddle him and slide him inside you.

"Yes, princesa," He replied, as a whimper escaped his lips as you tongued his nipple impulsively. You'd been dying to do that since the first time you had seen him with his shirt hanging open.

"Fuck me, Rafa. Be a good boy and make me cum," You moaned softly as you guided his hand to your wet cunt.

Rafa let out a feral noise once he felt just how wet you were. In a swift move you were beneath him, hands pinned above your head, and his cock pushing into your pussy. You arched against him, "Yes, baby, just like that."

He thrust into your center, hard and deep. You knew he was going to be thick but you were surprised by how deeply he thrust into you. You saw stars after months of pining. This man was a drug of his own and you knew you were going to become addicted. His lips found yours again and he allowed you to wrap your arms around his shoulders. Rafa angled your hips, wrapping your legs around him as he pounded into you.

Your first orgasm came so fast you couldn't even warn him. Your nerve endings were exploding with pleasure as he kissed and fucked and sucked every part of you. Your hands found his hair and pulled at it, making him moan into your lips. You kept your foreheads together as you encouraged him, "Yes, Rafa. You're fucking me so good. You like how my pussy feels don't you? Is this what you were imagining when you fucked that bitch? I bet you never fucked her like this."

The adoration in Rafa's eyes only grew with each word you spoke. Something about your words spurred him on. He leaned back and rubbed your clit with his thumb as he continued thrusting into your dripping wet pussy. Even his grunts sounded soft and needy. You reached forward and tweaked your own nipples. The sight made him throw his head back in ecstasy.

"Princesa, eres tan perfecta," Rafa moaned as you clenched down on him with your second orgasm. This time you felt yourself squirt a little and he did to. He fucked you even faster as you came.

You were panting now, sure that Rafa was close. But he proved you wrong and flipped you over onto your stomach. The narco gripped your hips and thrust into you, impossibly deeper than before. You grabbed at the bed sheets as the room filled with the loud slap of his hips against your round ass. "Fuck, Rafa. You're so deep, you're gonna make me cum again aren't you? You really want to please me don't you?"

Between grunts of exertion he replied, "Yes, princesa, I'll make you cum again."

He sucked and licked your shoulder and neck before biting down and lifting your hips higher so he could thrust at a different angle. Rafa didn't let up as he continued his pounding rhythm. His arm came around to put you in a loose headlock. "Cum for me, Princesa. Milk me dry."

You sobbed as you came, the pleasure so overwhelming you would have thought you blacked out but you still felt the stuttering of Rafa's hips as he filled your pussy with his cum. Both of you were out of breath, the room smelled of sex and weed, and you both started giggling.

Rafa broke down next to you, giggling as he pulled you into his side, placing fluttering kisses all over your face between breaths. You also giggled, high on pleasure, weed, and Rafa.

"You're mine now, Rafa," You spoke against his lips.

"I've always been yours," He answered back.

....

Okay, I love rafa so much wtf.

reblog, review, reply, my chiquitins.

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Light on the Darkside - Chapter Twenty Three.

Huge thanks as ever to all my lovely besties for your commitment to the story!

Previous chapters - One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty One Twenty Two

Tag list - In the comments. Please DM to be added/removed.

Words - 3,984

Warnings - 18+ throughout. Topics cover depression, suicide and eating disorders. Minors DNI!

“There, told her to make it extra strong,” Alice spoke, putting a large, well-brewed tea down on the table at the coffee shop she and her eldest had stopped at that morning, taking a seat. “What time did she finally settle?” 

“Five,” James yawned, rubbing his eye with the heel of his palm. “Never seen so much fucking puke come out of something so small. Just waiting for it to rip through the house and blat everyone else now.”  

She didn’t envy that at all. “See, now this is another reason why I’m glad I found my children later in life,” she spoke, touching a loving hand to his arm. “No stomach bugs, no incessant colds and no headlice. Just two readymade amazing kids all grown up.”  

“I’m a top grade delight. Sam’s questionable.”  

Alice couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re both the apple of my eye. Still, though. There’s nothing I would have liked more than to have found you all sooner.” 

At least she’d found them all at all. “You came along exactly when you were meant to, mum. If I’d have had a supportive mother all my life, I probably wouldn’t have ended up being sectioned, then I wouldn’t have met Ella. I ain’t saying it was all Carole’s fault, how I ended up for a while, but you get what I mean, innit?” 

“I do, love,” she smiled fondly, sipping her latte. “So, apart from Freya decorating everything in vomit, how are my other two angels, hmm?” 

Ahhh, the typical, adoring eyes of a grandparent. To Alice, they were faultless. “Lyra is entering her moody teenage years a few months early, and Zara is still massively routine-driven. Getting a bit better, though. We can throw the odd change in here and there without her having a meltdown.”  

“See?” she smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I bet this is her growing out of it.” 

“I hope so,” he spoke, eyes widening a little. “Just got big girl throwing us stacks of attitude now the teenager years are looming, like I say.”  

Indeed, Ella had mentioned that to her the last time she’d met with her daughter-in-law for lunch. “Yes, Ella told me that she’d been getting a little sassy now her periods have started.”  

“And they’ve fucking synced up in their moon time, innit, so I’ve got two hormonal women being arsey with me at the same time every bloody month!” He paused, smirking. “Excuse the pun. Gonna be a shitting nightmare when the other two start as well!” 

Alice couldn’t keep her laughter in at that. “And we were all so convinced Freya was going to be a boy, weren’t we?” 

“Yeah,” he snorted, “but apparently my balls only make badass little girls!” Again, his mum was in soft fits, entertained as ever. It was the thing she’d loved most upon meeting him for the first time fifteen years before. He was hilarious. Her husband and son shared a very similar sense of humour.  

James had made her nerves over her pre-op appointment with the surgeon dissipate that morning by just being himself, making his usual uncouth observances. Alice was, if she was honest, dreading such a big operation as having her hip taken out and replaced. It felt to her like a procedure she was too young for still at only just turned sixty. 

After dropping her back home, he returned to his own, walking the dogs before making a slightly later start to his working day. With Otis and Hugo lying at his feet, he spent most of it welded to the phone, only stopping to eat something before he was back to work and intermittently checking up on a poorly Freya. As predicted, the stomach bug she had did spread through the house, Ella and Zara coming down with it too but luckily not plaguing him or Lyra. 

They were back to normal after three days of puking, James sick of the smell of Dettol being sprayed everywhere to help combat the spread of the bug. By the time the following Monday rolled around, Zara had returned to school and the destroyer of worlds to nursery, James picking them up as usual, Lyra walking back with a couple of friends who were staying for dinner. 

When those friends arrived, he was out in the back garden, working up a sweat while kicking the shit out of his freestanding punchbag. It was a sight to behold for one of her two best friends, as least, Cassidy virtually dribbling. 

“God, your dad is bae,” she sighed wistfully. “So hot.” 

Lyra curled her lip immediately. “Dude, you need to stop crushing on my dad!”  

“Can’t help it! He’s... wow.” 

The disgruntled spawn of Cass’s affections looked across the kitchen to their third cohort, Kitt shaking his head. “I can’t even with her.” When James arrived in the kitchen, neither could he.  

“Kitt, how’s it going, man?” he spoke firstly, offering a fist bump, side eyeing the young girl who did not stop staring at his sweat slicked chest. “Cass, pack it in.” 

“I can’t,” she sighed, “you’re... yeah.” 

He shook his head, opening a fresh bottle of water. “I’m forty, is what I am, and you’re thirteen. Enough.” He knew his own attractiveness, but it still made him feel uncomfortable when girls of such a young age noticed it. It was the same with fans of the band, his discomfort only amplified further after he’d become a father himself. There were a staggering number of musicians out there who hadn’t the same set of morals where underage girls were concerned, but he’d never be one of them.  

Turning his attention away as Cassidy reined herself in, he pointed at Kitt. “Got your boy uniform, at last!” he spoke, nodding with a smile.  

Kitt up until six months ago had been Katie, when he’d finally come out to his parents as trans. His friends had known for much longer, as well as James and Ella. They’d been nothing but accepting over it, immediately changing the pronouns used to speak of him, as well as his new chosen name. Sadly, Kitt’s own father hadn’t taken it quite as well. It was why the young lad liked being at Lyra’s so much. Her dad accepted him without question.  

“Yeah, feels good. Mum took me shopping for boy clothes, too. Felt proper, finally getting to wear stuff I feel comfortable in,” he confirmed, James nodding. 

“That’s sound, mate. Oh, don’t leave tonight without taking all my old band t shirts with you. None of ‘em fit me anymore since I got jacked, so you might as well have the ones Lyra don’t want.” 

His eyes lit up. “Really? Ahh, cheers, James!” 

“No problem, kid.” he smiled, leaving the kitchen and heading upstairs for a shower. Dressed in black sweats and a dark grey t-shirt five minutes later, his hair hanging damp, he placed down the large pile atop the island, Kitt beginning to look through.  

“No fucking way!” he gasped, suddenly clasping a hand over his mouth. “Sorry.” 

James snorted. “Ella ain’t around, you can drop F bombs, bro. I don’t give a shit.” Such a stance definitely cemented his status as a cool dad. “You fucking can’t, though.” he then spoke, pointing at Lyra with a wink, her friends laughing as she pouted and raised her middle finger at her dad, who returned the gesture.  

Continuing his excitement, Kitt held the t shirt in his hands aloft. “Is this from the nineties?” 

“Turn it around and look at the back.” He duly did, James pointing to one of the tour dates printed on the reverse. “I was at that gig. Steve, Snedders and I went up to Glasgow for a week on the piss right after we’d finished our A levels.”  

“Dude!” Kitt exclaimed, “That’s so sick!” 

“Innit? Banging night, that was,” he spoke of the Pantera gig they’d been to back in nineteen ninety-two. “Broke my nose in the pit, Snedders ended up with a dread ripped out, and Steve... well I can’t tell you about what he got up to.” 

“Oh, go on, man!” Kitt exclaimed. 

“Nah, mate. Ask me when you’re sixteen and I’ll tell you then, innit.” He had to be a proper adult sometimes, he supposed. Thirteen-year-old ears didn’t need to know that his best mate had somehow managed to discreetly shag two girls one after the other against the barriers that night. 

They continued to talk more about music, all the while with Lyra looking on proudly. That was her dad, and he was utterly awesome. She loved him even more for how completely unphased he was about Kitt’s status as a trans boy, too. He simply treated him just as that: a boy. It was more than Marc, his own father did, refusing to acknowledge him as Kitt, still referring to him as she/her and using his deadname.  

“Hello, everybody!” Ella chimed brightly, coming into the kitchen after her last therapy session had ended for the day, smiling widely as she was greeted by the three kids sitting at the island with her husband. “What are you all chatting about?” she continued, quickly checking through the windowed door that led to the lounge, seeing her younger girl's content in their cartoon watching and homework endeavours.  

“When dad punched Fred Durst in the face at the Kerrang awards,” Lyra laughed, her friends exploding all over again. Ella rolled her eyes, remembering it well. She’d been there. In fact, it was because of her that the Limp Bizkit frontman had ended up with a face full of fist.  

“I suppose he had it coming to him. He did grab my arse, and your dad takes exception to that kind of thing,” she spoke, kissing James between his shoulder blades and squeezing his arms. “You were lucky he didn’t bleedin’ press charges, though!”  

“Wouldn’t have cared if he had. Wanker got what he deserved for putting his hands on my wife.” Ella immediately raised an eyebrow. “Not that I advocate violence or nothing like that,” he swiftly added, turning to wink rapidly, the kids further descending. It was always a good time in the Kingston household.  

After dinner, James drove Cassidy and Kitt to their respective homes, Lyra accompanying.  

“Thanks, dad,” she spoke, examining the split ends in her hair. 

“What for, kid?” 

“You’re always really great with Kitt. He’s having a hard time since coming out, few of the kids at school teasing him. It isn’t good at home either with his dad refusing to accept it all.” 

It must have been hard for all involved, but especially Kitt himself. “The lad has enough to contend with, innit, growing up in a body that don’t reflect who he is on the inside. I ain’t gonna give him shit for it. Hopefully his dad’ll come around to it sooner rather than later. Gotta be tough for him, too, to suddenly see that who he thought was his daughter now wants to be referred to as his son. Big thing, that.” 

Lyra hummed, picking at her hair. “Yeah, but you’d be alright with it though, wouldn’t you? If it was me who came out as trans.” 

“Yeah, course I would, monster. All I want is for you to be happy, but it don’t mean I wouldn’t find it a bit tough as well. I’d keep that to myself, though, ‘cos I’d realise that in the end, what you’d go through would be a thousand times tougher than anything I’d feel.” 

“Mum would just fucking analyse me,” she snorted, a tiny slither of contempt there. 

“Oi, less of that,” he warned lightly, turning left to put them back on the dual carriageway. “Your mum would help you while you found your identity, and all the stuff you’d have going on up in your head. That’s her job as a mum first and foremost, innit. Just because she does it professionally is by the by.” 

“Always feel like she’s watching me from a professional standpoint, though,” she remarked, raising her hands up to drop them into her lap. 

“Nah, Lyra. She don’t do that. Not with you kids. What you need to remember about your mum is that yeah, because of her job she does understand certain behaviours and responses better than others do, and she will tailor that understanding to how she deals with things. That ain’t a bad thing, you know. Like when you’re being arsey for little to no reason, she knows it’s cos’ your brain is changing as you’re growing up, and she’s gentle with you because of that. Trust me, you have a top grade mum. You’re lucky.” 

His daughter was silent for a few moments. “Do you mean because she’s not like Carole?” The older children were aware that their nanny wasn’t James and their auntie Sam’s biological mum, but only Lyra had a slightly more informed grasp over why. 

“Exactly that, kid,” replied, slowing as they reached a roundabout. 

“What was she like?” 

Taking the third exit, he felt his jaw stiffen a tiny bit. Since her death he’d attempted to try and remember the more favourable traits, but with how she’d behaved with him from his mid-teens to early twenties, it was difficult to reconcile. “She had her good points, I suppose. Always raised us knowing right from wrong and all that, but she was proper hard on us if we weren’t living up to what she expected. She’d pick at us, looking for arguments to make her feel justified and then blame us when we bit back. They call it gaslighting in this day and age.” 

“She didn’t like mum either, did she?” 

He snorted loudly. “Hated your mum, yeah. Didn’t like that she not only stood up to her, but stood up for me while she was doing it. Never took the chance to get to know her either.”  

Lyra softened then, humming a gentle laugh. “Yeah, mum is very protective of us.”  

Those words made her dad smile. He’d noticed of late that she’d been harbouring a little extra in the way of resentment when it came to Ella having to be tough with her because of her attitude, although truly, his eldest didn’t know from tough where mothering was concerned. Ella was firm when she had to be, but always gentle.  

“Your mother is a bloody lioness,” he beamed, turning to look at her fleetingly. “You girls are her world.” 

“Do you ever miss her,” she then asked, quick to clarify. “Carole, that is?” 

“Nah, I don’t. I let go of the idea that she could be anything more than a controlling woman with a predisposition for aggro a long, long time ago. Before you were born, innit. In the end, whatever Carole had wrong with her, she didn’t wanna fix it. Now, your nanny Alice, different matter entirely.” 

She wasn’t just the mum he’d wanted for so long, she’d become the mum he’d needed, so kind and nurturing, very similar to Ella in that respect. A lot of the damage left in the wake of him walking away from Carole had been much soothed by her coming into their lives.  

Once home, Lyra kissed her parent's goodnight, James flopping down on the sofa next to his wife, ready to resume their catchup of Game of Thrones season 3 before season 4 began airing two months’ from then. 

“I still can’t shitting believe we’re in this!” he exclaimed, excitement for his and the guy’s upcoming appearance in season 4 buzzing through him. Someone on the production team of the show had reached out to the band’s management, the crew member a die-hard Nocturnal Descent fan who had put it to the casting and show runners that the band make a cameo appearance somehow as background cast. 

The guys had headed to Iceland for three weeks the previous year to film as members of Mance Rayder’s Wildling army, having an amazing time on set, doing something so different to their main profession.  

“I always knew I’d married a wildling, but now it’s official,” Ella chuckled, grabbing her cup of tea and curling into her husband. 

“Yeah, you fucking did!” he chimed, reaching to playfully squeeze her boob. She laughed, turning her head to kiss his shoulder. 

“Oh, snacks!” she then announced, reaching to pause the opening credits with the Sky+ remote. 

“I’ll go.” Heaving himself up, he entered the kitchen, the sound of rummaging becoming audible. “We got any popcorn left?” 

“No, Zara finished it.” 

“Total bullshit!” More rustling followed. “Babe? Are the giant pretzels still in here?” 

She resisted the urge to tell him that he should know, being that he was the one peering into the snack's cupboard at that particular moment. “Yes! Bring those and the little cheese biscuit things as well, the ones in the blue box.” 

“Okay, cheese things found,” he called back, “but can’t see the shitting pretzels.” 

“They’re in there!” 

More rustling. “Where, though?” 

And to think he’d spawned children who could hear pretzels being opened from four rooms away. “Probably behind the jar of almonds.” 

“Ahh! Got ‘em.” Finally. She heard the sound of various baked snack goods being decanted into a bowl, James appearing again, two very interested parties getting up from their beds to amble over and sit expectantly at his feet. “Oh no, you two ain’t getting fuck all. Especially not after you, shitting expensive brown potato decided to get a piece of carrot stuck in his pissing throat.”  

Feed a healthy snack of carrots to your dog, they said. They make an excellent, high fibre alternative to dog treats, they said. And they had, until Hugo had spent the entire evening hacking and retching to no avail, James having to drive him to the emergency vet at nine thirty on a Sunday evening, the dog knocked out before having the offending piece of carrot pulled from his throat with a long set of tweezers for that very purpose.  

“Costing me the best part of a grand because you can’t chew,” he continued, Hugo head tilting with a grunt. “Yeah, make your confused sounds at me all you pissing like, mate. Ain’t happening, soft foods only for you two now. Fucking pom frites.” 

Potatoes, pom frites, chauves-souris (the French word for bats, chosen because of their ears) French fuckery number one and number two, James had a whole host of amusing names for their canine companions.   

Ella reached for Hugo, stroking his tan-brown head. “I don’t think he’s forgiven you yet.” Again, the dog grunted, him and his brother waiting expectantly. It was to no avail, though, Ella gently reminding them they’d had ham as a treat earlier before sending them back to their beds. They got through two episodes of the show before calling it quits for the night, sitting there talking instead. 

“Have you noticed Lyra being a little off lately?” she asked suddenly, fiddling with the tie on her pyjama bottoms.  

“Only when she’s got her moon time.” Since finding out the centuries old term for women having their periods, James had referred to them as little else. “She was chatty enough in the car on the way back earlier.” 

“Ahh, maybe it’s just me, then. She just seems a bit quiet sometimes. I’m trying not to be bothered by it, rationality decreeing it’s of course all hormonal,” she replied, pursing her lips in a twist. “What was she talking to you about?” 

“Thanked me for being good with Kitt since he came out,” he revealed, biting into the last pretzel and offering the other half to her lips, which she took.  

“That poor boy. I know it’s so much more common these days, but he’s going to have such an uphill struggle. His dad especially is making it difficult, calling it a phase when truly, the kid has felt that way secretly his whole life. I forgot to tell you, he collared me at the school gates yesterday when I was dropping Lyra off, asked me if I’d consider taking him on as a patient to, and I quote, “straighten her out again” as he worded it.” 

James raised an eyebrow. “And what did you tell him?” 

“I said that I’d happily refer his son to a specialist in the field of gender dysphoria to assist him living as the person he clearly wanted to be, but that I wasn’t prepared to try and change Kitt’s mind,” she revealed, scratching her head with a sigh. “He didn’t take it particularly well, so I was surprised Kitt was allowed round here tonight, if I’m honest. Then again, Louise is doing all she can to try and make his life bearable since his dad isn’t being supportive. I suppose that extends to being allowed into the houses of his friends whose parents support his transitioning.” 

“It’ll come back to bite him in the arse if he don’t, though. I could tell the fella that first hand, innit.” 

Ella widened her eyes. If anyone knew all about having a parent who was unsupportive, it was him. “Big time, you could.”  

“We spoke about that a little bit, actually. Well, Carole,” he revealed, leaning to place the empty bowl down upon the coffee table, admiring the craftmanship as ever. Away from the band, Snedders ran a very successful sideline of carpentry, James putting a lot of work his way after they’d first purchased their forever home. The coffee table was just one of the beautiful, unique pieces within the house crafted by him. 

She was surprised by that. “You did? What prompted that?” 

“Ahh, she made an offhand remark about you analysing her, and I set her straight on it, told her that ain’t the kind of thing you do. I think she tries to use it as a bone of contention a bit too much, innit. Mum’s therapizing me, all that nonsense just because you can figure her out. I told her how lucky she was, having someone like you as a mum.” 

It had been hard for Ella, Lyra having a natural gravitation toward her father, very much daddy’s girl. It wasn’t that they weren’t close, hell, when she’d had her first period late the previous year, it had been her mum she’d immediately gone to. Over the last few months though, she’d noticed her eldest pushing back against her especially. Even more so when James was away with the band. 

“She’s isn’t wrong, though. It is a fault of mine sometimes, to talk to her more from a therapist standpoint than that of a mother,” she confessed, sighing. "But you're right. I will never be in the same bleedin' ballpark as Carole. Good freakin’ god. Never.” 

Such a statement of canid honesty truly reflected that notion. If Ella had her faults, she recognised and acknowledged them. Carole, in her own mind, hadn’t had any. “It’s all teenage shit, innit? She’ll get through it. We were once where she is now, too. Just a lot more fucking troubled. Well, I was, at least.” 

“Yeah, baby. You’re right. I know it probably better than most. It’s tough though, to be challenged so much by that sweet little girl who used to think I hung the moon and stars. I know she’s always been closer to you, but still.” Resting her cheek to his shoulder, she smiled as he wrapped an arm around her, kissing her head. 

“Ain't easy, all this parenting stuff, is it?"  

It wasn’t. Constant worry broken sleep; the latter evidenced later that night when Ella was awoken by tiny hands rousing her with a gentle shake. “Had a bad dream, mummy. Need cuddles.”  

Ella smiled, wrapping Freya in her arms as she pulled her into bed. At least the littlest of the Kingston girls still thought the moon and stars were hung by her mummy.