#she’s very lucky i don’t have the guts to rid the world if myself yet like i’ve thought about doing for more than four years now.

[flippedorbit]

sure mom. get mad at me for napping most of the day

[sukirichi]

good girl (m.)

You’re such a good wife to Naoya that he rewards you for your obedience.

request. naoya coming home to his beloved little housewife and feels like giving her a treat for being such a good girl.,,.,, read: man’s gonna re-arrange your guts and have some soft moments with you after (not that he would ever admit that shsghshsj)

cw. explicit smut, riding, dirty talk WITH praising bcos why not, dom! husband naoya, sexism, overstimulation, creampie, lots of kissing, titty sucking, you might end up liking naoya and that’s a warning

note. LISTEN. this is purely self indulgent even if this is a request. my bestie requested this to me anyway so ik she won’t mind i pictured myself as the reader :) so if you don’t like how the reader and naoya was portrayed, that’s a you problem :) EDITED BECAUSE IT’S NAOYA YAY, also got inspired by @caizen​ ‘s ask about naoya wanting his wife to not bow too deep because he wants to see her face :)

[part of the trophy wife collection]

Being Naoya Zen’in’s trophy wife required a lot of things. You had to be immaculate, précised, refined and full of dignity in everything you did. He already did the work all by himself just to keep the house running, his hard work the only reason you were able to live such a comfortable, luxurious life. On top of that, you had an extremely powerful man trusting you to welcome him every night, and who were you to not fulfill your duty as his wife well?

The moment the black limousine parked on the driveway, the guards lined on duty opening the doors of him and the rest of the house staff greeting him, you were already in front of everyone.

Keep your head down, but don’t look too hard at your feet. Naoya-sama wants to see your face – his lovely wife’s face – upon his arrival.

He would never say it out loud, but five years and counting of marriage with him meant you knew him better than anyone. Through his confident and arrogant self, Naoya worried about a lot of things, you included. There were times he’d wake up in the middle of a nightmare in which he lost you, his arms scrambling to find your body to press it against his for reassurance. You were there, you would always be there, but the confirmation never hurt.

You bowed down to him, skin cleared, cheeks flushed, and lips glossy – all telltales of a happy, nurtured wife who was well taken care of – present before him. And you were beautiful too; the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid his eyes on.

“Welcome home, Naoya-sama.”

Naoya’s shoulders immediately relaxed at the sight of you dressed in your yukata, hair done perfectly and hands clasped politely in your lap. He tried not to let it show too much though, even though his staff had watched him grow up, he needed to keep his pride as the clan leader. Not even his precious wife could make him tear down his walls in public, though you did not need to worry about his brash attitude, following him inside three steps behind as he’d instructed.

He loosened his tie and dismissed the other servants, locking the door of your shared room. “Is my tea prepared?”

“Yes, Naoya-sama, mixed with jasmine just as you like.”

Naoya’s hands stilled on his tie. His gaze fluttered over yours, eyes still ducked down to the floor with a small smile playing on your lips, one that said welcome home in more ways than one.

The sight of you – so compliant and meek as ever – stirred something deep within his heart. His whole life, he believed women were useless, creatures that were below him. Until now, he held firm in that, but fuck, you were always so open and willing to do everything he asked that he could feel himself hardening in his pants. Women may be useless, but once they followed his orders and praised him so heavenly the way you did?

He fucking loved it.

Naoya’s tie went flying the other room, his cock swelling in his pants as he tugged you by your wrist. You landed on the mattress behind you, watching with a heaving chest as your husband crawled above you. His gaze felt predatory, dark eyes hooded with lust while he planted his knees beside your waist, his fingers looped with yours.

You smiled sweetly up at him, so temptingly sweet his resolve broke for a split second. He captured your lips to taste you on him, the sounds of your husband’s satisfied hum making your chest puff out with pride.

Everyone may look down on you for marrying such a ‘horrible’ man like him, calling you stupid and immoral, even going as far as claiming you were nothing but a dumb cock-hungry slut, but Naoya – even you – knew better. You were not foolish; in fact, no one could handle Naoya’s attitude better than you did, and you were smart enough to keep buying that strawberry flavored lip balm he loved so much, causing your husband to squeeze your palms.

“Good girl,” he mumbled absentmindedly, the praises shooting heat flush to your core. “You’re so good for me, you know that?” he peppered kisses all over your skin, a gesture so rare that you were panting underneath him, resisting the urge to rub your legs together.

Naoya was extremely skillful in bed, his virility as a man not to be looked down on for his ability to render you immobile to walk, throat sore and voiceless for a few days truly impressive. But he was different today; his usual tight grip the same but laced with a want that went beyond than lust. You could never say it out loud, especially not around him, but it was clear – Naoya treated you with affection and care.

“I’m very lucky to have found such a submissive woman like you, but that’s not true is it? Women like you aren’t found, you’re trained,” he harshly tugged the first layers of your yukata to the side, exposing the sensitive flesh of your collarbone that was free for him to mark. “Have I trained you well, my wife?”

“Yes, Naoya-sama, trained me so good,” you rasped out, bringing your legs forward, only for it to bump against the sides of his waist.

Naoya sucked on your skin until he was sure he’d completely marked his territory, the grazing sensation of his teeth so erotic and passionate along with his clothed cock rubbing into your folds. His hand trailed down your waist, yanking the ties of your clothes apart. You gasped as he teasingly rubbed your clit, even going as far as to roll it between his strong fingers. “For you, ah, I’d do anything for you, Naoya-sama.”

“It’s my love when we’re in the sheets,” he corrected you, “When a woman knows her place and obeys me so well, a good girl like you deserves to be rewarded,” hearing your small whines at his words, Naoya chuckled at your skin. “Do you want that? Want me to make you feel good?”

“Yes, p-please, I need you,” you moaned wantonly, gathering the courage to lift your hips up and grind it against his erection. He surprised you by not pushing you away, so you kept going, slathering your wetness all over the front of his pants. “Fuck me, my love, please.”

“Since you asked so nicely,” Naoya smirked, standing up to rid himself of his pants and belt. You whined at the loss of contact and sat up on your elbows, legs spread wide open as you feasted on the delectable way he discarded his clothing one by one. His fat cock, red and flushed with pre-cum, slapped against his toned upper body.

You would’ve groaned at his bare beauty, but he’d already crawled on top of you once more, completely ridding you of the multiple layers of modest clothing you wore, revealing a redolent set of white lace.

Naoya narrowed his eyes at the nearly transparent thong, his hands cupping your seeping cunt with a low hum. “Is this for me? Did my pretty baby get dressed up for me?” you nodded eagerly, pathetically reaching upwards to wrap your arms around him. You were growing needy, soft yet desperate as your stuttered gasps hovered on his ear. “Were you thinking of me the whole time I was away for work?”

“I always think of you, my love,” you breathed out, “Your smile, your voice, your lips, your hands,” legs twitching, you dared run your knee to brush his forearm, the teasing and confident movement earning you a seductive, warning glare from your dominant husband. But oh – you were just starting to have your fun. “Your cock inside me.”

“Naughty little girl,” he snickered, grabbing your hand and shoving it deep inside your panties. That evoked a high-pitched moan from you as your nails grazed against your shaved pussy, Naoya’s smirk present the harder he pressed your palm on yourself. “Did you touch yourself? Pleasure yourself like this?” He was testing you, reminding you of his power and authority, trying to see if you would break his rules that he’d been so firm into fucking deep into your skull.

Naughty as you might be sometimes, you never forgot your place. You were daring, but never in your wildest dreams would you dare go against him. Not because you were plain weak and submissive, but simply because the thought of pleasing him more and feeding his ego was far more satisfying.

You shook your head, pitiable tears already shining through. “N-no, I would never. Only you can make me feel good, just you, mmh.”

Naoya groaned deep in his throat, satisfied at your answer. “You’re always so sweet for me,” he says, leaning over to knee your legs open wider. He situated himself between your body, slow and sensual in removing your bra and panties, the lacy material disappearing somewhere on the black marbled floors. You laid there, vulnerable and wanting, clutching at his biceps as he grinded his cock on your puffy folds. “Have I ever told you’re the perfect little wife? So fucking needy for me always, fuck. This pussy was made for me.”

“This pussy is yours,” you acquiesced, breathing hard when Naoya pulled away to peer at your body. He liked his wife to be healthy, strong and ready to carry his child whenever he wanted, and his hands squeezed your hips appreciatively.

“I exist purely to serve you, my love,” you vowed, “I have no other purpose than to make you feel good and love you. You’re my everything, the world and more.”

He’d looked at you with lust before, the desire pooling in his eyes always making you feel wanted, but this was different. Naoya would never let those cursed three words fall from his mouth, but it shone clearly in his eyes anyway. He gazed at your curves and dips so lovingly that your arousal peaked, slick coating his cock from where he was slowly teasing your cunt with his tip.

Unable to hold back any longer, Naoya flipped you over. Your breath knocked out from your chest at the sudden movement, his hands tugging at your wrist to pull you close to him. He leant back on the bed, kissing you feverishly all the while keeping you shaking on his thigh. Due to your wetness gushing, you slid down his muscular thigh, and you moaned at the contact. “As I should be,” Naoya nibbled at your lips, his harsh words contrasting the tenderness of his hold on you. “You’re nothing to me if you can’t even do something as simple as that.”

You nodded with no hesitation, fully accepting that you were purely his now – and you would honestly not have it otherwise.

Naoya helped you lift your hips up, shushing you with a slap on your ass when you stared at him nervously.

Every time Naoya fucked you, he was direct and simple. He preferred to have you on all fours where he could focus on his own pleasure, or sometimes he would rather cum upon seeing your fucked-out face, the image of your tongue lolled out while he fucked you on oblivion enough to make him nut right away.

But now he was guiding your arms around his neck, kissing the sides of your lips as if to answer your silent questions. “Sit on my cock, baby, I’ll reward you for your obedience tonight,” he said, his cock twitching as he directed your entrance right above his cock. Naoya slid you down, allowing you to feel inch by inch, thick vein upon one another – sliding inside you and stretching you out so good. You closed your eyes and pressed your forehead on his, teeth locked on your bottom lip as he bottomed out.

Fuck, you’d never felt so full.

However, Naoya wasn’t pleased. He clenched his jaw and tapped your bottom lip, scolding you with his mean glare. “Don’t hold back when you scream my name, you understand? Cherish this moment – I won’t always care about your pleasure. You should thank me for this.”

“I-I will!”

Torturous. That was how you would describe it. You had never been this close to him before; not in this position and angle. Each lift of your hips caused your hardened nipples to brush over his muscular chest, his attention sorely focused on the way you bounced on his cock.

Something about holding him this close felt so intimate, breaths tangled and moans shared, along with the pleasure delivered into your bodies with the way you were rolling your hips along his length.

“Still so fucking tight for me,” he said through gritted teeth, “I love this pussy so much, fuck, you’re mine. Just mine, all mine,” Naoya eventually lost it, hooking his arms under your armpits and feet flat on the bed. You kept screaming his name like a prayer, the worship falling from your lips like a broken record driving him to fuck into you faster. He’d had enough of your pace; he’d been good enough that now it was his turn to fuck you, and you were glad he did because his fast, brutal pace was so mind-numbing.

Naoya hitched you up higher until your chin rested above his hair, your breasts right at his mouth. He sucked and bit at the soft flesh angrily, grip so tight on your hips you were hissing from the pain. At the same time, it felt so fucking good unlike everything you’ve ever felt.

“My perfect fucking wife—a quiet, compliant wife is worth more than gold, baby. You’re my fucking treasure.”

Naoya thrusted hard and deep until the bed was creaking, mattress dipped from both your weight. The room felt so foggy with your lovemaking and you tightened around him, crying as he kept hitting that sensitive spot that had you seeing stars. “I’m c-coming!” you whined helplessly, hugging your husband deep to your chest while your fingers tugging at his hair. “Naoya, please!”

“Then come for me,” he nibbled at your ear, delivering another hard slap at your ass. “I’m allowing you to. Come. Make a mess around me.”

“Oh my gosh, ugh, fuck,” you came around him hard, your orgasm making you shake. He still wasn’t done, but his breathless murmurs of close, I’m so close had you holding him tighter, whispering dirty words in his ear to assist your husband into reaching his high. The oversensitivity of him plowing into you even after you came was too much, but you took it all like the good wife you were. Biting the protests down at your tongue, you rode him to meet his hips thrust by thrust, his balls snapping at your ass. “Mmmh, I love you, I love you. I-I love you.”

“As you should, baby. You’re supposed to love me,” Naoya devoured your mindless babbling by sliding his tongue inside your mouth, his hips stilling inside for a moment. Fingers clutching desperately to him, you shut your eyes tight, cunt dripping as Naoya spilled his seed deep inside you.

You kissed him one last time in refusal to let go, but Naoya wasn’t having any of it. He was very iffy every after sex that you had no choice but to pull away from him, wincing as he pulled out.

He stumbled into the bathroom afterwards while you laid there on the soiled sheets, weakly fisting the pillow beneath you. You were so fucked out, tired after a long day of managing everything he wanted you to take care of. To be fucked good by your husband…there was truly no better way of life.

Just as you were drifting off, you felt something damp sliding over your inner thighs. You blinked sleepily at a silent Naoya, sending him a small smile as he wiped both your cum away. He left the towel inside the bathroom before he came back, sliding his white shirt over your frame and tugging a fresh pair of his boxers to your legs. Aftercare with Naoya…while it wasn’t impossible, it also wasn’t a daily occurrence. Your heart kept fluttering inside your chest, that feeling blooming harder when he slid under the sheets beside you, his strong arms pulling you taut in his chest.

His skin remained mark free. You knew Naoya hated being marked; reminding you all the time he wanted to be flawless. You respected that and pressed a deep kiss on the spot above his heart instead, madly and hopelessly in love as you traced circles on his bare chest.

You could stay like this forever, in the warmth and safety of your husband’s arms, but you still had wifely duties to fulfill. Naoya had already done his, prompting you to lean up to trace kisses at his sharp jaw, sweet and docile as ever as you asked, “Naoya…how was work today?”

“Same as usual.”

That meant he didn’t want to talk about it, so you didn’t pry further.

“You need to rest and regain your strength so you can work hard again tomorrow,” you mumbled sleepily, “I’ve already planned your meals for the next week. We’re going plant-based for a while, you need it.”

Naoya remained silent. You would’ve assumed he’d fallen asleep if it wasn’t for his hand caressing your back in a manner so gentle that seemed so alien with him, the strangeness of it all intensified when you looked up at his face, only to see that he had already been studying your features a long time before. There was an unsettled frown on his face, one that you tried to smoothen away with the pads of your fingertips. “What’s wrong, my love?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I’ve already forgotten about all my worries. They don’t matter anymore,” he whispered, his voice way too soft. It fit the atmosphere, however, whatnot with the newfound intimacy that you basked in. Suddenly, Naoya cupped your cheek, utterly serious as he croaked out, “Baby.”

“Hmm.”

“Do you love me?”

You didn’t have to think twice about it. The answer would be – “Always and forever.”

However, Naoya wasn’t satisfied. He needed more, wanted to understand more, craved to find a logical reason behind your devotion to him.

“Why?” he demanded, “What is it about me you love so much?”

“Everything,” you confessed, the love so clear in your eyes that even for a small moment, Naoya felt like he understood now. “You’re perfect to me, Naoya. I’m glad you’re the one I’m spending my life with. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

“But why?”

“Because,” you giggled, “You’re handsome, you’re caring even if you don’t show it that much, you’re smart, ambitious, hardworking and the best husband I could ask for,” Naoya opened his lips, probably to ask a stupid why again, until you cut him off, silencing your odd husband with a kiss. Thankfully, Naoya gave in, relaxing at your touches. “Loving you is second nature to me. It’s not living if it’s not loving you.”

Although he didn’t – and would never say I love you – he had his own way of expressing it. He let you know that he shared the same stance at you, staring deep into your eyes while he cupped your cheek, surprisingly somber as he proudly said, “I made the right decision of marrying you.”

“I’m glad you don’t regret it.”

“I could never regret it,” he whispered back, but you had already fallen asleep. That night, you dreamt no more. There was no need to when everything you’ve ever wanted was already right there at your reach, and Naoya joined you long after, the faint linger of a loving kiss a husband only ever gave to his wife the last thing you felt before you faded off into dreamland.

[victoria-daydreams]

Of Vices and Virtues

Chapter Seven: Specialty

AN: I meant to post this earlier, but I had errands to run and then I got sidetracked after that. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

Word Count: 4.6k

Trigger Warnings: none

Taglist: @azayamari​

Chapter Eight: Fun & Games

"You are nothing but a freak!"

"You would be nothing without me!"

"No one wants you!"

I sat up abruptly in my bed, a gasp loudly escaping my mouth as my eyes shot open, sweat caking my hair to my forehead and my clothes to my body. I threw the covers off of me, stumbling out of the bed as I went into a little state of panic before I registered where I was. I was in my cozy bedroom in Charles' mansion, illuminated by the outside sun that shone through the large window.

"He can't hurt you anymore, remember," I whispered to myself.

I slid to the floor, wiping the stray tears off my cheeks and took a couple of deep breaths, my shoulders no longer shaking as violently. I drew my legs up to my chest, arms hugging my knees and face resting on top of my arms. A hiccup escaped me from the hysteria that had seized my body momentarily as I felt the world right itself. I was okay. I was safe.

Ever so slowly, I came back.

I unwrapped my arms from my legs and slowly pushed myself up from the wooden floor and went to my bathroom. Along with the cold sweat, the remnants of my nightmare seemed to cling to my skin like particles of dirt. The sensation of warm water on my skin would hopefully wash away the memories.

Before entering the shower I stared at my reflection, my hand slightly trembling as my fingers grazed over the discoloration around my eye I had received two nights prior. Shaking off my stupor, I quickly went into the shower, shedding my night clothes as if they were on fire. The water stung where it hit the small cuts on my back, but I ignored the pain, blissfully soaking up the warmth it offered the rest of my aching muscles. I scrubbed myself down with soaps and oils, I washed myself at least five times, trying to rid myself of the unpleasant sensation plaguing me.

Five minutes later, I wiped the steam off that fogged the mirror and I found myself looking at a completely different person. Her eyes were bright and she looked comfortable and clean and...Happy. Very happy. She was smiling. I liked when she smiled.

It was my best defense to mask that I was not slowly, painfully slowly, beginning to lose my mind.

~~~x~~~

"I think today is going to well," Charles beamed, after breakfast, everyone had left the kitchen and the two of us cleared the table while everyone changed into their training gear. Ever the gentleman, after collecting all the dishes, he ushered me into the kitchen. "Ladies first," he gestured with his free hand.

"Is that so?" I asked, grabbing the pitcher of syrup and tray of butter. "Thank you kind sir," I returned with a slight curtsy, and a flirtatious smile thrown over my shoulder, as I proceeded towards the fridge. "What's the lesson plan today, Professor?" I joked, sticking the syrup and butter back in the refrigerator.

"Ha ha ha, very funny," Charles drawled, placing the dishes down on the counter and turned the knob to the sink and water streamed out, he placed his hand underneath the water waiting for it to warm up. He squirted soap into the dish filled sink.

I reached out to the dishes on the counter, and with a telekinetic tug floated the dishes over to the sink. The moving dishes startled Charles a bit and I laughed as I walked over to him, rolling my sleeves up.

I scrubbed the first dish, "I'll wash, and you dry," I instructed, handed him the first cleaned dish and a towel. We made skin-to-skin contact, the touch was electric and both of us flinched involuntarily. Charles almost dropped the dish. He looked over at me, just as I turned my head to look at him as well. A smile pulled at his lips and I laughed softly, shaking my head before turning my attention back to the task at hand.

I continued to soap the dishes and Charles dried them in silence. Tension hung in the still air. The only sound came from the running tap. After the eighth dish, Charles finally broke the silence.

"You know, I could set up a course for your telekinesis. It looked like you were struggling there to lift the dishes," Charles gibed with a smile, as he dried off the last dish.

I blinked at him, "Charles, if you weren't such a great masseuse, I would break each and every one of your fingers to show how wrong you are," I leaned back on the counter with a grin. "You are so lucky you have magic hands," I commented, shaking my head.

"Is that all I am to you?" Charles countered with a smile, "Just a pair of magic, telepathic hands that make you putty over my treatment of your feet?"

"Yeah," I answered bluntly. "Face it, pretty boy, this is all you're good for," I shrugged, his blue eyes amused as I raised an eyebrow at the telepath.

"Oh Claudia, love, how you wound me," Charles grinned, placing his hands over his chest where his heart is.

"Would you like a kiss to make it better?" I asked, a smile making its way on my lips.

Charles had a smirk on his lips as well as he moved closer to me, "Is that an offer?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

I bit my lip and smiled as I sauntered up to him, "It could be a promise," I whispered into his ear. "The world may never know," I added, backing away from him with a grin on my face.

~~~x~~~

Closing my eyes, I leaned against the railing, breathing in the cool air. A gentle wind started up and I welcomed it, leaning my face into the soft breeze. It wasn't until I felt another warm body near mine that I turned my head with a raised an eyebrow at the mutant next to me.

"Something I can help you with?" I questioned, focusing my gaze to Erik.

"Is that your favorite line to say?" Erik asked back, and I just smiled, quirking an eyebrow that expressed the answer of 'maybe'. "I want to try something, help me warm up my powers you could say," he began.

"Shouldn't you be discussing this with Charles?" I quizzed, my smile falling slightly as my eyebrows came together, confusion in my eyes.

"Charles, wouldn't exactly agree with what I have in mind. But I think you would," Erik answered vaguely.

"Erik, why do I feel I'll be the guinea pig of this experiment?" I replied wearily a small smile on my face.

"For what I want to try I will need you to trust me," Erik stated, staring deeply into my eyes.

"Trust," I repeated, lazily stretching out my arms in front of me. "That's the foundation of a friendship," I stated, mirroring his eyes. "Are we friends Erik?" I questioned, all joking aside my gaze sincere and intense.

A soft grin appeared on Erik's face and his hand appeared before my abdomen, "Claudia Walker, I would be honored to call you my friend, if you'll have me," Erik affirmed, I mimicked his motion and firmly shook his hand. "Even if you can be a royal pain," he finished smiling at me, as he let go of my hand and I lightly punched his arm. "Come on, follow me," Erik motioned leading us down the balcony steps and towards the back lawns.

"Alright Erik, color me intrigued. What is so special about this training that you needed to give me a disclaimer?" I questioned, crossing my arms against my chest as we came to a stop. Erik reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a sleek gun and my eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Are you insane?" I exclaimed, my eyes bouncing from the gun to Erik.

"You have nothing to fear, I promise," Erik assured, as the unmistakable click of the safety being turned off was deafening to my ears.

"Easy for you to say, you're not facing the barrel," I quipped, moving my hands to my hips.

He aimed the gun towards me his eyes boring into mine, "Do you trust me?"

I lifted one hand from my hip and pinched the brim of my nose, "This feels like one of those moments where I know I should go with my gut feeling and say 'no', but I have this strange feeling in my heart..." I trailed off, taking a deep breath closing my eyes before opening them again to face Erik. Staring determinedly at him, I repeated his words. "I trust you Erik," his lips quirked up into a smile momentarily, and he nodded his head.

The tension in the air was monumental, his finger slid to the trigger. I knew he could stop it, hell, I could stop it, yet my heart still raced and my hands trembled. BANG! The bullet soared through the air stopping right in front of my heart. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. We both looked towards each other laughter flowing freely from our lips.

"I have to say Erik you sure know how to treat a girl shooting at her with a gun after proclaiming we're friends! I can't imagine what your wedding day would be like with your wife!" I teased smirking.

"Very funny! Don't you forget I could have easily let that bullet hit you!" Erik reminded smiling.

"No, I don't think you'd do that, you see I think I'm growing on you," I challenged, mirroring his smile. "Which is why I want you to shoot me again," I requested, a plan formulating in my mind.

"What?"

"And don't stop the bullet,"

Erik looked at me doubtfully, "You're not serious?" he asked, I could hear the doubt in his voice that matched his expression.

I returned his gaze, a smile lifted the corners of my mouth, "What's wrong? Scared?" I asked smiling, because now the tables were slightly turned. "It's not like you didn't just shoot at me only a minute ago," I reminded smirking, placing my hands on my hips.

Erik regained his stance, "Okay, but you asked for it. Ready?"

I nodded and braced myself. This worked almost every time, hopefully it would not fail now, or I would be dead. That would be unfortunate. The gunshot cracked through the the silence and flew towards me and I heard Erik hold his breath in anticipation. Just before the bullet hit me, I stuck my hand, a violet barrier formed in front of me, and the bullet bounced off of it and onto to the ground

Erik smiled, "Well, I know now not to get any ideas," he noted cheekily.

I dropped my hand and placed it on my hip, "Honestly Erik, I would be offended if you didn't attempt to try at least another time," I quipped, as the barrier vanished into thin air.

Just then I heard quick, light footsteps pounding on the gravel approaching us, Charles emerged from around the corner of the mansion.

"What are you two doing?" Charles asked, gasping for breath.

I quickly glanced at Erik before returning my stare to Charles, "Trusting each other," I answered simply, with a shrug.

~~~x~~~

Five minutes later, the three of us had entered the mansion. Erik and Charles went to the library to play a match of chess and plan out new training's for the younger mutants and I found myself in the kitchen facing the back of Moira, she was doing dishes, obviously just having finished eating lunch herself. I hadn't eaten since my time spent with Erik, and I could feel my stomach rumbling painfully.

"Afternoon Moira," I greeted, stepping forward to a cupboard and grabbed a cup.

Moira greeted me in return with a smile, "You gave Charles and I quite the scare when we heard gunshots," she stated still smiling, as she dried her hands on the towel next to the sink.

"Oh, come now, I can't take all the credit. Erik was the one that actually fired the gun," I quipped returning her smile, as I poured myself a glass of water from the sink.

I set the glass down on the island and moved over to the fridge, opening the door I stared at the array of food available, still partly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices I had. Grinning, I grabbed a jar of mayo and slices of ham proceeded to make a sandwich. As I prepared my meal Moira turned her back to me, focusing on her dishes. Which gave me time to observe her and the burning question that had been in my mind since we arrived at the mansion.

"Why is Moira still here?" I thought. "After everything she has seen I expected her to turn on us the way most humans do when they're scared,"

I decided to voice the thoughts that had been floating through my mind, "Moira...why are you still here?" I asked curiously, screwing the lid back onto the mayo and Moira's body stilled at my question. "I mean after what you saw with Shaw and the Hellfire Club, not to mention the destruction of the CIA facility, why did you decide to trust us and still want to work with us?" I clarified, as Moira turned to face me.

Moira looked at me like the answer was obvious. "I was being realistic, I mean there's good and bad in all of us. Mutant, not mutant, Black, White, man, woman–it doesn't matter," she answered.

"If you were realistic you would have picked up and left. No one in their right mind would stay and help us," I said bluntly, though my intention was not to be rude. "Hell, if I were a normal human, I'd probably wouldn't if we're being honest," I confessed, before going back inside the fridge, placing the mayo down.

Moira leaned back against the sink, The reason I trust you, the reason I trust all of you is because you're you," she answered sincerely, and I didn't detect any dishonesty in her statement.

"You know what? I respect that," I stated, nodding my head. "Thank you for your honesty Moira," I smiled.

She returned a smile of her own, "No problem. I just hope the feeling is mutual," Moira had said it jokingly, but it sounded more like a question.

"Of course I respect you Moira," I addressed her, flashing a smile. "Just as long as you don't get the romantic idea of you being able to help us will somehow make you the savior of mutants," I explained, and arched a challenging eyebrow.

Moira shook her head side to side vehemently, "Oh no, never!" she concurred.

"Good," I answered, and flashed Moira another smile.

~~~x~~~

I was bored. So very bored. I could envision what the other occupants of the mansion would be doing right now. Alex was probably storming around the mansion aimlessly, taking his anger out on whatever objects happened to be within kicking distance. Raven was staring at herself in a mirror, Hank locking himself up in the lab, Sean running off to probably get stoned. I could see Charles curled up in a chair reading a novel with a cup of tea and Erik was probably in his room plotting multiple ways to kill Shaw. And who knows what Moira does, maybe she reads files in her spare time?

I watched from the window as the rain fell, clouds had rolled in and the sky darkened making the once bright, sunny day, dreary. Then came the rain, the sky had opened up about an hour of ago and showed no signs of stopping. The rain fell steadily, drops running down the windowpane I was in front of. Music from the radio played softly in the background and it reverberated throughout the living room.

"So why exactly are we here?" Sean asked from behind me.

I twirled around lowering my knuckle from my mouth and faced the four mutants behind me, "I wanted to have some fun since the rain has canceled training for today," I explained, shrugging my shoulders. "Speaking of training, I've been wanting to practice an ability of mine," I added, walking closer to them.

"And what would that be?" the redhead boy questioned curiously.

"My ability to create illusions," I answered smiling. "I can change how something looks, I can make people see what I want them to, make them believe or feel something that not there or that's not true. I can make things appear out of thin air, although somethings are harder than others," I finished, interlocking my arms behind my back.

"Awesome! Show us!" Sean cried in delight, I smirked, this was gonna be fun.

"Who wants to be my guinea pig?" I asked grinning wickedly, and tented my fingertips together, tapping them lightly. I was met with silence. It wasn't surprising from my smile and sinister finger tapping that no one would want to volunteer. "Fine I'll pick," Hmm. Who shall I pick on? I looked at them until my eyes landed on my favorite red head and smirked. "Sean, get up," I ordered, pointing at him.

"Aw! What! Why me?" he groaned getting up as everyone else laughed.

"Because you were the one who was so eager to see my power," I responded to him. "Don't worry. You won't be the only one who's going to be my victim," I carried on still with a grin on my face.

"Victim?" he balked as everyone else shouted out a, "What!" or "Come on!"

I focused on Sean and trapped him in my stare and watched the blank look manifest in his eyes. I closed my eyes and thought about I wanted him to do for the next minute or so and implanted it into his mind. My eyes snapped open and he burst into motion. Sean quickly crouched down, placing his hands on the floor and began panting as if he were a dog. Everyone burst out laughing and I joined. He started spinning around as if he were chasing his imaginary tail. He then turned his attention to Raven. She let out a firm "No" before Sean pounced on her, grabbed her hand and started repeatedly licking it.

"EWWWWW! GET HIM OFF! GET HIM OFF!" Raven started screaming in a mix of disgust and humor as the rest of us carried on laughing.

Sean then whipped around to Alex, quickly crawling over before he started to hump his leg.

"OH MY-! CLAUDIA GET HIM OFF!" Alex yelled at me whilst he attempted to keep Sean at bay. By now Raven, Hank, and I were hysterically laughing, Raven even had tears streaming down her face.

Finally Sean backed away and sat back on his chair, the blank look coming over him before he was released from my illusion and he looked around at all of us.

"That was awesome!" he laughed. "Apart from the humping, obviously. Sorry man,"he apologized looking at Alex who looked traumatized, whilst everyone still laughed. "It was weird like I knew what I was doing but I couldn't stop it. And there was a purple tint over my vision. Does that happen every time you do that?" He asked.

"Yep," I told him as I sat back down. "Anyone up for another game?" I asked smirking, looking around.

"NO!" the four of them yelled in unison.

"Oh come on," I began. "I was thinking about a harmless game of hide and go seek," I stated, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "What do you say?" I asked.

"I'm in!" Raven cheered.

"Me too!" Sean agreed.

"Why not," Hank murmured.

"No powers!" Alex demanded, and I raised my hands in surrender.

"No powers," I repeated, nodding my head in agreement. "Not it!" I called quickly, standing up from my seat. Everyone followed my lead except for Alex because he called 'not it' too slowly. "All right Alex, you know the rules. Cover your eyes and count to fifteen since this place is so huge," I said, slowly backing away from him.

Alex grumbled under his breath and covered his face with his hands

"One," Alex began, and everyone in the living scattered in different directions.

"Two," As quietly as possible I bounded up the grand staircase and swiveled my head from left to right, looking down at each side.

"Three," I moved down the hallway and decided to hide in the last place that Alex would like. Feeling quite proud of myself I reached the door to my hiding spot. I opened the door without even bothering to knock, and spun around closing the door both quietly and quickly at the same time.

I leaned my head against the door momentarily and smiled, lifting my head from the door I turned and quickly glanced around the room. It was a lot like mine, the only difference being the strong masculine cologne that floated in the air. I spotted a cozy chair arranged near the fireplace and made my over to it sit down in the chair, only to be startled out of doing so by a familiar voice.

"Please don't," whipping around and looking down at the chair, I found one Charles Xavier sitting with his left leg over the right, where he had not been just seconds ago and grinning like a loon. "Sorry for the deception, love, but I was curious to see who was quickly approaching my door,"

I crossed my arms against my chest, "But why hide yourself?"

"You're playing hide and seek with the children, are you not?" Charles asked grinning.

"I was thinking of it as more of a training exercise," I replied, my lips forming into a smirk, "They don't know it, but I'm teaching them to think outside of the box," I explained. "Although, I think making yourself invisible is cheating Charles. No powers remember?" I pointed out.

Charles' lips upturned into a smile, "Out of all of the rooms in this house, why did you choose my room, Claudia?"

"Because I knew no one would be bold enough to try," I retorted.

"No one except you," Charles smirked.

"No one except me," I repeated grinning.

"I shouldn't have expected less," the telepath chuckled, his eyes sparkled with mirth. I opened my mouth to respond, but he just put his finger to his lips. "You'll thank me in a moment," he whispered, and almost simultaneously his bedroom door was opened by two familiar blonde headed mutants.

Alex and Raven both looked directly at me, but yet made no comment, it was like...I was invisible. I felt a small smile begin to work at my mouth and I looked back at Charles who mirrored my expression as he had two fingers on his temple.

"I thought you said you heard talking," Alex stated, slight frustration in his tone. "Because there is no one in here," he added, stepping in the room and checking the most obvious spots to hide like the closet, bathroom, and underneath the bed.

"I swear I did!" Raven exclaimed. "Maybe it was just the music I heard," she suggested, as Alex walked back to door.

"Maybe," he agreed, closing the door behind him.

Charles and I waited for about thirty seconds before erupting in soft laughter, "This house is enormous, this is hardly a fair fight," Charles pointed out, and I merely shrugged. "There's never been a dull moment in this house since you got here Claudia," he smiled, brandishing a book that had previously escaped my notice. "Can I assume you're the one responsible for the mayhem downstairs about five minutes ago?" Charles inquired.

"I wanted to further explore my abilities," I answered smiling. "Do you mind a companion?" I asked.

"Not at all, provided you don't try to sit on me again," Charles quipped, before looking back down at his book.

I glanced around the room seeing there wasn't another chair for me to sit.

"I might have to," I thought.

And so, it was with a small smirk that I sidled up the handsome man before me, and slid down into his lap just as Lena Horne cooed ‘Stormy Weather’ from the record player in the corner of the room.

Charles nearly jumped out of the chair, "Claudia! Wha-What are you-"

I looked up at him, "There were no other chairs, so I'd figure we could share," I explained, before raising my brows at him and watching a red flush crawl up his neck.

He swallowed thickly but managed a cool smirk of his own, "Is that so?" Charles asked, cocking his head to the side. His book slowly slipping out of his grasp and onto the floor with a soft thud.

My fingers moved to his shirt, straightening it out and brushing the strands of hair from his face, "Very much so," I smirked, flipping my hair over my shoulder. I leaned closer to Charles, my lips close to his ear, "Stormy weather. Just can't get my poor self together. I'm weary all the time, the time. Yes, weary all the time," I sung, slowly raising my knee until it brushed his crotch, my teasing, mischievous nature coming into play.

This harmless flirting had to peak eventually right?

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, "T-This is inappropriate," Charles' breathing hitched.

"How so?" I breathed out. "You're surely weren't thinking that this morning," I reminded.

"Well, I'm not going to deny that you are the most amazingly beautiful woman I have ever met-" Charles began.

"Oh how you flatter me Charles," I smiled.

"I've also been thinking about how I'm much older than you," Charles continued, and I rolled my eyes before pulling my head back to face Charles.

"I've been with old men before Charles," I drawled.

"Are you calling me old, Claudia?" he questioned, his lips quirking into a small smile.

"I never did such a thing, you called yourself old, Charles," I retorted, tilting my head slightly.

He chuckled and looked at me, his intense blue gaze that was fixed upon my own. I glance down at his lips and back to this eyes and he did the same as I leaned forward, our lips barely touching.

Charles lifted one of his hands and caressed my cheek softly, "While I want nothing more to claim your lips with my own," he sighed, pulling away from me. "Let's not rush into things, love," Charles suggested gently, a small smile gracing his features.

I recognized the look in his eye as he smiled at me. Charles Xavier may have been abnormal in almost every other aspect of his life, but when it came to attraction and women, he was exceedingly normal. And for the first time in years the thought of a man being attracted to me suited me just fine, especially one who said there was no need to rush.

I exhaled deeply and nodded my head, "If that's what you want," I conceded, pulling my head back as well. "Well, guess I was right," I mused, and Charles furrowed his brow. "The world may never really know when you're going to get that kiss," I smirked.

Charles grinned and I contented myself with him wrapping an arm around my waist as he read to me, all the while watching in amusement every time one of the children came in and searched the room over, each more frustrated than the last.

Chapter Nine: Challenges

[stomachflu]

Ooo, for c//ritical r//oll concept, something with sick Mollymauk? Maybe he's got a really bad stomach flu but is covering it super well with his usual showmanship. He's gotten used to taking care of himself and not showing weakness while on the road-- cant miss a performance for a lil bug. Pretends to be totally fine until he crashes, cue the rest of the m9 taking care of him? Bonus for belly rubs and drawn out nausea.

🚫don’t rb to non-sickfic/emeto/kink blogs, thanks!🚫

thank you so much for this really good prompt! i’ve been working on this for a REALLY LONG TIME but cr//itical r/-/oll has become one of my new fave interests so i enjoyed writing this a lot!

have over 5k of nausea buildup, multiple puking sessions, and caretaking!

(i only realized after writing this fic that not only does jester not have the cure illness spell, but it’s not even a spell in dnd 5e, and i’m thinking of a similar spell from my 3.5e campaign. whoops! there’s probably a lot more errors in here due to me being new to the show, so please be nice to me and ignore them! ^_^)

Molly certainly hadn't objected to taking shelter out of the storm, but the town was small, with only a few small rooms in their only inn, and not much in the way of entertainment, so by all means, he should've been more than happy to be moving on as soon as the rain passed.

The thing was, he had definitely picked up something in that weather. He'd spent most of the previous day huddled in blankets, trying to rid himself of the chills that racked his body. He was lucky that they'd had enough money for four rooms this time, luckier still that Beau and Jester were still insistent upon rooming together, and Caleb and Nott were stuck like glue, leaving him and Fjord with separate rooms. Molly had to make appearances at mealtimes, of course, but he'd put on a good show then, mustering up enough energy to entertain the room with simple tricks – disappearing coins and such.

Molly had hoped that it was just a momentary illness, that it would pass in time, but when he'd woken up burning with fever, he knew he was in it for the long haul. He felt terrible, hot and cold at the same time, aching down to his very bones. It hurt to swallow, but he needed energy if he was going to beat this, so he choked down breakfast as quickly as possible.

The sky was clear now, not a cloud in sight, and they needed to be moving on. The group didn't have time to waste on a cold – Molly was no use bedridden, and, besides, there was nothing that would cure him but time. Jester needed her spells, and it wasn't like he wouldn't have plenty of time to rest in the cart.

Once they jerked into motion, though, Molly quickly realized that he'd made a mistake. He had eaten breakfast with everyone else, and his stomach was not happy with that decision. He took deep breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth, trying to concentrate on something other than his suddenly-churning gut.

Probably motion sickness. Traveling had never made him ill before, but there was a first time for anything. If he had to guess, it probably had to do with how dizzy he was – having the world spin around him while he was jostled back and forth? That would make anyone queasy. What was it that people always said? Something about focusing on the horizon, but that just made him feel more queasy.

Fjord had the reigns, with Caleb keeping watch next to him, so Molly snuck a glance at the rest of the group – Nott and Beau in an animated conversation, Jester with her sketchbook – and risked placing a hand on his tender belly, rubbing it gently. He swallowed back a burp, grimacing as the pressure in his stomach only increased.

The sun was still high in the sky, and Molly needed a distraction from what was quickly becoming nausea, so he spread out his cards in front of him, shuffling through his deck.

"Ooh!" Jester exclaimed, bouncing into a sitting position across from him. "Do a reading for me, please?"

Despite himself, Molly smiled. With his view of the horizon blocked, he did feel a little better. Perhaps it was simply motion sickness after all.

"Alright, cut the deck for me – good. Now, two more times..."

--

Molly's momentary relief didn't last long. He did a reading for Jester, and then one for Beau. By the time Nott asked, he was certain his fever was up, sweat beading on his forehead, so he feigned exhaustion and put the cards away.

His stomach hurt. It was an on-and-off kind of pain, the cramps coming in intervals, leaving him shivering with chills each time. Maybe it's simply hunger, Molly thought, fishing out some strips of dried jerky out of his bag and gnawing on them absently. At any rate, he needed to eat to get over this illness, but putting food in his mouth, but swallowing it down just made him more nauseous.

He needed to throw up.

The thought struck Molly at the same. time that a wave of nausea washed over him, and he swallowed hard. Not right now, not this moment, but at some point in the near future, he was going to vomit.

The cart pulled off to the side of the road, jostling Molly's sick stomach and forcing a soft burp up his throat.

"Alright," Fjord said, hopping down from his position at the reins. "Short break to feed and water the horses, but 's about all I got in me. Anyone else wanna drive?" A beat in which nobody else answered, and he repeated, "Anyone...?"

"Fuck it, fine, I'll do it," Beau grumbled.

"If we are to be switching positions, is there anyone else who would like to take watch?" Caleb asked.

Molly slowly slid out of the cart, his hot, aching joints protesting every movement.

"I volunteer," he said. Maybe the fresh air would help. Already, he felt a bit better, standing in the open air like this.

That was settled, then. Fjord and Nott went about taking care of the horses, and the others took their time walking about, stretching or disappearing into the woods bordering either side of the road to relieve themselves.

Molly was glad for the thick cover of trees – the second he was out of sight of the cart, he clutched his belly with both hands, bending over at the waist. The pressure helped, but his stomach was still churning. He felt awful, knew that he needed to throw up now if he was going to keep up appearances.

Molly traipsed a little further into the underbrush, determined to keep out of earshot of the others, and... waited. He was nauseous, yes, but not nearly to the degree that he had been when he was sitting in the back of the cart.

Come on, puke already, he thought. Absentmindedly, he reached underneath his shirt to rub his stomach, the taut skin hot with fever under his palm. Almost immediately, a gurgling burp shot up his throat, and he leaned forward expectantly.

Saliva flooded into his mouth, and Molly spit onto the dirt, throat tightening in a gag. A sick belch brought up a thin mouthful of foamy bile, and he retched again and again as the liquid pattered onto the dirt.

He didn't bring anything else up, though he remained bent over at the waist. Molly knew he couldn't stay here forever – he was already pushing the limits of what the others would believe, had his excuse of needing privacy to relieve himself been true. Anyways, his stomach felt... not good, not even better, but he wasn't on the verge of puking anymore. Maybe he could make it 'till nightfall.

As he traipsed back towards the cart, he suddenly realized why nobody had gone looking for him, why his absence had gone unnoticed. Standing in a circle around Fjord and Nott were a group of bandits, weapons drawn. Molly was too far away to tell, but by their gestures, he would have bet that they were demanding the cart, and everything on it.

Sighing, he drew his swords. It was going to be a long day.

--

They made quick work of the bandits, dispatching their leader and sending the others running into the woods, pursued by a few of Nott's arrows. It had been a good thing that Molly hadn't asked Jester for a healing spell earlier, though, because Fjord had taken a heavy blow to the chest, and Jester used almost all of her spell slots healing him.

And so they were back on their way, with Molly perched at the front of the cart, acting as lookout. The crisp air was helping a bit – he felt less foggy, like his head wasn't quite so stuffed with cotton. His stomach, however...

Right on cue, his stomach gurgled, and Molly winced, pressing a hand to his midsection. He could feel it bubbling under his skin, everything he'd eaten churning around in there.

Oh. Oh no. A cold sweat washed over his body, and Molly swallowed back the taste of bile.

"Beau?" he asked, swallowing back a belch.

"Yeah?" She wasn't even looking at him, so he allowed himself to press three fingers to his mouth, muffling another queasy burp.

"Would you mind stopping for a moment? I need to, ah – you know, relieve myself."

"Again? We just fucking stopped," Beau grumbled, but she dutifully pulled the horses over to the side of the road anyways, and Molly gratefully slid off of the cart, walking into the treeline as fast as his queasy belly would allow him.

He was gagging before he even came to a stop, a thin trickle of vomit splashing onto the leaves at his feet. He belched up a thick mouthful of undigested food, and then he couldn't stop burping, the sight of his pale vomit on the dark leaves making him more and more nauseous.

Calm down, Molly willed his stomach. He needed to stop puking, he needed to get his churning guts under control and –

Another sickly gag, and Molly managed a mouthful of watery puke. He hovered there for almost a full minute, mouth slightly open, too queasy to even wipe away the thick ropes of saliva trickling from his lips to the ground.

Was that it? He didn't feel done. If anything, his stomach was more bloated than ever, and he didn't feel any less nauseous, but, yet again, he couldn't stay here.

"Done?" Beau asked, hopping back up onto the cart as he approached. Molly took a more careful method, gingerly leveraging himself up so that he wouldn't have to bend over, keeping one hand under the small bloat of his gurgling stomach. It didn't do much, but the illusion of supporting his belly, keeping it from being jostled – it almost convinced him to feel less queasy.

"My apologies," he said simply, muffling a nauseous burp into his fist.

Beau looked at him strangely but only shook her head, taking the reins in hand. "Let's get this show on the fuckin' road!"

He had made a mistake. Molly knew this from the moment the cart jolted to life. Not only was he not done being sick, but the motion was too much to handle. A gag rose up in his throat, and he risked the motion of pressing the back of his hand to his lips as he rode it out. His mouth filled with vomit, and he swallowed it back with effort, and then kept swallowing, throat hitching in an attempt to heave.

Molly sat as still as possible, arms wrapped around his stomach, not even trusting himself to raise his head. The cart hit a particularly bad dip in the road, and his tongue arched in a gag, and he could taste bile on his tongue, and –

"Shit, Beau, pull over," he managed tightly, his throat closing in on a gag. She protested, probably about to make a terrible joke, and then he retched, and she looked over at him in alarm.

She'd yanked the horses over to the side of the road, but he was vomiting over the side of cart before it even came to a stop. He tried to climb down, but it was more of an undignified scramble as he gagged again, adding to the puddle in the grass.

By this point, the others had taken notice, and he was surrounded by a blurry semicircle of his friends as he fell to a crouching position, gagging again and again until he belched up a torrent of puke that splashed everywhere.

He was crying, Molly realized. His face was a mess of tears and snot, thick ropes of spit dangling from his mouth. It felt as if the nausea was never going to go away. He remained there on his hands and knees, panting and belching for what felt like an eternity, until he felt strong arms under his that pulled him to his feet.

Fjord had pulled him up, and was still supporting most of Molly's weight as Jester bounced into his hazy field of view.

"You're sick! Why didn't you tell us?" she demanded, pressing a hand to his forehead. He tried to answer, but couldn't open his mouth for fear of gagging. "Oh, Mol-ly," Jester said in her lilting accent, voice light and almost... teasing? "You have a fever."

"I know that," he managed. "You n – urrp!" He burped into his fist, trying to fight back the wave of nausea that was coming on strongly now. "You need your spells."

"Well, I have one left, so you should have told me," Jester said, voice still light as she fished the Traveler's symbol out from her cloak and pressed it to his belly. "I am going to cast Cure Illness and then you are going to feel better, all right?"

Molly nodded, and the symbol began to glow as Jester concentrated. All at once, a feeling of wrongness washed over him, the nausea surging back tenfold, and he pitched over and vomited on Jester's shoes.

--

"I really do apologize," Molly said miserably for what might have been the tenth time. "I wasn't aiming for you at all."

"My shoes can be cleaned!" Jester said brightly, crouching barefoot in the grass next to him. "You really do need to keep drinking, though."

After Jester's spell had failed and his stomach had calmed somewhat, they'd half-dragged, half-carried him a good bit away from the puddle he'd left on the ground. Fjord had handed him a handkerchief to wipe his mouth with ("Please, keep it.") and Caleb had fished a handful of dry, bland crackers out of his pocket, instructing Molly that he needed to both drink to avoid dehydration, and fill his stomach with something inoffensive if he could.

More like something stale, Molly thought, nibbling on the edge of a cracker. Thinking about how long they'd been in Caleb's pockets made his gorge rise, but before he could ruminate on the thought for too long and make himself sick, Beau walked over from where she'd been huddled with Caleb, Fjord, and Nott.

"Alright, here's the plan," she announced, map in hand. "We obviously can't camp here, so we're gonna get'cha back in the cart and find somewhere where we can settle down for the night, take it nice and slow. There're some towns we could make it to before sundown, but we'd have to go at a pretty fast clip, and I really do not want you puking over all of my things."

"That is very agreeable to me," Molly said, placing a hand on his sour stomach. At Jester's urging, he ate a few more of the crackers and drank deeply from the waterskin as everyone else worked out the logistics of their new plan.

A wave of dizziness washed over him, followed by a chill traveling down his spine, and Molly put his head between his knees, breathing deeply. He could do this. Now that he'd vomited, he would feel better any minute now –

"Molly? Do you think you can stand on your own, or should I be helping you?" Jester asked.

"Thanks for the offer, but I can stand," he said, pulling himself to his feet. His belly felt awful, all the water he'd drank churning in a way that really didn't feel good. He could actually hear his guts sloshing as he heaved himself back up onto the cart.

Jester frowned as he put a hand on the bloat of his still-tender stomach. "Are you feeling bad again? Do you need to vomit?"

"Yes, and maybe," Molly said, swallowing thickly. "Not right now. Probably soon."

"Get him set up in the back of the cart," Beau suggested dryly. "If he's gotta puke, he can do it over the edge. If we stay here any longer, it’s gonna get dark."

"That's a good idea!" Jester exclaimed. As Molly shivered with fever, she collected his blankets and bedroll, setting them in the back of the cart, close enough that he would only need to turn his head to vomit over the side. He gratefully settled into the little nest she'd built for him, arms wrapped around his protesting stomach now that he didn't have to hide his illness. Jester sat next to him, humming as she pulled out her sketchbook.

The cart jolted back to life, and Molly swallowed back a sour belch. His stomach was cramping again, and he screwed his eyes shut, tongue rising in a silent gag. He slipped his hand under his shirt to rub his stomach, only to feel a small hand on his wrist.

"Oh! This looks very painful," Jester said, scooting closer to place her hand on the swell of his stomach. "Does it hurt to touch?"

Molly shook his head. "Just hurts in general. Cramps, I'm..." He trailed off as the cart hit a pothole on the road, causing him to burp lightly into his fist. "I'm feeling a bit queasy right now, to be honest."

"Would it help if I rubbed your stomach?" Jester asked, already untucking the loose fabric of his shirt from his pants and rucking it up to his chest.

"Normally, I'd ask you to buy me dinner first, but..." The suggestive joke was lost as Jester poked experimentally at his stomach. Even if he'd wanted to, Molly couldn't fake being healthy now with his flushed, swollen belly on display, gurgling and churning audibly. Her touch ushered up a soft burp, and he blushed a bit, uncomfortable with the sheer amount of sickness, of vulnerability he was showing.

"Did that feel good? I bet it did!" Jester said, continuing to gently skim her hand over his stomach.

He had to give it to her, Jester was good with her hands. She rubbed his stomach in widening circles, slowly increasing the pressure as she went, switching to kneading the sides of his bloated belly every so often, pressing in with her thumbs as she did so. It seemed as if she knew just when to push in deeply, releasing a pocket of air that had been trapped, finally letting him burp it up.

As they bounced around, Molly's burps became more frequent and more queasy. At some point, he had to ask Jester to stop so he could fish out Fjord's handkerchief, and he pressed that against his mouth now, muffling increasingly wet belches.

"I hate to ask, but –" He gagged, mouth closed. "Jes, do you have any healing spells left?"

Molly's stomach gave a particularly loud gurgle, and Jester pressed in hard, dragging her hand along where it was bubbling the most. "I'm sorry, that was my last one! I won't have any more until tomorrow".

"Okay," he choked out, fighting back another gag. "I'm going to vomit again."

He turned his head and did just that, retching harshly over the side of the cart. A series of burps brought up small mouthfuls of water and undigested crackers. He gagged and belched over and over, only aware of the sensation of Jester's cool hands on his stomach, soothing away cramps and then pressing in each time he heaved.

The next thing he knew, Beau was supporting his back, trying to get him to sit up, and Jester was wiping his face with a cool rag. "Not done –" he tried to croak, but retched dryly before he could even finish the sentence.

"It's okay, go ahead and puke!" Jester said brightly, folding the cloth and cupping it under his mouth.

Molly shook his head, lips pressed tightly shut. He was gonna make a mess, he needed to turn back over the side – but Jester held his chin steadily, keeping his head over her cupped hands, and he retched again and again, bringing up more than a mouthful of stringy bile that was easily absorbed by the cloth.

"Think you're empty, dude," Beau said after a few minutes of fruitless gagging. Molly shook his head, one hand pressed to his aching chest. "Look, okay, I'm gonna teach you some monk shit, right?"

"'Kay," Molly managed, immediately choking on a retch.

"This breathing shit, it's supposed to keep you centered, or something like that? I dunno. Anyways. You're gonna breathe in through your nose for eight counts –" She counted him up, and Molly shakily inhaled, fighting back gags all the while. "–And then out through your mouth for another eight."

On five, Molly gagged, slapping his hand across his mouth even though he knew he had nothing left to lose.

"You gotta keep doing it, okay? Don't stop fucking breathing. It helps me when I'm motion sick; you'll feel better soon."

He hoped so. Molly leaned back, listening to the quiet count of eight-seven-six-five-four... He breathed in. He breathed out.

--

By nightfall, they'd found a small clearing with enough room to pull over the cart and horses and lay out bedrolls. Molly mostly dozed through the process, lying in his nest of blankets in the back of the cart, watching proceedings through half-lidded eyes.

"Molly should be nearest to the fire!" Jester insisted. "Look at him, he's shaking!"

"Don't think that you're supposed to let someone with a fever get any hotter," Fjord drawled. "Maybe we oughta help him cool down first."

The cart rocked a bit as Beau clambered up, sitting cross-legged next to Molly. "Hey," she said. "I'm supposed to make sure that you're drinking water. Are you?"

Molly made a face. He'd been trying to, really, but it just didn't feel good.

"Shit," Beau said. "You gonna puke again?"

"No, it's more like..." He grimaced again, waving a hand in the general direction of his stomach. "Cramps. Hurts."

"Puking all day really took it out of you, huh?"

Molly nodded. His stomach muscles were just sore. Even sitting up hurt; he really didn't want to have to puke again. Just for Beau, he took a small sip of water.

"Excuse me," Caleb said, appearing on Molly's right like a ghost. "I could not help but overhear you say that you were experiencing, ah..." He tried a few words in Zemnian before landing on, "Pain, soreness, in the stomach?"

"Yeah," Beau said, and Molly flashed her a grateful smile. His throat was raw from stomach bile, and talking hurt. "Probably from puking too much. Y'know, if you keep that up, I bet you could get a fucking amazing set of abs," she said, elbowing Molly.

"What makes you think mine aren't already stunning?" he retorted.

"I do not think Molly wishes to repeat such... an intense performance," Caleb said, already flipping through one of his books. "Can I have... yes, that, give me that."

Beau tossed him one of the blankets that had been cast aside, and Caleb caught it in one hand, deftly folding it into a compact square and working some sort of magic on it, something that made both his hands and the blanket glow.

"Here," he said at last. "It is enchanted to stay warm for at least a few hours. Not as good as a heating pack, but, under these circumstances..."

"Thank you, Caleb," Molly rasped, nodding his head in gratitude. The folded blanket was warm to the touch, and he peeled off the other blankets to set it on his stomach, the tension instantly draining out of him as warmth spread through his body. The effect was like taking a hot bath after an intense fight – not completely relieving his aches and pains, but making them much more bearable.

Eventually, Molly was able to stand as Beau and Jester moved his bedroll over to the fire, but he gratefully sank back into the blankets as soon as possible. Even with his makeshift heating pad, he was left trembling with both cold and exhaustion, his energy sapped by just a few simple movements.

"You need to eat, Molly!" Jester exclaimed. "It will make you stronger, you know?"

"I'm good, thanks," Molly said, and then, at her intensifying glare, added, "Really, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Well, Fjord is making soup, so! You should eat it anyways."

"'S less of a soup and more of... I dunno. Leftover meat in water?"

"Hot water," Molly said. He was feeling well enough to joke with the others, at least.

He thought to close his eyes and get some rest, but an insistent poking at his shoulder startled Molly out of any chance at sleep, and he turned his head to see Nott crouched next to him, holding a vial in one green hand.

"Here!" she said, pushing the vial into his own hand and closing his fingers around it when he just stared. "You have to drink it!"

"What is this?" Molly asked, holding the vial up to the light. The glass was dirty, nearly opaque, but the liquid inside seemed to be thick and viscous, a texture that made his gorge rise. "Medicine?"

"Yes! Sort of! It will help settle your stomach, make it hurt less. Probably!"

"Nott," Molly said slowly, "did you make this yourself?" She had the chemistry kit, yes, but from the amount of times he had seen her make acid with it, he didn't want to drink anything that came from one of her vials.

"Yeees," she said slowly, stretching the word out. "But it works!" At Molly's doubtful look, she added, "I drank it before, several times! When I had too much to drink, or when I was hungover, or..."

"All right, I get it, thank you," Molly said. "I appreciate the thought."

He uncorked the vial and peered inside. The liquid was a muddy brown, and grit rose to the top as he swirled it. Well, what did he have to lose, besides his lunch? He tipped the contents into his mouth, gagging on the texture but forcing it down in one swallow. The aftertaste was absolutely vile, and he lurched forward, clapping a hand against his mouth as his stomach threatened to revolt.

"You gotta keep it down!" Nott exclaimed. "Otherwise, it doesn't work."

Molly hummed, rocking back and forth as he tried to swallow back the bile that was creeping up his throat. A muffled gag sent the potion flooding into his mouth, filling his cheeks out, and if was only by sheer willpower that he swallowed it down again.

"Ugh," Molly said when the nausea had passed. "You have a stronger stomach than I do, my friend."

Nott beamed at him with a mouthful of sharp teeth, and Molly found the strength to laugh.

After another few minutes of quiet chatter, it became evident that the potion had worked, at least in some capacity. Molly's stomach felt more sure, like that tight queasiness had abated somewhat, and he was able to entertain the thought of food without gagging. Maybe he really was on the mend.

"You know what?" he asked. "Maybe I'll try some of that soup after all."

--

Molly woke up shaking, drenched in sweat, and with a growing sense of queasiness in his belly. He tried to ignore the latter – he had been feeling a bit better, just weak, and he didn't want to get up – but the churning and bubbling under his hand wasn't going away, and he didn't enjoy the thought of soiling the campgrounds.

With a muffled groan, he rolled over, his stomach protesting every move as he stood. It was bloated again, he noticed, far more than last time. Clearly, the soup he'd eaten wasn't sitting well at all.

"You are awake," Caleb observed from his post as watchman. "What are you doing?"

"Need some privacy," Molly said quietly, giving him a small half-smile. He didn't want to wake anyone else, didn't want the attention –

"Are you going to vomit?"

"That too," he muttered.

"I will come with you," Caleb announced. "You are ill, and I would feel – badly, if anything happened to you."

"You don't have to," Molly said, pressing his hand against his sour stomach. His nausea was mounting quickly, a sure sign that he needed to leave before he redecorated the campsite. "You're on watch duty, besides."

"I have this." Caleb gestured to the silver thread wound 'round the perimeter. "I will know if anything happens while we are gone."

"As you wish." Molly pressed the back of his hand to his mouth, burping quietly. He traipsed into the woods yet again, Caleb at his heels. When the dying light of the campfire was no longer visible, he allowed himself to stop, stretching out one arm to lean on a nearby tree and breathing heavily.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he focused on breathing in through his nose, out through his mouth. Beau's exercises didn't make him any less nauseous, but his heart wasn't beating quite so fast, and it helped him breathe through some of the worst cramps.

"Are you still going to vomit?" Molly jumped, nearly forgetting that Caleb was with him. The other man stood a few feet away, head tilted curiously to the side. "I thought you said you were nauseous."

"I will, eventually." Another cramp seized his middle, and Molly winced, bending forward and clamping his hand down on his stomach. The movement jarred a long, deep belch up his throat, and he stayed there for a moment, the taste of acid on the back of his tongue. "It's coming up, just – I'm waiting."

"I see."

Saliva was beginning to collect in Molly's mouth, and he parted his lips, allowed it to fall to the forest floor. No point in holding it back now. "You should head back now, if you don't want to be disgusted. It's not – uuuurp–gh!" A deep, rumbling burp turned into a gag, and Molly clapped his hand against his mouth as he spoke, voice muffled by his fingers. "It's not pretty."

"I am not disgusted," Caleb said, his clipped accent making the words sharper, somehow. "It is merely a function of the body, no more or no less. You are ill, ja? Let your body do what it needs to."

"Mmm." Molly gagged audibly, spitting a glob of thick saliva onto the ground. He felt awful, sick and dizzy again, wanting nothing more than to get this over with.

"Beau said earlier that rubbing your stomach helped, yes? Would you like me to... shall we say, get things started for you?"

"Please," Molly practically begged, shaking with nausea. Caleb silently walked behind him, wrapping his arms around Molly, fingers resting on the base of his stomach. "I can't believe you're not absolutely grossed out by this."

"Like I said, I would like to be of help."

Unlike Jester, Caleb's hands were warm, almost hot to the touch, and Molly wondered if he was doing that with magic. He didn't waste any time, just waited until Molly's stomach cramped and then pushed in, hard.

Molly immediately belched up a hot torrent of vomit, the soup he'd consumed earlier splattering at his feet in a foamy mess. Caleb didn't let up, keeping up a steady pattern of squeezing and then letting go, ushering up wet burps alternating with splashes of thick vomit. Nott's potion, he recognized with disgust. It tasted even worse coming up.

When he was belching emptily, Caleb released his stomach, turning Molly to face him.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"I'm – urp! – waiting on the next round," Molly said. Caleb held out a waterskin, and Molly shook his head queasily.

"You know, vomiting on an empty stomach is never much fun," Caleb insisted quietly.

Molly got a few swallows down before he gagged directly into the waterskin, spraying watery puke onto his hand and arm and down his chest, soaking his nightshirt. He choked on it, coughing and spitting out mouthfuls of water and bile, gulping down gags and trying his best to catch his breath.

When the coughing fit stopped, though, his stomach had stopped churning. The cooling vomit on his shirt and beads of sweat on his forehead let him know that his fever had broken, too.

"That was absolutely vile, but I feel – better," he said under Caleb's questioning gaze. "I didn't catch you in any of that, did I?"

"Oh!" Caleb said, as if he had never even considered the possibility. "No, I believe that my clothing is... unscathed, for now. Are you finished?"

Molly wiped his mouth on his sleeve, making a face. "For now. I'll probably have to puke again later, but I don't enjoy the idea of sitting out here and waiting for it."

"If it would help," Caleb offered, "you might sit with me while you wait for your stomach to settle."

Molly smiled, despite himself. "I just might take you up on that, my friend."

[angstyaches]

Shoes on the Covers

Here, have an achy, angsty Shayne and a soft boi Charlie (who we’ll hear more from in the next chapter, which is a continuation of this). Takes place within a few days of the events of Chapters 2 and 3.

Trigger warning for... gaslighting, psychological abuse? (If anyone knows how to properly warn of this trigger, particularly when it’s a parent-style figure that’s involved, please inbox me. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.)

Swallow the World, Prolgue: Part 4

6:15pm

“Did you miss the bus?”

For someone who claimed to have the humans’ best interests at heart, Madelyn was obsessed with the idea that everything they did, and every system they put in place, was a failure in some way. Easier to blame the bus schedule for making her foster kid come home late than consider the fact he didn’t exactly want to come home on time.

“I took a walk,” I told her. I’d hoped said walk would lift the sick feeling I’d had since lunch time. In a way, it had; my stomach wasn’t flipping over and making me gag anymore, there was still a weird ache in my gut.

“Well,” Madelyn smiled. “I’m glad you’re home safe.”

I frowned. I knew better than to trust what sounded like genuine concern.

“Dinner’s on the table.”

“What?” I couldn’t help the slight wobble in my voice. My heart and my stomach both felt like they’d taken a bungee jump off a cliff. “But I – the last one was only last week.”

“Well, Watson found a friend for you while he was out hunting for himself,” Madelyn explained. “Luckily he happened to be carrying a warding jar, and was able to do half of your job for you.”

“I don’t think I can do it today, Mads,” I said. “I feel kind of off.”

I flinched as she clapped a freezing-cold hand to my forehead. Her other hand closed around my elbow, nails digging into my leather sleeve.

“Your temperature is normal, by human standards,” she said. “You think your petty complaints matter in the grand scheme of things?”

I swallowed and shook my head. Although my belly made no noise, I felt it rumble and cramp. I resisted the urge to pull my arm against my stomach; with anyone else, it might have evoked sympathy and helped my case, but I knew it would just make Madelyn more impatient with me.

I leaned my shoulder against the wall, wishing for nothing but to be left alone so I could just go upstairs and lay on my stomach and sleep.

“The world needs rid of its demons, Shayne,” Madelyn laughed. “And I need rid of an eyesore in my kitchen. Plus, Watson and I have friends visiting tonight. Human friends.”

“If the demon’s in a warding jar, the humans will be fine,” I muttered.

Madelyn slowly shook her head. Her nails dug deeper into my arm.

“This is the thing you’re made for, Shayne. Don’t you crave revenge for what those things did to your parents? Have you stopped feeling angry and sad about what happened to them?”

“No.”

Madelyn tipped my chin up with her finger. Her hair was smoothed back from her face, the blacks of her eyes running deep and steady. From afar, she might have seemed like a beautiful young woman, but up close, and from so many years with her, I could see the places where her century on earth had weathered her.

Her thumb brushed against my cheek. Nausea began to swell in my stomach again, so now my insides were aching and churning.

“You want to go and lie down for a few minutes?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I mumbled.

“Alright.”

I let out a breath of relief.  

She beamed. “Give me a kiss first.”

I swallowed and leaned a little closer to her cheek as she turned her head. Her skin was blistering cold against my lips, but nothing compared to demon flesh. I felt my stomach wriggle in discomfort at the thought of devouring. It was all I could do to keep my face looking neutral as I pulled back from her.

“Good boy. I’ll call you when Watson’s ready to come and restrain you,” she called over her shoulder as she walked down the hallway. “We don’t need a repeat of what happened last time.”

My hands were shaking as I eyed the stairs. Fourteen steps and about twenty more, and I could be on my bed, basking in a few moments of peace before fulfilling my duty.

But instead, I waited for Madelyn to disappear through the arched doorway to the kitchen, then backed up to the front door.

8:36pm

The last time I’d been here, the place had been in shambles. Now, it was re-plastered and painted a shitty shade of pale brown. Walking into this room in particular – the west-facing bedroom on the first floor – made my head spin a bit. New furniture. Plain and boxy. Not very Charlie-like.

“No posters or anything?” I asked.

Charlie frowned and waved his hands for me to shut up. His glare was undermined by his oversized sweater and chequered pyjama bottoms. He listened for any movement from his parents before he cautiously closed and locked his bedroom door.

“Parents don’t want anything out of place,” Charlie said in a low voice. His hair was wet from showering, which explained the steamy, soapy air. “In case potential buyers come to view the house. Hence, no posters.”

I picked up a small brown bear from his nightstand, holding it up in front of my face by its legs.

“And what do the potential buyers think of Mr. Teddy?”

“His name’s Vincent,” he mumbled as he grabbed it from me. “Don’t touch him. Hey, how did you know which window was mine, by the way?”

He was referring to the pebbles I’d thrown to get his attention from the back yard. I could barely remember what had made me do it.

“Used to be mine.” I shrugged and flopped onto his bed, the back of my head against his pillow, watching him put Vincent back in the exact same position I’d found him in.

“Oh.” Charlie glanced around the room, probably trying to picture how it had looked. “That’s cool, but still just a lucky guess, when – oh, come on, no shoes on the covers.”

I instinctively started to life my feet, but then Charlie grabbed my ankles, sat down on the bed, and pulled my legs across his lap.

As he began to undo the laces of my boots, I once again tried to breathe through the ache in my gut. If I’d been at home, I would have rolled over onto my belly and waited for the pressure to settle everything down.

“What are you doing here, anyway?” Charlie asked, dumping one of my boots next to the bed. “Did you find something out about my… situation?”

A trickle of nausea moved slowly towards my throat. The plan had been to talk to Watson that night, find out what he knew about more complicated possession cases. He was less likely to become suspicious than Madelyn, especially when he was halfway between bi-weekly human feedings. But when Madelyn had mentioned him restraining me while she released ice cold demon flesh into my body –

“Shayne?”

I looked at Charlie as he dropped my other boot to the floor. I was supposed to be the one helping him, yet here I was, showing up in his room for… what reason, exactly? Because I was suddenly unable to deal with something I’d been putting up with for years?

“No,” I said. “I didn’t find out anything.”

He sat back against the wall, hair dripping onto his sweater, eyes heavy with sleep. He’d probably been getting ready to go to bed. I had no idea what time regular people went to sleep.

I wondered if his head had been hurting since the disaster with the warding jar. I couldn’t think about that morning for very long before I started shifting my weight uneasily.

I pushed myself up by my elbows. “I should go.”

Charlie held my legs in place across his lap, the blue of his eyes appearing softer in the low light. My stomach muscles trembled with the effort of holding myself up, making my belly clench and hurt even more.

“Five minutes ago, you were literally throwing stones at my window,” he laughed. “You might as well just tell me why.”

“My stomach hurts.”

“You came all the way here because your stomach hurts?”

He raised his eyebrows. I looked down at the pale yellow duvet cover as his expression darkened. I hadn’t meant for it to come out sounding so horribly childish, but there was nothing I could do about it now.

“You devoured a demon?”

“No.” I let my head rest back against the pillow again. “You think you’re entitled to every detail of my life now?”

There was a churning sensation deep in my gut. I tried to put my hand over my belly in time to calm it, or at least muffle what I knew was coming. I wasn’t looking at him, but if Charlie had been about to reply to my remark, he was interrupted by a gurgle originating beneath my t-shirt, jacket, and hand.

There was a moment of stillness in the room, in which I wished I’d just taken my chances at home after all. Then I felt Charlie’s weight shifting on the mattress. A moment later, his fingers were brushing my leather jacket further open, nudging away my hand.

My ears started to ring like someone had just screamed next to my head. I sat up on my elbows again. Charlie pulled his hand back, eyes widening.

“Sorry, I just thought – never mind.” He looked terrified, a fact I didn’t appreciate. He tapped my leg with one finger. “I’ll get you some medicine or something, if you let me up.”  

My anger fizzled out as quickly as it had burst into flame. I wasn’t even sure it was anger after all. I didn’t move my legs. The light pressure had felt kind of soothing on my stomach for a second, and although my face flushed at the thought, I hated that I’d scared him.

I cleared my throat, an apology burning the back of my tongue but refusing to come up any further. “Can you just put your hand back? Please?”

“Where, exactly?”

I blinked in surprise. I’d expected at least a little hesitation, after the last time. I traced my hand down to the middle of my stomach, running my fingers up and down across my belly button.

He leaned his hand against the same spot. My belly gave a low gurgle, as though in response to the inexplicable warmth of his hand.

Charlie made a low whining sound in his throat as my stomach groaned again. “Hurts, huh?”

“Mmm.” My bones started to feel heavy as Charlie’s hand massaged through the ache in my belly, gently ruffling my t-shirt.

He stopped the motion of his hand, like he’d just thought of something.

“Do you feel like you might be getting sick?” he asked. “Do you have a fever, or nausea, or anything?”

I swallowed a thick feeling of dread. There it was. He’d already eliminated devouring; now he was eliminating actual sickness. Quickly concluding that I was either faking or exaggerating.

“Um, no? I don’t – I don’t know what’s wrong.”

“Okay.” His fingertips rubbed in little circles again. “I guess – in the long run, digesting demons and sending them across the fabric of existence can’t be easy on your tummy, right?”

Emotion wrenched at my throat at the softness in his voice. His hands were so careful, like he was afraid he was going to break me, or make my stomach more upset. 

I shrugged in response to his question, even though I knew that he would eventually get fed up of my shrugging – and of me. 

[cruecifymesixx]

Love and Leather /part fifty seven/

Word Count: 5.5k

A/N: Just a filler, and imo its boring :/ feedback is always appreciated! I’m gonna pair ‘Wish You Were Here’ from the playlist for this one! moodboard credit goes to: @itsclaranotcarla

Warnings: language

Taglist: @brideofdraculana , @xstarryeyes , @aryssav , @miserablecunt , @dangerous-like-a-loaded-pistol , @fandomshit6000, @anntheboneless @venus-calum, @justjodeye, @supernaturalvikingwhore, @are-we-real, @hi-my-name-is-riley, @extremesadnerding, @thatbandchick39, @awkwrdcait, @countrygirlswonderland, @natsuyaxo @awesomealmostdopestudent @romanticvengeance , @tashy-bear, @krazykatkay456, @terror-triplet, @shouttatthedevill @beachystars, @rodriguez025, @kickstart-myheart-sixx, @s-outhie, @anxious-diabetic, @awkwardblackgirls, @rockersbox, @brooklyn-antiques, @shamelessobsessions, @jerseytaint, @lilytalebi, @criminalyetminimal, @motley-queen, @trapt-in-a-dream, @lunamadhatter99, @broke-n-bitchy @thanks2pete, @slowandangry, @lovesick-heart0, @keepcalm-and-beyou, @miriampraez, @teenwolflover28, @lilyhw1, @swoopygorl, @motherloovebone, @random-internet-user-4471, @falcon-arrows, @talranocchia2001, @wheresmyvodkabitch, @waywardprincess666, @malibubarbievince, @iluvmesomemarvelndc, @zoenicoles @vamprlestat, @supersoldierballerina, @primal-screamer@electradestiny, @marshbev, @n0-sh0rtage-0f-faults, @cruebaby, @ggorehorror, @valentines-in-london, @miss2001babe, @nassauartistm @emmaelizabeth2014, @cmft-jr-winchester, @bokkie92, @notworthyofyou1120 @xrosegoldwolfx, @cranberribread, @lauravic, @mgkobsessed, @chaoticvybe @kellysimagines @thoughtsoftheantagonist @marvelismylifffe, @meetthesixxter. @xpoisonousrosesx, @sleepyjunhong @lovemythsworld @sparxx27 @gingerspicetalks, @unknownoblivion, @love-struck-aries, @lavendersoundbarrier, @oskea93, @idumpyourgrass, @minxtruck, @i-want-to-shoot-myself, @xsixxx, @fentitrbl, @cruesixxlover1991, @kaitieskidmore1, @arianareirg, 

-May 14th, 1994-

 *Nikki’s POV*

I stepped into the tattoo shop on the strip, Greg, my tattoo artist immediately coming out from the back, “Hey man, you ready?” He questioned as he lead me through the shop and over to his area. I loved the smell of the sterile environment, the lights gave me a headache sometimes but it was tolerable. Some other dude was getting his leg worked on by another artist as he gave me a nod of acknowledgment. I pulled off my shirt and sat down in the leather chair.

We were gonna start filling in the octopus on my other shoulder that would lead down my arm alongside the Motley tattoo, flowers and the little Cupid figure I already had. It was also going to cascade down my chest as well.

I let my mind drift off as the buzzing from the machine started. The band was on a little hiatus at the moment. Music was still being produced, but just not at the speed I would like for us to be at. I guess everyone’s just tired or something. Vince has been using his free time with Sharise and Skylar and when he’s not with them he’s driving race cars. It’s a new interest of his clearly, I haven’t been to the track with him yet but I know Tommy has.

Mick has been off doing his own thing with Emi, they got married a few months ago so he’s off in la la land with her. I think she’s a total airhead but whatever. He’s happy so I’m happy for him.

Tommy is currently going through a separation with Heather but his ass isn’t even here to deal with it because he keeps jetting off to New York for some bitch he met. I remember when he told me, he said he was in love. Which honestly, isn’t the first time those words has came out of his mouth. It’s annoying though, he just takes off and doesn’t tell anyone where he’s going or how long he’s going to be away for. Whoever this chick is, she has him wrapped around her god damn finger and I hope Tommy knows what the hell he’s doing.

“You still got that?” I opened my eyes to look over at Greg as he wiped away the excess ink.

“Still got what?” I questioned as he chuckled, “That.” He pointed down to Vanity’s name.

“Yeah, so what?” I became defensive and pulled away from him before he brought the needle back down on my skin.

“What does your wife think of it?” He grinned as I rolled my eyes.

“She hates it and wants it covered up.” I admitted as I looked down at the cursive, rolling my eyes at the arguments Brandi and I had have over it.

“Shit, I would too if my lady had an old boyfriends name tattooed on her. I can cover it up if you want?” Greg suggested as he continued coloring in my shoulder.

I was quiet for a moment, “How would you cover it?”

He glanced at me, “Well, I could either black it out or we could put some roses over it or something like that. At least you’ve learned your lesson on tattooing someone’s name on you.” He laughed a bit as i shook my head.

“I don’t regret it, not one bit.” I expressed as he nodded.

“Where’s she at anyways? She skipped town on you?” Greg questioned as I nodded.

“I don’t know, and I don’t really care. Can we stop talking about her?” I demanded as he nodded.

“Say no more, Sixx.” He finally shut up and continued working on my shoulder as I sat there staring blankly at the tattoo flash art in front of me on the wall.

“So, how is Brandi? Did that little tattoo on her ankle heal okay?” Greg asked me as I smiled.

“Yeah man, she’s great. Thanks for doing that for me..but she’s good, we’re good. She’s at some photoshoot right now working.”

He nodded, “...Saw her playboy issue last month, you’re a lucky dog.” I chuckled at his words with a proud smirk on my face.

“Yeah, maybe I am. She’s hot ain’t she? Always got some swimsuit photoshoot poster on my mirror at a gig. Sometimes she’s naked, sometimes she’s not.”

Greg laughed, “Lucky bastard.” He shook his head before we continued tattooing.

After a few hours of a needle being driven in and out of my skin, we were finished. I stood in front of the mirror, checking it out, “Man, this looks so fucking sick. Thank you. I fucking love it.” I praised him as he continued to wipe it down. My eyes drifted down to my rib cage.

“So roses?” I asked him, pointing at her name as he nodded, “Yeah, I’ll free hand it. Draw one here, here and here. Maybe color it with some deep reds and purples. It will be like it was never there.”

“Let’s do it man.” I looked at him as he patted the seat again. I sat down and rested, feeling him take a marker as he started drawing on my skin.

It was time to get it covered up. To close the book on the Nikki and Vanity story. The trial and tribulations of two fucked up people trying to be together when they clearly don’t mash well with one another.

“Okay? How does it look, Nikki?” Greg asked, holding up a hand held mirror as he showed me. I nodded, “Looks good man. Let’s do it.”

*Flashback, Nikki’s POV*

I laid in bed with Vanity, hearing her soft breathing as her face nuzzled into my chest and her lips ever so softly pressing light kisses to my skin. I sighed in our embrace as I pulled her closer to me, that alone being impossible. Our legs were entangled together as we were wrapped around the burgundy sheets of our bed.

Her arm was slung around my waist, holding me tight, “I love you.” She mumbled to me as I kissed the top of her head, running my finger tips up and down her back.

Her fingernail traced her name on my skin as i squirmed under her touch, “Stop, that tickles.” I laughed a bit as she lightly pinched me instead.

“I didn’t think I’d actually like this, but I do. It’s like I own you now.” She chuckled, looking up at me as she propped her head up by her elbow.

“Own me? Kinda like how my band owns your ass?” I retorted raising an eyebrow as she rolled her eyes at me.

“That wasn’t my choice, and quite frankly I was taken advantage of while I was under the influence.” She pointed out, combing fingers through her messy bed hair.

I laughed a bit, reaching up to give her a kiss on the lips. “Taken advantage of? If I remember correctly, you laid there and took it like a champ. Which I mean, is usually what you do- Ow!” I let out a loud laugh when she punched me in the gut.

“So mean in the morning.” I mumbled, wrapping her up in my arms as I rested my head on her shoulder.

“We can always get it covered up if you want.” I suggested as she looked at me like I was crazy.

“What? No! I absolutely love my tattoo! I’m never getting it covered up! I’ll be an old lady in the nursing home flaunting it and telling all the other old ladies how much I partied with the worlds baddest rock band back in my hay days.” She explained with a laugh as she kissed my lips.

“And rolled around the bed with the lead singer, or wait was it the bassist- Ow! Nikki!” She groaned as I swatted her tattooed ass cheek.

“And I’ll tell all those old ladies how I got this groupies name tattooed on me.” I smirked as she rolled her eyes.

“Haha, so very funny.” She muttered before giving me another kiss, “As long as I’m your favorite groupie ever, that’s all that matters to me.” She whispered against my lips as they tugged into a smile.

“Shit, I don’t know baby. How am I gonna tell the other groupies that they aren’t my favorite?” I questioned as she swung her leg over my hips and straddled my waist.

“You’re gonna pull up your shirt, point at my name and tell them to come talk to me.”

*End Flashback*

I watched as Greg started bringing the the tattoo needle closer to my skin, “No! Wait! Wait!” I shoved his hand away as he stared at me.

“I don’t-I don’t want it.” I said, wiping off the purple drawing of roses from my skin, “I don’t, no I’m not getting rid of it. Not yet.” I panicked as I grabbed my shirt.

“Okay man, just relax. You don’t have to. Do it when you’re ready.” Greg smiled at me as I nodded, trying to catch my breath.

“I...does it make me a bad husband?” I mumbled, looking up at him as I put my shirt back on.

He didn’t answer me, instead he started cleaning up his station, “It doesn’t matter what I think Nikki. It matters to Brandi. I’m sure it hurts her feelings every time she sees it.”

I rolled my eyes as I put my sunglasses back on, grabbing my jacket and put it on too as I handed over some cash for him, “Till next time, man.” He nodded as I walked out the shop.

I shook my head, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I moved to the side of the walkway as someone with birthday balloons walked past me. I walked to my car before getting in and driving back home.

*Vanity’s POV*

“Happy birthday to you!!” We finished singing to Arianna as she smiled at the camera, “Blow out your candles, princess!” I cheered and she attempted to do so until I had to help her. I didn’t want to eat a toddlers spit riddled cake.

“Good job, baby!” I kissed the top of her head as Clementine snapped a few pictures.

“I want cake! And presents!” She shouted, giggling as I started cutting a piece off for her, handing it to her as she started eating it.

It was just me and Clementine celebrating her birthday. Mom had sent gifts from my siblings and herself. My grandparents had sent their separate gift which included paperwork for a future bank account when she’s way, way older. Tommy left gifts before leaving a few days prior to go back to California. But it was okay, by the smile on her face and high pitched laughter ringing through the house, her heart was full and that’s all that mattered to me.

I opened my mouth when she attempted to feed me a piece of her vanilla frosted rainbow cake, only to smear it all over my face, “Thanks Arianna, that is exactly what I needed.”

I glared at the camera when I heard the click, “Oh, that’s gonna be a good one.” Clementine smiles, “Good job Ari.” She reached out for a high five.

I wiped my face quickly before sitting down at the table and having Arianna crawl into my lap right after. She turned three today, even though it feels like she was just born yesterday. Now she’s walking everywhere and talking in broken up phrases. Shes Constantly telling me what color car passed us while we’re driving to the park. I signed her up for preschool which she will start later in the fall. Mom suggested it to me, that since she is getting a bit older and a hell of a lot smarter. Plus, it would give me a few hours of the day by myself.

I also wouldn’t have to worry too much about leaving Arianna with people I don’t know because Clementine works as a teachers assistant at the school she’ll be going to. So, I pulled some strings, signed a check and she was placed into the Butterfly class with Clementine.

“Mommy, open presents?” Arianna tilted her head to look up at me, her cheeks and nose completely covered in icing. I wiped her face as fast as I could before she started complaining and wiggling off my lap. She ran over to her mountain of presents as she pointed at all of them.

“I think she’s in overload, way worse then Christmas morning.” Clem pointed out as I agreed with her, smiling as Arianna started ripping open packages of pink and purple metallic foil with yellow bows.

“Well, what can I say? She’s spoiled.” Arianna ran up to me putting a Barbie in my lap, “Wow, Malibu beach Barbie? How cool!” She took the new toy away from me and ran back to all her presents.

“Just think, after going to preschool her next birthday party will include a whole bunch of screaming, drunk on sugary treats children running around your house.” Clementine giggled as I shook my head.

“Hell no, her parties will be outside from then on out. I love my kid, but I don’t want someone else’s kid touching my stuff with their dirty little sticky hands.”

We watched as Arianna tore through all of her presents, throwing the clothes to the side as her only focus was on the toys everyone had sent to her, “What did Uncle Tommy give you now?” I asked Arianna as she trotted up to me holding a stuffed bear. She handed it over as I looked at it. It was your simple fuzzy teddy bear, however it was wearing fake spiked cuffs around the wrist and a black shirt that read ‘Mötley Crüe’ and the bear even had tiny fake sunglasses on it.

I handed it back to her, smiling “We’ll have to call Tommy and say thank you, right Ari?” She nodded as she held the bear close to her chest.

“That’s sweet of him.” Clementine said, adding a swooning sigh as I rolled my eyes.

“Oh please, don’t act like that when you’ve been turning him down every chance you get, Clementine.” I barked back as she chuckled.

“Keeps things just a tad bit interesting, don’t you think? Plus, I haven’t turned him down. I have at least hanged out with him once every time he comes to visit.” She explained with a snarky laugh as I smiled back at her.

“Watch out Clem, he might get bored.” I chuckled as she gave me a frown.

“You really think he’d do that?” I glanced over at her, leaning back in my chair as I kicked my feet up on the table.

“God no, Tommy’s in it deep with you. He won’t stop till he has you. It’s only going to get worse from here on out. The flowers, the gifts, the cute little comments he makes that you say you hate so much.” I pointed out as I saw her cheeks turn a rosy pink.

“Plus, I think you kinda dig him too.” I shrugged, licking the frosting off my spoon as I wiggled my eyebrows.

“He’s sweet and everything, but I don’t know. He’s...you know...he’s-“

“A rockstar? He’s what?” I questioned, curious to what her answer would be as I glanced over at her.

“Well yeah, he’s Tommy Lee. He gets chicks all the time why would he want me?” She shrugged as I laughed at her words.

“Cause Clem, you’re fucking hot if you choose to see it or not. And Tommy is a man who loves to love women and you just happen to be in his eyesight right now.” I explained as she shook her head.

She sighed and looked at me, “Vanity, I know he’s going through a divorce. What if I’m just something to keep him busy? How do you know he isn’t just keeping me around cause he’s lonely?”

“He would’ve already taken you to bed if you were just something to keep him occupied.”

“And how could you possibly know that Vanity, what if-what if.” Clementine continued to express her worries.

I rolled my eyes, “You’re looking way to deep. I know Tommy pretty well and I’m positive he’s trying to take his time for like once in his life.”

She let out a huff as she picked up her paintbrush and started painting again, “I hope you’re right Vanity.”

I smiled, “I’m always right Clementine.”

*Fall of 1994, Vanity’s POV*

“Mommy! School time!”

I shot up to a sitting position, half asleep as i stared at Arianna who was at the foot of of my bed smiling at me. Her morning hair reminded me of Nikki’s.

I groaned, laying back down, “But I don’t want to go to school, princess.” I heard giggling as she crawled up onto my bed and sat at my side. I turned to look at her.

“No! Not for you! For me!” She said, grabbing ahold of my hand and trying to pull me up as she started jumping on the bed.

“It’s my first day of school, mommy!” She shouted with glee as I pretended to go back to sleep, “Mom! Wake up!” Her little tiny hands tried pushing me off the bed as I started laughing.

“Okay, alright. Let’s get up.” I rubbed my eyes, glancing to the alarm clock and seeing it was only six thirty in the morning. I was caught off guard when Arianna climbed onto my back and tightly wrapped her arms and legs around me.

“I had a dream about unicorns and, and they had wings made out of cotton candy.” She explained as I walked to the bathroom, her clinging to me like a monkey.

“Well that sounds super cool.” I chuckled, pulling her off me and setting her down on the floor. I brushed out her hair with minimal complaints and whining. She wanted it up in a ponytail with a neon green bow so I obliged.

She followed me to the kitchen, climbing up onto the dining table chairs as I quickly fixed up a bowl of Frosted Flakes and a sliced banana for breakfast before I started packing a lunch for her and making sure she had her backpack ready.

“I need to go potty!” She announced before running down the hallway. It was time for coffee.

After Arianna finished her breakfast, we went back to the bathroom so she could brush her teeth and finish getting ready. She lead me to her room and went to her closet to pick out clothes as I made her bed.

Arianna picked out jeans, light up shoes and a matching shirt to go with her bow, “You get dressed and go watch some cartoons, mom has to get ready.”

I went to my bedroom, opened up the curtains and straightened up my bed before getting dressed. I tugged on a pair of leggings and pulled a red hoodie on before slipping on a pair of flip flops. I quickly washed my face, brushed my teeth and threw my hair up into a messy bun.

I glanced out my door when I heard loud rock music playing, “Ari! That doesn’t sound like morning cartoons!” I took one last look at the mirror before leaving and going to the living room.

Nirvana’s ‘All Apologies’ was playing as Arianna was slowly head banging to the music. I sat down next to her, “You like this?” I questioned as she nodded.

“Yes! It’s cool!” She chimed as I nodded in agreement, “I guess you’re right.”

I closed my eyes as she kept babbling about something until I heard Vince fucking Neil’s voice on the TV. I opened my eyes to see their music video for ‘Anarchy in the UK’. I sighed deeply when Nikki appeared on the screen before glancing down at Arianna who was amazed by the music. At least she has somewhat of good taste for a toddler. Way better then cheery nursery rhymes on repeat all day.

“Mommy he broke his guitar!” She pointed, “Uncle Tommy?!” And there it was, she made the connection and now it’s time for the question game.

“Mommy! Uncle Tommy is on the TV! Why’s uncle Tommy on the TV? Why do they have long hair? Why do they sound mean? When’s uncle Tommy coming back? Is he going to bring me a toy? Are those uncle Tommy’s friends?”

I smiled down at her, “That’s uncle Tommy’s band. He’s a rockstar and he makes music with those other guys. They have long hair cause they like it And they don’t sound mean, baby. That’s just the type of music it is. It’s rock n roll. And I’m not to sure when he’s coming back, but he’ll let you know don’t worry.”

She giggled, “But only girls can have long hair.”

I shook my head, “No, boys can have long hair too, it’s not just a girl thing.” I corrected her as she nodded.

“Oh, okay! Can we go to school yet?” She questioned as I glanced over to the clock, it was about a quarter after seven.

“Yeah, let’s get a jacket on and we can go.”

After a small traffic jam and me almost loosing my shit with Arianna laughing at the situation in the back seat, we arrived at her preschool. I helped her out of the car as she quickly grabbed my hand as we started walking up the stairs. We walked down a hallway with doors and art work littered across the walls, some teachers gave us a smile while other moms dropping off their kids gave me glares.

I saw Clementine standing at the door greeting other kids as she saw us, “Auntie!” Arianna yelled, letting go of my hand and running to her.

“Hi pumpkin.” She said, picking her up and giving her a hug, “Morning sunshine.” Clem spoke to me as I sent her a glare. I’m just not a morning person.

I knelt down next to Ari, “You know, you can’t call auntie that here. You have to call her Miss Clementine while you’re at school..” I told Arianna as she nodded, “Okay.”

“...cause all the bitchy moms will complain about it.” I whispered to Clem as she giggled.

I walked into the class with them, seeing other kids playing with building blocks and some coloring with the teacher, Miss Jackie. Arianna handed me her jacket, backpack and lunchbox as I gave it to Clem and she immediately went over to a group of kids and started playing with them.

“She’s gonna be fine.” Clementine told me as I nodded quickly.

I was trying to keep the water works from coming, “Van, look at me.” She nudged my arm as I chewed on my bottom lip, staring at her.

“She’s going to be okay here, alright? She’ll be more then ready for kindergarten next year. It’s good for the both of you.”

I rubbed my eyes, “I know, I know.” I smiled when Arianna came over to me. I bent down and fixed her shirt.

“You be good okay? I’ll be back in a few hours and be nice to the other kids. And please share the toys.”

“You can go mommy.” She gave me a kiss and then ran back to her little friends.

“Mommy, you can go now.” Clementine snickered as I rolled my eyes.

I gave Clementine a quick hug before glancing at Arianna one more time before leaving the classroom. Is this how every first day of school is going to be like? My daughter telling me to go away while I am trying not to freak out? But school is good, and Arianna needs to grow mentally and socially.

I sighed as I walked out the door of the school and headed back to my car, “You know this is the unloading zone, right?” I turned around to see a platinum blonde haired woman.

“It’s unloading for a reason, not put it in park and take your child inside.” She continued to bitch at me as I stared at her.

“Lady, I didn’t know. It’s my daughters first day here so back off. There’s no sign saying it’s the unloading zone.” I retorted quickly as she stared at me, pushing her knock off Gucci sunglasses to the top of her head.

“There doesn’t need to be a sign, everyone knows it’s the unloading zone. What’s your name? I’ve never seen you before.” She questioned as I leaned against my car and stared at her.

“Vanity, what’s yours?” My voice oozed annoyance and I hoped it would give her the idea to back off, but she didn’t.

“Ginger Thomas, I run the PTA here.” She stuck out her hand, her nails were done cheaply too. I shook her hand and forced a smile.

“Cool, look I gotta-“ “Were having our annual back to school bake sale next week. We encourage all parents to join.”

I went from snorting rails of cocaine and banging rockstars to fucking being apart of the PTA? No thanks.

“Uh, yeah. Sorry. Me and Arianna have a lot going on next week.” I explained, when in reality there was nothing I just didn’t want to deal with the other moms.

“A child appreciates when the parents are involved, all studies show that.” She told me as I nodded.

“Yeah, Uh…I’ll make cookies for her on my own time. Thanks for the invite.” I smiled at Ginger before stepping into my car and driving away as quick as I could in a school zone.

I decided while Arianna was in school I was gonna stop by a few places and apply for a jab. I knew I would be bored with Arianna being at school for a portion of the day, so a part time job would be fun. I noticed a sign say Daisy’s Gentleman Bar and Grill off the side of a building. I parked my car and headed inside.

I walked through a small corridor before seeing a whole bunch of booths and tables surrounding a stage area that was covered by a red curtain. Not a whole lot of people were in here. Just a group of guys off in the corner smoking and laughing. I looked over at the bar, seeing no one behind it as I pulled out a barstool and sat down.

“Can I help you?” I turned around to see an older red headed woman wearing blue jeans, cowboy boots topped with a blue and red plaid shirt. It made me miss Texas for just a split second.

I stood up and stuck my hand out, “My names Vanity Blackwood and I was wondering if you were hiring for like a waitress or something like that.”

“Daisy Jackson.” She shook my hand before sitting down text to me, “A waitress? With a beautiful face like that you belong on stage.” I furrowed my eyebrows before the gentleman’s bar clicked in my head. I looked back over at the stage and put one and one together. It was a strip club.

“Oh, I don’t- no, I’m not a dancer or a stripper.” I chuckled as she nodded.

“Well no one is born a stripper, sugar. Do you have experience bar tending?” She questioned, but I shook my head.

“I have experience drinking, but not bar tending. I have a lot of experience as a waitress though. My last job, I practically ran the place when my boss wasn’t around.” I explained as she nodded and grabbed two waters for us.

“May I see your resume?” Daisy questioned as I stared at her.

I scratched the top of my head, “Um…I don’t have a resume. I’ve um, only had one job.”

She looked at me like I was strange, “You’re out job hunting and you don’t have a resume?” She let out a laugh, “Wow.”

I frowned, but she spoke up, “Tell me about yourself, Vanity.”

I nodded, “I um…I’m from Dallas but I lived in California for a while before I moved here. I have a three and half year old daughter. I was the head waitress and hostess at a diner in Los Angeles and all my customers always loved me. I’m rather nice and funny as I get along with pretty much anybody I meet. I really like shopping too..” I added a nervous chuckle because by the look on her face I couldn’t tell if she took me serious or not.

“What are your worse qualities?” Daisy questioned me.

“Um, my mouth gets me in trouble sometimes-“ Daisy let out a laugh, “Me too, sweetie.”

“And sometimes I loose my cool but I’m usually level headed. I’m really blunt and some people don’t like that as well.” I added on as she just nodded.

“So you could handle handsy drunks?”

I nodded, “Oh definitely. I have a lot of experience with that.” I blurted out as she tilted her head to the side in a confused manner.

“Uh…I mean…I use to party a lot so I know how people can get when they are extremely intoxicated.” I quickly added on as she nodded.

“Well, you have a cute little face and a interesting personality and I’m sure you’re trainable. Can you start tonight?”

My eyes widened, “Tonight? I would prefer hours during the day…” I trailed off as she smirked.

“If you can’t tell, we aren’t busy in the day. I don’t need another girl in the day time, only at night. Those are our busiest and best hours. You’ll be walking away with a lot of tips. The hours are from eleven to four in the morning when the bar closes.”

I thought about it for a moment. I’m sure I could find a babysitter for Arianna or I’m sure Clementine would be more then willing to stay the night.

“It’s only three days a week, so it’s not much. But you’ll make up for it in tips.” She continued as I shrugged.

“I don’t care about the money, but yeah. I guess I could start tonight.”

“Good, wear something sexy and I’ll see you at-“

“Hey Daisy! Where did you want these boxes again?” I looked over seeing a buzzed cut blonde haired dude holding a few boxes. I took a second glance when I saw his neck tattoo.

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t know you were talking to someone.” He smiled at me, eyes drifting down my body and then back to me, “Have we met?”

“Jason, this is Vanity. She’s gonna start working here tonight as a bartender. You can put those on the back counter for me. Vanity, this is Jason. He’s a bouncer here.”

I nodded, his eyes narrowing at me “You look so familiar.” He chuckled as he left the boxes where she had asked, “Hey, Paul is asking for you.” He told Daisy as she rolled her eyes.

“Never work with your husband. I’ll see you tonight Vanity.” She patted my shoulder and went to the back.

I turned my attention to Jason as he was already looking at me, “You don’t remember me do you?” I asked with a bit of a laugh in my voice.

He sat down next to me, smiling “As much as I love to remember pretty chicks, I’m afraid I don’t remember…”

I shook my head, “It’s okay. Um, we met at a club a while ago you Uh…you gave me blow.” I whispered that part to him as the wheels in his head started turning.

“Oh! At Ivys! That’s right, that blue haired chick and that guy who I swear was Tommy Lee barged in. You never called me.” He pretended to pout as I chuckled.

“Yeah, he gets that a lot.” I smirked, “Yeah sorry about that. That blue haired chick kinda threw a fit over me doing blow.”

He nodded, “Well, you’re here now. I’m looking forward to seeing you from now on.” Jason rested just hand on my lower back as I smiled at him.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

*Later that evening*

“A…strip club? Vanity, can’t you get a normal job?” Clementine questioned me as we sat at my dining table while she painted and Arianna watched cartoons.

“I’m just gonna be a bartender! Not a stripper it’s totally fine.” I retorted as she sighed.

“What are the hours? During school hours?” She questioned as I smiled and took a sip of my water.

“Well, thats what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s only eleven to four in the morning for three nights…so I was wondering if you would consider staying on those nights. I’d pay you of course.”

She looked up from her sketchbook, “Vanity, really? You took an overnight job? What am I suppose to do on those mornings when I have to be at the school?” She asked as I shrugged.

“I mean obviously you can sleep too. She sleeps during the night so I’m not worried about that. She’ll be good for you, you know that! And I’ll tell her I’m just going to work and I’ll be back before she wakes up.” I clarified as she sighed.

“Tonight?” She groans as I nodded, “Okay, okay fine I’ll be her babysitter.” I squealed and gave her a huge hug.

“I swear, you better not turn into like an alcoholic being a bartender or whatever.” 

[zi-i-think]

Hey everyone! I’m so sad to say that my chapter isn’t even close to done. I’ve been swamped with homework, studying, etc. Maybe enjoy this chapter of an old Mavel fanfic that I started but never continued. After Her Sun His Moon I might pick the idea back up, but only time will tell. Love you all lots! And hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Cleo (OC)

Rating: M

Word count: 2200+

~~~

       Boom!

       "I'm too young to die!"

       Bang!

       "What did I do to deserve this?... don't answer that."

       Bang! Bang! Bang!

       "Cleo, shut up and keep shooting!"

       "We're running out of ammo and there's no way we can get past all those guys!"

       There's nothing worse than getting shot at, by the people you once called family and shooting back at them with an odd band of people who tried to arrest you not too long ago. Might as well crawl back to the pits of hell and play poker with satan.

       "Damn it!" I grumble. I then proceed to throw my machine gun on the floor and slide further down the cover of the flipped taxi. "Out of bullets," I tell my partner who stands to my left and shooting from a gun of his own. I feel bad for the guy. No one forced us to be partners, let alone be willing to die for one another. Just a couple of months ago we hated each other's guts. Yet here we are. Firing bullets like rain falls from the sky in order to not let the other get shot.

       He furrows his eyebrow with a confused look, kneeling closer to me. "We're gonna get out of this, Cleo. I promise you." He assures me.

       I give him a sad smile as I place my hand behind his neck before pulling him down to kiss him. I don't know when or if I'd even see this man ever again. But, I really hope I do. It was a hungry and passionate kiss, but too short, even shorter than those damn hobbits. I pull away but he keeps his face no more than an inch from mine. "I love you."

       I don't give him a chance to react to the very sudden and magical words before slipping out of his grasp and emerge from behind the taxi. I create my triangular forcefield to prevent the bullets, not fast enough, though, since one skimmed my arm. I don't even realize it due to the adrenaline but-

       Too far into the story, my bad. In order for you to really know what all this is about, we need to start from the beginning of the weirdest time in my life. It started at McDonald's, actually.

       "Order for John Mulaney." The soulless employee announces in monotone. The name makes one head turn in the empty area, only for them to sigh in disappointment when John Mulaney did not come to this McDonald's. It was just me. A shit-hole of a person, having a normal night of eating fries and nuggets after an assassination job.

       I wanted the Happy Meal, but they refused to let me order that because I'm "too old". I'm not a motherfucking senior citizen like that Captain America, who looks good enough to, in fact, fuck the mothers of America.

       "Ugh." I gag, spitting my half-chewed nugget back into the box. Jesus, what do they put in this? Semen? I reach for my Frappuccino, the caramel one, of course, and take a sip in order to get rid of the not-even-close-to-chicken taste out of my mouth. And while setting the drink back on the table, the napkin that I used before now has black writing on it.

       I look around the barren restaurant, looking for a suspicious person. Only, I'm the only person here, other than a group of drunk college girls in the corner. It's only 11 pm, what are they doing back from whatever party they went to? That's pathetic. Looking back at the napkin, I pick it up to read it better.

(718)-334-7876

11:20 pm sharp.

       Probably someone looking to hire. But, why contact me with a napkin. A pigeon would be more practical. Alas, it's on a napkin. I've had people contact me discretely in many ways. A brick, calling through a phone, letters, notes on my motorcycle, but never on a napkin. I also don't understand why this person couldn't just come up and talk to me. The place is empty after all... Like my soul.

       My left-hand digs into my back pocket for my phone. Setting my hand lazily of the table with the phone resting in it, it lights up to read 11:18 over my black lock-screen with the words "Fuck off" in bold, white letters in the middle. He did say 11:20 sharp. Should I wait the extra two minutes? No, I'm too impatient and also don't give any fucks.

       My fingers dial the number as written and press the call button. Tapping my fingers on the table rhythmically as the phone rings. I hope it's a politician job. Better yet, one who doesn't believe in climate change! Putting a bullet through one of their thick heads can be fun and stress-relieving.

       "You called too early." A raspy and familiar voice on the other side appears.

       "It's 11:20 somewhere in the world." I quip, plopping a fry in my mouth. "Now, what's the point of this call, Frank?"

       "My name isn't Frank." He gruffs.

       "Luke?" I guess again.

       "Cl-"

       "I know what your name is." I interrupt him, leaning back in my chair with a cocky smirk. "It's Gandalf, right?"

       The other line is silent while I lightly snicker to myself. I know I can be a little... much. But what's a little pestering, right? I was never that good at socializing, though. I have what you call "people-problems". Simply put, I don't like people too much and they don't like me in return. Which is why I make such a great business partner.

       "Cleo, we have a job for you." Right we're back to that.

       "How was your brief vacation, Frank?" Silence. Again. The fact that I am still alive despite getting everyone to hate me is astonishing. Really, I have made so many enemies just by talking. Whether it be by calling them a nasty word or confusing their gender, I can always offend someone. Even with the simplicity of calling this man Frank.

       "Can you be professional for once?" He lets out a breathy plead. "It wouldn't kill ya."

       "No, it wouldn't kill me." I sigh in agreement. "but it does take the joy out of things, such as killing others. Which is why you called."

       "Come to the house and you'll be given all the information."

       "Woah Woah Woah Woah." I raise my eyebrows as I interrupt my little acquaintance for this millionth time during this one phone call. "Woah. You think I'm actually going to take this job?"

       "Come on, Cleo." I roll my eyes already as I reach for my frappuccino for another long sip. "It's been over a year now and-"

       "Ahhh." I hiss, my left hand find their way for my forehead and shut my eyes up tightly. This pain. One of the worst a person can get, no later how trained and pain tolerant I get, I can always feel this pain.

       "Cleo?" Not-Frank's raspy voice is sounded through the phone. "Cleo, are you alright?" Worry? Coming from not-Frank? The last time that's been a thing was a couple of years ago when I almost threw him off a building. If your wondering about that, well long story short, there was a lot of suspicion between the families and not-Frank got caught in the middle of a lot of things.

       "Yep," I grunt, finally removing my hands from my forehead. "Damn. Been shot multiple times and a brain-freeze will always be one of the worst pain I will ever experience. Now, what were we discussing? Oh right. The fact that I am 100 percent done with you guys."

       "You know, you're lucky to be alive. The Boss never lets anyone leave and you were somehow able to waltz right out the door. Tell me, Cleo. How did you really get out." His voice was beginning to sound like a snake. It was low and airy, just the right amount of that lovely threatening tone that people get so scared of.

       "Well I didn't really 'waltz' out of the door, I'm not much of a dancer. It was more of a strut, really."

       "Dio mio." He mutters under his breath. I presume he is also burying his face in his hand at the moment.

       "You don't believe in God, Frank." I playfully scold him. "Oh, while I have you on the phone I need to ask you something. So, if you ran a night club and you were about to be assassinated by a quite gorgeous female. Would you prefer to be killed with a jagged or smooth knife?"

       "Cleo–"

       "Cause the smooth ones are a bit faster, but for some reason, they spray more blood and I was planning on wearing a new coat I bought. And the–"

       "Just shut up and listen to me!" He snapped, the sound of his fist banging on the table clear, even through the phone. My mouth still hangs open as a sort of offended look becomes present on my face. Most people know better than to raise their voice at me since I've been known to be a little violent to those who disrespect me. Though, this instance was different because of one: if you haven't noticed, not-Frank and I aren't even in the same room. And two: I know that the boss is probably waiting for not-Frank to return to his office and let him know that I'll be one my way. And when the boss requests you to do something, there's a lot of pressure to get it done fast.

       Both sides of the phone are dead silent as I wait for the man to start talking again. Maybe ten seconds after the outburst, I hear a low murmur from not-Frank. "So she can be quiet." I bite down on my tongue, hard, to stop myself from making a snarky comment. "Don Caruso is hoping that you can come over to the house."

       I scoff. Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. Don't get me wrong. I want to say no. After all, when I left, I was hoping to leave behind the whole mafia sha-bang, too. But I know a few things. Like the fact that I will be getting paid pretty nicely for this. And also the fact that business has been a bit slow lately and being able to tell clients that the New York crime boss practically begged to hire me will boost my independent business.

       "Give me a couple of hours to get there," I tell him. "And make sure that statue in the front yard is covered up with a sheet or something. The horse's eyes freak me out." Hanging up the phone, my jewelry barren hand grabs the yellow tray with all the greasy food as I stand and throw it all away in the trash.

       I take a couple of steps out the door and stop. My senses heighten and my head turns to look to my left. The light from inside the restaurant is what allows me to get a somewhat good look at the homeless man walking on the sidewalk with a slight limb from his left leg. The man's dark beard is disheveled and I can only assume that his hair is pulled back but with the gray hood over I'm not completely sure. Something about him felt off. And when you're in my kind of business, you learn that your intuitions are usually right.

       The man wears old blue jeans, a grey hoodie with another red jacket over it, and black tennis shoes, which isn't out of the ordinary when it comes to homeless people. What is out of the ordinary is that his nails are pretty clean and his clothes, while they were old, were in the okay condition. Meaning there aren't any holes, rips, dirt or stains. It was like it was just bought at a thrift store.

       I begin walking with purpose in his direction, pretending not to notice him until I bump into him roughly. He loses his balance and falls on his knees as I turn in 'shock.' "Oh my goodness," I gasp. "I am so sorry." I reach down, my right-hand grabs his right arm as I help him off the ground. Discretely while doing this, I slide his sleeve up, getting a glimpse of a high tech watch. "You know, impersonating the homeless is really disrespectful."

       Not a second after that sentence falls from my lips, a gun is pulled out from the man's hoodie and he points it straight at me. Where from his hoodie? I don't fucking know. What I do know is that I was tracked by none other than the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

       S.H.I.E.L.D.

       I was tracked by S.H.I.E.L.D.

[ketopian]

Putting Your Money Where Your Research Is

So my wife and I are starting a business selling all the Ketogenic Diet related things that we wish there was already a website for. We've been eating keto for a couple of years now and it has had a huge impact on our health and our lives. My wife has lost a huge amount of body fat and overcome multiple metabolic issues and I've been able to stop taking immunosuppressants for Crohn's Disease and am now completely drug free. We both have hugely increased energy levels. There are loads of great Keto and Low Carb blogs in the world, so I thought long and hard about writing yet another one, but I thought that a) it might help me to get more clarity on certain issues b) give me reason to experiment a bit more with my meals, as I've gotten a bit lazy of late and everyone loves a recipe, and c) force me to consolidate all I have learned from reading various bits of scientific literature in relation to nutrition, which is something I do a lot given my past as a scientist, engineer and science teacher. While my background isn't medicine, I have spent the last few years educating myself on biochemistry. This was originally to help my wife with various issues (many of which a plan to go into at a later date), but I quickly discovered that there was a lot more I could learn.   

I, like most scientifically minded or "sceptical" (there's a word that's been seriously corrupted by the internet) people, thought I knew all there was to know about nutrition: a calorie is a calorie, an energy deficit is all you need to lose weight, and no, you aren't fat because of your hormones. I went at least a little further than most; I understood how digestion worked and that starches ended up as glucose in the body, a message some medical professionals still seem to have trouble with. Nonetheless, it came as a shock to me when all this stuff didn't seem to work for my wife. I was seeing how little he was eating, how hungry she was getting and how difficult it was for her to shift those fat stores. Her pregnancy was a major turning point. PCOS had been mooted before but it was never confirmed until a scan ended up with the radiographer saying “Your ovaries look a little polycystic to me”. This was followed a number of weeks later by a diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes, accompanied by the standard advice – eat regular meals (six per day plus snacks) and make sure you have loads of carbohydrate at each – accompanied by the offer of medication. Well, we were both determined that that wasn’t going to happen, so I set about researching, which is what I do best (well, one of two things, but we’ll come to the other much later). The obstetricians could not believe her blood sugar readings – they were better than most non-diabetics. One of them even asked to see the glycometer, as such low readings could not be possible. How did we do it? By ignoring all the advice we were given, reducing carbohydrates to a very low level (although not keto levels at that point) and using a small number of carefully researched supplements. We didn’t mention the supplements to any medical professional; we had enough patronising advice from them, but it was following the science that allowed my wife to avoid medication and to produce a daughter who was born incredibly healthy and with a great start in life.

I don’t want to criticise the medical community too much, most of them are only trying their best, but there is a certain amount of arrogance which tends to come with being a doctor, which often is not concomitant with their intelligence or knowledge. Just as in any other field of endeavour, ability as a medical practitioner is on a bell curve. In other words, there are a few who are fantastic at their jobs, a few who are truly awful, and most are pretty much middling in ability. I’ve taught students who became doctors, and if I were ever given an appointment with them, I’d run a mile! Most doctors follow the guidelines, and it’s a lottery as to whether you get to see the occasional few who do enough research in the right areas to go beyond that. If we educate ourselves to a high enough level, we may be able to help our doctors to help themselves and then eventually to help everyone else.

So back to the story. So this whole pregnancy episode got me really intrigued. Was everything I knew actually complete bullshit? I had spent around close to 300 hours during Hayley’s pregnancy reading papers and getting familiar with the biochemistry and biology of nutrition, and countless more hours not sleeping but thinking about what I had read. It completely changed my attitude to my own knowledge. It had also deeply concerned me. How could everyone have been so wrong on this for so long? Well, it turns out that they absolutely could be, and the reasons are complex and too long for now (stay tuned for a post on this precise subject), but there was something else that intrigued me.

I have Crohn’s Disease. For those of you who don’t know, Crohn’s Disease is an autoimmune disease of the gastrointestinal tract. What this means is it causes inflammation, ulceration and pain, anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is essentially when your own immune system decides that your gut is a foreign object and therefore needs destruction. My own Crohn’s was mainly confined to the colon, although I also got very large and painful mouth ulcers. Crohn’s is usually treated with steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, which damp down the immune system, and a more recent sort of therapy called biologic therapy. I had been a biologic many years ago, but I was fairly lucky in that I was OK on just anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressants, however the immunosuppressants were not pleasant. I got every illness going. If I got a cold, I had it bad for two weeks, including having to spend a day or two in bed. I had got to the end of my tether; there had to be another way.

Enter ketone bodies. So if you know anything about ketogenic diets you probably know that when you restrict carbohydrates enough that your body starts to use fat to create substances called ketone bodies, the most important of which for human metabolism is a chemical called Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Well, it turns out BHB has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. “Aha,” I thought to myself,” This might be worth a go”. It was. I had tried to come off medication several times previously, under medical supervision, of course. Always, within about six weeks, I would have a serious and painful relapse. Not this time. I bit the bullet, stopped my medication (this time without telling any medical professionals) stopped the carbs and waited, fully expecting the usual relapse. It’s now been two years drug free and I have never felt better. I would go as far as to say I have no symptoms of Crohn’s. While I would hesitate to say all Crohn’s sufferers should do this, especially the way I did it, it might be worth a try if you’ve had enough of the side effects of your drugs, or if you can’t get any relief and just want an extra bit of help. With medical supervision, of course. It might also be worth a try if you have any other autoimmune disorder, such as ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus and maybe even multiple sclerosis. Please don’t take this as medical advice but try to educate yourself and your medical practitioners as much as possible on this subject. If you want any help in this endeavour please let me know.

Well, this has been a long and rambling story, but we’re almost up to date. Since my discoveries I have helped a number of friends and family members send their type 2 diabetes or prediabetes into remission, lose weight and become healthier, both physically and mentally. My wife is slimmer, healthier and feels generally better. I didn’t even realise I had fat to lose but the recent appearance of my abdominal muscles seems to confirm that I actually had a fair bit to get rid of. All by getting rid of refined sugar, starchy carbs and the vast majority of processed foods, and getting BHB levels up. Do I think that everyone should be doing keto? Absolutely not. Everyone’s biology is unique – some people will respond fantastically to a ketogenic diet, some people will get less than nothing from it. But for those for whom it works it is life changing. Hopefully via the website, this blog and the planned videos we will be able to help more people get what they need out of this incredibly powerful dietary intervention. 

TL;DR: For lots of people Ketogenic Diets are awesome. Welcome to Ketopian.

[xmagicxshopx]

Kill Me, Save Me - Prologue

Genre: Fantasy Adventure, Romance, Comedy Rating: PG-13 Warnings: brief smut and light swearing Pairing: Jungkook x reader, Jimin x oc, Taehyung x oc Notes: pirate!bts au. Not idol!bts. Same goes for EXO. Single quote marks ‘ ‘ are for thoughts and double “ “ are for talking. Additional Notes: So I personally don’t swear or curse so writing some of this was awkward for me. XD

Summary: You’re not just one of the seven legendary pirate lords, but you’re also the captain of the only all-female pirate crew to sail the seven seas. You’ve spent years pillaging and plundering. But now your time is up. A curse. There’s only one thing that can save you. A great treasure. But what happens when Bangtan are after the very same thing?

SERIES MASTERLIST

“Well look who’s here. Decided to stop by, did you?”

“Go away, V. I’m not in the mood.”

“So to what do I owe the greatest pleasure of having your lovely presence in my tavern?”

The raven haired female groaned audibly in annoyance as she sat there hunched over with a glass half full in her hand. No one knew her real name but she went by Crow. She earned the nickname because of her beautiful long black hair and the way it was styled and cut.

Right now all she wanted to do was fly away. The male beside her, who went by V, never failed to get on her last nerve. Even his nickname ticked her off. He claimed it meant V for Victory. Pfft. As if. With a roll of her eyes, the female knocked back the rest of her drink only to have the annoying owner so very kindly order her another round. He once again tried to start up conversation.

“Where’s your captain?”

“Find Jungkook and you’ll probably find her.”

“And Sunny?”

“Probably off somewhere with Jimin. Who knows. I’m not their keeper.”

“My my. Someone’s awfully cranky tonight.”

“You make me cranky, V.”

“Ouch. I’m hurt.”

“Not sorry.”

The two pirates sat there in silence but it didn’t last nearly long enough for Crow’s liking. She wanted to scream in frustration when his annoying voice sounded in her ear once more.

“So then you’re probably not gonna share any gossip with me?”

“If you’re referring to the map, my lips are sealed. I’m not betraying my captain like that.”

“Come on, babe. Betrayal is such a strong word. And besides, I’d protect you from her girly wrath.”

“You underestimate us, V. How very foolish of you.”

“Not budging are you?”

“Nope.”

“Soooo.....then that’s probably a no on the sex too, right?”

Needless to say, Crow made that last drink he ordered for her count. For as she so casually walked towards the exit to his tavern, she couldn’t help but smirk back at his dumbfounded expression; hair dyed a peachy color falling in his face and over his perfectly circular glasses (that he didn’t even need mind you). Drenched in his own alcohol.

The Black Crow was no pushover.

Meanwhile.......

“Just----”

A thrust causing your back to hit the door particularly hard.

“Tell me----”

Another delicious thrust that had you moaning while you clawed at his clothed back.

“Where it----”

A thrust that had you seeing stars in front of your eyes and a scream of his name to fall from your lips.

“Is!”

However, no matter how good Jungkook was, you weren’t about to give in just because of some steamy sex. A quickie. It was always a quickie with him. Not that you minded. Sex was sex; simple as that. Just a raw good time that left both parties feeling amazing. A win-win for all. But it never stopped the young male from using it against you to get other things he wanted.

“I’m not----”

A moan cut you off when he started rubbing figure eights on your clit. Dear god he was killing you now. Knowing all your weak spots after so many.....escapades.

���Telling you----”

A particularly loud cry of pleasure turned your voice hoarse as you suddenly threw your head back to where it collided with the door. He was now attacking not only your bundle of nerves, but now the sweet spot on your neck.

“Shit!”

And suddenly, Jungkook stilled and the rum cellar grew silent. Of course aside from the mixture of heavy breathing. It was true, while V and Crow were up on the main floor of the tavern, Jungkook and yourself had slipped away from the drunken crowd and rushed for the closest door. The rum cellar.

This had been going on for quite a few years now. Running into each other, hooking up, then going back to hating each other’s guts. You were on opposite sides. Enemies. You had your crew and he had his. Granted Jungkook wasn’t the captain but still.

“Was that ‘shit’ as in ‘holy shit Jungkook fuck me harder’ or were you literally telling me you’re not gonna tell me shit?”

“What do you think, genius? Now keep going. I’m almost there.”

“What makes you think I’m gonna let you finish?”

“What makes you think I can’t finish myself?”

You smirked and clenched your walls around his member with purpose; jerking a moan out of him. He always felt so good inside you. He was the perfect length and size. Despite being enemies, the two of you fit together like perfect puzzle pieces. But you were starting to get frustrated with your partner. His stilled hips causing you to lose that high you were so very close to reaching.

“Move, Jeon.”

“Tell me where the map is first.”

“Never.”

Sex had now turned into a glaring contest. Jungkook having parked you up against the door to the cellar with your arms and legs around him; his length buried inside you to the hilt. Your walls squeezing around him; silently pleading him to move and continue. The both of you were only half dressed but Jungkook swore one of these days he would properly bed you. Pfft. Yeah right. Fat chance of that happening.

“You’re lucky you feel so good around my cock, Captain.”

And just like always, you got what you wanted.

Meanwhile.......

Two young souls hid in the shadows of a cove just a few feet away from where your ship was parked. Their heads were together to where foreheads were touching. Hands reaching up and fingers entwining with a loving touch. Soft whispers were exchanged meant only for each other to hear.

“I missed you so much, Sunny. It feels like it’s been ages.”

“I know, Jiminnie. I missed you too. I thought about you every day.”

“And I thought of you. Hoping and wishing to see you again. What brings you here anyway?”

“I’m not gonna pretend that I know what goes on in that head of the Captain’s but I have a pretty good guess.”

The two chuckled as their theory remained silent. But Jimin understood all the same. It didn’t matter to him what the reason was for this blessed visit. He just wanted to make the most of it. For the girl in front of him was his whole world.

Shame they rarely got to see each other.

“I wish we didn’t have to be enemies.”

“I know......I hate it. Why can’t we all just get along? Share the sea and all it’s treasures?”

“We both know it doesn’t work that way, beautiful.”

Sunny’s frown was so deep that it caused her face to wrinkle. But in Jimin’s eyes, she was always beautiful. No matter what. He hair could have been messy from sea water and everything else but no matter what, she was absolutely gorgeous. Lifting her hand up to press gentle kisses to her knuckles, he spoke softly yet sadly,

“We don’t have much time left. I should get back before they start looking for me.”

“It feels like we just got here. I don’t want to say goodbye so soon.”

“Hey hey. It’s okay. We’ll see each other again soon. Yeah?”

He hated seeing her cry. The whole reason her name was Sunny was because she was like a ray of sunshine. Literally. Wherever she went, it was like the sun itself was shining. So naturally it killed him to see any kind of tears falling down her beautiful face. Holding her close, he soon started peppering butterfly kisses all over her face to try and help dry up the tears as well as make her giggle.

And it worked.

After tying up ‘loose ends’ and restocking on a bit of supplies, the girls were all back on the ship with the rest of the crew. All females. It made your chest swell with pride. This was your ship and your crew. You built everything from the ground up. Found the baddest, toughest women out there. Well most of them. Sunny was your soft spot. But there was no way you were going to get rid of her. No. She was precious to you in every way. You loved every member of your crew.

You stood in your Captain’s Quarters with Crow standing behind you. Crow was your first mate and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Staring at yourself in the elegant full length mirror, you couldn’t help but take in all the hickies Jungkook had left on your neck and collarbone areas. He was a biter but so were you.

“So he still doesn’t know the map was right under his nose?”

“Nope. V doesn’t know, right?”

“Never said a word.”

“Good.”

Crow couldn’t help but frown in sadness as she stared at her captain’s bare back. It took up her whole backside. A tattoo of a treasure map to an outsider, but to anyone who knew about it, a curse. Her captain’s curse. Something she was born with. It was the female’s voice full of command that had Crow snapping out of her sad thoughts.

“Read it again for me....please.”

“It says we need to head west.”

“Then we’re sailing west.”

[deadlytales]

My Worst Motel Experience Ever

(By PocketOxford, via Reddit, her Facebook)

Last year, my best friend Ally and I went on this great American roadtrip, trying to ski in as many states as possible in the month we had taken off from work. We did a lot of skiing, a lot of driving, and a lot of sleeping on various couches, truck stops, and of course, in motels. Most motels were fine. Some had great free breakfasts, some had dirty hot tubs that left us scrubbing ourselves in the shower and joking about getting pregnant from the water, some had weird stains we tried not to think about, some were spotless but cold, a few were amazing. Only one was terrifying.

We stopped at the motel around 10:30 after a long day of skiing followed by a good six hours of driving. We were tired and sore and ready for bed. We had made some wrong turns, and were not exactly sure where we were. We didn’t want to use data on our Canadian phones, so we were navigating old school with a map. It was mildly unsuccessful, but we were pretty sure we had a few more hours of driving until the next town, and we were not looking forward to it. So when we saw the glorious neon sign that blinked “Motel” and “Vacancy” at us, we didn’t need to say anything. We both knew that was where we were staying for the night.

As we pulled up in front of the office, I noted that we were the only people staying there. I told myself that it wasn’t creepy, we were stopping close to a summer tourist spot midwinter, of course there would be an excess of rooms. In fact, we should consider ourselves lucky that they were open at all. It was definitely not creepy.

We entered the office, and a shrill little bell announced our entry to the world. We waited for someone to come to the front desk. Then we waited a bit longer. We shared looks with lifted eyebrows, and tapped our fingers impatiently on the desk.

“Hello?” Ally called out in the silence. “Somebody here?”

We waited a few more minutes, then the door behind the counter slowly opened. An old man poked his head out, spotted us, and his face split into a wide grin.  

“Guests!” He said. “You know, I thought I heard something, but I told myself it was just my imagination. Just my imagination. We don’t get a lot of visitors around this time. And two beautiful young ladies too. Ah. I’m sorry I kept you waiting. I just couldn’t believe that I had such luck. Welcome welcome welcome welcome welcome.”

He was certainly an odd duck, but I used to work long lonely night shifts, I know how excited you get when something happens.

“So, travel weary strangers, can I offer you a bed to rest your head?” He smiled.

“Yeah, how much is a double room?”

He looked at us, grin not wavering.

“$99 for two beds. $79 for one bed.”

I was ready to splurge for the two beds. Ally moved a lot in her sleep, and hogged the covers. Last night she had kept waking me up.

“Let’s do two beds.” I looked at her pleadingly.

She gave me a quick look filled with annoyance.

I looked back at the man. His grin had faded. He looked as annoyed as Ally for a moment. When he noticed me looking at him, his grin snapped back into place.

“Ah, actually, it seems we only have the one bed rooms ready. I’m so sorry.”

“Wait, what?” I couldn’t help but burst out. “There are like no people here!”

“Oh, yes, that is the problem, isn’t it. Sometimes we don’t keep all the rooms prepped in winter. Saves costs, you know.”

I considered that. It didn’t make sense at all, but I was too tired to argue.

“You know what, for such pretty ladies, I give you a discount. How about $69 for the one bed room?”

“We’ll take it!” Ally responded before I had time to think. “Thank you! We can pay by card, right?”

“Ah, no, I’m afraid not. We don’t – well, we never got around to that modern stuff. Gotta stay off the grid, right? Haha!” He laughed at his own joke. I shuddered involuntarily.

We had cash. It was fine. He was creepy, but we were tired. We paid, got the keys, and drove up and parked in front of the room. I grabbed my stuff from the car, unlocked the door, and surveyed the room. It looked clean enough, the bed was big, and I was tired as hell.

“Hey, I’m gonna go for a little walk, actually. My legs are so stiff.” Ally said from behind me. “Wanna come?”

I eyed the bed. It looked too comfortable. Ally had a good point, but that bed was speaking to me.

“Nah, I’ll just shower and crash.”

“Ok, cool. I won’t be very long.”

She turned and left. I slammed the door shut behind me, and stripped out of my clothes as fast as I could. I jumped in the shower, and the luxurious feeling of hot water run down my body. I had to force myself to get out. I went into the room, put on my PJ’s, and laid down on the bed. Ally wasn’t back yet, but her nighttime strolls sometimes lasted as long as an hour, even when she was this tired. She had a hard time falling asleep, and those walks apparently helped.

I got my phone out, and tried connecting to the wifi. It didn’t work. I immediately got annoyed. Not because I really needed the wifi, but because I had paid for it, and I wanted it.

So I just laid there, getting annoyed, glaring at the ceiling fan. It was a weird model, something black sticking out from the bottom. I had never seen that before. I wondered idly what it did.

Then I thought about how we were the only people staying here, how Ally was walking somewhere alone in the dark, how I didn’t know where she was, how creepy that guy had been when he laughed at his joke about staying of the grid. Then the familiar feeling of fear started creeping into my guts. I knew where my mind was going. I have an overactive imagination, I tend to turn every situation into a horror movie in my head. It’s a real problem in my dating life. I think most guys are serial killers. Ally always makes fun of me for it.

I thought about how the guy had offered us two beds, and then refused to give it to us. Did he want us in this room specifically? Why? He probably had some creepy fantasy of two young girls sharing a bed. Urgh. I shook my head, trying to stop my mind from spinning out of control. I go of the bed, and went over to the huge mirror on the wall. I got my hair out of the towel, and started brushing it. I couldn’t quite get rid of the uneasy feeling at the pit of my stomach. I knew I wouldn’t sleep well that night.

For some reason, I thought of the one way mirror scene in Cabin in the Woods. God, why do I watch horror movies? They always come back to me at the worst times. So creepy. I vaguely recalled that there’s a way to check if it’s a real mirror. What was it again? You touch the mirror, and if there’s no gap between your finger and the mirror finger, it’s fake?

I touched the mirror. There was no gap. I could see my eyes widening in fear in the mirror.

No wait, that can’t be it, I tried to reason with myself. That’s ridiculous. This is fine. We’re fine. It’s gotta be the other way around. But maybe…

I realized I could check the bathroom mirror. It was one of those medicine cabinet mirrors, that one was clearly real.

I walked slowly into the bathroom. Please be the same, please be the same, please be the same, I muttered. I wiped the fogged mirror, took a breath, and slowly pressed my index finger against the surface. Ice filled my veins. A gap. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind. We needed to get out of there. Where was Ally? I felt panic bubbling. I needed to get out of there. Ok. But play it cool. They could be watching. Who the hell are they? I can’t let them know I know. I have to get out of here.

The black thing on the fan. My breath caught in my throat. It had to be a camera.

I went back into the bedroom, and started putting my stuff back in my little bag. I hoped it looked innocent enough. Maybe we wanted an early start, right? Maybe I had OCD and liked all my stuff in my bag. It was fine. I went to put the bag in the car. I turned the doorknob.

It didn’t move.

I tried to stay calm, not to panic. They could be watching.

Maybe it was jammed. I tried the handle again. Nothing. I used all my force. Nothing.

I got my phone out, figured I’d text Ally, call the police. Something.

No signal. I wanted to cry. I looked around the room for a window. For the first time, I noticed they had bars in front of them. I’ve seen that before, of course. It’s a safety precaution, my ground floor apartment in the city also had them. So that people can’t break in. I had never before considered that they also very effectively stopped people from breaking out.

I figured the door must unlock from the outside only. Once you’re in the room, you’re stuck there. I pinned all my hopes on that idea. Ally would come back, unlock the door, and we’d get out of there.

The next ten minutes were the longest of my life. I kept trying to come up with a plan, with something, but my mind was drowned in adrenaline. Finally I heard steps outside.

Ally was back!

I got up, standing right next to the door. She put the key in the lock, turned it, and it opened.

“Ally, get in the car right now.” I said as I pushed her out of the room.

“W-what? Why?”

“Fucking camera in the room.” I hissed as I pushed her back.

Her eyes went wide, and she immediately obliged. I unlocked the car, threw my bag in the back, and we both jumped in.

The door to the adjacent room burst open, and the old man came running out. He slammed his hands on the hood, as if to try to hold us back with his bare hands.

We both screamed as I skidded out of there.

Even in my panic I could see several shapes behind him, in the room. He had not been alone.

I just kept driving, praying that they weren’t following us.

“We have to call the police.” Ally said after an hour of driving. “We have to.”

I nodded.

She used her precious data to find the number of the local sheriff’s office, and called them up. Only heard half the conversation.

“Hey, I want to report a – an almost crime, I’m sorry, I’m not quite sure what –”

“No sir, it’s not a joke.”

“We were staying at this motel, and there was a … a camera.”

“And one of those one way mirrors!” I interjected.

“What?” She turned to me.

“Yeah, tell him!”

“And a one way mirror. And the door didn’t unlock from the inside.” She said, looking to me for confirmation. I nodded.

“And there were people in the room behind that mirror, too.”

Her eyes went wide in fear as she repeated the information. Then she described the location of the motel.

“Yes.”

“Mm, no.” She sounded uncertain.

“We’ve been skiing.” She frowned.

“Yeah?”

“No, that’s fine, we’d rather not.”

I looked at her quizzically.

“No really, we’re already out of state. We just wanted to let you know.”

She abruptly hung up.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know, he wanted us to come back and give a statement.”

“Shouldn’t we?”

She didn’t say anything for a little while. “I don’t know, I got a really bad vibe. I just, let’s not, please? And small town American sheriff’s office? That’s like totally how you die in the horror movies.”

“We’re not in a horror movie though.”

“Aren’t we?”

I shrugged. I wasn’t really stoked on the idea of going back either. Frankly, I was still worried that they were following us. I really didn’t want to get pushed off the road by some psycho hillbilly motel manager. And we had told the police, we had done our part. Or so I thought.

But yesterday, there was a story in the news about a three young girls going missing. They were roadtripping. In that area. Never made it back to Seattle.

I can’t help but wonder if they stopped at that same motel. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Ally didn’t take that walk. If we both got locked in that room. What the people in the other room expected. What they were gonna do. If they’d just watch, of if … well, if Ally and I could have been that missing persons story.

[manfredds]

i’m having them biracial blues and this is 100% a rant about my life written in some weird ass...i dont know man, i got up in my feelings and it’s hardly coherent but

gif credit, cuz i couldn't get it in the actual gif adder thing

i dont think ill ever forget schoolyard taunts about my thick, black body hair. or that my eyes were demonic because if the light didn’t shine just right, they could almost be black. or that my eyebrows were too big and oh they can see a little bit of hair connecting between them. i never forgot when the girls who were supposed to be my friends started calling me broccoli nose because it’s wider than theirs, you see. or when the boy i had a crush on and a boy who’d always been my friend decided that instead of friend, i should be their yard workers or maids or harvesting their food but its funny ha ha cuz that’s what mexicans do! i wont forget that my hair was boring and why is there so much of it? why is it frizzy? “because i dont have that problem!” said the girl with strawberry hair. and the color! black, but just shy of the inkiness that is beautiful.

i won’t forget that my skin was brown or that the little girl i ran into at toys-r-us, excited and chatty because she’s a friend i thought, walked away with her mother berating “you didn’t tell me she was mexican!” as i stand next to my red-haired, light skinned cousin. i wont forget that no one could say my name proper and it was never worth the effort to try and it didn’t matter if they’d known me for years because it was too foreign on their tongue and it didn’t matter. but heaven forbid i didnt properly pronounce theirs because “its not that hard!!!!” it’s only hard when its attached to someone like me, right? even when it comes from europeans just the same, forced onto my people like the blood of theirs in my veins as a result of their violence.

i’ll never forget thinking my abuser of seven years was so beautiful, right to the very end. i wont forget being eight years old and fighting against fear every time i saw her but going all the same because she was all golden hair and ocean eyes and certainly that means shes good. even as she tells me to shave my hands, my stomach, get rid of the nasty hair that makes me look like an ape. even as she tells me my mouth is too big, my lips look like they’ve been stung. i suppose we are taught, then, from youth to see beauty in our aggressors. for how lucky we are, just to be in their presence. i felt that, in some obscure way. desperately and with all of my being i felt that and hoped and prayed and wished that i could be her.

that i could look like her. it was all i wanted, to look like her because maybe then the world would look at me and see something pretty. something worthy of love. beautiful, and good in all the ways i was told - even without words - that i couldnt be. something worthwhile.

i wanted to look like the mom who raised me. the one i wanted to be perfect for even when she never asked me to be, never even implied it. because to her, i already was. she always told me i was beautiful. braided my hair and kissed my cheek and told me all the things i got from my family that lived across the country, some still in mexico, and why it was such a beautiful thing. do you know what it’s like, that the person who sees you as a treasure is the one no one would ever connect you to? to go out with your mom and your two friends, and people are shocked to hear that youre her child and not the blue eyed blondes? even with her brown hair and hazel eyes and no features to share besides, it was more believable that they were her daughters rather than you.

their only similarity being the color of their skin and yet the message is clear even if you can’t articulate it: you couldn’t possibly be from her, someone who belongs to the group that sets the standard for beauty and worthiness.

that wasn’t me, brown skinned and dark haired and with every feature that runs strong in my papa’s family. my tia said it herself, when i was born. “oh julie, im so sorry. she has the family nose” because she knew, too. my beautiful tia who has no need for shame and she knew that my moms whiteness couldn’t protect me because their features showed full force in me, left no place for my mom’s family to show itself.

i wont forget that the world told me from day one that i was less than. i would always be less than. it’s awful funny, that i lost my love of the outdoors when i first heard that it darkened you. no more summer days spent in the pool, fingers pruning but refusing to get out. no more bike rides, gone in the morning and returned by dinner. no more outdoors karaoke or baton twirling in the driveway. the tree i once loved is abandoned and the branches i’d climbed till i couldn’t any longer grow weak and lonely with time, missing the child who’d settle in and fall asleep in its branches. the warmth of the sun was something i deprived myself of for years with only the wishes of lightening my skin, getting rid of just one of the many things that separated me from everything i thought i should be.

but i found that it didn’t matter how pale i became. because, you see, it’s not a lightness that indicates whiteness. its an “i havent seen sunlight in a year” kind, one that doesn’t fool many and never for long. and how could it? my name would betray my heritage even if my features didn’t.

at twenty-eight, i still havent recovered. i havent learned how to live under the sun again. i havent learned to rediscover that kid that would wait for the weekend and the adventures it’d bring, step outside my door and into the sunlight and stay there in the world, under the heat of the sun until it started retreat into the night.

i wont forget that all expectations of me were based around what i looked like, what they saw in my name. how surprising it was, that i might know things. how unexpected it was, that i understood anything. after all, how could i deign to perform better than some of the other girls, the ones that were expected to go places when it was quite clear where most people expected me to end up.

it didn’t take long, for anger to show itself because it was easier to show that than shame, sadness. it’s strange, that at twelve, a black girl calling me a “white bitch” was offensive for the first part rather than the last. white...white....the thing i wanted to be and yet i was angry when she called me that. angry even if i didnt understand why, at the time. but i do now. i understand the fury in my bones at that moment when she pushed me and i swung back, a kid noted for being quiet and well behaved because i couldnt believe that she saw that.

that because i was not darker then my struggle did not matter. that because i did not look like her, then my disadvantage didn’t exist. the one thing id yearned to be a part of felt like a fist to the gut to be sided with because...i wasn’t. it was the first time i realized that maybe there wasn’t a place for me. that i’d be doomed to be too white for all the people who could empathize with my struggles and too brown for all the people who’d been a source of them.

and it only got worse when people would thing, for appearance, that it was better. but its not a compliment to be fifteen and having a guy hit on you because he “likes them spicy” wink-wink, nudge-nudge. it’s not a compliment when someone wants you to be his spicy hot tamale. even when the things that were detriments about me aged into something desirable, it was twisted and tainted and never felt like anything close to acceptance.

and then....and then to get out of all of it, all those moments that tore me down and made me ashamed to be who i am and realize the beauty in my features, in my wide nose and big lips and dark hair all over my body. to learn to love these features that mark me as part of a people with a history so rich and roots so deep into the soil of this continent...to learn these things and fight against all those ideas and people who ever made me feel otherwise and then be told that it is not my place. that it isn’t true, what i said. that i am pale and so that means i am white and i don’t know racism because my mom is white.

it’s a unique thing, to be biracial, and i dont think people talk about that enough. one foot in one history, the other in another. both but not enough for either to accept you. and i know that truth, too. i remember family gatherings with my moms family. i remember feeling always like my brother and i were julie’s little mistakes. oh sure the words were not spoken but in a sea of white people who married white people and had white children...the contrast makes you aware.

aware that you are not a fit. aware that they will love you only if you never bring up your papa, never bring up the aggression against you simply for existing as a product of love and understanding between people from such different worlds. little whispers about your papa that you wont understand for years as your mom shakes her head no, no, he’s a good man because her love has never gone. changed, perhaps, from what it was. but steadfast and true. they criticize him for his drug problem but she tells of a man who always took responsibility for his failings, always admitted his wrongs, never harmed a hair on our heads.

a good man who is sick but a good man nonetheless.

both, but never fully one or the other. and they let you know that, too. even the ones you’d thought all your life were the few that accepted you fully. but then you argue, you fight to defend your people against the new husband of a cousin you loved so much. the anger...the anger feels like a heart about to explode because it isn’t all anger. its fear and sadness and hurt and the anger is what you grasp onto, inflate as you stand shaking to take a breath, get distance before a panic attack has set in. you do that a lot in life.

and you hate crying but you sit on the front porch doing it anyways. your mom knows better than to follow but your aunts dont. so they come and they talk and they try to ask whats upsetting because well we were talking politics, people don’t always agree.and you scream, voice breaking “he’s talking about my people!” because how could you have ever identified with whiteness? but you don’t find understanding or comfort. only your favorite aunt, the one you loved for so many years, the one you thought accepted you no matter what, says with just as much passion: “we’re your people!”

and you realize, in your mid-twenties after a lifetime of being mistaken, that the acceptance is only if you throw away a part of yourself. that only if you will forget your mexican half do you matter. that they would prefer to forget you’re not white because how can they possibly love you if you arent?

it’s a lonely thing, too. because your papa is sick and he did not do right by you in the all right ways. and you spend your childhood missing him, wanting to live with him because living with mom is too painful if that’s what it will be like. but it bitters, too. childish ignorance cant last forever and for years you are angry, furious, refusing to see his sickness as that and instead as a choice he made.

he chose to leave you. to stay with a woman who looks like him, to create a child who belongs. one who learns his native language and gets all that you dont. the good and the bad. it....hurts, that the first words your little brother says to you are in a language you cant understand because your father...he lived far away for so long and where else could you learn when your mom can’t speak it, either? he’s three and spanish will be his first language and age will bring anger that this is so when your attempts through your life just never seem to work.

you just cant seem to make the words right. they feel wrong on your tongue and youre sure it’d make anyone who knows the language laugh.

people often dont get why i am offended by being called white. because well, im not, for one. sure, my skin is pale but my features are not those of a white person. to reduce it to that is so offensive when my experience has been lived as a person of color. it’s rare that people assume i’m white. and yea, it makes me mad when they do.

because i haven’t benefited from whiteness. i have never been treated as it. ive noticed people treat me poorly by my name alone, before they’ve even seen me. my MOTHER has noticed this. she kept my fathers name and she’s told me before appointments made at new places, she is often regarded more rudely but when she shows up and they see her whiteness, it changes.

for me, though, the biggest indicator is that other mexicans seem to....know. its a blessing and a curse. its adorable when little mexican kids come up to me, start trying to say something in spanish. it makes me feel this...wanting. to be a part of that culture, to learn more that i havent been able to because im across the world from everyone who was meant to connect me to it. but it hurts, too, because its another realization of my defect.

that i am a part of them, but only partly. and not everyone is so kind. some will see my distance from my heritage as sign enough that im not a part of it at all.

this...really got away from me and honestly, i dont even feel like ive really scratched the surface. this wasn’t meant to be a “poor me” but to be honest.....just because people have it worse than i do, and i KNOW they do, doesn’t make my suffering less significant.

so much in my life i have been told my people of color that i cant say anything and i have no right to it and this and that and whatever because my skin is pale. some try to make me say im white passing if i must engage but you know what...fuck that

if i was white passing, this post wouldn’t exist.

[harry-saopaolo]

Red Ribbon

Harry surprises Y/N by telling her how he feels but Y/N has a surprise of her own.

“My mum said if someone is sad just give ‘em a cupcake and all will be better”

That day was Harry’s first day in school and he was alone. It’s not that he didn’t want to have friends but he just didn’t know how make friends. Every third grader was at the playground having someone to chat with, play tag with while he sat on the swing having no one to push him.

But that’s when she came. The first thing he saw was her red ribbon shoes. It had a cute little bow on it. Then he saw the yellow dress, suddenly his day was a little brighter and things weren’t as dull as before he saw her. He looked higher to look at the owner of the shoes and there she was, hair adorned with yet another red ribbon. She smiled sweetly and handed him what seemed to be a Vanilla cupcake. Her mom sure was right, cause whether it was because of the cupcake or her, his day surely was better.

That was also the day he was sure he wanted to be friends with her forever.

“Wait, so you tell me, you’d rather finish a jar of mayo every month for the rest of your life than drink soda from your shoe once? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

They were taking a study break cause their heads were already hurting from trying to understand trigonometry so Y/N proposed a little game of ‘Would you rather...’ and she was getting frustrated by his answers by the minute.

“You’ve seen my running shoes, love. It ain’t pretty” He says before popping a handful of Skittles into his mouth.

“Oi, you’re eating all m’orange ones you knob!”

“Why don’t you get ‘em from me?” He mocks as he opens mouth.

“Eww, so I’d get slutty germs from when you kissed Jen last night? No thanks. I’d love to be as HIV free as much as possible, If you mind” 

“Love, you’re just saying that cause you hate her guts”

True.

She hates Jen with every fiber of her being. Ever since high school came around, she suddenly became interested in Harry. She would do things to get on Y/N’s nerves like act sick in front of Harry so he could take her to the infirmary, leaving Y/N all alone and act so sweet and innocent when he’s around. Jen would even give Y/N backhanded compliments like ‘’Ooh I love how old your skirt looks!” or “When other people wear too much makeup, it doesn’t look right but you pull it off just right!”. Her blood boils just by thinking about her.

“Don’t get all worked up now, love. Broke it off with her last night. Nothin’ to get your panties in a twist.” She can’t help but be surprised. Sure she hated her guts but if she made her best friend then she’d just keep her feelings at bay.

“What?! And you didn’t think it was worth telling me?”

“I’m telling you now aren’t I!”

“You know what I mean!” She had to stop to calm herself. “ Why? What did that bitch do? Tell me bub” He loved her pet name for him. It was the right amount of playful and sweet. She lets it slip every once in a while, knowing how much Harry loves and finds comfort in it.

“Nothin! jus’ wouldn’t stop yappin’ her mouth. Would’ve been better if she used it for something else better than talking, right love?” 

“Alright, I’m out that’s fucking gross” 

“Yeah yeah, act all concerned and whatnot but deep inside you’re happy I finally got rid of her” He always saw right through her.

“No, I’m not” Although saying that, She can’t help but smile.

That’s when he knew he’d do anything to make her smile.

“ Can’t believe I gave myself to him only to find out what a fuckin’ dickhead he is”

Harry came as soon as he heard her voicemail which was basically Y/N sniffling and mumbling incoherent words. He was lucky enough to make out the words “Come ‘ere. I need you, bub.” with that he bolted out of his apartment to hers. Now they were cuddled up on her bed, sharing a bowl of ice cream. A variety of things were laid on her bed, there were torn up pictures of her now ex-boyfriend, balled-up tissues and the necklace that was given to her by Brad. To her defense, she did try to break it but after the red marks it left on her palm and it still being unscathed, she gave up and just tossed it on the bed. Friends was softly playing in the background, the episode where Chandler lost the gold bracelet Joey got him was now forgotten.

“He wasn’t even good! Fucking sloppy as ever. Brad. What kind of name is that anyway? Straight out of a fuckin’ porno” 

Harry didn’t say anything. Letting her vent out all of her anger and pain, Knowing she always loved to hear his words of advice after letting everything out first.

“You know what? This is what I get for rushing into this! Don’t even know if I love him but I couldn’t even keep my legs closed. Maybe I was the bad one eh? That’s why he ran off to the blondie from Chem! Yeah, that is definitely it” By now her tears has dried up on her cheeks and there weren’t any new ones threatening to fall. She was past getting mad, she’s just sad.”Things always end up like this you know? M’never good enough, bub.”

“That’s bull Y/N, and you know it. They don’t know the fuck they lost, givin’ up a gem like you. M’not saying this just because I’m your best friend but never have I met anyone as perfect as you, you know?” She couldn’t help but let a few tears escape “ One day, you’re gonna meet ‘em and he’s gonna be great, just like what you deserve and you’ll forget about someone as petty as Brad. Never doubt yourself, love. Who else is gonna cheer me up and keep me at my toes if you keep on bringing yourself down?”

She hugs him tighter, finding serenity between his arms. She can’t help but place a quick kiss on his cheek. “ You’ll always be my guy, right bub?”

For some reason, his heart skipped a beat.

“You know it, love”

That’s the day he realized he never wanted to see her crying again.

“We’re gonna rule the world, You and I.”

“Yeah is that right? How so?” They went out for a picnic in the nearby park. Harry was going over his manuscripts as Y/N’s head rested on his thighs while she was trying to understand the medical terms that are starting to look gibberish.

“We might be pullin’ our hairs out now but soon you’re gonna be the best and most handsome author of our generation, selling millions of copies and all that. Whereas I will be the most daring surgeon of our time! I’ll be able to save lives and check out cute interns too” She says as if she made the greatest discovery of their lives.

“You do know Grey’s Anatomy is just a show right? like you don’t actually always have sex with other doctors and have screaming matches in halls”

“Bugger off, will you? But I’m serious though. We haven’t done much but I’m already proud of us, proud of you. My little writer. Be sure to dedicate a book or two to me will you?” 

“I’d dedicate all of ‘em to you if you like, that’s the least I could do for my great little surgeon.” She can’t help but laugh at his offer before it was replaced with a serious expression.

“You know I love you right? Harry, you may as well be the person I want to be the most proud of me”

“And I you”

That’s the moment he realized he loves her.

--Present--

He wanted to tell her he loved her. She was the light of his life in his moments of darkness. How can someone feel so right, feel as perfect as a puzzle piece, be in the arms of a man that is not him?

Then he’s stuck. Harry’s currently working on his third novel and for the nth time, he’s been spewing out great ideas but can’t seem to fit them together. Now 28, he can’t help but feel unaccomplished despite his success in his career. What was missing? 

He was a risk-taker when it comes to developing his fictional characters and was daring enough to tackle multiple controversial issues in his novels but never seem to get the courage to tell her how he really felt.

Y/N.

His Y/N.

His Y/N with Dexter.

They’ve been together for a little more than a year now as Harry still remained a bachelor. By now he’s not quite sure if he was waiting for the right girl or waiting for her. and her only.

Something about today lit a fire inside of him. Maybe it’s because of the pent up frustration of having yet another writer’s block or the fact that he’s so sick of waiting for destiny to do its thing than actually making something happen. Next thing he knows, he was already dialing her number.

“Hey, bub! you caught me at a great time! What’s up?” I love you.

“Can we meet somewhere or something? Really need to talk to you ‘bout something”

“Really? I have something to tell you too! Why don’t we meet at the ol’ cafe down the street in twenty?” I love you.

“Sure sure, see you love.”

“Can’t wait!” I love you and I can’t wait to tell you I do.

---

He was already there by ten and it’s safe to say he was nervous. This is gonna be years and years of friendship at risk but he knows he won’t be able to sleep at night knowing he should’ve at least tried.

“You certainly got ‘ere early” There she was, wearing the dotted pink sundress he adored. She had her hair up and looked radiant as ever. He’s in it deep.

“Have some news for you, couldn’t wait” Cause if he did he might shit his pants, he thought.

“Good or bad? I have news too!”

“ Depends on how you’ll take it. If it’s okay can I go first?” 

“Sure, go on bub.” Just the comfort he needed.

He took a deep breath, knowing what he was about to say could make or break him.

“We’ve been the best of friends all these years and I think I know why. It’s because we just get each other you know? and we always got each other’s back no matter what. Like the very first day we met, up to now, you never left my side and I never left yours. Everything did start because of a damn cupcake but that’s not the point.” She can’t help but laugh at his flustered state.

“But as we grew older, the more and more was I enthralled by you. By how you never forget to take care of me and how you never let anyone step on you. and as deep as my admiration goes, Y/N I fell for you” She stopped smiling. The shock was evident on her face. But he had to continue.

“ It took me a while to realize and even longer to tell you but I love you, I really do. I know it’s a shitty thing to do knowing that Dexter’s in the picture and all but I was there for everything. For your first heartbreak to your first ever patient. I was there at your best and worst. He’s a great guy, I know. It may even be too late but I can’t help but feel like we were meant to be, that you were meant for me.”

“So if you can find it in your heart, feel every beat of it and know that somehow for some unexplainable reason, what I am saying is making sense. Y/N choose me, love me. Be with me cause for as long as I remember, that’s all I really wanted” He could finally breathe. He said everything his coward of a heart couldn’t before.

“Harry I-” He didn’t like the sound of her voice, if this was rejection, he never wants to hear it. So he interrupted.

“Before you make a decision or anything, tell me your news first, love.” Sure, that will buy him some time.

Y/N does this thing when she’s nervous. Either she’d play with the ends of her braid or grips then releases her hold on the cup of her chosen beverage. That’s exactly what she’s doing to her cup of steaming hot tea.

And that’s when he saw it and his world stopped. He was suddenly holding his breath as the light caught on to something on her hand.

“Harry, I’m engaged.” 

Author’s Note: This was an idea I’ve been playing around with. Tell me what you think! All the love xx.

p.s. that choose me love me scene may have been inspired by grey’s anatomy, don’t hate. xx

[the-galaxy-collector]

Omg can I please ask for a one shot using The Night We Met from your prompt list with JDM and my name (Jess) in it? 😍 thank you!

Author’s Note: This is a JDM without the existence of Hilarie. The italics are flashbacks (or Jeffrey talking to himself) and the bold are the lyrics to Lord Huron’s The Night We Met, which is what this one-shot is based on. Hope you like it, anon!! 

Jeffrey looked around at the empty house and tried to keep the tears from falling, from betraying him completely. Norman didn’t deserve to have to deal with his blubbering ass. None of it was fair, but he knew better than to make his friends deal with his mistakes like that. There was literally no one else to blame here.

I am not the only travelerWho has not repaid his debt

“Talk to me, dude. I can see this is driving you crazy. Just fucking talk to me.”

Andrew was begging and Jeffrey was seconds away from unleashing, but he kept himself in check. All he really wanted was for this pain, the gut-wrenching pain, to go away. He felt like he couldn’t take a full, deep breath without her around. He felt a lot of things, actually. All of them awful.

“I lost her,” he said simply.

It was almost as if he was discussing something boring, like the color of the sky. It just was. Jess was gone. He couldn’t do anything about it. What would talking help?

“Yeah, you did. But, man, you can’t sit in this damn house. We gotta get you out of here.”

“I don’t wanna leave,” he admitted. I just want to wallow. Let me wallow.

He knew better than to ask that out loud. No one would listen. And they were already more worried about him than they needed to be. Not that he blamed them. He’d been a goddamn mess since his wife had walked out the door. She hadn’t even looked back. He’d screwed up long before he’d realized. He just wanted to fix it.

I’ve been searching for a trail to follow againTake me back to the night we met

“Hey, there,” Jeffrey said, holding out his hand for the pretty lady to take. “What’s your name?”

She blushed. He smiled. He was screwed. He could tell already. She tucked her hair behind her ear and stared up at him for a second before shaking his hand.

“Jess.”

He’d never forget that damn night. That cursed moment when his whole world shifted, making her its center. It was the best night he’d spent with anyone before then. Of course, after was filled with her too. Which meant one thing: there were no safe memories anymore.

“Whatcha doing, man?” Norman asked, flopping down in the chair beside him.

Oh, ya know, just daydreaming about my ex. No big deal, he thought. I’m just fucking over here like an idiot replaying that moment like someone replays a voicemail. Trying to dissect the smallest meaning out of every-fucking-thing.

“Nothing,” he lied.

And then I can tell myselfWhat the hell I’m supposed to doAnd then I can tell myselfNot to ride along with you

He listened half-heartedly to everyone around him, his hand propping his head up to make him look interested. Most of them knew that wasn’t the case and they’d stopped trying to get him to care. It was nice, but they weren’t going to just let him waste away either.

He was supposed to be grateful. He knew that. He was supposed to do a lot of things though, like give two shits about breathing and bathing and getting dressed, but he didn’t and he couldn’t.

Jeffrey forced a smile as everyone around him was laughing so hard they were crying. He didn’t even know what the joke was. Not that it mattered.

Norman leaned over to him, “Wanna go out? Get wasted?”

“Boys night,” Andrew said, leaning over from his other side.

They were usually flanking him lately. “Nah, that’s okay. Boys night with two married, old dudes isn’t as much fun as you’d think.”

He smirked as they protested, but it wasn’t all that genuine. They smiled, though. He was miserable, but they didn’t have to be. And he shouldn’t be the one who was the cause for theirs either. They were happy. People were allowed to be happy around him.

I had all and then most of youSome and now none of you

“Nervous?” Norman asked, adjusting his ascot.

“Nope. Not even a little bit.”

“But one woman, like, forever?”

“Yes,” he chuckled.

“And you’re not upset? You’re never gonna be able to sleep with anyone else.”

“You are the worst best man ever,” Andrew joked.

Jeffrey stared at his friends for a second, as they pretended to argue with one another,  thinking of what was about to happen. Today, this day, he got to marry his best friend. The woman who still, after all his time, made him blush and stutter like a lovesick teenager when she was around.

He had no idea how he got so lucky. He was here with her. Not a whole lot else mattered.

Take me back to the night we metI don’t know what I’m supposed to doHaunted by the ghost of youOh, take me back to the night we met

“Jessie, baby, come here,” he crooned. “Don’t make me chase you.”

“You love chasin’ me,” she winked.

She was right. It was their game. She’d tease. Beckon. Tease some more. Then he’d chase. And she’d run. Just out of his reach. Until she was ready to be caught. She didn’t get within arm’s reach before that moment. Something he loved about her. When she was ready, she let you know.

Jeffrey blinked rapidly to rid his vision of the hallucination. She wasn’t here. She hadn’t been for a long time. He didn’t have to chase her anymore. He should be happy. Even relieved, maybe, but not this. He wasn’t supposed to be like this after all this time had passed.

If he was being honest, and he rarely was these days, he wanted to go back in time. Back in time to shake the shit out of himself and say don’t go for this girl. Yeah, she’s gorgeous and funny and sweet and oh so kind, but she’s not for you…

In that moment, he wanted to believe if that were possible it would have changed anything, but he wasn’t so sure.

She wasn’t for him, but he wasn’t convinced he would have cared. Her eyes had pulled him in, casting a spell. Not even an appearance by his future self, wrecked and wretched like he was right now, would have changed his mind. He hated it.  He even tried hating her. It never worked.

When the night was full of terrorsAnd your eyes were filled with tearsWhen you had not touched me yetOh, take me back to the night we met

“Jeffrey, talk to me. Please.”

“I am talking to you,” he answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“You never see me anymore. It’s like I’m invisible.”

“What the hell are you talking about, woman? Of course I see you.”

“No. You don’t.”

She stared at him for a second longer and then turned on her heel and walked out of the kitchen. He braced his hands on the counter and tried to calm himself down. He had no idea what was going on with them lately, but he felt like she was slipping away. He hated this for both of them, and he realized he wasn’t chasing her anymore. Maybe that was the problem.

He heard the door to their room slam and he let out a deep sigh. Another night on the couch for him. The damn thing was uncomfortable as fuck, which is how he thought it was supposed to be. If it was comfortable, he wouldn’t care and he’d never leave it. He’d probably stop trying altogether. Not that he basically hadn’t already.

God, he had no idea how they came back from this. He had no idea how they’d gotten here. He just wanted his best friend back. He’d trade everything else to have that side of her again.

I had all and then most of youSome and now none of you

“Jeffrey, I can’t help you unless you’re ready to help yourself.”

He folded his arms across his chest. It wasn’t even his idea to be here. But his friends had given him an ultimatum and so had the studio. He had to get therapy, or he was going to lose it all. Which, of course, didn’t mean he had to actually participate.

“I don’t have anything to say,” he admitted.

“Yes, you do. Everyone does. You just aren’t ready to deal with any of the emotions surrounding your divorce.”

“I’m not divorced yet,” he growled.

“And why do you think that is? Your ex-wife is making it very clear how she feels. Why are you making it harder on her?”

“She’s not my ex-wife,” he said, standing up quickly. “Stop saying that.”

“Is it possible you’re not ready to let her go, so you think if you make it harder on her she’ll stop everything and come back?”

He stood there, breathing heavily as she told him all the things he didn’t want to hear.

“I think it’s time for you to let her go, Jeffrey. Let Jess go.”

“No,” he yelled. “I can’t.”

The therapist gave a knowing smile as he admitted it to himself. He wasn’t ready to let her go. He wasn’t ready for any of it.

When he sat back down, he put his head in his hands and gave himself permission to cry. He wasn’t ready, but he had to be. He’d put her through too much and he’d never once apologized. It wasn’t fair to her to keep her holding onto something she clearly wanted to let go. He’d just have to do deal with it alone.

Take me back to the night we metI don’t know what I’m supposed to doHaunted by the ghost of youTake me back to the night we met

“Hey, there,” a voice said behind him. “What’s your name?”

He’d know it anywhere, too. He whipped around, almost knocking several people over in the process. His eyes got wide, wider than he thought they’d go as he drank her in. He wanted to look at everything at the same time. He wanted to reach out to her.

She had her hand out, but it didn’t feel real. It didn’t feel like he was supposed to touch her. She was too foreign to him now. Her hair was different. Her smile was off, but it was there.

Norman gave a well-placed cough to keep him grounded in the moment and he shot his hand out to meet hers. His own was trembling and he jerked it back before she noticed.

“Hey, uh, how are you?”

“Umm, good.”

She didn’t meet his eyes as she said that. She was lying. He didn’t know how to make it better, but he wanted to.

“Can we talk?” she asked quietly, almost a whisper over the dull roar that was the convention center.

“Like me and you?”

She laughed, “Yes. Please.”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, of course.”

He turned around to tell someone where he was going. Andrew, Norman, and Melissa were all smiling wide and telling him to get out of here. He didn’t hesitate either, grabbing her hand and leading her to a semi-private spot.

“How, uh, how are you?”

“We did that already,” she joked.

“Yeah, uh, sorry. I’m just…”

“Upset?”

“No. No, not upset. More confused. What are you doing here?”

She took a deep breath and stared at her feet before falling silent. He waited patiently, or as patiently as he could with his sanity on the edge and her in control of which side it fell on.

“I miss you,” she said finally, almost choking on the words.

And when she looked back at him, tears swimming in her eyes, he fell apart. He didn’t think. Just let his mind go blank, as he pulled her close. This was where she belonged. With him. Right here.

And just like that, his heart started beating again.

[psmdnuzdad]

Pip Story Chapter Four

Pip rubs her head, her eardrums hurt, and also her throat did too. She wouldn't be able to go over the papers today. That was the last time she was sneaking out. Pip walks out of her room and trips, falling on her face. She sits up. stretching her limbs.

"Mornin', child. Up and movin'?"

Pip grumbles something in response. At least Nuzleaf got some blissful sleep.

"You sure got an earful last night, huh?"

"Yeah, now my head fudging hurts." She was annoyed, cranky, and bitter.

"But, I'm sure Carracosta is just lookin' out for you kids..."

Pip resists the urge to fold her flippers and roll her eyes.

I DO NOT need a huge water type looking out for me. He could fucking crush me like a mashed berry.

"He was probably just worried sick by that stunt you pulled."

The stunt that was not my idea in the first place?

"Have you regained any memories yet?"

"...No."

I lied. I remembered...that my parents don't want me....just because I can't evolve.

"Not even a little, huh...Well, no need to push yourself."

Pip is silent for a few seconds.

"...Hey, Nuzleaf, there's something...I've been meaning to tell you." Pip rocks on her feet anxiously.

"Huh? What is it?"

By the way she answered, maybe she was admitting to lying-

"I hate going on adventures."

"You...hate going on adventures?"

"Y...Yeah. The first day I was here, I honestly was only saving someone, the next one I had to go, I just do not see the appeal. Not to mention they're dangerous, you could end up dying in there and then Pokemon find your bones-"

"O-Okay, Pip slow down. No need to put those kinds of morbid thoughts in my head."

Pip smiles innocently, fixes her green bow that she got a while ago. (Meg that never seen Pip so happy to get the bow.)

Five minutes later Pip was struggling to stay inside.

"It's summer vacation! Why do I need to go outside?"

"Pip, there's nothin' wrong with fresh air."

"I'm allergic."

"No, you're not."

"I don't want to go outside!"

"You can't stay inside and just read all day."

"But the papers are important-"

Nuzleaf finally manages to get the stubborn Piplup outside. "You can go over 'em later."

Pip is startled out of her grumpy attitude when she hears yelling from Lunar and Meg's house.

-

Later that day much to Pip's annoyance, Meg and Lunar popped by to talk to her.

Then apparently Nuzleaf saw Pip 'talking' to them.

"I like seein' certain young kids bein' adventurous and gettin' out there, personally."

Pip smirks knowing very well his 'certain' was referring to her dislike of adventure, she tried to sneak back in the house. Nuzleaf didn't even look at her when he grabbed her flipper to prevent her escape.

"Really? You're totally the opposite of my old pops, then! Do you think he's wrong?"

"I wouldn't say he's wrong, no. He just cares about you, and so he worries."

It must be great having someone who worries about you...

"I'm just not the type to worry much about things. Maybe it's just 'cause I like goin' on adventures myself."

"So where around the village would you like to explore?" Lunar asked.

"Well, I reckon sure I'd sure like to see what lies up Revelation Mountain."

"Revelation Mountain?!" Lunar yelped, Meg also had some objections.

"But that's a sacred mountain! That's a place no one should ever go to!"

"Well, I reckon so...Maybe it's 'cause I'm new to these parts...and I don't rightly know exactly why that mountain's off-limits...but I feel like I oughta be able to at least go have a little look-see."

"Yeah, I know what you mean...But if I went, I'd get the lecture to end all lectures..."

Nuzleaf laughs, "No one said you had to go! All I'm tryin' to say is that you shouldn't lose that sense of curiosity and adventure. And if you really want to keep it alive, sometimes you've gotta be a bit reckless."

-

A few days passed of Meg and Lunar doing their usual adventures.

"Hold up there you two young'uns."

"Huh? Mr. Nuzleaf?"

Pip was standing by him, looking through her bag of papers which seemed to have increased.

"Come on over thisaway."

"What is it Mr. Nuzleaf?!"

Pip flinches at Lunar's outburst.

"Shhh! Keep your voices down! I've just got a little somethin' to run by you two. Come on, this way."

-

"WHAT?! Up Revelation Mountain?!"

"How many ways can I tell you to keep it quiet, child?! We're goin' in secret, naturally, so I'll thank you to keep your voice down!"

"B-But my old Pops told me just yesterday that we absolutely can't go there."

"Yeah, I know that line of thinkin'. But then, I also thought..."

"What?" Lunar questioned anxiously.

"Me. My memories might be linked to Revelation Mountain. That's why we're going up there."

Pip shuffles her papers.

"Revelation Mountain is always surrounded by some mysterious kinda veil. I asked around the village, but everyone insists they don't know nothin' about it. But maybe they do know somethin' and they just keepin' it from me..Either way,I reckon this village has been protectin' some secret up there for ages. That's what my gut tells me."

"You really think it's connected to Pip's memories?!" Lunar was still in shock.

"LUNAR, think, is for simple Pokemon, I prefer might, it's a word of power." Pip huffed, rolling her eyes.

"So, we're just going to have a peek around. If it looks dangerous, we'll turn back."

In the end, Pip convinced Lunar and Meg to come with them.

-

Pip looks at her paper that had Pokemon who would on guard and notes which said what guard would be easiest to get rid of. And just like she thought, Hippopotas was on guard.

"Just like I thought."

"Um, excuse me, Pip," Meg frowns, "how did you know Hippopotas was going to be on guard?"

The Piplup scoffs. "Because I observed the days."

That's...strange. Why would Pip care to note who would be on guard?

Maybe she did it to find out if she really did have a connection to the mountain.

"So what is your plan and why does it matter on which guard?" Meg raises an eyebrow.

Pip pockets her paper. "Just stand back and watch."

Nuzleaf comes out from hiding behind the crate to Hippopotas.

All it took was a lie from Nuzleaf?

Pip seemed able to read Meg's thoughts.

"Of course! Lies are great, you tell one, the Pokemon buys it and you walk away, lie accomplished."

Meg had to wonder if Pip has ever lied to them with that logic.

-

"Uh oh...This was not in my papers."

The sheriff and the Pokemon guarding is apparently an outcome Pip never saw coming.  

"Ugh, I guess we have no choice but to turn back." She almost sighed too loudly.

-

Time passed and Meg, Lunar got a surprise visit from Nuzleaf. (It was mostly a surprise because Pip was there too)

Meg couldn't help from noticing...Pip putting one of her blades away, that had blood on it.

Hopefully she didn't attack someone.

Pip said SHE was popping by to give them supplies she found that they might find useful. While she was traveling with Mr. Nuzleaf, because...

"Wait, you came to the village because Pokemon called Beheeyem attacked you?"

"Yeah, I heard they were outside the village, but I never saw them. I don't really remember how I got to the village. I just know there were Beheeyem and blood. I think a nurse said I was lucky to be alive, so long story short, Beheeyem tried to kill me and I was saved." Pip didn't seem scared every time she mentioned the Beheeyem...just annoyed.

Maybe it was just Meg, but she would be more scared than annoyed if Pokemon tried to kill her.

-

Pip stamps her foot as she waits. Staring at the blue barrier. She pokes it again, but of course it did nothing. She just wasn't...

"Over there!"

"What in the world is Pip doing here?"

Lunar pants from the running. "Good thing she didn't get turned to stone...."

"What in the world is that though?!" Pip was standing in front of a blue thing.

"It's a barrier if you must know." The Piplup responds to her question...as if she rehearsed it and not simply answering a question.

"Waters springing up from the ground...is this...a spring?"

Pip nods instead of rolling her eyes.

Lunar runs over to a stone thing with writing on it. "What's this?"

"That there's a stone tablet. I reckon it's pretty old."

"Can anyone read it?" Pip finally glances over at them.

"...I can."

Everyone minus Pip are shocked at his simple statement.

"You?! Really?!"

"Yeah, 'Should you hope to overcome-"

Archen interrupts him, "Hold on a second! How are you able to stand there and read it like its no big deal?!"

"I don't know. But, I promise, I can read it. Anyway, 'Should you hope to overcome this crisis, summon an aqua. The aqua will have the power to break the barrier over the spring. You must summon an aqua.'"

"An aqua?" Meg slowly processed this.

"It's referring to a water type." Pip droned. "And before you ask, yes I tried to break it-"

"Hold on, WHY were you trying to break it?" The barrier had to be protecting something.

"Because...I'm suspecting...this water can be used to overcome the crisis."

Just then they got a call from someone Pip didn't know but she heard them say the Pokemon's name and...the way to bring the stone Pokemon back.

"Anyway, I couldn't break it. So I'm not the aqua. But maybe Meg can break it."

"How am I suppose to break it?"

"Hey, you there"

They all turn to see Krookodile.

"He's coming!"

Meg thought when the two other legendary pokemon appeared...that was the distraction. But Krookodile ignored them and kept coming...mumbling something.

'This wasn't part of the deal.'

"We had a deal. Where's the money?!"

"Money?" Meg whispered, beyond confused.

"Meg! Get that there barrier open!"

"OR I will use force!" Pip snapped, reasonably upset that Meg was just standing there.

What is this feeling? Meg looks down at her hands.

"MEG!" Lunar yelled.

"Hurry!"

Well, Pip was true to her word, she roughly shoved Meg against the barrier.

It broke.

"You did it! There goes the barrier!" Lunar's eyes sparkled.

"Well in a WAY Pip helped." Meg squints at Pip.

...

"You can't turn anyone else to stone thanks to this water!" The Charmander shouts, feeling victory in his chest as he glares at Krookodile.

"What are you talking about? I just want my money! We had a deal! I dropped those warnings, just like you asked...I came here because you told me to! Right Nuzleaf?!"

Everyone froze in shock...except Pip.

"I still think you should've let me stab him." Pip scoffs, folding her flippers.

"Huh?!"

Nuzleaf begins to laugh in a way that no one has heard him laugh before. "I reckon the time has come! I finally done broke the barrier!"

Well, I pushed Meg so technically I broke it, but whatever makes you feel better Nuzleaf.

"You done good, Krookodile! I reckon you've earned your reward!"

Pip covers her head as Nuzleaf lets out a dark looking power at the red pokemon.

"Wh-What's happening?!"

Turning him to stone.

"Krookodile turned to stone!"

It soon was revealed Nuzleaf was the turning the Pokemon to stone.

Meg had no clear proof but those papers...Pip carried were...probably information.

The days and times Pokemon were on guard, Pip was noting it to get up to the spring.

"Of course! Lies are great, you tell one, the Pokemon buys it and you walk away, lie accomplished."

Guess Pip has lied to Pokemon before.

They thought they could grab the water even though Nuzleaf might turn them to stone or since Pip had no empathy in her small body she might stab someone. Meg did not expect this huge bird to come out of nowhere...and...darkness.

-

Pip is not turned to stone (if no one has figured out) is because she is very useful with information. She is being used for information.

[scaplivingtogether]

Seven Crimes and Punishments- Living Together: The Robber Bridegroom

Chapter 11

The Robber Bridegroom

In an unknown room, sounds of pained groans and wincing can be heard, Riliane, sitting on a stool, her hair down, and wearing a minty green gown was biting her bottom lip from the pain as Clairth, a white haired Nestuma and a friend of hers from the Held Monastery was applying tree sap from Michaela's tree form onto her left leg.

"Ow!" Riliane exclaimed.

"I know it hurts, Rin." Clairth said as she kept on applying, "But it has to be done if you want to get cured and get rid of those bite marks, you and the others were lucky to not succumb to the black widow's venom, they're are known to be more venomous than even a rattle snake."

"Then I must be the most luckiest Princess in the world, Ow." Riliane puffed up in irritation with sarcasm in her voice, having to have experience a horrible nightmare of having arachnids crawling all over her body and biting her like a chew toy. "Besides, we're spirits."

"Oh don't be like that, Rin. The worst is over, the spiders are gone so you don't have to worry about them anymore."

"Oooook." Riliane sighs relived perhaps, Clarith smiled.

"Ok, I'm just about done." She began to wrap Riliane's leg with a bandage. "There, that shall do it." She helped Riliane sit on the wheelchair then wheeled her out of the room, passing by different rooms in what appears to be a hospital until they reached room they're going to, Allen was waiting for them by the door.

"Hi Allen."

"There you are Riliane, Thank you Clarith, I'll take it from here." Allen said as he took the wheel chair, Clarith nodded. Allen then pushed the door open to find all the sinners there, laying in their beds and already had their bites treated and bandaged, Sateriasis was looking at himself in the tiny mirror, viewing the damage the spiders caused, Banica seemed to be eating her own blanket, Margarita was playing with her own hair that's currently not in pigtails, Gallerian was eating a double scoop of ice cream as a treat for behaving during treatment, Nemesis was hitting her head against the headboard, and Kayo was just waiting patiently in her bed. "Well I see you people are recovering nicely." He helped Riliane into her bed.

"Don't toy with us, we've all been bitten alive by those little monsters!" Sateriasis snapped, "Now I look hideous."

"Could you worry less about your face, Duke?" Banica said as she tore the blanket with her teeth.

"There is a thing called "staying put" and yet you guys never." Kayo said.

"Well we handled it ourselves right?"

"Yes but you guys flooded the house." Allen said, Michaela came in to the room to which caused Allen to hide his face from her.

"Great news! Because Master Held is generous today, your house in the box would be fixed up and clean in no time flat!" The sinners sighed in relief, not having to worry about cleaning up and waiting. "Unfortunately your wounds are still recovering from the incident so you'll have to stay in this hospital room for a while."

"For how long?" Riliane said in irritation.

"Until tomorrow afternoon." This news caused the sinners to exclaim in disbelief.

"This is all your fault, you hussy!" Gallerian yelled at Nemesis. "You and your stupid bombs!"

"My fault?! It was Margarita's Gift that did it!" She pointed at Margarita.

"HEEEEY! Don't blame me! It was Sateriasis's idea!" Margarita pointed at Sateriasis

"Me!? Riliane was the one who wanted to go down to that basement to do things to it!"

"There's a name for people like you, Duke. But even a lady like myself can't say it!" Riliane told him off.

"I told you all not to go down there!" Kayo scolded them.

"Can we agree I did nothing wrong?" Banica said, holding up her bandaged hands.

"Of course you did nothing wrong." Nemesis said. "Y'know come to think of it you practically did nothing in this madness! All you do is just eat, eat, eat! all day, everyday 24/7!" She yelled at her.

"You leave my eating habits out of this!" Banica scolded the former dictator. Everyone started yelling at one another. Allen, Michaela, and Clarith were speechless because of this display of temper and negativity among them, blaming each other for their faults. It was then Allen took out a air horn from his shirt and a couple of ear plugs.

"You ladies may wanna cover your ears for this." Clarith and Michaela both complied as they put on their ear plugs, Allen puts on his pair then begins to use the air horn.

PHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM!

The sinners were startled silent by the air horn, they turn their attentions to Allen as he removed his ear plugs.

"Are we just about through yet?"

"...Your sister started it." Sateriasis said.

"ENOUGH! Now before I lose my patience, let me just say that I understand how you all feel but there's nothing we can do about it, so all you can do is be patient and just hang out here until you're all healed." He finished with a smile, all the sinners then turned away from one another, indicating that they're all angry at each other for their misfortune.

"Your all pretty angry at one another right?" Michaela said.

"Yes." Was Kayo's reply, still looking away.

"Aren't you gonna say anything to one another?"

"Nope, and I never will again." Sateriasis said sternly.

"Me either." Margarita said, sounding really serious. "They don't deserve my words."

"I second that." Riliane sneered.

"And me." Gallerian said next.

"Me six." Banica said as she casually eats her blanket. They're seriously mad at each other for their own faults. Sickle will practically go through the roof knowing that the sinners will not get along, they'll never get to the Heavenly Yard at this rate. The three got out of the room and formed a group huddle.

"What a predicament this is." Clarith said. "They'll never reunite with their loved ones if they start to act like this to each other."

"Your right, these people are known for holding grudges against people but this is ridiculous, It's just a spider infestation right?" Allen said, he then sighed out in frustration. "I swear they're gonna make me wish I was under a guillotine right now."

"Don't say such things, Allen."

"I've seen many people who are just like the sinners who come to me in Master Held's forest and let me tell you: "They don't hold them forever."

"Really?"

"Yes, the sinners had suffered a lot during their past life that they're taking out their own faults and suffering on each other out of spite with every chance they got, but that only makes them feel worse about themselves, eventually they'll tire out and forgive them...that's my only observation in the matter."

"I think your right, Michaela." Allen said. "But the thing is, in the current state they're in: They're not very patient, and don't wanna be associated with each other for a while."

"Well I think cheering them up seemed to be the only option to help them heal their emotional wounds and kill some time." Clarith said. "Maybe then they'll forgive one another and realize their own mistakes instead of blaming. But How?" Clarith played with her white hair, she then saw a nurse walking by with a shelf full of books, she went to the shelf to see what she can get and found a big brown book entitled: "Freezis Fairy Tales- Complete set". A one of a kind novelty filled with stories written by a young girl the Netsuma used to care for while working as a maid for Keel and Mikina Freezis. "This will do nicely for now, If I don't return to the Heavenly Yard in a hour: call for help."

"Your going in there to read to them?! In the current mood their in, they're bound to tear you apart." Allen said with worry in his voice.

"It's worth the try." She walks in the room to find Banica strapped down to her bed with Riliane hitting her gut with socks filled with soap, Kayo was having a sword fight with Sateriasis by using canes as Margarita was clinging onto his back and biting his ear, and Nemesis and Gallerian are having a slap fight, much to Allen's, Michaela's, and Clarith's surprise.

"HEY HEY HEY! STOP IT!" Allen yelled at them.

"I don't have to listen to you! You don't have a soul!" Nemesis sneered at Allen while pulling on her father's hair, Allen then sighed calmly and began to slowly take out his air horn again, the sinners stopped their violent activities when they saw the item and returned to their beds.

"Thank you." Allen proceeded to unstrap Banica in her bed. "Ok, like I said before: I understand how you all feel right now, but that type of behavior is unacceptable, and for that your all going to lay in your beds and take a time out for a while."

"That's not fair." Sateriasis muttered as he dropped his cane next to him.

"I heard that, that's why Clarith is volunteering to tell you stories for a while to past the time."

"Stories? We aren't children!" Gallerian pouted. "Besides don't we have a bunch of Freezis books back at the box?"

"Yes, but this is a complete set." Clarith said. "It has a great number of stories that you may never had heard before in your lives." She sat down and began looking at the contents of the book.

"Fine, but I won't like it." Riliane said, while sticking her tongue at her and laying on her stomach at the foot of her bed.

"Oh Rin dear, these tales are bound to change your mind in no time at all."

"I'll stand by the door outside in case something goes wrong." Michaela said as she left with Allen.

"Thank you, Michaela, Alright...does anyone know the story of "The Robber Bridegroom"?" They shook their heads, "That's good! Your gonna enjoy it, It does get a little graphic with the violence though so if your squeamish then I'm sorry."

"Was that seriously written by a young girl?" Nemesis asked.

"Yes, she wrote it when she was six. Alright, now to the story." Clarith got to the story. "Once upon a time there was a miller who had a beautiful daughter..."

The Robber Bridegroom

The Father appears to be a young man with light blue eyes, long blond hair tied into a ponytail, and wearing a dark yellow tunic, light brown pants and dark brown boots, and walking next to him was a little girl with long turquoise hair with a crown made of tiny flowers and wearing a dark aqua colored long-sleeved dress.

"Come Margarita, Night is almost upon us so we must take shelter at home." The Father said.

"Ok father." Margarita replied. "Oh look what I made you." She held up a flower crown similar to hers.

"Oh thank you love, your a very sweet girl." The Father said with a smile, he has been looking after Margarita since her mother died giving birth to her, he loves her dearly and wishes nothing more than to give her a bright future. As the years went by the girl had grown into a beautiful young maiden, many people were awed by her flawless beauty and personality that many wanted to be her friend while men wanted to marry her once she reaches her legal age, once she did, many suitors began to run to their home and begged her father to marry her off to one of them.

"Mr. Avadonia, I would be honored to take your daughter's hand in marriage." The first suitor said.

"I wish to marry the beautiful Margarita, Miller Avadonia, sir." The second suitor said.

"Oh good sir, I want your daughter to bare my child." The third one said, the other two looked at him with shock for saying too much detail. "What?"

"Hey hey hey! One at a time you three!" The Miller exclaimed. "If you're going to marry my child, I wish to know you men. Thereby I can determine which one I should marry my child to." The men did agreed to the Miller's words, little did they know is that Margarita has heard the whole thing from the other room, knowing full well that these men are not her type. The next day, The Miller started talking to these men and found out much to his displeasure that they're not worthy enough to be Margarita's match: the first suitor was marrying her for her looks, the second was a lazy slob, and the third was a philanderer. He kicked them all out much to Margarita's glee. "I didn't think finding a husband would be his hard." He sighed in exhaustion. Just then someone walked inside the house.

"Excuse me, is this the home of the Miller Alexiel Avadonia and his lovely daughter?" Said the stranger, Alexiel looked up and saw a feminine looking "man" with short brown hair and matching eyes, wearing a red tunic over his golden chain mil and black leggings and sleeves, a dark red cape and dark brown gloves with matching boots.

"This be the same place, and you must be..."

"Lord Banico Conchita." The man Answered, "Lord and Master of Conchita Manor, I'm a benevolent lord who rules his land with fairness and gives his riches to the poor."

"Oh yes! Lord Conchita! Your famous around these parts!" Alexiel exclaimed in excitement, "Ooooooooh it's an honor making an audience with you!" He shook Banico's hand fast.

"Oh but it should be I who should've said that, I came to seek your daughter's hand in marriage, good sir."

"Really? What best qualifies you as husband material for my daughter."

"Well I'm a very courageous adventurer for starters, I can bring back many exotic items for her, I'm rich and and pilled with good food, I have a careful hand so I won't lay harm to Margarita, I'm very understanding, I can cook as well as a woman would, and I'm great with children."

"And are you tied with Infidelity?"

"Never, my heart is ever so faithful."

"Very well, you may have my blessings, son-in-law." Alexiel smiles as he shook Banico's hand, Margarita had saw the whole thing, just when she's about to take leave, Alexiel spotted her. "Margarita my child, come meet your bridegroom!" She stopped. Not wanting to disobey her father, she shyly came out of hiding, she was wearing a white long sleeved dress with a dark aqua sleeveless slip dress over it, wearing a pair of dark teal slip ons, and her hair was in a long braid.

"Ahhh Margarita Avadonia herself." Conchito took her hand and kissed it. "Your just as radiant in person, my dear."

"Ch-charmed." Margarita squeaked.

"I propose we visit my manor, hopefully you'll know your way around once you settled down with me, milady."

"I-I supposed." She didn't know what to say, the Lord may seem nice but something was not right with the noble in front of her, something terrible, a few days passed, Margarita never once visited her Bridegroom until one day Banico visited them again to search for Margarita.

"My Daughter has not visited you?" Alexiel said with concern in his voice.

"Nay, Alexiel, not in many moons." Banico said.

"I'll take care of that, MARGARITA GET DOWN HERE AT ONCE!"

"NAY!" She yelled from upstairs.

"Let me take care of this good sir, I know how to handle a situation like this." Banico goes upstairs.

"Keep the door open!" Alexiel yelled, once upstairs Banico began searching for the young turquoise haired maiden in her bedroom, so far no signs of her...that is until he saw her feet sticking out from behind the curtains, he smiled as he gently walked over and grabbed the curtain. Opened it forcefully as Margarita let out a surprised shriek.

"Ha ha, I found you dear." He then swept her off her feet and began twirling the room with her. "Tell me this dear: You are engaged to marry me, but you have never once paid me a visit." He then placed her gently on the bed. "Why is that dear?"

Margarita knew why: she never trusted the man in front of her, she knew in her heart that a aura of terror was surrounding the man. But not wanting her father and herself harmed, she made up excuse saying: "I don't know where your house is."

"Is that all there is? Why it's in the dark woods of course." He said with a smile.

"I won't be able to find it there." She made another excuse, the man then stood proudly and said:

"Next Sunday you must come out to me. I have already invited guests. I will make a trail of ashes, so that you can find your way through the woods." He then kissed her cheek and departed from the bedroom, all she could do was sit on her bed, pouting. One week later, she was ready to depart despite being afraid for not particular reason, she put peas and lentils in the pockets of her dress, kissed her father goodbye and left. She walked along the path until she found the entrance to the forest, she can viably see a trail of ashes as what Lord Conchita had said. Readying her pockets, she began to walk along the path while laying down a path of peas with every step she took inside, for almost the whole day she had walked through the woods as the forest began to close behind her...she stopped...finally standing in front of Conchita Manor.

"So it does exist, it looks rather nice than I thought." Margarita thought to herself as she walked to the door, she knocked a couple of times, the door suddenly slowly opened by it's self, the manor was quite and barren. "Hello? Banico?"

~Turn back, turn back, you young bride. You are in a murderer's house.~

Startled by the noise, Margarita looked around to see who had said that, all she could find was a white bird with red eyes and a lavender ribbon around it's neck, living in a cage hanging above the ceiling saying:

~Turn back, turn back, you young bride. You are in a murderer's house.~

She was confused by the words of the winged creature, but decided to press forward by checking out the rooms of the manor, for almost an hour she was looking through the bridegroom's home until she found the dining hall, it was old and made of stone, by the door she saw the stairs to the cellar, she began to walk down the stairs until she saw a long hallway with walls that hold alcohol, but it seems that Margarita was not the only one, she sees a older woman with long pink hair, wearing a white blouse with puffed up sleeves that reached her elbows, brown slip on shoes, a pinkish red skirt, and a dark green corset. The woman seemed to be rolling barrels from one side of the room to another, she stopped when she saw Margarita by the door. As Margarita shyly waved with a nervous smile, the woman only sighed as she placed her hand on her forehead, Margarita walked towards her and asked:

"Are you a servant here?"

"Indeed I am, lass." The pink haired woman calmly said. "I'm what they call "Kayo", just plain "Kayo"."

"I see, well I don't want to be a burden, Kayo, but does the Bridegroom live here?"

"Oh, you poor child," Kayo sighed sadly. "Where did you come from?"

"From the village of Toragay, why?"

"Well now I'm sure it'll be too late to return, because you are in a murderer's den."

"Eh?" She was confused by what Kayo's saying.

"You think you are a bride soon to be married, but it is death that you will be marrying. Look, they made me put a large kettle of water on the fire. When they have captured you, they will chop you to pieces without mercy, cook you, and eat you, for they are cannibals." Margarita was shocked by her words, Banico a cannibal? Her feelings against the Lord was right after all, she needs to escape right away. "I was never able to save their previous victims but If I do not show you compassion and save you, you are doomed...that's the mistake I won't repeat again."

"This is bad, this is so bad!" She was in a panicked state. "But wait...you're a beautiful woman yourself, why aren't you a victim?" She asked.

Kayo then let out a irritated sigh while covering her chest. "One of Banico's men liked my bosoms and wishes to not cannibalize them."

"Oh...Then what can I do to escape? Surely the Lord will return soon."

"Luckily you're the one marrying him, because I have an idea on how to punish those monsters in someway,. Hide behind those barrels and be quiet, it'll all be over if they hear you." Margarita did as she was told, just then they heard voices from the dining hall. Kayo walked out of the cellar as Banico came in the room in a drunken stupor, behind him was five more people who are also drunk, two blond adults; one male and one female who appear to be fourteen years of age, a tall man with violet hair, a medium sized woman with green hair, and a another woman with messier hair, hair clips, and appears to be a legit teenager. They seemed to be holding a brown bag that is rapidly moving non-stop and making noises.

"KAYO! *hic* Where are you?!" Banico said as he dropped his bottle, breaking it.

"I'm standing right here." Kayo said, closing the cellar door.

"Bring me the wines! We got ourselves a good one here!" The bag was going out of whack.

"Knock it off, wench!" The teenage like adult woman slapped the bag, another person's groan can be heard in there. Kayo then went back into the cellar to get the alcohol her master requested, one was red, one the second is yellow, and the third is white.

"Just hang in there child, I'm looking for the opportunity to help us escape." Kayo said as she grabbed the bottles.

"Ok." Margarita replied. Back upstairs, they start untying the bag to reveal an attractive "woman" in her late thirties, she has shaggy blue hair, barefooted, and a grayish blue colored dress with bell sleeves and a wider shirt collar that reveals her shoulders, her mouth was gagged and her hands were tied. She kept on thrashing trying to escape.

"Oh it's a shame to waste a creature as lovely as Countess Galleria, but if we must, we must." The man with violet hair said as he brushed her face, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.

"Arte! Pollo! Prepare the wines." Banico said, the adult twins from earlier took the wines from Kayo and opened them, Margarita got out of her hiding spot and peaked through the trap door to see the commotion. She saw Banico undoing Galleria's gag.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS, BANICO!? LET ME OUT THIS INSTANT!" The Countess yelled at him.

"Silence you whore and drink up!" Pollo pulled her hair back and shoved the bottle's nozzle in her mouth as Arte held on the woman's neck to force her to swallow, Galleria was choking on it before coughing, they kept giving her more and more wine until she became so drunk she passed out...or succumbing to alcohol poisoning, Margarita was horrified by the event, just when things start to take it's turn for the worst, Arte and Pollo took Galleria to the kitchen to begin "cleaning" her for supper, Margarita was so sick to her stomach from the experience that she wishes to get out as fast as she can.

"I'm deeply sorry about this child, I wish I can make this madness stop as well." Kayo sadly thought to herself, taking great pity on the innocent girl.

"Hey! Hey! I got a ring!" Pollo yelled from the kitchen.

"I wanna see!" Arte yelled next, the two began fighting over whatever they had in their hands until it flew out and landed on a plate in front of a girl who looks suspiciously like Arte, it was a finger with a golden ring on it.

"Ohh a pretty ring!" The girl said, it was soon taken from her hand by a man with violet hair.

"Let me see it!" His eyes gleamed in excitement before it was snatched by a woman with green hair.

"Whatever happened to ladies first? It's my turn to see it!" Soon enough Arte, Pollo, and three of the bandits began to fight over the ringed finger as Banico drank himself stupid, unknowingly to all of them that the finger rolled off to Kayo's feet. Finally giving her an idea, Kayo kicked the finger into the cellar.

"On the day of yours and Banico's wedding, present the ring to the participants, he and his men will then get what they deserved." Kayo whispered to the girl. Margarita took Kayo's words and put the finger in her pocket and hid in her hiding spot again.

"Hey the finger's gone!" The blond girl said.

"Where could've gone to?" Pollo asked.

"How should I know?!" Arte snapped. "You lost it in the first place you dingbats!"

"Seriously? Over a finger?" Banico slurred. "*Hic* You're as ridiculous as me on New Years."

"Relax gentlemen!" Kayo proclaimed, "Come and eat. You can continue looking in the morning. That finger won't run away from you."

"She's right, I'm starving." The Purple headed man said as he and the others sat down, Arte and Pollo looked at each other and shrugged before returning to the kitchen. "Oh and Kayo dear, can you suggest a good wine to go with our supper?"

"Indeed I will." She returns to the cellar again and began looking for something that Banico and his men would drink.

"I got something to show the people at my wedding but how can we leave?" Margarita asked.

"Simple dear." She took out a small bottle with pale green liquid. "A sleep potion, I'll slip these into their drinks."

"Oh yes, I made these for my father when he was sick, have you ever used it on them to escape?"

"And knowing that those bastards will continue with their cannibalism? I'm not having any of that, Banico will learn that meeting you would be the biggest mistake of his life."

"Your very brave, Kayo."

"Not at all, but now keep quite, I must give this wine to these hooligans." She walked up from the cellar with the sleep potion in hand, while Banico and his men are conversing in the dinning room, Kayo slipped the sleeping potion into the whole bottle of wine before she presented them the drinks, they soon consumed the entire bottle during supper, a very horrifying meal that the both of them had to endure watching. Afterwards, Banico and his men started to feel fatigue, unaware of the sleeping potion that was added to their drinks. A few minutes later, they succumbed to the sleeping potion and fell asleep. Laying all over the room, snoring can be heard. Satisfied with her work, Kayo opened the cellar door and signaled Margarita to come out. "They're asleep, let's go." Margarita hid the finger in her pocket and got out from behind the barrels. "Careful, we need to be careful on stepping over those animals." She points at Banico's men sleeping on the floor, carefully and surely they walked over their bodies in the darkness, at first Margarita was afraid, but luck was on her side when she and Kayo were able to make it to the other side, Margarita opened the bird cage to allow the bird to escape and both of the women ran into the night.

"I don't see any ashes, that's how I came here." Margarita looked around to see where the ashes went. "The went must've blown them away."

"Eh?"

"What?"

"What are those plants?" Kayo pointed at the ground, there was sprouts coming out of the ground.

"Oh! They're my peas and lentils! I placed them on the path so I won't get lost!"

"Lass, You just saved us the trouble." The two began to follow the path back to Toragay under a full moonlight during the night, until at last they made it back to her hometown by day break. Margarita knocked on her father's door.

"I'm coming!" Alexiel said from the other side of the door, he opened it wearing his night attire. "MARGARITA!" He exclaimed excitedly and hugged her tight.

"I missed you so much." Margarita said with tears in her eyes.

Alexiel was happy to see her well, he perked up when he saw Kayo. "Hm? Who's this woman?"

"I'm a friend of hers." Kayo said, "A friend who's about to tell you a horrifying secret about the Bridegroom." Alexiel was confused about what Kayo was talking about, but he decided to sit down and listen to what she has to say about Banico. From word to word, sentence to sentence, Alexiel was disgusted by the horrible truth Kayo told him and now wishes to have him and his posse arrested and executed, but the question that remains is:

"How are we to expose them as cannibals? Surly just plain tattling won't do any good."

"I have evidence father." Margarita said as she held up a ringed finger.

"OH MY GOD!" Her father jumped back in horror.

"Calm down sir, this is the evidence you need to expose them."

"Alright, I believe this could work."

A few days later

The day of Margarita's and Banico's wedding had arrive, Alexiel had invited his friends and relatives to come see the "wedding" taking place at the chapel, and of course Banico brought his men over to the wedding. Even though Margarita had planned on exposing them to the public with the finger, she plays along by dressing up in a beautiful white wedding dress.

"Ah my lady." Banico said as he kissed Margarita's hand, "Your absolutely gorgeous."

"Thank you my Lord." Margarita said, hiding her apparent disgust with him, her father stood up in front of people sitting.

"Family! Friends! and Acquaintances alike!" He said with Pride in his voice, "I propose that we dine on the food given to us before their union can take place!" He said the guest, hopefully to get everyone's attention in order to Expose Banico as a cannibal. "Surely we can't partake in the service on a empty stomach now could we?" Everyone complied and headed to the dining hall, Kayo was in the crowd, wearing a black coat. As everyone dined on their fill, they began telling stories to people, including the table Banico and Margarita are sitting at, everyone applauded to Banico for his story. He then looked to his bride to be and said:

"Margarita my bride." Banico said. "Come, sweetheart, don't you know anything? Tell us something, like the others have done." Perfect, now it's Margarita's chance, she stood from her seat and cleared her throat. Saying:

"Then I will tell about a dream. I was walking alone through the woods, when finally I came to a house. Inside there was not a single human soul, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage. It cried out:"

Turn back, turn back, you young bride. You are in a murderer's house.

Banico listened closely to the story his bride to be was telling everyone, though what perked his interest was a bird mentioned in her story.

"Then it cried out the same thing again." Margarita looked towards her bridegroom and said: "Fear not Darling, it was only a dream." She then continued. "Then I went through all the rooms. They were all empty, and there was something so eerie in there. Finally I went down into the cellar, and there sat a pink haired woman, shaking her head. I asked her, "Does my bridegroom live in this house?"

Banico was biting his bottom lip, something about the pink woman in the story seemed familiar. Banico's men who are in another table began to ponder as well. "She answered, "Alas poor child, you have gotten into a murderer's den. Your bridegroom does live here, but he intends to chop you to pieces and kill you, and then he intends to cook you and eat you."

Banico was starting to suspect that she's referring to him, Kayo can only smile in the shadows. "Relax Darling, it was only a dream." Margarita kept reassuring him as she continued: "After that the woman hid me behind a large barrel. I had scarcely hidden myself there when the robbers came home, dragging a girl with them. They gave her three kinds of wine to drink: white, red, and yellow, which caused her heart to stop beating." Banico's men are staring to become uneasy from what Margarita was telling everyone, it started to sound familiar to them.

"Darling, it was only a dream." Margarita said again. "After that they took off her fine clothes, and chopped her beautiful body to pieces on a table, then sprinkled salt on it." The story has gotten everyone's attention, especially Banico and his men, his men began to slowly leave their tables, possibly to make a run for it for they're now sure that she was there without their knowledge.

"Darling, it was only a dream." Margarita said once more as she smirks in triumph. "Then one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her ring finger. Because it was hard to get the ring off, he took an ax and chopped off the finger. The finger flew through the air behind the large barrel, and fell into my lap. Margarita then stood on the dining table and held out the detached finger. "AND HERE IS THE FINGER WITH THE RING!" She yelled to everyone as she proudly held the finger. Everyone in the room were in a state of horror and shock, the women can be heard screaming. Banico was in serious trouble, while his men was apprehended by the guards attending the wedding, Banico tried jumping out the window, only to land in a net constructed by the guards at the bottom of the building.

"LET ME GO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" Banico said as he struggles to get out of the net, but failed miserably and was taken to the gallows along with his men, Margarita and Kayo looked on at the criminals as Alexiel hugs his child affectingly.

In reality

Clarith was reading the final page to "The Robber Bridegroom" from the Freezis Fairy tale book in the hospital room in front of the cranky and injured sinners. "And so the Bride's father decided to let his daughter live a life of her own, wishing her luck to find her own destiny and maybe find a lover who is not as cruel as the Bridegroom himself, and they all lived happily ever after...The End." The Netsuma closed the book in her hands, "Does anyone like it?...hm?" She asked before discovering that the sinners in the room fell asleep, they must've slept during her story telling, the only one awake was the Marchioness due to her lack of sleep, she was softly clapping at the story Clarith told.

"I liked it." Margarita whispered, attempting to be courteous to the people around her.

"Thank you." Clarith whispered as she tip toed out of the room before turning off the light, "I'll check on you guys later." Margarita laid down on her bed and attempted to sleep, all she can see was plain darkness due to her insomnia, gradually she let her thoughts go through her mind instead of dreams. Outside the room, Allen was sitting on the bleachers next to Michaela who was playing with the laces of her boots, They saw Clarith coming out of the room.

Michaela stood up. "Thank goodness your alive Clarith," She hugs her. "So how about it?"

"They fell asleep on me while I was telling the story." Clairth said as sat down next to Allen.

"Well that's good." Allen sighed in relief, "I just hope they calm down once they wake up."

"I hope so to." Clarith replied.

One hour later

They're in the hospital's waiting room, Clarith and Allen were making a house of cards while Michaela was sleeping on the table, just as they're enjoying themselves, they heard a woman screaming, which in turn woke up Michaela and knocked over the house of cards.

"What was that?" Allen asked.

"Did someone get hurt?" Michaela rubbed her eyes.

"Oh that's only the maternity room." Clarith said, just then a baby's cry can be heard.

"Oh thank goodness." Allen said as she breathed out in relief , the father was standing by the door waiting for his child, the door opened revealing a doctor who looks strangely familiar to the trio, the doctor removed his mask...it was Yingmu's emperor: Jun.

"Congratulations sir, your a father to a healthy baby girl." Jun said to the man standing by the door.

"Oh thank you, your Highness!" The father said happily as he hugged Jun, "Bless you Jun, bless you!" Once the father went inside the room, Jun caught glimpse of Allen and the girls.

"Heeeeyy!" He formed his wings and flew towards them, he then stopped.

"Jun? What are you doing here?" Allen asked.

"I sometimes visit the hospital to help people in need, like what you just saw now."

"Judging by the man's reaction I say you did a marvelous job." Clarith congratulated him.

"Thank you Clarith, so anyways Allen why are you here? Did Sickle broke his wings or something?"

"No." He answered. "There was a spider infestation in the basement and the sinners got caught up in the debacle, so now they're here recovering."

"No fooling?! I wanna see them!" He was about to fly to the room, Allen however grabbed his left leg.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, They've been very cranky about the incident and Clarith just put them to sleep, going in there would be like signing your own death warrant, you'll get massacred."

"Don't worry, I'll be quite as a mouse."

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."

They went up stairs to the room the sinners are staying at, Jun slowly opened the door and entered inside via flying, it was dark and quite with the exception of a faint light seen through the curtains, he looked upon the sleeping and bandaged sinners, he couldn't help but laugh at Nemesis, Gallerian, and Sateriasis for had happened to them, instead he silenced himself with light chuckling. The other five however, he felt great pity. "Jun?" He heard someone whisper his name, he began looking around to see who was talking to him, "Down here." He looks down and sees Margarita sitting on her bed, waving to him, He smiles and flies down to her bed.

"Hello Princess." He whispers as he sits down, crossing his legs "I heard what happened to you guys."

"So you heard?"

"Yeah, what did you guys do?"

"Well we tried everything to get them out, first I did a peaceful protesting, then Sateriasis tried stomping on then, and then he suggested blowing them up with my gift bomb, unfortunately the spiders attacked us from that bomb."

"That sounds scary."

"I know, it was awful." Margarita brushes her hair. "The spiders we're crawling all over me, the walls, the ceilings, the sinners, everywhere, it was a nightmare." She started shivering and shaking her head, "Those thoughts are haunting me, I wish I can sleep and forget." Jun hugged her tight.

"Shuuuuuu, it's ok, it's over now." Margarita hugged him back, feeling someone embracing her took her mind off of the incident, though seeing him again reminded her of something he mentioned today, she let's go of him.

"You were gonna tell me about the ring earlier, what is it?"

"I would tell but I want the others to know as well, we'll have to wait till they're awake."

"Ok." She pouted.

"In the Meantime I got you guys something." He raised his hands, seven different colored lights resonated from them, they started growing bigger and bigger until they stopped glowing, the seven lights became seven giant teddy bears that resemble each sinner in the room, each one floated gently down to the sleeping sinner's beds, one bear that resembles Margarita floated down to her arms.

"Are these for us?"

"Yes, do you like it?"

"I love it. Thank you." Margarita hugged the bear tightly, brushing her head against the toy affectionately.

"I'm glad." He smiled.

"Your too good to us, Jun."

"Aw shucks."

"Psst." Jun turned around and saw Allen sticking his head through the door, "Finish up, Jun. It's time to go, visiting hours are over." He whispered.

"Ok, I'll see you later once you guys cool down."

"Ok Jun."

Jun flies over to the exit, "Wait waaaait I almost forgot." He raised his left which summoned a red light which formed into another teddy bear, this time it resembles Jun and lands on her lap. Margarita mouthed "thank you" to him as the hybrid closed the door, Margarita laid down with the two giant teddy bears in each of her arms and a big smile on her face, she sees the walls growing darker, indicating that the sun is setting. Gradually she tries her best to sleep despite her insomnia, mostly to past the time since everyone around her are asleep.

END CHAPTER

[survivormyanmar-blog]

Ep. #9 - “Liars and Snakes” - Keegan

Returning from Tribal Council, where Brett was blindsided, Keegan and Tommy were left on the bottom.  The Immunity challenge was announced it would be Crack the Code.  Tommy ended up solving his code in an impressive 3 guesses and won Immunity for the second straight round.  In The Cave, Ashley was able to find the Hidden Immunity Idol and Jay found a challenge advantage.  The girls alliance started planning a split vote, with the help of Linus and Sam, to take out Keegan with the plan being to split the votes 5-3-2 with 5 on Keegan, 3 on Sam, and 2 from the minority on Christian.  Sam and Ting Ting had other plans though.  They wanted to use this split vote to their advantage and team up with Tommy and Keegan to take out Christian bringing the vote to 4-3-3 and theoretically send Christian home.  Their plan would have succeeded but Leah accidentally voted for Keegan instead of Sam like she was supposed to.  The vote ended up with a tie of 4-4-2 between Keegan and Christian with Keegan being sent home on the live revote.

There’s some snakes in this game.

LOOK WHAT WE JUST PULLED OFF. Saved Christian AND got rid of freaking Brett. This is great. Keegan going around saying we got some snakes… yeah you, buddy. Byeeeeee

hmmmmmmmm there’s some fishy business in the leftover ladies. not so leftover anymore huh. time to #staywoke

stop talking keegan like sometimes the vote doesn’t go your way

ANYWAY i am READY for this challenge i’m gonna get it DONE.

I’m not liking my chances anymore. With Jay and Linus (supposedly) flipping, that leaves Tommy, Sam and myself on the outs. Wow. Liars and snakes.

I’m so disappointed in Linus. Jay is still a lying skeeze but she wasn’t always on my side so whatever I guess. Linus flipping made me lose every bit of respect I had for him.

you know this is just a time where a winner shows what they’re made of. i’m just gonna have to put my head down and be more social.

If Jay wanted to flip, I don’t get why she’d take Linus with her? Like it was fine numbers wise for one person to do that. Maybe I’m underestimating Jay and Linus’s relationship. Maybe I’ll need to get rid of it sooner.

Okay, hold up. CAN WE DISCUSS HOW TOMMY IS GOING TO GET IMMUNITY YET A FUCKING GAIN? Literally all that boy is good at is getting lucky. I am so annoyed. I took 15 freaking moves to get those colors in order and he comes hopping up in my PMs like “ Oh I did it in 4, Trevor and Owen freaked out” YEAH CUZ YOU GOT LUCKY BETCH. Literally if we have an immunity that actually has to do with skills coming up he is going down. Because sweetie, yo luck about to run out.

Well, today sucks. As expected, I woke up with people being pissed at me. Keegan and Tommy are giving me the third degree about flipping and Sam is either ignoring me or not on. Not entirely sure. Hopefully I’ll be able to patch things up and keep my game moving forward. Only two more votes until I’ll have advanced my placement. I just want to survive until then.

I can’t trust any of these snake mothafuckas NOBODY LIKES SUSHI?! uh uh. not on my watch. guess it’s just me and ting ting against the world right now.

Well I just found an immunity idol everyone…. This is rather exciting. Last time I had one of these I never got to use it. I am hoping to literally not tell anyone and keep it to myself. When my gut tells me I will use it. I just hope I dont fuck this up.

Me when Tommy got 4 moves and i had 6: http://68.media.tumblr.com/bc124db1202342df51aada860dbc837a/tumblr_o2ckgbOV6I1uwwhj6o2_400.gif

Oh shit waddup I got an advantage in the cave. I’m hoping the ‘oh shit waddup’ meme will be dead by the time everyone’s reading this, but just remember that it’s still relevant now and I have an advantage. It’s just a generic challenge advantage, but I’m hoping it’ll help me survive next tribal and advance my placement in the game. I’m kind of nervous at this point because nobody has said anything about the vote to me, but it’s only, like 10:00am my time, so maybe it’s okay. Paranoia is just my only way to live.

okay so it might be time for myself and tommy to part ways, but he doesn’t need to know that yet. it’s just a very big gamble to take because i might swing over with the girls to take out keegan as a set-up for tommy next round. but at the same time, if it’s a flashy move, then tommy might be on to us and do all he can to keep his ass off the block because I know that he’s a savvy player. if i stay with tommy he’s just going to make the target on me bigger, as he’s stuck up for me more than once and people might get sus about it. i said earlier that i needed to play the game fore me and now it’s my chance.

That’s right, another confession .8 seconds later. Sam came to me this morning because a couple of the girls were, in his words, 'sussed out’ that him and Tommy were getting close and he basically threw Tommy under the bus as hard as a person can physically be thrown under a bus. He said that his relationship with Tommy was totally one-sided and proceeded to lay out Tommy’s entire plan to get me back for voting out Brett last round. He wants to make me paranoid enough to flip on the girl’s alliance and piss them off, then get me next round. Which would be the same placement as I got in Transylvania. Dick move, Tommy. I’m not going to be a ninth place flop again. Fuck that and fuck you. I’m hoping that by the time episodes are getting released, we’ll be alright and at least on speaking terms because this is just a game, but for now I’m here to fucking win it and nobody is standing in my way.

Ok let’s just talk about the girls alliance for a sec because it’s going to blow soon and i don’t want to be caught in the aftermath of it. Like these girls are good at the game, most of them are actual favs, which makes me super nervous. and this vote is either going to be a total flip/ blindside or it’s going to go badly and this game will be fucked. Amanda: ok literally haven’t talked to her that much so i’m not sure how much i can trust her right now. like with the steffen vote it got super flipped and she had a part in that. Ashley: idk about her right now. tbh i haven’t talked with her a bunch since the steffen vote but i feel like i can trust her. a lot of people apparently think that i’m funneling info to her (which i’m not) so like wtf… Christian: sorry but she needs to go. this sounds bitchy but i know that she cheated and i just feel uncomfortable with her still in the game. and truthfully i haven’t talked with her like at all so there’s basically no trust there Jay: i trust her enough right now. which is something. i hope that she doesn’t totally blindside me but we’ll see Keegan: ok i feel really bad for keegan. like his closest ally was voted out and i frankly don’t know either him or brett so it’s difficult for me to vote for him. tommy, keegan, and i are trying to flip the vote this tribal to actually keep this game somewhat fair and fun to play. Leah: truthfully i haven’t talked to her a bunch but the time i did she was hilarious and i want some trust there but idk Linus: ok linus. his decision making skills are a little off. like can he not see that the all girls alliance is targeting guys. he is probably going to voted out soon if he doesn’t wake up like seriously. Sam: i know you’re saving yourself but seriously…. ^^^ look at what i wrote for linus Tommy: let’s make it to the end. Owen: fuck the cave Trevor: fuck you and the cave

I’m about 95% sure I’m the vote tonight. Ting Ting told me that Linus and Sam have jumped ship and that I’m the target. She said she’d maybe work with me and flip the vote, but im not getting my hopes up. Tommy and I are doing everything we can to shift the votes onto someone else. He’s my closest ally now, and the only person I fully trust.

Last tribal I deadass thought I was gone. But when Amanda messaged me and let me know that my name was going around for the vote that night, and then the girls decided to band together with Linus and I ended up staying 7-4? Whew. When the votes were read and Brett left? https://68.media.tumblr.com/7eff5ed231e3df9d02c9b91e458b220b/tumblr_oiib4pQ8wh1ulaj3eo1_400.gif

Side note: never should have called me a goat, because now I have a fire lit under my ass. :) I’m woke and playing the game like I said I would. Lay low and seem nonthreatening then at merge start making moves. Tommy messaged me today for the first time in over a month, and we’ve been having a really nice convo. But why now? Why not try to message me before you decided to write my name down last tribal. Funny thing is, I’m actually glad he decided to come to me first and not me coming to him. It would look better towards the girls alliance, making it seem like he’s messaging me in case he doesn’t win immunity the next round and just to save his ass in general. Because honestly, I kind of need Tommy in this game. I want to make a move(yes I would actually flip on the girls alliance, because there are a couple threats *cough* Jay *cough* Ashley), and I can use Tommy as a number to take one or both of them out. I’m thinking next tribal or the tribal after. Stay tuned.  ;) https://68.media.tumblr.com/538035f57e848c860abf66afdadf716e/tumblr_oiib4pQ8wh1ulaj3eo2_r1_400.gif

Tommy, Sam, Ting Ting, Linus and myself might be working together. We might be tying the vote. I really hope I can count on everyone and that this plan works out. I need some kind of plan to work out, statistically it has to happen, right?

I’ve been wrong on so many things today. The girls are splitting the votes, 5 for me, 3 for Sam. However, Sam and Ting Ting, who both have said they’d vote with, are supposed to be writing my name down. If they both keep their word, Christian will be voted out instead. I hope this plan works. I’m not ready to go yet.

I’M AN EMOTIONAL BEAN. I’m a wreck, I’m on the bottom. I literally cried on call with Sam and then Linus. I just feel really tired it has been a stressful day and I don’t feel like talking much. I’m just taking a backseat on this and relaxing with my second immunity necklace <3. I’m gonna just pray.

okay so here’s what happened today i woke up i ate breakfast i talked to jay about securing my spot, went very well i called tommy to kind of put him off, but i really wanted to gun for him the next vote i went to practice I WENT TO THE BEACH i ate 2 hot dogs and 3 cheeseburgers while talking to a crackedt keegan about a plan, when i really wanted to vote for him i came back from the beach i called with tommy and found out he was upset because some of the girls were calling him annoying (which actually fuckin sucks by the way like even if you don’t wanna play with someone lay off the personal stuff) ting ting tells me she wants to flip the vote TING TING WANTS TO FLIP THE VOTE?! so yeah. she actually does, and since the girls are planning to split, it could end up being a 4-3-3 vote for christian. and in that case, jay gets #shook and the girls alliance could be on its way to crumbling. the best part is i’m still in the game, and so is tommy. if it works, though. i need for this to work like there is so so so so so much riding on this please make it work

Calmish round. We are splitting the vote. Sam is jumping. (Important notes that dont really need a writeup and are self explanitory) I’ve actually realized I may just be in about the perfect position (Hopefully haha). Basically Im on the outside of the majority alliance, but Im in the affiliate position where they arent going to vote me out since Im voting with them. An alliance always turns on its self before cutting everybody on the outside, which means if I lay low I should be relatively safe until the girls alliance cannibalizes, and at that point I will have some control in the game ^_^. Tommy and Keegan tried to flip me back over, which would have been something to consider but their story of how the vote would work was completely ridiculous and basically boiled down to “just vote with us…. It will work out…. Trust… We cant tell you how but it will work…”  Ooops :P . As always wish my luck at tribal, and hopefully Im not a complete moron in the assumption that eventually the girls alliance will turn on itself and if they do and I do get the the end, Ill be able to make a serious case of a utr game :D .

Keegan came to me wanting me to flip and vote Jay and its SOOOOOO tempting omg but i cant do it this week. I lowkey hope he somehow stays and Sam leaves and then we can vote out Jay next week or the week after cause honestly at that point id prob be down. I just cant this week the numbers would be off too much. But she def needs to leave soon