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sozila · 7 months ago

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convalescence. (sukuna x reader)

synopsis: convalescence noun. time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation. ryomen s. itadori was a disease that infected every part of your life, and you didn’t notice until it was too late.

pairing: best friend's older brother!ryomen s. itadori x pre-med uni student!fem reader.

warnings: explicit content eventually, mdni. mentions of underage drinking, descriptive sexual activities. masterlist | previous | next

you are on: incubation. (part one) a/n:

hello!! my name is sozila, and this is my first ever work on tumblr/ao3 so bear with me if my writing seems a little elementary :,) let me know what you think, esp if it's constructive feedback! i've been a huge fic reader since i was 11, if that's any solace <3 (i'm in my second year of college now lmao) this piece really just came to me because i craved older brother sukuna and breezed through every fic with him in it. also, i wanted to incorporate parts of my college experience and hence the allegory to infectious diseases, i promise i'll hash it out adequately soon haha <3 also to note: i'm aware this chapter is rather short, but i intend to make longer chapters as the story continues! until then, here's a little bit of what i have :) enjoy!

ao3 link here.

incubation. (part one) you were 2 years into being best friends with yuuji itadori before you saw him. an idea of him was created in your head through a web of yuuji’s descriptions, megumi’s mild irritations. nobara’s hot-cold opinion that “he’s an insufferable asshole, but those tattoos do numbers on girls”. some part of you felt allured by the mystery of his identity, even though you knew exactly who he was. at least, as much as you could from the near-empty instagram account and pictures from yuuji’s childhood littering the apartment.

it was odd you didn’t meet until now, but university had other plans for you. it made sense though— as a pre-med student, you didn’t have much time to hang out or go to frat parties, as much as nobara complained about your lack of thrill for wilding out. you digressed, but promised as soon as you secured an internship you’d maybe allow a bottle of vodka on you, in the comfort of your shared apartment. yuuji and megumi never held your busy schedule against you; which you genuinely appreciated. you loved that whenever you did get to see them, things picked up right where you left off.

which is why you were surprised at the very least to be met with someone you knew yet were so unfamiliar with standing before you when you knocked on yuuji’s door.

“you one of yuu’s new leeches or what?”

your brows furrowed a little more at the jab on your character, but you utter nothing as you take in the fact ryomen itadori isn’t a mythical brother your best friend made up. he looks exactly like the lockscreen picture on yuuji’s phone, save for a couple new tattoos on his face and arms. his hair was a mix between a mean undercut and ivy league, sporting the same pink hue of his younger brother’s. a simple silver chain hung on his neck which drew you downwards to his chest. he was definitely built much bigger and wider than yuuji. coarse, and just.. raw. you register you’ve been staring at this man clad only in a wife pleaser and joggers for an inappropriately long time and clear your throat, straightening, holding your bag a little closer as if it was going to disappear with a glance of his sanguine eyes.

“you gonna stand there all day, or should i close the door on ya?”

his gruff voice now laced with irritation led you to match his demeanor. you give him a wry, plastered smile and push past him. he lets you, surprisingly.

“can’t really go in with you blocking the entire entryway, asshole.”

he doesn’t acknowledge the blatant insult and walks towards the kitchen. your nose catches it first- he was cooking something really good. suddenly, he yells over his shoulder while he stirs the pot.

“yuuji c’mon, i’m not babysitting for your ass!”

the thomp-thomp-thomps of yuuji’s footsteps follow with him hurrying down the stairs and he flashes a dorky smile to you. “sorry, sorry! you met my lovely best friend then, aniki?”

he grunts without turning around. you didn’t even consider this a conservation, but yuuji seemed unphased by his wet-blanket personality. guess older brotherhood looked like this. yuuji flits around the stove where he’s working to stick a finger in the pot and steal a taste, which sukuna smacked him upside the head for.

rubbing the back of head, yuuji then turns and faces you to give your arms a little squeeze. “megs is running a little late from swim team practice, but he’ll be here soon. ryo made dinner for us though!” he quips brightly.

with a whip of his head and a withering look, you deduced sukuna wasn’t aware of this information, but grumbled to himself. you made out a “motherfucker” and “freeloader” in his long curse.

you pull your happy-go-lucky friend a little out of earshot and bring him to your level to whisper harshly. “yuu, i don’t want to inconvenience your brother.. he already seems pissed i exist,” you murmur. your gaze returns to the giant man in the kitchen and something tickles in your chest. immediately he slaps your shoulder and chortles, as if you told him something outlandish. “don’t even worry! he acts like that all the time, he just doesn’t know you well enough yet.”

you weren’t sure you even wanted him to.

it was 7:30 when you heard the ring of the doorbell and your head lifts from the snug placement you took on the couch. sukuna had already slipped away upstairs so yuuji answers this time, much to your dismay. you lament internally that megumi wouldn’t face the same frosty welcome as you did. you hear two voices instead of just the one you expected and crane over to see a certain red headed girl you knew. she beams upon noticing your peeking form. “you’re here early, miss i-have-no-time-for-my-beloved-friends,” quicker than you could react, she was already beelining to jump on you with a smothering hug.

you try to muster a clear response but get muffled by her puffy knit sweatshirt. “if you checked your phone you’d know i told you!” you push your computer out of reach so it wouldn’t be swept in the tornado that was nobara kugisaki.

megumi had already taken a seat on the rug beside yuuji, deep in conversation about winter finals. however, it became evident it was more megumi lecturing yuuji on course material and the latter looking more confused and stressed by the second.

you move nobara enough to clap your hands and catch their attention.

“if you guys utter the word ‘exams’ one more time, i swear will explode.”

nobara snorts above you and knocks on your head. “look who’s talking. is your memory shot to hell or do you not remember all the times you bring it up yourself?”

“she literally did this afternoon,” yuuji mumbles with a pout. you throw a decorative pillow at him.

“hey! don’t forget i literally made your study schedule for you. and even the studious want a little break,” you defend with a huff. nobara d’awws and squishes your cheeks. “my poor little baby! however did you survive.”

“you guys suck. i deserve nothing but love and affection.”

yuuji rolls his eyes and whines. “oh my goood, yes we love you and appreciate you, hugs kisses rainbows blah blah— i wanna watch a movie already!”

you giggle at his antics as nobara pushes off you, walking to the unabashedly large TV and starts filing through yuuji’s big movie bookshelf. “what are we feeling tonight? fast and furious, ladybird, jigsaw..”

after a couple minutes you all agree on midsommar, which you protested but lost in a 3 to 1 vote (democracy is a joke). you could never sleep properly after a good horror movie, hence you always watched them during the daytime. but because your friends were evil, namely nobara, you had to endure some at night and ended up sleepless and jumpy. “if you can’t sleep, just slip in with me tonight,” nobara counters with a dismissive wave. while you knew neither nobara nor her girlfriend, maki, would bat an eye because of their long friendship with you, you worried for your own well-being. nobara was a huge kicker in her sleep (she denies this profusely). too many times after a night out you’d wake up on the floor with bruises on your side while nobara dozed peacefully, starfish-ed on the bed. you sigh and accept your fate.

the movie ends up being just as if not more unsettling than you expected. you knew nobara clocked out much earlier than you thought when you heard no reaction to the bear scene (never getting that image out of your brain, you fear). you stretch your neck to assess who’s out. beyond the dirty plates on the coffee table from the dinner sukuna “made” for you all, you can make out yuuji cradled into megumi’s chest, snoring lightly. the urchin haired boy didn’t stir much either, so you peel from nobara’s vice-like grip on you to throw a blanket over the two of them. out of the corner of your eye, you see yuuji cuddle into megumi a little more, a small smile on his dozing face. god, you eagerly await the day they could be honest about their feelings. you step back around quietly to adjust nobara on the couch into a more comfortable position.

to navigate out with a better light you fish your jeans for your phone but to your dismay, are met with empty pockets. it didn’t help that your nerves on high alert and the living room was lit only by the glow from the tv. something straight out of a horror movie. genuinely fuck my life. you frown as you crouch down to feel around underneath the couch. after a few minutes of helpless padding later, the task seemed fruitless and you began to retreat to yuuji’s room. nothing could prepare you to feel a big, cold hand palm your shoulder. you freeze, your spine going icy. is this how i’m going to die? swiveling faster than your mind could compute you almost let out a bloodcurdling shriek, only to be met with the same cold hand pressing your mouth shut.

“are you fuckin’ mental?”

sanguine eyes bore back into yours and you fight the urge to bite the hand pressing on you. the audacity of this guy was baffling, really.

you shove him off and glare pointedly.

“me? i’m mental? says the dick who decided to sneak up on someone and grab them like a fucking serial killer!”

you jab a finger on his chest, seething in a whisper. his chest, in reality, was much harder than you anticipated and your finger probably hurt more than the attack on him.

a step. he’s closer to you and now in possession of said finger.

“i lightly tapped you. the rest was damage control, sweetheart.”

“sweetheart?”

“i can’t call you that?”

“how about you don’t call me anything, ever? thanks.”

“makes sense that i can’t call you. got your phone, and all.”

your mouth drops a little. “what?” he snickers. “if you weren’t so busy trying to curse me into the next domain, you’d realize i’ve had your phone in my hand this whole time. fuckin’ idiot.”

lo and behold, your phone was nestled in his raised hand, looking much smaller than you remembered. or was it that his hand was just that large in comparison? how big was this guy, really? part of you wanted to stop everything and just ask him to hold different objects and compare how they perceived in his grasp. but reality struck and you recall this is the same guy who just scared the living daylights out of you.

you yank it out of his stupid mammoth hand, ripping his grasp on you in the process and take a step back. you were awfully close to one another upon closer inspection.

“not an idiot, by the way. 4.0 gpa doesn’t exactly scream stupid.”

“idiocy applies to everyone, sweetheart. regardless of how much you dick ride your textbooks.”

every word that left his mouth had a lilt to it. the laughter in his eyes, his head cocked to the side.. he was messing with you and relished it. that pissed you off. who the fuck was he to decide who you were? what you stood for? you had barely known this imaginary-but-actually-real brother for a couple hours, and here he was insulting and teasing you all in one gift-wrapped present. what gave him the confidence to be so insufferable? and better yet, what could you do to stomp it out?

“go to hell, sukuna.”

you were unwilling to stay in his irritating presence for a moment more. your face was stony and unrelenting, your foot tapping incessantly in impatience. you wanted to slap his face off, but thankfully for him, your best friends were in dreamland just a few feet away.

“goodnight, idiot.”

your feet padded angrily up the stairs and you could still feel those dark sanguine eyes boring into your skull and all over your body. you decided that imaginary or not, yuuji itadori's older brother was the most pompous asshole you've ever had the displeasure of meeting. you didn’t get hit with your skin radiating heat until you closed the door of yuujii’s bedroom behind you. question is, was it anger or arousal?

... she never told me her name.

omg light banter... guys i really love slowburn so sexy time isn't guaranteed soon :( once i've outlined it i'll add specific explicit warnings and maybe you'll get a glimpse of what i envision for you and sukuna aaaaa :) for tumblr, i'll have a navi/masterlist up in a little!

peace luv bathtub!!!

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sp6ncers · 27 days ago

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platform boots — s reid

summary: reader decides that spencer would look good in her style, and gives him a make over

spencer reid x trad goth! fem! reader. fluff. 2nd person, pov switches.

warnings/content: harassment, mentions of sexual harassment and bullying, established relationship, idiots in love, reader is shorter than spencer, reader gets called a bitch but not by spencer, pet names (silly girl, baby, pretty boy, angel), kissing, kinda insecure reader

wc : ~ 3k

author's note : my 2nd tumblr fic now that im getting the hang of it! this is literally just a cute fluffy fic because i want to and every day i dream of alternative spencer reid 🙂‍↕️ not really any specific season in mind but i pictured longer hair spencer for this, maybe season 4 or 5 :)) sorry if this is ass i got lazy because i so much prefer writing angst ijbol

Being an alternative woman in public is one thing, but being an alternative woman whose boyfriend is practically the complete opposite of you is a whole different issue. You're used to the comments that get thrown at you — after all, you've dealt with that for years, since you started dressing "unconventionally" in middle school. You've learned to ignore the sexualising comments from teenage boys and old men alike, and you can easily tune out the disapproving glares from middle aged women. However, what you aren't as okay with is when people bring your boyfriend into it.

You and Spencer are sitting together on the train home from a museum date, your knees touching as he holds your hand, fidgeting with your rings. You feel the gazes of a group of young boys — no more than fifteen — not far away from where you sit. You decide to ignore them, like you usually do, and you just hope that they don't decide to yell at you like you sometimes have had people do.

Your gaze traces over your boyfriend, and you find yourself unable to suppress a smile. As the days are getting colder, he's been wearing more layers, and it's just so cute. You love the way his scarf is wrapped around his neck and tucked into the dark brown jacket he's wearing. The soft waves of hair that frame his face are even more adorable when they're brushing over the rosiness of his cold cheeks.

Feeling you looking at him, Spencer looks away from your hands and up to your face. "What?" he asks with a smile of his own as he sees your grin.

"Nothing," you reply, nudging your knee against his. "You're just cute."

He smiles shyly, a pink tint creeping across his face. "No, I'm not," he responds. He's never been good at accepting compliments.

Raising a teasing eyebrow, you let a joking scold taint your voice as you say, "Don't argue with me, Dr Reid."

"Yes, ma'am," he chuckles breathily, his thumb brushing over your knuckles.

Spencer's eyes fall to the floor, where your chunky platform boots rest beside his battered converse. He always loves it when you wear these boots, he thinks they're pretty with the silver studs you had glued onto them and the maroon laces you'd threaded through the eyelets. He's always admired how crafty you are, how you can make any basic item of clothing into something much more extravagant. Something else he loves about these boots is that they make you a little taller — still not as tall as him, but it makes it easier for him to kiss you.

Moving away from your boots, his gaze follows your legs, clad in two pairs of thermal tights beneath the long black skirt you're wearing. He'd watched you embroider the pattern of roses into the fabric a few weeks ago, practically in a trance. The way your eyebrows had been furrowed in concentration as your fingers swiftly worked was a beautiful thing to watch. He's convinced you could craft the galaxy with your bare hands if you wanted to.

Hazel eyes trace over your thighs and up your torso, flickering across the many layers you're wearing. He counts four — maybe five? — layers, which isn't surprising considering how prone to getting cold you are. The neckline of a lacy purple long-sleeve peeks out from beneath your Bauhaus T-shirt, which is partially hidden by a black zip-up that you had painted a pattern onto in bleach. Over the zip-up sits your baggy leather jacket, something you rarely leave the apartment without. A few necklaces decorate your neck, most of them ones that he had given you.

As his gaze finds yours again, he smiles. A cheesy, cute, I'm-so-in-love-with-you smile. When you smile back, his heart skips a beat. He loves the way the eyeliner cobwebs attached to the thick wing on your eyes shift with the movement of your pretty, black-painted lips.

"You're so pretty," Spencer tells you softly. He looks at you as if you'd just reached into the sky and handed him the moon.

Heat rises to your cheeks at his words — even after almost two years of dating, you still feel butterflies whenever he compliments you. You don't think that feeling will ever go away. You don't want it to. "So are you," you respond, giving his hand a squeeze.

As you say the words, the train slows to a halt at your stop. The both of you wait until it has fully stopped before standing and heading to the doors. As you do, the boys you'd caught staring at you earlier decide it would be amusing to yell at you.

"Emo bitch!" one of them shouts, his voice cracking embarrassingly. It almost makes you crack a smile.

Spencer squeezes your hand, a silent way to tell you it's okay and to not say anything back, but you're already glancing back at the laughing group with a cold glare. You part your lips to retaliate, but decide that your boyfriend is right. You stick to simply flipping them off as the two of you exit the train.

As you look back at Spencer, he gives you a pointed look. You shrug and say, "What? I didn't say anything." But you know you wouldn't have stayed silent if anything had been said about him instead.

You switch sides with him, slipping your hand into his as you adjust the strap of your bag on your shoulder. The walk home is quiet and peaceful, thankfully void of any more cruel comments from strangers. Spencer's hand is somehow warm in yours, despite the frosty air and cold breeze that bites at your skin. Fallen leaves crunch beneath your shoes as the wind nudges them across the ground.

When you reach your shared apartment, Spencer quickly turns up the thermostat as you both step inside. As you both shrug off your jackets and hang them up, he presses a quick kiss to your forehead — likely trying to determine how cold you are.

"Do you want a drink?" he asks whilst tugging off his converse. "Tea?"

"No, I'm okay," you reply, plopping down onto the floor to take off your boots. Unzipping one, you let out a little grunt of effort as you tug it from your foot. "You know what I do want, though?"

"What?"

"I want..." You pause as you pull off the other boot, biting your lip. "I want to put make-up on you. My kind of make-up."

His eyes find yours as he tilts his head slightly. "You do?"

You hesitate, unsure if his response means that he is repulsed by the idea and would rather lick the floor of your building's elevator than let you do that. Looking away, your voice falls quieter as you reply, "I don't have to. It was just an idea. Sorry. It was stupid."

"Hey, silly girl." He sits in front of you on the floor, moving your boots out of the way as he shifts closer. "It's not stupid. Look at me," he says gently, tilting your chin up with his index and middle finger so that he can look into your eyes. "It's not a stupid idea. And you don't have to apologise. If that's something you want to do, I'd be more than happy to let you, okay?"

The slight pout on your lips is so adorable he feels like his heart might explode.

"Are you sure? You don't have to say yes," you mutter shyly. "It doesn't matter, really. You can say no, it's—"

"Baby," he cuts you off in a gentle voice, his tone one that makes your stomach flutter. The motherfucker always knows what to say and how to say it to shut you up. "I'm sure."

Your lips twitch into a nervous smile. He thinks it's so incredibly cute how you're so shy and sweet when most people would assume other things about you based on your appearance. He thinks it's silly how people make assumptions on others based on how they dress. He thinks a lot of things, but his mind goes blank when you lean in and kiss him.

Immediately kissing you back, he smiles against your lips and rests his hands on your waist to pull you just a bit closer. Knees knocking together, you break the kiss with a giggle and tuck his hair behind his ear.

"Do you want to do it now, or later?" he asks.

"Now. Is that okay?"

"Of course," Spencer says, smiling as he kisses you once more before standing up and pulling you to your feet.

So you head into the bathroom together, but you decide he's too tall for you to be able to do it properly when he's sat on the counter. He laughs when you tell him that, and disappears into the bedroom while you gather the rest of your make-up. Once you have everything, you follow after him into the bedroom.

"Sit on the bed," you instruct.

"Yes, ma'am," he replies with a laugh, sitting down with his back against the headboard.

Giggling softly, you walk over and set the various items in your arms on the nightstand. As you move to sit on the bed, straddling his lap, you shrug off the zip-up and drop it onto the other side of the bed. Even while you're doing something as simple as reaching over to grab a headband, Spencer still looks at you like you are the eighth wonder of the world.

You smile at him as you gently push the headband into his hair, keeping it back off his face. It's gotten so long recently — not that you're complaining. You love running your hands through the soft strands, curling them around your fingertips. "You're so cute," you mutter. "My pretty boy."

You can feel the heat of his skin beneath yours as you cup his face between your hands and press a sweet kiss to his lips. Lips parting, tongues teasing each other's, his hands running up and down your sides, pulling you closer by the small of your back.

You break the kiss with a giggle, a string of spit attached between you. "Okay, we need to get started," you say through laughter as he licks his lips.

"One more kiss," he murmurs, leaning in and pecking you gently.

Smiling, you stroke his cheek for a moment before straightening up and reaching over to grab your moisturiser from the nightstand. Spencer watches you intently as you flick open the cap and squeeze some out onto your fingertips.

"It's cold," you warn him before you swipe the moisturiser onto his cheeks and gently rub it into his skin.

He doesn't mind the coldness of the liquid, just focusing on the feeling of your hands on his skin. He is pretty sure that your touch could make anything better.

He isn't sure if he is supposed to have his eyes open or shut as you dab some more onto his face, but he keeps them open so that he can look at you. The look of concentration on your face is so pretty.

He also isn't sure what to do with his hands — should he be touching you, or would that be a distraction? He keeps them lightly resting atop your thighs, knowing you'd tell him if you wanted him to stop touching you.

As you finish moisturising his skin, letting it sit for a few moments, you wipe off your fingers on a tissue and say, "You have really nice skin."

"That sounds like something a serial killer would say," he comments teasingly, a smile on his face.

"Shut up!" you giggle. "It's just a fact. Your skin is nice."

Swapping the moisturiser for a bottle of primer, you fall quiet as you flick open the cap. Soft hums of concentration vibrating through your lips, you rub it into his skin so that the make-up will actually stick to his face. His fingertips lightly trace rub circles onto your thighs as he watches you with nothing but awe and love in his eyes.

As you're blending out the white foundation onto his face with a damp beauty blender — he thinks that's what it is called — he wonders if he will look silly when you're done. Of course, he has never thought that you look silly when your make-up is all done, but he isn't you. To him, you look beautiful whatever you wear, however you present yourself. He's just not sure if this will suit him. Although, even if it looks bad on him, he'd let you do it over and over again until the end of time if it would make you happy.

Now that there is foundation spread evenly across his face, his skin feels kind of weird, but not exactly in a bad way. It almost feels tight, like something is pulling on it. It is a strangely nice sensation.

Spencer tries to stay still as you pat in the concealer beneath his eyes, his eyelids twitching slightly.

"Stop moving," you scold playfully, pausing your actions for a moment.

"I'm trying," he replies, his voice a breathy chuckle.

"Try harder."

"You're so bossy."

"You know you love it."

He smiles, amused. You're right, he does love it. He loves anything and everything that you do. Since the moment he met you, he has been completely whipped. Obsessed. In love.

After finishing the grey-ish contour on his nose and beneath his cheekbones, you start on the eyeliner. You decide to do something simple, rather than the more elaborate designs you sometimes do on yourself. Beginning to draw a wing from the corner of his eye, you will your hand to not shake like it usually does; you don't want to end up getting overly frustrated and having to redraw it fifty times.

Somehow, it goes smoothly, and you finish both wings without a problem. You use a black eyeliner pencil on his waterlines and add a smidge of dark purple eyeshadow to his lids before curling his lashes. How come men always have such luxurious eyelashes? you think.

"Okay, I'm not gonna put on false lashes, I'll just do mascara," you tell him, leaning over to grab one of your unused mascaras from the nightstand.

As you do, you shift too much weight and almost fall off the bed. Quickly, Spencer leans forward steadies you with a hold on your waist. "Careful there, angel," he laughs in a teasing tone. "You're so clumsy sometimes."

"Well, says the one who spilt coffee on the counter twice in one day last week!" you reply, giggling.

"I never claimed to not be clumsy," he counters, patting your thigh. "JJ is right when she says that my coordination drops off when I'm thinking."

"A wise woman," you muse.

"Very."

You smile, kiss his forehead, and grab the mascara. As you twist it open and wipe off the excess, you say, "Okay, just blink when I say to, okay?"

"Okay."

So you apply mascara to his stupidly nice eyelashes, dab a tiny bit of highlighter onto the apples of his cheeks and the tip of his nose, and put a simple lip combo on his beautiful lips.

"Okay, there. I think it's done," you say. Quickly, you take it back. "Wait, I need to do your hair."

"Alright," he chuckles as you take the headband out of his hair, discarding it onto the nightstand.

You head off into the bathroom to grab your hairbrush, returning a moment later with it and a few hair ties. You manoeuvre him into the position you want — sitting more in the middle of the bed — and sit behind him on your knees.

"Your hair is so soft," you murmur as you gently run your fingers through it.

"You say that every single time you play with my hair," he points out, a smile in his voice.

"And it's true every single time," you reply as you start to brush his hair.

Spencer hums contentedly, his eyes falling shut as you brush his hair. He's always loved when you touch his hair, whether that is stroking it, twisting it around your fingers, or pulling it. He loves it all.

As you brush his hair, taking your time, you wonder if he will like it. You wonder if he's enjoying this. You wonder if he liked letting you put make-up on him.

"I would, maybe, dress you up in my clothes, but I don't think any of them would fit you."

He laughs softly. "Yeah, probably not."

"And my boots certainly wouldn't fit your gigantic feet," you tease.

"Maybe your feet are just tiny," Spencer counters jokingly.

When you're satisfied that his hair is thoroughly brushed, you part it down the middle, separating it into two even-ish sections. You braid each half, something you have always wanted to do with his hair but never asked out of fear of him saying no. But right now, he isn't protesting, which you take as a good sign.

"Okay, all done," you chime happily, letting the braids fall onto his shoulders.

"Done?"

"Mhm, done."

Hopping off the bed, you take his hands in yours and lead him into the bathroom. Before you step inside, you make him cover his eyes as you tell him, "Okay, you can't judge it because I'm not used to doing make-up on other people."

Spencer nods, practically itching to see his reflection. "I won't judge. I promise."

"Good. Okay, you— you can look now," you reply, standing beside him and looking at his reflection in the mirror as he moves his hands away from his face.

His reaction is hard to decipher, but at least he does not look repulsed. After a moment of studying his face, his lips twitch into a smile.

"It looks good."

"Really?" you ask, rocking back and forth on your feet as you fidget with your sleeves.

"Yeah. I— I mean, it's obviously not something I'm used to, but it's... cool," he says with a soft laugh, turning to face you.

You smile, biting your lip. "Good. Okay, good. I'm glad you don't... you know, hate it."

Smiling back at you, Spencer wraps his arms around you and kisses the top of your head. "I could never hate anything you do."

"You're so cheesy."

#spencer reid #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid x reader #criminal minds #spencer reid fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #spencer reid fanfic #matthew gray gubler #mgg #criminal minds fanfic #x reader #goth! reader #fem! reader #alt! reader #alternative #alt #goth #trad goth

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andreafmn · 2 years ago

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Speak | Chapter 9

Word Count: 3.6K Story Description: Bella Swan was a disaster when Edward had left. Deciding she needed a little help, Charlie Swan receives with open arms his younger daughter (Y/N) Swan. She helps Bella during her depression and becomes inseparable from her long-lost friend Jacob. What she didn’t expect was falling for a hotheaded short-tempered silver wolf. Chapter: 9/? A/N: one day I'll upload early, y'all. but I am truly trying to keep to the schedule I posted, as hard as it is. But thank you for bearing with me. You guys have no idea how much it means to me 🥰🤍 My content will always be free, but if you’re feeling particularly generous, you can leave a tip on any of my posts to support me and my love of writing or buy me a coffee TikTok • Instagram • Business | MASTERLIST If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story: click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post! Taglists for Twilight get filled quick and Tumblr only lets me tag up to a certain point. Notifications are your best bet.

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Chapter 9

The Swan sisters had been raised with a misconstrued idea that the new year meant a fresh start, a clean slate. That it could magically erase any and all afflictions the year before had caused. That it truly was the first page of a new chapter.

And maybe that’s all that (Y/N) was hoping for that New Year’s Eve. That the coming year would be the first page of her new chapter in Forks. That whatever was happening with Paul would die that December night. That Bella would finally turn over a new leaf and forget Edward. That she could move forward with her relationship with Jake.

Because that’s what she wanted.

That’s what she had always wanted.

The thing she most needed was to get over whatever fluke it was that had made its way into her life. Whatever breach into her timeline that had decided to make her heart flutter out the sound of someone else’s name. It had been too sudden and unexplainable to not be a mistake.

Paul Lahote had no business settling into her heart in the way he had, and she would stop at nothing to pluck him as quickly as he had attached himself. Even if she looked forward to seeing him in her dreams at night, even if her heart skipped a beat at the mere thought of him, even if all she wanted was to get as close to him as possible.

(Y/N) wanted —at least she thought she wanted— to go back to being excited that Jacob had finally set his sights on her. She wanted the same thrill she got about Paul with Jake. He had been the crush that had withstood the trials of time. It could not be trampled over by a guy she barely knew.

Yet, she could not stop thinking how his favorite color was red, how he moved to La Push after his parent’s divorced when he was eight, how he didn’t remember much of his mother even though he had been old enough to, how he had never been in love but desperately wanted to know what it felt like. (Y/N) could not stop picturing the way his eyes would shine under the warm glow of the setting sun, how his smile would grow as he listened intently to every word she spoke. Nor could she shake off the feeling of his warm skin against hers, how soft his hands had felt where she believed they’d be rough and calloused. He was everything and nothing like she had thought, but she knew that was as far as she could go to know him.

“Well, don’t you look mighty nice?” Charlie’s voice broke his daughter out of thought. “I think you’ve been to more bonfires this month than I have been to in years. People might start forgetting the sheriff’s face around there.”

“I doubt that’s even possible, dad,” she chuckled, smoothing over a piece of hair that had been unruly for the better part of the day. “Really wish you could join us, though. Since Bella won’t be making it out there, I wanted a Swan there for moral support.”

“This about that Paul fella?”

The question took (Y/N) aback. She had thought no one but Jake knew about that whole fiasco, and she was certain he had not said anything to her dad. “How do you…?” she stammered.

“Bella muttered a thing or two about him. Said he was the one you had been with the other night,” her father said. “Something happen with you and Jake?”

“Nothing happened,” she muttered. “I’m just making new friends seeing as my stay in Forks might be longer than anticipated.”

“Well, that’s a good idea. Just be careful of the people you keep in your company.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Jake might have mentioned this Paul Lahote character is not the greatest influence,” Charlie added. “He thinks he might not have the purest of intentions with you, (Y/N). I just don’t wanna see you get hurt.”

“Well, I can tell you right now that you have nothing to worry about,” (Y/N) smiled comfortingly. The last thing she wanted was for her father to worry about her when his other daughter was still no more than a statue in their home. “I have only hung out with him that one time and I don’t think it’ll happen again. But thanks for checking in.”

“Just wanna make sure your transition back here is as smooth as possible, kiddo,” he responded warmly. “I know it’s gonna be hard to settle back here after being with your mom for so long. Forks might be a bit slow but it’s truly home.”

“I’m actually excited about staying. Even if it wasn’t the plan originally, there’s something about this town that’s just begging for me to stay,” she confessed. “Even if I came to help with Bella, I’m glad I decided to stay. It will also keep mom from taking us both back to Florida —at least for a while.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” The older Swan said before she nodded in response. “I’m just glad you two wanted to spend time with your old man. Even if I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“You’re doing good, dad,” (Y/N) chuckled. “I will say you got the shortest end of the stick having to be the one dealing with this breakup but I know you’re doing the absolute best you can. Hopefully, this new year brings us all the fresh start we so desperately need.”

“I hope so too, kiddo,” he sighed in defeat. “But have fun tonight, (Y/N), and make good choices.”

“Have I ever done anything else?”

“Very funny, kid,” Charlie chuckled. “Well, I’m off to work. I’ll probably not be here yet when you get back, so happy new year, (Y/N). And have fun.”

“Happy New Year, dad.”

Everything in Forks seemed to move at a punishingly fast pace, even if at times it felt like the town was stuck in time. But (Y/N) had been there almost four weeks which had already felt like a lifetime.

In comparison to living with Phil and her mother, in the midst of travel and adventures that she had loved for a time, (Y/N) had forgotten the calmness of remaining stagnant, of going to sleep and waking in the same home. She had forgotten what walking the halls of a school felt like, of having a group of friends that lasted more than a year.

Forks would give her that opportunity, or at least she hoped it would. The town had already started to change her and given her more than she could’ve hoped for. And that night she truly believed would set everything in the correct motion. Everything she had wished for with no more flukes.

An hour later and from the street she heard the honk of a horn. She gave herself a once over, not feeling completely comfortable with the way she looked that night. In part, she felt it was merely the nerves of seeing Jacob after the altercation with Paul.

But there was another part, the bigger part, that knew it was because of Paul. There was a calming thrill to him that she couldn’t explain. Even the juxtaposition of the thought made no sense to her. As much as she wanted to stay away from him, she wanted to get closer. It scared and excited her all at once.

Yet, the person that was waiting for her was not him. It was Jake, waiting impatiently behind the wheel of his truck.

“What took you so long?” Jacob grumbled as (Y/N) got into the car. “We’re already late as it is.”

“Sorry, Jake. I couldn’t find my jacket.”

“It’s fine, (Y/N). It’s just that Quil came back from his trip, and I wanted to catch up with him before school starts,” he said. “I also haven’t seen Embry since last weekend since he was with his mom visiting some family.”

“Yeah, I get that,” (Y/N) responded meekly, sinking into her seat. “At least we have the rest of the night to hang out with them.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” he smiled forcefully. “What about Bella? Is she not coming?”

“No,” she said through gritted teeth. “She wasn’t up to coming. Still bummed about this Edward guy.”

“What a shame,” Jake sighed. “Being around people would be good for her.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she mumbled. “But I can’t really force her. This guy did a number on her and nothing dad and I are doing is working. I’ve even decided to…”

“Maybe you guys don’t know her as well as you thought,” he blurted. “I mean, no offense but she’s not the same girl that left Arizona. She’s not even the same girl that came to Forks.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t help her, Jake. And that’s what we have been doing this whole time. Still, we can’t help someone that doesn’t want to help themselves.”

“I’m not trying to start a fight, (Y/N),” he grumbled. “I’m just saying that maybe your efforts have not worked because she’s not the same Bella you knew.”

The girl remained quiet, anger filling her body instantly. Bella remained a sore subject in the new relationship, always being brought up by Jacob, reminding (Y/N) that he had liked her sister first –and, deep down, she knew he probably still did. Still, wanted to remain in the delusion that he had chosen her for as long as she could.

“It’s fine. Let’s just drop this, okay?” (Y/N) pleaded. “I just want to enjoy tonight. Please.”

“Alright, yeah. Whatever.”

The rest of the ride went by in silence, a heavy tension filling the air and suffocating her. At that moment, more than ever before in her life, she needed to believe that the new year was truly a fresh start. A new beginning for her sister, a new beginning for her relationship, and a new beginning for her life in Forks.

As soon as the truck rolled to a stop, Jake was out of the car and heading to the beach, mumbling something to (Y/N) that he was gonna see his friends and that he’d catch up to her soon enough. Then, he left her in between the small sea of cars that lined the border of the beach.

The younger Swan was left dumbfounded, completely perplexed at Jake’s reaction. His outburst had made her feel small and unwanted. And as she stood frozen at her spot, watching the community celebrate before her, she wondered if there was any reason for her to be there. Because maybe the best thing she could do, for everyone, was leave.

“I’m glad you came, (Y/N),” a voice startled her. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Paul, hi,” she blushed, looking down at the black jumpsuit she wore under a white coat. “Thank you. You look great too. Especially with my sweater.”

“Oh, it was cold tonight and it was the first thing I grabbed,” he chuckled. “I promise I was gonna bring it back to you, not use it like it was mine.”

“Honestly, it looks better on you than it does me. Sometimes I feel like I drown in it.”

“I’m sure that’s not true. Your look great in a paper bag,” he grinned. “But I really am glad you came tonight.”

“And why is that, Paul Lahote?”

“Because I wanted to apologize for the other day. I never wanted things to end the way they did,” he said. His eyes searched hers in the darkness, wanting nothing more than for his hands to reach her, to feel her skin against his once more. “I’m sorry if I caused any trouble between you and Jacob. The last thing I would have ever wanted was for you to be blamed for my actions. You don’t deserve that.”

“Thank you, Paul,” she smiled, her hand unconsciously reaching for his, giving it a comforting squeeze. “But it’s not your fault. I was the one that agreed to spend time with you knowing that Jake would blow off the handle. If anyone is to blame for what happened that night, it’s me.”

Paul couldn’t help himself as his free hand flew to rest on her cheek, cradling her face in a soothing manner. “Nothing that happened was your fault, (Y/N),” he said. “Jake simply showed you who he is. You never did anything wrong. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

In that split second, (Y/N) remembered Jake’s words. She broke away from his contact, as though his touch had burned her skin, turning away from the enchanting trance his eyes held over her.

“What’s wrong?”

“It's just that Jake said something about you and… your past,” she sighed. “He said I was just an attempt to make your body count higher.”

“I hope you know how untrue that is,” he said, seething on the inside but not daring to show it to her. “You are special, (Y/N), and I would never do anything that would make you feel otherwise.”

“But why, Paul? What is so special about me? To everyone, I’m just Bella’s little sister.”

“You have to know that that is the least interesting thing about you,” he said. He reached out to her, needing to look her in the eye again. “You’re funny, you’re kind, you’re smart and witty. And that’s merely the tip of the iceberg. I may not have known you for long but I know there’s so much more to you than you let on. And all I’ve wanted was to learn about those parts that you hide from everyone else.”

“I still don’t know why!” (Y/N) responded, frustration pooling beads of tears in the corners of her eyes. “How can I trust someone that somehow says everything I want to hear but won’t give me a straightforward answer? Why me, Paul? Out of all the people in the world, why do you want to know me?”

At that moment, he felt he would spill everything. He wanted her to know just why it was her, why the universe had decided that it had to be her. Paul wanted to confess what bonded them and would keep them for the rest of their lives.

And he would have, but the fear of putting her in any danger could not let him say the words. He could not bring himself to utter any of the words that would throw her life up in shambles. “Why not you, (Y/N)?” he asked her, biting his tongue to keep what he wanted to say from spilling. “Is it so hard to believe that I could have seen you and be intrigued by you?”

“You saw me for a split second, Paul. Someone you’ve never known of cannot be worth all this trouble.”

“You are worth it, (Y/N).”

“And you are frustratingly vague,” she finally cracked a smile. “Why can’t you just answer me? What is it that you’re hiding?”

“You’d never believe me if I told you,” he copied her smile. “And isn’t a little mystery fun?”

“It could be if it didn’t get me in trouble with my boyfriend.”

“That could be fixed by breaking up with him, you know,” Paul teased. “A lot of things could be fixed if Jake was gone.”

“Are you threatening my boyfriend, Paul Lahote?”

“I would never,” he laughed. “But I still believe that he doesn’t deserve you, (Y/N).”

“Will you ever let that go?”

“Don’t think I can.”

And maybe she knew he was right but it was too hard to admit it, to him or to herself. She had wanted Jake for the better part of her life and one night could not change that. She wouldn’t let it. “Then you’re gonna have to if there’s ever gonna be some sort of friendship between us,” she said. “Might be hard to spend time with someone that’s always trashing their boyfriend.”

“I mean, you’ve only got a couple more weeks before you have to go back to Florida, right? I think I can control myself in that time.”

“Actually, I decided to move to Forks with my dad,” she smiled. “Bella isn’t getting better and I’ve honestly gotten attached to this town. It might be that some people have made this place so enchanting.”

“Then I guess I’m gonna have to work harder on pretending that I like Jake,” he grinned. “But I am glad you’re staying. The town wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“I’ve only been here for three weeks, Paul,” she laughed.

“And nothing has been the same since.”

“You’re something else.”

“I could say the same about you,” Paul added before noticing Jared calling him over. “And on that note, I will have to leave you. I’ve got a couple of things I have to do. But not before you give me your phone number.”

“My number?”

“That way I’d we ever wanna see each other it doesn’t have to be by me showing up at your house or running into each other at a bonfire.”

“Right,” she chuckled, handing him her phone. “That’s smart.”

“I’ll see you around, (Y/N),” he smiled before kissing her on the cheek and disappearing down the beach.

As soon as he was out of sight, (Y/N) looked around, hoping that no one had witnessed what had just happened. As innocent as everything could have been, in such a small town, everything was known.

Once she had calmed down, she finally walked toward the commotion of the beach. Feeling as confused as she had been since meeting Paul, but at peace. Being around him made her feel serene, tranquility spreading through her veins. Though he made her heart race, he didn’t make her chest feel tight. It was a feeling that made her feel equal parts uneasy and calm.

“Where were you?” Jake asked as she joined him and his friends, a hint of annoyance dancing between his words.

“Just around,” she smiled. “I was actually planning to get something to drink. Do you guys want anything?”

“We’re good,” Embry smiled kindly. “But thank you.”

“Just hurry,” Jake added before becoming more interested in the conversations he was having before she had gotten close. “And bring me back a water, thanks.”

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

(Y/N) left him quickly, needing to compose herself before heading back toward him. She could feel how annoyed he was at her. Ever since that afternoon with Paul, Jake had become distant and rather cold toward her but she could understand why. As much as it pained her, she knew why and that she had to do something to make it up to him while keeping what angered him a secret.

“It’s good to see you around, (Y/N),” Billy said as he joined the girl’s side at the refreshment table. “I was wondering when I would see you again.”

“Hi, uncle Billy,” she smiled. “I’ve been meaning to go by the house but I’ve been busy these couple of days.”

“And things have been heated between you and my son.”

“How did you…?”

“Small town,” he smiled softly. “But I’ve already had some words with my son about his behavior toward you. It was completely unacceptable.”

“It might have been an overreaction but it was warranted,” she said looking down. “I knew what I did would anger him but I still did it.”

“That doesn’t mean he can chastise you in the middle of town. My son is young and can be quick-tempered,” Billy sighed, taking one of (Y/N)’s hands in his. “He says and does things that he doesn’t know he will regret one day, and you don’t deserve to be in the receiving end of that.”

“Thank you, Billy,” (Y/N) smiled, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “But I’m sure he’s sorry for that night and we’ll work through it together.”

“You know, I love my son, but he can be quite stubborn when he wants to. Even at his own detriment. Still, I hope this new year brings you both clarity and growth. Both personally, and if the gods want it, in your relationship as well.”

“I hope so too, uncle Billy.”

“My son is lucky to have you by his side. Even if he doesn’t know it.”

(Y/N) felt a new surge of confidence as he joined Jake and his friends once more. Knowing Billy was watching her back made her feel stronger about her relationship with Jacob and that it was worth investing her heart and time into. She knew her heart yearned for Jake and all she felt toward Paul was a strong sense of friendship.

As the hours passed and the tension between her and Jake seemed to dissipate, her resolve simply solidified itself. She would do anything possible to fix her relationship with her boyfriend and keep her friendship with Paul separate from Jacob.

But there was the smallest part in her that replayed Paul’s voice. He kept telling her how she deserved better and that Jake was not the right person for her, even if that was who she had wanted for so long.

Still, when the clock struck twelve, Jake was the one she kissed, and wished things would work out between them. She wished for him to only see Bella as a friend and finally give his whole heart to her. Wrapped in his arms as they cheered the new year, she begged the universe to give her the chance to have everything she had wished for.

Yet as her eyes found Paul’s in the crowd, she doubted if it was what she truly wanted or if she was holding onto a silly childhood dream.

Next ->

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acquired-stardust · 7 months ago

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Acquired-Stardust's First Anniversary!

It's the one year anniversary of Acquired-Stardust! A huge thank you to everyone who's supported us so far. Read on for some more detailed thoughts from both Ash and Larsa looking back on our first year.

Wow, so it's been a year already huh? And what a roller coaster of a year it's been, with so many more highs than lows. Larsa and I originally started Acquired-Stardust to help motivate us to experience some of the overwhelming amount of media on our backlog and to hopefully help share some enjoyment of things new to us that was deserving of it alongside stuff we already knew and loved. Two specific goals were to avoid dwelling on negativity with a focus instead on what's worth our and your time, and to avoid trying to quantify fun or quality with traditional scored reviews of things. In that pursuit I utilized some of my enjoyment of virtual photography (which started in part due to being a Tumblr user as far back as 2011), finally getting around to writing more in a public capacity and we even learned how to make gifs specifically for this blog. All that in and of itself has been really rewarding to do, but the reception that you all have given our posts has been overwhelming and far exceeded our wildest dreams.

Low points come with a silver lining. Dealing with our content (so far almost entirely visual works) being reposted without any credit or permission by large Twitter accounts has been frustrating, and necessitated the creation of a Twitter account of our own (which you can find here) to try and hopefully get out in front of stuff like that and bring more stuff that people might want to see to more eyes. The account has struggled mightily with visibility, but it's been a great reinforcement of our original choice of platform in Tumblr. Tumblr's community has an integrity and emotional depth not seen elsewhere, and the platform itself allows people to connect with the sorts of things they want to see much more organically without the heavy-handed forcing of algorithms incentivizing people ripping each other off. Tumblr users are the kind of people I want to make things for, and Tumblr is the platform I want to make things for. Sharing our journey through media worth experiencing with you has been and will continue to be an honor and a pleasure.

We have plenty more ideas for stuff to post. For one we'd like to cover anime much more frequently, though it's a crowded space with lots of very talented and dedicated people covering it. We'd also like to write more often about games and anime both, and have plenty of subjects in mind including various things of a wider focus than just singular pieces of media. We'd like to create a pinned post that has a directory of sorts with links to an about section alongside things like filters for popular posts and writing. We've also been thinking of occasionally reblogging some of our older posts to bring them to newer followers who might've missed them the first time around. Hopefully you all will continue to enjoy the stuff we make even half as much as we've enjoyed bringing it to you all.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this first year so special for us, and here's to many more. Treat yourselves to something nice today in our honor so you can share in our joy as well.

-- Ash I cannot believe that it has already been a year since Ash and I decided to start this blog together as a team. I suppose the saying must be true that time files when you are having fun because my time spent on this blog has a been a great experience. We started this blog expecting that our posts may never be seen by anybody and that was okay as long as the cool things we were passionate about had a chance to be seen by anybody at all even just one extra time. However, quickly our posts started to get some eyes on it and our fellow Tumblr users actually enjoyed the stuff we posted so far. My gaming background has been many RPGs, fighting games, strategy games, third person shooters, and then that extended further to other hobbies like trading card games such as "Yu-Gi-Oh!". Oh and I shouldn't forget to mention an unhealthy amount of monster taming games. It's cool to see on this community that so many of you love these things too. Likewise we have enjoyed when you all would share your feelings with us in replies or reblogs about the subject matter. Seeing what the subjects of our posts mean to you means the world to us. Personally I had never been involved on Tumblr much until this blog maybe due to my severe shyness. The platform to me always felt like something that passed me by back in the day like a ship in the night and perhaps people weren't active on it anymore. I was completely wrong in that assumption the community here is not only active everybody is almost unanimously incredibly thoughtful and nice. Sometimes the world can feel like a pretty awful place especially when you are disabled while living an alternate lifestyle. I think we all deserve some light to brighten things up in life. Thank you all for the support over the past year, it means a lot to us and we will keep working hard to keep bringing more to the blog. My goal is to keep spreading positivity and writing about more subjects to share with you. Please look forward to the future and let's all be kind. -- Larsa

#written posts

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clovermarigold · 6 months ago

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Daggers & Daffodils Chap. 28

To those who are reading this on wattpad and AO3. I highly suggest checking out https://www.tumblr.com/blog/clovermarigold Which is where I post my works on Tumblr. I have extra content for my other series and may decide to do the same for this one if it garners enough interest. It is also much easier to send out announcements there, so you'll be more likely to know when new chapters will be released, what delays there are, as well as participate in polls that directly affect the plot. As a bonus, I am currently taking requests, so if you have questions about the fic, maybe want some head cannons of our favorite berserker drop on by!

think i might have outdone myself with the fluff in this one. also, BACK TO REGULAR LENGTH CHAPTERS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, eyes fliting from the number of dragon hunters guarding the edges of the ship to your friends on the deck bellow you. It was clear they had tried and failed to escape. What made the situation worse was the fact that Heather seemed to be the one to foil the plan. Beating Astrid in a one on one. Something Tuff would not be letting her live down, despite being unarmed while Heather had her axe.

The whole situation felt wrong, being betrayed by such a close friend. You couldn't help but feel a bit petty. She had been so mad at you for 'not being honest' about your relationship with Dagur, and now here she was. Aiding him in his deranged mania, capturing and selling dragons, all the while preaching about being a happy family together?

She was furious with you, and suddenly she was yours and Dagur's biggest supporter. It didn't feel right. But regardless of how it felt, what mattered now was getting of this ship. Heather had convinced Ryker to make them work on the ship, an uncomfortable feeling settling in your gut when Dagur kept you from inheriting the same punishment. The idea of special treatment felt wrong in of itself, and you would much prefer working if it meant you could see Silver Tongue.

The ship was on lock down now. Sneaking out would be near impossible, and that wasn't even taking into account the berserker currently attached to your hip. Deranged as he may be, he was smart. He kept you on a shorter leash than you gave Scabbard on wash day.

There was always some part of him resting on you, whether it be a hand loosely playing with your fingers, an arm casually draped over your shoulders, or you 'least favorite' his head latched onto your neck, his chin hooking over your shoulder to keep you in his arms in front of him.

The two of you walked the ship, Dagur rambling about floral arrangements, invitations, and other wedding chores. It was clear that though security was tight, the guards were all tasked to individual prisoners, focusing on one rather than communicating with the others. In this case, dividing and conquering would be your best bet. Knowing your brother, he was no doubt formulating a plan to break you and the others free. But how long would that take?

"What do you think?" you were caught off guard by Dagur's question. Was he talking to you? Of course he was, but you weren't exactly listening, "I don't really care". Dagur's smile dropped, giving you a once over. He was thinking something, you were sure. But whatever it was, he made no comment, only pulling you in closer to his side as he sped up your pace, choosing to refocus his attention to patrolling.

Well, that was the opposite of what you needed.... Wait. The opposite of what you needed! It would only be a matter of time until Hiccup came back with his plan of action, whatever that was, so why not make things easier for him.

"I'm sorry" he paused your pace to shoot you a shocked look, "I just... Don't feel comfortable with all these people possibly eaves dropping".

He switched to a more concerned tone, "It's only temporary, you won't have to worry about them for long" the crazed look paired with the ominous warning left you on edge. Biting the inside of your cheek you pushed down any mixed feeling you had and decided to commit to your half-baked plan.

"Personally, I would pref-" he cuts himself off when you wrap yourself around his arm. "I don't like Dragon Hunters" you state bluntly. His opposite hand moved to rest on yours, currently wrapped around him, "We can go back to the room".

"No!" you paused, recollecting yourself, "No. I don't want to go back in that room again... I need fresh air". You shoot a glare at a hunter you catch staring. Dagur notices too, grip tightening ever so slightly.

You don't catch what it is, but Dagur must have done something, because in a matter of seconds, the hunters on the back half of the ship excuse themselves. Mission complete, with the back half completely unarmed the ships integrity would be compromised. All that was left was to keep it that way.

A deep breath sounded from the man beside you. You knew him well enough to tell he was in thought. About what, you had no idea. But considering it was Dagur, that was probably for the best.

You pause, thinking of what to say, "Is she happy with you?" was all you could come up with. And it was an important question in your mind. Heather had been very clear in her conflicted feelings about staying with the group. For her to do THIS was completely out of character for her, but at the very least you could get a gage of why.

"Of course," the way he jerked his head sharply showed genuine confusion to the thought it would be anyway else.

"I just... want to know that she's ok" not entirely untrue. You wanted her to be as well as she possibly could. So, strangling her unconscious would feel more rewarding. You mentally chastised yourself for thinking something so cruel about a friend. Then again, was she even still your friend after this.

"Y/N", it wasn't anything new, but it always felt a bit wrong when he called you by your name. He only ever did it when he was trying to point out 'flaws' in your beliefs. Even when he said it to tease you, he did it in a way that felt like a nick name or a term of endearment. You don't like how much he's been saying it. Every time he says it the pit in your stomach feels a bit larger.

"I promise you; I will never do anything to hurt our family" it was said seriously. Something that felt foreign and uncomfortable on Dagur. Not even threatening, just a solemn oath. Granted you saw the irony in the promise, with him actively trying to kill your brother. But you suppose that was just because in Dagur's logic Hiccup wasn't a part of your 'real' family.

It didn't excuse anything, but at least you were learning a bit more of how his insane and unruly logic worked. The fact that you were likely the one to know it best concerned you to no end.

Not knowing how to add to the conversation and emotional bombshell that just happened, you contented yourself to tightening your grip around Dagur's arm, slightly leaning your head in as well.

To your surprise, Dagur didn't take this as a sign or excuse to tease, make a move, or even comment on anything. Instead, he stayed silent, quietly watching the horizon. Though you did feel his thumb ever so slowly beginning to move up and down on your wrist.

It was... peaceful. Actually, now that you think about it, this might be the most calm and gentle moment you've had in months. Sun shining a warm blanket on your skin, mist cooling you in waves, and the faint sound of Dagur's heartbeat mixing with the ocean.

It made your mind wander. Back to when you were kids playing on the cliffs. Chasing each other because one of you wouldn't stop cheating. Getting tired and sleeping under trees instead of going back to the village because your parents would make you go home. Simpler times.

You didn't notice when Dagur's head had moved to rest on yours. But it didn't bother you as much as it should. Just an extra pressure, but not an uncomfortable one. Like a blanket, just heavy enough to make you feel extra safe.

For a moment you wished time would stop. That you could stay in this moment, free from any expectation or plague of reality the world would throw at you. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and you would be pulled from your peace in a cruel and painful way.

A howl sounded from underneath the ship. And not just any howl, you knew that sound, "Silver tongue!". Dagur was quick to try and grip your arm, unfortunately for him you were just quick enough to slip past him and run towards the hull.

"You have no idea who you're messing with!" the sound of Astrid yelling from her cell only made your blood pressure spike ten times over as you nearly leapt down the stairs. The scene of horror you were met with was more than enough to shatter any moment you thought you were having. Silver Tongue strapped down in a cell struggling harshly against three hunters as they roughly pulled the arrows from his wing and left him.

You moved to rush them when a sharp pain emitted from your scalp. "And where do you think you're going" Ryker, "I thought you two were keeping an eye on this one".

"A mistake on my brother's part" the sharp sting dissipated as you were traded into the much softer hands of Heather. "His wounds will get infected if you don't let me treat him" you pulled against Heathers grip to no avail. Looking back, you were met with Heathers dethatched gaze, though you could sense a faint guilt behind her steely exterior.

"That's the buyers problem. I won't go wasting any supplies on faulty merchandise. Sides" he leaned closer to the cage, causing silver tongue to let out a low growl. "His hides already damaged beyond worth. Suppose his skeleton would make a good center piece".

"I'll kill you" Your thrashing was enough to break out from one of Heathers hands. And had you not been so quickly traded into Dagur's you may have been able to get a good swing in on the bastard, "Heh. Put her in the brig. Before I throw her in a cell". Threats aside didn't stop you from putting up a fight as you were dragged away back into that Odin forsaken room again.

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

"I think that little brat's growing on me" Ryker joked.

"Ryker! Rykeeee" a frown spread across Dagur's face as he felt a twitch in his eye. Oh, so he was going to call his wife a brat after insulting his sister, and him. Well, that wasn't going to happen. Damn the plan, Dagur would rip out Rykers spine for the whole fleet to see if it meant putting him in his place.

A glare from Heather pulled him from his murderous thoughts. 'Fine. You luck out today', it was a good thing Heather was there. With the exception of you no one else could, or even really knew how to ground him. Ryker would get to live for today, but that wouldn't stop him from making... alteration to the plan, specifically ones regarding what he would do to him once everything came into focus.

"Little side note" his smile dropped, "If you ever disrespect my wife again or so much as touch her, I won't hesitate to wear your ribcage as my battle armor". The ship went quiet as the two stood still, neither moving so much as a hair.

For a moment, Heathers fingers brushed over her axe, waiting for a fight to break out. "Hmph, keep her out of my hair" Ryker turned with a huff.

"What hair" Dagur mumbled like a child, only for a smack to hit him upside the head. "Ow, what was that for" Dagur turned towards his sister.

"For almost screwing everything up. I want to beat Ryker too, but we can't do that until we get to Vigo" Dagur rolled his eyes. "I don't see why you're so obsessed with meeting Vigo, the guys not even that interesting. You don't have a crush, or something do you? Because he is way older than you and as your brother I absolutely forbi-" Heather shoved a hand over his mouth before he started yelling.

"No, you idiot. We need Vigo so we can get access to the Dragon hunter monopoly, then when the time is right. WE take over" a sinister look took over Dagur. "Oh, I knew you were a genius, mom would be so proud". Heather bit back an insult and hit him on the back, "Go check on Y/N. I don't doubt she's losing it"

"I don't understand why she's so upset over that overgrown lizard" Heather turned sharply to her brother, "You wouldn't get it!".

"Alright alright, touchy subject" he backed away slowly.

Stopping outside the door he could hear you pacing, gods he hated it when you were worked up like this. Don't get him wrong, it was adorable, and hot. But only when it was, he was the one to work you up. Not Ryker.

knocking lightly, your pacing stopped. "My love" he opened the door carefully, stepping in. "I know you're upset so I thought we coul-" A fist collided square with his nose sending him stumbling back.

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

You were angry. No, that would be an understatement, you were livid. So naturally the first thing you would do upon having anyone dare to enter your space would be to knock them as hard as you could in the nose. Your dad always said you had a nasty right hook.

It didn't surprise you when it was Dagur, honestly, who else was it supposed to be. That didn't cause you to feel any twisted form of guilt like it usually would. No, if anything you wanted to do it again.

"Wow!" Dagur said shocked clutching his nose, which was now bleeding, "If you don't give me my dragon I swear I'll rip you're damn head off!".

Dagur nodded still clutching his nose with wide eyes, "ok ok.... You're very pretty right now, can I kiss you?". You raised your hand to hit him again, though this time he was prepared, swift to dodge, "Ok I get it. I'll get the overgrown lizard some medicine or something".

"I mean it, Dagur. Real medical attention" he put his hands up assuring you repeatedly.

"Have you been working you because I think I can smell colors" taking a deep breath you have him a once over. Damn it, did you give this man a concussion?

"Sit on the bed" obediently, without so much a word of argument, Dagur listened. Lifting his chin up you checked his eyes, making him track your finger. ok, visual awareness seems fine. You snaped in his right ear, "Ow, what was that for?".

"Good, you can hear fine. You're being dramatic, you're fine". You moved away from him. How had things been so fast to go to hell. One moment you were having the most relaxing rest of your life. The next you were angrier than you had ever been in your life.

"You know, you're getting a lot better at this" you turned to the idiot in question, "Hitting you?".

"No, acting like... you" you raised a brow. "Actually, expressing yourself. A month ago, you wouldn't even yell at me beyond 'you're delusional, I'm never gonna marry you, Dagur', " he said in a terrible mock imitation of your voice, "Now, you're actually dealing with the real problem".

"The real problem? My problem is that you can't help but ruin my life!" you scream. "THERE! Right there! You're actually learning to speak your mind. Not the rehearsed argument you tell yourself to sleep at night, your actual thoughts" he laughed.

"You're insane" you groan in irritation and half disgust, "Ok. bit of a step backwards but some of that is you".

"Can you shut up" Dagur, to your relief, did stop talking.

Gods, even when he's not talking it's like you can hear voices in your head yelling at you. Wait.... no. Those aren't in your head. "Dragon riders!". Hiccup!

"Stay down here" Dagur shot up, slamming the door behind him, the sound of a lock sliding into place confirming your suspicions.

You hadn't been successful in managing to make his plan easier, so you would have to hope his plan would work. A scratching at the door grabbed your attention, followed by a small spark of fire through the crack underneath, "Scabbard! Good girl".

She let out a pleased chirp at your praise. "Ok, pleeeeease find a way to understand me and slide the lock open" silence. "I will give you all the fish if you unlock this door", nothing. "I will give you all of Silver Tongue's fish if you open this door" the metal bar rang as it hit the floor.

"You little con artist" Scabbard shot up off the ground, purring as she nuzzled herself in a vise grip around your neck. "I know, I know, no more privacy when I get home huh".

Sneaking upwards you were relieved to see the hunters were preoccupied with Hiccup and Snotlout in the air, allowing you to get into the hull where your friends were already making their escape.

Granted they were still dealing with the few dragon hunters downstairs with you. You trusted them to be able to handle them, your priority was Silver Tongue. Quickly, you slid past and ran to his cell, cutting the ropes as fast as you could. It wasn't clear if the hunters had done it, or if it had been Silver Tongue while trying to free himself, but he was covered in small cuts and scratches, bruising covering underneath his second left wing.

"It's ok, were going to get you home, and clean you up" he let out a low pathetic growl and huff, he was exhausted, sorry Scabbard but you weren't getting any of his fish.

"Y/N!" Astrid called. "I'm coming. Come on buddy, you got this". Carefully, he pushed off the ground, launching up through the open hatch in the ship Storm fly had blasted open.

Dagur was right, you had gotten better expressing your anger. And with Thor as your witness Ryker was going to learn just how much anger you had.

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

thank you for reading!!! A longer chapter to make up for the wait. Thank you to everyone who has been commenting, I read every single one.

ps. no proofread on this one so sorry for spelling and grammar errors

Taglist

~~~~

@demogorgon-master1

@mj-jabami

@alicee-carter

@amearla

@milenaester14

#httyd #dagur the deranged #httyd dagur #dagur x reader #dagur #race to the edge

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samptlay · 1 year ago

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To My Sweetheart Who Carries A Wounded Heart Ch. 3

A/N: If you check my AO3 there might be more chapters there. Putting together a Tumblr post vs just uploading it on AO3, i think you can tell who wins my favor...

Series Masterlist, Chapter 1 🤍, Chapter 2 🖤

The group was already silent while listening to the doctor, but once he dropped the bombshell on them, others nearby grew quiet too.

March gasped while covering her mouth, Dan Heng & Welt looked down at the ground, and Himeko crossed her arms while looking away, Stelle seemed to not react, yet you could notice her pupils growing ever so smaller with each passing second.

Kafka's eyes fluttered shut as she let out a small “tch” and shifted the weight on her feet from one foot to the other. Silver Wolf let out a small wince as she simply looked away as if trying to hide from reality itself.

How you so desperately wished that was possible.

Blade, out of everyone, seemed to have a reaction that deferred from the rest. It was like he felt numb, went numb. Only being able to lock eyes on you.

His deep red eyes pour into your figure, even through the glass window.

Everyone already knew that Blade was closest to you, he had a soft spot for you, and it showed. It most likely pains his heart just as much as it pains you.

Even after everything, Kafka still found it intriguing, the way his hands were slightly trembling and balling up into fists. Glaring daggers at no other than your husband, Levi.

She didn't take a liking to him that much, neither did Silver Wolf & definitely not Blade. The group never spoke about it, but they knew why, it was painfully obvious.

The rest were on the fence about him. During college, he had been this wonderful mindful person, someone who would always be there to rely on. That's what had you falling for him.

But adulthood seemed to have flipped a switch inside him, and he was a lot more prideful than anything.

These days they don't keep in touch with him much due to this fact, but because of what he had done for them, they couldn't say he was a terrible person, either.

But it angered Blade. Why not label him for what he truly was? He could open his phone and scroll through all the messages of you venting to him about thinking you were a terrible partner, just because that narcissist told you so.

High stress levels? And who else would cause that except for the one you come home to every day?

He out of everyone didn't deserve you, but Blade also blames himself.

Would you have chosen him if he had done more to be there for you?

There was a brief moment when you and Ren locked eyes. Yours were red, almost as red as his own and he swore he almost felt a blood vessel pop.

Everyone else also took the time to watch you, not judge but simply observe.

They were either shocked, surprised, or at least taken aback by your tears. And you didn’t blame them.

You weren’t one to cry. Ever. Not at an injury, not at emotional distress, not at a funeral, even your own parent’s. “A weakness.” You would say, yet encouraged others to do so as you cradled them in your arms.

However, only a few took the time to stalk your husband as well.

Levi wasn't even looking at you, he appeared ashamed, even. But not of himself.

It would be obvious to anyone looking that he wasn't content with you right now.

But why?

Shouldn’t he be comforting his flesh and blood? Should he be there for you, reassuring you everything would be fine? But Ren knew you felt as alone as ever right now. Because Levi’s not even holding your goddamn hand.

#hsr x reader #honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #blade x reader #fem reader #toxic relationship #toxic partner #close friends #friends #miscarriage #fanfic #ao3 #ao3 fanfic

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luvrodite · 8 months ago

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kicking my past self for locking tumblr on my laptop i hate writing on my phone !!!!!! but anyway sorry thinking about The Boy and thinking about jason…jason who isn’t really himself but for the sake of this walk with me please please please

thinking about how you move into this big old manor, with its drafty halls and wide, wide rooms, a home too large for the eccentric old man who meets you, bruce wayne who shakes your hand and looks a little fearful as he moves through the rooms during your tour. you note the portrait that hangs in the foyer, large and its frame gilded, a little boy clinging to his side — he looks much much younger in this painting, no sight of the silver that takes up nearly his whole head now, wrinkles nowhere to be found. but it can’t have been that long — the date on the plaque is only a little over a decade old. there is something else in his eyes, something that wasn’t there then. but what would you know. you’re just the nanny.

he leads you to a bedroom, pristine, untouched, and curiously — home to not a child, but a porcelain doll. blue eyes stare lifelessly back at you as he deposits the thing into your arms, barely larger than a toddler. you cradle it, unease growing the more he talks, addressing the figure as though it were real, a twitch of his brow as he says something, the twist of his mouth when you think he believes you won’t see.

you chalk it up to grief — losing a child changes people. he’s been nothing but kind to you, if a little unorthodox. how could you fault him for the loss of his boy, one he had loved dearly, if the contents of the room are anything to go by. books that line an entire wall, a smudged handprint that matches the paint on the walls stamped into the white of the windowsill, accompanied by a much larger one. it tugs at your poor heart.

he takes your leave — a business trip, he says, one he expects to take him from home much longer than he anticipates. but you’ll want for nothing, he assures you, patting your hand, stroking the head of the doll — your payslips have already been scheduled and if you need anything, the town is only a short distance away. they’ll take care of you there, he says tightly, eyes flickering down to the mass in your arms. a funny look crosses his face, but it vanishes before you can place it.

and then, it’s only you. and the doll, of course. jason, he’d told you, but it is so eerily still, so lifeless and unmoving, that a real boy’s name does not suit it. the car vanishes up the road, and you are left all alone.

only, you aren’t. things begin to disappear and there is the distinct feeling of eyes on you that you try to chalk up to the isolation. but you can’t, because as hard as you try, there is no explanation for the absence of your underwear, the shirts that go missing and reappear in places you had not even occupied. footsteps in the hall, the sound of laughter.

you might be going mad.

you feel rather like a frog in a vat of water, burning slowly without even realising it. you ought to have run the moment you stepped through the doors of this beautiful, terrible home, you realise when you wake to the solid figure of a man at the foot of your bed.

your first thought is to scream, but a rough palm is pressing over your mouth before the sound can even slip out — absently, you think, what’s the point? who is there to hear you scream so far out here? in the dim, your tearful eyes take a moment to adjust to the light, heart seizing in your chest when you make out the porcelain mask atop his face.

that cupids bow, the cut of rosy cheeks, down to the very last detail — it’s him.

i think about a child whose death had not been avenged, returned from the grave to haunt a father who had been too late. a wrathful spirit, tormenting the man to his last days — saved only by an offering in his place.

unwittingly, your answer to the notice in the paper, seeking nanny for child, had sealed your fate long before you’d ever even passed the threshold of wayne manor. there is no one to save you.

and you had made your peace with the disturbances, fear addled mind accepting your stay would be spent co-inhabiting with the ghost of a boy gone too soon. you’d accepted his whims, then, damning yourself unknowingly, keeping to the routine you’d dismissed in the beginning.

the doll itself lies far away from you now, in its own bed, tucked in with a kiss to the forehead — he’d destroyed a few dozen volumes in the downstairs office when you’d forgone it once. you stare up at the man, the cause of all your haunting, not a spirit but real, solid flesh and blood. he looms over you.

there is a solid weight pressing into the space between your legs, and you remember the missing lace, satin stolen by unseen hands, cotton that would turn up amongst your clean laundry despite having never been loaded.

your name, whispered into the air, hangs between the both of you.

#and then you smash lol #cw dubcon #sweetaurore #jay my heart #jasonsmirrorball

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grayhyacinth · 5 months ago

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The Wishmaker Star

Go watch season three of The Owl House! I hope you guys enjoy another work I wrote. Unfortuantly, school is about to start again, so I'm not sure when I'll create another work. But, I won't forget about you.

Links: ao3, tumblr, masterlist

Hunter’s POV:

“…do you think she’s going to like it?”

“Dude, you know she’s been wanting a palisman for like... over five years!” Augustus sighed in exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose before sliding his fingers down the length of it.

“Yeah! I know, but—”

“Plus, you’ve been carving palistrom wood to make her the perfect palisman.” Gus added air quotes, emphasizing the last two words with a teasing smirk. “She’s going to love it.”

“…really? You think so?” The former Golden Guard turned the small, carefully wrapped gift box in his hand a few times, as if the motion could help him decide whether its contents were truly enough.

“Really.” Gus nodded with confidence, locking eyes with Hunter. “Now, come on! We’re gonna be late to the party!” He stopped mid-stride, suddenly grabbing Hunter’s hand and tugging him into a sprint.

“Haha, hey! Okay!” Despite the laughter in his voice, Hunter couldn’t shake the undercurrent of anxiety brewing inside him. What if you hated it? What if the last thing you wanted was a gift from someone who used to serve Belos?

His fingers tightened around the gift as they dashed through the forest, the sight of The Owl House growing closer. Deep down, he desperately hoped you’d appreciate it. More than that—he hoped you’d understand what the gift really meant to him. What you meant to him.

He blinked in shock. Did he really just think that? His ears burned bright red, and he forced the thoughts away, but they lingered, hanging in the back of his mind as they neared the clearing.

The trees thinned, revealing the tip of the familiar crooked roof, smoke billowing from a lit, bubbling cauldron. The scent of delicious food greeted them, and the sound of laughter echoed through the clearing, filling the space with warmth.

His eyes were instantly drawn to you.

“Haha, seriously, Luz?”

“Oh, come on! Don’t tell me you didn’t find that funny!” Luz was grinning, clearly proud of herself, but you were shaking your head, still chuckling.

“Your attempt at a dazzling light show ended up with random colorful sparks chasing each other around! You almost set King on fire!”

Your laugh rang out again, your head tilted back, eyes crinkled in a way that made you absolutely radiant in Hunter’s eyes. It had been three long months since your last visit to the Boiling Isles. And he missed you.

(Y/n) POV:

Returning to the Boiling Isle was like a breath of fresh air after drowning in the Human world. While Luz occasionally visited the Isle, you had thrown yourself into preparing for your exams, working day and night to secure your place at your dream university.

And now, you had done it. The letter was sitting back in your room, in the Owl House, confirming your acceptance. Tonight’s "Night Under the Stars" party wasn’t just a reunion with friends—it was the perfect chance to announce your plans for the future. But that didn’t stop the nerves boiling beneath your excitement.

Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted Gus and Hunter making their way through the crowd. The moment your gaze met Hunter’s, a wide smile spread across your face, and you waved energetically.

“Gus! Hunter! You made it!”

Gus approached first, grinning as he handed you a blue gift bag decorated with silver stars. “The party looks awesome, (Y/N)!”

“Thanks, Gus!” You took the bag, your excitement bubbling over. “You didn’t have to get me anything, though!”

He shrugged dramatically. “It’s either a gift or a firework show, and let’s just say... my track record with fireworks isn’t the best.”

You laughed. “You mean the time you nearly set Luz’s eyebrows on fire?”

Gus pointed at you. “Exactly! See, I’m learning from my mistakes. No more ‘explosive’ gifts. I went safe this time.” He gestured to the bag.

Peeking into the shimmering tissue paper, you raised an eyebrow. “Should I be worried about this gift now?”

Gus waved his hands quickly, eyes wide. “No, no! I swear, it’s not dangerous. This time it’s actually cool! Just, uh, make sure you open it carefully… outside.”

You shot him a playful glare. “Gus!”

He laughed, nudging you. “Just kidding.”

Hunter stood a little behind Gus, awkwardly shifting the small, carefully wrapped box in his hands. He took a deep breath, holding the gift out to you, his gaze darting nervously to the ground.

“I… uh, made this. For you.” His voice was quiet, and his ears were still red. “I hope you like it.”

You took a step away from Gus, eyeing the gift box with curiosity. It was wrapped in a beautiful shade of magenta, one that almost perfectly resembled Hunter’s eyes. A neatly tied yellow ribbon sat on top, forming a large, slightly uneven bow that added a cute, personal touch. You couldn’t help but smile—Hunter was really getting good at arts and crafts.

“This is…?” you asked, your voice soft as you carefully reached out, your fingers brushing against his as he held the box. His hand felt warm and rough, calloused from endless hours of training and carving. You couldn’t help but notice the small bandages wrapped around each finger, a testament to how much care and effort he must have put into this.

Your eyes flicked up to his face. Hunter’s blush deepened, his freckled cheeks glowing a light pink as his eyes darted anywhere but yours. He seemed frozen, caught between the hope that you'd like it and the fear that you wouldn’t. It was endearing, seeing the normally composed Hunter so nervous.

His voice barely came out in a whisper. “It’s, uh... just something I made. I wasn’t sure if it was good enough…”

You smiled, squeezing his hand gently to reassure him. “Hunter, you didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to,” he interrupted quickly, almost panicking at the thought that you might dismiss it. His eyes finally met yours for a second before he looked away again, clearly embarrassed by his own outburst. “I mean, I just… I thought you might like it. If you don’t, that’s fine too! I just—”

You cut him off with a soft laugh, feeling your own cheeks warm. “I haven’t even opened it yet, but I already know I’m going to love it.”

Hunter blinked, surprised by your words, but his shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. His lips twitched upward in the smallest of smiles as he mumbled, “I’m glad…”

You carefully took the box from his hands, your heart fluttering at how much thought he must have put into this. Whatever was inside, it already felt special. You looked up at him again, giving him another warm smile. "Thank you, Hunter. Really."

He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah, uh... you're welcome." He stole a quick glance at you, his blush deepening again.

You glanced over at Luz, who was giving you and Hunter a smirking look, clearly enjoying the awkward tension. “I think there’s a couple more things left to do before the party can start, right, Luz?” You raised an eyebrow at her, trying to shift the attention away from you and Hunter.

Luz’s smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, totally! But, you know, I think we could give you two a little more time to… finish your moment.” She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically.

You rolled your eyes, suppressing a laugh. “Luz.”

She snickered. “Okay, okay! I’ll behave. But yeah, there’s a couple last-minute things to get done. I’ll go grab the snacks from the kitchen, and King’s in charge of making sure everything goes well. You know how much he loves bossing everyone around.”

Hunter let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head. “Sounds like King…”

“Yup! Little guy’s already giving me a lecture about optimal stargazing positions,” Luz added with a grin. “But we’ve got it all under control. You two just… keep doing whatever you’re doing.”

“Luz!” you called, a mix of embarrassment and amusement coloring your tone as she dashed off with a mischievous wave.

Hunter stood beside you, looking slightly flustered but smiling softly. You turned back to him, giving him an apologetic shrug. “She’s… well, Luz.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, eyes softening as he looked at you. “She is.”

While Amity worked her culinary magic in the kitchen, preparing delicious treats and savory bites, Willow was outside weaving a tapestry of glowing enchanted flowers. Gus was busy setting up a stereo system and curating a playlist.

Lilith, ever the organizer, took charge of a trivia game focused on the magical history of stars and constellations. Eda zipped around with King to assist wherever needed—whether it was adjusting decorations, fetching supplies, or simply keeping an eye on things to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Hooty, with his characteristic enthusiasm, took on the role of party greeter and entertainer. He offered his over-the-top hospitality, engaging in animated conversations.

As for you and Hunter, you were hard at work preparing the stargazing area. Together, you laid out an array of soft blankets and pillows, arranging them in inviting clusters around the open space. You made sure there were ample cozy spots for guests to lounge and gaze up at the stars. Hunter adjusted the placement of a few blankets to ensure that everyone had an unobstructed view of the night sky.

Taking a step back, you admired the sight before you. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a final burst of orange and pink across the sky. As the daylight faded, the first stars began to twinkle, their light growing clearer against the deepening blue of the evening. It was a breathtaking backdrop for the night’s festivities.

With a deep breath, you called out, “Everyone! It’s time!” Your voice carried across the gathering, amplified by the excitement in the air.

Gradually, the guests made their way to their chosen spots, finding cozy places among the clusters of blankets and pillows you and Hunter had arranged. Plates of snacks and small bites were passed around, with some guests holding their treats in hand as they settled in. The soft murmur of conversation began to mingle with the occasional burst of laughter, while the louder chatter from Hooty and the background music set a lively, cheerful tone.

As everyone settled in, the trivia game organized by Lilith started to draw interest, with guests eagerly gathering around to test their knowledge of magical history.

"What rare type of star is known for emitting a gentle, calming glow that can soothe even the most agitated magical beings?”

“Oh! I know!” Willow immediately raised her hand. She was literally clutching a finger, hence the name for finger food, and waved it around excitedly. “The Tranquil Star?”

“Very good, Willow!” Lilith responded with a proud smile. She marked a point on her chalkboard, which rested on her lap. “Next question: Which star is known to be the source of the most potent moonlight magic used in spells and enchantments?”

“Hmmm…” You furrowed your brow, trying to recall your Astrology Class lessons at Hexite. But before you could come up with the answer, Eda chimed in, leaning back with a confident grin.

“Obviously, the Silver Beacon,” Eda declared, casually biting into a piece of spicy manticore jerky. “These questions are too easy. Either you’re getting rusty with your history, Lilly, or I’m just a natural.”

Lilith’s smile widened, clearly enjoying the challenge. She noted a point for Eda on the chalkboard. “Alright then,” she said, rubbing her hands together in preparation for a tougher question. “What is the name of the mystical star that is said to appear only once every hundred years and grants a single wish to those who find it?”

A hush fell over the group. Everyone furrowed their brows, deep in thought, but no one could come up with the answer.

Lilith’s eyes twinkled with a mix of anticipation and mischief. “Come on, folks,” she teased. “Anyone want to take a guess, or should I reveal the answer?”

Amity speaks first, tapping her chin thoughtfully with a finger. Her other arm is wrapped securely around Luz, drawing her close. “How about giving us a hint?” she suggests, her tone light but eager.

Everyone nods in agreement. Lilith, clearly enjoying the playful challenge, grins and leans forward. “Alright, I’ll give you a hint,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “The name of this star is said in stories we read to children.”

You spent a lot of time in the library, a habit sparked partly by Amity and Luz’s influence, but also because you genuinely enjoyed delving into the rich history and lore of the Boiling Isles. As you pondered Lilith's hint, a classic children's story came to mind. You murmured the title under your breath, “The Wishmaker Star.”

Hearing your whispered answer, Lilith’s eyes lit up with approval. “That’s right!” she exclaimed. “Nicely done, (Y/n)!”

The group erupted in applause, impressed by your knowledge. Lilith marked another point on her chalkboard, and the trivia game continued with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.

Once the trivia game ended, with Gus emerging as the clear winner, the friendly competition had everyone in high spirits, and now it was time for the much-anticipated moment: opening the wrapped gifts.

You gathered the colorful packages, each one tied with cheerful ribbons and adorned with heartfelt tags.

The first gift you unwrapped was from Amity. It came in a shimmering purple bag, and as you carefully lifted the tissue paper, you found a beautifully crafted crystal pendant. The pendant was shaped like a star, with intricate details that caught the light in a mesmerizing way.

Amity watched with a hopeful smile as you admired the pendant. “I thought it might be a nice reminder of the stars we’ve spent so many nights talking about,” she explained.

You were touched by the thoughtful gift and hugged Amity gratefully. “It’s perfect, Amity. Thank you so much!” you said, your voice filled with warmth.

The next gift was from Luz. In her yellow gift bag, you discovered a small, leather-bound journal. The journal’s pages were blank, inviting you to fill them with your thoughts, dreams, and magical discoveries. Luz had added a personal touch by writing a heartfelt note on the first page, expressing her pride in your achievements and her hopes for your future. You rushed over to hug her tightly.

Luz’s said enthusiastically. “I’m glad you like it. I thought it would be perfect for your new adventures,” she said, her tone filled with sincerity.

After that, you made sure to open each gift and to express gratitude with heartfelt joy.

Eda had gifted you a charming, hand-carved wooden charm that depicted a playful owl. The charm was both whimsical and meaningful, capturing Eda’s unique sense of magic and mischief. “I figured you could use a bit of my own brand of luck,” Eda said with a wink. “Besides, owls are good for keeping watch!”

Lilith’s gift was a beautifully crafted set of magical candles, each one infused with different enchantments. There was a candle for relaxation, one for focus, and another for inspiration. “These are to help you with your studies and your adventures,” Lilith explained with a warm smile. “Light them when you need a little extra magic.”

Gus’s gift was a set of magical quills and enchanted ink. Gus had been excited to see you use them, and his enthusiasm was evident. “I just knew you’d appreciate these for your notes and sketches,” he had said. “Be careful with that though. Only write with the bright green ink when you want something to come to life!”

Willow’s present was a collection of enchanted botanical seeds. Each seed had its own magical properties, such as glowing flowers or plants that could change colors with the seasons. “I thought you’d enjoy growing these,” Willow said with a shy but proud smile. “They’re a little bit of nature’s magic for your home.”

Next, was Hooty’s gift. The eccentric owl had been practically bursting with excitement, his eyes gleaming as he hopped around. With a dramatic flourish, he coughed up a large, oddly-shaped package that landed with a soft thud in front of you.

As you carefully peeled away the wrapping dripping with salvia, you discovered a bizarre but intriguing gift: a large, enchanted plushie that looked like a cross between a fuzzy critter and a whimsical creature. The plushie had multiple eyes and an array of mismatched limbs that wiggled amusingly.

Hooty, still brimming with enthusiasm, explained, “Surprise! I thought you could use a little friend to keep you company. This is Hooty’s special buddy, Fluffernox!”

“Haha…” You held the disturbing stuffed animal at arms length. “Thanks… Hooty…”

Lastly, you turned your attention to Hunter’s gift. His hands trembled slightly as you carefully untied the ribbon and unfolded the wrapping paper. Inside was a small, intricately carved wooden box. You noticed that the lid of the box had your initials. As you lifted the lid, you discovered a delicate, handcrafted palisman. The palisman was adorned with symbols and a subtle glow, reflecting the effort and care Hunter had put into its creation.

You were momentarily speechless, your eyes wide with amazement. “Hunter… This is incredible!” you finally managed to say, your voice filled with awe. “I’m truly surprised. It’s beautiful.” You held up the small creature, admiring it’s weight in your hand and the aesthetic.

Hunter leaned in, his hair brushing lightly against your forehead as he gently cupped your hands, holding the palisman between you. “All it needs to come to life is to know your deepest desire,” he whispered, his voice soft and intent. The warmth of his hands and the fresh scent of his shampoo made your pulse quicken. Heat rose to your cheeks, but Hunter was so focused on the palisman, he didn’t notice the way your gaze lingered on him.

“I—” you hesitated, the words catching in your throat. What was your deepest desire? What did you truly want? The weight of that question felt almost unbearable, and you swallowed hard, feeling the pressure of the moment closing in. Now was the time to tell them—about your future, your plans, everything.

You gently pulled your hands back, allowing the palisman to fall into Hunter’s palms. His expression shifted to one of confusion, but before he could ask, you stepped away, the silence from everyone around you suddenly heavy. Their eyes were on you—waiting, watching. You felt as though the weight of their expectations was pressing down on you, making it hard to breathe.

Your hand trembled as you clenched it into a tight fist, trying to steady yourself. You took a deep breath, scanning the faces of the people you cherished. They all looked at you with concern, curiosity, and affection.

“I… I have something to tell you guys,” you finally managed, your voice cracking just a little under the pressure. The words hung in the air, each one harder to say than the last. “I’m staying in the Human Realm.”

They blinked Everyone stared at you, stunned. You could feel the weight of their surprise, their confusion, and the sharp, heavy moment that seemed to stretch between all of you.

The silence that followed your announcement felt endless, thick with shock. You could see the confusion in their eyes, the sudden tension between excitement and uncertainty. Even Hooty, usually brimming with chatter, was silent, his long body frozen in place.

Luz instantly stood up, her wide eyes reflecting disbelief before she finally broke the silence. “Wait… you’re staying?” Her voice was a mix of confusion and hurt.

You nodded, your throat tightening. “Yeah. I got accepted into my dream university in the human world. It’s… it’s a huge opportunity for me.”

Amity’s eyes widened in understanding, but there was a flicker of sadness. She squeezed Luz’s hand. “You didn’t tell us. All this time, you’ve been planning to leave?”

“I didn’t know how to say it,” you admitted, feeling your heart pound harder in your chest. “I didn’t want to make anyone upset.”

Eda let out a low whistle, crossing her arms. Her usual smirk was replaced with something else, something more thoughtful. “Well, kid, that’s one heck of an announcement. I get it, though. You’ve got big dreams.”

Gus, stepped forward with his usual enthusiasm dimmed by concern. “Does this mean you won’t be coming back? Like, ever?”

Hunter, still holding the palisman in his hands, was the quietest. His magenta eyes darted between you and the small creature. His mouth opened slightly, but he hesitated to speak, clearly grappling with what this meant.

The pressure from their reactions hit you hard, and you tried to steady yourself. “I didn’t tell you guys sooner because…” you paused, taking a shaky breath, “because I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t an easy decision, but after everything that’s happened, I think it’s what I need.”

Luz’s lips trembled, her hand gripping Amity’s tighter. “But we’re your family too,” she said softly, her voice breaking slightly. “Are we… not enough?”

Her words cut deep, and you felt your heart ache as you tried to explain. “It’s not about that,” you said quickly, “it’s not about any of you not being enough. I love you all so much. But… I have a life back in the Human Realm. I’ve worked so hard to get into this university. I need to follow through with that, with my own future.”

Eda let out a small sigh and rubbed the back of her neck. “You’ve got to do what feels right for you, kid,” she said, her voice softer now. “It’s a tough call, but… I get it.”

Hunter, finally finding his voice, spoke quietly. “And the palisman…?” His eyes searched yours, his fingers brushing over the wooden surface. “It won’t come to life if you don’t… if you’re not here.”

You looked down at the palisman, the weight of his words sinking in. This creature, a symbol of magic, connection, and belonging in the Boiling Isles, would never awaken in the Human Realm. You felt a pang of guilt, but you stood by your choice.

Hunter didn’t said anything else, but his eyes met yours for a brief moment. There was something deeper in his gaze—something that made your stomach flutter with uncertainty. Finally, he broke the silence. “I’m happy for you,” he said quietly, his voice steady but laced with something unspoken. “This palisman… it’s for you, wherever you go.”

He reached out his arm, beckoning for you to take the palisman. You looked up at him and then back towards the creature. “Thank you, Hunter.” You said, your voice heavy. “I’ll—”

“Will you be gone forever?” Willow’s voice trembled, her lips quivering. She adjusted her glasses to hide the sight of tears brimming the edges of her eyes.

You shook your head quickly. “No, I mean—I’ll visit, of course. I’m not disappearing forever. I just… I need to do this. For myself.”

Lilith reached out and squeezed your arm gently. “We’re happy for you, you know? It’s just… we’re going to miss you.” She was the first to squish you into a hug. Everyone else followed suit, attaching themselves to you as if they could somehow keep you from leaving by holding you close. It was overwhelming, the way everyone piled on with their arms wrapped around you—each hug a reminder of the bond you shared.

“We’ll be like one of those inter-dimensional friend groups!” Gus continued, his voice muffled by the group hug. “We’ll visit you in the Human Realm, and you can visit us here. It’ll be epic!”

Luz, still clinging tightly to you, added, “Yeah! We’ve got portals! Nothing’s stopping us from seeing you.” "You better not forget about me, your majesty!" King puff out his chest. "After all, who else is going to teach you about ruling the world? I can’t have my future co-ruler running off to the Human Realm without a plan!"

Hunter stood a little apart, watching quietly. His arms folded across his chest, but you could tell he was trying to process it all in his own way. He still held the palisman carefully, his fingers tracing the edges absentmindedly.

As for Hooty, he'd suddenly stretch his long, bendy body over to you, making his presence known with his usual unsettling enthusiasm. "OH, (Y/N), MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!" He’d dramatically sob, then in a disturbing twist, he’d blurt out, "Do you need a Hooty-sized suitcase? I can pack myself inside and come with you!"

You looked at the weird creature. Hooty was… unexplainable. You were gonna miss him.

Eda, ever the practical one, ruffled your hair gently. “Kid, you’ve gotta do what makes you happy. We’ll survive without you... somehow,” she teased, but there was a glimmer of emotion in her eyes too.

As the hugs loosened and everyone stepped back, the weight of the moment settled in. You weren’t disappearing from their lives, but things would be different. There was a bittersweetness in the air, knowing that this was a goodbye of sorts—not forever, but for now.

As the group slowly dispersed, leaving you a moment to catch your breath, you faced the blond boy. He stood there quietly, his hands shoved into his pockets, his gaze shifting between you and the sky above.

"Hey," you said softly, trying to catch his eye.

He looked at you, his usual guarded expression softer than you’d seen it before. “(Y/n)…” he replied, though his voice was quieter than usual. It was like he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the words. For a moment, there was silence—neither of you quite knowing what to say.

“I... I guess this is it, huh?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze finally lifted, and you could see the mixture of emotions swirling in his magenta eyes—uncertainty, sadness, and something else that made your heart skip a beat.

You offered him a small smile, stepping closer until you were only a breath away. “It’s not goodbye, Hunter,” you said softly. “It’s more like... see you later.”

He nodded, though his shoulders still seemed tense. “Yeah, but... it won’t be the same. I won’t be able to just... you know, see you whenever.” His hand clenched around the palisman for a moment before he loosened his grip, offering it to you again. “Here. Take it. You should have it.”

You reached out and gently closed your hand over his, pushing the it back toward him. “No, Hunter,” you said, your voice steady. “I want you to keep it safe for me. That way... I’ll have a reason to come back. To see you.”

Hunter’s breath hitched slightly, and his eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, it was as if the world had quieted around the two of you. Then, with a soft exhale, he smiled—a real, genuine smile that lit up his face in a way you hadn’t seen before.

“I... I’ll keep it safe,” he promised, his voice more certain now. “And... I’ll be here. Waiting.”

Without thinking, you closed the distance between you, wrapping your arms around him in a tight, warm hug. He stiffened for a second, clearly taken by surprise, but then he slowly relaxed into the embrace, his arms wrapping around you in return. It was a quiet, tender moment—no words needed, just the unspoken understanding between you.

“I’ll miss you,” you whispered, your cheek resting against his shoulder.

Hunter’s grip tightened slightly, his breath warm against your hair. “I’ll miss you too,” he whispered back, his voice soft but full of sincerity.

As everyone murmured in agreement to start star gazing, Hunter tugged you along to a soft picnic blanket. As the night grew deeper and the stars twinkled above, a particularly bright one caught your eye. It shimmered in the sky, a little brighter than the rest, almost like it was watching over you. You recognized it immediately, your breath catching in your throat.

“The Wishmaker Star,” you whispered, pointing it out to Hunter.

Hunter’s eyes followed your gesture, widening when he saw it. “What would you wish for?” Hunter’s voice was quiet, almost hesitant, as he looked over at you. His hand was still wrapped in yours, grounding you in the present.

You looked up at the star, thinking about everything—your journey, the friendships you’d built, and the uncertain path that lay ahead in the human world. But then your gaze shifted to Hunter, sitting beside you, his face illuminated by the soft starlight. After a long pause, you answered.

“I don’t think I need to make a wish,” you said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. “I already have everything I need. Friends who care about me... and people I’ll always come back to.”

Hunter’s expression softened, his grip on your hand tightening slightly. “I think I’d wish for the same thing,” he murmured, glancing back at the Wishmaker Star. “To keep what I’ve found.”

A moment of comfortable silence passed between you, the star continuing to shine brightly above, as if blessing the quiet bond you shared. You leaned your head against Hunter’s shoulder, your heart full, and together, you both watched as the star slowly began to fade into the night.

And as it vanished into the sea of stars, leaving only its soft glow behind, you felt a sense of peace wash over you. Wishes weren’t always about longing for something new—they could be about holding onto the moments and people you already had. And under that starlit sky, you knew that no matter where life took you, this connection, this feeling, would stay with you—just like the legend of the Wishmaker Star.

Hunter whispered, almost to himself, “Maybe we didn’t need the star to grant our wish. Maybe it’s already come true.”

And under the vast, starry sky, with the warmth of his hand in yours, you couldn’t help but think he was right.

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doyouknowthisbook-poll · 7 months ago

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Do you know which book this is from?

Please reblog the polls, but KEEP IT SPOILER-FREE to make people read the excerpt with an open mind 💖📚 Title and author will be revealed after the poll's conclusion.

Note: Tumblr wouldn’t allow alt text for some reason, so for this poll, the alt text is below the read more.

Edit: The results are up here!

Kilorn will find me anywhere I try to hide, so I keep moving. I sprint like I can outrun what I've done to Gisa, how I've failed Kilorn, how I've destroyed everything. But even I can't outrun the look in my mother's eyes when I brought Gisa to the door. I saw the hopeless shadow cross her face, and I ran before my father wheeled himself into view. I couldn't face them both. I'm a coward.

So I run until I can't think, until every bad memory fades away, until I can only feel the burning in my muscles. I even tell myself the tears on my cheeks are rain.

When I finally slow to catch my breath, I'm outside the village, a few miles down that terrible northern road. Lights filter through the trees around the bend, illuminating an inn, one of the many on the old roads. It's crowded like it is every summer, full of servants and seasonal workers who follow the royal court. They don't live in the Stilts, they don't know my face, so they're easy prey for pickpocketing. I do it every summer, but Kilorn is always with me, smiling into a drink as he watches me work. I don't suppose I'll see his smile for much longer.

A bellow of laughter rises as a few men stumble from the inn, drunk and happy. Their coin purses jingle, heavy with the day's pay. Silver money, for serving, smiling, and bowing to monsters dressed as lords.

I caused so much harm today, so much hurt to the ones I love most. I should turn around and go home, to face everyone with at least some courage. But instead I settle against the shadows of the inn, content to remain in darkness.

I guess causing pain is all I'm good for.

It doesn't take long to fill the pockets of my coat. The drunks filter out every few minutes and I press against them, pasting on a smile to hide my hands. No one notices, no one even cares, when I fade away again. I'm a shadow, and no one remembers shadows.

Midnight comes and goes and still I stand, waiting. The moon overhead is a bright reminder of the time, of how long I've been gone. One last pocket, I tell myself. One more and I'll go. I've been saying it for the past hour.

I don't think when the next patron comes out. His eyes are on the sky, and he doesn't notice me. It's too easy to reach out, too easy to hook a finger around the strings of his coin purse. I should know better by now that nothing here is easy, but the riot and Gisa's hollow eyes have made me foolish with grief.

His hand closes around my wrist, his grip firm and strangely hot as he pulls me forward out of the shadows. I try to resist, to slip away and run, but he's too strong. When he spins, the fire in his eyes puts a fear in me, the same fear I felt this morning. But I welcome any punishment he might summon. I deserve it all.

"Thief," he says, a strange surprise in his voice.

I blink at him, fighting the urge to laugh. I don't even have the strength to protest. "Obviously."

He stares at me, scrutinizing everything from my face to my worn boots. It makes me squirm. After a long moment, he heaves a breath and lets me go.

Stunned, I can only stare at him. When a silver coin spins through the air, I barely have the wits to catch it. A tetrarch. A silver tetrarch worth one whole crown. Far more than any of the stolen pennies in my pockets.

"That should be more than enough to tide you over," he says before I can respond. In the light of the inn, his eyes glint red-gold, the color of warmth.

My years spent sizing people up do not fail me, even now. His black hair is too glossy, his skin too pale to be anything but a servant. But his physique seems more like a woodcutter's, with broad shoulders and strong legs. He's young too, a little older than me, though not nearly as assured of himself as any nineteen or twenty-year-old should be.

I should kiss his boots for letting me go and giving me such a gift, but my curiosity gets the better of me. It always does.

"Why?" The word comes out hard and harsh. After a day like today, how can I be anything else?

The question takes him aback and he shrugs. "You need it more than I do."

I want to throw the coin back in his face, to tell him I can take care of myself, but part of me knows better. Has today taught you nothing? "Thank you," I force out through gritted teeth.

#poll #lit #literature #polls #tumblr poll #tumblr polls #book excerpt #fiction #poll time

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thechaoticdruid · 1 year ago

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The Bite Scene

Pairing: Named F!Tav x Astarion

Notes: Felt bad about not posting a fic in a while and had this old draft lying around so I thought I'd share it with everyone. Before actually posting anything on Tumblr I was working on a long fic about my Tav, Winnie but eventually I ended up abandoning it because I got frustrated feeling like I was rewriting most of the in game dialogue and also ended up getting focused on The Spawn Vs The Ascendant. So basically this is a rewrite of the bite scene with Winnie!

C/w: Blood, blood drinking, suggestive content

That night Winnie tossed and turned on her bedroll, sweat beads dripping down her forehead as her mind raced with memories of horror and death. Terrified faces of people she once knew were etched into the back of her head. Then suddenly she awoke in a pant, barely having enough time to compose herself before a new threat made itself known. A figure stood over her, red eyes glowing in the dark.

“Astarion?” A look of shock spread across her face as she glanced up to see her rogue companion, his mouth wide open and a pair of long pointed fangs were clear as day. It all made sense now. Astarion was a vampire!

“Shit……” Astarion backed up as he noticed Winnie was now wide awake. “It’s not what it looks like I swear! I wasn't going to hurt you! I just needed….Well blood….”

“Well that explains why you murdered the hunter.” Winnie narrowed her eyes at him slightly, “I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner, gods I feel so stupid.” The red eyes, the pale skin, all the hungry stares, it all made sense. Hells they had even found a dead boar a day earlier with holes in its neck! Winnie honestly felt like a fool for not noticing those teeth on day one!

“It's not what you think! I'm not some monster. I feed on animals, boars, deer, kobolds, whatever I can get, but it's not enough. Not if I have to fight. I feel so weak. If I just had a little blood I could think clearer. Fight better. Please.” Astarion looked into Winnie’s eyes with such a sad, pitiful look.

Is….a vampire literally giving me puppy dog eyes as he asks to drink my blood?

“You could have told me about this.” Winnie frowned. Despite everything the druid still wanted to trust her companion. She had grown fond of him even if he was an asshole. He was clever and witty and gods damn it was so hard to find someone who appreciated her dark sense of humor instead of just backing away slowly.

“Honestly I didn't think you'd take it too well. At worst I was expecting you'd ram a stake through my ribs.”

“Oh no I would never do that. I'd decapitate you. I'm nothing if not accommodating.” The human female gave a playful smirk.

“Ah….How thoughtful of you…” Astarion said with a nervous laugh.

“Luckily I trust you but I wish you'd trust me as well. We do need each other after all.” Winnie stood up, crossing her arms. The vampire blinked in confusion. The druid's response was pleasantly unexpected. A small smile spread across her silver haired companion’s face.

“I do trust you. And you're right we need each other. I need you alive and you need me strong. And there is no better way to keep me strong than to make sure I'm well fed.”

“My blood isn't something I can just give away carelessly. I kinda need it, you know…” Winnie looked off to the side, a little unsure. Accepting that your companion is actually an undead creature of the night is one thing, but letting him drink your blood was a big risk. Winnie trusted him not to harm her on purpose but she knew well enough vampires couldn’t always control their hunger and a starving vampire would surely prove even more unpredictable.

“I'll only need a taste. I swear.” The tone of his voice sounded soft, almost sweet as he looked at her with round pleading eyes. Winnie bit her lip and her heart sank a little. Gods damn him and his stupid pretty face.

“Fine, but don't go too far.” Winnie said.

“Of course, I shall only take as much as I need.” Astarion grinned, red eyes trailing over Winnie’s neck. “Let's make ourselves comfortable shall we?” Winnie before laying back down on her bedroll. A shiver went down her spine as he slowly knelt over her, eyes filled with hunger.

A cool palm cupped the druid's cheek, tilting her head up and exposing her neck. Astarion's mouth watered at the sight, his tongue flicking over his fangs as he leaned in closer.

Winnie closed her eyes and braced herself, her body shaking with a mix of fear and excitement.

She waited anxious for what felt like hours before finally a sharp icy pain pierced through her neck.

“A-Ah…” A soft cry of pain left her lips as his fangs sunk into her flesh. Winnie’s left hand gripped onto his shoulder, her teeth gritting until eventually the initial pain subsided, replaced by numbness. The druid's heart was racing and the only thing she was able to process was the sound of sucking. She felt very conflicted, despite the pain she'd been enduring she also felt this pleasant feeling. An intimate feeling. Almost as if he was merely kissing her neck instead of feasting on her very life force.

Astarion was swept up in the moment. Her blood was absolutely intoxicating, so sweet and rich. The vampire had never tasted anything like it. It was pure ecstacy. So wonderful. Gods, he never wanted this perfect moment to end.

“S-Stop…..” Winnie spoke up, she was beginning to feel dizzy. Astarion however seemed lost in bliss and continued his onslaught on her neck. “That's enough!” She said sternly, mustering what strength she had to grab hold of the back of his head and yank hard on his hair.

“Hmm!?” Finally the druid was able to get his attention. He pulled back with a gulp, “oh…o-of course.” Breathy pants left his lips as he savored the taste of her blood. “That…..That was amazing..”He breathed, eyes dazed as he ran a finger over the blood trailing down his chin, collecting some and sucking it eagerly off his digit. “My mind is finally clear. I feel strong…Happy…”He let out a bliss filled sigh.

“Well I'm glad I could help…..Ugh…” Winnie groaned, feeling her head spin. “Hopefully you'll be in a better state to fight soon then?”

“Shouldn't take long now, so many people need killing. Now if you'll excuse me, you're invigorating but I need something a little more filling.” Astarion glanced back at the human with a sly smirk before stepping off to walk off into the dark. “This is a gift you know, I won't forget it.”

The druid could barely sit up as she watched him stalk off into the night seeking his prey. As his form faded from her vision so did everything around her. Darkness taking her in it's sweet embrace.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Note from TheChaoticDruid: I had another part written that takes place just before this. If you'd like to see it posted let me know!

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masquerites · 9 months ago

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user loading… KIM HAE-IN. your current avatar is registered as YU JIMIN ( KARINA ). you have been logged in for 23 years since 22 MAY 3000. your highest ranking stats are CHARISMATIC and DECEPTIVE. please select your playlist from HONEYED SUMMER EVENINGS or LACES & SILKS for today. last saved activity: working as an AESTHETIC DESIGNER AT RE:SKIN. resume your ongoing game?

okay i'm a little ashamed of myself for taking way too long to make this intro but i swear i got in too much of my head and was desperately trying to make sense of my ideas. not to mention i still need to work on her dossier and background but anyway! i'm fae ( 21+ , she/her , gmt +8 ) and here's my little two-faced angel who always love to take advantage of her pretty privileges. so just drop a like and i'll be running into your dms to start! ( in tumblr ims or discord at your request, whichever you prefer! )

SUMMARY

isn't it the strangest thing to be born as a pair? to be one half of a whole and always have the other by your side — only to end up becoming completely antithetical from each other, different like night and day. haechan is the chaotic beauty of a tempest ; all sharp gazes and lopsided little smiles that barely even contain emotion. she's ocean blackness and crashing waves. she's sharp like the reflective edge of a polished knife. hae-in, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of her twin sister. she's soft eyes and whimsical laughter. she's sweet like honey drizzled over cinnamon toast, and exudes an aura warm like july's late evening sun. you'd see her and think of delicate windchimes, of sun catchers, butterflies and golden clouds. who would dare to believe beneath such angelic façade lay something so utterly grotesque ?

perhaps she had always been destined to be a little twisted. how could she not in that household built upon a fragile foundation, and a loveless marriage barely hanging onto it's last hinges. the real purpose of the twins' existences was for them to be no more than consolation prizes for their mother; to be her pretty little dolls all so she could cherish and love to her heart's content, saving herself from the misery she's been granted from having a negligent husband with wandering eyes.

the twins have never been taught to share one's love and attention properly between the both of them, and hae-in has always been a gluttonous and greedy creature to a fault. so eventually, a bitter rivalry grew between the twin sisters, breaking their once inseparable bond in their relentlessly strive for love and affection. this is when hae-in discovers her penchant for distorting the truth to her favor.

small little lies roll off the tip of a saccharine-tongue, woven into intricate tapestries under her skilled touch and orchestrating her sister's downfall little by little. eventually, she's doomed her own flesh and blood ( her better other half ) to a fate of fading into obscurity, knowing all too well that she could get away with it and always did ( who would ever believe the madness of a black swan over the sweet and dutiful white swan? ); all for the sake of grasping onto every silver of adoration that she could not bear sharing.

haein grows up knowing all too well that her beauty is desired and appreciated. with a face like hers, it's no wonder people around her were so often drawn to her ( and so willfully blind were they to the predatory smile that lay beneath doe like eyes ). haein, of course, couldn't help herself but to find weaponry in her own gravitational pull if not utilize it to the best of her abilities.

she completes her studies at a prestigious university and ( with mother's luck ) takes on a job at re:skin as an aesthetic designer. obvious but absolutely perfect for someone like her, who admittedly always cared too much of the way she looks to others.

PERSONALITY

every day was simply a reflection of her own personal masquerade. a dozen of masks to don herself with, for each and every persona was perfectly curated for her audience in front of her. kim hae-in is what always people want to see, and what they want to trust. a soft spoken, delicate doe eyed beauty with a heart of gold, who have long since been hailed as the beloved darling of the house. always so gentle, and always so sweet. no one seemed to know or even care that such perfection was only manufactured because she made it so, because everything about her was no more than illusion.

but what truly lies beneath the layers for the girl who dons only her masks? something truly monstrous in the shape of a girl? for there's terror in beauty and kim hae-in is the living proof of such. with eyes coated in glitter, and tongue coated in honey, it's always been too easy for her to spun her webs of manipulation to ensnare others in her control. by then, she'll take and take and take whatever she can, not even caring whether she's been taking too much. and worst of it all? she'll do it gladly with the prettiest smile

CONNECTIONS

at the moment, my brain is currenly fried so her plots and prompts are still much a working progress but i do have a lot of vague ideas that we can use to brainstorm with!

a close circle of friends have see through her façade of perfection, have seen her real and twisted personality and yet still stayed with her. ( and maybe some even enable her )

or maybe ex friend's who didn't, unable to handle her true colors ( not that i blame you for that one bit, but hae-in unfortunately will )

workplace rivals at re:skin where they can't stop competing against each other, trying their best to outdo one another. the perfect place for workplace drama with a lot of instigating and sabotaging.

people she couldn't help but be jealous of for multitudes of reasons, people who sparked certain insecurities within herself that she absolutely hates nor have the will to acknowledge.

people who gets suspicious of her perfect persona, catching a glimpse of her real personality.

maybe some enemies that she might have sabotaged because she simply can.

exes that she'd broken hearts of, or exes who finally escaped from her webs of manipulation ( RUN, MAKE YOUR ESCAPE, SAVE YOUR SELF ) or exes who haven't and somehow always come back to her one way or another, lured by her sweet honeyed promises despite knowing full well she's hiding her poison underneath.

and maybe a first love that she still have a soft spot for, secretly pines after them but can't or wont do anything because that person is too god for her and she doesn't have the slightest bravery to show her real self to them.

#ts:intro #. ࣪ ִ୨୧﹕ ◟ CODENAME ( FAE ) / 𝘖𝘖𝘊

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beerecordings · 2 years ago

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have you ever made like. a mbc summary? if not could you? i wasn’t around when the blog was going through it’s main story and there’s just soo much content😭which is a compliment! but i can never seem to find the time to just sit and read. i love it all so far! hope you’re having fun with the event! (btw if you don’t wanna make a summery ofc you don’t have to💖)

oh gosh, yes, I think I've had summaries for every chapter. but now it's hard to find them because tumblr, sigh.

I am having fun with the event! thanks. there's no pressure to read the whole of MBC, I know it's long af and it was definitely made to be read in-time whenever possible.

okay, I can make a full summary! I like to talk about it anyway and I'm glad you're a fan. it will be good to have one available. but I'm going to do this off the top of my head, okay? and it's more than a million words of content, so....

Chapter One

Anti lives in a house with Dapper, Red, and Dok and Trickshot, the twins. One day he brings someone home, battered and unwilling, someone he calls Blue. He says that Blue will be Red's twin like Dok and Trickshot are twins. Twins help each other make good choices - like obeying Anti.

Dapper is Anti's twin in a sense, but he's also never his equal. He lives in the attic and isn't allowed to see his siblings. Dapper's mind is scrambled some days, making him talk about things that have already happened, but on other days, he's completely aware that he is a brainwashed prisoner who can't escape. He's Anti's favorite.

Anti begins brainwashing Marvin too. He uses physical force, but mostly he relies on his powers of hypnotism and memory erasure. He starts to tear away everything that makes Marvin himself, and turn him into Blue.

Marvin is a magician with control over plant life and fire. JJ has time powers, but he can't use them without Anti noticing, because his eyes glow silver after he reverses time, and his magic has a strong, distinctive smell, like blood and old books. During a psychotic episode, JJ once "snapped" and placed them all in a timeline where Jack does not know who the egos are. Anti is not aware of this, but JJ tells the audience eventually. This means that in the canon of MBC, Jack does not have egos on his channel and would not know what their names meant if you said them to him. Dapper removed them all from Jack's timeline to protect Jack from Anti.

Trickshot is the guard for the family, usually armed with fancy guns Anti gets him, and Dok is, of course, the healer. They do not trust Red because he has forced them into compliance before, and Dapper is Anti's pet - they only trust each other. Dok occasionally goes into fugues where he dissociates for days at a time or lashes out at people around him, and Trick continues to struggle with depression and memories of a pair of children he can no longer recall the names of.

Anti is extremely controlling and commanding. Everyone in the house obeys him or is punished. He enlists Red to help keep the others in line. Red is sometimes allowed to manage food and money and supplies, but he's also required to force the others to behave, no matter what he has to do. He rationalizes this by saying that it's better for him to punish the others than for Anti to do so.

At the end of the chapter, Marvin is able to find a moment of clarity and escape the house, but he can't get away with the others. Anti chases him down to the beach. Marvin has the opportunity to escape, but he feels intense guilt over leaving the others behind. Anti tells him that if he stays, Anti will allow Blue to be a caretaker for the others. He promises he will wash away all of Marvin's memories and make Blue forget he was ever anything other than his loyal brother. Marvin finally agrees to become Blue to stay with his brothers and try to protect them, and maybe one day escape.

Chapter Two

Anti has lived in different countries with the brothers as he has hidden from authority figures and captured the others one by one. Now, he takes them to Peru, where he begins pursuing a strange book and talking about hiding Blue's magic. Blue is not allowed to cast magic here, which hurts his hands and makes him more and more unwell as the chapter progresses.

At the beginning of the chapter, Trick is separated from Dok and placed with Dapper instead because Trick attempted suicide and Anti blames Dok for not watching him closely enough. Trick is miserable away from his twin, and they're only reunited when they prove they can behave again. Dapper starts acting out too, rebelling and refusing to do what he's told, and Anti punishes him severely.

One day a group of beings with magical powers start following Red and the others home from the market. They're barely able to get away from the magicians, who believe that Red, Blue, Trick, and Dok are being held prisoner by a demon, either Anti or Dapper. These magicians turn out to be part of the Peruvian Magical Society. They call themselves Ravens.

Anti kidnaps a Raven named Genesis to punish the society for coming after him. He also sends Red out to kill a Raven and steal an ancient magical book from him.

Things become really dark after Red is forced to kill the Raven. He's morbidly depressed and abusing the others to keep them in line. Meanwhile Blue is at his breaking point with his magic building up and burning him from the inside. The others just try to make themselves scarce. Blue eventually has an explosion of magic which covers the barren Peruvian mountain where they've been hiding in the slums with plant life and vegetation. Anti knows this will draw the Ravens right to them, so he packs everyone up and starts driving them up towards the equator.

The equator is a powerful source of magic in this universe. While there, Anti begins a spell that will permanently steal Blue's magic and give it to Anti instead, not only making him more powerful, but also cloaking Blue's magical signature so other magicians stop coming after them. The Ravens and their neighboring magical societies converge on Anti as he's performing this spell, however, and it forces everyone to scatter. A forest fire starts and they can't get back to each other. Red and Dapper are forced to flee together, while Dok is restrained by the magicians. Anti is able to complete his spell, but it very nearly kills Blue, and leaves Anti overwhelmed by magical power. If it weren't for one of the Ravens, Hermann, Blue would have died. Anti, Trick, and Blue escape together.

Trick is also given a gold cat named Pot Noodle in this chapter. Anti seemed to think it would improve his depression. It's unexpected, however, because Anti hates animals and sometimes seems to be frightened of them. He is a shape-shifter and sometimes makes allusions to how terrible it would be to be trapped in the body of an animal forever.

Chapter Three

In this chapter, everyone is separated. Anti, Trick, and Blue have gone to Singapore, where Blue is hospitalized following the spell Anti cast on him. His magic is gone and his hair has turned silver, but he's also extremely sick and remarks on how ugly he looks and how miserable he feels. Trick does his best to take care of him, while also developing a crush on a girl at a hawker stand.

During this time, Anti is missing Dapper and starts treating Trick like his favorite pet instead. Trick has always craved Anti's attention and is really pleased about this. He isn't able to understand that Anti is the one who hurt Blue, but Blue does, and he hates Anti for it. Marvin starts regaining some clarity, but Trick is being further taken in by Anti's tricks and thinks that everything will be fine as soon as they are all back together again. Anti even abuses Trick for bringing his crush around one day, and then makes Trick forget that Anti hurt him. Blue feels completely helpless.

Enraged that the magicians in South America foiled his plans and took the others from him, Anti attacks the magical society of Singapore, the Sunbirds, and lays waste to their members, allowing the viewers to come along so they don't get any bright ideas about reaching out to magicians again. However, he has missed the Sunbird Prince, Caleb, who was innocently away at university when Anti attacked. When Caleb comes back, he tracks Anti down at the house and attacks him. Because Caleb has magical powers of electricity, he's actually a match for Anti, and it starts to seem like he's going to win. However, Anti is able to get away at the last minute and sets the house on fire.

After this event, the idea that Anti can't be killed except through Jack's storyline begins to come together, to be clarified later.

Meanwhile, Red and Dapper have fled to Colombia and are having an extremely difficult time. Dapper does not have his medication and is having psychotic episodes, including delusions, hallucinations, and catatonia. Red is desperate to find Anti again, but they are broke and hungry and homeless, and he is struggling to remember how to manage Dapper kindly. He has learned for a long time that he's supposed to use abuse and threats to keep his siblings from causing trouble, and he can be forceful and demanding with Dapper at the beginning of this chapter. He's in the middle of trying to steal medication for Dapper when someone finds him.

Red has no memory of his life before Anti took him over, but somehow the face of the man who finds him is still familiar. Red has learned to be extremely paranoid of anyone outside his family, but this man is kind to him and calls him "Jackie," a name he hasn't heard in a long time. Gradually, Red starts to allow the stranger to help him, buying things for him and Dapper and letting him talk to them. He introduces himself as Max, an old friend from Brighton who has been looking for Jackie and the others for years. Max seems to know Jackie really well and to be fond of him, as well as promising to help protect Dapper, and Red starts to let his guard down around him. He thinks of Max as a tiger because he has brown-gold eyes and mannerisms that remind Red of one. One night, they lie down together and listen to music on the bed. Red presses Max to be honest about their relationship and Max admits that he and Jackie were in love back before Anti took him away. Anti had killed most of their friends back home, but Max was away on an undercover assignment as a detective, so Anti was never able to locate and kill him. Max came home from his undercover assignment to find that Jackie and all his siblings were completely gone, their home burned down and many of their friends killed. He began searching desperately for Jackie. He tells Red he still loves him and that he wants Red to come home with him.

During this time, Red is able to recognize how poorly Anti treats him because Max treats him so kindly. Red does want to go with Max, but he's scared of what Anti will do to the others without him.

Back in Peru, Dok is being held by the Raven magicians. He's furious at first and demands to be sent back to Anti and his brothers, but the Ravens won't let him go. They help take care of Dok and become friends with him. Over the whole of this chapter, Dok gradually comes to terms with the abuse he's been through. He recognizes that he wants to be free of Anti and that Anti is using magic to force them all to stay with him. He begins to go by Henrik again and makes plans to try and free his siblings. To help, the Ravens give him three magic talismans, which he can wear around his neck and snap off when he needs the magic. Anti will not be able to remove these because they will release the magic if he does anything to try and yank them off. Three different magicians all give Henrik some of their power to borrow. One is for simple protection, to prevent Anti from hypnotizing him or getting in his head again. The second will briefly turn someone into an animal, but the magician could not predict what animal it would be. And the third was from the Raven Queen, Emmanuela, who has power over light. She tells Henrik to use this talisman or give it to one of his brothers the day he is ready to watch Anti die.

Red, Dapper, and Max make their way back to Peru, and Henrik sets off to meet them, hoping to get away with them before Anti finds them. Anti, however, has finally stabilized. After weeks of his body adapting to the magic he stole from Blue, he realizes that if he just possesses Blue, he will be able to control both their magics, and he returns to Peru to get what's his. Anti regathers Dapper and Henrik, furious to find Dapper more distant than ever and Henrik empowered by magicians, but Red is able to sneak away with Max. When Anti realizes that Max is here, he rages that he meant to kill Jackie's fiance years ago. Red does not know that Max was engaged to him once.

Max begs Red to come home with him and not go back to Anti, telling him they could take care of each other, prepare, and go save the others when they're ready. But Red isn't ready to leave. He knocks Max unconscious to keep him safe from Anti, and returns to Anti willingly, on one condition: he'll come back to Anti peacefully if Anti agrees not to erase the memory of Max from his head. Anti begrudgingly agrees.

Dapper is overwhelmed at this point, consumed by his despair and in the middle of an intense psychotic episode. He slips away from Anti during the commotion and finds a cliff he can jump off to end his life. Anti, Trick, Henrik, Red, and Blue all have to get along long enough to help pull him back up before he can let himself fall. Everyone comforts Dapper and each other.

Anti sees some of reality at that point. He understands that he can't just keep re-hypnotizing and then losing and then re-hypnotizing all over again. He acknowledges that five other people is almost too many for him to control at once, and speculates that Jack made five just so that there would always be too many for him to control.

Henrik and Blue are able to whisper to each other enough to recognize that they both want to be free of Anti, promising to be on the same side and fight him together. Henrik's talisman of protection will only last a little more than a month, so they have to escape before Anti is able to get inside his head again. Red also begins to look for a way out, while Anti re-tightens his control over Trick and Dapper. He's grown attached to Trick's loyalty and he refuses to lose Dapper, because Dapper's power to reverse time makes him feel immortal, and he's terrified to die.

At the end of this chapter, it's clear that there will only be one more attempt at making this work before Anti decides to do something different, or the brothers get away for good.

Chapter Four

After everything that happened in the last chapter, Anti is finally willing to get help. He alludes to an old friend he is going to go reconnect with, and he takes the brothers to the nicest place they've ever stayed, a far cry from the slums and abandoned houses they've lived in before. Anti forces Dapper to kill a wealthy recluse and they take over a veritable mansion in the California forest.

Anti is still treating Trick like his special favorite, but he begins to be extremely harsh with both Henrik and Blue, sensing their disloyalty. Sometimes, Dapper is forced to reverse time to prevent them from being punished by Anti, and then Dapper is punished instead, for using his time magic without permission. Meanwhile, Red is miserable and lost in thoughts of Max, often spacing out while thinking about him.

One night, a strange figure comes to the edge of their territory, which Red knows he is not allowed to leave, looking like Max and beckoning for Red. Red nearly goes to him, but he realizes last minute that it's a trap. The figure shape-shifts and reveals themself to be Dark, the old friend Anti has come to find. Dark expresses an interest in Dapper's magical powers and threatens to abduct any of the brothers who leave the house and cross into their territory. The others are scared, but Anti's delighted: he insists this is the sort of game he and Dark always used to play. Anti alludes to himself and Dark having a romantic but dangerous relationship, where toying with the lives of others was par for the course.

Dapper's furious with Anti for bringing him back to Dark. Dark, Dapper explains to the audience, has powers over emotions and the heart, where Anti has powers over thoughts and the mind. Together, they were able to control Dapper completely and made him devoted to Anti in heart and mind. It took him years to recover in any way, and he's terrified of Anti using Dark to do the same to the others. Worse, however, Dapper realizes that Anti is mistaken: Dark is not playing games because they do not remember who Anti is. When Dapper snapped the timeline and removed them all from Jack's timeline, he also removed them all from Mark's timeline, and in doing so, damaged the memory of Mark's egos. Dark has no idea who Anti is, while Anti thinks they're playing and that Dark won't really hurt them. Dapper tries to finally come clean about what he did, but Anti doesn't believe him and thinks he's delusional. The idea that Jack would not even know who Anti is is completely incomprehensible to him. He's shaped his whole life around vengeance on Jack, did all of this to hurt him and make himself feel safe from him. Anti dismisses Dapper's concerns.

In the fancy house, the bathroom is full of soaps and nice-smelling things, a small detail that becomes crucial when Dapper realizes that he can hide the scent of his time travel magic when he's in the bathroom. Eventually, he is able to secretly go back in time with Red and talk with Jack himself, in the original timeline where Jack knows who they are. Red is angry at Jack for what he has allowed to happen. Jack insists that he made them all for happy endings, and that, while he can't control what Anti does, he knows it is possible to kill him. In fact, Jack reveals to Red and the audience that the only way for Anti to die is to be killed by one of his brothers, on camera for the audience to see. Because Anti was created within Jack's timeline and through the power of Jack's audience, Anti has to go the same way. He has to be killed by another character in his story, and the audience must believe it. Red is still scared to kill Anti and wonders if that's too extreme.

Meanwhile, Henrik begins trying to approach the topic of escape with his twin, but Trick won't hear of it and insists that Henrik was brainwashed by the magicians. Henrik assumes Trick does not know how badly Anti is hurting him, but one day, Henrik realizes that Trick does know, and just believes that Anti has to be occasionally cruel to make things right again. This drives a huge gap between them. Henrik begs Trick to see reason, but Trick is being hypnotized by Anti almost every night.

Between the frequent possession Anti is putting him through and his continuing illness from the loss of his magic, Blue is beginning to get really sick again. Eventually, it becomes so bad that Red resolves to take him to the hospital, even if they have to run away to do it. Henrik is being so severely hurt by Anti that he runs away with them. Once they're on the path, however, Dark senses that Anti's defenses are down, and they send Shepherd, Google, and Wilford to get Dapper for him. Dapper is abducted and Anti is shocked and hurt by Dark's actions. With only Trick left, Anti feels desperately alone.

At the houses of Mark's egos, Dapper is treated kindly by Shep and Ippy, but he is scared of Dark, who tries to convince him to let them use his time powers. The suggestion in the story is that Dark is interested in returning in time to change the events of their own story, like Damien and Celine being killed and taken by the house spirit. Dapper refuses.

The time in the hospital allows Red to become more clear-headed than before, and gives him time to conspire with Blue and Henrik. They decide to come back to the mansion and start fighting against Anti however they have to. When they return and find Dapper gone, Anti convinces them to help him get Dapper back from Dark, and they set off together. The brothers help get Dapper out of the house while Anti confronts Dark, raging at them and attacking them while once again possessing Blue's body. Anti's out-of-control power begins another fire, threatening everyone involved. Henrik decides this is the time to use his fighting talisman: he gives it to Red, who immediately gains the power of light. He drives back both Anti and Dark, forcing Anti to stop possessing Blue, and sends Anti home, licking his wounds. This exhausts Red, and he and Blue end up staying at the houses with Dark and the others while Red recovers.

But Anti has been able to bring Trick, Dapper, and Henrik home with him again, and he's furious. He starts to tell the audience that Dapper and Trick are the only two brothers worth anything, wondering aloud if he should even keep the others. He locks Henrik into a room and begins torturing him, and then starts telling Trick and Dapper that he's going to take just the two of them away with him next time, and make them forget that Dok, Red, and Blue ever existed.

Blue and Red rally as Anti begins erasing Trick's memory, causing him to become extremely confused and torn between perfectly happy and absolutely distressed. Dapper is struggling with despair again and doesn't know if there's a point to fighting.

Anti finally realizes that Dapper was telling the truth about Jack not remembering him after he realizes that Dark truly does not remember him either. This is a final breaking point for him.

Anti leaves Henrik out on the porch of the house, tied up in barbed wire, as bait for Red and Blue. The viewers rouse Dapper and Trick to action and Trick runs down to his brother while Anti is fighting with Red and Blue. Trick uses Henrik's other talisman to get him out of the barbed wire by turning Henrik into an animal: a white rat, as it turns out, which he hides in his pocket.

Red and Blue begin to gain ground in their fight with Anti. When Dapper and Trick come to their aid and Henrik disappears from the porch, Anti goes into a wild rage. He summons his power and forces everyone to confront the worst versions of themselves. All of them have to come face to face with their past abuses, failures, despairs, and mistakes, and they all have to push through it and insist on fighting for a better future anyone. Jackie defeats the abusive Red who hurt his brothers while JJ forgives the hopeless Dapper who stopped fighting back. This leaves Anti extremely weak, collapsed on the forest floor. As they gather around him, he begins begging for his life. He's scared to die. He's always been scared to die.

One by one, Chase, Jackie, and JJ realize that no matter what he's done, they don't have it in them to kill Anti. That's when Blue stabs him in the heart, and kills him permanently, in view of the audience.

They go back inside. They look after each other.

Chapter Five

After Anti dies, Jackie burns his body and organizes his siblings to get back to Ireland. Actually, he first wants to get back to England, but JJ has to reverse time after they attempt to go there because the magicians in the country were hostile to him and Marvin as unregistered magic-users.

They find their way to Ireland and are homeless for a while, living mostly in an abandoned house or sometimes an old bus. After JJ's psychotic episodes become unmanageable, they are forced to seek real help. JJ is in a psychiatric facility for several days, where he struggles with the containment but benefits from actual psych care and regular meds for the first time in years. Social workers and doctors at the hospital help all of them find an apartment to share. Jackie starts working in AV for a theater, Marvin works as a librarian, and Chase sells Marvin's roses in the street whenever he can.

Throughout most of the chapter, Henrik is in a shut-down, numb silence, pretty unaware of what is going on around him - his brain's best defense as he tries to process the torture Anti put him through at the end of Chapter 4. When they eventually settle into a feeling of safety, he comes back to himself slowly.

Marvin has a hard time after killing Anti: he feels that his brothers had abandoned him, in a way, by leaving him to kill Anti himself, but at the same time, he insists on being called Blue for most of the chapter, harboring a lot of anger at the original Marvin for failing to save himself or the others. Marvin begins lashing out at the others, even putting his hands on JJ at one point, until he decides he can't be around them anymore. He leaves for a while, which is hard on them, but in that time, he finds the Lapwings, the magicians of Ireland, who know him as the magician who used to be their leader. Marvin gradually re-discovers himself and makes peace between the Marvin and Blue parts of himself. He becomes the leader of the Lapwings again.

Chase is able to make contact with Stacy, who had fled with them when Anti started coming after all of them. Marvin and Chase had helped her find a safe place to hide with the kids in Sweden, but Marvin's mirror portals allow her and Chase to travel between Sweden and Ireland so he can reconnect with the kids. Izzy has developed magical abilities of her own because of the trauma of the night they ran away from Anti and he came after them. She's now able to glitch the way he did, but it's more under control now that her life has stabilized and her dad is back. Hunter is also doing well. At the very end of the chapter, Chase tells Stacy he still wants to be with her. She turns him down, but gently, and they're finally able to understand exactly where the other lies and to become parenting partners again while also moving on romantically.

Henrik and Chase also settle their own relationship, acknowledging that they are co-dependent and resolving to do better while still supporting each other. Henrik is having difficulty becoming a doctor again because he's developed triggers related to blood and injuries, and he admits that he may not be able to work again. Chase talks about wanting to become a nurse because of the things Henrik taught him.

JJ deals with some grief over Anti's death in a different way than the others, still seeing Anti as his brother, but learning to acknowledge all the ways he hurt him. He starts going to a support group for the Deaf community, begins going to his church again, and is preparing himself to start working soon.

For most of the chapter, Jackie buries his own needs and focuses instead on everybody else and on making sure they are cared for financially. But on his own, his mind constantly wanders to Max. He would have reached out sooner, but he is guilty over the way he abandoned Max in Peru and scared of being rejected by him. With some help, he is finally able to call Max and let him know he is free of Anti. Max doesn't believe it, but he comes when Jackie calls anyway. Max is still traumatized by the last time he was left, and he tells Jackie that he needs Jackie to prioritize him for once if he wants to be with him. Jackie struggles with the idea of putting anyone in front of his siblings, but he is finally able to pursue Max whole-heartedly and agree to spend time away from the others.

Meanwhile, they find the house they used to live in before Anti came, a house in a mirror dimension Marvin made. Anti burned most of it, but there is enough for them to repair, and they find cats living in the forest, which they name Peanuts and Jam.

The chapter ends with JJ looking around at his much happier siblings and going back to visit some of the miserable moments in their life, thinking about how things will turn out okay after all. He has the option to spend a little more time with Anti, but chooses to let him go, and he no longer visits Anti through time travel. They're all learning to live in the present.

The end!

oh fuck that was long

#suicide tw #abuse tw #my brothers corrupted

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kerwynlar · 11 months ago

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deliciously invested in your Mirokan universe! do you have any faceclaims in mind for Lawrence and Nate? or detailed physical descriptions? I’d love to know how to visualize them!!

Anon I am incredibly happy that you’re invested in my story! Seriously, best feeling ever. 🥰

You probably already know this, but there’s a 6th story in the series that I’ve posted on AO3 but haven’t had a chance to put up on tumblr yet. (hopefully tonight…)

I generally don’t do detailed physical descriptions of my OCs in part because I’m not great at it (a reason why I like writing fan fiction!) but also because when I’m writing kink content I want people to picture whatever makes them horniest. 😂

So, if you have an image of Lawrence and Nate in mind that you like, please continue to use it. If, however, you really want to know how I’m picturing them, please proceed below the cut.

Thank you SO MUCH for the ask, Anon! I’m thrilled to answer ANY questions my readers have about these characters or this universe.

Ok, so they are about the same height but, at least at the start of the series, Lawrence is very thin - moreso than you would expect for a royal. He gains weight over the course of their marriage and by the time we get to A Notable Meal and A Filling End to the Day, he has a subtle little paunch. Nate is more solidly built, with more muscle. He’s not an athlete or anything but he’s lean with a conventionally attractive body.

Lawrence is blonde with blue eyes and at the time of the series he has a few threads of silver in his hair that you can only see if you’re very close. Nate has black hair, brown eyes, and a more olive complexion.

Nate is very conventionally attractive. Like if he hadn’t been born a prince he could easily have been a model or a movie star who plays romantic heroes. In the latest story I reference the fact that Nate regularly makes “hottest men of the year” lists. Lawrence is more unique. Like he’s someone who some people find incredibly hot and others are like “no way.”

Finally, with the caveat that this isn’t quite what I’m picturing when I think of them, if you really want a specific visual reference, the closest I’ve got is the guys from the Red White and Royal Blue movie.

If you’ve read this far, thanks again for the ask!

#the king of mirokan #kerwyn's writing #lovely asks

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mostmagical · 2 years ago

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I’ve never posted my writing on tumblr, but I literally cannot stop thinking about the backs of these earrings so please have this (no season 5 spoilers):

AO3

“Crap.”

Marinette cursed quietly under her breath as she felt the back of her ear. She wasn’t sure what had caused her to reach up and check, but sure enough, the post was sticking through her ear, the protective backing nowhere to be found.

“You okay?” Alya asked from the seat next to her.

Marinette turned to her with wide eyes, careful not to let her voice rise too much as she answered while the teacher continued to talk. “I’m missing the back of one of my earrings.”

Alya’s eyebrows shot up on her forehead. She quickly glanced down at their feet, panning the area for any telltale flashes of silver.

Marinette’s hand reached out to cover her friend’s where it rested on the desk. “No,” she whispered. Her eyes glanced back to the front of the classroom, making sure the teacher’s back was still turned. “I just noticed it was missing—I have no idea when or where it fell out.”

She felt icy coils rising up from the bottom of her stomach. How could she not have noticed? What if she had lost the whole earring? Or, worse, what if she had lost both? She was such a klutz she wondered how this had never happened before.

“Marinette, it’s okay,” Alya whispered back. “We’ll find it… and if we don’t I’m sure we can get a replacement.”

Marinette nodded, despite herself. She hadn’t noticed the blonde head in front of her turning slightly to listen in on her and Alya’s hushed conversation.

Against her thigh, she felt a gentle pat, and she turned to see Tikki, just barely peeking out of her purse on the bench beside her. The little kwami gave her a gentle smile when their eyes met, and Marinette felt some of the anxiety slip away. Tikki was still there. She still had both earrings. It wasn’t the end of the world. She took a deep breath.

Turning forward, Marinette forced herself to try and listen to the teacher’s lecture again. By the end of the hour, her notes were somewhat legible, but hardly sensible. The only thing on her mind continued to be her earrings.

“Okay, class, that’s it for today,” the teacher finally, finally announced. “Don’t forget to read Chapter 11 in your textbooks.”

Marinette shot up from her seat as soon as she heard the scraping of chairs around her. Her mind immediately tried to form some sort of plan of action. They had a lot of ground to cover, and with just Alya, Tikki and herself, it would probably take awhile. First things, first, she had to look in her immediate vicinity. She grabbed her bookbag from the ground and dumped its contents onto her desk.

“Hey, Marinette,” a gentle voice called out from in front of her.

Her panicked eyes flicked up from her pile, meeting green. Her eyes went wide as she realized she was staring into Adrien’s face.

“I heard you and Alya talking,” Adrien said, looking a bit sheepish as he admitted to eavesdropping. “Nino and I can help search, if you want?”

She looked over to Adrien’s side, where Nino was still seated. The other boy gave her an encouraging smile.

“Uh,” was all that came out of her mouth. Alya elbowed her in the side, and Marinette came back to life. “Thanks, Adrien. That would be a bug yelp—big help,” she replied, hoping her smile looked more thankful than manic.

He smiled back, clearly unphased by her panicked state. “So what are we looking for?”

She turned her head to the side, presenting the ear that still thankfully had an earring completely intact. “My earring back,” she said, pointing at the back of her ear. “It’s kinda shaped like a little bowtie? If you haven’t seen one before—not that it would be weird if you did—or wait, no… I guess I have seen you with earrings—um…” She stopped when she felt Alya’s not-so-subtle kick to the side of her leg.

Adrien continued to smile, nonetheless. “Got it,” he said with a nod.

Nino spoke up from where he was still seated. “Should you take out the other earring, though? Just so it doesn’t fall out while we—”

“No!” Marinette shouted, a little too loud, cutting him off. Her face colored as she realized her mistake. “Uh, no, it’s fine,” she said, “I don’t think it will fall out and I’ll be careful.”

“Okay…” Nino responded slowly, not seeming like he got it, but dropped the subject anyway. Marinette sighed in relief.

The four friends soon fanned out in the classroom, retracing Marinette’s steps and searching for the tiny earring back. She felt so lucky that the boys seemed to understand how important it was to her without her having to explain a thing. She would have to find a way to thank them later.

Eventually, after completely scanning every nook and cranny of the classroom, they decided to expand the search. Carefully, they made their way out to the hallway, watching their feet all the way. Still no sign of the earring back. Most of the students had already gone home for the day, so no one said anything to the four with their necks craned down at the ground. Marinette just hoped that no wayward feet had sent the little silver piece flying to somewhere they wouldn’t be able to reach.

“Maybe we should split up,” Alya suggested. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”

Marinette, Nino and Adrien nodded in agreement. Too preoccupied with finding her earring back, Marinette failed to notice Alya’s trademark scheming expression.

“Okay, Nino, you and I will head to the cafeteria,” Alya continued, grabbing her boyfriend by the wrist. “Adrien and Marinette, why don’t you head to the locker room?”

That caught Marinette’s attention. Her head snapped up to glare at her best friend, who’s eyes only sparkled in gleeful craftiness.

Before she could say anything, Adrien nodded his ascent. “Sounds good,” he said. “Let’s go, Marinette.”

He walked towards the door leading to the locker rooms, giving Marinette a chance to aim one more, perfectly leveled scowl at Alya behind his back.

Alya gave her a little wave as Marinette turned on her heel. They would be having a discussion later. This was about her earrings! Ladybug’s earrings! Not the time to fall over her feet over Adrien. Though, she couldn’t help but adore how kind and selfless it was of him to offer his help.

She looked up from her feet again as she got closer to the door. There was Adrien, standing there with his arm holding it open, a kind smile spread across his face. Her answering expression was nervous, but grateful.

As soon as they got into the locker room, it was back to searching. Adrien started on the side by the boys’ bathroom, and Marinette started at the girls,’ the plan being that they would meet in the middle to ensure every square inch was checked. Marinette had a little more ground to cover, being that she would have had no reason to actually enter the boys’ bathroom, meaning Adrien had no need to search inside.

They had been at the search for a while now, and Marinette was starting to accept that, perhaps, it was all for naught. And really, it wasn’t the end of the world if they didn’t find it. She knew she had plenty of earrings at home that were virtually unworn these days, and she could easily just use the back of one of those. As long as she had the studs in her possession, surely, that was enough for her to be Ladybug.

She opened up her purse once she was sure that Adrien was behind a row of lockers and out of sight. Tikki looked up at her with gentle blue eyes and a kind smile. Marinette couldn’t help but smile back, feeling much better.

She closed the purse and straightened up, ready to call off the search and relieve her friends of their duty.

Before she could say anything though, Adrien’s head popped out from around the corner of the lockers. “Marinette!” he exclaimed. “Is this it?”

Marinette’s head whipped around to look at him, her heart pounding. Too late, she realized she had moved too fast.

Plink! Clink, clink, clink.

Marinette’s backless earring flew from her ear, rolling and bouncing across the floor until it stopped at Adrien’s feet. A strangled gasp escaped her throat as her eyes followed its journey. She should have listened to Nino.

Adrien blinked at her where he stood, his eyes following her gaze to where the earring sat on the floor. He leaned down to pick it up, freezing before his fingers took it into his grasp.

His eyes widened as he looked from the lone earring, to Marinette, and back again.

Marinette held her breath where she stood, wondering why he had stopped moving. She mustered the courage to call out to him. “Adrien?”

He seemed to break from his stupor at her voice. Gently, so gently, he plucked the earring from the ground and held it reverently in his palm. He placed the earring back that he had found beside it.

Slowly, he looked up at her to meet her eyes, then took careful steps towards her. When he finally stood just a mere few inches away, he offered the earring to her.

Marinette broke her eyes from his gaze to look down at her earring. She was delighted to see that it was indeed the earring back she had lost, but her blood ran cold when she realized what had stopped Adrien in his tracks earlier.

There, caressed gently in his palm, instead of the usual solid black, was a red-and-black-spotted stud.

Marinette swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat. Adrien had yet to say anything on the matter, and nerves were swirling around her gut. She squeezed her eyes shut. No matter what he thought, she needed her earring back.

She opened her eyes. Adrien was still patiently holding out his hand, waiting for her to take the proffered jewelry. She reached out her hand and slowly covered his own. Tingles ran up her arm as they made contact, but she forced the feeling out of her mind, wrapping her fingers around the earring and back.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“You’re welcome, my Lady.”

do the earrings have backs. how are they taken so easily but marinette has never,, lost them

#adrinette #adrienette #miraculous #ml fanfic #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #miraculous ladybug #cross posted on ao3 #ml leak free #my writing #ml fic

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