#sink borderline unusable

[breakbreadwithme]

upside to getting kicked out of my roommate group for next year for no good reason is that i won’t have to wake up & see every inch of our kitchen in a state that would send a health inspector into a coma

[divinemackerel]

Ladies in White

There are two fears that sit on either of Man’s shoulders much more commonly than the rest, nestling into the crook under the chin but before the shoulders, attaching to the veins of the throat. Thanatophobia[1] and Xenophobia[2] never move from their spots once they settle, their limbs splaying like that of a tick as they gorge themselves.

[1] Fear of Death [2] Fear of the Unknown

It is because of them that we create ghosts, these lingering phantasms[3] to warn us of what is to come next. In fact, across cultures, there exist several types of consistent ghosts coincidentally, the most infamous being the Lady in White.

This Harbinger[4] appears as a woman in white dress or some similar garment, always before impending disaster, death, murder and/or suicide.

[3] Something with an Illusory Likeness [4] A Forerunner of Something

Growing up in the Arctic[5] one will most often see them lingering in the forests, and from a distance you may even think they’re human, but like a fox their feet don’t break the snow, and no hot air moves over their chapped lips. 

[5] Any land past 66° 33' N

There is no clear consensus as to what exactly makes Ladies in White show up, at least not to anyone who is unfamiliar with death. Recent studies you conducted[6] though revealed the answer, as you found a rabbit in a trap you laid days ago, its eyes staring intelligently up at you, its fur so white you might have missed it.

The White Lady stood approximately five feet away from the trap[7], her hands by her sides, her dress melting with her rib cage underneath, it being unclear where one ended and her ragged skin began.

[6] Desperate measures caused by desperate times [7] making Death inevitable

It wasn’t too hard to hold the rabbit to the ground with its leg still caught in the trap, though your hands shook without the mittens, your fingers struggling to unhook  the dagger[8] at your belt under the combined weight of the cold, hunger, the White Lady’s stare, and what you were about to do. 

You draw [8] your Eleventh birthday present  Flesh reflects across yet unused iron, and you see it in [9] [10] [11] [12]

[9] Fur [10] Yourself [11] Your breath, fogging your glasses [12] A thread

and your cut isn’t clean[13],  hands too shaky and the guard too rough against your hands[14] but, driven by pity, you try again[15], as the rabbit thrashes weakly, legs kicking as you press it into the snow, searching for the part you’ve read about[16],

[13] and regret seeps in like the blood to the snow, each mad flutter of the poor thing’s chest only worsening the spill [14] he has a poet’s hands, that was the first thing he said to you, his beady eyes so neutral, so warm in comparison. He added, a musician if you’re lucky. [15] and as you do, she does not move, impassive eyes watching as blood spills all over your spindly fingers, sinking into your skin too, deeper and deeper, poisoning the ichor in your veins [16] he disagrees, ruffling your hair as he says how you will be a warrior yet

your relief borderlines on euphoric when you finally cut the carotid arteries[17], you think that is why the rabbit stops thrashing at least.

The Lady in White stands there still, watching you as you sit back and breathe.

[17] blood vessels in the neck that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain

Studies have shown that these heralds only show up when death is almost positively inevitable, as the threads of fate binding one to possible futures begin to close in. As an example, if local earthquakes lead to disruptions in the land that make an eruption almost guaranteed, Ladies in White will show up as the threads binding together future possibilities snap on the soon to be buried residents. 

It is unclear exactly why this summons them, but some cultures believe they help lead the spirits of the damned to the afterlife.

No one has ever been proven to have followed a Lady in White and returned to tell the tale of is this true.

If they do venture to the afterlife though, whatever that might be, you have a message for this one to pass along.[6]

So with unsteady hands, you clip your dagger[8] to your belt and stand.

[kananjarus]

WipWednesday

tagged by @rogerzsteven

This was such perfect timing, as I literally just went back and finished this chunk. I’ll share a long preview because I haven’t posted anything in two months, as a treat 💕

Morning came around quickly. Unused to waking up to sunlight in his eyes. His mind stuttered to life and focused on the foot not so gently nudging his own. 

Christopher sitting several feet away hugging a throw pillow from the couch and rubbing at his eyes. He’d slept on damp hair and now it stuck up funny in the back, frizzy loose curls that haloed in the sun. 

“You snore,” he said, scowling at Buck, who couldn’t get past the adorableness of it all. “And it’s loud.”

He apologized in the form of pancakes, sweetened by syrup and frozen blueberries. Buck made a pot of coffee and vowed to drink the entire thing. Already he looked at their situation as something fleeting, even if he couldn’t understand it. 

“We should just stay here,” Chris said, smacking his lips and licking the syrup off of them. This was the most content he’d appeared to be in a while. 

Cupping his warm mug, Buck contemplated this. The idea was far too inviting. 

“No, we can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because it's probably not safe.”

“But why?”

Because I don’t think I can protect you. He couldn’t say that part out loud. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to fight or defend himself. He absolutely did. The only doubt centered around this: Could I hurt someone else if I had to? Could I do worse?

“Listen,” Buck said, swallowing down a roll of nausea and leaning in close. “I know having electricity again is like, the best thing in the world right now, but we don’t know what else is out there.” The city at large. A vast, empty world. Unbidden visions of the airplane from Day Fifteen. Reports of uncontrollable violence in the bigger cities, able to continue unchecked after the center of it had fallen out. But was there anyone left?

What if it's just LA?

The absence of the internet told him otherwise. 

Buck got up and put their empty plates in the sink. Old habits. Why bother washing anything if they were just going to leave? Still, he lifted the tap to let the water rinse away the stray bits of food from their breakfast. Amazingly, the water came out clear and strong. Buck stood, mesmerized for a long second. Then, an epiphany. 

“Oh,” he said, and had to resist the urge to smack his own forehead with the heel of his hand. “Hydropower. Duh.”

Chris swiveled in his seat, sensing his excitement. “What?”

“The electricity, the water, that’s what’s keeping it all going.” The instantaneous urge to pull up a map on his phone. Crossing the kitchen, Buck rummaged around in his backpack and pulled it out anyway. There was a tangle of white cords on the counter, and he plugged it in, waiting for it to light up and begin charging, which it did. His heart leapt at the reappearance of light. “A good chunk of Southern California is powered by hydropower. The Hoover Dam. There’s another one, up towards Sacramento, I think…” 

He was borderline rambling now, while Christopher only blinked at him. 

“You know what a dam is right?”

The boy nodded. “So…will it keep the power on forever?”

That was a good question. “I don’t know…as long as there’s enough water, maybe.” He’d once seen a documentary on the greatest engineering marvels of the world, and the Hoover Dam had been heavily featured. If only now he could remember the details. “But there has to be people to maintain it.”

Christopher sat and thought on this while Buck rummaged through the cabinets, finding stuff to take with them. One held tupperware and reusable water bottles. He gathered all of the bottles and began to fill them from the sink.

“Well…what if someone is?”

Buck had to pause and backtrack to the last part of the conversation. He chose his words carefully. “That’s… probably not likely.”

But Chris had already taken the idea and was running with it, practically bouncing in his seat. “We should go and see!”

“Las Vegas is hours away,” he said, noncommittally. “There’s like, a thousand miles of desert and mountains between here and there. It’s not safe.”

Probably. He didn’t know. But were they any better off here in the city? He would be using that excuse for years down the line. 

Buck was facing the table when he saw Christopher’s shoulders sag in defeat and start picking at the frayed tablecloth. He suddenly felt inexplicably guilty and his heart ached for the boy. Bringing a bottle of water with him, he sat back down so that they could look at each other. 

“So, where do we go now?” Chris asked him, sounding lost.

“Where do you want to go?”

He looked up in surprise, his dark eyes going round like marbles. “You want me to pick? Why?”

Feeling suddenly uncomfortable, Buck shifted. “You should get to have a say in what we do. I mean, it wasn’t really your choice to be here in the first place.” 

Stuck with me, taken from your dad. Buck picked up his coffee mug again. Put it down in front of him, fingers twitching on the porcelain. 

“You get a vote, that’s all I’m saying,” he finished with his eyes cast down. “So pick.”

The answer came quicker than Buck was expecting. “I want to go home.”

He should have foreseen this, somehow. Picking out his words one by one, he stammered, “That’s - that’s on the other side of the city.” But Christopher was looking at him, eagerly and in defiance. Buck didn’t shrink back, instead hunching forward slightly so it was easier for their eyes to be on the same level.

“Chris, y-you know, right? W-what we might find there?” 

That determined look wavered only slightly. He swallowed once before nodding. 

“Alright,” Buck said. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t going to break Christopher’s trust by taking back what he said. “But we gotta lay down some ground rules first, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Great. When we get there, I go in first, and you stay in the car until I say otherwise. Good so far?”

Chris nodded again.

“And if -” If there’s a body. “If your dad is in there, then I’m not letting you come inside.”

At this, Christopher pulled his bottom lip in and bit down on it, suddenly looking unsure. Hand to shoulder, Buck made a clumsy attempt at tender reassurance. 

Buck tried to keep his voice as gentle as possible. “That’s why you want to go back there, right? To see if he’s…” There was no way Buck was finishing that sentence.

For a while, no one said anything at all. The kitchen had a clock somewhere and its soft ticking filled the silence. That and the hum of the central air unit through the vent above the fridge. After going so long without these daily noises, now Buck felt aware of every minute of sound. 

“There’s a picture on a table next to the couch,” Christopher whispered in a small voice, answering Buck’s question without addressing it at all. “My mom and dad. I just want a picture.”

“I can grab it for you,” Buck told him. “And maybe some clothes?”

“Yeah.” He was looking more assured, putting on a brave face. “Sounds good.”

“Okay.” Buck resisted the urge to pull him into his embrace. Christopher suddenly looked so fragile. 

tagging ummmmm @ajunerose @mellaithwen @ashavahishta

[cagrimmett]

There is so much knowledge stored in forums, but forum search is so bad that they are borderline unusable unless you want to sink a significant amount of time into reading threads. Each forum needs an LLM trained on it to unlock that knowledge.

[lenorethequietbookkeeper]

I know you're tackling other stuff first this can wait but I was curious, one of my favorite bits of lore is the territory climate combos in the Nogod Lands do you have any more information on that?

I do have plans to create a large article on the different territories later on, but I will oblige your request due to the area being seldom mentioned in the archive.

The NoGod Lands are a borderline inhospitable kitchen sink that combines the pollution of Goldberg District, the tectonic wrath of Lake Vulcan, the barren landscape of the Catacombs, the most repugnant beasts of Shedskin Park, and the unused meat waste of the Cottonmouth Alps. It is valley-like in geography, which allows the filth that leaks down into it to blend together in a nasty pool. The only slivers of civilization are the half-bombed towers and taverns from Hubone Drive, which some more desperate undead who wanted to escape the holder's tyranny now call home. Only the most desperate or insane souls would try to visit such a place.

-Lenore

(Note for outside readers: The NoGod Lands refers to this dark blotch of land tucked between all of the territories.)

[jilytho]

Blind Dating and Miscalculating

Blind dating au where Lily is on a blind date and wrongly assumes James is her date

Read below or on AO3 :)

“Whew does Mary know how to pick ‘em!” James looked up in shock to see a woman, apparently under the impression some Mary somehow ‘picked’ James leering at him, teetering from side to side as she pulled back the chair opposite him and clambered into it, nearly knocking off the unused wine glass closest to her. 

Drunk. Drunk but also gorgeous. Red tendrils that likely at one point in the night were neatly arranged were now flung about her shoulders in partial disarray. 

“Scuse me, I’m not quite sure you’ve got the right-”

“I told her I didn’t want to go! I said,” she reached over and grabbed his hand, pulling it towards her, wide eyes locked on his. One look at her bright green eyes (beautifully green eyes, his favorite shade of green, actually) was enough to tell that while the lights were on, nobody was home. “I said, Mary!” She exclaimed, continuing to cradle his hand close to her while gesturing wildly with the other, “Mary I have no interest in dating, period. Nevermind getting set up with some random strange man. Especially with the name Mark. I mean, look, no offense Mark and other Marks of the world but it really is a rather plain name.” She paused to catch his gaping mouth opening and closing not unlike a fish before continuing. “That’s not to say that plain is always a bad thing or that extravagant names are a good thing,” she stumbled over the word extravagant and pushed right past it, “I mean I dated this bloke, Severus, once and I thought wow such an interesting name, fascinating. Nope. Dead boring and borderline stalkerish fellow as it turns out. So you’d think I’d like plain after an experience like that, wouldn’t you?”

She stopped abruptly, eyes staring at him expectantly, apparently waiting for some form of agreement. 

“Erm I suppose so?”

“Exactly! You’d think! But I mean, Mark. So mundane. I just assumed the person would be mundane as well. Probably an accountant or a lawyer, blech. Not to mention I was a bit nervous, been a little since my last date if I’m being honest. Not that there weren't offers.” She gripped his hand tighter, “There were offers, Mark. Don’t start thinking I’m desperate. I had offers.” She dropped his hand and folded her arms as if he had suggested otherwise. 

“I didn’t say- I’m not, I'm sorry can we back up for a-” his words and thoughts were a jumbled mess.

“Anyway,” she huffed, rolling her eyes and relaxing her arms, “anyway. Anyway, what was I saying? Mark! Yes, Mark. So as I was saying, I didn’t want to go on this date at all but Mary was all ‘it’ll be good for you! He’s so cute! We’ll get drinks first!’ and so I agreed to come meet you, but may have drank more than three margaritas but in my defense it was 2 for 1 and Mary was paying and I can never pass up a good deal. So that's why I’m late. But I am here. I am here with you, Mark, and you are far less boring looking than I expected. Yes, much cuter than any Mark I’ve ever met. Mary did well.” She nodded approvingly, sitting back in her seat and smiling constantly. 

From the corner of his eye he saw Sirius walk into the restaurant and see the woman in the chair Sirius had been meant to occupy. James immediately tried to signal with his eyes, “HELP, HELP, HELP” without alerting the redhead in front of him when Sirius, the bastard, winked at him lightly, turned on his heel, and left.

She hadn’t noticed his desperate face as she was busy scanning the menu over and when she wasn’t calling him Mark or yelling in his face she was quite pretty. Extremely pretty, actually. Like exactly the kind of person he’d want to have one a blind date. Or a non-blind date. Any date really. And the girl clearly needed food in her stomach to soak up some of her margarita, really it would be irresponsible to leave her like this. The least he could do would be to keep her company, pretend he was Mark to try and minimize her embarrassment, and then make sure she got home safe. 

“You know,” she met his eye over her menu as he spoke, “for someone who seems to have a lot of opinions on my name, I don’t believe Mary ever told me yours.” 

She laughed lightly, a beautiful wind chimey, tinkly noise that sent delight shooting down his spine. 

“Lily, Lily Evans.” She reached her hand across the table again, this time for him to shake. “Pleasure to meet you.” 

“Pleasure is all mine, Lily, Lily Evans.” He shook her hand lightly and looked back at his menu. 

XX

Dinner seemed to fly by. Once Lily got some food into her system she sobered up rapidly, yet sobriety in no way impacted her ability to keep him completely enthralled and entertained. Each passing minute made him more inclined to legally change his name to Mark and live the lie for the rest of his days. 

Sure their life would be a lie, he thought as she threw her head back laughing over some asinine story he was telling of Sirius, red hair swirling around like flames, but it would be fun. 

Not only was she bold, she openly mocked his ordering bourbon, ruthlessly holding nothing back despite only knowing him for a matter of minutes, but she was also unbelievably sweet. Listening intently to every story he shared, telling multiple of her own where despite being an ass kicking journalist she somehow also found time to volunteer at the animal shelter and had fostered three different dogs in the last two months. Ruthless, for sure, as she batted her eyes at him over her water glass causing all sorts of feelings to start to stir. She would give James, correction- Mark, a run for his money and then some. Barely an hour of sitting across from her and he was pretty sure he’d take his dinner knife to Mark's throat if the bloke ever actually did show up. Whether it be from jealousy or fury that any human being could ever stand up this goddess in front of him. 

The conversation flowed easily. Leaping seamlessly from her parents professions to his childhood mischief to the time she dyed her sister's dog key lime green. Her dad had a thing for flowers, apparently, marrying a Rose and insisting on making their daughters Petunia and Lily. 

“You could keep up the tradition, you know. Get your kids some flower names. Maybe something unique,”

“What?” She scoffed, “and subject them to years of cheesy, thoughtless bouquets of a flower you hardly like just because it’s your namesake? I don’t think so.”

“Then make it a flower they’d want to get! Or an herb, like Basil. Everyone wants a Basil plant around.” He pointed his drink at her as she spluttered incoherently, “are you telling me you don’t love a basil plant?”

“You’re right, how dare I overlook such a top quality name as Basil.” She drawled out in a monotone, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I suppose we’d go with something more colorful though, like Anemone!” She looked like the idea was pure genius and now he was the one spluttering in her face. 

He tried not to let his heart burst at her use of we. 

“I’m sorry, isn’t that the ocean thing? The Nemo thing? The sea anananamename thing where they live? That’s what you want to name your child?”

Her eyes were screwed shut as she clutched her chest, gasping for air through her laughs. 

“What?” He grinned at her, not caring if he had somehow said the wrong thing or appeared dumb when her laughter was so intoxicating. He felt a tingling run straight down his spine. 

“A sea,” she gasped out through choked laughs, “anemone!” 

“That’s what you just said!” He continued to argue. 

“Whew,” she wiped a stray tear from one eye, “truthfully you’re not that far off base at all. Same exact spelling. But they do have anemone for flowers that are on land as well as the sea. I’ve just never heard someone butcher a word so spectacularly.”

“Yes well, you know I’m quite good at that.” He leaned back in his seat as her eyebrow quirked up. “In fact, so good that I have been named the anti-Spelling B Champ,” he nodded matter of factly and continued on as if she wasn’t gaping at him, echo of a laugh still present on her face. 

“It’s true! Annually, all the people that hate spelling b’s gather and compete to see who can truly butcher a word the most. I’ve won every time. You’re sitting with a nationally ranked word ruiner.”

“Oh wow, however could I have not known. Do you have any secrets of the trade you could share?”

“I usually would never divulge such confidential information but just because you asked so nicely and because you are in fact stunningly gorgeous, I’ll give you one.” He leaned in conspiratorially, hitching a finger for her to do the same, and dropped his voice low. “To really put yourself over the top and seal that victory,” he looked side to side dramatically, checking for eavesdroppers before looking back on her, “is all about the silent Q.” He sat back again and watched her shoulders shake lightly with poorly concealed giggles. 

“Personally,” he grinned strongly, all pretense of secrecy gone, “I like to throw a minimum of three in there just to really set myself apart. Once I did a silent q followed by a silent x. I nearly sent the judge to an early grave.”

“You know I bet what would have really done him in is if you followed the x with a p but you pronounce the p like a-“

“Lily?” James reared back to find some bloke standing next to their table staring anxiously in between the two of them. “Are you Lily?” Lily nodded lightly, eyebrows scrunched in confusion, eyes flitting between the newcomer and James. 

“Um yes I am, I’m sorry do I know you?” 

A wave of cold dread overcame him, realization sinking into his chest. The newcomer, just about their age, polo and khakis, easily could have been a lawyer or an accountant. He had to explain before she realized as well and he looked like a total lying creep. 

“Lily, I can explain-“

“I’m Mark, I’m so sorry I’m so late. My car broke down and I didn’t have your number.” 

They spoke at the same time, the real Mark reaching a hand out to shake Lily’s. 

She didn’t take it. Instead she swiveled dumbly between the two staring accusingly at the real Mark. “You can’t be Mark. I’m having dinner with Mark. You must be here for someone else.”

“Lily, I really can explain if you’d just-“ James started again as Lily whipped around to face him. “You! You liar! Who are you?” She pushed back in her chair looking at him as suspiciously as if he had just announced he liked to moonlight as a serial killer in his spare time. 

“I’m sorry, your name is Mark as well?” The real Mark stared down at James politely inquiring, as if this was all perhaps a genuine mix up and not a case of an imposter stealing his date. 

“Not quite, its erm James. But truly if you think absolutely it the names are quite similar, the whole second letter being an A and the part about being in the Bible and what not.” Mark's eyebrows rose and Lily did not appear amused by his comparison. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to lie or anything, I just… you sat down and assumed I was Mark and I was actually meant to be meeting a friend but you were just so pretty and funny and I didn’t want you to feel like you’d been stood up so I thought I could come clean later but I just wanted to get to know you. I’m sorry, truly.” She looked at him, hurt and confused, and he just wanted to hang his head low and apologize another half dozen times. 

“I can leave so you two can get on with your date,” his heart sank as he stood, gesturing the open chair to Mark without quite meeting his eye. 

He forced himself to look up at Lily, “I really am sorry. It was really nice to meet you, have a nice evening.” 

He turned lightly and began to head out of the restaurant, feeling Lily’s eyes burning into the back of his head even while he heard Mark sit down across from her and apologize again for his lateness. 

He was barely out the door when he heard her yelling his name, his real name, from behind and spun back around to watch her jogging to catch up to him. 

He braced himself for her to yell at him or hit him or completely tear him a new one and gave her a forced smile. 

“Lily, I-“

“Is your name really James?” she huffed, somewhat out of breath. 

“Erm yes. Just James. No Jim or Jay or weird nicknames really…” his right hand came up to ruffle the back of his hair, still anxiously waiting for her to scream at him. 

She reached up on her tiptoes, hand snaking around the back of his neck (oh god she was gonna try and hold his head still so she could really hit him strongly) and used it to pull herself up closer and his head down and touch her lips lightly to his. 

The light kiss sent shockwaves down his body as he froze, processing what was happening. 

“I like the name James so much more.” She whispered against his lips, barely a breath away. That was all he needed to throw an arm around her waist and tuck her snugly against him, the other hand going to caress her cheek and bring his lips back to her, stronger than before. They kissed deeply and sweetly and he felt it down through his toes and in every single nerve in his body. 

When they pulled apart, still wrapped up in each other, and she lightly hummed his name against him, he felt suddenly very sure that there was no sound better than her saying his name. 

“So, I’d really like to do that again. And the date again. With you knowing my name the whole time preferably. Preferably right now. What's to say I go take care of the bill and you take care of the real Mark and we go get some ice cream, maybe?”

“What’s say we do.” She intertwined their fingers and pulled him lightly back towards the restaurant for a fresh start.

[strawberrysoup]

Let’s Review || Chapter 19

Peter Parker knew that his big sister would do anything for him to be safe and happy. She’d given up everything for him twice over already and would do it again in a heartbeat. And that’s why, when the criminal mastermind Tony Stark started inextricably following him around, he didn’t say a word. Because he knew without a doubt Penny would do whatever she had to if it meant keeping Peter safe. He had to protect her, just like she always protected him. He never considered what would happen if Stark decided both Parker siblings were worth taking. Never considered who else in Stark’s inner circle would agree. He just wanted to protect her and yet somehow, they both ended up with needles in their necks.

relationship: Steve Rogers/Original Female Character/Bucky Barnes, background Peter Parker/Tony Stark rating: Explicit warnings: Dark Steve Rogers, Dark Bucky Barnes, Dark Tony Stark, Dark Avengers, kidnapping, non-consensual&dark sexual situations, underage Peter Parker, emotional and psychological abuse, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat more warnings: i’m going to start including detailed warnings to the very ends of chapters in order to avoid ruining the shock factor in chapters while still being mindful of potential individual triggers. open the read more, CTRL + F and search “content warnings” to skip to the extra tags if you so choose.

Penny did not, in fact, stop earning extra swats at all and by day 3 had stopped sitting on her butt entirely, much to the quiet amusement of the soldiers. Steve had ordered more silk shorts and a pair of joggers that were soft enough she could wear them without too much pain. She was petulant and precious and far too tired to be as angry as they knew she wanted to be. He and Bucky had rotated taking days off since the incident, doing their best to try to engage with her. 

Some of the things they'd learned were as follows: 

1.    Penny's father had died when she was very young and she didn't remember him. He'd been Israeli, Jewish, and had lots of family Penny had never met. Peter's father was who she meant if she said 'my dad', a man from Queens who'd married her mother and loved Penny like she was his own (she missed her parents awfully, at all times and got tearful while talking about them). 

2.    Penny called herself stupid and dumb and an idiot on a regular basis and truly believed that Peter had gotten every IQ point her mother had to offer; it was a bad habit and bothered both of the soldiers—she was so smart and they regularly had difficulty keeping up with her intellect, her thought process was just very different from most people's. 

3.    Penny liked watching TV and movies and anything that had come out since her uncle Ben died was new and exciting. She would let them hold her for hours while they watched movies and talked through all of them with a witty and precious commentary. She didn't care for movies that made her cry. 

4.    Penny hated reading. Steve was pretty sure it was because it was difficult for her and wondered if she had the disability that flipped letters around but couldn't ask lest she got upset. If there was something that needed to be read in a movie or show, the soldiers had taken to reading it out loud immediately and unprompted.

5.    Penny desperately enjoyed and craved skin contact, to a point where Steve and Bucky were wearing less and less clothing because Penny would come to them when they weren't wearing shirts. She would ask to watch movies or TV because it was an excuse to lay on them with her cheek against their skin. Her tiny shorts were a constant but she'd shifted to wearing tank tops instead of long sleeves shirts and the soldiers liked it.

They'd thought from the beginning that skin contact could be their ticket in, Penny preened under careful touches even if she tried to hide it but it became more and more clear as the days went on. The daily spankings made her incredibly sensitive, mentally, and the extra contact seemed to be a coping mechanism. On the first day she'd tried to curb the desire with the kittens, carrying them around as much as possible but it quickly became clear it wasn't quite the same. While the little short-legged kitten had come to basically live in the spot between and directly above Penny's boobs, the orange one with impossibly chubby cheeks was more distant and preferred to simply be in the same room with people rather than held and touched (Bucky adored both kittens but the fucking tiny legs killed him, he loved it so goddamn much). But kittens were not a good replacement for a very warm super-soldier. 

Steve had gone for broke the night before, sleeping in a pair of briefs instead of joggers and a beater. Penny had stayed firmly on his chest the entire night while Bucky, wearing boxers and a t-shirt, had been left with just a single cuddly kitten tucked up under his chin. The brunet had gotten up early for work, scowling jealously at the way Penny cuddled against their lover so sweetly; he almost told JARVIS to call in for him, he could've shucked his shirt and joined the pile of warm sleepy bodies. Tony was still not entirely pleased with them though (especially once Steve had dropped their plan to head into the Rockies for a few months) so it was better to head into the office. He kissed Steve soundly and pressed his lips gently to the back of Penny's head before heading out, depositing the kitten in his hands onto the cat tree in the living room on his way. 

Steve laid awake in bed for another two hours, savoring the way Penny felt against him. Their babydoll was small and precious and fit so well against him. Her legs splayed wide over the smallest part of his waist, her head cushioned against his chest. She'd been sleeping or laying on them in similar positions since the first spanking (she'd even let Bucky carry her around after her spanking the day before, as long as his hands stayed far away from her ass). He could feel her slowly starting to wake up and ran his hands up and down her back under her tank top. 

He wasn't expecting the way she started to tremble, or the tears spilling down onto his chest. She didn't make any noise but her breaths came in little hiccups, her head tilting further down as she tried to curl into herself. 

"Baby? Penny doll, what's wrong?" He sat up, keeping her legs wrapped around his waist and enough of an angle to his torso that her weight wouldn't press her down to sit on her ass. 

She said something, but it was disrupted by hiccups and a small sob and Steve's heart broke just a little when he couldn't understand. When Penny spoke in Hebrew it was usually on accident, she was either too distressed or too scared to notice she wasn't speaking English. Steve's ears perked at the sound of bells, eyes going to the door of their bedroom where both kittens were trotting into the room. The short-legged kitten often appeared whenever Penny cried and the orange one followed but stayed near the door. It was far too small to jump onto the bed so Steve dangled an arm over the edge until he felt fur brush his fingertips, scooping the kitten up and depositing it between his and Penny's chests. The little thing purred like a motorboat, tucking into Penny's shirt and between her boobs where it generally spent most of its time. 

"Shhh, baby, it's okay," Steve brushed his lips against her temple and her cheek, continuing to run his hands under her shirt, "can you tell me why you're upset?" 

The sounds she made were borderline heartbreaking and he figured for a minute she wasn't actually capable of answering until she spoke haltingly between hiccups, "it hurts, it h-hurts, s-so much." 

Penny's ass was already shades of blue and purple, even if Steve was sure Bucky had gone easy on her the evening before. The little smacks she earned in between spankings only served to ignite the burn. 

"Oh, doll," Steve cooed, his expression pulled tight and his chest feeling even tighter; he hated the distress she was in, the pain, "hold on, I've got the arnica right here." 

She whined when he moved her legs and slipped off her shorts, leaving her naked from the waist down, and grabbed the tube from the bedside table. They had hidden several of them throughout the apartment so they'd be handy at all times. In general, Penny appreciated the relief it provided but the application made her cry even harder, even as Steve used the gentlest touches he could. Her ass was still hot to the touch and would be for days and days. 

"All done baby, I'm all done," he'd applied the cream as thickly as possible, a visible layer on her bruises, "let's leave your shorts off, okay? You don't need them." 

Personally, he'd like for her to walk around naked at all times, he liked seeing her little pussy peeking out, but it really would feel best for Penny not to have anything on her ass. She was still crying, not quite as hard but he could still feel the tears against his skin. 

"Okay baby, okay," he murmured, lips returning to her temple, "we're gonna skip your spanking today, alright? We can't tell Bucky or he'll make me, so you have to pretend I did understand?" 

Penny nodded tearfully against his chest, "thank you, thank you, thank—" 

"Shhh, it's okay baby, it's okay." 

Steve spent the entire day with Penny in his arms, carrying her carefully from room to room or laying on his chest on the couch or in the bed. The pillow on her chair in the dining room (her Princess Pillow, a term Penny did not like and had led to her refusing to use it for meal times—but only until dinner on the first night, after two spankings had left her very uncomfortable) went unused just because she never actually sat on her own, instead rested on Steve's hip while they both ate over the sink. 

He honestly hadn't intended for anything sexual when he forewent her shorts that morning and he knew Penny didn't have any salacious goals either. It happened purely on accident while they lounged on the couch watching an action movie, Penny enjoying the way Steve could pick apart the movie's shortcomings. She'd sat up for some reason and her pussy had ground against his abs causing her entire body to still, an aborted noise escaping her lips as her clit hit a ridge just perfectly. Steve's hands found her hips quickly and he kept her from lifting up, gently stroking her bare skin. 

"Hey, hey, you're alright," he murmured softly, hoping not to trigger an escape attempt, "that felt good, didn't it babydoll? Here, do it again, lemme help." 

He used his hold to manipulate her hips, rolling her cunt over the bumps of his abs again, twisting her slightly at the end to really grind her clit. She moaned, breaths coming just slightly faster as he continued to move her hips in the same pattern, carefully holding her to prevent her ass from brushing anything that would cause pain. 

"That's good doll, that's so good," he praised, feeling her thighs clench ever so slightly as she started to work herself against him, "good girl, Penny, chase it. Make yourself feel good baby." 

Her wetness spread over his abs, aiding the slide of her cunt against his skin. She even canted her hips the way he'd manipulated her, the twist at the end dragging her clit against the ridges of his abs in a way that made her pant. Her lower lip found its way between her teeth and Steve did his best not to moan at the sight; she was working herself over beautifully above him. Her pussy was so slick he imagined he could feel her arousal dripping down his abs and rolling over his skin onto the couch. She rocked hard, hands coming to rest on his chest for leverage and he could see how close she was and the exact second she started to get frustrated. A whiney moan escaped her, the twist of her hips more pronounced as she tried and failed to bring herself off. 

"I—I can't, " she whined, thighs clenching tighter, "I can't—"

"Shh precious, come here, let me help you," he lifted her easily by the waist, pulling her up until her pussy hovered just over his mouth, arms coming around her thighs to hold her tightly, "I'll fix it, baby, I'll make you cum." 

His mouth sealed over her clit in and she yelped just before a long moan escaped her lips. Steve was good at eating pussy and enjoyed it deeply, the taste of her filling his mouth and coating his tongue. She was musky and tangy and he decided he could eat her out for hours if she'd let him. Her pussy clenched as he swirled his tongue inside of her, her thighs twitching as his nose bumped her clit. He waited until he could hear her begging for release before refocusing on her clit, the sensitive little button all but throbbing under his tongue as he began a truly exquisite onslaught. 

"Oh.. Ohhhh, I—oh no, oh no," he smirked against her cunt as she seemed to realize she was about to cum all over his face, her cheeks lighting up red at the thought and her thighs attempting to gain enough strength to lift herself up. 

Steve tightened his arms around her thighs and held her firmly, pussy sealed against his mouth with no room for squirming. Her lower body began desperately twitching as her orgasm built. He focused his tongue on her clit, working happily as she got louder and louder, her hips desperately rocking in his hold. The noise she made when she came nearly made his pop off in his briefs, loud and pitched and desperate. It tapered into breathy pants and whines and he stopped just before she became too sensitive for comfort, tongue lapping up into her cunt. Her cum was the same earthy flavor as her arousal and he cleaned her until she started to squirm. 

Her face was so endearingly red when he resituated her on his abs, directly onto the wet spot her pussy had made on his skin. She couldn't meet his eyes and he smiled, stroking his hands over her thighs gently. 

"Lay down baby, the movies not finished yet," he told her softly, pulling her down to rest against his chest again with her head on his peck and she stayed that way for the next two hours, until Bucky for home.  

Bucky's eyebrow had gone up when he walked in after work, the first thing he saw being Penny's bare ass and pussy from between her splayed legs where she lay over Steve's chest on the couch once again. The blond had signed 'don't ask-don't ask-don't ask' quickly before Bucky could even open his mouth, instead choosing to walk over and kiss both of them before heading into the bedroom to change. Well, mostly he just undressed down to his briefs and called it a day, obviously clothing was optional if not frowned upon in their apartment at the moment. His day had been relatively easy, the interrogation he'd done had gone by fast and after that it was just paperwork. Tony's companies, both legal and illegal, had a whole slew of enemies. Steve was good at finding them and Bucky was good at retrieving information from them. 

"Remember what we talked about precious," Steve murmured to her as Bucky walked back into the room, the blond's eyes finding his with a careful expression on his face, "be a good girl, be sweet." 

A squeaky meow interrupted his thoughts and Bucky reached down to scoop his favourite kitten into his arms. The orange one brushed against his ankles with a quiet purr, a little welcome home, before she retreated into the cat tree once again. He was worried because Penny hadn't named either of them yet but didn't know how to bring it up without upsetting her, and she was already so upset all the time. In his head he called the short one Munchkin and the orange one Chubs (for her little chubby cheeks). 

"How was your day?" He asked casually, noting the way Penny's eyes met his from under dark lashes like she had a secret. 

Judging from the way Steve gave a short 'later' hand motion, she did, but it wasn't something the blond was worried about and that meant Bucky wasn't either. Besides, he liked seeing the life in her pretty eyes today (she was half-naked on Steve's chest, unconcerned that her legs were spread, and looked almost happy—she could've killed 6 people and bathed in their blood and he wouldn't have cared because she almost smiled at him). 

"I already called down for dinner, it should get here in just a few minutes," Steve sat up, cautious of how Penny was arranged to make sure no pressure was put on her ass, "Penny needs arnica and her shorts, can you do it while I run to the bathroom?”

Bucky nodded and swept her up into his arms, cradling her tightly in his arms before falling back onto the couch and grinning when she immediately glared up at him, “I missed you today baby.” 

“I didn’t like that.” 

“You don’t like anything I do precious,” he pressed a kiss teasingly against her forehead, “let’s get this arnica on your poor ass, huh? Steve must’a already given you your spanking for today.” 

“Yeah.” Bucky’s eyebrows jumped high on his forehead; it didn’t take a master interrogator to figure out she was lying.

The hesitation to answer was the most obvious give away but she wouldn’t look him in the eyes either, a finger coming up to his chest to trace shapes against his skin. Lying to him was ballsy but he remembered the hand signals he’d received from Steve upon entering the apartment, the blond’s cryptic words to their babydoll while she thought Buck couldn’t hear. So instead of calling her out for the deception her grabbed a bottle of arnica from the end table and started very gently rubbing a layer into the bruised skin on her ass. 

Her little whimpers hurt his heart, but the full tears were what made it crack. She was likely at her breaking point for pain, where the punishment didn’t fulfill its purpose anymore. He’d bet Steve had realized the same thing and had held off. 

“Almost done babydoll. Steve! Bring her shorts with you when you come!” 

There was more squeaky meowing and he dropped his hand over the side of the couch without looking, scooping up Munchkin and dropping her onto his chest right between himself and Penny. The kitten hated being away from Penny even after such a short time. 

“What movies did you watch today? Have I seen them?” 

Penny hesitated for just a few seconds before she gave a short commentary, not noticing the way Steve walked out of the bedroom and up behind her. A quick few hand signals ‘food-sleep-talk’ told him that the blond wanted Penny fed, in bed, and asleep before they got a chance to talk and flashed and ‘okay’ behind her back. It didn’t take long to fulfill the list, Penny was out like a light with a very small dosage of sleeping pills (not enough for her to notice, just enough that she’d sleep through the night). 

The soldiers kind of assumed it was like having a toddler; during the day they had to watch what they said, if they got much of a chance to talk at all, and the dynamic between them had changed while they focused on getting Penny settled. Nights were when they had the chance to talk, it helped that they didn’t need a lot of sleep, and they honestly kind of enjoyed lying in the dark with their babydoll laid out across their chests, talking quietly over the sound of her breathing. It was certainly a good way to decompress after a long day and the pair fell asleep in the early hours of the morning, Penny on Bucky’s chest and Steve wrapped around them both from the side, a kitten or two thrown into the mix somewhere. 

Bucky woke immediately when the blond shifted, slowly starting to wake up for work. It was Steve’s turn to go in and he had a meeting with Tony too—Steve was much better at dealing with the eccentric billionaire than Bucky was, especially when it came to the topic of Penny. Despite the fact Steve had been the one who wanted her originally, Bucky was the one who’d become more overtly possessive and he didn’t like Tony butting into their business. 

“Take care of her, I’ll see you in the evening,” Steve bent over to kiss him lightly, lips trailing to brush against his cheek lovingly before he stroked a hand through Penny’s hair and gave pressed his lips to the back of her head, “love you.” 

“Love you, punk, go to work,” the brunet ignored Steve’s wry smile, instead shifting Penny to lay next to him on her side, curling his body tightly around her and tucking her up against his torso while Steve left.

She’d be up in an hour or so, would probably want to go lay in the hammock in front of the windows. She sunned herself the same way the kittens did, taking little cat naps in the sunshine between attempts at knitting. He could feel the small changes in her breathing as she started to come to and smiled; her forehead burrowed against his chest, her nose brushing his skin lightly. But then she started to tremble and a small whimper escaped her and she was reaching for him and there were tears in her eyes—

Bucky swept her into his arms immediately, carefully arranging her the same way they’d been doing for days to keep the pressure off her ass, “Penny, talk to me baby, why’re you crying? Did you have a bad dream?” 

“The stuff—the lotion—” she hiccuped and he felt her hips jump in his hands when the side of her ass brushed his leg and she yelped, “it hurts, it—”

“JARVIS, remedies for bruises,” Bucky ordered, immediately lifting them both off of the bed and heading into the bathroom. 

“Because this is the second morning Ms. Parker has woken up in pain, I have taken it upon myself to order several items to be sent to the apartment, including hypericum perforatum. There is an aloe vera plant in the living room which can be used for pain relief after a bath, which I shall add witch hazel and lavender to, along with epsom salts for the swelling.” 

“Thanks buddy,” he responded absently, the steam from the hot water immediately settling over his skin when he stepped past the doorway; the bathtub was already filling, “can you hold your weight baby? Just for a minute.” 

Penny nodded tearfully against his chest and he carefully rested her on her feet, gently manipulating the waistband of her shorts over the curve of her ass. He could see in the mirror that her skin had retained its deep red tone, purple and blue splotches concentrated on the fullness of either cheek. It wasn’t anything permanently damaging, just very painful. He pulled her tank top off and dropped it to the side with her shorts, listening as the faucet kicked off. 

“Alright baby, let’s get you into the bath,” He quickly shucked his briefs and stepped into the water, helping Penny in after even when her breathing hitched at the movement, “you’ll lay against my chest, just like usual.” 

Once they were situated, Penny with her head tucked under his chin and his arms around her back, Bucky couldn’t help but smile. He could see why Steve hadn’t gone through with her spanking yesterday, there was simply no need. Penny might not have trusted or liked them but she reached for them. When she was in pain she reached for them to help, to fix it, and knew that they would, where in the past you couldn’t have gotten her to ask them for anything, let alone help. 

It was a significant step in the right direction, Penny succumbing to a piece of her new life. She didn’t chafe under his hold, wasn’t stone still or angry. She was in pain and seeking comfort and help and she knew he’d provide it. He knew she was a stubborn little thing, the concession of just a bit of her space wasn’t the end of her fighting, but it meant something and the soldiers could work with that. During interrogations, the systematic deconstruction of a person’s will and mind meant that when one wall fell the others were very close to follow. Penny could still fight if she wanted, but it was only a matter of time before she conceded the battle. 

Patience wasn’t Bucky’s strong suit but he would wait as patiently as he could for her to crumble in his arms, after all, it wouldn’t take long now. 

content warnings: grinding, dubcon cunnilingus, face sitting

[screamingatanemptyroom]

I Can’t Eat Love pt 31

Thank you everyone for all your kind messages yesterday! I really appreciate it!

Edith is in Tilendria. 

Master post Linked Here

Enjoy!

_________________________

“What are you doing here?” I tried to remain calm, but even the sight of Edith standing next to Nate was making me feel uncomfortable.

“I’m here just to visit as a representative of Reterand’s royalty.” She smiled warmly, the expression making my stomach churn. “This kingdom is lovely, Nate. You’ll have to show me around tomorrow.”

She stared at Nate, fluttering her eyelashes. My chest hurt as i watched her, my heart sinking as I felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.

_________________________

“Make way for the Prince!” A loud voice called out, waking me from my stupor. I clutched the empty begging bowl in my hand, feeling humiliated, but I didn’t have the energy to run and hide. I could only lower my head, and hope he didn’t look too closely at a beggar on the street.

The entourage made its way closer, and glancing upwards I noted Ronan and Edith, riding on horses, talking side by side. I felt a stab of pain in my heart, my eyes filling with tears. Of course they’re together, they’re engaged. Despite the rationality of it, watching my best friend and the man I loved smiling at each other while I crouched on the street in rags was almost too painful to bear. I prayed they would just move on, but to my horror, they stopped right in front of me, chatting.

“I’m so lucky to be able to marry a wonderful man like you!” Edith’s flattery caused the prince to smile. “But, some days, I just feel so guilty that I stole Lenora’s place…” She dabbed her eyes, looking sad and pitiful.

“Lenora?” Ronan sneered, the word tearing at my heart. “I’m glad to be rid of her. Who would want her when they could have you?” 

I felt Edith’s gaze focus on me, and stiffened, wondering if she had recognized me. She didn’t call out however, just sat there smiling.

“Yes, who would want her?” Her voice was low, but loud enough to be heard by me, shredding the pitiful remains in my chest.

I kept my head down, too tired and hungry to cry.

_________________________

Nate shook her off, his face stony as he looked at her. “I’ll find you a guide. I’m afraid I have too much on my schedule.” His tone was borderline rude, surprising me. He was normally a very polite person, almost to a fault.

“What…?” Edith started to protest but Nate ignored her, walking up to me and taking my hand, a smile on his face.

“Do you want to go on a walk tomorrow?

I couldn’t help but smile, even as I felt nervous at the contact between our hands. Realizing my feelings, it was difficult to be as calm around him as I used to be. “Won’t you be too busy?”

His grin was shameless. “I cleared my schedule for you.”

“…” Everyone stared silently in shock at the obvious difference in treatment. I laughed, squeezing his hand gently.

“Sure. Let’s do that then.” I wasn’t sure what to do with the chaotic feelings in my heart, but I was clear on one thing: I wasn’t about to step back for Edith.

“Good! Then the three of us can go together!” 

As Edith invited herself along, Nate and I turned to stare at her coldly. She seemed unaffected, giving another sweet smile. “Your Highness, I just wouldn’t want your reputation to be affected, after all, back home… Lenora’s history…” She trailed off, blushing as if too embarrassed to continue, “I wouldn’t want people to talk, they might say you two have an… inappropriate relationship.”

“Wouldn’t that be great if that were true.” I heard him mutter quietly, and poked his side. He just winked at me in reply. Ignoring him, I turned to Edith, a cold smile on my face. 

“We appreciate your concern, Edith. You know better than anyone the devastating effects of having a… promiscuous reputation.”

 Her face paled, her expression twisting with rage for a moment, before immediately conforming into a hurt, betrayed expression. Tears fell from her eyes, and she twisted her hands, looking pitiful. I truly was impressed with her acting skills, slightly less annoyed by her now that she wasn’t touching Nate.

“How could you, Lenora?!” She cried. “We’ve been so close all these years…. Only having each other…”

I interrupted, feeling tired. “Really? I would say you are much closer to Prince Ronan than you are to me.”

“You’re twisting things! It wasn’t my fault!” She glanced at Nate, obviously hoping for sympathy, but he only stared in a different direction, as if pretending she didn’t exist. “I was forced into it… he doesn’t really care about me…”

“Are you criticizing your prince?” I raised an eyebrow. “Do you know the consequences of that?”

“Don’t you do that all the time?” Nate whispered, his chest shaking with surpressed laughter. I poked him again.

The King and Queen had since arrived, watching the proceedings with disapproving frowns. Edith glanced at them, and then turned, staring at me with confusion. I had always given way to her, in this life and the last. She was unused to arguing with me, and obviously wasn’t sure how to proceed. 

“Lenora, the initial sales are fantastic!” Erica ran up, nodding approvingly when she saw me and Nate standing together.

“YOU?!!” Edith faced her with a glare! “So THIS is where you’ve been hiding you slut!”

Nate and I both bristled, ready to intervene, but before we could speak Erica turned and smiled. “Who’s the dancing monkey?”

“HOW DARE YOU?!” Edith shouted. “Do you know how much trouble the Earl of Beral gave us after you ran away? Half of my family’s fortune is gone thanks to you!” She then looked to the King and Queen, “Your Majesties, she is a criminal, who broke a promise of engagement and ran away with a deserter from the Eastern guard!”

I stepped forward. “Oh, Edith, you’re mistaken. You’re thinking of Lady Erica, the young single noblewoman who mysteriously disappeared before her forced marriage to a terrible older man.” I pointed in the direction of the girl in question. “THIS is Erica, a married commoner of Tilendria who works in my shop. With all the proper paperwork to prove it.”

Edith glared at me. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Yes of course.” I shrugged. “But I fail to see the relevance to the issue at hand.”

The Queen burst out laughing, as if unable to hold it in any longer. Turning red, Edith took a deep breath. “I will not stay here and be mistreated like this. I will return to the palace.”

“Have a safe trip, that’s a long road back to Reterand.”  I called after her. 

She stopped. “The TILENDRIAN palace!”

“Oh.” I turned to the king and Queen. “You may want to find her a room with a lock. Just to keep the number occupants in her room consistent overnight.”

“LENORA!” Edith shouted, but I ignored her.

 “Well, I’ll go oversee the rest of the grand opening, farewell!” I grabbed Erica’s hand and walked back towards the store. Nate started to follow but was held back by his parents.

“Actually, son…” The king shuffled awkwardly. “Can we talk?”

Nate paused, “Sure?”

I entered the shop, smiling.

_________________________

We kept busy until the shop closed, the group sitting down with a long sigh. 

“Thanks, by the way, for defending me!” Erica smiled. “You’re a true friend.”

I shook my head slightly, too tired to argue.

“Are you returning to the palace?” 

“Hmm… maybe I’ll just stay here a little longer.” I coughed uncomfortably. It had been easier to face Nate earlier because I was preoccupied with Edith, but what if he wanted to spend time alone. My face turned red, and I felt an aching pain in my chest at the thought.

“Wait… why…?” Erica’s eyes widened. “You’re blushing! There’s been a breakthrough in the impenetrable wall of denseness!” She squealed with delight, clapping her hands 

I frowned. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why, isn’t this a good thing?” Erica walked nearer, ignoring the warning glances from Rig and Marile. “You should be happy… 

“I’m not.” My voice was cold. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Marile asked, looking concerned.

“No, I would like to be alone.” Everyone exchanged glances at my curt tone.

“Okay, we’ll go get Hallers then.” They walked upstairs, leaving me staring up after them, speechless. 

Hallers walked down from where he had been cleaning upstairs, his face solemn. “Miss, would you like to take a walk?”

“…”I looked up at him, my heart in tangles. “Sure.”

_________________________

We walked side by side silently. I slowly relaxed, feeling more comfortable as we moved along.

“Hallers, what if someone once made a terrible mistake, and then got the chance to do things better… only to make the almost the exact same mistake again?” I started talking, my voice quiet. “Wouldn’t you call that person an idiot? They knew exactly what happened the last time they made that mistake… but they still… did it again.” 

My eyes filled with tears, and I blinked rapidly, trying to keep them at bay. “How foolish would that be?”

Hallers was quiet for a few long moments, and I tensed up again, feeling miserable. Suddenly he stopped and I almost crashed into him, looking up with confusion. 

He was smiling. “Miss, it is never a mistake to love someone.”

“What?” I started. “How did you…?”

He patted my head. “I’ve known you for a very long time. You’ve faced every adversity head on, and never let go of the people you care about. You’re aren’t a fool, or a coward.” 

“But I am.” I whispered, my head hanging down. “I can’t face this. Not again.”

He reached out, pulling me into a tight hug. “You can face anything, Miss. And no matter what happens, good or bad. I’ll be by your side.”

I held onto him, feeling warmth in my heart. “Thank you Hallers. How do you always know exactly what to say?” 

He stepped back, smiling. “Never underestimate a competent butler.” 

We kept walking. “So what is your plan?” He asked finally.

“No plan yet. “ I looked around thinking. “Even just facing my feelings is too much right now. And even if I care… that doesn’t mean it would be reciprocated.”

“…” Hallers started coughing, as if covering up a laugh. “I wouldn’t worry too much, Miss. Everything will happen in good time.”

I sighed. “I suppose so.” I reached out and hugged him briefly. “Thank you Hallers.”

“Anything for you.”

_________________________

 Having Edith around was extremely uncomfortable.

She spent nearly every waking moment around Nate, smiling, flirting, and complimenting him. The only time she let him out of her sight was when she was trying to get on the King and Queen’s good side.

“It’s horrible.” Nate sat next to me in Prosperity’s back room, his face pale and haggard. “She’s everywhere, always smiling. I’m starting to have nightmares.” He looked over at me. “How you survived growing up near her is a miracle.”

“I’m sorry.” I felt genuinely bad. “It’s my fault…”

“Oh no!” He interrupted. “There’s no way this is your fault. What is she thinking? She’s about to marry that idiot Ronan and now she’s behaving like this?!”

I smiled, suppressing a brief desire to reach out and hold his hand, “Maybe she’s wised up and realized who the better prince is.”

“Really? Do you mean that?” Nate’s grin was mischievous as he stared at me. “Do you think I’m a better potential husband than Ronan?”

I felt embarrassed, but tried to force my expression to remain calm. “That’s not really a compliment… I’d probably marry a  dog before I’d marry him.”

“Still…” He shrugged. “Glad to know at least I’m on the list of candidates.”

 I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. 

“How are you getting along with your parents?” I asked.

“I won’t lie… it’s been rough.” His smile was sad. “Too many years of mistakes, too many words spoke that hurt. But they’re trying, they really are. “ He reached out and took my hand. “I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said, staring up at the ceiling.

He chuckled, and didn’t say anything further.

_________________________

Later that evening, Edith was even more blatant than normal. The King and Queen had arranged a quiet dinner, and Edith immediately headed towards the spot next to Nate, preparing to sit next to him with a smile.

I was done.

“Edith.” I called out, my voice stern. “I realize that you haven’t begun your etiquette training yet and probably don’t know, but seating is in order of rank and position.”

She paused her eyes narrowed as she tried to hide her hostility towards me with a fake smile. “Lenora, surely you’re joking. I am a future Queen!”

I didn’t return the smile. “That is yet to be determined. Future rank does not determine your position now. You are below me, Edith, as the daughter of the Count of Erand. You will refer to me as Lady Lenora, and kindly take your proper place at the table or be escorted out for offending your superiors.”

I forced myself to remain calm, walking over to the chair next to Nate as if the conversation hadn’t occurred. Inside I felt acutely uncomfortable. I had never in my life used my rank to push someone down. But I was done watching Edith play around.

If she wanted to continue pretending then I would tear her façade down.

Edith’s face turned red, then white, astonishingly bright shades. She began sobbing, looking up at the King and Queen for pity, while reaching out to grab Nate’s coat. “How could you be so cruel?!! I know you’re jealous, Lenora, because Ronan never loved you but still, you shouldn’t take it out on me…”

Nate pulled back, avoiding her hand. “Was anything she said untrue?” The King and Queen nodded, their faces unsympathetic.

She stared at him in shock. “Y- you can’t talk to me that way! Ronan will have your head!”

I tried to hold back my anger and frustration of the past few days, her last words threatening to snap my tenuous control. “Where do you think you are? ” The question was soft, but Edith, seeing my face, backed away. “This is Tilendria. Whatever pitiful influence you have back home means nothing here. Your actions and words bring shame to our kingdom, and bring in to doubt Prince Ronan’s judgement and character.”

I sat down finally, noting the Queen’s approving smile.

“Miss Edith is tired.” Nate spoke up, his voice angry. “Please escort her back to her room.”

Edith protested, but quickly followed the servants out of the room, leaving the room in silence.

Nate sat next to me, grinning. “You’ve never fought with her so openly before. Do you feel better?”

I frowned. “A little. Don’t really like the methods I used.”

“Don’t worry.” His hand reached out, gently touching my hair for a moment. “I’m just happy to have you on my side.”

The rest of the dinner passed peacefully.

_________________________

 Later that evening, I received a letter from Nate to meet him in the kitchen. I read it, wondering if he had a servant write it. The handwriting seemed different. Strange, he usually comes and picks me up personally.

Not wanting to miss a chance to speak to him, I headed out, moving towards the kitchens, a slight smile on my face. But as I drew closer to the entryway to the kitchen, my steps slowed, my enthusiasm fizzling out.

There were two people talking in the kitchen.

I peeked around the corner, my heart skipping as I realized it was Nate and Edith.

How did she know Nate was here? I wondered briefly. Was this all set up by her? It would explain the strange letter.

“Where is Lenora?” Nate’s voice was colder than I had ever heard before.

Edith clasped her hands, stepping closer to the prince. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, I deceived you. I just desperately wanted to speak with you and knew you wouldn’t come if I put the right name on it… after all, I know what lies Lenora has spoken about me!” 

She wiped a few tears from her eyes, smiling prettily. “We grew up together, but she was always jealous of me. Always making up terrible rumors to ruin my reputation. Even now, I’m forced into an engagement with the prince due to her schemes when the one I truly love…” Edith hesitated, her cheeks blushing, “… is you.”

My breath froze painfully in my chest, as I stood silently in shock, staring at the two. What was happening? Why is this…? I shook my head, unsure of whether or not to step out. I had no claim to Nate, regardless of my feelings. He should have the chance to respond…

 “Is there something wrong with your brain?”

“…”

“…”

Edith and I both stared at Nate silently, confused.

“I’m not even going to touch your blatant lies about Ronan, when I’ve personally seen you scheme behind Lenora’s back to betray her with her fiancé. I’ll ignore the lies about whatever feelings you claim to have for me, when you treated me as a servant not too long ago before you knew my identity. “ 

He stepped forward, his face grim. “But I will not look aside as you lie about the woman I love.”

What?

“What?” Edith voiced out my thoughts unintentionally.

“Is it really so surprising?” He laughed, spreading his hands helplessly. “Lenora is a truly amazing person. I have never met someone who cares for others so much. She once intentionally put her life in danger, just to prevent the people in her Duchy from being taken advantage of by corrupt men. She cries at the thought of someone going hungry. And no matter how hard she works, how much effort she puts in for others, she never seeks the spotlight, never asks to be compensated or rewarded.” 

“But…” Edith sputtered. “You’ve just been fed lies by her people… They’ll say anything for her!”

He shook his head. “Why do you think the people around her are so loyal? She furiously protects those close to her, never putting herself before them.  She’s earned their trust, and doesn’t betray it.”

His voice grew softer. “I love her. Her confidence at facing a hostile world, her absolutely crazy plans. Her smiles. Her tears. Everything.” He chuckled. “Even her denseness.”

“I-“ Edith stared at him, open mouthed, obviously thrown. I felt the same.

“So whatever your plan is, to make her sad, to make her jealous, I don’t know. But I’ll never look away from her, so it’s useless to waste your time here.” He turned away. “I was going to tell you this in the morning, but your shamelessness has overcome whatever thoughts of politeness I had. I’ve arranged for you to leave Tilendria and return home. Never bother Lenora again.” 

“YOU CAN’T DO THIS!” She shouted.

“I can, and I have. In fact… I think you should leave tonight. I’ll make your goodbyes to Lenora.” He rang a small bell on the wall, and after a few moments a servant stepped in through a back door. “Escort her to the stables. Miss Edith is leaving now.”

It took three servants to drag her out, as she struggled and cursed, screaming at Nate that she would never give up. Her shouts faded into silence as they closed the door behind them, leaving Nate alone in the kitchen, with me spying on him from the doorway.

He sighed with relief, sitting down and holding his face in his hands. “As long as she’s safe, it’s okay.” He whispered.

I felt torn. Should I step in and talk to him? What would I say? How could I say it? I felt happy, embarrassed... terrified.

After a few moments of indecision, I quietly went back to my room, ashamed but unable to turn around to speak to him. I wasn’t ready to face this. 

Not yet.

_________________________

Over the next few days I became more and more restless, an uneasy feeling building in my chest. I couldn’t help but think that something terrible was about to happen, even if I couldn’t figure out what. My anxiety seemed to infect Hallers and the rest, who were more on guard.

Then, after about a week, Nate called me over, looking upset.

I kept my expression carefully neutral as I approached him. We had still spent time together in the last few days since I overheard him and Edith, but I had cut most of our time together short, feeling uncomfortable. I didn’t know how to face him, knowing how I felt. How he felt. 

I had trusted love so much in my last life. Could I really do it again?

“I have to go on a trip.” Nate told me as soon as I arrived.

The unexpected news gave me pause. “Is something wrong?”

“Bandits.” He said quietly. “Right at the border. There’s already been multiple attacks. Something isn’t right, either… they seem too well trained…” He paused shaking his head. “I have to go and see this for myself. There’s something we’re missing. I have to leave today.”

I thought of how George died, my chest tight with fear. “Do you really have to? I mean… it won’t be safe.”

“It’s okay.” He smiled, seeming to understand my concerns. “I’ll take every precaution. “ He reached out, taking my hand in his. “I’m just sad to be away from you. Please be careful while I’m gone.”

I nodded, not taking my hand back, letting him hold it. “I’ll be careful if you will be too.” 

He laughed at that. “Deal. And when I get back…” His face grew more serious. “Let’s have a talk.”

“Okay.” I agreed, my heart beating fast. “We will.”

“…” He still seemed reluctant, but eventually bowed, kissing the hand he still held. “Goodbye Lenora.”

Nate turned and walked away, his cheeks bright red.

 “Goodbye, Nate.” I whispered, wishing I could pull him back.

_________________________

 I felt slightly lost with Nate gone, even as I stayed busy, overseeing the shop, wandering the city, having dinner with the King and Queen. It was strange to know he wasn’t nearby. Even with me avoiding him, the knowledge that I could see him every day had been comforting, and losing that made me feel off balance.

I returned to my room that night, sitting down with a sigh.

The peace and quiet didn’t last long.

“LENORA!” Rig burst in, Hallers trailing behind. “Something’s wrong!”

“Is it Nate?!” He had just left! 

To my relief, he shook his head. “We received two messages, one from my people, and one from your spy within Edith’s people.

Angela?

I took the messages reading them carefully. Rig’s spy was concerned as the Reterand  Royal palace had been making movements, organizing a secret force, but the location of their deployment remained unknown.

The second from Angela was simple:

“Please come back. The Queen needs you.”

I shook my head. “Something is wrong.” The uneasiness I had felt grew worse. “The King is planning something. We have to go.”

Rig shook his head. “Don’t be foolish. You returning home right now could put you in danger! Let me send some people over, to investigate.”

“No.” I stood up. “We have a plan, remember? And for that… I’ll have to see the King face to face.” I looked at the note from Angela, my mind racing. Had she betrayed me again to Edith? Or was the Queen truly in danger?

Either way… it was time to go home.

[recentanimenews]

The 42 Greatest Anime Moments of Monkey D. Luffy

  May 5 is the birthday of One Piece's main character Monkey D. Luffy, and over the past couple of decades of his existence, he's given us some moments that will stay in our minds forever. And so I've decided to chronicle 42 of his best ones, antics that will hopefully remind you how much you love the free-spirited, determined, ridiculous Birthday Best Boy. One note, though — while this list does contain some of those sweet, sweet fight scenes, I've already written a list that ranked his 20 greatest knockouts against bad guys. So, in order to not repeat that list entirely, I've tried to mix it up a little bit. 

  1. Luffy Wakes Up From A Great Nap

I can't think of a better anime debut for Monkey D. Luffy than "wakes up in the barrel that he miraculously survived a whirlpool in and immediately knocks out some pirates by accident." It's everything fun about the dude rolled into one.

2. Luffy Gets Coby To Hit Him

    One thing that doesn't get mentioned enough about Luffy is his haphazard, yet skillful ingenuity. He knows that Koby will never get to join the Marines if he's associated with pirates, so Luffy, his one brain cell working overtime, gets Koby to punch him in order to prove that they're not friends because would friends brawl on the floor of a restaurant? 

3. Luffy Gets The Straw Hat

A moment from the first chapter of the manga that was delayed until Episode 4 of the anime, Luffy getting the straw hat from Shanks is iconic. It sets in motion his entire journey and creates a symbol that represents freedom, adventure, and destiny.

4. Luffy Gives Nami The Straw Hat

  Luffy giving Nami his straw hat is more than just a simple, comforting gesture. It's Luffy telling Nami that if she wants, she'll be a Straw Hat now and for the rest of her life. Nami may have problems, but she'll never have to deal with them alone ever again.

5. Luffy Gets His First Bounty

    By gaining a bounty when he takes down Arlong, Luffy is introduced to the wider world of pirating, the World Government, and eventually the Grand Line. Though Buggy's reveal that he knew Shanks and Mihawk's appearance hinted at a wider world, this is Luffy's first real step into it.

  6. Luffy Smiles At Death

    Luffy obviously doesn't want to die. But as he smiles at the crowd and his crew while Buggy brings a sword down onto his neck, he grins. Because he didn't die in vain. He never became Pirate King and he never found the One Piece, but he did live his life exactly the way that he wanted to. And that's more important than any title or treasure. I'm glad he didn't die, though. They never would've found the Grand Line if Zoro had ascended to the role of Captain. They'd probably still be arguing in the Loguetown harbor.

7. Luffy Holds Up Hiriluk's Flag

   Wapol wanted to destroy Hiriluk's flag and thus eliminate his legacy. But Luffy — smoking due to being recently shot by a cannon and holding up the flag — proved that's not something you can just do. As long as someone is there to fight for it, a flag is forever.

  8. Luffy Disagrees With Vivi

   Vivi, frustrated, enraged, and embarrassed about the treatment of her country, was more than ready to sacrifice herself for it ... and only herself. But Luffy wasn't hearing it. If she was going down, they were all going down. It wasn't just Vivi's fight anymore. The Straw Hats had reached Ride or Die status.

  9. Luffy Beats Crocodile

  I did a list of Luffy's best knockouts so I'm not gonna list every major punch here. However, the ones that are especially meaningful deserve recognition. And this one, where, after two defeats, Luffy battered Crocodile up through the streets of Alubarna, is inarguably one of the most memorable. It's a triumph that's a long time coming, equal parts brutal and satisfying.

  10. Luffy Lets Himself Get Beat Up And Meets Blackbeard

  Mirroring Shanks' restraint when he let himself get harassed by the Mountain Bandits, here we see Luffy decide not to fight Bellamy and instead he listens to Bellamy's foolish proclamations about why dreams suck and why you shouldn't have them and why Mylo Xyloto is the best Coldplay album, probably. However, even if he didn't need the pick-me-up, Blackbeard meets him outside to reaffirm that dreams never die. It would be a super nice remark ... if anyone but Blackbeard was saying it.

  11. Luffy Is Immune To Enel

  Until this point, Enel is borderline unstoppable, able to strike down anyone in his path and — with the help of his "mantra" —  barely takes any damage in the process. And it's made him pretty cocky. But to see Enel's face distort in cartoonish disbelief when he realizes that Luffy is a Rubber Type Pokemon and that he's impervious to Electric Types is so joyously satisfying.

  12. Luffy Decides To Get Rid Of The Going Merry

    With the Going Merry slowly becoming unusable and actually becoming a handicap to the crew, Luffy figures that it's time to find a new ship. It's a sad moment, but you can't help but see Luffy's side. A good pirate crew needs a good pirate ship. And if the Going Merry suddenly sinks, Luffy is dead. Like very, very dead.

  13. Luffy Faces Usopp

  Usopp relates to the Going Merry, fearing that its "weakness" and "inadequacy" represents his own. And so when Luffy decides to get rid of the ship, Usopp lashes out, causing Luffy to have to "put down" Usopp. It's a difficult decision, but it shows that Luffy isn't all laughs and "I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!" declarations.

14. Luffy Does Not Recognize Sogeking

    And then, after the most heartfelt showdown in the series, Luffy doesn't even recognize Usopp's Sogeking disguise, despite the fact that he has most of Usopp's traits, most of Usopp's weapons, and showed up only a little while after Usopp left. Oh, Luffy. Never stop being you.

  15. Luffy Goes Second Gear

  Power-ups are pretty common in anime. But Luffy saying that he needs to take his skills up another level so that he won't lose his friends still feels pretty special. And then the music kicks in and Luffy beats Blueno to a pulp and it's one of the most hype scenes in the entire series.

  16. Luffy Declares War On The World

   He'll always have a target on his back, he'll never be able to rest easy again, and the World Government will pursue him as long as he draws breath. Luffy knows this, but when the time comes to save Robin from CP9 in Enies Lobby, he doesn't hesitate to take on the whole world. It's just what friends do.

  17. Luffy Refuses To Fall

  When Luffy and Lucci fight, it isn't a quick contest. They go to absolute war on one another. And when Lucci thinks he's won, having left Luffy spitting up blood on the floor, we see that ... no. Luffy will not leave his feet. He has too much pride, too much grit, and too much determination. Defeat is not an option here. He will stop fighting to retrieve Robin when he's dead.

  18. Luffy Is Reunited With Garp

  For a long time, Luffy's actual flesh and blood family was a mystery. Shanks is kind of a cool uncle and Ace is someone that Luffy considers his brother, but where did Luffy, ya know, come from? As it turns out, his grandpa is the cannonball-throwing Marine Vice Admiral Garp, who is not only just as goofy as Luffy, but also really, really, really strong for being 76. What's his secret? Low carbs? Eiichiro Oda, please let me know.

  19. Luffy Punches The Celestial Dragon

  Luffy can't stand bullies or anyone that relishes the misery of others. So when a Celestial Dragon shoots Hatchan in the auctioneering house, Luffy walks right up to him and turns his face into a catcher's mitt.

  20. Luffy Loses His Crew

   Luffy's darkest hour (so far) comes when, in a fight with Kuma, Kizaru and the Pacifistas, his whole crew eventually gets wiped out and spread across the world. All the while, Luffy is powerless to stop it — his Gum Gum skills no match for Kuma's abilities. It's a truly pitiable thing to see Luffy beat his fists on the ground in futility, something entirely unlike any scene in the series before.

  21. Luffy Covers Sandersonia

   Back in Little Garden, Luffy agreed it wasn't necessary to actually have a reason for the fight between the giants. They were having an honorable contest between warriors. That was enough. Later when Sandersonia's scars were about to be revealed after a battle, Luffy covered them up. He had no interest in killing them or exposing their secrets. That is not what the battle was for. The contest was simply one that he wanted to win so he'd eventually get back to his crew.

  22. Luffy Decides To Save His Brother Before Reuniting With His Crew

   When Luffy learns that Ace is to be put to death, he must make a choice: Get the gang back together or dive into the depths of Impel Down and try to rescue his brother. He ends up choosing the latter, which shows a great deal of trust and respect for his crewmates. He knows they're strong enough to be OK without him for now.

23. Luffy Embraces Mr. 2

    This is just plain wholesome. Luffy's love for his friends is might be the best thing about him.

24.Luffy Falls From The Sky

    Luffy's story isn't just about his quest to find the One Piece, but the formation of a legend. And when Luffy and the other Impel Down escapees plummet from the sky into the Marineford war, you can practically see that legend being written.

  25. Luffy Faces The Admirals

  Yes, Luffy's attempts to kick a frozen log at them goes nowhere. And yes, Luffy is almost immediately knocked down by Kizaru when he tries to rush past him. But the guts in that kid! Facing down three of the most powerful men in the One Piece universe and demanding they give Ace back to him. That is moxie, my dudes.

  26. Luffy Goes Comatose

  Ace is dead. The mission has failed. A brother is lost. And all Luffy can do is go numb and lifeless. He has no words or actions to explain or react. A chunk of his soul has been ripped away.

  27. Luffy Realizes He Still Has His Friends

    Yes, his attempt to save Ace was a bust. But in the most hopeless of times, Jimbei asks him what he still has. And Luffy remembers he still has his friends — friends he has been there for in the past and who will most certainly be there for him later. They are still there. And because they are still there, Luffy's existence has worth.

  28. Luffy Gets An Upgrade

  Reuniting with his crew in Sabaody, it doesn't take too long for Luffy to find a way to show off the results of two years of training. He's been doing some grinding, so his skill tree has some new branches. He's unlocked some new abilities, and he's reached his evolved form. When a Pacifista comes at the Monster Trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji,) they beat the bear out of it.

29. Luffy Decides To Make Fish-Man Island His Territory

    For the most part, Luffy doesn't really care about the dominance sought by other powerful characters. But after he's gotten to know the citizens of Fish-Man Island and he sees the terror caused by Big Mom, he tells her straight-up he's gonna defeat her and take Fish-Man Island under his protection. It's the closest that Luffy has ever gotten to being a character in Goodfellas.

  30. Luffy Allies With Law

  And then, shortly after talking trash to Big Mom, Luffy teams up with Trafalgar Law in a plot to overthrow Kaido, another Emperor of the Sea. It's a real leap forward for Luffy. One day, you're just a kid from East Blue punching everyone that seems mean. The next, you're taking an active role in changing the power structure of the entire world. That's just how it is sometimes, though. As Logic once said, "Who can relate?"

  31. Luffy Has Been "Picking Fights All Along"

    Luffy knows he doesn't just tumble from one situation to another. He isn't just a poor guy caught up in the gambits of powerful evil forces. No, Luffy has definitely chosen to live a life where he will interfere with your best-laid plans if he feels inclined to. And if that includes a lot of fighting, well, so be it.

  32. Luffy Reunites With Sabo

  It's been pretty much non-stop action since the beginning of the Post Time Skip era, and that hasn't really allowed for a ton of emotional moments for Luffy. But when he reunites with Sabo in the coliseum and his scream comes out as a mix of happiness, confusion, and surprise, he finally gets one. Cry it out, buddy. We love ya.

  33. Luffy And His Allies Head For Doflamingo

  From orchestrating a breakout in Impel Down to creating a charge toward Doflamingo with all the allies he met in the tournament to win the Flame-Flame Fruit, Luffy has slowly gone from being the captain of a small crew on a ship with an animal head on the front to being the full-on leader of a Pirate Alliance. Luffy 2020 is what I say.

  34. Luffy Goes Fourth Gear

  Years after the reveal of Second and Third Gear, we get Fourth Gear, a power-up that even more freakishly transforms Luffy's body. It's not graceful, nor is it particularly beautiful to behold, but it gets the job done.

  35. Luffy Beats Doflamingo

  Doflamingo — a man that's been a thorn in the side of nearly everyone in the world for about 15 years of anime history — finally gets taken down. And still, it's only a stepping stone to Wano. Somehow, Eiichiro Oda creates these moments that seem like the biggest events in history, and yet, they're only just the beginning.

  36. Luffy Refuses To Fight Sanji

  Luffy knows Sanji is conflicted and not really a bad guy. And he's also aware of the fact that he'll be creating an even bigger issue if he fights back against his chef. So he just takes the kicks, hoping Sanji sees there's another way out of this. Sadly, it'll be a few episodes before he realizes that.

  37. Luffy Waits For Sanji — And Then Punches — Sanji

    Sanji finding Luffy because his captain's stomach is grumbling super loud is so cartoonish and lovely — because what is Sanji's role if not to feed his captain? Of course, Luffy enjoys Sanji's rain-soaked cookin' and then he punches Sanji for still being a twerp that won't admit what he really feels.

38. Luffy Clashes With Big Mom

    Luffy stood beside Whitebeard, but this is his first real showdown with a Yonko. And it doesn't go very well. Big Mom is easily able to block him, which shows that, while Luffy has come a long way, he's still got a bit farther to go.

  39. Luffy Places The Hat On Katakuri

  Much like the previous covering of Sandersonia's shame, Luffy covers Katakuri's mouth with his hat after their duel. The two combatants fought and earned each other's respect. And so Luffy leaves Katakuri with his pride.

  40. Luffy Knows He's Arrived In Wano Due To The Swords

    That giant baboon is using a sword? Obviously this must be Wano, the land of samurai. That's Luffy logic at its most pure. 

  41. Luffy Promises Tama She Will Not Be Hungry Again

  For the most part, heading to Wano seemed like a pretty impersonal act. The only reason he thought about going there in the first place was because Law seemed pretty confident it was a solid idea. But then he meets Tama and learns that she — along with most of the country — is starving. So his journey to take down Kaido gets some personal stakes. He's now shouldering the hopes of an entire group of people.

  42. Luffy Is Beaten By Kaido

  OK, so Round 1 didn't go so well. Luffy pummeled Kaido with everything he had and Kaido one-shotted him with a melee weapon attack. Luffy has to rethink his strategy and expand his move-set and maybe, with some luck, Round 2 will be a tad more even. I can't wait to see what Luffy moments we have in store when One Piece returns!

  What is your favorite Luffy moment? Do any on this list stand out to you? Let me know in the comments!

      Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

  By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[kashmiresims]

Strike of Melancholy

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What was the best feeling in the world? To Orion, it was to not be burdened by anxiety—having no worries or thoughts that could make him feel bad—and to be held by someone who loved him. His nerves were calm, the smell of fresh coffee grounds permeated the room, but that comfortable warmth that had been at his back all night was absent. They were gone. That fact hit his consciousness, rippled through him, and caused his eyes to snap open. His nerves were no longer relaxed. A wave of teal and orange patterns blurred together as his vision focused on the room that he was in. He hadn't noticed how bright the colors were when he entered the night before when it had been dark. He pulled himself up and crossed his legs against the cooler air outside the bed covers that he had tangled himself up in. Then came that familiar, awful hitch of panic in his chest followed closely by an onset of numbness in his limbs. He set his head in his hand, closed his eyes, and held completely still, willing his body to not tremble as his breathing began to rapidly accelerate. He tried to focus on something, anything other than the current whirlwind of thoughts. Cypress always told Orion hum his favorite song in these instances but it felt like his voice was trapped in a painful vice and he couldn't make a sound. Orion wished he had taken a Tranqulicis before he fallen asleep but had been a bit too distracted to remember. He finally caught the reins of his mind and instead controlled them into thinking of the lyrics of the song he had been writing, the one he had sung in front of Cypress at the radio station. “I never knew what love was until I met you. So, thank you for helping me discover what I felt was true.” After a few minutes of reciting the words in his head, his quick exhales subsided and his legs could move again. He opened his eyes and looked straight to the top of the dresser in the room where many bottles of Tranquilicis sat. Wasting no more time, he got up and plucked out two pills, tilted his head, and threw them to the back of his mouth and swallowed dry.

He followed the scent of coffee out of the bedroom and to the kitchen to find that Cain had made a fresh pot. "Hey," Orion greeted him with a shaky smile. He was so relieved that Cain was still here. Logically, it made the most sense—why would Cain up and leave his own place? However, Orion always had a worry at the back of his mind that Cain would all but disappear like he had in the past, and then not contact Orion for weeks. It made Orion feel clingy to want to know where Cain was all the time and he knew he shouldn't worry but couldn't help to. "Mornin' Star Boy," Cain answered in a rough voice, still unused and throaty sounding. He didn't turn to look at Orion but poured himself a cup, "You want any?"

"No thanks," Orion said and pulled out one of the chairs from the small table to sit. Cain liked to drink his coffee black. Orion preferred a handful of sugar and cream in his. Nick liked to joke about it by asking how much coffee Orion would like with his cream and sugar when they went to get any between classes. Orion glanced around the kitchen and the connecting living room. It all was so colorful—following the same scheme he had seen in the bedroom. Cain had moved places in the months between the last time Orion had been with him. Usually Cain opted to crash in Orion's room but something last night prompted Cain to ask Orion over. Of course, Orion was curious to know what that reason was, but knew pressing Cain for answers would make him irritable. "I didn't know you had such a love for teal and orange," Orion mentioned. Cain took a seat while sipping on his coffee and shook his head; he pointed to the walls, "I'm sub-leasing from an art student who is doing a semester abroad. This is all her doing." "I see." Cain raised a thick brow and seemed to study Orion as he sat there. It made Orion self-conscious, but luckily the drugs had kicked in and his anxiety was dissipating. "What's wrong?" Cain asked. Orion slumped forward and held his chin in his hand, "I had an anxiety attack after I woke up." "Didn't you take Tranqulicis?" "I forgot to before going to bed, it's my own fault," Orion lamented, his nerves weren't tangled anymore but he still felt...sad. He shouldn't have. Last night was great, and something he had been hoping for—to be alone with Cain with no distractions for once. He didn't know why he felt this way.

Orion's stomach made an audible grumble just then. Maybe he was just hungry. "Sorry, I don't have much food here. I need to go grocery shopping," Cain said at hearing the discontented noise. Orion's head shot up from his hand with a sudden eagerness, "We could go get brunch somewhere! There's a boxcar café next to the quad that does the best omlette—" "Actually, I need to go downtown today to run some errands. You wanna go get something to eat on the way?" Orion was momentarily shocked that Cain was offering Orion a chance to tag along. He had to jump start his train of thought again to think about it, "There's that Deli by the bay that has pretty food. Want to hit that up?" Cain considered and then nodded, "Yeah, sounds good.” That heavy sense of melancholy Orion felt just a moment before lifted, as if it were a cloud and the sun had just broken through. Errands were a mundane task but yet the offer to join him gave Orion a hint of hope that maybe he and Cain could ever be something more than just each other's go-to hook up. After finishing his mug of coffee, Cain set it in the sink without bothering to wash it, just like the empty bottles of beer stacked up near it that he was meaning to recycle that they had consumed last night. Cain was usually a very easygoing persona, independent, chill—last night Orion could tell he'd been shaken by something. Cain was worried. Whether it was by the late hour he'd called Orion, the uneasy quietness between them before they'd cracked open the six pack, or the rush of physicality then ensued—it wasn't the normal experience with Cain. Orion followed Cain back into the bedroom. His clothes had been discarded at the foot of the bed and he supposed he should get dressed if they were going to go out. Cain approached the dresser to look through a pile of his shirts to find something to wear. There was a mirror on the wall above the dresser and through the reflection, Orion could see Cain frowning—deep in thought. He felt compelled to comfort Cain and so approached from behind, slid his arms around Cain's torso and nuzzled the back of his neck. "Are you okay?" "What makes you think something is wrong?" Cain asked, looking up sharply and meeting Orion's eyes in the reflection of the mirror. Orion hated prying, but he also hated not knowing what was going on with those he cared about, especially if they were suffering in some way. Cain never explained himself, and it was frustrating to care about someone when they didn't open up. Orion lowered his gaze and focused on where he had just nuzzled, seeing a dark spot on Cain's skin he hadn't noticed last night. It looked like the start of a bruise. "Where'd you get this?" he brushed his fingers over the mark and Cain reached up and snatched his hand in his quite abruptly. "Don't worry about it," Cain replied flatly, then he realized his mistake—because Orion worried about everything it seemed. His tone softened a bit, "It's nothing." Orion sighed and laid his head onto Cain's shoulder. He had to keep reminding himself that Cain wasn't his boyfriend, so he had no business worrying over Cain like this. But it was hard. He felt Cain let go of his hand and it was left resting at his collarbone, though soon enough he used it to take a bottle of Tranqulicis Cain was holding out to him meaning for him to have it. Cain made a half smile, trying to reassure Orion, "Let's get dressed and get some grub."

They took the bus line to downtown Memosa Bay. By the time they were seated at the delicatessen, Orion’s stomach was full on growling for food. They wasted no time in ordering some. Soon enough their meals were delivered and they dug in with eager appetites. “So, how did you do on that midterm? Did you ever get your grade posted?” Cain asked between spoonfuls of soup. Orion was in mid-bite of his burger but stopped and smiled, touched that Cain would have remembered or even cared about it. “I got a ninety-five percent!” he felt a bit foolish for worrying so much about it before. He had done an ungodly amount of studying for it, sacrificing so many hours of sleep. “That’s good. Your G.P.A is doing much better than mine I’m afraid.” “What happened? Are you skipping classes again?” Orion gave a slight frown and made to take a drink before eating more of his food. He and Cain had shared business courses over the last two years and sometimes Cain didn’t show up to class. Orion would usually provide him with the notes he’d missed from the lectures.

“I missed my midterm,” Cain explained nonchalantly. “Are you on probation?” Orion’s eyes widened in worried surprise and he nearly choked as he took another bite of his burger. Cain waved his hand outward as if not to worry, “Technically, yes, but I’ll just ace the final and be fine again.” Orion wouldn’t be able to live as Cain did—to just skip a midterm and decide to get a hundred percent on the final like it was nothing. Cain’s confidence was infinite and borderline terrifying. “Relax, you look like you’re going to have another anxiety attack,” Cain said and Orion realized he had been struck momentarily immobile at the news. He willed his hands to lift his burger to his mouth so he could finish it. It was a bummer that Cain had failed his midterm and Orion wondered what was so important for Cain to have skipped it without a second thought. 

They finished their meal; Cain offered to pay, but Orion insisted he would take the bill since he suggested the place to eat. They emerged downtown, and Cain led the way down the sidewalk toward the business district. Orion’s family lived in Memosa Bay and he loved the tall buildings. He craned his head back to look at the skyscrapers’ vertical rise into the clouds, in comparison it made him feel like he was at the bottom of an urban canyon. The autumn wind had picked up and he was glad he was wearing a sweater. Suddenly he felt Cain take his hand and his attention snapped back to the ground. He thought maybe Cain was guiding him another direction and he hadn’t been paying enough attention to have followed but to his surprise, Cain was holding his hand...just to hold it. Orion felt that same warm feeling from earlier and clasped Cain’s hand tighter with his own. This is what he imagined he felt it would be like to have a boyfriend—someone to take walks with and run errands with—dull daily things that were made so much better by having someone there to enjoy it with. They walked a few more blocks before Orion began to wonder what errands Cain needed to do. If it was groceries, they were going in the entirely opposite direction of the nearest grocery store. Cain stopped them in front of an older brick building that had marks of graffiti on it. He abruptly pulled Orion close and gave him a long kiss. The move took Orion by surprise and he was still blinking in confusion when Cain pulled away and said “Hey, why don’t you go back to my place and I’ll catch up later?” 

“What about your errands?” “You wouldn’t want to waste your day off with them, I’ll handle it,” Cain said with in a light, casual tone but look in his eyes was hard. His suggestion was a request. A strike of melancholy hit Orion in the chest. So this day wasn’t what he hoped it was, and Cain still refused to let Orion into his life. Orion nodded apprehensively and made to go back to the bus stop, “Yeah, see you later.” He hoped it was true and this wasn’t one of those times ‘later’ would be in a few months. Hopefully, Cain wouldn’t suddenly be ‘too busy’ to reply to Orion’s texts, hopefully Orion could cope when his Tranquilicis stash had run out, because he had a feeling his anxious nerves couldn’t handle another ghosting episode from Cain. He got a block away before turning to look back at his wayward lover, hopefully not for the last time, but was startled to see Cain wasn’t in sight anymore. Orion frowned and started walking in the opposite direction, back to where he had been. He stopped short of the alleyway, hearing voices floating outward from it. Cain’s was recognizable but the other sounded feminine...it was a woman! “I’m not asking for much, it’s one bottle,” the woman’s voice seemed displeased, cracking with hoarseness. He heard the click of a lighter follow her statement. “Five-hundred.” “You’re out of your mind,” she snapped. “Look, you can only get it from the lab right now and I'm risking my neck here, it’s not approved by the regional drug association, and it can have some really adverse affects when mixed with alcohol.” “I’m counting on that,” the woman replied chillingly and then seemed to sigh, “Knock it down to three hundred and I’ll give you two bottles of that anxiety med you are always happy to have.” 

Orion felt dread rise in him at what he was hearing. Hoping this was all some misunderstanding and it couldn't be what it clearly sounded like. “Deal. Also I’m starting up a little underground venture you might be interested in. Know any gamblers who like to take risks?” Orion couldn’t take it anymore, he swallowed a breath and and quickly peeked around the corner into the alley to see the woman—who looked to be of a mature age—handing a wad of money to Cain as he exchanged it with a bottle of pills. It was a different type of bottle than what Tranqulicis came in. No matter, the scene was shocking. The woman scoffed, seeming slightly amused. “I can get you a hook up to some high rollers but I want a discount on all future transactions. It’s not easy swiping my husband’s meds.” “Sure thing, Marge. If you can get some of your compadres in Pandora up here to see what kind of betting opportunities await, I’ll give you whatever discounts you want.”

Orion nearly threw his back against the brick exterior, out of sight before Cain saw him eavesdropping; his nerves were trying to rise to alarm but the effects of Tranquilicis were thankfully keeping them at bay as well as the inevitable anxiety attack after witnessing such a scene. Cain was dealing. How long had this been going on? Why was he talking about gambling? Orion began walking briskly toward the nearest bus stop in a state of disbelief. Orion would ask Cain directly but he always had the fear that too many questions would spook Cain into another long absence. He didn’t know what to do. If he brought it up, Cain would know he’d been prying into his private, illegal affairs. If he didn’t the truth would eat him alive. He finally made it to the bus stop and he didn’t remember the time in between leaving the alleyway and arriving here. Time was a blur, and he felt his life was a tangle of strings. Couldn’t he for once, just have them laid straight and orderly to be at ease? He fumbled the bottle of Tranquilicis out of his pocket that Cain had given him earlier that morning and swallowed two more—just in case this latest development sent him over the edge. He closed his eyes and held his head in hand so he could think. He couldn’t afford to be a helpless ball of nerves in public. He wished Cypress were there at that moment. Cypress may have thought Cain was a low life but at least he listened. “I never knew what love was until I met you. So, thank you for helping me discover what I felt was true.” The lyrics calmed him at first—however, he wasn’t exactly imagining them this time in his head. He opened his eyes with a new sense of dread. It was...it was being played over the speakers in the bus stop! How? Cypress. Cypress must have recorded the song when Orion performed it at the Radio Station last week. He had aired it live, which he didn’t have permission to do and still miffed Orion a bit thinking of it—but he also didn’t have permission to record it either. Orion’s emotions caught in his throat and the sense of melancholy deepend, engulfed him even, as he realized that those he cared about were no longer a bit trustworthy.

[tuxiedjabberwock]

King’s Court - Fairy Tail, two-shot

Natsu x Lucy

3148

Romance

T/M

Paralyzing. Sensual. Diaphanous silk provided just the faintest barrier over her similarly-formed skin, pale as milk and succulent to simply behold. Denser skirts of scarlet and royal purple, majestic shades befitting her demeanor, rained down from her wide hips and endless legs to bare feet, lightly sweeping concrete still damp from early morning showers. She spun and spun and spun in leisurely, hypnotic circles, golden hair winding round her slim neck and sticking to her forehead just a bit from perspiration. She completed one more tantalizing revolution before arching her neck back, filigree lashes sinking over fathomless dark eyes. Those plump, shell-pink lips twitched a bit before curling into an enticing smirk, further riling the already crowd into a bomb as to blow. They were at their wits' end — the dancer was too gorgeous, too fluid, a creature born of the heavens with the animus of pleasure.

 He was hooked, and like a child going window-shopping with his mother, Natsu wanted her with a dreadfully fiery greediness. None of the others shared his sentiments, on the other hand.

 “You're a total idiot, do you know that?” remarked Gray Fullbuster. He was well aware that he was the only one able to escape with his face intact due to their . . . ahem . . . personal relationship, and very much took advantage of the fact whenever possible.

 “Yeah, I've heard.”

 “But apparently, it hasn't sunk in yet.”

 “Oi, shut your trap, Ice-prick.”

 Natsu stole away as regularly as possible to watch her twirl and step, and each time he felt more and more enraptured. He was not the only one, though: it was oft that another man, entranced by her majesty, wandered into the hole of the crowd. She never hesitated, never dissented, simply sustained her dance, now for two. It was at those times that her true profession became clear through how she held no pretense in blatantly grinding and sliding upon her other still with that all-knowing smirk on her face. He wanted to step forward, to rest his palm against hers, slide his fingers across the sharp dip of her waist and over the skin surely softer than the most expensive blanket . . . But no, something was holding him back. His nerves? He had little to none — anyone could concede to that fact. The crowd? He cared less of what others thought of him, especially while his identity was drowned in the darkness of a velvet cloak. Then what was it? Was it her? Was it the magic she held?

 All too soon, her waltz drew to a close. The usual applause and whistles rent the air as she gave a little bow and swept off in a flurry of lustrous cloth. There was never Jewel begged for, nor praise — she simply did what she did for the express purpose of doing. Natsu was unused to such rudimentary desires, as it had been a long time since he had once done anything just for his own benefit. The gypsy gave entertainment to the masses of the city, but to her it was extraneous, a happening as unavoidable as the sun rising and falling. He wanted her to himself something terrible, and when Natsu Dragneel wanted, he got. And if he had to do a little good-nature bone-breaking to acquire that certain something, he was only too ready.

 He quietly stole after her as she slipped past the dissipating crowd, following her as she ducked through an alleyway towards a quieter section of the town. “Hey, uh, Miss Dancing Lady,” he called softly, “can we talk?”

 “—Talk?” She came to an abrupt stop where the alley intersected the backdoor of some crafts-ware Shoppe. Spinning slowly to face him, she gave a smile so seductive it was borderline sex on its own, forcing a blazing blush on Natsu's face a nanosecond before all of his blood drained to more prospective areas. “Is that what you want to call it?” she continued, swaggering within breathing distance of him. His chest jumped with a staggered and agitated gasp as her soft, slim hands dragged down the innards of his cloak, tracing the outline of his biceps before hooking on the strings of his shorts enticingly. He endeavored to swallow, however he gauchely choked on his saliva instead, and her smile became a touch more amused than wanton.

 “I—I really do mean talk . . .”

 “Of course you do. You and every other man that follows me just mean to talk. Luckily, I'm very fluent in the language you desire.” She pulled away again, allowing him a strained breath, only to nod her chin at a nearby crate. He followed her eyes and roamed the crumpled strips of Jewel scattered across the surface before it clicked: payment. She wanted payment for a service. His libido drained concurrently with his will as his shoulders slumped and he dragged a hand through his already-mussed hair.

 “Look—”

 “Twenty is the lowest,” she stated, rapping nails colored violet together beneath her chin as her lidded eyes flicked back and forth with indifference. “It'll only buy you the basics. Two hundred, on the other hand, is a full ride: anything you want, however long you want.”

 “I don't want the sex!” he blurted, finally losing his patience. The outburst frightened her a bit and her arms flinched before going up around her face protectively. She turned her head a bit to avoid a direct hit, which was when he glimpsed fading purple and brown marks veiled by her hair and silks. Oh. “. . . I want you,” continued Natsu in a decorous tone of voice, backing away a bit to ensure she wouldn't feel threatened, “to come with me. Ya know . . . instead of doing this.” She seemed slightly irritated by that, yet puzzlement won over on her lovely face.

 “For what, exactly?”

 “I like you.”

 “So, it's sex after all,” she said plainly. Natsu groaned, shaking his head from side to side.

 “No no no. I think you deserve better than this crap, okay?”

 “Mm . . . Well I don't. I've come from a family of deadbeats — drug addicts and exotic dancers — I'm simply following the path left for me.”

 “Why?” he pressed, because the gods knew how much of a dog with a bone he was.

 “It's just how things are.”

 “Things don't have to be that way! See, I'm offering you something better. Instead of being here and doing . . . do-do . . . for Jewel, you can come with me!”

 “To where, exactly?” she sighed resignedly. He wrestled with several answers before a similarly-fatigued sigh escaped him and he simply offered a hand.

 “To where I live? I mean, where else?” She fought the urge to roll her eyes and instead turned away, keeping one eye on him past her overgrown bangs.

 “And I'm supposed to believe you're doing this out of goodwill? That's a huge rarity these days, damn near a legend.”

  “Maybe, but my old man taught me to never leave a lady out in the cold. So?”