#so if i overstepped my bounds do let me know and i will change the last part

[stillresolved]

“where did you get that? who gave it to you?” - Sarang @ Nell? 👀👀👀 (AND I HOPE DFLKGH THAT'S OKAY, quickly flooded your inbox, NYOOM~ ofc you too ALWAYS feel free to skip any or all, CARE YOU LOADSA 💝)

@mythvoiced / more random dialogue prompts.

IN NELL’S DEFENSE, this isn’t the usual scenario. Between her, Alfred, and Myungdae, she’s more likely to be the one administering the treatment, not the one needing said treatment. That being said, her wounds this time around is…well it’s tame in comparison to say some of the things the other two have come back to base with. When you’ve had instances where someone is half-way to knocking on death’s door more than once, it makes, say, a bullet graze on the neck seem harmless. 

“Oh this?” Nervous laughter. Now what exactly is she supposed to tell Jing here? Nell forgot that she was supposed to meet up with Jing for…what were they going out for again? It might be the brain fog kicking in here— rationality will tell her that she’s safe, but it seems her body still thinks otherwise. The dissociation must be the way to bridge the gap. “It’s nothing. Serious, really. You know, you walk around in a dark alley and just…surprises happen?” 

Surprises in the form of a serial kidnapper that you definitely went looking for because who else is supposed to be bait?

( Myungdae and Alfred, yes, but this time, this was Nell’s decision. They can’t be only ones willing to throw themselves into danger. )

“Anyways, the point is I’m fine, we should get going–” And yet, Jing, who normally looks so chipper, like a woman made of sunshine, is frowning here as she brushes a hand over the wound. The skin there tingles; a shiver runs down Nell’s back. She’s never seen this look from Jing– one of scrutiny, anger even. Nell wonders if it’s normal for Jing to swallow her unpleasantness on the daily. There’s a lot of things, Nell realizes that she doesn’t know about Jing.

She swallows the lump in her throat. “It’ll heal. Quickly, I think.”

[arachine]

*slides a big fat twenty your way* uh how about a part two of that non traditional family dynamics with gojo

dinner and a disaster . . .

synopsis :: when your oldest daughter is at that age where boys are starting to become the focal point of her universe, you bring out the big guns — which in this case, unfortunately happens to be her father (who is not exactly the best when it comes to disciplining his little girls).

or, in other words, you and gojo play good cop bad cop.

genre :: fluff

contents :: co-parent!gojo, mentions of alcohol, heavy dialogue, time skip (the girls are 14 and 12 respectively), gojo is in distress !!!!

note :: link to part 1 + link to part 3

it's 10 pm when you text gojo about the latest happenings going on in your household.

it's also 10:01 pm when you answer his incoming face time call.

he's wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket, laying down on his bed with a pillow under his chin and a hand propped up to support his head—he's comfortable, to say the least, and 100% tuned in to hear about whatever it is that you just texted him.

"is this what you've been doing all day?" you query with a laugh. there's a brief look of confusion etched onto his face before he picks up on what you were implying. rolling his eyes, he scoffs.

"it was my day off," he pouts, "can't a man relax in his fuzzy blanket?"

you squint teasingly at the screen, then nod slowly before mouthing an 'uh-huh'.

"i didn't call you to get berated about my choice of blanket!"

"okay, okay! i'm sorry," you grab a napkin from your nightstand, waving it like a white flag of surrender. "such a baby..."

"says the one who could never take...you know what, i won't finish that."

"smart man," you smile. "i want to be mad at you sometimes but it's almost kinda impressive how easily you can change the atmosphere...i mean, wow! it's record-breaking, truly."

"ha...ha. alright. i overstepped my bounds, i get it. can we just...can we just get back to our daughter? i'm starting to regret calling you on my day off—which, by the way, was going so great."

"great, love that we're on the same page," you give him a thumbs up through the screen. before you can get into the nitty-gritty of the situation, you take a brief pause to prepare yourself for the dramatics about to ensue—because if you know anything about gojo satoru, you know he's definitely one for the dramatics.

"when i tell you this...i want you to stay calm, keep a level head, and most importantly, i want you not to scream," you say, opening your mouth again to emphasize the last part, "and it's important that you especially won't scream, okay?"

gojo mulls it over before committing, "i don't know...it depends on what you're gonna tell m-"

"just—just promise, gojo," you interrupt, clearly agitated.

"alright, i promise."

"okay, so there's a boy..."

you're mid-sentence when gojo's eye starts to twitch.

"and she's expressed to me that she wants to go on a date with him." when you finish, you're half expecting him to yell, and half expecting him to end the call. but he doesn't.

in fact, he's so still, you're almost convinced he's frozen, but then he begins to smile. slow at first, and then all at once. it's creepy, you think, something straight out of a horror film.

"i know this was a lot of information to process, are you...okay?"

"pfttt, what? of course, why wouldn't i be?"

"well, you look scary. maybe i shouldn't have told yo-"

"SHE WANTS TO WHAT?"

and there it is. gojo satoru, king of dramatics.

"my little girl, my baby, my princess. she's only 10!-"

"she's 14."

"same thing, how could you let this happen?!"

"what happened to not yelling?! you promised!"

"oh be serious, i made a vow to you 14 years ago and look where we are now," he whisper-yells, trying (and failing) to contain his voice.

"dammit, you're right...well, at least we're on the same page! we both don't want this date to happen." when you take another glance at the screen, gojo's no longer laying down on his bed, but up and pacing around his room like a mad man.

you watch him for awhile, and when he doesn't seem to be coming back any time you soon, you call his name, "satoru."

"what?!" he turns to the phone. glaring at him, you wait for him to check his tone. "sorry, what?"

"i was thinking tomorrow you could come over for dinner? it'd give us a chance to talk to her about it...so that it's not just me telling her no."

"so, what i'm hearing is that you want her to hate me too?"

"no, i'm saying i want us to be a team. so, can you come over tomorrow? can you do that?" you ask, raising a brow.

"yeah, i'll be there."

at the same time the oven alarm goes off, gojo arrives. you can see his car pull into the drive way from where you are in the kitchen, and you mentally curse yourself for not getting ready sooner.

"fuck, uh okay," you throw your oven mitts, "hon, can you get the door for your dad? i need to go upstairs and get changed."

the youngest gets up from her place on the couch, "sure, wait...dad's staying for dinner? what's the occasion?"

you're halfway up the stairs before you stop, "enough questions, please. just open the door, thank youuuu."

ambling from the living room to the foyer, she opens the front door. gojo smiles, and immediately lifts her up into a bone-crushing hug that only a dad could give.

"hey bug, missed you," he squeezes her, much to her behest.

"ugh, dadddd, put me down," she drawls, pawing at his chest. gojo frowns and puts her down, putting a hand over his heart as if he were shot.

"you used to love that, you know."

"yeah, when i was like five."

"are you not?" he teases, but she's not amused. he nudges her arm annoyingly until she begins to smile. "there we go, punk. now can i have a real hug? you're hurting my feelings."

like a true pre-teen, she rolls her eyes and reluctantly trudges over to him, then opens her arms up for a hug. at this stage, you've noticed that hugs are okay, but only when it's on their own terms—and you especially can't initiate them when their friends are around (you learned that the hard way).

when they pull away, gojo takes his shoes off and wanders through the house. "where's the other brat at?"

"upstairs."

gojo nods, "uh-huh...where's your mom at?"

"right here." gojo hears you before he sees you, and then he lifts his head up to see you at the top of the stairs standing behind the banister. before you make your way downstairs, you waltz over to your daughter's room and knock on the door.

"hey, dinner's ready. come on downstairs. somebody's here to see you." as you begin turning around, the door flies open and out comes your moody teenage daughter.

"who is it?" she queries, following behind you like a duckling.

from where he stands at the bottom of the staircase, gojo raises a hand and waves.

"hey, scrub."

"dad? what are you doing here?" your oldest questions, but still goes in for a hug.

"your mom invited me over for dinner, that cool with you?"

she nods, then turns to her sister. they exchange a knowing look that, if translated, would be: something's definitely up. they wait for you and gojo to head to the kitchen before having a quick debrief.

"you definitely did something," the youngest side eyes.

"wha-why would you think i did something? you're the one failing a class," she rebuttals.

"ok well...this isn't about me! they only get together when one of us does something. don't you see? they're teaming up...this is an intervention."

the oldest pinches the space between her brows, "i can see why you're failing english now, because the way you just jumped to conclusions like that is actually insane."

dinner goes by without a hitch. for majority of it, you spend the time talking about work, school (which seems like a sensitive subject because the youngest wouldn't look either of you in the eye), and the plot of this hbo show with adult kids who're trying to take over their father's company.

gojo brings it up, of course, and jokingly says that the show was written with him in mind. he asks the girls if they'll fight over who'll inherit the company when he dies, and it turns into a i'm the better daughter debate.

when it gets a little too rowdy, you have to remind them that this is all hypothetical and that their father is a menace who likes to cause chaos whenever possible. gojo pouts and says you're no fun, but quickly fixes his face when he sees your pointed glare.

"come help me with the dishes," you say, and then disappear into the kitchen.

the two of you fall back into old habits. you wash the dishes, he dries and sets them on the rack. it feels like it did in the beginning, only this time, he'll be leaving when the two of you set out to do what you originally intended.

"dinner was nice," he says after about 10 minutes of comfortable silence. he doesn't look up, doesn't even make a joke about your cooking (which, you were totally expecting him to do). instead, he just continues drying the plate you handed to him.

"you know, you're welcomed to come again. you don't always have to be away in that apartment all by yourself," you start, choosing your words carefully, gently. "the girls like eating with their dad."

"i like eating with them too. i guess i'll start coming by more often then."

you almost miss it but there's a smile on his face, and it's genuine. instead of pointing it out, you savor the moment.

your reasoning for his coming here was to talk to your daughter, but it was also to get him out of the apartment. see, you were sneaky like him too, and what he didn't know wouldn't kill him. to you, this was just hitting two birds with one stone.

when you finish up, the two of you discuss the plan over for what seems like the 100th time.

"so, we're gonna go in there and be cool about it, okay? we won't hound her. we're just gonna tell her like it is, and then let her down gently. got it?"

"got it."

"after you," gojo extends his arm.

"wha-ugh, fine."

as you lead the way, gojo has to keep a hand on your back to keep you from turning back around. so far, you've attempted to retreat five times—you're two feet away from the kitchen entrance.

"will you just go?" there's irritation laced in his tone.

"okay, just stop pushing me."

"no promises, keep walking."

you sigh, but heed his request. with a hand still on your back, he guides you all the way to the living room. the girls are watching tv but quickly avert their focus when they notice you standing next to the couch with a freakish smile plastered on your face. gojo whispers in your ear to be cool and you immediately gather your wits.

"mom...your face...dad what's wrong with her face she's scaring me," the youngest pauses the tv.

"sweetie, will you go upstairs for a minute? your dad and i have to talk to your sister."

seeming to be catching on, she gets up from the couch and says a 'told you' to her sister before running upstairs. you and gojo share a look.

"what's up?" she asks, still weirded out.

"you see, well...we've been talking and..." you start, "your father has something he wants to tell you!"

gojo snaps his head towards you, gasping in the same motion. "hey, what the hell happened to being cool?"

"no promises, remember?"

"oh, you litt-"

"dad."

"sorry, uh, shit. i wasn't prepared for this. this wasn't the plan," he begins, "so, i heard there's a boy...and...you're at that age where boys are cute..."

she looks at the two of you in abhor and groans. gojo pauses briefly, but you encourage him to continue.

"and i've come to understand that you're interested in one and want to go on a date?"

"yeah."

"oh...okay well, i—we just don't think that's a good idea. you're 14, in school, and honey, you're so young...you have your whole life to be interested in boys."

"wait, what do you mean 'we'?"

"your mom and i talked about it and-"

"mom said she was fine with it."

gojo smiles in shock and then blinks, once, twice, three times.

"we'll be back," he announces, pulling you by the arm to the kitchen.

when you get to the kitchen, he releases your arm and pinches the skin between his brows. it takes all of about five seconds before he erupts.

"'we're a team, satoru', 'we're in this together', bullshit! you wanted me to be the bad cop, didn't you?"

"not initial-"

"didn't you!"

"okay, sorry! i may have...gave in when she asked, but i figured you'd be able to tell her no!"

"why would you think that!? she's my little girl!"

"she's my little girl too!"

gojo walks over to the cabinet and pulls out a glass. "i can't right now, i need a drink. what do you have?"

opening another cabinet, you pull out a bottle of pink whitney. gojo sucks his teeth. it was such a girl drink, but it was all you had so beggars couldn't be choosers. shrugging, he raises his glass for you to pour the drink into.

grabbing another glass, you sit down and join him.

"we've been had, huh?"

"how is that?"

"because we both can't say no to her."

gojo raises his glass to his lips and swallows it all down in a few gulps.

your daughter goes on a date the following week, and gojo starts looking into trackers.

© arachine 2023

[seat-safety-switch]

"Are you chilling enough, citizen? Being mindful?" the heavily-armoured soldier asks me, before giving me a not-so-playful shove with his truncheon and continuing on his patrol down the promenade. We have been occupied by the positive self esteem movement now for over 170 days, and I am beginning to feel less hopeful about feeling less hopeful the longer it goes on.

At first, it was great. They shot everyone on the news on the first night, having determined that it was the centre of a lot of negativity in our local area. My dad really didn't like "Roger," who was their local sports anchor and kept trying to overstep his bounds by editorializing about his property taxes being too high. When the deed was done, my pop invited me over for a little party to celebrate his removal from the public eye. And, of course, by "party" I mean The Party, of which at least one representative was in attendance to make sure we didn't utter any doubtful thoughts or badfeels in public.

Keep that chin up, they told us. Be the change you want to see in the world! You can do anything! As a natural cynic, I doubted this. I spent a lot of time indoors, working on my little projects, knowing that my bosses would never risk something as karmically damaging as "firing for bad attendance" while everything was still up in the air. Better to just let me live my truth for a few weeks until the rightful government showed up and took the town back.

Being stuck in the house was probably what helped me to survive those first few months. Even the most social, go-getting, glad-handing salesman would eventually slip up and express some disbelief about a schedule, or a murmur of hesitation around a new project to go to the moon on thoughts and hopes. Someone would report them for bringing the mood down. Pow.

So, yes, I am getting a lot done. Or at least I would be, if I wasn't such a loud mechanic. I can't take the risk that a Party member or convenient snitch will be walking by my garage at the very moment I'm swearing at a recalcitrant ball joint or bent strut. Watch a lot of Netflix instead. Mostly children's shows, the kind that teach us about the power of friendship and believing in your dreams. We should have known they were up to something from the start.

[huivsharik]

𝑖 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟'𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦

A hot hand wraps possessively around his neck. Long fingers, like the roots of a tree, you expect them to close around your neck so that you won't be able to take another breath, ever.

Hockstetter evoked contradictory feelings, but passion and desire prevailed.

Overexcitation has accumulated saliva in your mouth, and all you can make at the moment is just a barely audible grunt. You look into Patrick's deep, distraught eyes, which enthusiastically watched as oxygen stopped flowing into your body.

Your hands cling to his fingers, trying to loosen his grip, because you've already started to panic.

Patrick is capable of murder, and no matter how much what you're doing now excites you both, the fear of death won't take away from you.

Patrick loosens his grip, and immediately covers yours with his lips, preventing air from entering your lungs. He bites through his lip, immediately licking the blood off with his tongue, and the way you twitched and the taste of your blood only turned him on more.

After a few attempts, you still manage to push Hockstetter away from you, when ripples have already appeared in your eyes and you feel like you're about to lose consciousness.

Leaning against the wet concrete wall with your hand, you take in greedy breaths. His hands are shaking, his mind is blurred, and Patrick is still standing next to him, doing nothing, but not thinking of retreating.

"You knew what you were doing. If only you'd kept quiet.. — A calm, velvety voice, barely audible echoes through the sewer pipe, reaching the brain only in fragments, in the form of an incoherent babble.

The roof has been going off ever since his image began to figure too often in your life.

You noticed a strange silhouette in the window of your room while you were doing your homework, but when you turned around, it disappeared. You woke up to a flash of light and the sound of a canister with a lighter. At night, you heard plaintive meowing under your windows. You heard someone throwing pebbles at your window. And over time, putting all the associations together, you saw only one person— Patrick Hockstetter. A sick bastard from high school who bullied everyone he could, and sometimes he even overstepped his bounds. A lot was hidden from everyone's eyes and ears, and only you happened to find out about it by accident.

After that, you completely lost your mind, no longer knowing what was right and what was wrong. Patrick, like a parasite, a leech, sucked out all his sanity, leaving behind only a nasty stain.

All that's left for you is to finally belong to him, in every sense. Otherwise, you will die.

You'll die if you try to fight him.

— I was silent, and I will be silent, you know. — you whisper in a strangled voice, coming to your senses after a few minutes.

The clang of a folding knife makes you sober up and immediately turn your head to the guy, but he has already managed to do what he intended by slashing your hand. The knife only damaged the upper part of the skin, but it still hurt, and after a few seconds, red blood began to flow from the wound, dripping onto the wet concrete and your sneakers.

"Patrick, what are you doing?"

"I want you to understand that I will never be the person you want me to be. Your pleas to love you evoke absolutely nothing in me. You know, I've tried, but something that wasn't there in the first place won't wake up in me.

He is approaching again, leaving no chance of escape. Patrick thought you were afraid, but not now, when the boundaries of adequacy and reality are almost completely blurred.

— Let it be so. I won't change my mind, and I certainly won't tell anyone. And even if you don't give me anything in return, I don't care.

Brown eyes stare at you for several long seconds, thinking over everything you said. Hockstetter slowly folds the knife, putting it in his front pocket. He takes your hand and looks down at it now, running his thumb over the cut, smearing the blood. You hiss in pain, barely twitching, and Patrick hugs you tighter, kissing your earlobe. His breath burns, Hockstetter in general drove you crazy with his madness, and you allowed this madness to enter you, to settle inside.

Patrick is not capable of anything gentle, but that's how he covers your face and neck with kisses.

"Someday I'll kill you, too." Just like everyone else. — Hockstetter breaks into his smile, stopping at the level of your face. He watches for reactions, and for the first time genuinely enjoys being obeyed, being exalted. Patrick used to think that fear was the best thing his victims could give him, but it wasn't.

"Why not now?" — you look at him in disbelief, feeling your body temperature rise significantly from his touch. You just press yourself harder against the cold, concrete wall, and besides your conversation with Patrick, the sound of water dripping from the ceiling echoed through the pipe.

Hockstetter doesn't say anything, kissing you on the lips, biting you roughly. His thin fingers are on your neck again, strangling you. You greedily respond to the kiss, because this is what you've been wanting all the time when you met his silhouette in the school corridors, heard his laughter during class, noticed him under the windows of your house. He has become an integral part of your life and consciousness.

Patrick Hockstetter is a high school student with obvious mental problems that are not so difficult to identify, and you allowed him to get closer to you.

You understand what you want from each other.

Loving him has made you a completely different person from what you were before.

Only you and him are real.

[jasmines-library]

The Basement

WHUMPTOBER DAY 18. Prompt: Tortured for information Fandom: Supernatural

Summary: You are captured alongside your brother Sam by the BMOL. They want something you won't tell them, so they try to force it out of you.

Warnings: Torture, drugging, hallucination, violence, guns, death? kinda.

Word Count: 2.4k

MASTERLIST ⛤ WHUMPTOBER WORKS

🕸 ⋆ ⁶𖤐⁶ ࣪⋆🕸

“Toni Bevell. London chapter house.” 

Sam’s voice faded in and out as you regained consciousness. You felt sick, your stomach churned and bile settled in the back of your throat. Everything felt out of balance and you knew that whatever they had drugged you with had hit you hard; they had caught you with it in the side of your neck when they ambushed the bunker. You could feel the bruise lingering on your neck. Vision blurring, you craned your head to try and take in your surroundings. The room was pitiful; bare save a few shelves that had been thrown together. It was clearly a basement of some sort because the windows were high and let in very little light.  

Sam sat across from you tied to a chair barefoot and dishevelled. It was then that you suddenly remembered the muffled gunfire. They had shot Sam. You could see where the blood had bloomed on his clothes, though the darkness of it told you that it had stopped bleeding. 

“It’s nice of you to join us, Y/N.” The blond woman said when you let out a groan. “I thought for a moment there you were going to miss out on all the fun.”

“Where are we?” You asked groggily, moving to rub the sleep from your eyes, but it was a pointless gesture. 

The woman looked up from where she was screwing on her notepad. Her handwriting was uniform like the suit she was wearing. “It doesn’t matter.”

“She’s just wondering how far we’re gonna have to walk back to town after we kill you.” Sam said before nodding towards the other darker haired woman who stood like a puppet next to Toni. “And her. But you first.”

Toni let out a huff you could only describe as some sort of laugh. “Yes. Well, before you murder us all we do have a few questions about you two. Your brother, other hunters in America. Oh, and how you saved the sun.”

Sam scoffed, shaking his head. “Right, you shoot me. Drug my sister, kidnap us both, but sure. Happy to help.”

“We didn’t want to hurt you, Sam. You gave us no choice. And I could say that it was never supposed to go this way, but, you’re Winchesters. It was always going to go this way.”

“And you know us?” You raised your brows.

“We do. We’ve been watching you and your brothers for years. Ever since you almost ended the world the first time. We knew all about Lucifer and the angels falling-”

“Then where were you?” You spat. “People died. Innocent people.”

She pursed her lips and tapped her pen between her fingers. “Fair question. See, some of us wanted to get involved, but the old men wouldn’t allow it. Thought we were overstepping our bounds. After all, this business with the darkness even they have to agree that things have to change.” Her accent was thick as she spoke with clear dictation. The words rolled off of her tongue. “Whilst you might not believe this, we’re here to help.”

You directed your attention towards the other woman who still stood with her arms folded behind her back. “Yeah. I can tell.”

Sam rearranged himself in his chair, trying to find a weak spot in the metal cuffs that were padlocked around his feet. “I won’t apologise for locking you up. You're dangerous to others. And yourself. But if you answer my questions, I promise you’ll walk right out that door.” 

She gestured to it with a flick of her pen. The woman looked far too happy there. 

Sam pondered for a moment, surveying you from across the room. He knew that what he was about to do would have consequences for you too, but he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of being right. 

“Pass.”

“Sam-”

“You can ask us any kind of question you like, but the answer is always going to be the same. Screw. You.” He told her. Sam was surprisingly calm, given the situation. “And if you wanna get mad, you wanna get mean? I’ve been tortured by the devil himself, so you are just an accent in a pantsuit. What can you do to me?”

Toni nodded humbly, though the hint of a menacing smirk crept into the corners of her lips. “To you? Maybe not a lot. But to her? Lets see how long she can hold out, hm?”

She capped her pen, placing it on the table next to her gesturing to the other woman. The tap squealed as she twisted it all the way to the right. Icy water cascaded down over you. You spat it from your mouth, tipping your head back to stop it going spilling onto your face, but it just pooled on your lap and spat back at you anyway. 

“A cold shower? That’s your play?”

You shrugged it off, but after some time the cold began to sink into your bones and it was impossible to disguise your shivering. Sam tugged against the restraint, but Toni and the other woman just waited you out. 

“Screw you.”

~~

After some time, the water finally trickled to a halt and you were left there shivering uncomfortably in the clothes that clung to your body. Sam wanted to shy away as he watched your body try to fight the cold, but he opted to stand his ground and keep up a false front for both your sake and Toni’s. The woman still watched you with piercing eyes. 

“I know you two were always a lost cause, but I'm hoping that there are other hunters that we can work with. Teach.”

The two of you glared at her as she moved towards Sam, much too close to his face for his liking. “So, I need you to give me names, locations and everything else. Meeting places, an organisational hierarchy because maybe with all of us working together we could do what you never could. Make America safe.”

“So, maybe you’ll tie them to a chair.” Sam narrowed his eyes. “Maybe you’ll do something worse. Maybe you can go to hell.”

Toni recoiled at the statement, humming. “Fine. Have it your way.” She turned, retreating up the stairs and leaving you with the dark haired woman. 

Then came the humming of the blowtorch. 

Closing your eyes, you tried to collect yourself and prepare for the pain as the woman stalked forwards. Sam protested in his chair, rattling the chains. 

The woman eased herself down next to you and lowered the blowtorch. You could feel the sweltering heat against your bare feet. 

“Are you really going to make me do this?”

You took a deep breath and looked up at your brother. It was a mistake because you could see the pure guilty hopelessness in his eyes. 

“Screw you.”

She shrugged, before bringing the flame to the side of your foot. You tried to inch your feet away, but they were held securely by the shackles. You screamed in misery as the flames hacked away at your skin, causing it to blister and morph into an angry shade of red. Sam flinched at your blood curdling scream and arched your back, trying to create as much distance from the weapon, as he was haunted by the memories of his time in the cage. As the woman moved the flame closer and began to move it further up your shin, you continued to cry out. Your pained expression would forever be burned in the front of his vision. 

Eventually the woman let up and disappeared behind you up the old stairs. It was when your screams turned into whimpers and then nothing at all. There were nasty burns littering the lower half of your body and every twitch of your muscle sent pain spiralling throughout your body. Your eyes drooped as you finally allowed your body to go slack into the back of the chair. 

“Y/N?”

“I’m okay, Sammy,” You mumbled. 

“Oh Y/N/N… I'm so sorry.”

“S’ not your fault.” 

“I’m going to get you out of here, kiddo. I�� promise.” He began to try and find a way out of the binds. Now that both women were gone he could take a closer look at them. 

~

At some point, you must have passed out because when you awoke  you were lying on the concrete, but your head was resting on something warm. Beginning to push yourself up you forgot completely about the burns on your foot. You took a sharp inhale, fighting against the stabbing pain that radiated throughout your body. 

“Hey, take it easy.” Sam said. It was then you figured that it was his lap that your head resided on. He helped sit you up, mindful of the burns. Sometime during your daze, they had been bandaged up. 

When you sat upright, your vision doubled, and after rubbing you raw wrists, you reached up to touch your neck gingerly. It was still tender from the first shot they had given you, though you could feel another small bump where they had clearly dosed you with something else. 

“S’mmy?” You muttered.

He nodded. “They got me too. I don’t know what it is, but they’re watching us.” He looked up to draw your attention subtly to the camera that they had strung up. 

“Do you think it has sound?”

“No.”

“good.”

You were silent for a moment as you thought. “How long was I out?”

“I’m not sure.” Sam frowned. “I didn’t see the other one return once you passed out. I kinda freaked. Then they got you before they knocked me out too. I wasn’t awake much before you.”

You scanned the room and your eyes fell on the entrance hatch. You tilted your head at it and raised your eyebrows suggestively. Your brother rose to his feet and pushed up against the wooden frame. It shifted, but not enough for it too was tied together by chains which rattled with the motion. He went to try again, but was shut down by an ear splitting ringing. He groaned, covering his ears with his hands before slumping against the wall and breathing heavily. 

“Sam?” You hauled yourself forwards, uncaring about the pain in your foot. You had hardly made it anywhere though by the time you were met with the same fate. You fell to your knees as the sound cut through you. 

Faces began to dance in your vision. People you knew. People you didn’t save in time. People you loved. 

“No…”

~

“Y/N?”

“Y/N.” 

Dean was calling to you from the other side of the library, You had begun to doze off, head drooping over the lore book you had been studying. 

“Hm? Sorry.”

Dean chuckled. The sound was light and reverberated in his chest. “Why don’t you finish up for the night, sweetheart? It’s late. We can catch up in the morning.”

You yawned, bookmarking the page before closing the book and sliding out from underneath the table. You had been working tirelessly all day, and the sun had long set. But you didn’t want to stop, you had to find the answers to stop the guilt gnawing away in your stomach. 

Dean followed closely as you began to retreat back down the hallways. He took the last swig of his beer before tossing it in the trash as he walked past. 

“It’s your fault. You know.” He said nonchalantly when you were about halfway to your room. 

You stopped abruptly. “What?”

“You heard me. It’s your fault that they’re dead. If you had gotten the lore right in the first place then that family would still be breathing.”

Turning you recoiled at the sight of your brother. His eyes were an endless black as he stalked toward you. You stumbled backwards, until you hit the wall. And that was when something strange happened. As your back made concrete with the tiles, something flashed in your vision. A dark room lit only by the streams of light that had managed to force themselves through the cracks of the hatch. 

It was a strange feeling as your vision flicked between the two scenes. It was like you were seeing between two lenses. That was until you saw Sam passed out on the concrete, surrounded by a puddle of his own blood, that blond woman was hunched over him and you forced your mind towards him. 

When you gained some grip on reality, you surged forwards, landing a harsh blow to Toni’s temple. She grunted, keeling to the side only to be picked up harshly and pinned to the wall by Sam, who showed her the deep gash on his palm. 

“Perhaps you’re not as good at your job as you thought.”

Toni spluttered and slumped to the floor. 

Sam was quick to secure an arm around your waist and help you hobble to the stairs. You had hardly made it to the third one when tased the back of Sam's leg, causing him to drop. She ran past and slipped out of the door, locking it behind her. 

“No!” Sam yelled through gritted teeth, ramming his fists against the wood. 

~

By the time Dean arrived, you had lost three fingernails and some of the skin on your left pinky. His failed attempt at a rescue had only ended up with another Winchester locked up within the clutches of the British Men of Letters. You were about to lose another nail when the sound of a gun cocking caused everyone’s attention to snap towards the woman wielding it. 

“Mom…?”

“Yeah.” Dean shrugged. He seemed to have missed one tiny detail out from his time away from you. 

She pressed forwards, snagging the keys from the table and ordering the woman to drop to the ground. When Toni failed to do so, she delivered a harsh blow with the butt of her gun. But Toni was smart, quick and well trained. She landed multiple punches to the four of your before Mary managed to get the upper hand. Dean scrabbled to untie the chains which hung above his head with the keys she had slipped him, it took him a moment, but once he did, he made quick work of dealing with the British Woman of Letters. 

After releasing you from the restraints, Sam wrapped his arm around your waist again to relieve you of the pressure from the burns. Exhaustively, you leaned heavily against him, so Dean came to your other side to help move you towards the car. You had never been more grateful to see the sleek impala as you slid into the backseat, as the car sped away from the house. Your stomach churned. Toni Bevell was not dead. But oh boy did she have it coming.

🕸 ⋆ ⁶𖤐⁶ ࣪⋆🕸

<- DAY 17 ⛤ DAY 19 ->

Taglist:

@senjoritanana

@deans-spinster-witch

@amaryllis23

[katsu28]

hii!! i love your writing (especially your ted lasso works, although, i am a tad bit biased), and i was wondering if you could do 'orange rose' for the flower prompts with my bby sam obisanya? i've noticed an extreme lack of fics about him, but i absolutely adore him

thank you so much my dear!! sam is such a ray of sunshine and such a criminally underrated character and he deserves so much more love (and i will give it to him)

orange rose: experiencing constant as well as distracting thoughts of the other person, sam obisanya x reader, reader is the team physio (except my medical knowledge is basically nonexistent pls forgive any concussion inaccuracies oops), 1.3k

Sam’s mind was not with him on the pitch today. He’d been distracted during practice before, but never like this. He attributed it to you. It was always you. 

He saw you everyday, sometimes even multiple times a day, always volunteering to pop into the treatment room if one of the boys needed ice or tape. Sometimes he visited you without having an actual reason other than wanting to talk to you for a little bit. You were always a nice change from locker room talk (and you smelled a lot nicer too). 

You plagued his thoughts day in and day out, often distracting him from whatever he was doing because he was too busy thinking about what it would be like to do things with you. Mundane things like making breakfast together. Taking an evening stroll around Richmond. Helping him test out new recipes for Ola's.

There was a rather specific reason why you were the source of his distraction today, though. 

------- 

Sam heard his name echo through the empty car park, looking up from his phone in bewilderment that soon turned to joy when he spotted you jogging towards him.

He slowed his pace to a crawl, giving you time to fall into step with him on the way towards the facility entrance. You looked almost unbearably pretty like you always did. 

“Good morning,” He said cheerfully, smiling brightly at you. “How was your night?” 

“Good! I stayed in, so it was pretty quiet, just the way I like it.” Your arm brushed against his as you moved to let another person squeeze past you, and Sam swore his heart raced double time in his chest. He had to ward off thoughts of spending quiet nights with you before you noticed him acting weird. “Any fun plans tonight after training?” 

“Yes, actually! One of my friends is having their engagement party at Clos Maggiore, near the Royal Opera House. Maybe you know it?” 

“No way! I’ve been dying to try that place, but the waitlist is miles long. I’d probably be geriatric by the time I could get a table.” You sighed, offering him a shrug. A brilliant plan sprung to Sam’s mind at that very moment, and he decided to take the plunge and outright ask you what he wanted to. 

“Would you maybe want to go with me?” He asked, rocking back on his heels nervously. The corners of your mouth turned up into a small, hopeful smile. “As my date.” He added, praying that he wasn’t overstepping his bounds. 

That got a much bigger smile out of you, a beam whose magnitude could quite possibly rival the sun, in his opinion. It was one of Sam’s favorite things about you. 

“I would love to be your date, Sam.” 

“Really?” 

“‘Course. Dunno if you’d noticed, but I like you.” 

Sam’s answer was immediate. “I like you too.” 

He wanted to continue the conversation so badly, but you’d somehow arrived at the locker room without him even noticing. Normally he’d make an attempt to prolong the conversation, offering to walk you to your office, but he could see most of the team already booted up and ready to train. 

“I have to go.” He said, sounding a touch disheartened. You must’ve noticed, because you snaked your hand into his for a quick second, squeezing fondly before dropping your hand back down to your side. 

“Well, I guess I’ll see you tonight then. Six o’clock? Don’t be late.” You called, backpedaling down the corridor with another sunshine smile aimed his way. Sam nodded furiously. 

“I wouldn’t even dream of it.” 

-------

“Sam! Sam, watch—” 

Sam shook himself out of his thoughts, but not in time to see the ball hurtling right towards his face. 

Had he been paying attention, he would’ve seen the beautiful cross-field pass Jamie had lofted his way upon seeing that he was unmarked. Since he wasn’t, it slammed into the side of his head, sitting him right down on his ass in a sprawl of limbs. 

There was a symphony of shouts and the boys were by his side in an instant, crowding around him nervously as they waited to see if he was okay. Sam sat up slowly, rubbing his temple with a bewildered look aimed at his teammate. 

“You were lookin’ right at me, man, I thought you were open!” Jamie protested, raking his hands through his hair. “Did I break anything??” 

“Yeah bruv, did he crack your skull?” 

“How many fingers am I holding up?” 

“Do you remember how much money I owe you?” That one was Jan Maas, and it earned him an elbow to the gut. “What? I don’t want to pay him.”

“Sam! Do me a favor and come over here a sec!” Ted called, beckoning Sam over to the sidelines. “The rest of you boys head on over to Coach Beard for defense drills, chop chop!” 

With another shake of his head, Sam headed over. “Yes, Coach?” 

“First of all, you alright, son? Pretty nasty knock to the noggin you just got.” Ted looked genuinely concerned, but when Sam nodded, his mouth flattened into a rather disappointed line. “Good. Glad you’re okay. Second of all, your head’s further away from this pitch right now than E.T. from his home. Wanna tell me what’s going on, or do I gotta get all stern coach on you and make you tell me?” 

“Sorry Coach, I am just…” Sam trailed off, racking his brain for the right word to describe how he was feeling without having to tell Ted that he was distracted because he was thinking about you. Telling his coach he wasn’t one hundred percent into his training was definitely not a good move. “It’s nothing. I promise I won’t lose focus again. You have my word.” 

Ted tilted his head at the young player, as if contemplating whether or not to force the reason out of it. Eventually, he just shrugged. “Alright, well, why don’t you mosey on over to the treatment room to pay the good doc a visit? See if she can’t fix you up, make you right as rain again.”

Sam nodded, his eagerness to get back onto the pitch (and maybe at the prospect of seeing you again, even for just a little bit) sending him hurrying through the facility quickly. 

The door to the treatment room was ajar when he arrived, but he knocked anyway, poking his head in to scan for you. 

“You just couldn’t wait until after training to see me again, hm?” You sighed, smiling at him warmly from where you were looking over a chart. Sam offered a rather bashful smile and a soft greeting back, boots clicking on the floor as he shuffled into the small room. “Alright, come sit. Tell me what happened.” 

“The ball hit me in the head.” He mumbled, his cheeks growing warm with embarrassment. You clicked your tongue, fingers pressing against his scalp for any bumps or abnormalities. Your touch and close proximity made him shiver, but he liked to think he kept it under wraps quite well. 

“Do you have any nausea? Dizziness? Trouble remembering things?” Sam shook his head. He enjoyed being doted on by you, even if you were just doing your job. You patted his cheek goodnaturedly. “Well, other than that nice sized bruise where I’m assuming the ball hit you, I’m not seeing any signs of concussion.” 

“Thank god. I would’ve hated to disappoint the team.” 

“Just take this cold pack and ice your head for a while. Twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off, and repeat. The swelling should go down fairly soon, but I want you to let me know if you start feeling off.” You went to grab a bag of ice and a washcloth to wrap it in as you spoke. Sam’s eyes never left you, even when you came back to place the cold pack in his hand. “Would hate to lose out on Clos Maggiore because you got knocked on the head.” 

He nodded slowly, bringing the ice up to his head. “So you are only using me for my connections, I see.” 

“Pretty obvious, innit?” You winked playfully and getting hit in the head suddenly didn’t seem like the worst thing in the world. “Right, well you should get back to the pitch. Tell Ted you’re cleared for training after you ice.” 

“Yes, doctor.” He hesitated a moment, then crossed the room to press a quick kiss to your cheek before he could chicken out. “See you tonight.” 

Had he stayed a second longer, he would’ve seen how big your smile had gotten at the simple action. 

follow @katsu-library to be notified when i post new fics :)

[synnthamonsugar]

Sending an ask instead of commenting because I prefer to keep discourse away from my blog. but, I have to get some of this off my chest. it's bound to be lengthy, so don't feel like you have to read/respond. you just seem like maybe you'll get my point. Read this as one big I statement because of course it's my opinion and I'm not out here reading everyone's minds.

On that last post. I think a lot of people have gone and manic-pixie-dream-girl'd Eris beyond recognition, and that some of shippers (not all, ofc) have spent so much time with their own headcanons & fanfic that they've forgotten how their real dynamic is. It's easy to project a relationship onto them if you're already looking for one. People see them bicker and go "aw, they're arguing like an old married couple!" when, no. They're just arguing.

Drifter definitely flirts with her, but she doesn't reciprocate and I don't even think that it's necessarily serious. That man would flirt with a wall if he thought it would be funny. He seems like the type to tease people that way regardless of gender or attraction to them.

I don't deny that there's something between them. knowing the lore as I do I think it's safe to say that they're somewhat close, whatever that can even mean for either of them, but for fucks sake close isn't always romantic. Are they friends? Maybe. Can either of them have friends at their level of stability? I genuinely don't know. I don't think that we've been given enough to go off of, honestly. I don't like the idea that they're going to magically have their trauma cured by dating each other. She doesn't need him to "file down her teeth", and I don't think that he would. He definitely seems to benefit from her input, though. I don't feel like their relationship is very balanced in that. There's plenty of lore to back up him getting and using advice from her, and it being helpful to him, but I haven't seen much the other way around. He's immature in a way that she isn't, and people seem to think she's going to settle for that.

I don't care who people ship or what their headcanons are, that's all their own business. If I don't like it, it's not like I'm going off on their blogs in the space they've made themselves about why I don't agree with them. I prefer to just back off a bit, let them have their space and I'll have mine. But I don't always see that respect going both ways, and it starts to really bother me when people try to project their headcanons onto other blogs and onto the developers. Almost anything I see of them independently, it seems someone has to show up with "but where's [the other one]", and I've seen shippers go after multiple people for asking that their fanart of the two isn't tagged as ship art. It's just overstepping at that point.

Of course, I don't like lumping a bunch of people under the single label of drifteris shippers and calling them all a problem, I'm well aware that it's probably a loud minority silent majority type situation and I'm not going to assume someone's like that just because that's their content. But a lot (that I've seen) are.

On the misogyny part, I've definitely seen it in some. I'm a guy, so I'm probably not going to have the world's best explanation of why, but what gets to me is mostly the over-romanticism of Eris as his quirky goth gf. It's dumb and often comes off as objectifying. Sometimes it's like people think she's some edgy egirl twitch streamer. I find it strange how much fanart of her changes her appearance too, given we can barely actually see her. And sometimes it winds up painting Drifter as this douchy dudebro that he just isn't. One of the best things about his character to me is that he has his attitude without the shit treatment of women that comes along with it with most similar characters in games. I don't understand the need to turn around and twist him into someone that pushes her boundaries, which is pretty necessary to read their arguments as flirting.

I don't know what else to say, it's late and I'm tired and I'll probably feel stupid for letting myself get wrapped up in fandom discourse but I might as well say it while the conversation is happening.

(adding in case you do post this) v

No shade to shippers that don't fit the description I've put here. If you're reading this and go "Hey! I don't do that!" then obviously I don't mean you. You're all just doing what makes you happy and, hey, go for it. Tumblr is a great place for that. It's only an issue (imo) when that crosses the line into expecting everyone else to have the same headcanons or ignore what is canon. Go make art and fanfic and whatever you want, there's plenty of people who will appreciate it. I'm glad the positive side of the ship fanbase helps boost both of their stories, I hope it winds up driving Bungie to put more content in of them, together or apart.

Thank you for the thoughtful message Anon. Honestly I cosign all of this and wish I could respond to each of your points, but will at least try to cover a few of the ones that hit most with me.

Replies under the cut, since this is a long one ...

I think a lot of people have gone and manic-pixie-dream-girl’d Eris beyond recognition

I've thought about this for awhile. Eris is frequently written as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl insofar as being the offbeat catalyst for a jaded man's journey to a better version of himself.

He seems like the type to tease people that way regardless of gender or attraction to them.

Whether you ship them or not, it's odd seeing Drifter's canon characterization as a recklessly charismatic flirt lost in fanon. That special significance is placed on his flirtation with Eris, and not with the Guardian, Orin, Efrideet, or Rahool, or the others I'm probably forgetting.

Of course, the Guardian is a blank slate the player can project motives onto, and the others are characters whose interactions with Drifter are limited to lore. His & Eris' interactions stand out. That still doesn't mean it's inherently romantic; I've platonically flirted, held hands, snuggled, danced, bed-shared, and other things fans would dedicate thousands of words of shipfic to were I a fictional character.

Though reading it as such is fine (and I'll concede, probably lines up with the authors' intent, since we know some of them are shippers), nothing in the lore is explicitly romantic. Note, authorial intent, word-of-god and canon are all separate things, as much as fandom conflates them.

An aside, it's interesting how fanon surrounding Drifter paints him as socially anxious, touch starved, romantically awkward ... until he meets Eris. While I understand the utility in shipping — to emphasize the One True Love aspect since serial monogamy, much less polyamory, is unknown to most, especially F/M, shippers — it also comes off as "did not read the lore" at best, and "perpetuating negative stereotypes about Asian men" at worst.

Can either of them have friends at their level of stability? I genuinely don’t know.

This is why Eris' and Drifter's dynamic peaked in Arrivals & Beyond Light. The tenuousness of their alliance, the acceptance and rejection of each other's flaws, the trust between them that wasn't earned but necessary to survive. It was fun, tense and compelling and I wish more of the fandom focused on this era of their relationship.

I don’t like the idea that they’re going to magically have their trauma cured by dating each other.

Cosigned. The idea that love can mend any wound, heal any trauma, or fix any flaw is textbook amatonormativity, and has unfortunate implications when applied to Eris' story. I shouldn't have to detail why "woman overcomes trauma with the affection of a man" leaves a bad taste in my and many other fans' mouths, especially when it's favored over her longer-standing relationships with other characters. Why is her bond with Ikora ignored? Zavala? Asher? Mara? Why is so much of her growth pinned on one man, when there are other, deeper relationships that have existed since practically the beginning of Destiny's narrative? Why is there so little shipping surrounding Eris and these other characters?

Almost anything I see of them independently, it seems someone has to show up with “but where’s [the other one]”, and I’ve seen shippers go after multiple people for asking that their fanart of the two isn’t tagged as ship art.

I don't typically engage with popular Destiny ships, but I draw Mara Sov frequently. By herself, and, frequently, in non-Marasjur pairings. Not once have I gotten a "Where's Sjur?" comment, or even a "Where's Shaxx?" for that matter, as pushy as the "helmet stayed on" bros are. Meanwhile, I expect these comments when posting Eris art, particularly Eris F/F. I've had this happen in art I've drawn of her and Drifter with a disclaimer that the art is platonic/not to tag as ship! At that point it's not misunderstanding, it's entitlement.

I don’t like lumping a bunch of people under the single label of drifteris shippers and calling them all a problem

Agreed. I'm technically an Eris/Drifter shipper in the sense of consuming and producing art & fic for them, though I've pulled back from interacting with that part of the fandom because [waves hands generally]. I have no issues with drifteris as a ship, nor enmity drifteris shippers as a whole, but the individuals who engage in rude behavior.

what gets to me is mostly the over-romanticism of Eris as his quirky goth gf.

I'm going to repost what @/unsaelig said, since it's a salient point:

"I have no actual way of proving this, but given how much it’s been a staple, for the past 9 years, to speak of Eris as an unpleasant, unstable, worrying, suspicious individual, and given how much people like to fixate on how Eris & Drifter’s dynamic “softens” her and makes her more palatable and conventional, I do strongly feel Drifter is probably brought up with her as a “package deal” so often because in their eyes he “defangs” her & makes her much easier to take."

I do think there's a popular fandom read on Drifter as a funny, quirky guy who's a little out-of-pocket, an edgier fandomified-and-flanderized Cayde-6, if you will, and that Eris has to naturally follow by being an inoffensively gothy dommy mommy. It's perplexing, it's objectifying, and it makes me wonder what people are actually shipping them for if they sand down their characterization so much.

I don’t understand the need to turn around and twist him into someone that pushes her boundaries, which is pretty necessary to read their arguments as flirting.

The misogyny - amatonormativity combo again. Before anyone comes for me because I like enemies-to-lovers: sword-fighting your beloved to the death over a pit of lava isn't normalized, but saying that boys who bully girls are "just flirting" is. "I hate my wife", "I wish my husband was dead" and "ol' ball and chain" 'jokes' are. The patriarchy instructs men to disrespect women, and tells women to be flattered by the disrespect of men because at least you're receiving a man's attention. It's neither cute nor funny, and I equally dislike it when empoweringly reversed so that the man is the target of the insult.

No shade to shippers that don't fit the description I've put here. If you're reading this and go "Hey! I don't do that!" then obviously I don't mean you.

Cosigned completely. I know I have reputation as an arch-hater, but I have nothing but respect for people who are shipping them in ways that don't play into tired stereotypes of M/F relationships. (Or misogyny, or racism, or...)

Sometimes I wonder if I should try to put more good Eris/Drifter out there, but most of the time I fear I would only be stemming the tide; I am just one person with limited resources, and there is so much out there that my work will go unnoticed and my time is better spent boosting small ships that need the help.

Mostly I wish there was more focus on Eris and Drifter as individuals, in the game and in the fandom, further exploration of their bonds with other characters, and an environment where a wider range of gen and ship fic/art could flourish.

[serial-serializednovelreader]

Nova’s Notes - Dracula Daily - July 8

Another podcast from Seward!

“There is a method in his madness, and the rudimentary idea in my mind is growing. It will be a whole idea soon, and then, oh, unconscious cerebration! you will have to give the wall to your conscious brother.”

I feel like he’s just delaying the inevitable at this point and I don’t even blame him. I wouldn’t want to think about Renfield’s “method” of getting rid of the bugs either. Love how dramatic he is with this metaphor!

“I kept away from my friend for a few days, so that I might notice if there were any change.”

I’d love for there to be a world where Renfield and Seward were actually friends but…this feels a bit like Seward is overstepping the bounds of doctor/patient here. Not by much, mind you, but it’s interesting that he uses the term “friend” here as opposed to patient when he hasn’t done that in any of his entries before. Is that actually what he feels for Renfield now after focusing on him for this long or just what he’s calling Renfield as a bit of a condescension? Like “oh yes, my little friend with his weird bug problem, teehee he’s so silly!” Probably reading too much into this, but it is something to consider.

“Things remain as they were except that he has parted with some of his pets and got a new one. He has managed to get a sparrow, and has already partially tamed it. His means of taming is simple, for already the spiders have diminished. Those that do remain, however, are well fed, for he still brings in the flies by tempting them with his food.”

Renfield truly is a Disney princess! /j How he managed to wrangle a whole bird is impressive to me. I mean, it makes sense with the spiders and all, but still??? One does not simply call a bird into his room and make it a pet right?! He’s going to have a whole zoo by the end of this. Seward is living the worst end of a “if you give a mouse a cookie” scenario.

What’s also funny is that he *still* is bringing flies in with old food. This man is a menace and, while I hate what he’s bringing in due to my phobia, I gotta give it to him: this is a whole power move. Assert dominance on your doctor by starting your own farm in your room — he’ll probably let you: for science! The only issue is, I can’t imagine what this place looks like or smells like (and I don’t want to). I’m also curious, again, as to how he’s keeping all of these bugs — and now the sparrow — contained. Sure he has a box for the spiders, but what else? Does the bird just chill in his room and stay for the spiders? Or did Renfield give him a little leash? But where would he get rope?

You know, for how much Seward is studying this phenomenon, he’s not giving us much to work with his speculation on the methodology of the capture or how they’re staying captured (other than — they have food, which is next to nothing). Give me the director’s cut, Seward!!! I know the problem is he doesn’t want to think about it too much, but he’s the one who wanted to investigate!! It’s the consequences of his own actions if he doesn’t like the results of his investigations. The moral of this story is to get a better coping mechanism the next time you get rejected.

That’s about it for my reactions to this one! Except…

“Editor’s note: Another long span coming up here without Dracula emails. Stay firm, my friends.”

NOOOOOOOOOO 😭😭😭 another long Droughtula. Good luck, y’all 🫡

[theendwhereibegin]

Universally meant. Earthly bound

This part will be slightly more complex as I will switch between Pedros and Olivias POVs. There will also be the inner monologue that Olivia will have.

I will not go into details of abuse, as I do not want anyone to be highly triggered by those parts as this story is about how love was meant to be, and less about how abusive the past was, but in order to set some main traits that Olivia will have throughout the story, you do need to understand where it`s all coming from.

Hope you enjoy this part!

story line

inner monologue

*Pedro`s POV*

*Olivia`s POV*

Part 4

*Olivia`s POV*

I couldn`t contain my smile after what just happened, but at the same time my heart ached from the whole sensation. It felt like I didn't belong in a fairy-tale world, but rather in a dark and obscure weird story that doesn't have a happy ending, or doesn`t have an ending at all.

I had so much emotional baggage, but I have gotten so used to carrying it on my own, that I never wanted to put this burden on some else`s shoulders. Pedro clearly didn`t deserve to face the consequences of who I was forced to become because of how my life played out before him.

I can still remember the 3 a.m shouts. The way his words crawled under my skin and into my veins, making his hatred be the only thing that was still pumping the blood in my body. I still remember the silent tears and the way I would look at the ground every time he would be drunk telling me how I will never be enough for anyone else, because I wasn`t good enough for him. He made it sound like he was my saviour and the fact that he accepts me as his partner, which should be enough in order for me to idolise him. He made me believe he was my lifeline and that without him I would be nothing.

9 years of my life played out like a broken record in my head making me sick to my core and making me believe, once again, that I wasn't enough. I wasn`t enough for any man, let alone Pedro and before I knew it a sob escaped my lips.

*Pedro`s POV*

What happened was magical. It was almost like an invisible thread was pulling me back to her. My mind was in a blur and I could still feel her soft and trembling lips on mine.

She was scared and I could feel that. Someone from her past managed to break her spirit into a thousand little pieces and I will not stand by and watch her deny herself happiness just because of that. She didn`t have to mention that to me, because I already understood that after the pizzeria incident.

I felt like I might have pushed her to open up to me a bit too much and she almost crumbled in front of my eyes. She needed to know just how much she`s changed my view on life in just a day.

She was special. Her smile was like a summer breeze. She didn't smile only from her lips, her eyes smiled as well when she was really happy. She was passionate about her job, her family, even about her favourite TV shows, movies and music. It would seem that nothing could get in her way, but I think this is the new Olivia trying to bury the old Olivia without trying to lean on anyone for help.

I certainly didn't want to get in her way of her healing, but I knew that I could help her with the process. I could help, but only if she wanted me to. I wouldn`t want to overstep my boundaries.

While being caught up in my head, I passed a flower shop that had the most beautiful lilies that I have ever seen and once again her beautiful smile appeared in front of my eyes. I felt like I had to buy the flowers and go back to her, because it felt like she was never courted properly by any man and she deserved just that.

I wanted to make her feel just as special as she made me feel so I picked the flowers and made my way back to hers.

But as I reached the door something stopped me from knocking, a soft, yet audible sob.

*Olivia`s POV*

I didn`t even realise that 20 minutes have passed and I was still in the same place, unable to move as my body ached. It was as if I was still there, not 3 years later.

Trying to regain my composure and get myself off the floor, for the millionth time today, I heard something outside my door, like shuffling and a sigh.

Looking at my Ring camera app, I could see Pedro`s back as he was pacing slightly, looking like he was trying to decide whether he should knock or not.

Next, I did something I never thought I would ever have the courage to do, and I opened the door only to find myself face to face with him, lilies in one hand and a sad smile on his face.

"I was just walking home and I passed this flower shop, and I have no idea if you even like flowers, but I`ve seen these and thought of you. So, here I am again, for the second time tonight." he said rather timid.

I looked at him then at the flowers, and then back at him again. No one has ever done anything like this before for me.

Sounds like a pattern, doesn't it? Never had the door opened for me or the chair pulled out. Never had a guy buy me flowers because he just wanted to make a nice gesture. Feels like I dated the worst guys ever, doesn't it? Truth is, I probably had a very bad track record when it comes to guys, but not because I wanted to, but because I just seemed to love a project, instead of a normal loving relationship. Or maybe it was just because I refused to see the red flags and always wanted to see the good in everyone.

"Thank you Pedro. Those are beautiful." With the flowers in my hands I debated in my head if I should invite him in, or was it a bit weird to do that. I have never done the "courting dance" before any relationship and at this point I have been out of the dating world for quite some time.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked hoping that he wouldn`t read it in a bad way.

"Sure, but only if I don`t intrude."

"Come on in, I could fix us up something to drink if you'd like. It`s not like I have any plans."

*Pedro`s POV*

As I walked into her house, I couldn`t help but notice that she was a comic book fan, particularly Marvel ones.

She also had some Star Wars merch in her living room, but that wasn`t a surprise seeing how we actually met earlier today.

She loved her family, that was for sure. So many group photos, but the one that caught my eye the most was her next to, I would only assume, her grandmother. Both of them were smiling big while holding each other in a tight hug.

"That`s my granny" said Olivia while placing a cup in my hand.

"She is in her 90s now, but still as sharp as she was in her youth. We all love her dearly, but us two have a more special relationship. She`s simply my best friend and my world." she was talking while taking the photo in her hand and gently hugging it close to her heart.

"You must really miss them. You must really miss her"

"I do. Every day. Lets sit down. I think we`ve both been on our feet today for quite some time now." she said while guiding me to her corner couch.

After the kiss we shared, I would have thought that she would sit next to me, but she didn`t. She sat on the far end facing me and clearing her throat.

"Look Pedro, you are such a lovely man. You`ve done more for me in one day, than others have done in years, but .." she trailed off and I could sense she was getting caught up with the thoughts that were now running freely through her head.

"I heard your sob. I didn't mean to. I was just about to knock on your door and I heard it. I can only hope that it wasn't because of me. I couldn`t live with myself knowing that I hurt you in any way." at this point I felt helpless and a bit panicked. Before she said "but" I was pretty confident that she wanted this as much as me. Right now? Not really.

Her eyes were glued to the ground and her hands kept picking at each-other. The same way they did on the street before our kiss. I knew she wasn`t feeling comfortable so I decided to stand up and put my cup on the coffee table.

"I think its better if I go Liv. I don`t want you to feel like this. I don`t want to trigger your anxiety"

*Olivia`s POV*

While hearing him saying that he wanted to leave, my head shot up and my eyes were staring into his. I was unable to form words until something told me that if I don`t speak now, he won`t be coming back any time soon and I might lose him.

Sure I only met him today, but the way we connected cannot be denied by anything in this world. It was almost like two puzzle pieces falling perfectly in place.

He was 16 years older than me, but at the same time he wasn`t. It was like our paths were supposed to meet now, not earlier, not later, but now.

My brain was going at 100 miles/hour and I only manage to say "Stay" and I saw him take his seat back on the sofa, with his arms resting on his knees while his body was leaning forward on them. His eyes never left mine for a second and that`s when I knew that I would have to tell him something about my past, anything, to make him understand that it was never his fault, only mine.

"When I went to the bathroom at the pizzeria whenever you asked me how life got in the way. You deserve the truth so you can make up your own mind on all this" I said while pointing between the two of us." I was scared, but he deserved to know what went on, what broke me, because if he chose to pursue us, he needs to know what he might have to deal with.

"I met this guy after my Chile trip. A friend invited me to a pub and I met him. I was 20. He didn`t look a day older than 25, but he was 31. I got caught up in his charming ways. I was foolish and young and desperate to have someone, anyone, as my friends were either in long term relationships, some even with kids. I felt like I was falling behind in a way. I know it sounds stupid" I said while taking a deep breath.

I could see his demeanour soften while he was listening to every word I said.

"Its not stupid. You just wanted love. Someone to come back to. Its not stupid. It`s human."

"It will be stupid in about 3 minutes, trust me P. I was love bombed. I told you no one ever acted like you with me, but I was lying partly. He did in the first year, but after we split I understood that his gestures were not genuine at all. The first year was amazing, but then it went downhill from there. By the time little things started to go wrong, I was in too deep. I was already in love with him and I literally neglected all the red flags that were shown to me. I think I need something stronger to drink. Want some whisky? " I asked while trying to keep my composure as best I could. He nodded yes and I grabbed us two glasses and the bottle I had in my kitchen. Poured us both drinks and resumed my spot on the couch.

"I neglected red flags for 6 years, and then 3 more, while we were married" at the mention of this Pedro`s eyes were wide and shocked.

"So you were married? Not anymore?"

"No. I filled for divorce in 2020 after spending too many months trapped in the house with him. That`s the year that opened my eyes. I`ve started seeing his patterns, his true colours."

Pedro nodded and told me to continue, but to stop if it gets too much for me.

"On the Chile trip, my friend, Alejandra took me to a local, I could call her fortune teller or something of sorts. I didn`t want to go but she was convinced the old woman will be able to tell me my future, that I just went with it. We were sat in this very weird room and she kept saying about the fact that I will find happiness and love in the weirdest of places. She kept saying how she will make sure that forces of good will work for me and that I will find my happily ever after. Me being dumb and young I thought he was just that so I never gave up in trying to understand him and mould myself into what he needed. It was that bad that I completely discarded of who I really was. " I took a big sip of my drink.

" You refused to believe he wasn`t your soulmate?"

"Pretty much that. I told you it will sound stupid at some point"

As I said that he moved closer to me, but not close enough as in to be invading my personal space. He wanted to let me know that he was there if I decided to say anything more, but at this point I felt unsure.

"I was basically emotionally abused for the most part of my relationship. I never seemed to dress girly enough. I never seemed to cook well enough, clean well enough and the list just goes on. He made sure that I would emotionally rely on him 100% by that point. The here and there emotional abuse, became more frequent. The yelling wouldn't stop until the early hours of the morning. I just never left, because I actually believed that he was my only choice in this life, that no one else would want me." the tears in my eyes couldn't be contained anymore and started falling freely.

He was hugging me the next second, his hand stroking my back and his lips firmly pressed on the top of my head.

"Did he...did he do anything else to you? Did he get physical? Did he..." his voice was filled with concern.

I couldn't say anything anymore and I just nodded yes and that`s when my crying turned into shaking. His grasp became tighter and his free hand found its way to my cheek trying to wipe away the tears.

I leaned into him seeking the warmth of his embrace. I just unloaded all of that on him and he was still here. He didn't storm out. He didn't let go, he caught me once again.

"If I ever get my hands on him he will understand just how much he was wrong about you. Liv, you are simply amazing, and after going through all that you still had the power to reinvent yourself and keep going. Do you know how much strength is needed to do that? My sweet girl, you are enough. You are more than enough for anyone in this world. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a friend or romantic partner. You give your all in everything and that speaks volumes. How dare he make you feel like you wouldn`t be liked by anyone else?" at this point I knew he was becoming mad as well, but her never let go of me.

My head went up and my hands found his teared stained cheeks. We both didn`t even realise that his tears were now falling freely on his face as well.

"I didn't want you to want to be with me and not know why I flinch or why I am jumpy in certain situations. I am trying my best to reinvent myself, but I know I still have a bit more to go. This will never leave me. I will always have these scars and I want you to understand that it will never be you at fault. That`s if you still want me." i said while looking in his eyes. I didn`t want to look away in fear that this was all just a dream and he would vanish the second my eyes aren`t on him.

What he did next left me speechless and warmed my heart and soul, because I knew all of the emotions he had poured into the words he said next.

"Why would I not want to be next to an amazing woman that turned my life upside down in just 24 hours. From the moment I saw you in that Starbucks, and later in the photo studio, I knew you were special. I knew you would be my shot at happiness. I don`t know why. I don`t know how. Maybe we should go visit that old fortune teller from Santiago" he said the last part jokingly.

The kiss we shared was something out of this world. It was even better than the first couple of kisses. It had so much emotion in it. He was protective and caring at the same time. I didn`t want this to end but something in the back of my head told me that maybe going back to the fortune teller wouldn`t be such a bad idea, or would it?

She did tell me that I would find happiness and true love in the weirdest of places, that forces of good will work for me to find those things. Wait. What?

Part 1 Here

Part 2 Here

Part 3 Here

Hope you enjoyed this. Please let me know what you thought!

[jasleh]

FFxivWrite2023 Prompt 3: extra credit

character: Rrahna time period: post-6.4/Pandaemonium

(been wanting to write this one pretty much since I finished Pandaemonium but never got around to it, and as it also gives some context for my first prompt entry, I decided to go ahead and do it today)

...

Rrahna was just returning from the moon in low spirits and on her way to her usual bolthole when the moogle waved for her attention.

"Letter for you, kupo! All the way from Sharlayan!" The words snapped her out of her rumination in an instant, all thought of the dreadful threat lurking just beyond the Rift vanishing.

"From Sharlayan," she repeated automatically, heart suddenly in her throat. Her mind went instantly to one person, but that was ridiculous, it could be any number of people, surely.

"That's right, kupo!" The moogle squinted at the envelope where a return address had been scrawled. "Says it's from a Professorrrr…."

Rrahna snatched the letter before he could finish and held it in hands that trembled ever so slightly. Claudien. It was from Claudien. No the same person. He do no be the same person. But no matter how firmly she thought it, she didn't believe it. Not really. Changed, certainly, as time changed anyone, but…

"Oooooh, is it a ~love~ letter, kupo?" The moogle danced around her head and her arm flashed out and grabbed him by the strap of his mail bag.

"Do no be ridiculous, it be from a friend. And if ye breathe a word otherwise, I will hunt ye down and squeeze yer pom until it pops off, do ye understand me?"

A love letter. Of course it wasn't a love letter. She and Claudien barely knew each other… no matter how much it felt otherwise. The moogle squeaked some manner of terrified reply that she didn't listen to and she let him go, then entered the Ul'dahn apartment building. Her apartment here was impersonally furnished. It only really existed as a decoy, a place from which to teleport to somewhere else. The precaution hadn't saved her from Krile's aether tracking abilities, but that was no reason to get careless. Still, it had a couch and she sat on it and stared at the envelope for some minutes before finally working up the nerve to open it.

Dear Rrahna, I suppose that before I begin, I should assure you there is no emergency or great danger threatening, nor am I asking your aid for some project or difficulty. Warrior of Light and Champion of Etheirys as you are, I suspect that much of your correspondence falls into the above categories. I write instead on a personal matter. I confess I have hesitated greatly to send this letter, and if you feel I have overstepped my bounds you need not answer and I will not bring it up again. Nonetheless, I find myself compelled to reach out to you. Ericthonios's greatest wish was to see you again. I know that, as Lahabrea said, I am not him, and yet… since I was granted his memories… I can not help but feel as if fate has granted us a second chance. Should you feel the same, or simply wish to talk, then perhaps we might meet again soon. Yours in hope, Claudien, who was once Erichthonios

…..

A few days and exchanged letters later, Claudien walked cautiously through the sparse forest to the north of Aporia. Ostensibly, he was taking a break to stretch his legs. Not that he had ever been much known for taking breaks, but he supposed he could always claim to be turning over a new leaf. His research assistants knew better, of course, but he had needed their help to make sure he made this meeting on time anyway. He was beginning to worry that he was the only one that had made the meeting when a soft voice called out from somewhere nearby.

"Up here."

He looked around, and finally spotted Rrahna on a wide ledge of rock jutting out from a nearby cliff face.

"Oh! Um…" He looked around trying to figure out how to get up. She pointed to a spot on the rock.

"Put yer foot here, then give me yer hand. I'll pull ye up."

He did as instructed and she pulled him onto the ledge with no visible effort whatsoever. Half of him was astonished at her strength. The other half was only surprised at how tall she was. Shouldn't she only come up to his collarbone? But no… that had been another life. Another him, even if it was the same her. In this life, they were very nearly the same height. Not quite a week since he had seen her last, and he had already forgotten.

They stared at each other for a few moments, and then he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um. Thank you for coming to meet me."

She gave him a sad smile. "Could no stay away." The smile fell as she continued to gaze at him. "Can no believe I did no see it before," she said quietly. "Ye look just like him."

Hesitantly he took her hands in his. "I know that I am not and cannot be him, and you have every right to dismiss me as Lahabrea did, but… his memories live on within me, and show no signs of fading… as do the feelings that came with them. I… cannot easily separate myself from him within my mind."

Rrahna gave a half grin at that. "'Least half the time I be sure Lahabrea were full of shite," she said, then added more seriously, "And… I've some idea what it be like, with the memories. No exactly, but…" She trailed off and looked away.

"What do you mean?"

"Let's sit." She followed words with action, sitting against the cliff face, and he followed suit. "When first we met… if ye can find a first in this mess… I told ye I knew someone who had a crystal like yers."

He nodded. "I remember."

"Well, the 'someone' were me," she admitted, and pulled out an orange crystal of familiar shape, although unlike his this one bore a mark. He gaped at it, thinking first of the Ascian's crystals she had spoken of, with the marks of the Convocation on them. The thought that actually came out of his mouth, however, was fueled by far older memories and came quick on the heels of the first.

"That's Azem's symbol!"

"Aye. And I be Azem's shard, as ye be Eric's."

He stared at her blankly before his face transformed with realization, a memory that Erichthonios had all but forgotten surfacing.

"Azem's familiar."

"Aye. No my idea, but a useful cover."

"I'd almost forgotten. I… he could never think of you as a Creation."

Rrahna smiled softly. "I know. It be part of why I fell for him, foolish and doomed though I knew it were." Her shoulders hunched, and she looked down. "Owe ye an apology for that. Owe him. I did no get the chance to say it to him, even…" she gestured vaguely downwards. "I knew the end were coming. Were already on the way. And I did no tell ye. Could no, but after all the things that were kept from ye 'for yer own good,' ye deserved better. I be sorry. Tore me apart not to tell ye, but tellin' would have been crueler yet, even if…" another vague gesture as she trailed off, as if waving at the whole concept of time travel.

"I understand," Claudien said gently. "And faint though my memories of his time in the Aetherial Sea are, I believe he understood too."

Rrahna took a deep breath, and he thought he saw her shoulders relax a little. "He did no seem so upset as I'd have expected, when I told him. But Lahabrea were right there as well, so… I could no be sure. The apology were owed regardless. Anyway."

With visible effort she brought herself back to the original topic. "Me crystal do no be exactly like yers. It were no made by Azem, she were gone by then. And it were no made to restore a shard to their seat on the Convocation as an Ascian neither, for Azem were declared a traitor to be forgotten to time. But Hades - Emet-Selch as ye'd know him - could no bear to forget. So after the other crystals were made, he made this one in secret… and after his death it came to me. So… it do no be me memories directly, more memories of me, but… well, there it be, do it no? 'Me.' I do no be Azem, yet I be the greater part of Azem and can no but think of Azem as meself."

She glanced at him, then looked away. "So ye see, I do understand how such things can be… complicated. I do no know ye, Claudien. No like I knew Eric. And ye… ye've seen a truer side of me than most, but there be much ye do no know as well. But… I think I would like to get to know ye."

He swallowed hard. "I would like that as well. To get to know you, I mean. And… and I suppose I had best work out where Ericthonios's feelings end and my own begin."

"Aye, complicated is it no? I'll be needin' to work some things out as well. Would no be fair to ye to only see Eric when I looked at ye."

"There's also…" he hesitated, realizing this probably should have been brought up sooner, but with his thoughts as tangled as they had been, he hadn't thought about it. "I'm… a fair bit older than you are, I fear."

Rrahna laughed suddenly at that, a sound of genuine amusement, although he could not see the joke. "Oh that has no stopped me before," she said once she could speak again. "'Sides. How many centuries did Eric have on me? I may have been older than him in practical terms but I do no be an Ancient and I know they lived a sight longer than we do."

Claudien thought about it, then laughed weakly. "Not too many, but you have a point."

"So, let's find out what there be for us in this age."

[businessconsiderations]

I loved watching you play

Those magic words transformed us as youth sports parents.

Like most parents we used to bark orders at our kids from the sidelines. We used to point out mistakes on the car ride home.

But my wife became friends with the head coach of a local college women's soccer team who shared those magic words with us.

Now we only offer encouraging cheers from the sidelines, if we say anything at all.

And after the game, when greet our kid when he or she walks off the field, we only say, "I loved watching you play, " and pretty much nothing else. Sometimes, I change it to "it was fun watching you play" or "thanks for letting me watch your game" or something in that vain.

If I do notice something about how they played that I want to ask a question about or offer advice about, I wait a few days for an opportune time, usually when they're in a good mood. I'll ask something like, "I noticed something about your game the other day, do you want to hear it?" And if they say no, drop it.

It's hard sometimes but not impossible.

I've shared this wisdom with a few parents when I have a good enough relationship with them and the opportunity presents itself, usually when the first bring up difficulty connecting with their kids after games. But I mostly keep this to myself, their relationship with their kid is their task, I try not to overstep my bounds.

The father of the goalkeeper on my daughter's team, though he often shouts encouraging words at many girls on the team, has the tendency to yell his daughter's name plus "c'mon!" after she makes a mistake. I've often wanted to say to him, "how's that working out for you/how about trying something else or saying nothing at all?" But I don't know him that well and he's never asked for my advice so I don't say anything.

Today, his daughter made two mistakes costing us two goals in a 3-2 loss, he yelled at her both times, and he called the ref a jackass at the end of the game. Our coach has banned him from games for the rest of the season.

Though I still feel I made the right decision to not interject myself into his and his family's business, I can't help feeling a little bad I never got the chance to share this little nugget of wisdom with him, even if it likely would have never made a difference.

[forgotten-contract]

Voidtouched-blue-- [Prior]

[......]"I...I hadn't made arrangements. Momodi is usually quite accommodating and keeps a room for me..." She winced and let out another sigh. "I had plans to take a chocobo porter back to my home...in the Shroud. Gods, I don't mean to trouble you to accompany me all the way home, ser." Cyra swallowed. She never intended to put herself in a position to rely on a stranger for help. It didn't change the fact that she was beyond grateful for his concern. Her hand blindly felt around the edge of the table for her staff. At the very least she could keep herself upright and walk out of the Thaumaturge's guild mostly unassisted. She had no clue if she could even travel all the way there like this.

Masks of concern were easy to fake; a rise of tempo, a kind word here and there, even just a minute offer of assistance with an outstretched hand. But there would always be that moment - that split second of nothing - between reactions where the actor would have to play the part. The unnatural hesitance that came only when someone was playing the part of sympathy. The average person wouldn’t notice, as who would doubt that someone cared for their plights? Those wracked with a whirlwind of tender nerves probably less so. So his casual watching of her posture, of the way her aether seemed to twist and turn upon itself, was given a bit more time than usual, Silvaire’s hand reaching a second later than it should to pull the head of that staff to her person, giving no assistance beyond the minimum. A normal stranger wouldn’t wish to overstep their bounds. He just found the way this young woman dealt with her transgressions fascinating as each moment wore on. “The Shroud itself may be a bit far for my liking, but I, at the least, may serve as your go-between for Momodi’s chipper conversation.” He joked, half stepping within her pace towards the grandiose exit of this strange sanctum. “Besides, It would be remiss of me to allow the potential of a young woman’s collapsing in the streets of Ul’Dah.” What retort she gave earned a quiet hum as his attention drifted behind them to the table she had been at - seeing the blond brother (What was his name again? The magically stagnant one. Cocobusi…?) eying them with a quiet knowledge. Either from recognizing the tomes themselves as the Lalafellen had done himself once before, or at the man who’d sought to avoid this recognition for years. Cocobusi had made these mistakes before upon meeting the Elezen for the first time, and now as the boy who cried voidsent, it would be suspicious at best for him to lay blame onto another, even in the eyes of his brothers. It didn’t matter however, as Silvaire offered the little man a smile and a wave, as the wolf walked alongside the lamb. His secondary glance across that shaded table confirmed the notice of that empty candle, the flame non-doused by himself nor the attendant aside it. No smoke rose, no ember at the wick. Whatever aether had stagnated it had left just as it had come. Interesting all the more. The sun as per usual seared a heat into his cold skin as he accompanied the Miqo’te with an even pace, his hands clasped behind his back with an old habit he didn’t recognize, listening to the idle nothings of the passersby around them; all insignificant lives in the empty jewel of the desert, his mind instead preoccupied with the scrawled notes that had peppered her tome. Obviously she’d not found what was needed - at least not within her understanding of such a thing. Hypothesized pieces of the whole, the true essence of that sought answer withheld from her obsession at the guise of ‘security’. If one didn’t understand the threats they hid, how would they know when they had been broken? Perhaps then, he could see where truth would lead her. A click of his tongue sounded as he played the part with that painted expression. “I do apologize, I never introduced myself, Silvaire Vana’diel.” Once again he bowed towards her as they moved, but this time with a hand to his chest in a polite notion, listening to the tenur of her voice with a beasts attention.

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Hi! If possible can you do a romanced companions react to a sole who taught growing up that being intimate in bed was wrong/made them bad? Maybe sole still wants to try with the companions maybe not! Up to you!

By the way your works are always so fun to read! i read fan-fiction and companion reacts a lot before going to sleep and your blogs are def one of my favs!

R!FO4 Companions React to Sole who was Taught that Intimacy is Wrong

I really like this! It was such an interesting prompt to consider! And I ended up leaving it pretty open ended, as far as what Sole decides, so it could go either way, and hopefully is more inclusive that way :)

As always, let me know if you wanna see anybody else for this at all!

I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Also, it's not explicit at all, but subject matter is NSFW related, so just a heads up on that!

Cait:

"Right, I was sold that shite too, a good time ago. I thought it was just a load of crap, jus' another thing parents did te try an' control ya, but... I think maybe I believe it too. Now more than ever... Sure seems like nothin' but bad comes of it with me anyway."

Cait seemed to get lost in her troubling train of thought at the sound of her own words, and Sole had to reach for her before she snapped out of it. At the light feel of their hand on her arm, Cait was roused from her disturbing memories.

"I jus' thought maybe with you... I danno, maybe it'd be different. Maybe it could be somethin' good, with the right kinda person."

The realization came as a bit of a surprise to her, after all these years, Cait never could have imagined looking fondly at those same actions that had been used against her, forced upon her, for so long. She'd even believed her parents, when she was young, as much as she didn't want to. All of the guilt they would try to thrust upon her for any stray thought they didn't agree with, any action she could take that they knew could have lowered her monetary value, it all got to her in the end. Once her parents sold her off though, once they showed their true horrendous and selfish colors, those sentiments about purity and righteousness that they'd tried to teach her meant less than nothing. Neither to her, nor the assholes who enslaved her.

Cait didn't know when her thoughts had changed, when she started to think that maybe somethin' like this could be really, genuinely good. But she did now. Even despite everythin' she'd been through.

It must be cuz o' them.

She wouldn't wouldn't be used to a relationship without sex, but then again, Cait's not really used to proper relationships in general... Truth is though, the act of intimacy has only ever been a source of pain and furious resentment for her, and though she believes that Sole maybe has the ability to change that, for her, it's just as well bein' able to be with 'em at all.

Curie:

"Oh! Well... Let's see, hmmm."

Quickly, the synth tried to organize her thoughts on this matter. Her own views tumbling to the front of her mind as Sole looked on with held breath.

"Well... while I zhink zhat you are entitled to whatever it is you wish to believe, I feel like I must state my own opinions on zhis matter as well, if you don't mind, my love."

She released a breath as Sole nodded to her, relieved that she would not be overstepping any bounds with her partner.

"Yes, well, I believe... intimacy between two people... it iz a very natural zhing, yes? It is a way to possibly create new life, and strengzhen emotional bonds between people. So, forgive me, but I do not see zhis as a bad zhing? It 'as great potential to be somesing beautiful, if you let it. But zhen again, it is surely not for everyone. And not you, nor anyone else, can be faulted for zhat. We can do whatever makes you 'appy, mon cherie. I love you eizher way, I assure you."

No matter what Sole's response, she'd plant a kiss on their cheek, and fix them with a sincere smile. Though she was always interested in experiencing such uniquely human sensations with the one she loves, the synth figures she's gone quite a long time without such experiences. To her, just being with Sole is much more important.

Danse:

"I understand... and I don't want to force you into anything that might make you uncomfortable."

Their confession surprised him, because for some reason, he'd always felt similarly. Danse was never quite sure why, and plenty of soldiers he knew, if not all of them, had next to no reservations about having sexual relations with another, no matter the status of their relationship to whomever it was. But the idea of participating in such activities so casually never really appealed to the (ex)Paladin, and he'd never felt the type of connection with anyone that his heart and mind would require in order to partake in the act of intimacy in earnest. At least, not until now...

"I respect your choice," He told them slowly, assessing his thoughts thoroughly before allowing them to leave his tongue, "as well as your beliefs, and your boundaries, Sole, and I'm glad you trust me enough to be honest with me. I... Well, admittedly, I've also had to come to terms with my own reservations regarding... ahem, intimacy as well, but..."

But what?

Danse knew something significant had changed in him when he met Sole, that it became more and more easy to ignore the reservations he had before he knew them, that there was more to them than just being physically attractive, just being kind and compassionate, being a capable soldier, and a loyal friend and partner that made him want to be close to them in a way he'd never been with anyone else.

How can I explain such a phenomenon?

"But... I can honestly say that I do not believe that such an act, if done with someone that you love, and who feels the same... it cannot be considered wrong, or evil."

Sex has never been high on Danse's priority list, especially before he met Sole, but even now, he values their relationship far too much to put an end to it over something like this. Whatever Sole is comfortable with, whatever they need from him as a partner, and whatver they don't need, he'll be happy to comply.

Deacon:

"Oh thank God. I was wondering how to break this to you, but now it seems the exchange'll be much less disappointing for both of us... You see, Sole, I'm actually a eunuch."

Sole's expression widened to accommodate their shocked state, before quickly reverting back to narrowed eyes and a suspicious stare. Before they even had a chance to speak, Deacon knew he'd been found out.

"Okay, yeah... no. That maaaay have been a lie." One hand came up to rub at the back of his neck as Deacon took a moment to really organize his proper response to this confession of theirs. As playful as the spy tended to be, this was an issue he needed to think through carefully.

"But really though, I know we don't get to choose who we grow up with, and what kinda influence they'll have on us... but seriously? You really feed into all of that fire and brimstone stuff? Now look, I know I'm no saint or anything, far from it, I know that better than anyone, but Sole..."

Deacon took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly before continuing.

This vulnerability stuff really is not my forte.

"I told you, I had a wife once, and we-- well... she never could've been made bad. Not any way, not even with yours truly over here."

Deacon threw them a nervous smile, his hands shaking as his apprehension slowly began to disperse. It was moments like these he was glad to have the shades to conceal the bulk of his anxious expression, and the vulnerability in his eyes.

"An' you're like her, you know. You're good. And really, it doesn't matter to me if you're celibate or not, for whatever reason. No matter what, I'll always be your partner. No lack of bedroom funzies can change that, okay?"

At that, Deacon gave his partner a playful boop on the nose, just to try and disperse the tension he'd felt build up with Sole's reveal.

He really meant it all, and despite the fact that he's always had a hard time discussing some of the more serious bits of relationships, he really hopes it comes across to his partner that they are enough for him, no matter the state of their enthusiasm over sex. If things change in time? Great, Deacon will be excited to explore it, but if not... Sole is more important.

"Alrighty then, now that we got all that mushy business out of the way, whattaya say? Time to get back to name kicking and ass taking, or what?"

Hancock:

"Aw, well a little sinnin' never hurt anybody. Even if it did, it sure is a lotta fun." Hancock practically growled, as close to them as he could get, despite the subject matter of the conversation. Soon as he saw the way their eyebrows crinkled together and how they shifted uncomfortably at his proximity though, Hancock backed off, opting to shift himself over and sit a few more inches away from them than he really would've liked.

"Hey, but don't let me pressure ya into anythin', sunshine. Whatever you wanna do, I'm game, alright?"

He let one of his calloused hands fall to capture theirs, giving it a reassuring squeeze as a smile touched his thin lips.

"An' no matter what choice you make, you could never be bad, sweetheart. No matter what kinda... sinful influence I have over ya." At that, he'd seal their lips with a kiss, pulling back just before he got too handsy or heated for their comfort level.

Hancock has to admit, he's a little disappointed, and more than a little suspicious that maybe this hesitancy of theirs has something to do with his bein' a ghoul, but if Sole continues to reassure him that it really is just their deep-rooted belief, he'll try to believe them best as he can.

It would be difficult for him, since sex has always had such a prevalence in his life and his relationships, but ultimately, Sole makes him happier than Hancock's ever been before. Sex or no sex, he just feels honored to be able to love them the way he does, and just so long as he keeps gettin' to kiss 'em, and hold them close, he thinks he can make this work. An' if ever the day does come that Sole feels ready, or comfortable enough to try to be intimate with him, he'll consider himself all the more honored by it.

MacCready:

"Look, Sole, I don't know how much I really know about sh- stuff like this, but..."

He trailed off as he tried to gather his thoughts together under the pressure of their expectant gaze. The mercenary was definitely caught off-guard with this confession of theirs, his cheeks heating to a muted pink as he pulled back from them to speak.

"All I can say is, Sole, it's just... Well it can't be-- Okay, all I can say is that Duncan, my son, well... he's the best thing that's come out of my life. The most good that I've done. And he... well, he came from, you know, from being intimate, so... I don't know, I guess I have a hard time seeing how that could be bad, when something so good came from it."

This was... new to MacCready. He'd never even considered someone having an opinion like this, but maybe that's cuz he grew up with a bunch of kids who had very few opinions on it at all, beyond teasing and being grossed out.

Must be some leftover pre-war thing...

"It's up to you though," He finished, "If you think it's wrong, I won't pretend I know any better, and I won't make you do anything you don't want to."

He told them, and he meant it.

As confused as MacCready might be over their confession though, he actually finds himself a little relieved. Since Lucy, he hasn't really felt the urge to be intimate with anyone again, even when Sole came along. He truly was more motivated to give it a try, but still, that guilt and apprehension at caring for someone that much again, it persisted. He had a hard enough time realizing the depth of his affections for them at all, and he still felt so much guilt for being able to move on, even if it has been years since he lost his first love. When it came to what he thought was impending intimacy though, MacCready found that same guilt weighing on him even more heavily, his thoughts forcing a hesitancy his heart hated to succumb to.

Much as he loves Sole, much as he wants to be with them in every way someone can be, he still felt a bitter sting whenever he tried to overcome his own subconscious reluctance when he was with them.

For now, maybe this is for the best...

Nick:

"Hm. Well, doll, not sure if I agree with that myself, but makes no difference to me, really."

Nick meant what he said. He remembered what it was like to be intimate with someone, from human Nick's memories, but as he was now, he'd never engaged in such sort of activities. Sole was the first one he'd ever even wanted to be with so closely, so intimately, even despite his own lack of organic physicality, but if they weren't comfortable with all of that, he honestly didn't mind too terribly.

Although...

What if it's not just that?

The old synth couldn't help but smile sadly at his own thought, hoping it wasn't the truth of it, yet still understanding completely if it was.

"I only hope..." He started, unsure whether he should really voice his theory at all, "You don't feel like you need to say that, do ya? If you just don't wanna be intimate with me, I wouldn't hold that against you, darlin'. I know I got these sharp edges 'n all, not really the ideal body type, is it?"

A humorless chuckle escaped him, but as Sole fixed their partner with a sympathetic look and a definite shake of their head he found his doubts quieting in his churning mind; and as they wrapped their arms around his shoulders, squeezing him tightly, sharp edges and all, Nick found his own synthetic arms sliding over their form, embracing them tightly in return. He wasn't kidding when he said it didn't matter much to him if they slept together, but this? Their acceptance of him, of not only who, but what he was? That meant the world to the old synth.

Piper:

"Oh. Okay. Um, yeah, I've heard about some of that when looking over some pre-war writings and stuff."

Piper felt the heat rushing to her cheeks as her partner rebuked her suggestion to take their make out session a little further.

Come on, she thought, all this planning and anxiety, and making sure Nat was staying at a friend's house tonight, just for this to happen? Just my luck.

"So... okay, so you're not comfortable with this kinda stuff. Got it. It's no biggie... But do you really think it's wrong? I mean, I get it, maybe if the people involved aren't all on board, you know, that's bad. But if it's two people who love each other? Who wanna be together for a long time? Who enjoy each other's company, like, a lot? For people like us, like you an' me, Blue, I just... I don't see how it could be wrong."

She didn't really know where all of that came from. Piper knew how she felt about Sole, and she hoped that they felt just as strongly, but she'd never had an outburst quite like that before, never felt this sort of dedication to someone. The reporter took a deep breath, before looking into Sole's eyes with a small smile plastered to her lips.

"I don't wanna make you do anything, of course, no matter how cute I think you are. But I just-- I don't know if I share those same beliefs..."

She bit her lip, thinking only for a moment about losing Sole as her partner over something like this, before coming to a decision.

"No matter what though, I'm with ya, Blue."

Preston:

"O-oh, well, I... I guess I never really thought about it that way before."

His dark brows rose high over his warm, chocolate eyes, pupils slightly dilated from the close contact he'd had with his partner only moments prior.

"I hope I never overstepped anything with you, I never meant to." Preston told them, scooting away from where he sat beside them on the sofa until their legs were no longer brushing each other.

This was... unexpected. Not that he thought Sole was particularly promiscuous or anything, but, he just couldn't understand someone as perfect as them never having... well...

"But do you really..." He started quietly, earnestly, "I mean, you really believe that? I don't mean any disrespect, or anything, but... I just never thought that you, well, that being intimate with you could ever be seen as something... wrong."

Unwittingly, Preston found one of his hands reaching to grasp at theirs. Not sensually, but gently, and reassuringly as he could.

"You're a good person, General, and I love you no matter what, but something like this... even if it is wrong, it couldn't outdo all of the good you've done. I-I hope that helped ease your nerves a bit. We still don't have to do anything, not ever, even, if it makes you uncomfortable, but just know, I'm here for you, however you need me. I'll always be by your side."

X6-88:

"I see."

X6 furrowed his brows at that, thinking back to all he's heard on the subject through his years of service, but the truth was, such things had never been of much concern to him, or interest, even, before meeting Sole.

What had he heard spoken through the halls?

Of course, the Institute never bothered to supply any input or training on any form of intimacy for their coursers, for obvious reasons, but now X6 was instantly reminded of the miniscule bits of information that he did manage to absorb.

"I... was always told something similar, for my kind, especially; and before now, my life remained unchanged. There was no reason to do what the doctors and scientists warned us against, what they'd told us was wrong, and still, you will receive no pressure on my account, ma'am/sir, should your views remain unchanged. However," He continued, a small, mischievous, smirk forming on his lips as he spoke, "Should you decide otherwise, you know where to find me."

[briefparadisetrash]

What 4town would fight/argue about

We all know that when your in a band there's bound to be some butting of heads from time to time so that got me thinking would exactly would the 4town boys fight about?

Robaire🎤 & 🏀Aaron Z

ok so it's Canon that these two are friendly rivals so they fight about who's the best singer/dancer in the band. Expect lots off pitch perfect-esque singing battles in the studio between these two when they're all together recording music. It's also Canon that Z is the choreographer of 4town so I think they'd both argue a lot over choreo. Robaire would overstep his bounds a bit when it comes to coming up with dance moves for the band when the choreo is supposed to be Z's thing and not his. As a result Z will get angry and tell robaire off which escalates into arguing. They'd probably also battle each other over other petty stuff like who can eat the most timbits the fastest, or who'll get shotgun first. Jesse, being the second in command of 4town (my personal headcanon) is unfortunately the mediator between these two. Robaire and Z are both very mature people so luckily all Jesse has to do is tell them to stop being stupid or separate them for a few minutes and they'll calm down.

Robaire🎤 & 🎨Jesse

Robaire and Jesse argue like an old married couple. Lots of petty fights over what the group should eat for dinner or how Jesse said robaire's shoes don't match his shirt even tho robaire really like his shoes and doesn't want to change them. It's more like bickering than arguing/fighting. Aaron T often tells them to shut up and get married already. Since Robaire is the leader and Jesse is his right hand man I think there'd be some arguments over management stuff (idk anything abt boyband management so I'll let ur imaginations do the work on that one). Also I think Jesse can be a bit petty and stubborn so he will sometimes have problems with Robaire telling what to do bc Jesse is older than him. It's not like Jesse wants to be leader or anything (ew more responsibility am I right?) he just gets a bit annoyed being bossed around by someone younger than him. Thankfully Jesse does have a huge amount of respect for Robaire so he gets over it quickly or hides his pettiness well.

Jesse🎨 & 🤸Aaron T

I think Jesse and T would have a older brother/annoying younger brother dynamic. T is the prankster of the group so no one is safe from his wrath but I think he'd choose Jesse as his main victim for his pranks. As a result Jesse gets the brunt of all of T's jokes pranks and shenanigans and sometimes Jesse finds it funny, cute even, but sometime T doesn't know when to quit and Jesse will snap at him. Their personalities will clash a lot. Jesse is a chill, relaxed guy that like it to be peaceful where as T is loud, rambunctious, and an in your face type of guy. This clash would cause some fights between the 2. Jesse thinking T is an immature kid that won't grow up and T thinking Jesse is an old stick in the mud that won't have any fun.

The Rest of them ⭐

I can't come up with a single thing Aaron Z and Aaron T would argue abt. Also taeyoung is an innocent baby who does nothing wrong ever so no one fights with him :)

[halstudandruz]

Research Purposes (NSFW)

*Not my gif*

Pairing: Jay Halstead x Reader

Requested: Yes

Prompt: Bearded Jay Smut

Warnings: swearing, smut (18+)

A/N: I know the timeline is off but just go with it.

Sitting at the bar, you couldn’t help where your eyes wandered across the room. You were at Trudy and Mouch’s wedding, and even though it was a joyous occasion you were kind of ready to go home from the start. The night before you had discovered your ex-fiancé and the new girl in intelligence were dating, and it was safe to say you were drowning in your sorrows. You and Adam had been broken up for almost a year, but you still loved him and in the back of your mind you just hoped time would give you both the perspectives you needed and you would be back together. You had no right to be upset, but you were having trouble convincing yourself of that. The night was starting to wind down, as you downed a shot. You had held it together for Trudy wanting her to have the best day ever, but since they had left a few minutes prior you were ready to get drunk enough you couldn’t remember your own name.

“You know the longer you sit still the harder it’s gonna hit when you stand.” Jay teased sliding in next to you.

“Good.” You sighed, turning around to take another drink.

“Well in an effort to ensure I don’t have to carry you out of here would you like to dance?” He asked, holding his hand out to you. Contemplating for a minute he smiled when you took a hold of his hand following him out to the dance floor. Frank Sinatra played in the background while his hands slowly moved to rest on your hips. You and Jay were friends. You worked together and were around each other a lot. You got along well, and you weren’t afraid to admit he was an attractive guy, but you had always been locked in on Adam. So, your friendship never even toed the line. You never even thought about it, until tonight.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you found out.” Jay whispered into your ear looking down at you.

“Found out about what?” You eyed him curiously until he nodded towards where Hailey and Adam sat laughing together.

“Wait..you know?” He nodded, “How long has it..?”

“I only found out a week or two ago so it probably hasn’t been that long.” He shrugged,“How’d you find out?” He continued. Sighing your hands rested on his chest.

“Today was actually supposed to be Adam and I’s wedding day. Before we decided to push it. So, I kind of went down a dark hole after the rehearsal dinner and went to see him. When he answered the door I saw her come out of his room.” You chewed on your lip.

“Oh fuck. What’d you do?” He pried.

“I made some excuse about not being able to find something I needed for today so I thought I might’ve accidentally left it there when I moved out or left or whatever. I was just going to leave, but then I had to pretend to look for it, and when I went into his room a bunch of her stuff was there. You know in the dresser I used to use.” You recounted the night before swallowing hard.

“That sounds awful. I’m sorry.” He shook his head pulling you closer as he moved a hand to rub your back.

“Yeah it wasn’t my finest moment. I’ve been avoiding him all day,” you chuckled blinking tears away, “How are you feeling about it?” You looked up at him hoping to shift the focus off you.

“What do you mean? Why would I care?” He masked.

“Come on Jay.” You scoffed giving him a look.

“I don’t have any say in what or who she does.” He said.

“How do you let it roll off you so easily? Not let it bother you?” You wondered.

“I want her to be happy, and wishing that I was the one over there isn’t going to do anything for either of us.” He shrugged nonchalantly, “You deserve to be happy. You deserve to have fun too right?” He continued.

“I don’t know. I guess.” You replied.

“You do, and that is why you’re out here dancing with me.” He smiled, spinning you effortlessly, causing you to laugh. You and Jay would spend the next hour talking and dancing letting your minds push away the two people across the room.

Jay and you were caught up in conversation, your bodies practically up against each other causing heat to surface on your face at the feeling of his hands holding you close. His tie now hung loosely on his shoulders, the top few buttons of his dress shirt open, and his sleeves had been rolled up allowing you to see the veins throughout them. You had never realized how attractive he actually was until you were this close, eyes counting the freckles that covered his face.

“Incoming.” he mumbled looking over your shoulder; breaking you out of your thoughts. You turned to see Adam walking towards you.

“No no no.” You whined hands gripping Jay’s shoulders tighter. Adam clearing his throat when he reached you,

“May I cut in?” He asked, looking between the two of you. A glint of confusion present in his face. Jay’s eyes shifted from him to you, registering your panic of having to face him right now.

“Uh actually I just offered to take her home. We were just heading out.” Jay attempted to save you.

“Oh well we’re going to be going right past your place we could just drop you off so Jay doesn’t have to go out of his way, and I’d actually really like to talk to you for a sec-“ Adam started to grab your hand.

“No it’s all good. No big deal. I already promised her I would.” Jay stepped slightly in front of you.

“Yeah I’m just going to go grab my coat and say bye to Sylvie. See you on Monday.” You pointed walking off to leave Adam and Jay alone on the dance floor. “You didn’t have to do that.” You smiled softly when Jay fell back by your side.

“He shouldn’t get what he wants all the time.” Jay shrugged.

“So is the ride offer actually on the table?” You asked.

“Of course.” He smiled helping you put your jacket on before pulling his on and heading out to his truck.

Walking outside you had made it almost to his truck ensuring you were far enough away from the door that people wouldn’t be watching before grabbing onto his arm to stop him. This could be a terrible, horrible idea, but that thought didn’t seem to over power your want.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, turning to face you where you leaned against the brick wall.

“You know I had every intention of waking up tomorrow either horribly hungover, or in someone else’s bed, and considering you prevented the latter..” You trailed off looking up at him.

“Are you serious?” He asked after a few seconds of silence.

“I’ve been holding out, hoping for something to change with him. I’m done waiting around.” You admitted weakly.

“I don’t want to just be some outlet to make Adam jealous.” He shook his head.

“This isn’t about him. This is about me and what I want. For once.” You laid a hand against his neck.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” He whispered stepping closer to lay a hand against the cold brick, body just inches away from yours.

“Jay, I am going home with someone tonight, and I really hope it’s you.” You bargained. You hadn’t done this in months, and you were just ready to let all the pent up need out. Jay searched your face for hesitation before leaning in to capture your lips. You quickly responded, hands wrapping around his neck to pull his body against yours. Letting him take control of the kiss when his fingers moved to tightly grasp your jaw. Tongue slipping into your mouth in time with the movement. You hummed when he nipped at your lip pulling away to take heavy breaths.

“My place?” He whispered lips almost up against yours again. Nodding quickly you reached into his coat pocket fishing out the keys to unlock the vehicle. Chuckling he took them from you opening the passenger door to help you in before walking to the drivers side and starting the truck. You could see him looking at you from the corner of his eye as you chewed on your bottom lip appreciating his features lit up from the street lights. He turned to wink at you before putting the truck into drive and heading towards his apartment.

The silence was tense and a little bit awkward as you started to second guess your forwardness. You weren’t just using him to get back at Adam, right? You were a grown woman and you had needs. Needs that hadn’t been met in far too long, and the person that was going to satisfy them just so happened to be your co-worker from the same unit. That’s all. It was all coincidence. Plus Jay was hot. Everyone knew that. Why couldn’t you enjoy that fact when the opportunity presented itself? “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Jay asked jarring you out of your thoughts.

“Nothing. I just..I don’t know. Kinda embarrassed.” You admitted shrugging.

“Why?” He questioned grabbing a hold of your hand.

“I could’ve approached that better instead of acting like a horny teenager.” You laughed looking down.

“I would be lying if I wasn’t hoping you’d say something though.” He looked over at you grinning.

“What?” You looked at him confused.

“I mean you’re obviously beautiful and I thought we had a great night together, but I didn’t want to overstep bounds or make it awkward. I was just hoping you picked up the same vibe I was catching. I’m not the greatest at saying what I want.” He chuckled. Shaking your head you looked down smiling to yourself, feeling a little lighter in the knowledge that he wanted you too. Lifting the center console up you scooted closer to him. “Well hello.” He smirked, hand falling onto your thigh.

“I like your beard.” You smiled running your fingers through it. The last time you had seen him with one was when Erin left, and the only time before that was when he had been kidnapped. Remembering the bruises that accompanied the facial hair. Tracing his face where they had healed completely.

“Yeah?” He replied smiling at the gentleness of your hands as you admired his face.

“Yeah, I think you should keep it.” You voiced your opinion.

“Maybe I will.” He squeezed your thigh when you leaned over to lay soft kisses along his neck, nipping at his ear as you moved your palm over the crotch of his jeans. You felt his breath hitch at the movement, letting out a low growl when your lips attached right below his ear, heel of your hand pressing down simultaneously. “Oh god, I can’t wait to get you inside.” Jay whispered, breaths becoming labored at the insistent pressure of your hand. Quickly pulling into the parking garage of his apartment two minutes later. Putting the truck into park he let his eyes fall shut, head falling back onto the rest his hips finally moving up in time with the movement of your palm. The sight before you and the feeling of his obvious arousal already causing moisture to gather between your legs. Giving him a couple more rocks of pressure before slipping your hand up his shirt to rest on his stomach.

“Jay?” You whispered pressing a gentle kiss against his jaw, his facial hair tickling your nose. He turned his head to look at you, pupils already visibly darker than before. “I want you.” You stated. He grinned giving you a quick but hard kiss before shutting his truck off and guiding you towards the elevator. Pushing you against the wall as soon as the doors closed mouth molding over yours, hands bracketing you in against the wall. “Mmm.” You hum when his lips start to trail down your jaw. “Someone could walk in.” You remind him head falling back to give him more access. The dinging as you pass each floor prevalent in the background.

“Don’t care.” He growls lifting one of your legs to rest on his hips, fingers moving up your thigh, starting to move your panties to the side when the elevator comes to a stop on his floor. “I don’t think it’s ever moved that fast before.” He joked letting your leg down and grabbing ahold of your hand to pull you towards his apartment before pulling his keys out to unlock it and ushering you inside. “Do you want anything to drink?” He asked casually as he set his keys down slipping off his shoes, ridding your heels in the process you giggled stepping towards him to take the lapels of his jacket in your hands.

“I’m definitely thirsty but not for water.” You winked pulling him back towards your lips, before you pushed the jacket off his shoulders. Beginning to unbutton his dress shirt his hands moved down to your ass, lips breaking from yours long enough for him to whisper,

“Jump.” You let him pick you up, shedding his shirt on the way towards his bedroom.

“You have too many clothes on.” You sighed when he laid you down on the end of his bed tugging the bottom of his shirt. Laughing he stood up to pull it over his head for you.

“You haven’t taken one piece of clothing off and I’m the one that’s wearing too much?” He teased falling back on top of you.

“Lucky for you, you’ll find there’s next to no obstacles once this comes off.” You snapped the strap of your dress. Jay eyes trailed down your body slowly, hands following as he pulled you up to slide the zipper down slowly, lips falling to your collarbone in the process.

“Tell me if this is okay.” He hesitated sliding the straps down.

“It’s okay, Jay.” You voiced helping him pull the tight dress from your body. Face instantly blushing when you looked up to see his eyes wandering all over you, left in only your panties.

“You’re fucking gorgeous.” He complimented hands squeezing your hips.

“Your voice is really sexy when you’re turned on.” You blurted out, causing Jay to laugh.

“Well I can assure you I am in fact very turned on right now.” He grinned nuzzling your neck.

“Can I..?” You asked tugging on the button of his pants popping it open when you felt him nod. He breathed a quiet sigh at the pressure being released when you opened his zipper, pushing them to the ground with his help. He returned back on top of you leaning down to press his mouth to yours, moving slowly to appreciate the action. In no hurry for this to end. Your hand trailed from his chest to his stomach, tip of your finger sneaking under the hem of his boxers. His hips involuntarily bucking at the anticipation, coaxing your mouth open with his tongue. Reaching further down you took a hold of him giving him an experimental squeeze earning a groan against your lips. Beginning to slowly move your hand his forehead fell against yours eyes closing while his hips began to move in rhythm. Swiping your thumb across the tip, gathering the precum that had started to leak out. He watched as you brought it to your mouth, licking it off your finger to enjoy the taste of him. Breath hitching at the sight, seemingly flipping a switch in him as he lunged forward capturing your wrists and forcing them above your head, his lips capturing yours in a bruising kiss. Roughly biting at your lip before moving down your body. Stopping first at your chest. His teeth nipped at the skin, laying soft kisses all over before taking ahold of your left breast tongue swirling around your nipple. Other hand pinching and rolling the right between his fingers. Swallowing a moan your legs opened further letting him slide between them more comfortably. His mouth moved farther south as his fingers gently started to make soft circles to your center outside of your underwear. Sighing your hips moved slightly trying to get more pressure as you felt Jay smile against your hip bone. Teasingly his fingers fumbled with the side of your underwear occasionally swiping his finger inside while his mouth bit and sucked the inside of your thighs no doubt leaving a few marks. “Oh, yeah you’re keeping the beard.” Your fingertips dug into his head, goosebumps rising at the rough feeling of his facial hair against your thighs, jaw tightening, not wanting to make a sound.

“[Y/N] [Y/L/N], are you insinuating we will be doing this again?” He looked up at you, eyebrow raised, cocky smirk on his lips.

“Stop talking.” You ordered, face going a little red.

“If I remember correctly you just said my voice was sexy.” He quipped.

“And if I remember correctly you were in the middle of something.” You pushed his head back down.

“As you wish.” He winked teeth grazing the inside of your thigh as he moved closer and closer to your core. Your legs were starting to shake at the anticipation, your mind picturing your juices covering his mouth and throughout his beard.

“Jay, please.” You actually whined when he laid a kiss on your clit outside of your panties.

“I just wanted to hear you say my name. I can tell you’re trying to hold back, but all I want is to hear you [Y/N]. Helps me figure out the best way to make you feel good.” He admitted hooking his fingers into your panties and slowly sliding them down your legs before tossing them to the floor, “Let me hear you baby. Let me know I’m doing a good job.” He reminded you before his mouth connected to your center, eliciting a moan that you wouldn’t have been able to hold back even if you tried.

“Such a pretty sound, sweetheart.” He commented, before his tongue swirled around your clit, gently sucking it. Head falling back you let yourself give into every sensation. The way his hands pinned your hips down, preventing you from moving. The way his tongue worked you so soft and smooth like he did the research on exactly how your pussy was structured so he could hit every sweet spot imaginable. The way he pushed a finger in slightly curling it up to perfectly hit your g-spot over and over again while his tongue flicked against your clit. The way his stubble burned against your thighs only heightening the realization that this was Jay. Jay Halstead: your co-worker, friend, and apparently now fuck buddy. Your legs started to shake, hips trying their hardest to fight their way out of his grasp, uncontrollable noises flowing from your lips, knot growing tighter with each tap of your sweet spot.

“J-Jay.” You warned, hoping he could hear your voice that was barely there. Your fingers tightening in his hair, the other one moving down to his cheek, thumb rubbing over the roughness.

“Go ahead, sweetheart.” He encouraged fingers moving faster, tongue licking harder. This was Jay Halstead and he was eating you out like no tomorrow, and with that thought your thighs came up to trap his head, back arching as you screamed out the knot inside of you unraveling hard.

Legs falling back apart you released him and Jay made his way back up your body. Kissing you, taste of yourself covering his mouth. “That was beautiful.” He smirked, cupping your cheek.

“That was incredible, how did you even learn how to do that? It’s like you knew my body better than I do.” You laughed still a little light headed.

“Everyone is different. You just have to pay attention to the signs. For example I already know you’re not going to be able to cum from just penetration. Just like you have a hard time cumming from just oral. You need the best of both worlds. I always knew you were high maintenance.” He joked.

“You already have me all figured out.” You rolled your eyes, but. what he was saying was true. You don’t know how he came to the conclusion, but you weren’t about to complain.

“If you want to stop here I completely understand. We don’t-“ He started to say when you cut him off.

“And deprive myself of discovering whether your dick game is as good as your head? No thank you.” You grinned starting to push his boxers down.

“Well I could never live with myself if I left you wondering.” He shrugged, getting up to push the last remaining piece of clothing between you two to the ground before reaching over to fish a condom out of his nightstand. You took a hold of him again, twisting your hand up and down his shaft to make sure he was fully ready. He ripped the condom open with his teeth, rolling it on with your help. “You’re absolutely sure about this?” He asked again, positioning his dick at your entrance.

“Yes, completely.” You nodded.

“Just tell me if you want to stop at any point.” He reiterated, leaning down the rest of the way to kiss you when he started to push in. Groaning you focused on his tongue slipping into your mouth knowing the pain would subside soon, and a few short thrusts later the pleasure started to seep in.

“Ahh fuck.” You moaned relaxing into him.

“That’s my girl.” He smiled feeling the way you loosened more for him still making small movements, knowing there was no way he would be able to go hard right away, but within a few strokes your pussy started to clench him even harder than before. “Baby, you gotta loosen up for me or I’m not gonna be able to move at all without blowing it.” He groaned biting his lip, hips shuttering.

“I’m sorry you just feel so good.” You cried, it wasn’t your fault. Well not really anyway you had a hard time controlling it.

“Okay okay okay.” You closed your eyes, begging yourself to relax when he hit your g-spot for the first time. “Shit!” You cursed nails digging into his shoulder blades. “Right there. Again. Please.” You informed him, but you knew he was already aware as he hit it again before you were finished talking. He took one of your legs positioning it on his shoulder as he bracketed himself above you. Hitting harder this time, earning a loud moan from you. “Jay, faster. Please baby.” You begged.

“You feel incredible [Y/N]. I’m gonna cum so hard. Jay moaned above you.

“Your dick feels amazing babe. I love that I get to make you cum.” You reciprocated attempting to move with him. His thumb moved down to start rubbing circles on your clit in time with his long thrusts. “I h-hope you think a-ahhh-about this every time you - fuck - see me at w-work this week.” You got out between heavy breaths.

“I’m not going to be able to think about a-anything else baby. How f-fucking good you taste. How much I loved being between your legs e-eating you up. How good your pussy feels s-stretched around my cock. Holy fuck [Y/N] I’m so fucking close. Fuck fuck fuck, [Y/N].” He screamed louder with each word, collapsing onto you as he worked through his high, but you were already gone. Pulsating around his dick the minute he reminded you how good he looked between your thighs. Opening your eyes just in time for you to watch his orgasm and to catch your name falling off his lips with a few curse words.

“Is it true?” You asked after a few minutes of silence, heavily breathing being the only sounds that filled the room.

“Is what true?” He replied confused when he started to pull out of you before carefully disposing of the filled condom.

“You’re going to think all that stuff when you look at me this week?” You explained, causing him to chuckle still breathless.

“Maybe not every time, but I’d confidently wager 80% of the time.” He smirked rolling over to kiss you, “unless you don’t want me to?”

“Well it wouldn’t be fair for me to be thinking about it and not give you permission to as well.” You shrugged, knowing full well this wasn’t disappearing from your mind anytime soon. You got up to use the restroom as Jay cleaned himself the rest of the way.

“Is he bigger than me?” Jay asked, when you walked back into the room.

“I am not answering that question.” You laughed loudly laying back down beside him.

“Why not? It’s for research purposes. You know purely for your benefit.” He smirked down at you.

“Oh yeah? How so?” You urged.

“I just gotta know the level of game I have to bring. Should I be more focused on the motion or does the size make up for it?” He gestured south.

“Motion is always more important than size.” You rolled your eyes.

“I don’t think that’s true.” Jay scrunched his eyebrows,“Next time this happens I’ll just use my finger and remind you of what you just said.”

“I said it was more important. I didn’t say it’s not important at all, but I can assure you the level of game you brought tonight is better than I could’ve imagined.” You smiled completely satisfied.

“I totally am.” He decided, wiggling his eyebrows at you.

“So what’s the plan here?” You changed the subject.

“I think that all depends on what you want.” Jay answered.

“Well..I’m not going to deny this was fun and you did say I need to have more fun.” You shrugged sheepishly.

“So then we keep having fun.” Jay said simply.

“But we need ground rules.” You laid your chin on his chest looking up at him.

“Okay..” He looked down at you waiting for you to continue.

“Like I don’t know..is this purely friends with benefits? Do we go out for dinner sometimes? Do I bring you coffee in the morning?” You started to list the things running through your head.

“If you want to bring me coffee and dinner, who am I to tell you no?” He joked causing you to sigh.

“Jay, I’m serious.” You pushed.

“Can’t we just kind of roll with it?” He asked, hand rubbing up and down your back.

“I guess I’m just scared of what will happen if they find out.” You admitted.

“So what if they do?” He seemed unfazed.

“You’re not concerned at all how Hailey would react?” You asked.

“I like her. I really do. That’s not a secret, but she’s sleeping with Adam. Why should we have to wait around and agonize over it? You deserve to be just as happy as he does [Y/N].” He tucked a piece of your hair behind your ear.

“What if this turns into some fanfiction shit where we end up having feelings for each other?” You giggled.

“Well then I hope the author writes us a happy ending.” He smiled kissing you on the forehead. “Now I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired after that performance.” He yawned. You agreed, waiting for him to slide further down into his bed before pulling you back into his side, your head falling back down on his chest.

“Promise me you’re not going to freak out in the morning.” He whispered kissing the top of your head after a few minutes of silence.

“I promise.” You replied kissing his chest before letting his heartbeat lull you to sleep.

Waking up the next morning you felt the heat before your eyes even opened. Quickly registering that you were laying on someone. Slowly opening your eyes you looked around the semi dark room, black out curtains trying to reduce the amount of light peeking through. You knew who it was, but you had to confirm it. Gently sitting up you were met with Jay’s figure still sleeping beside you. Oh shit. You started to panic, memories of the night before suddenly flooding your mind. Remembering the things you did, the things you said. Eyes darting around the room you started to contemplate an escape. You’d sneak out and pretend like this never happened. That’s probably what Jay would want you to do anyway and-

“Lay back down and stop freaking out.” Jay grumbled beside you, eyes still closed. You reached for the sheet to cover your still bare body.

“How did you even-“ You began to ask causing Jay to smirk.

“I’m a detective for a reason, [Y/L/N]. Come back to sleep.” He urged pulling you back into his chest.

“It’s probably just a better idea if I leave.” You sat back up causing him to sigh heavily.

“You promised me you weren’t going to freak out.” Jay reminded you.

“I’m not freaking out.” You tried to defend, voice squeaking a little.

“Then stop biting your lip.” He challenged. Stopping your actions you looked over to still see his eyes closed.

“Okay seriously how the hell-“ You started

“I know you better than you think.” He opened his eyes to look up at you, dark circles obvious under them reminding you of late the two of you were up last night a blush covering your cheeks at the thought. “What’s going on, what are you thinking about at 6:30 in the morning?” He asked, looking at you like you were crazy after seeing the time on his alarm clock.

“I don’t know.” You shrugged looking away from him.

“C’mon talk to me.” He pushed sitting up to face you where you clung tight to the sheet that was also still covering him up to his hips.

“I just said a lot of stuff last night that’s kinda embarrassing looking back on it now.” You admitted remembering distinctly how you encouraged him to fuck you.

“Like?” He urged making you groan.

“I am not answering that.” You shook your head looking around the room for any piece of clothing.

“I can’t think of a single thing that didn’t sound incredible coming out of your mouth.” He shrugged just as you found a shirt slipping it on before realizing it was his.

“It’s probably just a good idea for me to leave.” You sighed contemplating what to do.

“We’ve gotten like 3 hours of sleep. Please lay back down.” He looked at you with puppy dog eyes.

“Jay.” You sighed running a hand down your face.

“Just come back to bed and let me cook you breakfast later. Then if you want to leave you can.” He bargained, voice still raspy from lack of sleep. Your mind was all over the place. You did want to be here, and last night was great and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t hoping for a morning encore. That’s what friends with benefits were for right? But how would this end? You just didn’t want to get hurt again somehow, but maybe that was just something you had to risk.

“Only if you make French toast.” You reasoned making him grin.

“That can be arranged.” He lifted his arms to pull you back to his chest.

“Your voice is sexy in the morning too.” You whispered after a few minutes, hoping he was asleep already.

“I think it’s a little worn out from all the sounds you had me making last night.” He retorted making you giggle.

NSFW Taglist:

@beautiful-bunny89 @justadreamxx @grettiwrites @life-treatments @weepingfestivalmentality @toomuchtv95 @malrunaway @queen-of-arda

[hxney-lemcn]

A super angsty one shot of hunter and reader where reader is climbing the ranks in the emperors covenant progressively, threatening to take hunters spot?

Hunter and reader could start off as friends, but reader becomes more and more distant because of climbing the ranks, almost cruel. The ending could be similar to the lyrics of "You're Nothing without me": "I'm everything you always wanted to be. Let's deal with the issue you wish you were me. Without me you're nothing" (coming from the reader towards hunter)

Overall very angsty if possible, thank you for reading and considering!

Summery: Reader manages to befriend the Golden Guard. But their demeanor changes as they let their greed become the best of them and become power hungry.

tw: reader kills a beast (not graphic), reader becomes manipulative, L coven

wc: 2.3k

Master List

After joining the Emperor's coven, I thought I’d be put on grand missions. Or even some patrols that lead to a chase. Something exciting! That’s how they portrayed their own coven after all. But no. I got stuck with guard duty. And even worse than that, night guard duty. Now I know, someone has to do it, but how was I supposed to rise through the ranks if I have no way to show my worth? 

I slouched, everything felt sore. I have been standing outside the library for hours now, I lost count. The sound of the buzzing lights made me feel like I was going crazy. The white and gold of my surroundings blended together as I tried to keep my eyes open. I just had to wait for the next guard to take over, and I’ll be free. I tried to think about various things, but the main one was focused on how I could raise my rank up. Or even just get a mission instead of guard duty. 

The sound of the library doors opening startled me, and I fixed my posture, keeping my head straight. My heart raced, I didn’t know anyone was in there. I was even more shocked when I saw it was the Golden Guard. 

“G-good evening sir,” I stuttered out, the haze of my brain leaving. He halted, and his mask slowly turned towards me. I felt sweat stick to my scout mask as I pondered if I did something wrong. Was I not supposed to greet him? It was the polite thing to do, right? It took all my willpower not to fidget under his gaze. 

“Good evening…scout,” He nodded, finally walking away. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The irritating white noise was back as his footsteps faded. I just met the Golden Guard, I couldn’t help but think. He seemed really awkward. It honestly grounded me. Made him seem a little more human, than just an idolized person. 

This continued. Every so often I’d catch him outside the library, we’d greet each other and that was it. It didn’t seem like much, but to me it meant a lot. Dare I say, I felt somewhat connected to him now. It was nice. But that could also be my lonely self gripping onto any contact with people I get. All forms of communication were taken from me after I passed the trials, which led me to only really talking to my old mentor. But they weren’t the best conversationalist. I mean, neither is the Golden Guard, our talks mainly were just ‘good evening’, and that was it. But it was nice. 

“Good evening sir,” I greeted as he made his way out of the library once more. He still was tense whenever I greeted him, but he always greeted me back. But today he stumbled slightly and a few scrolls fell off the stack he held. My eyes widened and I crouched down to pick up two scrolls that rolled near me. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, sir.”

“I…it’s fine,” He mumbled. I noticed his struggle with the stack of books he held and I felt a question bubble on the tip of my tongue, but I wasn’t sure if I could even ask it. 

“Um,” I muttered out, hoping this won’t get me fired. “Do you need help sir?”

His mask stared at me and once again I wondered if I overstepped my bounds. I hope it didn’t seem like it came off like I didn’t think he could handle it. It just was obvious it was a struggle for him to hold all of that and I wanted to help. 

“Follow me scout,” He said, and I scrambled to follow after him. I was surprised that he actually agreed. Of course he didn’t outright say he needed help, but I knew that was something hard to admit in the coven. It was a sign of weakness and something that can be used against you. I made that mistake with my mentor before and that’s when I learned that in the coven, you have to be ruthless. 

That’s when our small relationship grew. And when I started getting patrols instead of guard duty. I didn’t think much of it, just that it meant I was moving forward. Well until my mentor complained that they didn’t get patrol duty for an entire year. That fact was weird, but I didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. It only got better when I was finally tasked on my first mission. And even better? The Golden Guard was in charge, which meant I could prove my strength. 

It was…not as great as I thought. But better than the night shifts I had. The treak was tiring on its own. I guess they didn’t think we needed a ship, but I would disagree. I huffed, but it only made it hotter under my mask. Sweat dripped down my forehead and I wish I could wipe it away. They need to make a uniform that can deal with hot weather. But I suppose that would show too much individuality. 

Yes, I wish they’d allow people to feel unique. It gets hard to tell others apart when you’re all wearing the same thing, that covers anything that could tell others apart.

“Not exactly what you thought it would be, huh runt?” My old mentor asked. I frowned at the nickname.

“Beats standing around for hours,” I replied, not wanting to show any weakness. In fact, my feet felt like they were going to fall off. We finally stopped and we stood in formation, waiting for the debrief. It was hard to see, as a tall scout stood in front of me. I tried to focus on the Golden Guards words, but I could hear murmurs surrounding me. 

Scouts didn’t respect the Golden Guard. That was something that I realized early on. I think it had something to do with his age. My mentor complained that they were in the coven longer and that it felt demeaning to be given commands by a ‘stupid kid’. He wasn’t stupid. I knew that. I also know that he wasn’t just a kid. Of course, he obviously was, but he was put in a situation that forced him to mature quickly. He was a coven leader for a reason.

That mission turned out to be a success, and not to brag or anything. But I think I managed to make myself stand out. And I say this because I was sent on more missions after that. Most of them with the Golden Guard as well. I was surprised that it only took a few months before I was promoted to a captain. I felt so proud of myself. I mean who wouldn’t? I managed to get to a higher rank faster than anyone. 

This caused me to focus harder on my work. On being better. I trained, I went on missions, I led patrols. But I noticed something. Scouts were weary of me. I didn’t participate in their banter where they would talk badly about the Golden Guard. I showed clear respect towards him and that made others uneasy. And that worried me. I was the odd one out. It also made me realize that playing friends in the Emperor’s coven was something that can’t happen. It’s a sign of weakness. So I decided to squash that.

I didn’t talk to the Golden Guard anymore. I was focused on not being backstabbed while also trying to thrive. And an opportunity seemed to fall perfectly into my hands. The Golden Guard was on a lockdown of sorts, and I caught him sneaking back in. A plan was already forming in my head as he stared at me with wide eyes. This was the first time I saw his face and it made me hesitate.

The coven had taught me not to treat others like people, but as pieces in the game to get up in the ranks. So actually seeing someone's face was like a reality check. He looked tired, scared, and on the verge of a mental breakdown. But I cleared those thoughts. This was like a gift given from the Titan. I could use this against him. Something I never would have done in the start of my career.

“Scout!” He exclaimed, looking nervous but somewhat hopeful. 

“You aren’t supposed to be out of the castle,” I replied monotonously. That hope that was in the back of his eyes left as soon as I said that. But I steeled myself. This will help me. I can get an even higher title possibly if I bring this up to Emperor Belos. 

“This is not to be spoken to another soul,” He replied with a glare. “That’s an order.”

“I’m sure this knowledge would be in the Emperor’s best interest,” I stated, standing tall. 

“P-please!” He pleaded, and I stared at him cooly, though he couldn’t see that. “I…what do you want? Money?”

“A promotion,” I said without hesitation.

“Th…there isn’t a position higher than captain,” He said with a frown. I frowned as well.

“I’m sure if I spoke of this to Belos, he’d find one,” I said, turning on my heel.

“Wait!” He shouted, grabbing my arm and stopping me. “I…you will be promoted. But I’ll have to speak to Emperor Belos first.”

“I’ll look forward to it, Golden Guard,” I replied coldly, walking away. 

Belos gave me a mission to prove myself. It was hard. It was to slay a Dormathogian. A ravid beast that threatens the people of Latissa. It…was hard. The beast was giant, and was fast. It had sharp, poisonous teeth and it blended in with its environment. It was the hardest challenge I’ve dealt with. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this mission was a death sentence. 

I was on edge as I heard it snarl. I looked to my left and there it was, its eyes held a soft glow. I waited for it to make a move. Suddenly it went to pounce and I dodged, sending fire which burnt it slightly. It’s giant paw swiped at me and I barely dodged. I hissed as it managed to scratch my shoulder. I was just grateful it didn’t bite me. I summoned vines around it, but it easily cut through them. So that was out of the question. It charged at me again, I summoned a spike of ice and it stopped the beast as it penetrated its paw. It howled out in pain, poisonous saliva dripping. 

I quickly continued my attack, wanting to get this over with as quickly as I could. I formed a spear with ice and tried to kill it, but it bit at me. I managed to kill it, but in return I was poisoned. A stalemate. I took one of its teeth, the item I was told to bring back to prove the kill. I tried to heal myself as I made my way back to Latissa as fast as I could. I focused on keeping the poison from spreading until I was able to get an antidote. 

I was lucky that night. I survived. And I proved my worth. Belos was pleased. He made me a second in command to the Golden Guard. But since I had the respect of the scouts, they followed my orders instead of the Golden Guards. It was a power trip for me. I single handedly made my way up, bringing myself to this place of power. There was only one spot left that I was eyeing up. I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I took the Golden Guards place. I knew that would be hard, but he also seemed to deem me as a threat.

I made sure I was efficient with my missions. I would always bring Belos more than he asked for, and I seemed to have been winning his favor. It made me feel unbeatable, like everyone was less than me, because they were. 

I stared at the Golden Guard from the sidelines. He noticed my presence and I left the hallway into the empty room. It seems that he took the bait as he followed me in. I waited for him to speak first. I knew I wouldn’t be able to take him down in strength, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt that we’re about the same in that department. So I’ll do what would no doubt work. That is, tear him down mentally where he becomes his own downfall.

 “You need to realize your place, general,” He stated, a glare clear on his face. “You can’t tell my scouts the opposite of what I ask.”

I stared at him, a hint of smugness in my demeanor, “Do I? Or are you jealous they respect me more than they’ll ever respect you?”

His glare harshened, “I will not tolerate this. You are a member of the Emperor’s coven and you must show respect to your superiors.” 

“Let’s face it love,” I said in a condescending tone. “I’m everything you always wanted to be. How about we face the issue that you wish you were me. Because after all, it won’t be much longer until our positions are switched.”

His face turned red in anger, his stare cold. But I noticed the swirls of insecurity that littered his body language. I stood up straighter, glad my plan seemed to be on the right track.

“I should really get back to work now,” I said with a fake smile. “I wouldn’t want to explain to Belos why our mission took so long because of a petty fight.”

In some sense, I was right. As the Golden Guard became a runaway, I was appointed to take over his position until he was found. My goal became a reality.