#so long and goodnight SO LONG AND GOODNIGHT

[iwanturfeelins]

⸸ What's the worst that I can say? Things are better if I stay ⸸

[itaipava]

— f1 boys falling asleep on you.

˒ ⌕ LANDO NORRIS

trying to sleep at an ungodly hour after returning home from a night out; still feeling giddy from the rush and excitement of the night as you both get ready for bed. he hugs you from behind and rests his head on your shoulder as you brush your teeth, almost falling asleep right there. after you’re done, you crawl into bed together, saying “goodnight” for the thousandth time, but neither of you closing your eyes as you gaze happily at each other with soft giggles and bright smiles amidst yawns. sleepy and a little tipsy, but too in love with the moment and each other to want to fall asleep, but inevitably doing so with happy sighs as he pulls you closer to him, with his face in your neck and intertwining your legs.

˒ ⌕ GEORSE RUSSELL

he always says he wants to do a lot of things with you when he gets home to make up for the time he was gone, but as soon as you settle in to watch that new movie you were looking forward to watch, he falls asleep. you look at him and smile, gently placing his head on your lap. you stroke his hair as he sleeps peacefully. but he ends up waking up in the middle of the movie, and starts asking questions like "what happened to him?" while lazily pointing at the character and, as soon as you finish talking, he dozes off again, even though he promised himself that he would stay awake.

˒ ⌕ SEBASTIAN VETTEL

you woke up early, but you didn't want to disturb his sleep, so you tried to get out of bed as quietly as possible. you sat up and stretched, but before you could actually get up, you felt his arm around your waist, pulling you against him. you smiled, and tried to tell him that you needed to get up, but he was too busy using your lap as a pillow to even hear you.

˒ ⌕ CARLOS SAINZ

he had been trying to sleep alone for a long time, but he couldn't even with the gentle sound of the rain outside. you open the bedroom door and he smiles when he sees you; he lifts the blanket next to him, a silent invitation for you to go lie down with him. you smile and lie down, silently he pulls you to him, holding you lovingly. you stroke his hair and he closes his eyes, enjoying your affection and the warmth of your body. and when you least expect it, he is in a deep sleep while holding you.

˒ ⌕ CHARLES LECLERC

you were lying together on the couch in the living room, savoring the warmth and the cool breezes that came in through the sunny window; you admired how the sunlight fell beautifully on each other's features as he held you close to him. there was soft music playing in the background as you hummed along to the melody or said things like "oh, i love this song!" which always made him smile. wordless but meaningful looks of "i love you" to each other. suddenly he stopped running his fingertips over your body and, looking at his face, you saw that he fell asleep holding you, feeling safer than ever.

˒ ⌕ LEWIS HAMILTON

you and him love to talk before bed; it’s an unspoken routine in your relationship. you talk about your days, your thoughts, your worries, about that squirrel you saw on the street, anything and everything; your voices only slightly above whisper, trying not to disturb the quietness of the night but failing to do so when laughter comes over you both. he hugged your waist and put his face in your neck while you spoke, but at a certain point you felt his heavy breathing and, when you looked at him, you saw him sleeping. you smiled affectionately and gave him a kiss on the corner of his mouth, which made him pull you even closer to him.

˒ ⌕ OSCAR PIASTRI

after he takes you to a great restaurant in the city, you arrive home and rest on the couch while talking about anything that comes to mind. he sighs deeply, and puts his head on your shoulder, looking at his face, you notice how sleepy he is when the food coma kicks in. you smile, and pull him closer to you, and that's when he settles down next to you on the couch, holding you tightly against him as he lets sleep take over.

˒ ⌕ FRANCO COLAPINTO

he comes home absolutely exhausted after a long training session. after a hot shower, he lies on top of you, hugs your waist and puts his face in your neck, feeling your warmth and your scent. at that moment, he feels like he is in heaven. you gently stroke his back while asking him how his day was, but he is so tired that he just mumbles something softly and falls asleep on you.

˒ ⌕ MAX VERSTAPPEN

you woke up earlier than usual, and you couldn’t fall asleep again but you didn’t want to leave his side; quiet moments with him are so rare, so you wanted to make the most of them. he also wakes up, but only to pull you towards him even more, using you as a pillow. you smile and stroke his hair, which makes him sigh and fall asleep again, without a care in the world.

[rafesangelita]

⊹₊⟡⋆♡ cowboy!rafe always snuck into farmer's!daughter!reader's room to give her a goodnight kiss.. but what happens when their innocent little kiss turns into something much more?

warnings: sweet fluff, flirty banter, brief flashback, daddy kink lol, sneaking around, unprotected sex, dirty talk, rafe covering your mouth, crying, overstimulation

a/n: i’ll be opening req’s soon! lately here i’ve been wanting to get out some of my own prompts since over half of my works are all req’s.. but i’m excited to see what you girlies send me! find more of farmer’s!daughter!reader and cowboy!rafe here <3

wc: 1.2k

“open up, doll face.” you sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from your eyes as rafe lightly tapped on your window. he made you so giddy, you scrambled up from the warmth of your sheets, unlocking the hatch before helping him climb in. “i thought you weren’t coming..” you whispered, pouting up at him as he snickered. “y’gotta have faith in me, sweetheart. when have i missed a goodnight’s kiss?” rafe cupped your face, both of you smiling against each other’s lips before melting into one another.

you always felt so warm and fuzzy inside when you and rafe got to share your secret little moments together, the simplicity of just being together without having to worry about someone catching you two made both of your hearts swell. rafe knew how to sweep you off your feet with a single kiss, a string of giggles tumbling from your mouth as he not-so-quietly threw you onto your bed. “rafe!” you scolded him, your heart beating in your ears as he slotted himself between your thighs.

“my daddy is next door! what if he hears..” you slapped his chest playfully, the man above you arching a brow. “daddy? i thought i was your daddy.” your cheeks heated in embarrassment when you recalled the quickie you two had in the barn not too long ago. rafe had you bent over a hay bale, his thrusts making you unable to speak until he asked you the golden question.

“hmmph! fuckin’ say it. tell me what i wanna hear, who’s your fuckin’ daddy?”

taking your bottom lip between your teeth, rafe smiled as he shook his head down at you. “you just thought about it, didn’t you?” snapping you out of your flashback daze, you laughed when he leaned down and pressed a wet kiss to the column of your throat. he smelled like soap, the slight stubble on his cheeks tickling your skin. as if your hips had a mind of their own, you grinded your clothed cunt against rafe’s thigh, a whimper leaving your lips at the lack of friction.

“hey,” rafe cupped your tits through your flimsy night top, “you thought i wasn’t coming tonight, right? that’s what you said.” your eyebrows knitted in confusion before a gasp slipped from your mouth. “yes..” rafe trailed a hand underneath the waistband of your sleep shorts. “so why don’t you have any panties on?” you froze, eyes flickering down to where rafe ran a finger between your folds. keening, you couldn’t help the moan from leaving your lips.

rafe stared at you for a moment, his eyes growing dark as he clamped a hand over your mouth. “i’ve been thinking about this pussy all day. ‘think you can stay quiet for me?” of course you couldn’t.. and rafe knew that. you stared at him with wide eyes, butterflies fluttering in your tummy when he took himself out of his pants. “i mean it. we don’t want your old man chasing me down with that shotgun of his, now do we?” you shook your head, your eyes fluttering shut when you felt the head of his cock prod at your entrance.

you shrieked, his hips rolling into yours as he slowly bottomed out inside your cunt. if it wasn’t for rafe’s hand muffling your scream you’re sure both of you would be in deep trouble right now. rafe rested his head on your pillow, a shaky breath leaving his lips as he started thrusting. feeling his weight on top of you like this had easily become your favorite thing, the closeness of it all made your heart sing. “fuck, i could never get used to this.. ‘feels like the first time all the time.” he grunted.

you held onto his wrist, your thighs hugging his waist as he kissed the side of your face. “taking me so fuckin’ good, you were made for me, yeah?” you whined, your eyes watering as rafe continuously hit that soft spot inside of you. your headboard started hitting the wall, a smirk gracing your boyfriend’s features. “rafe!” you whispered, tearing his hand away from your face. “s-slow down!” you attempted to push him away while simultaneously trying to keep your noises to yourself.

rafe picked up his pace, wrapping a hand around your throat. “can’t..” you shook your head, your chest rising and falling as the knocking of your headboard only got louder. rafe cursed under his breath when you cried out, working fast to get you turned over so he could push your head into the pillows. “what did i tell you?!” he scolded, landing a smack to your ass. you didn’t have any time to react to the stinging sensation on your backside, your orgasm washing over you once rafe started stroking your clit.

you fisted the sheets underneath you, biting down on your lip as white hot pleasure blinded your vision. rafe made no attempt to soothe you, instead he wrapped your hair around his fist, pulling you up as he nipped at the sensitive skin in the curve of your neck. “sweetheart?” you gasped when your father’s voice sounded from the other side of your bedroom door. you cleared your throat, frozen in place as your door knob rattled. “answer him.” rafe spoke in your ear, his tone sending a shiver down your spine.

“what?!” you stammered, heavy tears rolling down your cheeks as rafe continued to rub hard circles on your sensitive bundle of nerves. “answer him or i’ll make you scream.” you wanted to shoot a sassy ‘you already did’, but you didn’t dare chance it. your chin wobbled, your mouth falling open in a silent moan. “y-yes?!” you called out, glaring at rafe over your shoulder when the sound of his hips slamming into you bounced off of the walls. “you alright in there?” you bit the back of your hand, your head falling weakly.

“is this a girl thing or somethin’, should i call your aunt?” your cheeks heated, a chuckle sounding from the man behind you. “no! i’m o-okay!” rafe pulled your hair again, his lips close to your ear as he whispered the dirtiest things you’ve ever heard. “what would your pops think, huh? catching his perfect little angel getting fucked like this..” your eyes rolled to the back of your head, your knees slipping out from under you when rafe pushed you flat on your sheets.

“alright.. goodnight!” you ignored your father’s voice, the only thing your brain allowing you to process was rafe cumming inside of you, his fingers digging harshly into the flesh of your hips. “shittt,” he hissed, “son of a— fuck!” it was his turn to cover his mouth, his muscles constricting as you practically milked him for all he had. you reveled in the feeling of his hot cum filling you up, the thick ropes still connecting you two even after he pulled out.

you sighed, both you and rafe panting in the small space that was your room. “you okay, doll?” rafe kneeled down at your side, pressing a small kiss to the corner of your lips. blinking at him, you nodded before pulling him next to you. “it’s really late..” you yawned, glancing at the little clock on your bedside table. “i know.” rafe grumbled. there was nothing he hated more than having to leave you like this. wrapping his arms around your waist, rafe waited until you fell asleep slipping out of your window again.

[sena-seastar]

Bad Sleeping Habits

Dad!Aemond x Wife!Reader

Summary: Aemond has trouble being firm with your daughter.

A/N: This is just a little drabble I wrote. No beta, so I apologize for any spelling and grammar mistakes!

Aemond had always been a light sleeper, even more so after the birth of your daughter. He had always been the first to wake up and rush to her side anytime she made the slightest noise. So when he heard her shuffling out of bed in the middle of the night, he woke up immediately. He didn’t get up, instead choosing to wait and see what she was up to.

The two of you had been trying to get Daenys into the habit of sleeping in her own bed. To say it was a struggle would be an understatement. The two of you had let her sleep between you a few times, and apparently, she took that to mean she had to sleep in your bed every night.

Aemond didn’t honestly mind it. He loved every minute of it. He knows that once she gets older, he won’t get those moments when he can hold her close and have her sleep in his arms anymore. So he wants to hold on to her as long as he can. 

Aemond kept perfectly still as he felt the blanket at the bottom of the bed being tugged down. He used one of his hands to hold onto it so that it would not completely slip off the bed, as Daenys used it as a ladder to climb onto the bed. He pretends to be asleep, though he cracks his eye open just enough to watch his little girl, in case she slips.

She let out a little grunt as she successfully reached the top. Aemond doesn’t move as she climbs over him, most likely trying to take her usual place between the two of you.

He does his best not to cry out when her knee accidentally digs into the flesh of his thigh. He doesn’t want to frighten his little girl or, even worse, wake you up. So, he does his best to bear the pain.

He waits until she reaches the top of the bed before rolling over to face her. She freezes, her eyes wide open, knowing she’s been caught. Though her shock quickly turns to amusement. Daenys gives him a cheeky smile.

“Why are you out of bed?” He whispers. “Go back to sleep,” he scolds her playfully.

“Nuh-uh,” she shakes her head, making her little silver curls shake side to side.

 Daenys sits back on her heels—a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Aemond lifts his hands, trying to brace himself. He makes it just in time before she throws herself on top of him. Her little arms wrap around his shoulders, squeezing him tightly as she buries her face into his neck. Messy, silver curls tickle his nose. Aemond shakes his head, trying to push her hair away.

“Fine, you can stay,” he sighs, “but your mother won’t be pleased with us in the morning.”

He grabbed the blanket, pulling it over the both of them.

She yawned, nuzzling her cheek against his shoulder. “Night, night, kepa.” 

“Goodnight, my little dragon.” He hummed, gently running his hand over her back.

Aemond stared up at the canopy, and once again, he found himself wondering how he had gotten here. What had he done to deserve such happiness? The man had always known he would marry and eventually have children someday. He was a Targaryen prince, after all. Yet he had never imagined it would make him feel so... content. 

“You spoil her too much,” you mumble drowsily.

Aemond turned his head, finding you with your head still buried in your pillow.

“She’s a princess. It's practically in the job description.” He smirked. “Besides, you don't seem to mind when I spoil you.”

“Fine,” you sigh. “But she’s sleeping in her own bed tomorrow.”

Aemond reached over and grabbed your hand. He lifted it, pressing a kiss to your knuckles.

“Goodnight, my love.”

[napping-sapphic]

i’m a horrible influence btw because i would drag you into bed and do absolutely everything in my power to keep you there for as long as possible

[hesperisms]

hello! can i request zayne with reader who shows up at his doorstep really badly injured and just passes out against him when he opens the door?

i really love how you write zayne in your fics and i've been thinking about this idea for awhile..

// Safe Haven

"You're not fighting alone this time..."

// summary: your assignment was taking a turn for the worse and out of desperation and panic, you turned to the one person you know will always be there for you...

// content warnings: injuries, blood, angst, fluff. IT'S SOFT BOI HOURS, OKAY?

// a/n: hope I did your idea justice anon! something about the idea of seeing Zayne's all possessive and protective makes my chest ache!

likes, reblogs, comments are always appreciated!

Zayne couldn't place his finger on the feeling, but something had him full of restless energy despite the late hour. He'd decided the only course of action was to burn it off, so he put on his sweats and headed out into his quiet leafy suburb for a late night jog. He used it as an opportunity to clear his thoughts and mentally debrief himself about the surgery he had completed earlier, about his to-do lists and then his thoughts drifted as they always do, to you.

He hadn't heard from you for a few hours, which wasn't unusual for you two, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of longing that he hadn't seen a goodnight text or voice note from you, hoping that it meant maybe you had conked out on the couch and were getting some rest. As he walked the last block back towards his house, relaxing on his cooldown he takes a photo of the full moon in the sky and sends it over to you along with a "the moon looks beautiful tonight" note.

DING.

Zayne approaches his driveway and your notification sound rings out, echoing in the silent night. He shakes his head, a smile touching the corner of his lips as he realizes you're nearby but his brow knits in confusion when he doesn't see your ride parked nearby. She probably got dropped off by Tara or that partner Xavier, he thinks to himself with a shrug. The cool night air was trapping the sweat in against his compression shirt, making him shiver as he walked up the steps to his front door. Something was off, he realized suddenly; one of his ambient security lights that normally cast a soft glow up his front steps was dimmed and bent at an odd angle, like something had fallen on it.

He leans over, attempting to make out in the dark what landed on top of it to break it when he hears it again and sees the flash.

DING.

Blood turns to ice in his veins as your notification tone sounds from beside the broken garden lighting, the flash of your phone camera strobing in the darkness for a split second in tandem with the sound. Delicately picking up your phone in his left hand, his heart catches in his chest as he sees bloody fingerprints on the screen. Zayne's mind surges with all sorts of worst-case fears as his eyes desperately scan the yard for any sign of you, but you're nowhere to be found.

Wary now and knowing you're hurt, he carefully calls forth shards of ice to his fingertips of his right hand, holding them tensely, ready to jump to action if he needs to defend himself too. Punching in the code for his electronic front door lock, he lets the door swing open as he steps inside cautiously, but nothing seems to be out of the ordinary inside. Zayne moves room to room silently looking for anything out of place, any sign of you, without success.

He's just about to shut the front door and start making calls to your boss Jenna and emergency services when your hand slams against the closing door, jolting him as he stares at you. "Zayne..." you squeak out, using all your strength to prop yourself up on his doorframe.

"I'm so gla-" you don't even get a chance to finish before your body is in freefall towards him and his eyes widen in panic, the phone and the ice shards both clattering loudly on the entryway tiles as he scrambles to catch you before you hit the floor. "My hero..." you joke weakly, face pallid as you slip out of consciousness in his arms.

Cradling you gently, kneeling on the cold tiles beside you his combat medic instinct overtakes his fears and he begins to perform some cursory checks, noting how pale your lips are, how shallow your breathing is, and that's when he sees it; your right arm is dangling limply, seemingly dislocated from the socket and the sleeve has been ripped to shreds, your bicep showing a deep, angry wound. You've lost a lot of blood and you're in shock, so Zayne knows he needs to act swiftly.

"I'm so sorry, this is not going to be enjoyable for either of us." he murmurs to your unconscious body gently as he takes hold of your dislocated shoulder, feeling for the socket before firmly and skillfully setting it back into place. You cry out a whimper of pain as it temporarily wakes you and he brushes your hair away from your forehead with a bloody hand, stroking the backs of his fingers tenderly across your brow with a trembling touch. "Shhhh my love, I'm sorry, I know it hurt but I had no choice, it couldn't stay that way, you're okay, I've got you. You're okay."

Your eyes are glassy and unfocused, but you look up at him like he's an angel, the ceiling down light cascading around his dark hair above you like a halo; that handsome face stroking your brow lovingly with gentle sweeps, trying so hard to hide from you how scared he is as he smiles down at you trying to reassure you both with his soft whispers. As your eyes begin to flutter shut again and unconsciousness swallows you, you see him pulling his compression shirt off up over his head, his bare chest sucking in deep shuddering breaths that betray his smile and measured tone.

Zayne ties a sleeve of the compression shirt around your bicep wound like a tourniquet and loops the other sleeve around your neck, creating a very crude home made sling for your badly damaged arm. If he thought he had more time, he'd run to the bathroom for medical supplies but you were too pale and he was terrified to let you out of his sight so he made do as best he could. Swallowing down all sorts of insidious memories and fears from his time on the front lines, he works to stabilize you so that you'll be safe to move.

Grabbing the throw blanket off the couch and draping it over you, he scoops you up into his arms, pressing you tightly into his body as he carries you to his car, delicately lowering you into the passenger side and locking the seatbelt over you. You flit in and out of consciousness under the bright streetlights as he drives you to Akso Hospital, the steady weight of his large hand cradled behind your head, pressing and stroking tenderly on the nape of your neck the only constant feeling other than pain.

"Dr. Zayne, didn't you finish a couple of hours ago? Did you forget something in your office?" The tired but friendly voice of Dr. Greyson rings out over the car's Bluetooth speakers as Zayne's call to the nurses station connects. "Go cuddle with your Lady paperwork can wait!" Yvonne laughs in the background and Zayne realizes he's on speakerphone.

"I'm just about to hit the exit ramp. I'm 2 minutes away, prep a bay in Emergency Greyson...it's y/n." Zayne says with a harsher, colder tone than he intended, fear for your wellbeing getting the better of him.

Silence hangs on the line for a moment before someone sniffs awkwardly and a cacophony of chairs scraping and shuffling flares to life as the nurses scramble.

"How bad?" Comes the soft reply and Zayne can hear the concern in his colleague and friend's tone.

Zayne squeezes the nape of your neck reassuringly, but whether it's to reassure you or himself, he can't tell; "she's lost a lot of blood, it's hard to say. I have her stable but we don't have much time," he responds, his voice breaking slightly.

"We'll be waiting for you at the front doors." Greyson says confidently as he disconnects the call. Zayne's golden-green gaze flits across to your lips, checking on your shallow breathing as he pulls his car into the ambulance bay. Just as promised, Greyson, Yvonne and the other nurses pull up a stretcher to the passenger side of the car and open the door, looking across from you to Zayne and giving him a solemn nod.

Zayne gives your neck one last squeeze and lets them take you from the car, watching critically as they lift you gently onto the stretcher and rush you into the waiting Emergency bay. He shivers as the shock starts to wear off and the cold silence of the middle of the night settles in. Looking down at himself, realizing that he's half-naked and covered in smears of your blood, he grabs his coat out of the back of his car and jogs in after them.

He's about to follow them into the Emergency bay when Greyson puts a firm hand on his shoulder and shakes his head. "Are you trying to come in as her Doctor, because you don't trust us to work on her, or her lover because you need to know she's okay?" He asks pointedly.

Zayne snarls out a frustrated sigh, but Greyson continues.

"The code of conduct is there for her interests as the patient, you know that. I'll call you in as soon as we're done. You look like hell, go clean yourself up."

Zayne nods his resignation with a scowl, knowing Greyson was right. He wasn't happy to be called out on it, but Zayne couldn't maintain his objectiveness and professionalism, not when you were involved. The Akso Hospital board might turn a blind eye to him being your General Practitioner while dating you, but they would not stand for him being part of a surgical team.

He showered in the Doctor's suites and grabbed a spare shirt from his office before settling into the visitor's seating in the hallway outside Emergency. Zayne was lying back in the armchair, his head tilted back as he rubbed slow circles on his temples when Greyson finally come out to get him a couple of hours later.

"She's got a fractured humerus and she needed almost a litre of blood, but she's out of the woods now. Pulse is strong again, color has returned and we've stitched up the wound in her bicep. She's asking for you." Greyson said with a smile, giving Zayne a pat on the shoulder as he walked off towards the Doctor's suites.

"She's awake?"

He calls back over his shoulder with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Go to your woman, Zayne!"

Zayne slips in through the door to see the nurses packing up the crash cart and various other Emergency supplies and they give him a knowing smile as they make way for him. Yvonne hands him the pillow she was about to put behind your head and says with a smile "we should leave you two lovebirds alone, you've been through a lot tonight."

"You look..." Zayne begins, pushing the pillow in behind your head.

"Terrible?"

"A sight for sore eyes. For a minute there I was scared I was going to lose you."

You chuckled weakly, color rising in your cheeks. "You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Handsome." You reached for his hand, wincing as your stitches pulled and Zayne slipped his hand over yours, gently snuggling himself onto the bed beside you. "I don't know what would've happened if you weren't there..." you began, emotions spilling over and you choke back a sob. He presses you into his chest, hushing you and peppering kisses into your hair.

"Don't think about it Darling, don't upset yourself with what ifs and scenarios." He murmured. "I was there, you're safe now. I've got you and that's all that matters."

As he let you cry softly against his warm chest, he rubbed slow circles on your back, squeezing you tightly, pecking little soothing kisses onto your head. Zayne gently brushed your tears from your cheeks, gazing down at you lovingly, the pad of his thumb feeling so comforting as you stared up at him.

Zayne released you and reached over to read your chart, his brows knitting and his eyes narrowing as he scans through your status and treatment observations. Giving you a gentle peck on the cheek, he tells you he'll be right back and slips from the room.

He's gone for a few minutes and when the door to your room opens, he's carrying the powder blue baby blanket you bought him when he was struggling with nightmares and sitting on top of the bundle were a couple of his always on hand mint candies. Climbing back onto the bed beside you, pulling you onto his chest so he can support your wounded arm he spreads the blanket out over the two of you.

Zayne unwraps a mint candy and holds it out for you.

"Open." He commands gently and you part your lips to let him pop it into your mouth, before he takes the other one himself, tossing the wrappers into the little trashcan beside your bed. "They're keeping you in for observation overnight, so lets do our best to get a good night of sleep, my love." Zayne explains to you in a soft, whispered tone, pulling your head down to rest underneath his chin. As you both chew your candies and cuddle into each other's warmth, he strokes your hair until after a few minutes he feels your breathing settle and you relax, falling asleep against him.

The door opens with a soft click, Greyson poking his head in silently to check on you before he ends his shift, changed out of his scrubs and now in his casual wear. He gives Zayne a small nod and Zayne nods back at him solemnly in thanks, the two men exchanging a whole conversation unspoken in their gestures. The whole time Zayne is squeezing his arm tightly around you, cradling you to his chest as you sleep, his heartbeat lulling you into gentle dreams.

[william-t-sickofyourshit]

Despite being tired, William’s full attention was on Sebastian. He didn’t mind staying up late to talk to him, if that was what Sebastian needed. His poor darling complained about pain and discomfort, and William was reassuring him, and cheering him up, and promising him all sorts of things to lift his mood once he’s back home. “I will bake you an apple pie, darling. And we will watch movies together every night. Don’t worry, hospital stay is only for a moment. Soon you will be back home here with me.” William smiled at the phone.

They stayed on facetime for quite a long time, until William started actively yawning. Then even clueless Sebastian had to notice that William was just exhausted by now. “Mm… you know, I should probably get home…” William hummed eventually. “I need a shower, and tomorrow morning it’s work again…” he yawned once more.

So, William then made another round over Sebastian’s cottage, showing each of the six cats to the phone’s camera, so Sebastian could say his goodnights. They stayed on the phone while William walked home to his house, and then Sebastian got to also greet Dexter via facetime as well. But eventually, whether they wanted it or not, they had to hang up. William could hear the nurse in the background, in Sebastian’s hospital room, telling him that she will put him on light sedatives for the night, because he really needs some sleep. And Sebastian could see how sleepy William’s eyes looked by now, he was barely keeping them open. 

So after a few more minutes of ‘I love yous’ and ‘goodnights’ they finally ended the call. William’s house got so quiet all of a sudden. He missed Sebastian terribly already. Before showering, William decided to go to his church for a moment still. 

The inside of the church was chilly. William lit up two big candles on the altar, and knelt down for a prayer. He begged God for good health for Sebastian, and for forgiveness for his sins. He did that a lot, lately, praying and asking God to forgive him for whatever it was that caused such punishment. As if it was his fault.

“Please God…” William whispered under his breath. “Surely you see inside my heart, and you know how happy Sebastian makes me. He is good for me, and I know that you put him in my life for a reason. I know I didn’t handle it the best, I broke my vows, I’m lying to the people of this town… but I will make it right. I promise. And Sebastian doesn’t deserve to be punished for my cowardly mistakes…”

The prayer lifted some guilt from William’s heart at least. He hoped that God would listen. 

He dragged himself into the shower, hot water washing away the exhaustion slightly, and soreness from his muscles that was caused by anxious tension all day long. William crawled into bed heavily, Dexter curling right at his side. He put the phone next to him on the pillow, just in case Sebastian needed him. He didn’t even notice when his eyelids fell heavily, and he dozed off, sleeping like a rock. 

For I have sinned...

The principal cleared his throat, eyes scanning the notes that he had wrote down before this meeting. It already lasted an hour, and the teachers gathered in the faculty room were becoming restless and bored. But indeed there were some things to discuss, with the concert that the senior class was supposed to perform at the end of the semester, and with recent staff changes. 

William glanced down at his watch, sighing softly. His class was starting in 15 minutes, so at least, whether the meeting will be done soon or not, he will get to excuse himself. He looked out of the window, his mind wandering. Principal’s voice turned into white noise in the background. It was a pleasant day, late summer. But William was looking forward to a slightly cooler weather. Wearing all black could really be bothersome at times. 

“And lastly, I am pleased to announce that we have finally found replacement for the violin teacher. Dear Mr Tanaka, may he rest in peace, was with us for so many years that I’ve been concerned we won’t be able to find someone as good as to fill this position.” the principal spoke. “But Mr… Michaelis, was highly recommended to me, and he indeed has impressive references. He will be starting this week, so please welcome him warmly once he will arrive. Ah yes… about that. He will arrive today at noon, I need someone to pick him up from the train station and bring over for the tour around the school. Any volunteers?” 

William was barely listening, and definitely not paying much attention. He glanced at his watch again, and saw that it was time to leave, as his class was about to start. He raised his hand to excuse himself, and little did he know, he just volunteered.

“Father William! Excellent!” the principal exclaimed. “Just don’t be late, the train arrives at noon.”

“Train…?” William questioned, raising his brow. He had a feeling he was missing something…

***

Right after the meeting, William had to run for the class, so he had little time to clarify what exactly he had volunteered for. He was a piano teacher in this Music Academy, but also he served as a priest in local church. Well respected, and rather liked. So when he later found out it was about the new violin teacher, he didn’t refuse. Who, other than himself, would be a better choice to introduce a newcome to their community?

So even though he raised his hand by accident, he accepted this fate.

After classes, at noon, William took a taxi and drove to the train station, to pick up their new teacher. Wearing black trousers, and a black shirt with a thin tie, was absolutely dreadful in this weather, so William quickly found shelter under the roof of the station platform, that provided some shade.

The train had just arrived. William had no idea how Mr Michaelis looked like, but he figured he will just look for someone carrying a violin case with them. 

He was in for a bit surprise.

@crazyvik97

[minnies-puppydoll]

Lucky’s KinkMas Event!

Join me for the 12 days of KinkMas with Twelve different filthy fics! 🐶

Take a look at the Menu!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•*.•*

12/01 ~ Snow Bitten •.*❄️

summary: you beg chan to play in the snow with you, but who knew it would be that cold? but don’t worry, he’ll always be there to warm up his favorite little girl.

tags: daddy kink, caretaker roles, praise, comfort, more coming soon….

12/04 ~ Gift Wrapped~*🎁

summary: what’s the best way to spend time with your lover if you aren’t tied up? minho found a new skill to teach his viewers, and you just so happen to be the test dummy.

tags: hard dom!minho, bondage, camming, vibrator, more tags soon….

12/07 ~ The Real Present . *💐

summary: you notice how stressed out changbin has been recently about christmas planning, and you just want to show him how much you appreciate him and give his beautiful body a break.

tags: body worship, cum eating, hickeys, more tags soon….

12/09 ~ Galaxy of Lights •*.🎄

summary: your boyfriend, hyunjin, takes you on a romantic date to see the christmas lights. but, while driving, he has so many words to say to you, and so many things he wants to do.

tags: car sex, semi-public, oral fixation, confessions, more tags soon….

12/11 ~ Goodnight Moon~*🌙

summary: your boyfriend, jisung, wants to stay up till midnight to see santa, but he needs something to keep him awake and occupied till midnight.

tags: cum eating, overstimulation, ruined orgasms, more tags soon….

12/14 ~ Red Nose}~*.•🦌

summary: a harmful argument with your lover, felix, ends in a flurry of words you both didn’t mean. you make up on christmas eve of all days, and your body can’t deny how much you’ve missed him.

tags: dacryphilia, facefucking, slight angst, degredation, more tags soon….

12/16 ~ Broken Toys >•<*.🐶

summary: you’ve been planning this scene with seungmin for a while, and when a secret present is given to you, he’s fully set on making sure you enjoy your christmas eve.

tags: mean dom! seungmin, puppyplay, slapping, more tags soon….

12/18 ~ Home for Christmas .*🚪

summary: you miss jeongin so much, he’s been away from home for too long on a travel job reporting overseas. when he comes back home unexpectedly, he takes back what he’s been missing.

tags: news reporter!jeongin photo exibitionism, pent up sex, more tags soon….

12/20 ~ Elf on the Shelf~*💫

summary: bangchan decides to bring over his friend to spice up your night, and seungmin decides to show him how it’s done.

tags: seungchan doms, facefucking, kinda gay, more tags soon….

12/22 ~ Christmas Cookie*•.•🍪

summary: you’re single, so your two best friends spend the night on christmas eve. jisung brung some films, and felix made some snacks, but both felt like they had alterior motives.

tags: aphrodisiacs, porn use, kinda gay, oral sex, more tags soon….

12/24 ~ Silver and Gold >•<*☃️

summary: your dom, lee know, is just helping his maknae lose his virginity, and you happen to be the testing doll he uses.

tags: leashes, hair pulling, instructed sex, more tags soon….

12/25 ~ Winter Studies•.*🌨️

summary: hyunjin needs some anatomy references, but he can’t draw while fucking you himself..so when changbin walks in on you modeling for his pictures, he figures it’s the perfect opportunity to get some muscle references too.

tags: exibitionism, very gay, messy asf, anal sex, more tags soon….

[userautumn]

He knows he shouldn't, but Buck texts Tommy anyway. Once Jee is covered in chocolate and cookie crumbs, once she's drifting off to sleep against his arm with Moana playing softly in the background, he pulls up their text thread with his unoccupied hand and clicks on the message bar. He ignores the grey and blue messages that sit above, messages—warm, kind, and loving—that speak to a happier time and instead chooses to type out a quick message.

Jee misses you.

He sends off the text and then pockets his phone. Slips out of Jee's sticky grasp so he can start cleaning the kitchen before it's time to put her to bed. He's so deep in thought that he almost misses the way his phone vibrates in his pocket.

What did she say?

"Uncle Tommy come play?"

Tommy doesn't respond for a while, long enough that Buck gets to imagine his face, pinched and in pain, with tears in his eyes. Or maybe Tommy's just fine. Maybe Buck is the one pinched and in pain, emotional and so damn sick of crying all the time.

I'm sorry.

Sorry to her or sorry to me?

It's not fair. Buck knows it's not as soon as he sends it, but Tommy replies seconds later anyway.

Sorry to both of you.

Buck stares at the text until his screen goes blank, trying to decide which of the emotions he's currently drowning in that he wants to feel. He settles on anger.

If you were that sorry, you wouldn't have dumped me three days after our six month anniversary.

Never mind.

This was dumb.

I shouldn't have bothered.

Sorry to have bothered you.

Bye.

Goodbye, Evan.

Buck's heart lurches into his throat at the sight of his name on screen, his eyes widening and his breath quickening. An embarrassing rush of hope stirs deep in his chest before he can clamp down on it and it feels like breathing for the first time in weeks. Another text comes through immediately after.

Sorry. It's a habit. I'm so sorry. Goodnight, Buck. Please tell Jee-Yun that I hope to see her soon.

Buck stares for a long moment, then lets out a laugh, thin and mirthless, as humiliation—so much fucking humiliation—crawls up his gut, filling his mouth with bile and shame. Right. He should have known. Did know, probably, somewhere deep down in his gut. But Evan Buckley has always been a dreamer, a believer in the impossible. Even and especially when it costs him.

I'm not going to lie to her.

Tommy doesn't answer, and this time, Buck knows he won't. He slides his phone back into his pocket and stares down at the countertop. His hands are braced on the flat, smooth surface, the fingers of one hand slick with soapy water. He doesn't cry, but it's a damn near close thing. Hell, with the pain currently slicing and carving its way through his chest, he could probably scream with it, but he won't. He won't scare Jee and he won't wake the neighbors, he'll just... deal with it. Like he has been dealing with it, like he always deals with it.

Buck takes a deep breath. Then he grabs the dishcloth he'd thrown aside and walks back over to the sink. Dips the rag in hot, soapy water and wrings it out before returning to wipe down the counters once more. Whatever. All of this is just... whatever. Tommy breaks his heart—he lets Tommy break his heart—for the second time in a row and it's just fucking whatever. Right now, the kitchen needs to be cleaned and Jee-Yun needs to be woken up so she can brush her teeth before he tucks her in, and life does what it does best: it goes on.

He can cry about Tommy Kinard later. It's not like he gets much sleep these nights anyway.

[mrsriddles-blog]

I miss my mamas | C.S

Pairing: Chris Sturniolo x Fem Reader

WC: 1.2k+

Warnings/Notes: Mild language, angst, fluff…

Summary: In which you are on a little trip and Chris is missing you…

"Dude, what the fuck is your problem? You've been all weird and mopey the entire video." Nick asks from the backseat as he pulls out a box of donuts, partially for him, but partially to hopefully cheer Chris up.

"Oh nothing." Chris mumbles, crossing his arms as he pouts.

Matt raises his eyebrows in question, shaking his head as he sighs.

"Come on, Chris. What's going on?" Matt asks, his tone softer than Nicks abrasive and abrupt one.

"Guys, it's nothing." Chris huffs, looking out the window.

His phone buzzes and he moves faster than his brothers had ever seen him move in their lives. It was the most excited he seemed during this video until he saw the notification and frowned and dramatically throws his phone to the floor.

"Alright bud, we are going to talk about this. What's going on?" Matt demands.

"I miss my mamas!" Chris cries dramatically.

He genuinely was upset, his eyes watering as he looked away. He felt like a baby right now. He just missed you, his girlfriend of two years. You both had grown so close to the point you saw each other every day. You practically lived with the triplets. But, you told Chris you needed to handle some stuff and do a bit of traveling to see family. He assumed it'd be a few days, but it's been two weeks.

To make matters worse, the time zones were different so texting and calling was almost impossible. The most he got from you was "good morning" or "goodnight, I love you baby!"

Matt frowns, realizing how upset his brother truly was. Nick was laughing over the nickname he had for you, not realizing he was genuinely upset. Matt pulls Chris into a hug and Nick stops laughing as he realized that Chris was indeed upset.

"Hey, she'll be back soon." Nick says softly, trying to cheer him up.

"She said a few days. It's been two fucking weeks. We haven't been apart this long in forever." Chris says, genuinely upset.

Matt reaches forward to turn the camera off. He hated seeing his brother so upset. It wasn't like him to get upset. He was always the most energetic, the happiest and goofiest of the three of them.

"Have a donut, you'll feel better." Nick urges.

"I don't want a fucking donut. I want to see my girlfriend." Chris huffs, turning away from his brothers.

Matt looks at Nick who nods after shoving his donut in his mouth as he looked at his phone. Matt started the car, driving back to their house.

Chris was the first out of the car, storming into the house before slowing as the lights were on when they weren't on when they left. He heard shuffling and moving around as both Matt and Nick walk in. You poke your head around the corner, confused as you thought you had more time.

"Mamas?" Chris mumbles in surprise.

"He got upset. Sorry, we couldn't stall any longer." Matt says, sending an apologetic smile to you.

"It's alright. Come here, bubs. I wanted to surprise you when I got back." You say, opening your arms in which he wasted no time getting to you.

"I thought you wouldn't be back for my birthday." He mumbles, thinking about tomorrow.

"Hey! There's us too!" Nick grumbles.

"She's my girlfriend." Chris argues.

"Alright, alright, I'm right here, bubs. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. In fact, that was part of the reason why I was gone a bit longer than expected. I was getting your guys' presents. Had to be picked up, not shipped." You explain.

"You got us a present too?" Nick asks.

"Well duh! You two are like my brothers. You guys are such dummy's sometimes. I love you two to death and I missed you guys a bunch!" You say, leaving Chris's hold to hug both Matt and Nick.

"You didn't have to get us anything." Matt says, his cheeks flushed red.

"Uh, yeah I did. I've got the coolest presents. Anyhow, dinner should be about done. I set a movie up for us all to watch and set up the couches for us." You explain, turning to make your way to the kitchen.

Chris followed like a lost puppy and Nick and Matt said they'd grab the drinks after they change. Chris wraps his arms around your waist, burying his face into your neck. You lean back against him as you continue to make plates.

"You can't ever leave me that long again, ma." He mumbles.

"I don't think I can...I felt like I was going to lose it after two days. It was the hardest two weeks of my life. If I ever got to go that long again, I'm bringing you with me." You admit, your cheeks flushing red at your confession.

"Thank god...we hardly texted and called. I know it was different time zones...but I was really scared we were drifting apart." He admits quietly.

You turn, wrapping your arms around his neck as you look up at him with furrowed brows, pouty lips and glossy eyes. His hands settle on your hips.

"Chris, I don't think I could ever drift apart from you. Those two weeks were brutal...but it made me realize how much I truly love you—not that I didn't know it before, but that entire time I thought of you. I couldn't not think of you. I would see things and would be like, Chris would love this. I wanted to call and text, but I know you and the boys have been busy. I didn't want to interrupt your guys’ work. But, I realize how much I love that we are constantly near each other. Some may call us clingy, but I love whatever it is we have. I feel so content, happy and safe with you and I wouldn't have it any other way." You murmur.

"I missed you so much, mamas." He murmurs, leaning down and kissing you softly.

"We are coming in! Be clothed!" Nick yells.

You pull apart from the kiss, chuckling as you pull Chris into a tight hug. He laughs, holding you closer to him.

"I miss you too. I promise I won't ever leave that long again and if I do, you're coming with me." You murmur.

"What about me?" Nick asks with a pout.

"You're such an attention seeking whore." Matt says, rolling his eyes.

"Okay! Matt's arrived! Here we go with the fucking Mattitude." Nick says, staring at Matt with surprise.

"I'd bring you two with me too, but you guys would be in the backseat. Chris would be in the front with me." You say with a soft smile.

"He called me an attention seeking whore." Nick grumbles as he helps grab drinks as you and Chris grab plates.

"You two need to be nicer to each other." You laugh softly, leading the way to the living room and setting plates down.

"He started it!" He pouts.

"Dear god." Chris mumbles.

"They were having a moment, idiot! It was cute!" Matt exclaims.

"Guys, it's okay. Chris and I don't mind. We were about to bring the plates in anyway. There's no need to get upset." You say softly.

You take Chris's hand before he could say something to go against your words. He squeezes your hand before pulling you to your guys' favorite couch.

[izzyspussy]

so anyway obviously i'm stalling. but i want everyone to know that during the sleepover mickey and ian made out like real teenagers do alllll night, and they dry humped on the couch, and mickey let ian give him some hickeys, and he let ian play with his tits, and they exchanged head, and he let ian finger him for as long as he wanted, and he left bruises on ian's biceps and the nape of his neck and the backs of his knees from clinging to him so hard with both hands and feet, and he left scratches down ian's back, and he didn't hold back his noises, and neither did ian, and they cuddled and held each other and kissed goodnight and slept in each other's arms and woke up that way too, and ian made the coffee in the morning and brought it to mickey in bed.

[whereianonymouslypostfics]

Remiss

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x reader

Word count: ~2.2k

Summary: Clearing the air

A/N: Filling plot holes?

Warnings: fluff, some angst, alcohol, a trip down memory lane, hurt/comfort

Wanda and the pets were asleep by the time you arrived home. The dogs were where they usually stayed, downstairs, while Fletcher was probably in your spot. Specifically on your pillow. This was only allowed when you weren’t home which for the first time in a while, you weren’t when the time to go to bed rolled around. 

It was almost 2 in the morning when you stumble through the front door. You’d left your car with Pietro because you had gotten a lot drunker than you anticipated. He’d called you a cab home and cleared it with security so Wanda wouldn’t be woken up by their call to alert her of your arrival. Still, you worry that she’ll find out pretty quickly because you trip over your feet as you hurry to turn off the alarm that starts to chirp annoyingly.

You curse as you shut the door and flip on the light long enough to punch in the code that’s been most recently committed to memory. Wanda insists on changing it twice a year, and although it’s a pain in the ass, you go along with it. 

You sigh in relief when the chirping stops and you turn around to make sure that you locked the front door. Once you confirm this you go to turn off the light, but the sight of your dogs makes you jump nearly a foot in the air. You curse and fall back against the door in surprise. Your hand goes to your racing heart as the duo shoot you matching expectant looks.

“Shit!” 

They don’t seem to realize that they scared the shit out of you, and they come up to you for their pets with wagging tails. You take a moment to scratch them both before you grab your phone and turn on the flashlight with a sigh. 

“Okay puppies. I’m gonna bed. Goodnight.” 

You make the treacherous journey to the living room and up the stairs to your bedroom in the near darkness. You don’t notice Rogue trailing behind you until you start to push open the door to the bedroom. You turn off the flashlight so you don’t wake up your wife, but now you also can barely see anything. 

You’re too tired to bother changing clothes before falling into bed, and you stifle a yawn as you smile at the sight of your wife. When you realize that she’s not alone you nearly roll your eyes. 

“Fletcher…”

The tabby is unsurprisingly curled up against your wife’s stomach, and you at least take comfort in the fact that she’s not on your side of the bed. You step out of your shoes and drop your bag on the floor with a quiet thud. Neither of them realize you’ve arrived until you fall on top of the bed with a relieved sigh. You groan under your breath, and bury your face into your pillow. You miss Wanda groan as she stirs at the bed sinking under your weight. She opens her eyes and the first thing she sees is her cat stretching in front of her as she purrs furiously. After she’s offered her a quick scratch, her attention moves to where you’re still lying face down on your pillow trying to sleep off your night. 

“Y/n?” 

Wanda had expected you back a bit earlier, but she supposes she can’t be too surprised that you were delayed. You were hanging out with her brother and he was nothing if not unpredictable. She realizes quickly that you must have had a lot to drink because when she sits up slightly to check on you. The smell of booze is enough to wake her up a bit more and she reaches out for you when you only groan in response.

“Rough night?” 

Wanda reminds herself to yell at her brother later for being an enabler, but she’s quickly distracted when you roll over onto your back. You’re frowning but she doesn’t get to ask what’s on your mind before you turn toward her and Fletcher with a sigh. 

“Have I told you…that I love you…a lot?” 

Wanda’s eyes widen as she looks at you, or rather your silhouette with a smile. She sees you reach out, but she’s surprised when you stop short and scratch Fletcher instead. It’s almost as if you knew she would move, and you close the distance between you and your wife as soon as the tabby’s gone. 

Wanda shrugs as she watches her cat jump off the bed and head for the door where she notices Rogue is now lying down.

“On occasion.” 

Wanda feels more than sees you nod before she lowers herself back down to the bed beside you. She ignores the smell of alcohol as she rests her head on your shoulder. She’s glad that you’re back. She’d missed you earlier and it was always easier for her to sleep with you beside her. You breathe out a sigh before muttering into your wife’s hair.

“Good. I’m glad.” 

Wanda frowns at your tone and how even half asleep it’s enough for her to realize that something was bothering you. Its too dark for her to see your expression, so she does the next best thing to try and figure out what’s on your mind. 

“Y/n, is something wrong?” 

She can’t help but run through the possibilities and she pulls back from you to try and get a better read on your mood. You don’t make it easy as you shake your head before reaching out for your wife. You run a hand up her waist to her back and finally to her hair where you start to play with a few strands that have escaped her ponytail. 

“No, no. I..I just wa-wanted you to know is all.” 

This still sounded too ominous for Wanda’s liking and she reaches out for you. She catches your chin and pulls you closer so she can kiss you. She catches you by surprise but you lean into the kiss and hold your wife like you’re afraid that she’ll leave. When Wanda breaks away, she doesn’t go far, and she rests her head on your shoulder as she wraps her arms around you.

“I love you too, you know that right?” 

You don’t hesitate to nod as you turn your head again before you’re lying on your back. You feel your head spin and you briefly regret drinking so much as you think about what you and Pietro talked about tonight. It started off innocent enough with who he was dating and how Wanda was handling staying at home this week. Then it turned to darker thoughts and somehow you’d had a conversation about your least favorite person. 

Wanda watches as you become lost in thought, and she can’t help but worry that something happened tonight. She considers reaching out to her brother, but luckily you don’t leave her hanging for too long. That said, you don’t really clarify much for her with what you say next. 

“I was just talking to Piet, and he reminded me that I didn’t say it enough.” 

Wanda misunderstands and she’s immediately on edge at the idea of her brother saying something like this to you. She is definitely going to yell at him tomorrow.

“He said that? That’s not true, detka. You tell me all the time.” 

Your brow furrows in confusion as you turn to see your wife looks a little ticked. You squeeze her hand before shaking your head with another sigh. You need to drink water, and take a shower, but you have something you need to say first. 

“Not like that. He wasn’t giving me a hard time. I just…”

You trail off as you consider the years you’ve spent with Wanda. All of the struggles and drama that you dealt with as a result of agreeing to be with your wife. You had doubted the decision some. You couldn’t lie and say that the idea of committing to the uncertainty and danger of being with Wanda wasn’t intimidating. That said, you honestly can only think of a handful of instances over the past 5 years that really made you second-guess your decision.

That said, you know that none of this was something that you could have predicted. No matter how much training, how many resources, and friends you have, you can’t be protected from everything. This is something that you and Pietro talked about tonight, and the conversation turned a lot more emotional than you’d been prepared for. 

“Do you remember the day we got married?”

Wanda finally sits all the way up and reaches for the lamp on her bedside table. She can’t stand to continue this conversation in the dark because she can’t tell what you’re feeling. You flinch slightly, but don’t protest as Wanda turns on the light before flopping back down beside you. 

“Yes, of course I do.” 

You seem to accept this answer but are still lost in your jumbled thoughts that you’re currently failing to organize. You shouldn’t have tried to start this conversation while drunk, but now you had no choice. You are sure that Wanda won’t let you just drop it. The look on her face tells you that much. 

You close your eyes before you imagine your wedding day. It was wonderful and you were stressed but in the best kind of way. You’d gotten to marry the love of your life with your closest friends by your side. You’d been so happy and a little naïve if you were being honest. You thought that not much would change, or at least not much that mattered, but it didn’t take you long to figure out how wrong you were.

“I told you I loved you then too, right?” 

Suddenly your wife is hovering over you and you see her concerned look before her question registers. Your arms suddenly feel like lead as you try to reach up and take your wife’s face in your hand.

“You’re worrying me, love. What’s on your mind?” 

You wonder how you can tell Wanda that you love your life with her. You’re so glad that you married her, and you don’t know how to tell her this. You’ve loved the life that you’ve had together, but it hasn’t always been a bed of roses. You have lost count of how many times you’ve been terrified, threatened, or hurt by someone who wanted to get something from your wife. Whether it was money, cooperation, or revenge, you had found yourself on the receiving end of their efforts too many times. You smile as you brush her hair behind her ears and confuse your wife in the same breath.

“Tonight, I just thought about all that we’ve gone through. The struggles, the enemies, all of the challenges we’ve faced.” 

Wanda had not been expecting this, and she can’t hide her surprise as she frowns in confusion. She had expected her brother to be lewd and inappropriate, so this trip down memory lane was a shock. She doesn’t get to ask why you and Pietro talked about this at all before you drop your hands to her shoulders. You push her enough for her to get the hint, and she moves so she can help you sit up. You groan as you lie back against your pillow and reach out for her hand. You play with the ring on her finger for a few seconds before you finally clue Wanda in. 

“It just made me realize that I never told you how it all made me feel. I hate that you probably blamed yourself when it wasn’t your fault. I just…tonight we talked about Vision, and it made me realize that other than bitching about him, I don’t know if I told you that I really didn’t blame anyone but him, Strucker, and Rumlow.” 

Wanda rocks back in surprise at your words and her mouth falls open but she can’t manage any sort of verbal response. She’s not sure how you know that she’s been harboring resentment toward herself for this since it happened. She supposes you just know her really well, but she still doesn’t understand why it came up tonight. Maybe she’s thinking too much into it. Alcohol eliminates most rational thought, doesn’t it?

“So that’s all I really wanted to say, Wands. I don’t love you any less or blame you for anything that happened to me.” 

Wanda feels tears stinging her eyes and she can’t help but lean forward and kiss you again. She ignores the taste of tequila, which explains a lot, as she allows herself to feel relief at your words. She didn’t realize how much guilt she’d been carrying with her, and despite knowing it will never completely leave her, she feels much lighter. 

“Y/n, I—”

“I’d even go through all of it again, if it meant ending up here with you. Sorry—I didn’t mean to. Interrupt.” 

Wanda smiles at your flushed face and kisses your cheek before pulling you into a hug. It’s a little awkward, so she crawls into your lap so she can bring you even closer. Her smile widens when she hears you sigh in relief. 

“I love you, detka. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

As you hold your wife in your arms, you’re certain you can say the same. There’s really no telling where you’d be if it wasn’t for Wanda. If you hadn’t met her after your awful physics lecture you likely never would have crossed paths. You tighten your hold on your wife as you try to push this thought from your mind. You don’t want to think about being anywhere but here.

“Me neither, Wands.” 

Masterlist

[starogeorgina]

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

Paring: Jacaerys Targaryen x reader

Warnings: Swearing, character death, violence, smut

1.03

The cold night air blows through the castle, carrying with it the faintest scent of damp stone and dragon. You rub at your eyes tiredly. Dragonstone was full of people, yet you felt isolated walking silently down a dimly lit corridor towards the queen's quarters while hearing the faint voice of Helaena’s soft whispers in the background.

It wasn’t real.

It was just your imagination.

Distracted by the nonsense going on inside your head, you walk directly into a member of the queen's guard. “Oh, forgive me, Ser Erryk.”

“Princess.”

The look in his eyes is... haunting. A chill shoots down your spine; you get the same uneasy feeling when you were a child and your twin would tell you that ghosts roamed the halls of the keep.

“My apologies; I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

He says nothing until you attempt to walk by him towards the door leading towards the room Rhaenyra would be in. The knight steps in front of you and says, “The princess doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”

“It is a rather important matter,

The knight stares at you blankly. “She was clear on her instructions; nobody is allowed in.”

You’re taken aback by his stern demeanor. “I shall speak with her grace in the morrow then; goodnight, Ser.”

—

You let out a defeated sigh just as your halls leading to your private quarters came into view. You would apologize to Rhaenyra in the morning, hopefully before she held her next council meeting. You’d even apologize to Daemon if the queen wished it; however, you would draw the line at apologizing to that fool, Ser Alfred.

“Princess.”

You blink a few times trying to process the person standing in front of you. You had walked the halls alone and had no memory of anyone else overtaking you. “Ser…”

“Ser Erryk, princess,” he offers you a smile. “Are you returning to your chambers, or do you wish to be escorted to another part of the castle? Prince Jacaerys informed me you wished to speak with her grace tonight, and you don’t yet have a sworn shield.”

The knight was giving you whiplash; the last you spoke, he said you weren’t to speak with Rhaenyra, and now he was saying he would escort you... even though he was just standing guard outside her room. “No…no, this isn’t right,” you whisper to yourself. “I just spoke with you outside of the queen's quarters.”

“I have just returned from escorting Prince Jacaerys and princess Baela from the dragon mount.”

“The princess doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”

“Arryk! It must be your brother I spoke with!”

Ser Erryk immediately starts to run down the hall in the direction you just came from. “Stay in your quarters, princess, and lock the door!”

You should do as he says, but you momentarily freeze on the spot before fear and adrenaline kick in. You vaguely remember which part of the castle the members of the queen's guard slept in when their shifts had ended.

The sounds of your shoes slapping against the ground echoes off the walls as you yell until your voice is raw. Hearing the commotion, a knight steps out of his room dressed in casual clothing, but sword in hand.

“Ser Lorent! Ser Lorent! You must go now; the queen is in danger!”

—

“My Prince,” you link your arm with Jacaerys as he walks back towards Dragonstone. “Can I do anything?”

“You’ve done enough.” He lets out a deep sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose. “That came out differently than I meant it. What I mean is you’ve done enough already; if it wasn’t for you, my mother would have been killed.”

Ser Erryk had made it in time to save his queen, but in doing so killed his own brother, his twin. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt fell on his own sword. The queen had ordered for the brothers to be buried together, which Jacaerys thought was disgraceful. Not that you blamed him; he was frightened; it would be long until something like this happened again.

“Arryk may not deserve the queen's kindness, but Ser Erryk did. Her grace has done an honorable thing, but letting two brothers who were born together remain together in death.”

Jacaerys eyes almost completely close when he turns to face you, and the sun shines directly onto his face. “Would you want that, if it was you and Aemond?”

“No, but then he and I were never that close. I wanted to be close to him as a child, but there was always a wall between us.”

“I’m not surprised; he is a... brute. While you are kind and nurturing.”

A brute was generous wording from Jacaerys, and you knew it was for your benefit. “I sometimes feel as if I don’t belong without you by my side.”

“You are my betrothed; Dragonstone will be mine when my mother takes her rightful place on the iron throne. You belong here more than most.”

You walk in silence until you reach the gardens that overlook the sea and the long bridge that leads up to the castle. The view was breathtaking. You smile watching Midnight, Moondancer, and Vermax fly together, the dragons playfully nudging at one another. Your dragon was the largest out of the three but the most gentle, which is why the idea of flying her into battle so much.

“They never put eggs in our cradles; I’m unsure if it was my father or mother’s doing, but I believe this is where a lot of Aemond’s anger comes from. He was jealous when Aegon and Helaena bonded with their dragons, as he desperately wanted one of his own, but then I bonded with Midnight; he acted as if I betrayed him.”

“Do you think after he claimed Vhagar his anger came from what happened with me and Luke?” Jace asks, his voice shaky with emotion.

“No, no,” you tilt his chin gently so he’s facing you, his eyes glistening with fresh tears. “My brother claimed the largest dragon in the world, and things didn’t change in the way he expected.”

“What didn’t change?”

“After the incident in Driftmark, my father never once acknowledged Aemond losing his eye or claiming Vhagar. My mother treated him as if he was an adult; my grandsire saw him as a weapon of war. Aegon continued to pick on him relentlessly, to the point Cole tried to intervene. Me and Helaena tried to comfort him the best we could, but Aemond did not want to be loved; he wanted to be respected.”

Not knowing else to say, Jacaerys brings your knuckle to his lips and presses a gentle kiss. A sweet gesture that doesn’t go unnoticed.

—

A few days had passed, and the castle still had an eeriness to it. You knew they had a sworn shield; however, you didn’t feel it was necessary to have them escort you while you returned from the Dragonpit with Princess Baela and Jacaerys by your side. She bids you goodbye when she reaches her chambers so she could change out of her riding clothing and into something more suitable for the remainder of the day.

It was only a short walk to your room, but before you reach it, Jacaerys wraps his arm around your waist and pushes you up against a dark corner of the cold stone walls. You kiss passionately; his hands stop right below your rib cage, but before things can become more heated, he steps back.

“I cannot wait until I can kiss you whenever I want.”

Since Elinda walked in on him pleasing you with his mouth, he wasn’t allowed in your bedchamber unless there was a lady in the room. Although you were thankful Rhaenyra had never mentioned it directly, just a discreet comment that she wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea of a prince was seen coming and going at all hours.

“I cannot wait either, my prince,” you whisper into his ear. “I tried to touch myself last night; however, my own fingers don’t feel as good as yours.”

He clears his throat and tries to suppress a smirk. “I should walk you back before someone comes.”

You take his arm and walk beside him. “I think it will be rather good when we are married. Just think when the war is won we will be able to finally race to kings landing and back on our dragons.”

Jacaerys laughs, then kisses the side of your head. “Vermax is the fastest— your grace.”

Rhaenyra is waiting outside your bedchamber with at least a dozen of her ladies-in-waiting behind her. She looks exceptionally beautiful; her dark maroon gown reminds you of the fancy dresses ladies used to wear during feasts in the red keep. Except hers had more detailing and the fabric was richer.

“My queen.”

“We’ve been waiting for you for some time.”

You feel your cheeks heat up. “My apologies, I had no idea.”

Rhaenyra strokes your cheek and smiles, “Jacaerys, there is a bath being prepared in your chambers as we speak. I will stay with Y/N and help her get ready.”

“For breakfast?”

“For your wedding.”

—

Your stomach was in knots as the sweet-smelling oils on your skin and hair filled your nostril. Rhaenyra was waiting on the opposite side of a separator as her ladies-in-waiting finished helping you step into your wedding dress. The white sleeves draped down, and the bust of the dress fitted perfectly but didn’t reveal too much. A golden fabric was used to lace the back of the dress together.

When they are finished, Elinda quietly says, “She is dressed, my queen.”

Rhaenyra steps out from behind the screen, and her eyes immediately begin to water. She looks at the ladies and says, “I can take over from here.”

“What would you like us to next, your grace?”

Apparently the great hall was currently being decorated with beautiful flowers, and a grand feast was being prepared in celebration.

“Baela and Rhaena ladies may need assistance to finish getting them ready.”

When it's just the two of you left in the room, Rhaenyra comes up behind you with a gold necklace in her hand. “This belonged to my mother; I want you to have it.”

“Rhae—my queen I cannot. This is such a precious thing, I couldn’t possibly accept it.”

She cups your cheek. “My mother was very dear to me. As you are to Jacaerys.”

“The prince has a kind soul; I’m extremely grateful to have him as my soon-to-be husband.”

Her hands shake as she claps the necklace around your neck. It was beautiful. A silver chain with a light blue diamond that dangles down to your collarbone. “You look beautiful,” she says. “I remember helping Alicent get ready before she married my father. It’s almost scary how fast time has gone by.”

You remember your mother telling you about it. It’s hard to imagine them ever being friends, especially when you grew up hearing how awful Rhaenyra is from your mother and grandsire.

“Can I ask you something, your grace?”

She nods.

“I thought the wedding was to be held after the war was over; how come it has been changed?”

“Jacaerys needs this; he needs to know he’ll always have someone by his side.” She pauses briefly. “You will remain by the prince's side, won’t you?”

To some, the question may have been inappropriate or deemed intimidating coming from a queen, but the look in Rhaenyra’s eyes was pleading. She needed to know Jacaerys would have a companion to always watch his back and be by his side.

“Yes, your grace, I will.”

“I’m glad. We need something to celebrate before... Never mind. Let’s focus on the wedding for now.”

—

Your wedding to Jacaerys was performed in secret, and on the same spot, Rhaenyra was crowned queen. Only the master, Rhaenyra, Joffrey, young Aegon and Viserys, princess Rhaenys, Lord Corlys, Rhaena, and Baela were in attendance. Although unsurprisingly, the queen's guard was close by at all times.

Following the Old Valyrian custom, both you and Jacaerys cut each other's lips with a fine blade of dragonglass, which is what led to you returning to your old chambers to change into another white gown.

When you and Jacaerys kissed, the blood on your lips mixed together and dripped onto the dress.

You returned shortly after with a couple of ladies in tow to help you change quickly so not to keep everyone else waiting, but just as you changed into the second gown, a simple plain white shiny fabric that was immediately being laced up at the back Jacaerys appeared. You dismissed the ladies, and Jace stood behind you so he could finish lacing the last few loops and tying the ribbon into a neat bow.

His touch felt like fire; you craved him. You suddenly felt freezing, and the only warmth you could get was from Jacaerys mouth on yours, his body against yours.

“Oh fuck.”

Jacaerys hips jolt upwards, causing you to gag. The sight of his pretty wife staring up at him through watering eyes while sucking on his cock was enough to make him come undone.

This needed to be quick, anyway. You didn’t have any experience in this before; however, you heard Aegon and his friends talking about getting blowjobs in brothels enough to know the basics of what to do. You needed to touch Jace so badly, but now wasn’t the time to consummate your marriage, so you dropped to your knees much to his surprise.

Your nimble fingers work in tandem with your tongue, driving him mad with lust as you expertly coax out his every moan. Jacaerys fingers dig into the side of the chair he’s sitting on when your tongue swirls around the head of his shaft. Jace completely loses control.

“I’m going to—”

Your mouth is suddenly filled with the taste of his saltiness as his seed goes down the back of your throat. You can’t help but giggle while wiping the saliva off your lips. Jace’s face was a shade of red you’ve never seen before.

“We should go, my prince, before the queen sends a search party or worse comes looking for us herself.”

—

Your cheeks heat up when you take your place at the table. The dragon twins shared a knowing look before smirking; they definitely knew. In truth, it might have just been paranoia, but whatever you were feeling disappeared when Jace discreetly placed his hand above your knee and gave it a gentle squeeze.

While the meal is being served, you notice the sadness in Rhaenyra’s eyes, which was unexpected since she had lost so much in such a short space of time. Her daughter, her son, her father, her throne, and Daemon was not responding to her letters. It could also be the fact she was also murdered in her own bed, but you feared there was something else going on.

Princess Rhaenys’s face remains stone-faced, even when her husband spoke with her. She could take her eyes off of Rhaena.

A little time passes, and the mood seems to have eased slightly. Lord Corlys was to thank for that; he was keeping the mood light by telling jokes and tales that remind you of the ones your father would say before his health became so bad. You wipe the cream off the top of the small cake in front of you and turn to face Jacaerys, who is holding one of his younger brothers, and wipe the cream on the tip of Viserys nose. The young boy burst into hysterical laughter.

While others laugh as well, you look up at Rhaenyra, who is holding back tears. You hear a faint whisper that sounds scarily familiar to Helaena’s voice.

“Children are so small and easy to take. A mother must make great sacrifices to keep them safe. She will miss them dearly.”

It was only then you understood why the wedding was sprung on you that morning and why all the handmaidens had been so busy packing and moving things. At first you thought it was because you and Jacaerys were now moving into a larger martial bedchamber, but now it made sense. Rhaenyra was sending her sons away to keep them safe.

—

You find Jacaerys in the study looking over different scrolls. “It’s late, my prince; you should try and rest for a few hours.”

Approaching the desk, you look at all the different scrolls trying to figure out what he was looking for. An answer to why this happened? A few hours after you figured out what Rhaenyra’s intentions were, she announced it to her children, shortly after Joffrey, Aegon, Viserys, and Rhaena were sent to the Vale to be temporarily housed by house Arryn.

Jacaerys was heartbroken.

“I’m sorry I ruined our wedding night.”

You kiss the top of his head when he rests his head against your chest. “All I care about is how you are feeling.”

“I just feel so useless. Like I can’t do anything to help.”

“But you already have. The queen can only do what she thinks is best, but they will return once it’s safe.”

Jace picks up a small dragon toy that was sitting on the desk that belonged to Joffrey and holds it tightly. “I’ve lost them; I’ve lost all of them.”

Not knowing what to say, you pull him into your embrace and try your best to comfort Jacaerys as he sobs. Mourning not only one brother being gone but four.

[manicpixiefelix]

head, heart, hand. {Felix Catton/Reader/Oliver Quick}

Part 26.

Summary: In which you and Venetia finally discuss the thing you've been avoiding all Summer since Oliver arrived. You finally get the truth from her, and wish you hadn't. Still, you finally offer the truth to Felix.

{ masterpost }

Need to Know: They/Them. Explicitly NB Reader. FWB!Reader/Felix. Reader is from a well off family but has pretty much been adopted by the Cattons.

A/N: 3101 words. where have i been? don't worry about it. where have you been? anyways i hope you want some drama to sink your teeth into. went into a much different direction than the chapter outline i had for it. unedited, but would love to hear from you guys as i'm getting back into it!

TAGLIST IN COMMENTS!! // TAGLIST ALWAYS OPEN ! (just message or comment to be added)

----

Things have been quiet since Farleigh left. Was sent away. Whispered gossip and speculation between the Catton siblings and Oliver that you feel too strange to indulge in, and an ache in your chest that you feel like you're not allowed to talk about. For all his disappointment regarding Farleigh's betrayal of the family, Felix knows your own hurt runs far deeper than you will ever let on. Yes, the two of you fought often, and in time you all knew he'd be back, but this conflict had made your bond especially fragile, and in his absence you feared it may never again be what it once was.

And Oliver seems to pick up on it too.

"Are you going to prune all of his flowers too?" Oliver asks, sounding so casual, but his words catch you by surprise, and your expression drops as you turn to him. It's late, in the study together, and he's got one of your botany books open in his lap.

"Whose flowers?" You know who he means, but hate the very thought. You hope you'd misheard. You hope you're wrong, but you're not.

"Farleigh's."

"What makes you think that?" You ask, turning back to the textbook in front of you, laying open on the desk.

"I just mean... well after trying to go under the Catton's noses like he did," Oliver shrugs, like he can't see your growing upset at the reminder, can't see how your face has fallen. This Summer night feels so cold; many have since Farleigh had left.

"No," you tell him faintly, turning to the next page of your book, heart beating uncomfortably in your chest, "he's still family."

"Oh," Oliver doesn't say much more about it after that, nor does he stay all that long either.

"Zinnias," you murmur, face still turned to your book, when he goes to retire for the night. Oliver gives pause, and you tell him, "Farleigh's flowers are the zinnias; they look a bit like a sunset." Oliver doesn't have much of a response, other than telling you goodnight, but you weren't sure what you had been expecting otherwise.

He's somehow even quieter than usual in the wake of the scandal, but he clings to you and Felix now more than he doesn't, and you find yourself clinging to him too. He's been good enough to not bring up Farleigh's departure around you either, though he has taken Farleigh's usual seat beside you at the table. Honestly, you don't really mind; you'd rather that than the emptiness continue to remind you. Surprisingly it's Venetia who seems to have grown wary of him.

"You and Feef must be pleased," she languishes, her back against you in the bath next to her own room, perfumed steam turning golden in the candlelight, "mummy and daddy both like this one."

"Please don't talk about Ollie like that," you sighed, chin on her shoulder, arms wrapped around her, holding her close.

"Daddy called him 'an intriguing, well-read, young man' the other day," Venetia continues as if she hadn't heard you at all, "and mummy called him charming and thoughtful, and much better than 'the last one'," she offers candidly, "she just liked that he liked my brother, I don't think she ever really cared for Eddie himself much," she leans back a little against you, and turns just enough that you can see her smirk at the corner of her lips, "you didn't either, did you? Even before everything happened between me and him?"

Lowering your face, you pressed your lips to her shoulder firmly, taking a moment to compose your thoughts before diplomatically telling her that Eddie didn't matter anymore. It does you no good to ask her why she's bringing this up now, but you still ask. As expected, Venetia ignores the question.

"Where did Eddie go after he was cast out? Rude, by the way," she adds, "he was fun," her tone is so jarringly light, though you know part of it is just to get a rise out of you. You don't take the bait.

"That was your mother's decision, not mine," you offer flatly.

"Did you have him killed?" Venetia's glee at the very idea was downright malicious, playing at sounding scandalised. You don't even want to humour her with a real response, just giving a flat, side-eye, "oh, don't give me that look, I'm sure your parents have plenty of people killed all the time."

"They don't -"

"Or they're just not telling you about it," she shrugs, pondering for a moment, "I think our family could get away with murder given the right circumstances, you know? But I could definitely see Pearl having critics murdered for negative reviews on a whim all the time," at her mention of your mother, your face scrunches up. Unfortunately she did have a point, but you hoped your parents, for all their sins, weren't actually that petty and vindictive.

"You're more my family then they are, Ven," you choose instead to say, and Venetia hummed, taking one of your hands beneath the water, lacing her fingers with yours.

"That's sweet as long as I don't think about it for more then a second," she giggled, tipping her head back against your shoulder, turning her face to yours with a mischievous smile, "but that still means you get one, and I'm asking if you and mummy had Feef's ex-boyfriend murdered and buried beneath the flowers in the fairy garden."

"If we'd had Eddie murdered - which we didn't - I wouldn't have had him used as fertiliser in the fairy garden," you tell her firmly, "my flowers deserve better than that." At that, Venetia snorted a laugh, leaning forward to grab her body wash. Sliding seamlessly to the other end of the tub, she begins to methodically wash herself, starting with her arms. There's little else to do but watch her; you don't want to encourage this conversation if you could help it, but you're not sure where to to go from here.

"He was really quite ghastly, wasn't he?" Venetia says suddenly, not even looking at you.

"What?" Your tone is immediately sharp.

"Eddie; he was awfully cruel to Felix," she elaborates casually, like she's completely unaffected by the sudden intensity of your gaze, "not outwardly," she muses, pausing in her scrubbing as she finally meets your gaze, her own thoughtful, "but, like, insidiously, beyond even cheating on him."

"With you," you remind her harshly, but there's an insistent earnestness in her expression that you really hadn't been expecting as she continues.

"With me, yes, but that's the thing," here she gives pause, as if searching for the right words, "he never talked about you or Felix," she finally says like she still can't quite believe it, "you I suppose I understand, but honestly it did always, I don't know, I suppose it irritated me how little he talked to you or even about you, even when he was around you. But it's like Felix didn't even exist either when he wasn't around him," with each word she speaks, her expression falls just a little more. This is all making you feel rather ill; you can't even bring yourself to want to try and comfort Venetia in some way as she seems so helpless and small with her thoughts fixed on the memory.

"I think I wanted to prove that not everything revolves around my brother," she admits softly, "but I suppose it would always be easy taking something he never really had." Her voice is so small when she turns her far away look upon you, "Eddie never really loved Felix, not really," it's not a question, "there was no regret about hurting him," she mutters bitterly, gaze drifting again. Venetia barks a rueful laugh, "you know he apologised to me? I know he's not dead," she admits, "he called after landing in America before I thought to block him, Summer wasn't even over, he didn't even mention Felix let alone ask if he was alright. I was fine!" She laughs angrily, and when she looks back at you, there's tears in her eyes, "but Felix was -" but it catches in her throat, and it's like she finally sees the hurt and anger in your eyes with all she's admitting to. Immediately her gaze drops, apologetic and self conscious for her self involved outburst given the circumstances; she knows she's not the victim.

Felix was shattered.

Venetia clears her throat suddenly, looking away. When she speaks, when she tells you that she knows you warned Oliver away from her, her tone is forcibly bright. But you can't speak. You don't want to be here, don't want to be around her right now. All of your suspicions about Eddie had been right in the end, and now she had to go ahead and bring up Oliver.

Venetia says your name softly, but you stand.

"I can't do this tonight, Venetia," you tell her coldly. It's a strange feeling, to hear her protest, to hear her almost beg for you to just look at her, but you can't do this tonight. After Eddie, you'd iced her out for the rest of that Summer, but she'd seemed contented; she'd won against Felix and so you were not required to keep her entertained. You'd never stood up to Venetia in any way that mattered before.

"Please," it comes out so small, so fragile sounding. Towel wrapped around yourself, you turn, expression hard as you're able to manage.

"Why?"

"So you do know he's lying," she mumbled uncomfortably, then, "I don't know," Venetia admits after a very long silence. Clutching the lip of the ornate tub, she looks almost like a child again, looking, for the first time in your memory, guilty.

"Is it just like last time? Taking something from Felix?" You accused, finally feeling that anger, that resentment beginning to burn in you, "was it better?" You hissed, "when you realised Ollie actually loves him? Or was it worse?"

"I thought if I could get him to look at me the way he looks at you, it'd prove he doesn't really love you," Venetia blurts out. Her gaze is on the floor, and you've gone entirely still. The next words she speaks are biting, full of frustration, "I hate him. I hate the way he looks at you. I don't care how he looks at Felix, everyone loves Felix."

Oh, there is was, unspoken behind her words. As long as Felix, and only Felix, had your heart, she knows she'll always have you around. If Oliver manages to steal your heart, she's afraid that you'll choose him, and she and Felix will both lose you. Her understanding of it all is childish at best; can't she sees that you're capable of so much more than that. You've never conformed to binary choices like that; doesn't she know you better?

"I'll never forgive you if you fall in love with him," she tells you as you reach the door.

"You'll learn to live with it."

With each step back to your room, that hollow feeling in your chest keeps gnawing at you from the inside out. Shielded from the world by only a towel, you feel, for the first time in a long time, you feel too exposed as you roam the halls of the Saltburn Estate. Farleigh had called you spineless, said you'd let Oliver break Felix's heart, and now he's gone. Venetia had so hated the idea of anyone else loving you that she'd tried to facilitate that heartbreak herself, and now you're leaving her behind. All this for Oliver Quick, for the idea of a boy who might love Felix the way you knows he deserves. But even so, Oliver had been party to Venetia's cruelty against you and Felix, had lied about it, had made you complicit when you'd seen through that lie.

Anything to make sure Felix was happy. That's how you justified your own, whether it be indirect or not, cruelty to those around you. But he'd hurt so much more in the long run; the writing was on the walls.

The moment you step into his room, he turns, surprised. He's on the balcony, half folded into one of the wicker chairs, reading and smoking and looking like a dream. Before you even say anything, he knows something is wrong. When he asks, you can't answer, moving almost robotically to change back into your pyjamas.

"I think I need to talk to Ollie," you mumbled without thinking when Felix takes your face in his hands. You barely see him, still stuck in your own head. He frowns, asks why, asks what's wrong, and the care in his voice brings you out of your trance-like state. Swallowing hard when you finally look him in the eyes, your resolve begins to crumble, "I want to know why he did what he did before I tell you," you admit, voice barely a whisper. Felix's expression darkens for a moment, and his hands move from your face to hold you by the shoulders. It grounds you, but the look in his eyes makes your heart ache.

"What did he do?"

"It's different from last time," you shook your head, already trying to soften the blow for what you're about to admit, "Ollie actually loves you, I don't know why he did it." Pressing your forehead to his shoulder, you can't bring yourself to look him in the eyes in this moment.

"What did he do?"

"I need to know why he did it," is all you can manage; you can feel yourself beginning to break, "I need to talk to him, I need to ask, I need to know, because that's the only fucking piece left; why?" Pulling back, away from him, you sink down onto the end of the bed, your face in your shaking hands.

"I know why she did it," you finally admit, "I wish I didn't, but I do. I hate her," comes out through your teeth, bitter and anguished all at once.

"Venetia?"

"They've been lying to you, Felix," you choke out, "been lying to your face, because they love you." All you can do is hope that it's true, "it's why she did it, she couldn't stand the thought of someone else loving me, because she thought if I loved him back, I'd choose him over you, and she wouldn't have me around anymore."

"Vee and Ollie?" Felix already sounds heartbroken when he whispers the words. Without looking at him, you nod. The awful, ugly truth, finally, "and you knew?"

"Ollie pretty much admitted it when I didn't believe his lie; he knows I trust Farleigh with my life," you breathed, finally looking up at him, apology in your eyes. Felix looks as though his world is crashing around him. Again, "since I was the one who saw Ven and Eddie together last year, not him." Felix's eyes go wide at this, stepping back, only to starts pacing, scrubbing his hands over his face.

"Why didn't you tell me you didn't believe him?" Felix huffs as he tries to process everything.

"Because I've been trying to find a way to make you believe that what happened isn't like last time."

"But it is!" Felix finally snaps, stopping dead, "I don't want to do this again," his voice cracks, and when he turns to you, there's tears in his eyes, "how can you say it's not?" It's almost pleading, desperate for any kind of hope.

"Because he loves you!"

Immediately, both of your eyes are on the door to the bathroom, holding your breath, fearing Ollie himself may have heard your outburst, may be listening in. You're fairly certain he's not, but your heart is still in your throat.

"I know he loves you, Felix," you finally breathe, hanging your head, "you know he loves you."

"Then why would he -"

"I don't know," you reiterate, desperately, "it's why I need to talk to him." In the quiet, Felix takes deep, shaking breaths, before he sits on the floor before you, legs crossed, his forehead braced against your knee.

"I don't want you to go through that again," you tell him softly, sincerely, carding your fingers through his soft, dark hair.

"We could run away," Felix whispers faintly, echoing words you'd spoken to him just a week ago, when you'd been first dealing with this whole situation and hadn't wanted to admit the truth then either, "like you suggested; get a flat in London, never go back to Oxford, never speak to any of them again," when he looks up, resting his chin on your knee, you see the sadness in his eyes despite his soft smile, "just us."

You both know it's an impossible dream, but still, you huff a soft laugh, your thumb brushing his cheek as you cradle his face tenderly.

"Okay, just us; that's all I'll ever need."

His smile grows just a little wider, leaning into your touch and this moment. But the moment, the idle dream, it has to come to an end. Felix's face falls once more.

"You love him," he sighs gently, mouth pressed into a thin line, "I love him, Y/N," he sounds so helplessly, "I wish I didn't, but I do. I love Oliver Quick, and he's going to break my fucking heart, isn't he?"

"He loves you too, Fi," you assured him gently, "that's why he lied, why..." you take a deep, guilty breath, "why I didn't tell you."

"What the could he even say to salvage this; you warned him about Venetia. The more I think about it, the more I- I- I fucking hate it. Them."

"I don't want you to talk to him," he tells you quietly, his voice calm and serious as he speaks over your protests, "I don't like that you had to do this, that you felt like you had to do this for me. Let me talk to him."

"Fi -"

"You make me happy," he tells you firmly, "everything you do makes me happy; you don't need to do this. Even if me talking to Oliver doesn't make you happy, at the very least, let me do what I can; I want to make sure you're never unhappy for my benefit. I want you to be happy too, I hope you know that."

All your protests die in your throat.

"I do, Fi."

"Then let me do this. This is my relationship too, you don't have to do all of this alone."

[discordiansamba]

jin's waiting for him after work the next day.

lee hangs up his apron, says goodnight to the owner, and goes to meet her. she meets his eyes, but her expression is unreadable as she asks if she can talk to him. he takes her back to his apartment so they can have some privacy, and makes her some tea.

she asks what she should call him.

"lee," he says after a moment, "-it's still who I think of myself as."

jin hums, taking a sip of tea. lee does the same. they sit in tense, awkward silence for a long moment before jin sighs, setting her teacup down with a loud thud. she asks him if he meant what he said. that he really does love her. that it's not just... something he was manipulated into thinking he did.

lee tells her he does.

he also admits he may only love her because of who he is now. but who he is now made that choice on his own. she makes him happy, and he can't think of a life without her... but if she wants to break up with him, he'll understand. he just hopes she doesn't regret dating him entirely.

jin just huffs. she points out that when she'd first caught his interest, he'd still been zuko. she says in hindsight him being a firebender makes so much sense. she'd always wondered how he'd lit the lanterns so quickly during their first date. lee blinks, because he doesn't remember that at all-

-it must show on his face, because jin's face falls.

"you don't remember that, do you?"

"i remember our date," lee tells her, "-i just... remember the lanterns being lit when we got there."

she's silent for awhile, then asks him if he can show her. lee breathes in and breathes out, holding his hands out in front of him like lady mai had shown him. it takes a bit of concentration, but a tiny flame eventually flickers to life in his hands. jin stares at it, transfixed and-

-calls it cute. it's so tiny.

lee flushes. it's the best he can do! he doesn't remember how to firebend. up until a month ago, he really did think he was a nonbender. she looks up at him and asks him that if he knows all this, why was he still brainwashed? you something about it being possible to reverse it. lee shakes his head and says he just... hasn't made up his mind yet.

"i didn't choose to become lee," he says, "-but i'd like to be the one to choose if I stay as him or not."

jin frowns, and admits she has trouble wrapping her head around the idea of wanting to stay brainwashed. lee laughs. yeah. he can see how from the outside looking in, his situation is terrifying. he can't even fully deny that it is. but he's had a lot of happiness as lee, that he doesn't think he ever had as zuko. so they idea of going back...

...it's scary. he doesn't know zuko. lee is comfortable. familiar.

jin holds his hands. she tells him that whatever he chooses, she'll support him. her lips twitch in a playful grin as she jokes about having the chance to brag about dating a prince. she wonders if she'd look any good in fire nation red. lee laughs and tells her he's pretty sure she'd look good in anything.

lee's face falls. he tells her that if he decides to go back to being zuko, there's a good chance he might fall out of love with her in the process. she looks hurt by that- but then makes him promise that if he does, he'll at least let her break up with him. after all, how many girls from the middle ring can say with their whole chest that they broke up with a prince?

"whatever you do," jin says, "-don't let that decide for you what you want. you make me happy, lee. I want you to be happy too."

lee nods. jin asks him how long he has to make up his mind... and stares at him when he confesses he only has until the end of the week- and that he still has no idea who he wants to be.

cutting it a little close there, aren't you?

...yeah. he can't deny that.

(he ends up making dinner for himself and jin. they sit next to each other. he tells her about the beach on ember island, and she listens with wide-eyed fascination. there were no beaches in ba sing se. she makes him promise to take her there one day- and you're not getting out of it if zuko falls out of love with me.

okay, he says, we promise.)

[vulpixisananimal]

(Isabeau) (Polaris and Wren blong to @neoncityrain and @fungal--wastes)

"Night, big guy!"

"Night, tall lady!"

(You and Vixul waved goodnight and headed to your own rooms. She was alright! A good fighter, confident, fun; you're leaving tomorrow, so hopefully you'll see her again.)

(Today in general had been nice, nothing too crazy, just, nice. You helped Jan get the homestead ready for the winter rush, did some training, packed and prepared for leaving tomorrow, you were ready for bed. You open the door, Siffrin had already headed to bed, so, hopefully you wouldn't, w-walk in on them again. . .)

(You walk in and close the door, then stop. You were stuck in place, eyes wide, a strike went through your heart at the scene before you.)

(Siffrin, p-probably not Siffrin actually, was laying on their side, head held in one hand, the other on their hip. They had a wide, cheeky smile, and they had no top on. The star-shaped scars on their body from that day in Dormont looked like a galaxy. The two long mystery scars Siffrin had on their chest were like comets. You were blushing at the sight, blushing like CRAZY.)

"Hello, fighter~" (O-okay!!! It was Loop!!! Got it!!) "So kind of you to join me on this wonderful night!"

"H-HiLoop-" (You let out with a squeak.)

(Loop smiled wider.) "Stunned at the sight of me?"

"Y-yep-!" (Your head sunk into your shoulders and looked away.)

"What? Really?" (Loop said in a mock jokey voice.) "Nooooo but I'm just wearing my nighties~ We have such a big day tomorrow!"

"R-right! Uh-" (You stepped more into the room, trying to make yourself small.) "I-Iuh, it's, yes! Big day! and, uh-"

"And~" (Their smile widened.) "Those mean, mean headmates have kept me away from you ever since that moment~"

(You cover your ever growing blush with your hands.) "BGHNHBDNSDSDB"

"Awwww, too much~?" (Loop rolls onto their front.) "You look tired, Fighter~ you should get changed, I wont look~ Probably~"

(That "probably" was making you just a little bit normal, but, they were right. You were tired from the day, so, so it's time to! You get changed quickly, trying not to think about if Loop is or is not looking at you.)

(You finish up, take a breath, and turn around. Loop was all nice and cozy under the blankets in bed; eyes closed. You breathe a sigh of relief.) "A-all done!"

(They open their eye.) "Stunning, fighter~"

"T-thanks-!" (You squeak. You walk over to your side of the bed and tuck in.)

(Not a moment later Loop was cuddled right up next to you. They looked so, so cute. So sweet. . . You were both facing eachother on your side, and you noticed that despite their cool exterior, they were blushing as much as you were. You spent a few moments just. . . Staring at each other.)

(They put an arm around you, you an arm around them. They pulled themself to your chest. You wrapped them up close. It was like this that you, again, remained silent for some time.)

". . . I. . ." (You finally broke the silence, it was a single letter, but it was broken.)

(Loop retrieved their head from the warmth of your chest and looked up at you.) "Yeeeees~?"

". . . U-uh-" (You look away, shy.) "I just. . . . H-how, how long?"

"Hmmm?"

". . . H-how, long have you, been feeling. . ."

(Loop places a hand on your cheek, and turns your head back to look at them.)

"The moment I laid eyes on you, Isabeau~"

(They lean in close to you, gently, softly, smiling. Unlike last time, though, you knew what was coming. You lean in as well, the moment before lasted an eternity.)

(But the moment a connection is made, you wanted it to last forever.)

>>>

<Null> {Mal Du Pays} (Siffrin) [Loop] [(???)]

(You were dreaming of a campfire. You couldn't move from the campfire, but you didn't want to. It was so warm, comfortable, and. . .)

(You open your eye. Sunlight was flickering through the window, and you could hear people awake already. You closed your eye for just a moment more. It was, so, so warm. . . You never had a blanket so comfortable. . . It was, it was- Isabeaus arm?!?!?)

(It was at that moment you realized that you were tangled in Isabeaus limbs. No way you could move now, and if he rolled onto his front right now, you'd be crushed! Your face was burning. Just, uh, you had to wait! Yeah! You could wait!)

(. . . You didn't have to wait long. You felt Isa shuffle, then yawn, then pull you closer.) "Mmmorning...."

"M-morningIsa--" (You let out, shakily. Oh STARS you were going to explode at this rate!!)

(His face was pressed again the back of your head, gently humming into your hair. His hand traced up, to the side of your head, holding your cheek. . .)

". . . . O-ooohyeah- uh-" (His voice was soft, but wobbled.) "L-loop, right?"

(SSTARS--) ". . . S-sif-"

(Isa paused. You could only imagine the face he must be making, the fear, or, o-or shame, or-)

"T-that'sokay-" (He held you closer, and kissed the back of your head.) "I, just need to know which nickname to use, my lil' Wish.."

(You let out a noise you've never made before. Little Wish?!?!?)

"T-toomuch?" (Isa asks, leaning over to look at you.)

(You cover your face with your hands.) "I-I'mokay, j-just, mmnghnmgfhnmb--"

(You heard Isa laugh, then kiss the side of your head, pause for a moment, then start to get up. After a moment of contemplating alternatives, you get up as well.)

"B-big day today!" (Isabeau chatted while he got dressed. You were still waking up.) "Aaaaaand it looked like we slept in, whoops!"

"I think I needed it." (You mumble, getting up and doing your morning stretches. It was your back and leg that ached today.)

"Hah, you're right! The past few days of rest clearly wasn't enough! Haha!"

(Your stumble a bit doing your stretches at that, then finish up.) "Nah, I think I just needed to wake up lik. . . li. . ." (Your voice broke as you tried finishing that sentence. You look down, blushing even harder.)

". . . . H-hey have you checked the journal yet?" (Isa says, to your rescue.)

"N-nope! I'll uh, do that!"

(You were thankful for the distraction. You looked around for a second and saw your new journal on the side table. You have a quick look through to see if there was anything new.)

(Two days ago you talked to Polaris, you remember that, Mal was around for that too. Yesterday it was, Null and Loop? A nasty combination. But by the looks of it, nothing bad happened! And they packed for you too! How sweet- huh?)

(The last note though, it was Mals writing. Written in the middle of the night. . . Oh.)

"O-oh-" (You let out.)

"Eeeeverything alright?"

"Y-yep! I was w-worried about packing but it looks like that's all dealt with!" (You lie, Mal didn't want to tell the family yet. It was asking you, and the others, if you should. You put a checkmark, they should know. . . Stars. . .)

(Someone new.)

(That was enough. You got dressed, put away the last few things that were left out, and stole a few glances at Isabeau. You put, the new presence to the back of your mind. Pun not intended.)

"All ready?" (Isa asks as you join him by the door.)

"You know it~" (You beam at him. The two of you opened the door and left. You could smell breakfast already-)

"Oh. Good morning." (It was a voice you recognized, but a little to the left. Turning, it was Vixul. Vixul?)

"Good morning!" (Isa boomed.) "Sleep well last night?"

"Like a stone." (Her face was more inquisitive, looking between you and Isa.) "Yourself?"

"Never better!" (Isa chuckled.)

"It's, good to see you again, Vixul." (You left a slight pause before her name, questioning.)

"Likewise." (She considered you two for a moment, then he smiled slightly.) "But between us? It's the first time you've met me. I'm Major, just, keep acting like I'm Vixul around everyone else."

"O-oh! Well, good to meet you, it's Siffrin."

"Still boring ol' Isabeau!"

"Heh." (He shook his head.) "You two are like a couple peas in a pod. Ready for breakfast?"

"Absolutely!! We all have a big walk ahead of us."

"A-actually-" (You need to ask him something.) "C-can, we catch up, after a sec?"

"Secret stuff?" (Isa makes a line across his mouth.) "Got it! I'll see ya downstairs."

(The two of you wait until Isa stomps down to join the others before Major turns to you.) "What's up, small fry."

"O-oh, well." (You were too nervous to be annoyed at the nickname.) ". . . I-I, checked, my book this morning. M-message from Mal, someone, new, uh-"

"May I see?" (He holds out a hand. You fish your book out of your endless pockets and hand it to him.) ". . . ."

". . . ."

". . . . Cool." (He handed the book back to you.) "Well, not cool but whatever. You're doing things right, just try and chat, distract them with hobbies, persecutors are. . ."

"I-I remember." (You nod, putting the book away.) "Just, worried that-"

"That you're not doing it right?" (He chuckled.) "You're doing great, small fry. C'mon, let's get food."

(He clears his throat and shakes his head, back in character- oh yeah!) "Vixul keeps her eye a bit more open, a-and smiles a bit more."

(He looks down at you, surprised.) ". . . 'Thought I was doing a good job."

"You were, I'm just an expert~" (You wink.)

(The two of you joined everyone else in the main lobby. Chairs and tables were moved around to make one big breakfast table. The whole Inn was here! Vixul and her group, you and yours, and, of course, Jan, who getting the last plates of food out of the kitchen before taking their own seat.)

"Here comes trouble." (You hear Polaris grumble.)

"If you take one I'll take the other." (Nille responded, grinning.)

"Making friends already, Pétronille? Are we not enough?" (Odile adds, she was reading Wrens book.)

"Not with Polaris, surely." (Wren responds in the same tone, he was reading Odiles.) "Careful, he bites."

"I DO NOT!" (Polaris responds, voice cracking.)

"Do too." ("Vixul" adds, sitting down. You took your seat next to Isa, too.)

"I DON'T!!"

"You do. Like a cat." (Wren rolls his eyes.)

"Hehe, no wonder he and Siffrin get along so well!" (Mira teases.)

"H-HUH?!?" (YOU JUST SAT DOWN?!?)

"It's true!" (Isa was smiling wide.) "Cuddly like a cat, too!!"

"Eeeewwww!" (Polaris made a jokey face. YOU sunk into your chair.)

"That tracks." (Wren smiles.) "Polaris is, too."

"H-HEY!!!" (No Pol was ALSO sinking into his chair. Everyone laughed.)

(The banter continued. Breakfast was delicious, as usual. Jan and Bonnie had worked together and the result was a feast to remember. Apparently, Vixuls group didn't have a good cook between them. Vixul was the best, and by best you mean 'passable.')

(Everyone had been getting to know eachother more, trading stories, woes, quips. There were smiles, laughter, embarrassment. . . You couldn't help but glance at Ramos, they were glancing back.)

"So you're off to Wolworth?" ("Vixul" asks.)

"Yup!" (Isa says after swallowing his bite.) "My buddy Ramos was raised there! We're off to visit them!"

"But after that?" (Nille punched her hand intimidatingly.) "We're gonna find those two and beat the crab outta them!"

(That gets a few cheers. Next, Mirabelle talks.) "What about you three?"

"Oh, uh. . ." ("Vixul" leans back in his chair.) "We're going to Jouvente, then Dormont, then once I've helped these two I'll leave for some other country, or continent. Dunno where yet."

"No settling down then?" (Mira follows up.)

". . . Nah, not yet. . ." (There's a hint of sadness, there.) ". . . Wren?"

"I have my own things to take care of." (He had closed the book at this point, but wasn't looking up from his plate.) "Once that's dealt with, I'll settle here."

"It's a nice country." (Ramos agrees.)

"Mhm. Polaris?"

"O-oh! Uh. . ." (Polaris looks away, thinking for a moment.) ". . . I dunno."

(He looked down at his food. There was a little silence before Wren sighed, and spoke up.) "You can settle with me, Polaris."

"H-huh?!?" (He looks up.) "You sure?"

"Just don't scratch the furniture." (Wren, and everyone else, laughs.)

(Breakfast went great. You finished up, and helped cleared for all of about 3 minutes until Mirabelle told you to sit down since you were still recovering. At which point, Wren turned and told her the exact same thing.)

(. . . . . You liked this little vacation.)

(You had, made friends here.)

>>>

(That's everything.)

(Breakfast cleared, rooms made, things packed. The two groups of travelers took their time getting out the door. That was okay, you wanted to check one last thing. On one part of the wall, covered by a cloth, was that little sign.)

"Make a wish, check it thrice, stay here a while, don't mind the mice." (You smiled to yourself. What a cute little saying. You looked under the cloth, and it was still there. Still unreadable to all but you- huh? There's a fresh pair of nails in the wood next to the sign.)

"Just the fella I wanted to catch." (You look up, Jan the innkeeper was walking over with a new wood sign under her arm.)

"O-oh hey!" (You wave.) "Did, you need me for something?"

"Nah, just wanted to thank you properly. And put your little gift up." (They walked up to those fresh nails, and started putting the sign up.) "Real thoughtful, by the way."

"Whu- huh?" (You blink, confused.) "What do you. ."

"Don't remember? That's fine." (She got the sign up and stepped away.) "Either way, still looks good."

(The new addition was a wooden sign. It wasn't painted, but it was carved, carefully and with detail. The words on the sign were very familiar; "Make a wish, check it thrice, stay here a while, don't mind the mice.")

". . . Did, I make that?"

"Sure did. Just walked up, handed it to me, and walked away." (She let out a laugh.) "Heh, made me tear up all night. Gramps woulda' been proud."

(. . . That, sounded like Mal. Mal made that? For, for a stranger?)

". . . Take care of yourself, bud." (Jan turned and lightly punched you in the shoulder.) "If ya ever need a bed, I'll give you one without mice."

(You laughed, and said your goodbyes. Mal made that, you still couldn't believe it. . . But, at least now people would know what it means. You made your way out, being the last to join everyone.)

"That everyone?" (Isa asked.)

"No, I left Loop behind." (You stick your tongue out, he laughs.)

(You turned to "Vixuls" group of three, well, three-ish. You're smiling. There's an awkward silence before the inevitable.)

". . . Guess this is goodbye." ("Vixul" breaks the silence, grinning.) "Don't go loosing your head, alright?"

"Wouldn't dream of it!"

"Right back atchya!"

"No promises."

". . . Good luck, you three." (You were feeling, surprisingly emotional. You had only known these three for a week. Maybe two if you counted the loops. You were going to miss them.) "With, with everything."

". . Thank you, Siffrin." (Wren bows politely.) "I wish the same for all of you, as well."

"Oooh the w-word, careful with that."

"Ha, I'll be careful. . ."

(Polaris looks away, quiet. Wren sighs, and elbows him in the gut.)

"H-hey-! Uh. . ." (He looks to Wren, then to you, then away.) ". . ."

(. . . He stomps over to you and shoves something into your hand.) "Here." (He pouts, then walks back.) ". . . Thanks for, helping. The other day."

(You open your hand. One of his oversized needles was in it. You look up at him.) ". . . Good luck, Polaris. I, wont forget this."

[You got the PIN KNIFE.] [Very low damage, but doubles your speed, and your critical damage is quintupled!!] [You can see stars twinkle in the ball-point.]

". . . I wont, either." (His face softens, sinking into is own cloak a little.) ". . . For Navi."

". . . For Navi." (. . . On the highest peak. . .)

(. . . There was a moment of silence. You didn't acknowledge it; you didn't need to. . . Eventually, it had to be broken. With your last goodbyes said, the group of three headed off to their own travels. You waved back one last time, before turning to your own adventures; leading the group of seven.)

(Well, seven-ish.)