#sorry I’ve entered my sports era

[laegolas]

Being an AFL fan on the internet is wild.

It’s the most supported sports league in my country. A third of the country is apathetic if not outright hostile towards it. Its governing body is an evil tax-free corporation that has more power over state governments than our actual federal government does. It’s the second toughest sport to master, second only to water polo. There are 50 players listed per club and 18 per team on the ground during a match at all times. They’re all celebrities but only in one specific city. There are 6 umpires on the ground at all times which is entirely necessary. There’s a public holiday for the grand final in one of our states. The women’s league winning prize pays the same rates as the men’s. Players run 8 miles of distance average per match. Most of the people reading this probably assume I’m talking about Rugby. They all wear tiny tiny shorts in the middle of winter. It’s one of the oldest codified sports in the world.

And literally no one talks about it on the internet outside of the dedicated subreddit and the meta family hellscape platforms. It’s just. So bizarre.

[slutforpringles]

What do you think is actually behind the Danny bashing on social media and Reddit lately?

I find it really puzzling, to put it mildly. As if the decision over an RBR or VCARB seat is simple enough to decide 4 races into a 24-race season, which it certainly isn’t.

Some of the Yuki and Liam fans seem to be really young, and for some of them, there seems to be some sort of weird ageism involved in their anti-Ricciardo ranting.

But some of it seems to be an enjoyment of tearing someone down who’s always been popular, despite him not misusing or abusing that popularity

IDK - what are your thoughts, please?

Hey anon! This is actually a really interesting question, and I’d be really interested to hear other people’s thoughts and opinions on too. I think probably how much time you spend online and on which online platforms does probably affect your viewpoint, and obviously this is just my take on the growing anti-DR sentiment based on what I’ve seen/ experienced. 

I think it’s definitely multi-faceted, which is partly why there’s so much of it at the moment, because multiple situations/things have fed into the Daniel hatred. 

I think a very large percentage of it is simply the influx of new fans into the sport that have only seen Daniel drive from the McL era onwards. 

I think a lot of people are consuming more and more F1 content from non-trustworthy sources (e.g. instagram and twitter update accounts, non-reputable websites) that use clickbait and unsubstantiated rumours to create maximum drama. I think this has been particularly tricky for Daniel, because his popularity has made him a super target since 2021 for this.

I think there's a growing sentiment of annoyance at the limited number of seats available to enter F1, particularly for fans of younger drivers who have watched them go through the feeder series and feel it is unfair that they aren’t being given a chance in F1. I think this has become even louder since F1 rejected Andretti’s bid, and I think struggling or older drivers become a much easier target for expressing that frustration than an entire sport/regulatory body.

I think the more recent wave of fans being more critical of driver’s public opinions and thoughts on social/political/moral issues has probably increased scrutiny on Daniel, too. And while I completely agree with fans expecting more and better from drivers, I think there’s a huge amount of hypocrisy and recency bias when it comes to some very vocal online fans and fanbases, which I think also underscores how many of them are part of the new wave of F1 fans. (E.g. I see ample criticism of Daniel from fans of driver’s who refused to kneel during 2020 that are clearly totally unaware that Daniel was one of the loudest supporters of Lewis during 2020 and BLM protests)

I think it’s also just part and parcel of the growing extreme polarisation of the internet. It seems people are becoming far more used to extreme polarisation in general, and the echo chambers of social media and the wider internet algorithms are only continuing to exaggerate that. People also seem to be less and less civil online, and while places like twitter have been a toxic wasteland for a long time, that toxicity and complete lack of normal human interaction has started to affect other online spaces too.

And yeah I do agree that there seems to be a certain percentage of fans that just seem to enjoy revelling in a driver’s struggles, and love to tear down someone who seems to be a happy bubbly person. And while some of that is maybe inherent sports tribalism (which I’m not really on board with tbh), I really think it’s reached a whole new low.

OK sorry I didn't mean for this to be such a long response! Hope that answers your question and I’d love to hear if anyone else has other thoughts/opinions too!! 🙂

[chynandri]

New Start GO! 🌸 Work 1

Hajime: ♪~♪〜

(The atmosphere in the library today is so peaceful~ My library committee work is done. How about I go read a book?)

(Thinking of ‘New Start GO!’ ……I want to properly understand the life of society’s office workers.)

(I’ll simply look at some industry research books that are used for career guidance.)

(Although the work experience location is at a menswear company, I could look at some clothing industry books? Or maybe I should read something on the textile industry or import trade….)

(Well, I’ll just read whatever I find first. I’ll start with this bookshelf…)

……..

Jin: Ohh, what a coincidence. Is Shino also checking out this field of employment?

Hajime: Eh? What a surprise, I didn’t expect Sagami-sensei to visit the library.

Jin: Haha. You can’t tell just from my looks, but I actually really enjoy reading. Would you be surprised if I said that?

Hajime: Eh, so it’s like that?

Jin: No no no, I’m just kidding. One look and you can tell I’m not that much of a hard worker.

I do come to the library, honestly because Kunugi-sensei wants me to give students advice on finding a job.

His original words were “You are a teacher, the least you can do is give students career counselling”. So it’s my responsibility to take care of students who are about to graduate.

Jin: But I just don’t understand careers outside of being an idol…. so I wanted to check out industries outside of the entertainment industry.

Hajime: Oh~ So that’s the situation. Since it’s Sagami-sensei giving career counselling, could it be you’re looking for healthcare industry books about sports medicine?

Jin: Nope. It’s an ordinary industry.

I heard that student has a lot of ideas, or let’s say a strong rebellious spirit~? If you lecture them too much, they don’t seem to accept it easily.

Compared to people who are dead serious like Kunugi-sensei, an opinion from someone more easygoing like me is easier to accept.

Hajime: Ahaha. Maybe Kunugi-sensei genuinely hopes that Sagami-sensei can give this student career advice. After all, you achieved a lot in your idol era and gained the deep trust of the student body.

Jin: Who knows. I don’t do this very much, so I don’t really know how to do it.

Anyway, this work used to be given to the other teachers. And now it’s finally my turn.

At the time, I was just along for the ride, so I entered the idol industry much later.

For someone like me who just goes with the flow to give career advice, it’ll only make the other person dislike me.

My image as an idol and the demands of the idol industry just happened to align by chance at the time, is all.

Hajime: Your image as an idol…?

Jin: Aah, nothing. I didn’t mean anything deep by that.

In today's world, idols need to have all sorts of individuality right?

And the student I need to give career advice to this time, they do have talent, but it’s too bad their personality doesn’t meet the expectations of the entertainment industry these days. For this I feel deeply sorry.

That student isn’t strong enough to believe their time will come. So I’m helping them consider other paths together…. how do I say this, it’s a pretty arduous task.

But as the former ‘super idol’, this may just be my fate.

For example, systems outside of the idol industry, and society…. I’ve never come into contact with information on normal society, so I can only start learning from the foundations.

…. Jeez. Shino is too good at listening, letting me ramble on and on. I’m sorry for bothering you.

Can you first please lend me a book that’s about a variety of occupations?

Hajime: Sure. Well, this encylopedia on various occupations seems appropriate.

Is this book ok? If it’s no problem, then I’ll start the lending process.

Jin: Alright. Thank you for your help.

Hajime: …. Right. Since that’s all, during the process, can you give me some advice?

Jin: Give some advice? That’s fine, but am I the right person to ask?

Hajime: Mn. Since Ra*bits received a work offer, I want to ask for the thoughts of the senior idol Sagami-sensei.

It’s a special spring program called ‘New Start GO!’, which requires us to do a workplace experience at a menswear company.

Jin: Workplace experience?

Hajime: That’s right. This program is also a promotion for the company’s suits at the same time, requiring us to wear them.

The plan is that during the recording period, us Ra*bits will receive the same treatment as new employees, working with the others for about a week-

Jin: So that’s it. From the sound of your voice, it seems like the job this time is a great responsibility. So it’s troubling, right?

Hajime: It is. Although this is an opportunity that's hard to come by, the office isn’t an easy place to fit in.

For people like us who are from the entertainment industry, I’m a little worried we won’t do a good job in a normal environment, that we would trouble everyone.

Like Sensei giving career advice to that student, employment to some people is a decision important to their lifetime.

But if we say something casual like ‘we’re just here to try it out~’, then people would definitely get mad right?

Jin: Ahaha. You take employment too seriously, Shino.

In current times, few people will be employed in a company for their whole lifetime. Even us idols, there’s many people who continue onto a second career, right?

Not to mention, Shino you’ve done part time jobs and the like on campus before. All that can be considered work in society too.

It’s called ‘New Start GO!’ right? It’s not like you’re troubling them on purpose by participating, and considering it’s a good experience to have, isn’t it better to approach it with a positive attitude?

Besides, the company probably wouldn’t expect an idol with no work experience to work independently right?

You can think of it as broadening the types of work you get entrusted with.

Otherwise, if you become an old uncle like me in the future, you may suffer you know?

Hajime: Hehe. Yeah, Sagami-sensei is right.

I’m afraid of failure, but if I give up before I even try then I’ve got it all backwards. I’ll try my best to convince the other members of Ra*bits.

Jin: Mn, you guys can definitely do it.

You’ve already demonstrated your talents as idols, so you’ve remained in the entertainment industry.

But there’s a lot of people, like the student I’m giving career guidance to, who find immediate employment after graduating high school.

This is a valuable experience. Enjoy the workplace, Shino.

Hajime: Ok. Thank you, Sagami-sensei.

Jin: Well, I should get back to the infirmary. Next time I visit the library, I’ll come ask for your help again eh~

Hajime: Haha. If the career counsellor still needs to borrow more books, you’re welcome to visit anytime.

(…. After everything’s that’s said, regarding their path to the future, everyone’s considered it a lot, huh.)

(I’ve always just tried my best to keep up with everyone. I never thought about it deeply.)

(But just like Nii~chan who chose to become a university student, to be honest I need to carefully consider this subject too.)

(What kind of future will I etch out, what kind of future am I longing for in the end-)

(Even what kind of idol I want to be, honestly I still haven’t thought it all through.)

(Forget it, getting too frustrated isn’t good. I hope this ‘New Start GO!’ will be an opportunity to think about these questions.)

(For the sake of enjoying the workplace, I’ll do my best to convince the other members of Ra*bits. Thank you so much for your advice, Sagami-sensei.)

==>

Masterpost

[let-them-read-fics]

Bite

Pairing: Vamp!Lisa x Human!Fem!Reader

AU: Vampire

Word Count: ~ 5,564

Warnings / Misc. -- Mentions of Blood

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm alive! School has kept me crazy busy and I've had my hands full with other things as well, but I finished writing this one and I wanted to share with you lovely peeps. To everyone who stopped by to check in, and to those of you who’ve been patiently waiting, thank you endlessly. I love having you as my readers 💜

PS ~ I hope this isn't too bad for my first one shot in forever! Also, happy Lisa era. I’m so proud of our girl!

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Saturday, October 31st

You look like an idiot. 

The nurse uniform you have on is obnoxiously cliché; short and tattered in various places to really sell the "sexy" aspect of it, little is left to the imagination. Fake blood stains dot the flimsy material in random patterns and mat some strands of the tacky blonde wig atop your head, making you look like something out of a B-movie at best. 

A bonafide, absolute idiot. 

When you express that sentiment to your best friend, she just rolls her eyes and holds out one last costume for you to try on. She had a few lined up in case you didn't like her other options, and clearly that's come in handy; you've already worked through the previous picks, so she crosses her fingers as your eyes skim over this one.

"Humor me, will you?" She asks, hoping that you'll give in and at least check this last one out. 

"Fine, but this is your last chance. It had better be good." You raise a pointed finger at her in warning. 

"I have a good feeling about this one," she says, smiling as you take the bag from her and slip into the dressing room one final time. 

Her phone chimes soon after, and she's quick to retrieve it from her pocket.

Willow: Are you guys almost here?? Jackson's been asking about you.

Your best friend bites her lip at that, nervously nibbling on it as she rereads the message to make sure she didn't imagine the last part. She's liked Jackson since middle school, and he'll be swinging by the party that you've all been invited to; that's one of the main reasons she begged you to come with her tonight. 

Y/BFFs/N: Still getting ready. We'll be there ASAP tho!

Willow: Alright, we'll see you soon. Don't take all night, or else👩🤛

Y/BFFs/N: Yah, cut the violence!

The sound of your best friend's soft giggling fills the air just as you manage to fasten the costume's last zipper and pull its hood over your head.

Surprise etches its way into your features as you do a spin, taking in the sight of yourself through the full length mirror of the dressing room. The outfit's red and black color schemes complement each other beautifully, giving you a powerful and sensual appeal that the other costumes didn't even stand a chance of doing. You look alluring in every sense of the word. 

"Holy shit," your best friend says when you emerge, striking a pose. "You look hot!" She squeals, clapping a few times in quick succession. 

There's no way you think this one looks bad. 

"I think Wanda would be proud," you grin, tilting your head up and wrapping the cape around your neck. 

"One hundred percent," Y/BFFs/N nods adamantly, in total agreement. The Scarlet Witch getup really compliments your features. 

"Now," she starts, changing topics as she looks in the reflection of her phone's dark screen to adjust some of her hair that's gone astray. "Let's pay and then go. Willow's looking for us, and my future man's wondering where I am, too." 

"Hell yeah!" You chuckle, patting her on the back. "I'll help you finally land him so you can stop pining."

You watch as she takes a moment to decide between coming up with a decent rebuttal to defend herself or agreeing with you, and you smile when she goes for the latter. 

"I'd accept nothing less," she says, holding her head high like a princess. "You are my wingwoman, after all." 

"And the best one in town," you add, tugging her towards the register. She reaches into her purse and pulls out the money to pay before politely handing it to the cashier. 

The teenage boy takes it with a small smile, though the action looks a little comical as his upper lip gets caught on the cheap, plastic fangs he's sporting. His knock-off version of Dracula is definitely…. something… and you can tell that his managers forced him to wear it for the holiday. 

"Come back and s-shhee us," he says, handing your change back. Your best friend takes it, failing to contain her laughter at his messy speech. He blushes crimson, likely cursing the plastic teeth for making him look a fool. 

"We surely will," you respond, giving him a comforting smile to keep his embarrassment at bay. He nods gratefully, and you're quickly pulled out of the store by your best friend. 

"Happy Halloween!" You shout over your shoulder, accompanied by the chime of the bell over the door. 

"You too," he calls back, letting out a soft sigh. 

---

20 Minutes Later -- The Party

Upon rounding the front of your car and stepping up onto the sidewalk outside of Willow's house, your attention is immediately caught by the numerous decorations that she put up last week. 

"Huh," you mumble, gazing up at the skeleton that towers above you, standing 12 feet tall. "I think it's safe to say that this is her favorite holiday…" 

"What makes you think that?" Your best friend plays, feigning ignorance as she pops up from behind a life-sized, animatronic Jason Voorhees. 

"I don't know," you tut, admiring Willow's hard work a little longer. "Just a feeling." 

Y/BFFs/N giggles in her unique way, making you smile at the sound as the two of you make your way up the path towards the house. You gaze down at your feet, careful to step on the stones of the walkway and avoid the motion-activated hands that scramble out of the weeds to grab unsuspecting guests. 

Having known Willow your entire childhood, you've grown used to her ways. 

*knock knock*

A strong, iconic synth bassline sounds off from inside, filling the otherwise quiet night around you with its catchy beat as you wait to be let in. Its sound is well known, and you almost instantly recognize it as "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics.

A few seconds later, you hear clambering from inside, followed by concerning groans and shouted apologies. 

Y/BFFs/N arches a skeptical brow at you, perfectly mirroring your thoughts.

Directly after, the door swings open in a flash, and you're nearly tackled by a whizz of curly hair. 

"There you guys are!" Willow shrieks, pulling the two of you close as she nuzzles her face against your cheeks. 

"Yep, here we are," you struggle out, nearly being strangled in her tight grip. She responds by squeezing you even tighter, blinded by her joy at seeing you again. 

After all, it's been a while since all three of you have had the opportunity to spend the night partying together like this. 

"Can't… breathe," Y/BFFs/N squeaks, successfully getting Willow to release you. 

"Sorry," she apologizes, stepping back. "I'm just so happy you're here." 

The freckles that spread across the bridge of her nose look especially adorable with the blush she's sporting, and her shy grin makes you forget about the near-fatality you just encountered moments before. 

"We're happy to be here," you reassure her, returning her smile. 

Your best friend agrees from beside you, nodding her head with a happy look of her own. "Believe it or not, we've missed your weirdness." She adds, cocking her head to the side. 

Willow giggles again, and her eyes crinkle up into those half crescents that could surely melt even the iciest of hearts. She's practically sunshine in human form, and you have to resist the urge to shield your eyes. 

"Yo, Willow! Who's at the door?" 

Jackson.

You feel your best friend tense beside you, and you subtly pat her leg to calm her down. 

Willow falls silent, though her lips go through the beginning stages of answering him; they open and purse, but she quickly halts her reply and shuts her mouth. She knows of Y/BFFs/N's crush on him, and she doesn't want to say the wrong thing. 

Plus, if the lovesick girl wants to run and hide in the bushes, Willow's silence could buy her some time to slip away. 

But alas, she doesn't. 

Jackson appears in the doorway a mere 5 seconds after asking his question with a beer clutched in his hand. He moves to lean against the wooden frame as his pearly smile beams at you, and Y/BFFs/N audibly swallows at the sight. 

For someone who's usually so confident, she can really be shy sometimes. 

"Lovely to see you, ladies," he greets, putting his free hand in front of him as he bows. His accent is modeled after that of Jack Sparrow, as is his surprisingly well designed costume.

You nod back at him. "Hey, Jackson. Long time no see." 

You elbow your best friend when she remains silent for a beat too long, and the action snaps her back to reality. 

"Yeah, hey Jackson." Her voice is quiet -- she doesn't trust it to refrain from cracking.

He smiles, not failing to notice the nervous aura that's quickly taken over the girl beside you. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head when he gives her a curious once-over, and you take that as your cue to save her from the impending embarrassment that's lurking just around the corner. 

"Alright, guys!" You clap, stepping forward. "Let's get to partying." 

Her shoulders relax, and you feel her slip her hand into yours as you enter the house, squeezing twice as a silent thank you. 

15 Minutes Later

Willow stands beside you in the kitchen, mixing a few things together in one of the millions of red solo cups that she bought for tonight. You sneak a peek over her shoulder at the concoction, seeing its light blue color turn purple-ish as she adds a new liquor into the equation. 

In comparison to typical house parties, this one is relatively small; most of the rooms are filled with people, but it's a comfortable amount. Maneuvering around the place is fairly easy, which is always a plus when you're coexisting with sweaty, drunk people. 

"Willow, love, why did you buy so many cups?" You ask, toying with the ripped plastic packaging of one of the stacks. 

"You know I like to be prepared," she laughs, brushing off her major miscalculation. "Plus I can just use the rest of them at my next party." 

You nod, knowing she's right. "Are you having another soon?" 

"I think so. Jiu and her crew are coming back in a couple weeks, so I thought I'd surprise them with one." 

You scoff, humor laced in the sound. "What, they didn't get enough partying done at their university already?" 

Willow turns around, grinning at you as she hands you your drink. "Evidently campus police keep a close eye on them. Siyeon whined about that a lot when she called me." 

"Sounds like her," you chuckle into your cup as you take a sip. 

PFFT

"Eww, Willow! What did you put in this?!" 

Your spit take didn't land on anyone, thankfully, but it did capture the attention of some people nearby. You wave a hand at them as a silent apology, and they go back to their previous tasks. 

The curly headed prankster covers her mouth, though the action does a terrible job of quieting her maniacal laughter. 

"You're lucky Y/BFFs/N isn't over here," you say, wiping your lips with the back of your hand. "She'd avenge me." 

Willow uses a napkin to dab the tears of laughter from her eyes. "Why else do you think I waited until she was busy with Jackson?" She asks, motioning to her lounge room across the foyer. 

You look inside, spotting Y/BFFs/N holding a pool cue in her hand as Jackson sinks another shot into one of the corner pockets. 

The sight reminds you of the pep talk and 2 shots of liquid courage you gave her earlier, and how she disappeared with the promise to make a move and actually talk to him. Now, she looks completely absorbed in whatever banter they're sharing, and although your violated taste buds still ache from the sickly-sweet mixture that Willow made, you wouldn't want her to be anywhere else. 

You can get your own revenge. 

Sneaking a glance around the kitchen, you search for something to help with your retaliation. A small package of streamers lays abandoned on the island, forgotten to be put up earlier, and you slyly grin. Their ribbons sparkle with glitter, shimmering as the multicolored party lights stream in from the living room and land on them. 

It's as if the universe is putting a spotlight on them, just for you. 

After side eyeing Willow one final time to ensure that she isn't catching onto your plan, you act quickly. She stands beside the counter, right where you left her, and you dart to the island to grab the streamers. Your fingertips soon gain purchase on the packaging, and you tear it open in one swift motion. 

Her gaze locks onto yours just as you near her, but it's far too late for her to get away. 

"Take this!" You declare, upending the baggie atop her head. She shrieks as they cascade down her body, getting caught in the creases and wrinkles of her costume as they go. A small wave of glitter tumbles out of the bag as well, coating her hair and clothes. 

Boy, that'll be fun to try and get out later. 

Her head slowly raises once you finish your assault and place the baggie on the countertop beside you, but the look in her eye is unlike anything you've ever seen. 

"You're dead," she warns. Just as the smile drops from your face, an even larger, more sinister one begins forming on hers. 

The floor creaks beneath your feet slightly as you take a step back, and you know you have to high tail it out of there if you want to evade her. 

"Catch me if you can!" You shout, springing into action. You turn around and dart out of the room, gliding past numerous partygoers in the hall. 

Willow's choice of footwear works in your favor, you soon realize; the sharp rapping sound of her heels pierces the air behind you, serving as a tell of how much distance is between you.

Her unstable platforms buy you a little time, and you thank the universe as you rush through the living room and back towards the foyer. You plan to cut across it and hide out in one of the bathrooms until she drops her plan for revenge. 

A grin pulls at your cheeks as you skid into one of the walls, looking like a character from Scooby-Doo as you will your feet to work correctly again and get you to safety. Willow laughs behind you, joining in on the fun. 

"Perfect," you mutter under your breath, spotting a clear path through the foyer. It leads under the stairs, and you can see the open door of the bathroom from where you are. 

Your feet take you past a handful of drunk people, bobbing and weaving through them with ease, before you're racing towards the restroom to take cover. 

Before you can make it there, though, you collide with someone rather abruptly as they step straight into your path. 

Your eyes shut tightly as you brace yourself for impact with the ground, but it never comes. The person reaches out and catches you before you can hit the floor, and a soft apology slips past their lips as they scoop you up. 

Upon hearing that uniquely feminine voice speak its regret again, you peek your eyes open. What you see nearly makes the woman's effort to keep you upright moot; she's so gorgeous that your legs almost give out from underneath you. 

Dirty blonde locks cascade over her shoulders in soft waves, half-mussed, half-pristine from your run-in. Her doe eyes are a velvety chocolate color, and you find yourself getting lost in them. Flickers of red show in them, illuminating almost rhythmically the longer she admires you. 

Are those contacts? You ask yourself. They have to be. 

She seems to be just as affected by your presence as you are of hers. 

"Y/N, I'm coming to get you!" 

Willow does her best to sound like a villain from a 90s horror film as she clambers her way closer to you, bumping into a few people on the way. You're brought out of your stupor by her rapidly approaching footsteps, and you take a step away from the woman. Her hands fall from your waist, where they had previously been resting. 

Stealing a quick look at the bathroom, you feel your stomach turn.

Damnit. Someone's in there now. 

Screw this sexy stranger for distracting you. Now you'll have to deal with Willow's wrath. 

"What's wrong?" 

There's that voice again. 

Part of you wants to brush it off and slip away quietly, but an even bigger part of you is determined to stay where you are and tell her. Something about her pulls you in, and you're having a hard time denying it. 

"I need to hide. I glitter-fied my friend and now she's coming after me." 

The woman's plump lips pull back in a humored smile, and she nods as a chuckle leaves her. "Right," she says, like that's a common occurrence. "I can help, if you'd like." 

"How?" You ask, your brows momentarily knitting together in confusion. When she unties and opens the black cloak that's wrapped around her body, your breath catches. 

"You in?" She asks, side eyeing the foyer as Willow nearly careens into the Egyptian vase that her mother bought her last year for Christmas. 

You take a deep breath and hold your hand out to her just as Willow rounds the corner, and she swiftly pulls you in close before you can be spotted. She winds the cloak around both of your bodies, concealing your faces as the fur-lined hood falls atop your heads. 

Unconsciously, you wrap your arms around her waist and pull her flush up against you to further ensure your safety. She quietly grunts when she stumbles over her own feet, falling into you a little. 

"Sorry," she whispers, though her third apology of the night is unnecessary. You almost want to thank her for what happened.

Especially when her warm breath fans across your right cheek, where her head is angled. 

Every breath you take pushes you closer to each other, and the satin shirt she's wearing slides against your heated skin. She swallows thickly as one of your hands falls to the small of her back, testing the waters. 

When she shifts a little to encourage you, you're acutely aware of the thigh that's worked its way between your legs. 

When did that happen? 

You bite back a sigh as she just smirks, quietly shushing you. 

Willow thunders by, shouting your name and threatening to throw you into the pool when she tracks you down. You want to laugh at that, but you'd honestly welcome it right now. Some cold water would surely bring you to your senses after being led astray by this goddess in front of you. 

Her footsteps grow distant as she makes her way outside, still searching.

The two of you remain as you are for a couple more minutes until you're certain that the coast is clear, and then you part. When she lowers the cloak, you look away; a deep blush has worked its way up your neck and across your cheeks, and letting her see it would surely make you die of embarrassment. 

She keeps her eyes on you as she reties the cover around herself, attempting to get a read on you. The bashful aura that's befallen you is cute, no doubt, but she can sense your arousal. She can smell it on you, and the scent is beginning to drive her crazy. 

You fiddle with the sleeves of your costume, readjusting them nervously.

"So, um… thanks," you say, sneaking a glance up at her. 

The red hues in her eyes are even more pronounced now, and the sight makes you press further into the wall behind you -- the one that you were previously pushed up against. 

"No problem," she smiles, showing off her pearly white teeth. Two of them catch your attention; a set of fangs now shine, looking alluring and threatening all at the same time. 

There's only one issue: you're certain that they weren't there when you first bumped into her. When did she put them in? And why do they look so real?

The feeling of her hand landing on your forearm pulls you away from the millions of questions that're firing off in your head right now. 

"May I ask your name?" She politely requests, dipping her head down sweetly. 

"Y/N," you breathe out, quickly realizing that you'd do just about anything she asked you to. 

"Y/N." She repeats, allowing the letters to blend in her mouth as they roll off her tongue. She looks satisfied for some reason as she says it again, trying it out. 

"I'm Lisa." 

"It's nice to officially meet you," you smile, reaching a hand out. Her touch is gentle but firm as she takes it, shaking it with ease. 

"Likewise, beautiful." 

The grin on your face only widens at the name, and you pull your hand away out of fear of what she might do next. She's already putting you under her spell, and you're sure that another touch would have you fully entranced. 

She studies you with pursed lips for a moment, clearly debating on something. Her eyes flicker over the dips and curves of your body as a smirk grows on her lips. 

"What are you thinking?" You question, curious but teasing. 

"That I'd love to have your body on mine again." 

She's bold, and she says it like the fact it is. No shame, no bashfulness. Just true, honest desire. 

You bite the inside of your cheek at her bravery, silently thanking the universe for it. The likelihood of you gaining the courage to make a move is slim to none even in the best cases, and this was no exception. She already has your heart skipping beats and you've only known her a few minutes. 

"How about a dance?" She suggests, quirking a brow. The look on her face disarms your defenses, and you take a deep breath before agreeing to your demise. 

"That sounds wonderful." 

She dips her head again, hiding her face away momentarily, and you think it's the cutest thing ever. 

She's shy all of a sudden as her cool demeanor slips up a bit, and that never happens. You might just be her downfall, too.

She holds an elbow out and steps forward, allowing you to link your arm with hers and cuddle in close. 

Her eyes scan across the living room as she studies it, but she's unimpressed. 

Sweaty, winding bodies thrash around to some upbeat pop song that's been overplayed on every radio station in town for weeks now, and the idea of taking you there puts her off. 

When a drunk boy comes into view with a dildo strapped to his forehead, her mind is officially made up. 

"Let's go outside," she says, leading you through the patio doors. 

A quaint gazebo sits on one side of the yard, and the dance floor that Willow's family installed a couple years ago occupies the other. Both are decorated with string lights in combinations of gold, purple, black, and orange. Other ornaments adorn the surfaces as well, and you smile when you spot a comically large spider sat atop the gazebo's roof. 

"Where would you like to go?" Lisa asks, keeping her voice low. It's calm and deep, running a chill through you. 

Softer music plays out here, offering a totally different vibe than inside. Some couples -- many of them introverted, assumably -- sway on the dancefloor as the DJ that Willow hired takes a sip of her drink on the raised stage. She adjusts a few switches slowly, not rushing for a second.

"Let's try the gazebo," you decide, glancing over your shoulder at Lisa. She's looking away, but you don't think anything of it as the two of you fall in step with one another on your way over. 

Shit, Lisa thinks to herself. 

Her plans to come to this party, feed, and make a quick getaway are totally derailed. She'd hoped to find a victim that she was attracted to but didn't like, if that even makes sense, and feed like the animal she is. Then she would leave them like all the rest, drained but still alive, and slip away. 

But now she's met you, and any desire for those plans have been thrown out the window. 

You interest her, and that doesn't happen often. She hasn't met someone who's been capable of doing that in years, and she's intrigued. Something about you just pulls her in, inexplicably, and she knows her feelings would be glaringly obvious if you saw her face right now. 

"Woah, look at this," you sigh, stepping out of her hold to check the place out. A bench runs the perimeter of the gazebo, only stopping at the doorway, and the lights look even prettier from inside. They shimmer, looking like star showers as their strings hang down in the windowless openings of the building. 

Lisa quickly learns that she loves seeing you like this. Your eyes are alight, and your sweet smile of wonder warms her heart. Her hands slip into her pockets as she eventually manages to take her eyes off you, following your lead as she admires the decorations. 

She does a twirl, looking around. 

"It's gorgeous." 

"I know, right? This is totally up Willow's alley," you say, grinning at the mental image that you can conjure up of her giddily spiffing the scene up. 

"I'll have to thank her for making it look so special, then," Lisa says, smiling. The place really makes you feel like you're in your own little world; everything about it is just right. The ambience, the decor, the company… it’s perfect, and Lisa's content with how the evening is playing out. 

Her fingers skate down your arm as she nears you, trekking their way down to your palm. She takes your hand and spins you, watching with admiration as your hair flows in the breeze. Now facing her, you thread your fingers together around the back of her neck as she encircles your waist with her arms. 

"Why have I never seen you around?" You ask sincerely, looking up at her. 

She hesitates briefly. "My university is a few towns over. I just come here to visit my family every few months." 

Not a total lie, she thinks to herself. 

"And stop by terrible parties like this, of course." You add, smirking. 

She shakes her head at that. "No, I can't say I do. I just decided to check this one out on my way to my friend's house." She explains. 

Underneath your cloak, her hands find their way to the small of your back. One stays put while the other dips a little lower, testing the waters. 

"And besides," she starts again, feeling you pull her closer. "Meeting you here automatically makes this an awesome party. Not terrible."

"Cheeeesy!" You scrunch your face up and groan, making her laugh. 

"Maybe, but it's the truth." 

"Sure, Lisa." 

She shakes her head and you laugh lightly together, still swaying about. You hold her close enough to rest your head on her shoulder, and the pads of your thumbs rub small circles on the sensitive skin of her neck. She hums at the feeling, and you take note of the way she relaxes in your arms. 

The night breeze appears again, performing a flowing dance of its own as it lulls past you in waves. A slight chill resides in it, mixed with a generous amount of the day's sweet, fading heat, and you're at peace. 

The slow song that had been playing across the yard ends delicately, parting with some melodic feature that resembles a warm embrace, and it blends seamlessly into the next song. 

Turning Page, you recognize it as.  

Huh, how ironic. One of your favorites. 

Lisa's lips brush against your cheek as she turns her head slightly, whispering, "I like this one, too." 

How did she know? You ask yourself. You hadn't said it out loud… 

Maybe she's just a good guesser. Yeah, that's gotta be it. 

You feel yourself melt as she begins singing the words to you. It's hushed and sentimental -- meant only for your ears to hear, and that makes it even more special to you. 

"If I had only felt the warmth within your touch"

She croons, pressing her cheek against your warm skin. You blush, catching yourself when you remember what the next line of the song is. 

"If I had only seen how you smile when you blush" 

She brings a hand up to cup your cheek in her palm, and her other arm remains around you, holding you tenderly. 

"Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough"

Now, her thumb runs across your bottom lip. You look into her eyes and find them an even deeper shade of red than they had been before, but it doesn't frighten you for some reason. She glances down at your mouth again, fighting her impatience as she waits for permission from you. 

"I would have known what I was living for all along"

You nod and lace your fingers in her locks, and she doesn't waste another second. 

She leans in, humming against your lips when they meet hers for the first time. Her lipgloss spreads across them upon contact, smudging its precise application, but she doesn't seem to care in the slightest. She draws you in closer, and you bring both of your hands around to cup her face as you deepen the kiss. 

Her mouth is welcoming against yours, and it moves languidly as you get adjusted to one another. Every move makes you feel dizzier than the one before it, and swarms of butterflies take flight in your stomach with no signs of stopping. 

She nips at your bottom lip as her hands dip far lower than before, now kneading your ass as your kisses continue to work her up. 

"Fuck," you curse, breaking away from her lips to catch your breath. She's stolen it all from you, and yet she's still not ready to give you a rest; her mouth drops to your jaw, embracing your skin there before moving down to your neck. 

She doesn't realize how dangerous the game she's playing truly is until it's almost too late. 

Her lips press to the area just above your pulsepoint, where she's learned over the years that blood pumps the hardest and tastes the sweetest. She draws it into her mouth, swirling her tongue over the area as her ears perk up at the breathless sound of your moans. They spur her on, and she nips at the skin, surely leaving a hickey. 

Her senses become even more clouded when you say her name, the title caught somewhere between a whine and command, and she feels the strong impulse to claim you. The sensation is overwhelming, and she knows you can feel it too. 

Your hands tug on the collar of her shirt as she lets her fangs fully extend, no longer suppressing them. They rake across your pulsepoint, making you shiver against her. 

"Please…" 

That's all you manage to get out before they pierce your skin, eliciting a whimper from you. Blood fills her mouth instantly, sliding across her taste buds in velvety waves and calming her constant craving. Your hands tighten in her hair, and the delicious twinge of pain that it provides only encourages her more. 

Your blood is different than anything she's ever tasted; it's richer -- sweeter. A throaty groan leaves her as she savors it, and you shut your eyes in pleasure. It's addicting, but she knows she has to stop herself before she hurts you. If she continues like this much longer, she won't have the willpower to let go. 

She retracts her fangs as she licks your taste from them, and then you feel her warm tongue clean the wound she made. It stings a bit, but in all the right ways.

When she pulls back to look at you, she finds your eyes half-lidded and a pleased smile on your face. It nearly kills her, then and there. 

Her gaze flickers back to your neck to admire the hickie she made earlier, but what she sees surprises her. Below it is a darker, more prominent marking that she's only seen other vampires leave behind before. 

Definitely not a hickie.

Your brows furrow as you look at her neck as well, noticing a faint outline of something growing darker by the second. Blinking a few times to ensure that you aren't hallucinating, you find that it's really there. 

"Lisa, what's on your neck?" You ask. 

"A soulmate mark." She responds, feeling a sense of belonging settle over her as she looks at you again. You just confirmed her suspicions by asking that.

"Same as yours," she smiles.

[adorethedistance]

Rose Garden - Duke!Charlie Gillespie x Reader

JATP cast masterlist

Warnings: possible swearing? misogyny, very mild, PG

Words: 1682

Summary: Charlie is your suitor, and if he gets his way, soon to be your betrothed. However, he won’t be if you have any say in the matter.

A/N: Not prince!Charlie but still in the vein of excellency. This is set in the Victorian Era (1837-1901) but I kept the language pretty modern just bc it was just more comfortable to write. I also originally wrote this with an OC but didn't like it, so if any names or character descriptions were left behind I’m sorry please let me know !

“Miss Y/n?” I turn over my left shoulder to see Deirdre standing in the mahogany doorway of my bedroom. “Your mother has called for your presence in the foyer.”

“I’ll be down in a moment. I just need Elisa’s help with my makeup.” Deirdre nods curtly and then leaves the two of us standing in front of the silver-framed floor length mirror. I wait to speak until after her footsteps have retreated down the hall and out of earshot. “Debrief time. What have you got?”

“Here’s what I learned,” Elisa undoes the satin ribbon closing the back of my top to neaten the bow, “Obviously, his name is Charlie Gillespie of New York, he’s the duke of Uniondale, he comes from old old old money and had a luxurious education. He attended Harvard and graduated in three years, he’s frigid but respectful regardless, and he plans on securing your hand in marriage.”

“He plans on it?”

“I mean, all he has to do is get through the lord and lady and then you’re his.”

“Ugh. Do not say I’m ‘his’. You’ll make me physically ill.” Elisa is in pursuit of a last ditch effort before they have to whisk me away to an imperious brat in approximately fifty seconds.

“I don’t know what he looks like specifically, but his reputation of being ‘quite handsome’ precedes him, so he can’t be terrible.”

“What if I just ran away now and changed my identity to join a scandinavian bordello?”

“Your parents would kill me.”

“Alright.” I give myself another once over in the mirror before forcing myself to face the music. “Let’s get this over with.” Elisa is sporting a sympathetic smile as they lead me out of my bedroom and down to the foyer where my mother resides.

Father is working at the moment, but isn’t concerned with missing our introduction as he has already met Charlie when he first arrived in Gaireyn. Mother has already met him as she sits with him in our drawing room, awaiting my arrival. Which leaves me: steadying my breathing, standing face to face with the heavy wooden doors to the room. Behind it I hear light chatter and my mother’s polite laugh. Typical.

“You can do it,” Elisa encourages quietly before entering the room to announce my presence. The muffled introduction is just clear enough for me to enter on time, and as I do, I see both my mother and Charlie rise from their seated positions. Mother’s actions are eager and peppy, but Charlie’s are anything but. He appears to have the same ‘let’s get this over with’ mentality as he sluggishly rises from his chair. Straightening the lapels of his suit, the duke walks over to somewhat tower over me. In a formal greeting, he extends his right hand and gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes; the underside of the gestures is cold and calculated.

“My name is Charlie Gillespie. Lovely to make your acquaintance, Miss Y/f/n. I thought your beauty in photographs was beyond compare, but I must say seeing you in the flesh has exceeded my expectations.” Wow, he’s really laying it on thick. And what does he mean exceeded his expectations? I allow him to take my hand in his, on which he places a courteous kiss on the back of it. I’ve never been more thankful to be wearing gloves than at this very moment. “Lady Medler was just telling me about your painting ability.”

“My ability...” I parrot, already feeling my soul leave my body. It’s clear that this man is so out of touch with reality and I can’t escape the situation fast enough.

“She tells me you pictured this,” he gestures to the wall on which is mounted a landscape painting of a tulip field in the full bloom of spring. “It’s brilliant.”

“Of course it is. I wouldn’t allow it to be displayed if it wasn’t.”

“You’ll have to excuse my daughter's candid nature.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright.” Charlie and my mother seem to already be the best of friends. Why do they even need me here? I couldn’t tell you.

“Y/n/n, dearest, you must show Charlie your rose garden before getting ready for the gala.” On the inhale I take to protest, mother gives me a harsh look which results in my mouth snapping shut. I wish she wouldn’t have brought it up because I’m looking for every reason to not spend more time with this man. Of course, that’s why she’s offered: she knows that I don’t want to spend any more time with him than I have to.

“I must, mustn't I? Right this way then.” I’m speaking to Charlie but still maintain pleading eye contact with my mother. Turning on my heel, I walk towards the mahogany doors of the drawing room, but come to a stop before moving any further. Already following, Charlie sidesteps my smaller frame to open the door for me, which I gracefully walk through with bitter strides. I keep a moderate pace, wishing that I could move quickly enough so as to lose him in the corridors. No such luck, however, when he’s gesturing for me to step through the threshold of our lavish manor. Instant karma from being so snippy with him in the drawing room takes form in the placement of his large hand on my lower back.

“You’ll have to excuse my manners back there. I wanted to make a good impression with Lady Medler.”

“Why on Earth would you want to do that?” I ask, despite no genuine curiosity behind the question.

“Well, if she is to be my mother-in-law, I should hope to gain her favor.”

“‘Gain her favor’ tell me, do you ever talk like a normal person?” My pointed question brings us both to a stop and the Duke, though taken aback, begins to smile at me. Quite perturbed by his reaction, I begin on my way to my rose garden once again. Charlie continues to walk alongside me with an arrogant smile.

“Miss Y/f/n, I-”

“Please, don’t call me that.”

“Would you prefer Y/n/n?”

“Only my mother calls me Y/n/n.” I know I’m being unnecessarily short, but I have good reasons: he’s trying to marry me!

“How shall I address you then?”

“Y/n is what I call myself.”

“Y/n? That is a nice name.”

“Well, I’m not a nice girl. So no, it’s not.”

Charlie and I have finally reached the legendary rose garden, but before I lead him through the tall hedges into the secluded area, I stop both of us by the entrance. I take a breath and open my mouth to speak, but Charlie begins to talk before I can.

“I see I don’t need to keep up appearances with you then?”

“You most certainly do not. No amount of chivalry will change my opinion on you.”

“No? And what is your opinion of me?”

“I think you’re an imperious brat with no regards to my feelings or desires.”

“An imperious brat? You hardly know me.”

“And you hardly know me, but I heard through the grapevine that you don’t ‘wish’ to marry me, you plan on doing so.” Tucking his hands into the pockets of his black pants, he looks at me with a smug smile.

“I do. Is there a problem with that? Can’t a man plan for his betrothed? Or are you one of those girls who believes that marriage should only come from spontaneous true love and whimsy?” My harshly furrowed brows fall slack as my face softens in upset.

“What’s wrong with believing marriage should be reserved for love? My parents are very much in love, and I don’t see why I shouldn’t do the same.”

“Oh, darling.” I don’t like the look he’s giving me or the tone of his voice. “Your parents fell in love as a byproduct of their marriage.”

“Mother told me that she and father were madly in love long before they were married.”

“What? No, that’s-” Charlie cuts himself off before choking out an arrogant, mocking laugh. The way he talks softly to himself only causes me to grow more confused and defensive, “I see. How clever.”

“What are you on about?”

“Your mother told you she fell in love with your father before she was wed so that you wouldn’t be so resistant to marriage.” My confused face morphs back into a resentful scowl. How could he say such ridiculous nonsense like that to my face, does he take me for a fool? “My mother wouldn’t lie to me like that.”

“It is common knowledge that your parents were resistant to one another upon first meeting. Well, sort of. It was one sided; Lady Medler refused to leave her bedroom and they had to pry the door open to get her to come outside and meet Lord Medler.”

“This is such a load of bosh.”

“It’s true. He sent her flowers before they met face to face and she threw them into the lake. Lord Medler didn’t mind her resistance, in fact, he was quite patient with her contempt. Despite all his kind gestures, Lady Medler met him with bullheaded stubbornness and resentment- kind of exactly like what you’re doing with me now.”

I blush furiously under his gaze as I realize I don’t know how to respond. Charlie notices the shy recoiling of my face and smiles politely, but I can tell he’s quite chuffed with backing me into a corner. Refusing to let him gloat any more, I decide to move forward with what I originally stopped to tell him.

“This garden is my most prized possession, and I am only showing you because my mother asked me to.”

“Understood.”

“I’m quite terrible at segues, but I need to know what color you will be wearing tonight for the ball.”

“Red. And at least you’re self aware.” With that, I turn on my left heel and step into my garden, wishing Charlie wouldn’t follow me.

***

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[nctsjiho]

NCT’s Little Sister Lim JiHo (favourite NCT x JiHo moments) | Part 2

Fan Video by “Neomu Lonely” on YouTube

(indented text = comments added by the maker of the video) Hi guys!

This been about a month in the making, so I’m sorry for the wait, but here’s part 2 of the NCT x JiHo moments! I tried to include members that I haven’t included in previous videos. If I succeeded is a whole other thing... (yeah really, this is pretty much just DREAM and 127) I hope you still enjoy the video tho!

[[Un Cut] Take #1｜'Punch' Jacket Behind the Scene]

“Wow! Wow! What’s this?” Yuta yells, his features painted with surprise as he watches JiHo enter the room.

The girl is wearing a black, one shoulder top showing of her nicely toned arms, one of which was decorated in fake tattoos and black paint marker. The boys quickly surround her once they see the fake tattoos. “Wah~ For a second I thought they were real.” Mark says completely in awe while he holds up JiHo’s left arm.

All the attention on her seems to make JiHo a bit flustered as she just hums and nods in response. “Isn’t this too sexy?” Johnny and Taeyong both say at the same time, worry spreading over Taeyong’s face while Johnny’s tone is rather teasing. “It looks good though.” Mark mumbles while continuing to inspect the drawings. “It surprisingly fits you really well.” Haechan adds, tone resembling Mark’s since he is also just busy examining the tattoos.

Yuta returns to the scene, prying JiHo away from the two youngest boys. “Okay okay boys.” A sense of authority and protectiveness fills him as he looks at Mark and Haechan. “Eyes up here from now on.” He motions towards his and JiHo’s eyes. This makes both boys flustered which causes everyone to laugh.

“You better not think about getting actual tattoos.” The Japanese boy sends JiHo a warning glare to which she just shrugs and runs away when Yuta starts yelling after her. “Don’t even think about it!”

If JiHo gets actual tattoos like she had for ‘Punch’ era I think all JiHo fans would collectively die. She even looks so good with a full sleeve! Idk who styled JiHo that era, but someone GIVE THAT PERSON A RAISE GOD DAMN!

Also ‘Punch’ era: the era Mark and Haechan started secretly simping crushing for JiHo, but I didn’t tell you that.

[DREAM VLive: 1st Place Future💚💚💚💚💚💚💚]

After the boys finish talking about their thoughts on winning first on the music show, a loud sneeze can be heard from off camera. The 7 boys turn towards the source of the sound and all sport an amused smile before Haechan, Mark and Renjun motion the person over.

It takes a few seconds, but soon enough JiHo - face covered by a mask - enters the screen and sits down next to Jeno on the ground. “JiHo is here!” Haechan yells excitedly and the other boys cheer along as JiHo waves towards the screen. “I had a schedule close by so I quickly came over once I finished.” The girl explains.

“JiHo’s eyes look really pretty today.” Mark suddenly says and makes eye contact with JiHo who just shakes her head. “No really, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you without your contact lenses.” “My favourite coloured prescription contacts got discontinued so I’ve been wearing my glasses.” She explains, pushing the glasses, perched up on her nose, a bit higher. “The fans want to see your eyes closer.” Renjun, who was reading the comments said causing Jisung, Chenle and Jeno to push the girl towards the camera.

“Hi Czennie.” Only JiHo’s eyes are visible, but it is possible to just hear the smile in JiHo’s voice. She waves at the camera enthusiastically and a small giggle leaves her lips. “Have you been listening to ‘Hello Future’ well? It’s the only album that’s allowed to be played in my house now. I can’t tell you what to do, but if you don’t keep streaming ‘Hello Future’ I’ll be really mad. Okay? I-” Renjun pulls JiHo back, scolding her for “forcing the fans” to stream their album. “You can’t say that!” He scolds but everyone can’t help but laugh.

Mark wasn’t lying tho, JiHo’s eyes did look really pretty. Some of my moots even messaged me saying they didn’t know JiHo had green eyes lol

[[Un Cut] Take #1｜'Punch' Jacket Behind the Scene]

Jungwoo is walking around asking the members about their hair colours. “Oh, what is it?” Jungwoo hums pointing the camera at Taeyong. “It is strawberry milk.” Yuta answers from the side. The question earns a chuckle from the leader. “Yeah, what is this?” He muses. They then settle on calling it ‘strawberry bubblegum’.

Jungwoo is ready to put the camera down when he suddenly swings it back up and around to face JiHo, who was sitting on the ground cross-legged next to Yuta. “And what colour is this?” Jungwoo points at the younger girl’s hair which caused everyone to laugh. Her hair was clearly black, just like it has always been - besides for the times JiHo decided to do something “wild” with her hair and dye it a dark shade of brown.

JiHo tries not to laugh and brings her hand up to caress her chin as if she’s in deep thought. “Hmmm~” She hums. “Perhaps... Black?” Yuta suggests but JiHo just shakes her head eliciting another chuckle from Jungwoo. “No... I’d say it’s more like ‘void’?” JiHo cocks her head as she says the last word. “Void?” “No wait! Maybe ‘midnight sky’?”

This time she can’t help but laugh as the boys try and fail to match her seriousness. “’Midnight sky’ sounds nice.” Jungwoo and Yuta both reach their hands out simultaneously to ruffle JiHo’s hair, but she ducks away just in time and runs away. 

This was a cute moment, but AGAIN ‘Punch’ era was actually JiHo’s era. Like she looked so good and I think that’s when I fell in love with her 😭😭

[DREAM VLive: 1st Place Future💚💚💚💚💚💚💚]

I’m sorry for using this video twice but honestly, for how short the live is, there were so many cute moments <3

While the members are caught up in their own conversations and talking to the fans, JiHo had pushed herself back against the couch nestling herself comfortably with Jisung’s legs on either side of her body. He lets his hands dangle against her shoulders and JiHo takes the opportunity to goof around a little.

She grabs both of Jisung’s hands and pulls the left one to the right and vice versa, acting like Jisung was putting her in a choke-hold. She acts as if she can’t breathe and after a few seconds lets her head fall down to the side and closes her eyes.

The girl does all of this without a sounds, so none of the boys besides Jisung notice. He only chuckles a little but doesn’t say anything.

Only after a little while does Renjun notice. And he only noticed because he was reading the comments and saw what happened after the delay had caught up. He laughs and turns to look at JiHo who was still in the same “death” position. “What are you doing?” Renjun inquires and the other boys turn to look at JiHo as well. “Jisung killed me.” The girl mumbles. Jisung laughs before adding, “Don’t worry about JiHo noona. She’s acting a bit weird right now, but it’s completely normal.” Jisung’s face sports the brightest grin as JiHo’s head shoots up to send him a glare.

Give me more Jisung and JiHo moments please! 2Ji supremacy all the way

 [[N'-139] 여름에는 청량시티🌊💚 | NATURE REPUBLIC 촬영장 비하인드]

“Everyone.” Taeyong speaks to the camera, a frown on his face as he is already shaking his head. “Do you want to see something incredible?” Johnny walks up to him and waves to the camera. “Did you see?” Taeyong asks the taller boy who nods with a smile. “Unbelievable.” Johnny adds.

It’s then that Taeyong turns the camera so it’s pointing towards the ocean. Doyoung and JiHo visible in the distance walking along the water. They seem to be laughing about something and JiHo leans up against Doyoung’s arm as she slithers her own hand around the same arm to grab his hand. They continue walking for a bit before Taeyong speaks again. “They’re finally getting along again.”

Not even a second after, Doyoung and JiHo spot the camera causing Doyoung to push the girl away. JiHo looks at him offended by his action and slaps Doyoung’s arm. The two then start to bicker, but Taeyong and Johnny are stood too far away for the camera to pick up any of the words.

“I think we spoke too soon.” Johnny sighs, but quickly follows a chuckle. “Those two love each other, but they are too embarrassed to show everyone.” Taeyong points the camera back on his face. “Please understand Czennie.” He shows a tight-lipped smile.

If you told me Doyoung and JiHo were actual siblings, I would’ve believe you. My brother and I are exactly like this, minus the sweet moments that DoHo do share...

I’m sorry this one is a bit shorter again, next time I’ll try to make it longer and include WayV as well. It’s just that we don’t have a lot of JiHo x WayV moments on camera in general :((( 

Thanks for watching and see you in the next video! Bye everyone <3

---

Side note: ⚠ Happy Taemin day!! and my birthday as well (what did I do to deserve sharing this day with an actual angel😭) I wasn’t planning to post today since I was out celebrating my birthday, but I thought it would be fun to give you guys something small. I whipped this up in a short amount of time so I’m sorry that it isn’t the best thing I’ve written, but I hope you still enjoyed it 🤍 also I wonder how many ppl read these side notes👀

Have a nice day/evening/night loves 🤍💚🤍

[amanda-glassen]

The Wonder Years: Part 8

While getting ready for her first school dance, twelve-year-old Olivia starts a path toward discovering who she is truly meant to be. Parts 1-7 can be found under the the tag #alex and liv: the wonder years

Thank you @ghostwritingcabenson​ @imaginaryoperagloves​ @cabensons​ @oliviaswifey​ and my lovely anon for all of your really sweet comments and tags.

Cover courtesy of my tumblr wifey @ghostwritingcabenson​

Seeing the brightly colored frozen yogurt shop put Olivia at ease because it was the setting of some of her best childhood memories and now she was going to experience it with her girlfriend.

Olivia did as Jamie had done for her mom and opened the car door for Alex. That small act of chivalry earned a big smile and a ‘thank you’ from Alex, which made Olivia feel as if she had butterflies in her stomach. 

“Babe, why don’t you take Alex inside?” Jamie suggested. “I want to stay out here and talk to Ollie.” Uh oh.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Serena gestured for Alex to follow her. “We can get first pick of the toppings.”

“Yeah!” Alex said excitedly. “I want chocolate chips and chocolate brownie bites.”

“Is everything okay?” Olivia asked, worried that Jamie had a suspicion that she and Alex were hiding something.

“Everything is fine,” Jamie responded. “This is a good talk, I promise.” She pulled a twenty dollar bill out of her wallet and handed it to Olivia.

“Cool! Twenty bucks!” Olivia folded the money and put it in her pocket. “Thanks, Jamie. I was saving up to buy a－”

“It’s not for you, kid,” Jamie interrupted. “It’s for you to treat Alex.”

Olivia tried to hide her disappointment. “But my mom always pays for frozen yogurt.”

Jamie made a failed attempt at stifling her laughter. “Think about it, kid. What’ll score you more points, you paying for her frozen yogurt or your mom paying?”

“Me, I guess,” Olivia groaned. “There goes my new bat.”

Jamie shook her head and wrapped her arm around Olivia to guide her toward the entrance. “I have so much to teach you, Ollie.”

Alex and Serena were already choosing their toppings when Olivia and Jamie entered the frozen yogurt shop. Olivia noticed that her mom had gotten their usual and she was eager to get the same－chocolate flavored frozen yogurt with Oreo crumbles, gummy worms and Fruity Pebbles－a tradition in the Benson household that they had named Dirt and Worms. 

“Mom, I’ll pay for me and Alex,” Olivia told her once all four cups of frozen yogurt were on the counter and ready to be weighed.

Serena took her debit card out of a pink and white polka dot Kate Spade wallet. “It’s okay, baby, I’ll get it. Save your money for that bat you’ve been wanting.” Olivia noticed her mom and Jamie exchange glances and she hoped Jamie could read her mind because she no longer had the slightest idea what to do. “On second thought, it’s probably not cool for your mom to pay for you on your first date.”

“I got this,” Olivia tried to say as smoothly as she could while she pulled out her twenty dollar bill and placed it on the counter.

“And I’m getting yours,” Jamie told Serena. “You already paid for dinner. We’re supposed to be in an equal partnership here.” After Alex and Olivia’s cups of frozen yogurt were paid for, Jamie inserted her card to pay for hers and Serena’s. 

“I paid for us to eat at Hot Dog On A Stick, not some expensive restaurant,” Serena reminded her. “That’s all we had time for after Barnes & Noble and GameStop.”

Jamie picked up their frozen yogurt cups and carried them over to the table. Olivia figured she should do the same for Alex until she saw Alex already eating brownie bites from her frozen yogurt. Better not take that away from her. “I learned an important lesson today, Ser. If I value my life, I will never attempt to take one of your fries. Is it the same with frozen yogurt?”

Serena scrunched her nose. “Yours is vanilla with strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. No wonder you want to steal some of mine.”

Within seconds of sitting down at the table, Olivia’s phone started to vibrate. It was a text from Elliot confirming he'd be at their secret meeting, but Olivia didn't want to risk her mom seeing a message from her dad come through so she decided to put her phone in her pocket. 

"What's this big science project about?" Serena asked them. "I've never seen an assignment have that effect on Olivia."

Olivia was in the middle of chewing a gummy worm, so she was grateful when her quick thinking girlfriend decided to answer. "It's the end of the year project which is worth 25% of our grade. Mrs. Rodriguez is supposed to give us more details on Monday, but my brother had her class three years ago and he said she lets her students pick the topic. Sometimes that's harder because the possibilities are endless. She also doesn't like us to pick partners because someone could get their feelings hurt if they aren't picked, so she puts us in alphabetical order. If she does that, it's fine because I'll get to work with Olivia. Alphabetically there's no one in between us. We should start brainstorming, Olivia."

The last thing Olivia wanted was to think about a science project that wasn't due for another month, but her girlfriend’s enthusiasm was contagious and the project was the only thing keeping her mom from asking questions about what was actually on her mind.

Olivia felt her phone vibrate again, except this time it wasn’t a text from Elliot or any of her other friends. It was another message from her dad that read, “Hey Sport. Wanna get some pizza tomorrow?”

“Who’s that, baby?” her mom asked her. 

“Just Elliot,” Olivia said nonchalantly. “He’s asking if I’m still coming over tomorrow to watch the game. I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

Olivia was grateful that the bathroom was a single stall so nobody could follow her in there. She pulled out her phone from her back pocket immediately after locking the door behind her and started to respond to her dad. “Yeah can we go to Another One Bites the Crust? That’s my favorite. I can meet you there at 1.”

She waited two minutes before another response came through. “Daddy/daughter day tomorrow at 1. They have those rotating basketball hoops outside. Bring your A-game.”

When she returned to their table, a feeling of guilt hit her hard and suddenly. She occasionally hid things from her mom like when she didn’t tell her she had a girlfriend, but this was the first time she had actually lied to her. It was the worst she had ever felt in her entire life and she knew that lie was only the first of many that she’d tell her mom that weekend.

Serena asked Alex about her siblings and Olivia heard Alex talk about her older brother who was fifteen and nice to her and her younger brother who was almost nine and kind of annoying. Olivia loved to hear Alex talk about her home life and her friends and her favorite movies and TV shows, but that night her mind was on her dad and how much fun the two of them were going to have the next day eating pizza and playing basketball.

“Do you have any brothers and sisters?” Alex asked Serena.

With Serena distracted by Alex’s question, Jamie took it upon herself to attempt to steal a gummy worm, but her attempt was soon thwarted by Serena gently smacking her hand. “Hey! Nope. Hands off my worms. If you wanted gummy worms, you should have added some to your frozen yogurt.”

Olivia handed Jamie a couple of her own gummy worms. “Here, Jamie. You can have some of mine. I have a whole bunch.”

Jamie took the worms and held them up to show Serena. “Unlike you, your kid actually shares.”

“What can I say?” Serena smirked. “My kid is better than me. That means I’ve succeeded as a mom.” She held Jamie’s hand on top of the table before turning to Alex. “Sorry, Alex, before we were so rudely interrupted by my gummy worm thief, I was going to tell you that my brother Kyle is two years younger than me and my sister Lexie is one year younger than me. The three of us are really close, like best friends. Kyle and I live in the same building, but Lexie moved back to California after college. She lives in Santa Monica now.”

“Lexie Benson is your sister?” Alex asked, wide eyed and completely in disbelief. “Lexie Benson, the YouTuber? I’ve seen every single one of the videos on her YouTube channel! She does these really funny videos where viewers can request what era or theme they want and she does these in-character spoofs about－” Alex started to blush. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. She’s your sister so you know all about her channel and her videos. Wait, I think I’ve even seen you in some of them!”

“Yeah, she’ll force me every time I go out to Santa Monica,” Serena smiled at her. “And don’t apologize for getting excited over something. I’ll tell Lexie about you next time I talk to her.”

“Babe, your phone,” Jamie told her as she looked down at Serena’s phone and noticed an incoming video call. 

“It’s my mom,” Serena groaned. “If I don’t answer, she’s going to keep calling.” She swiped across the screen to answer. “Hi, Mom. I’m out right now with Olivia, do you mind if I－”

“Where’s my grandbaby?” Mrs. Benson interrupted her. “I want to talk to her.”

Serena handed the phone to Olivia. “Hi, Grandma!” Olivia said excitedly. “Wanna see my girlfriend Alex? She’s having frozen yogurt with me. Me and her went on our first date tonight.”

“Hi, Mrs. Benson,” Alex said after scooting closer to Olivia. “Pleased to meet you.”

“You’re adorable!” Mrs. Benson responded. “And so well mannered. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alex. So, tell me, how is my grandbaby on a date? Does she hold open the door and pull out your chair?”

“She’s a perfect gentleman and she’s so cute and sweet and she got me a rose and frozen yogurt tonight,” Alex beamed. “I like Olivia so much.”

Olivia felt butterflies in her stomach and she wanted nothing more than to kiss Alex if they were alone. “Doesn’t Alex look like a princess?” Olivia asked.

“She looks like Princess Grace,” Mrs. Benson told her granddaughter. “She could be a classic Hollywood starlet. And you look so handsome and grown up, my darling grandbaby.”

“Jamie cut my hair,” Olivia said excitedly.

“Jamie,” Mrs. Benson said in a teasing tone of voice, hoping Serena would hear. “Tall, dark, and handsome, herself, the one woman I would consider switching teams for.”

“Mom,” Serena groaned and Olivia couldn’t help but laugh when her mom put her head down on the table in embarrassment.

Olivia handed the phone over to Jamie. “Hi, Melanie. You’re looking beautiful as always. Where are you? I can see the sunset behind you. Are you on vacation?”

“Oh, no, I’m just on our rooftop,” Mrs. Benson said nonchalantly. “Didn’t my daughter tell you about the beach house in Malibu?”

Serena took the phone from Jamie. “I have to go now, Mom. Alex has to get home soon.”

“Not so fast,” Mrs. Benson told her. “Since you neglected to tell me when your spring break was, I looked it up on Columbia’s website and saw that it’s the week after next. I’m booking your flight to LAX. You can bring Jamie so I can finally meet her in person and my grandbaby can bring her little girlfriend and before you object and say you had something planned for my grandbaby, I will save you the effort and say nothing you can plan in that gloomy state you insist on living in is as much fun as the kids will have at the beach and at Disneyland.”

“Disneyland!” Alex said excitedly. “I’ll ask my mom if I can go as soon as I get home.”

Olivia’s dream of riding the teacups together and buying Alex a pair of sparkly Minnie Mouse ears could finally come true. “Please, Mom. Please can we go? I’ll do anything.”

“Don’t be the bad guy, Serena,” Mrs. Benson told her daughter. “I can hear how happy the kids are.”

“It’s 9:45 over here, Mom,” Serena said in a frustrated tone of voice. “I have to hang up now so we can take Alex home. Bye, Mom. I love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Serena set her phone on the table and then turned to face Jamie. “One thing I hate about smartphones is that you can’t angrily close them when you wanna hang up on someone. Nothing gave me more satisfaction as a teenager than hanging up on my mom with my pink bedazzled Motorola Razr phone whenever she nagged me about something like she is right now. She completely undermines my parenting every chance she gets. What if I had something planned for Ollie?”

“At least you knew how to use that phone because, apparently, you can’t use this one,” they heard Mrs. Benson say. “I’m still on the line, Serena. I’m booking your flight and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Olivia looked across the table at her flustered mom and at Jamie who was trying to contain her laughter. The short interaction with her grandma had made all of her negative feelings go away. Tomorrow, she’d spend the afternoon with her dad and, as long as they could convince Mr. and Mrs. Cabot, she’d soon be at Disneyland with the love of her twelve-year-old life.

[captainscanadian]

Better | Bucky Barnes x Reader (Epilogue 2)

My Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Summary: You did good. No, you did better than good.

Word Count: 2505

Pairing: Doctor!Bucky x Doctor!Reader, Portia Barnes, Grant Barnes, Sarah Rogers

Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of Abuse, Mentions of Death

A/N: This is it. This is the end of an era. This is the end of me writing Better. I cannot believe I actually managed to finish a fic. Most importantly, I cannot believe so many of you have taken your time to read this and to love this story and Better!Bucky as much as I do. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you all. I am forever grateful for every single one of you. This one’s dedicated to @dramadreamer14​ because after the torture that I put her through, she needs this domestic, fluffy, “growing old together” kind of wrap-up for this fic. Pic’s not mine, credit to the owners!

20 years later...

New Hope, Pennsylvania was a quiet little town. No one ever knew that it had even existed. Even Bucky had only come to know of this small town until he had met you. Over the years, you had not questioned why your husband had been sending money orders to your hometown every single month. You knew the answer to that. But you also knew that a few years into your marriage, the payments had stopped. Bucky had not mentioned it to you, but you knew that they had stopped. You did not live under the biggest rock on earth for crying out loud.

When you had asked Bucky about it though, he did not try to hide it from you. He did not lie to your face in the name of wanting to protect you, even if he knew how much pain was behind the answer to your query. Your biological parents had tragically passed away after your childhood home had caught fire and burnt down. A kitchen fire, apparently. It had spread so quickly by the time one of the neighbors had found out and managed to call the fire department, that your parents could not be saved.

Bucky had believed that you had every right to grieve your parents, to feel completely free from them now that they were really gone for good. A fire accident in your childhood home, he had told you. Neither of them survived. As it turned out, your mother had left a will before her death, stating that whatever the remaining amount of money she had left in her bank account should go to the science teacher at your school. After all, she had signed a contract saying that she would cut all ties with you. Of course, she was not going to leave you that money. But it seemed as though, after all these years of never being able to be on the same page, your mother did understand you at some point. She knew that you owed your old teacher so much for that one night of shelter and your mother also owed her that much for ensuring that her only child had not frozen to death. And that was the end of that.

Portia Natalia Barnes never got to know her maternal grandparents, but she knew from a very young age that her mother had not been as lucky as she had been when it came to being the recipient of unconditional parental love. You and Bucky had made sure to let both of your children know that they were loved from the day they were born. You never took them or the responsibility that you had taken on as being their parents for granted. You were honest with them, allowing them to understand that their parents were not perfect. But they were human beings with their own flaws, who thrived to be better. You had given them the space and the openness to be honest with you too. If they ever felt like your parenting was unfair to them, they would tell you. You communicated with them to make sure that they understood the boundaries that you had set for them as their parents and they felt understood as well. You were much better parents that the ones you had.

As the years rolled on, Portia had left your nest to go off to Harvard. Having inherited her father photographic memory, she had been quite a smart kid. When it came to her going to college, she had managed to grab an acceptance to multiple Ivy League schools. Her father had taken it personally that she had chosen Harvard over Columbia, his own alma mater. But truth be told, Bucky was simply not willing to see his little girl go off to live on her own. He had been a very protective father.

While your daughter was attending university in Boston, your son was freaking out over the football tryouts at his high school. While neither you nor your husband was athletically talented, it seemed as though Grant had taken a particular liking to playing sport. Now a senior in high school, he was well under way of getting a football scholarship. Both of your children were doing well for themselves and you could not be any prouder.

And as for you and your James, the two of you had resigned from the hospital when your children were starting school. The two of you had agreed that the unpredictable work schedule that came with working at the hospital was not ideal when you wanted to be raising two children. Bucky had admitted that he wanted to be more present in their lives. As much as he had been raised by a nanny, he was against the idea of you hiring one.

But the time had been right, for Bucky’s friend T’Challa, who had taken over your in-laws’ private practice from them had sold it back to the two of you before moving back to Africa. You and James began working together as partners, dictating your own work hours to accommodate your school runs and running your own clinic at the shelter. The two of you had really built yourselves a life together, just for the two of you.

Of course, this did not mean that you did not get to see your friends at all. Every weekend and the holidays were spent in each other’s company, no matter how far away from each other your lives had taken you all. Even if you all had your own families now, you still made time for each other. In the end, you were all each other’s families and that was never going to change all that easily.

“Mooooom!” Your son whined as he made his way down the stairs, his feet stomping across the hardwood floor with every step he took until he reached the kitchen. For a seventeen year old, he was quite broad and tall. He sure had the built for a football player, towering over your height too. According to your mother-in-law, he certainly took on after his father. But you would not say that he only took on Bucky’s appearance; he had his father’s heart too. “Mom, Portia says she needs the car tomorrow but I’ve got practice. Can you please remind her that she doesn’t live here anymore and the car’s mine now?”

You let out a sigh as you finished chopping up the vegetables, discarding the scraps in the compost bin before walking over to the stove to check on the pasta.

“I told you. I’ll even drop you off and pick you up, you punk.” Your daughter’s voice echoed through the hallway as she followed after her brother. “Mom, I’m just meeting up with my friend for coffee. We have our project due after spring break and we were going to be working on it together.”

“It’s spring break. Why aren’t you taking a road trip to Canada and getting pissed drunk or something like a proper college kid?”

“It’s spring break. Why do you have practice, huh?” She asked her brother.

You turned off the stove before turning around to face your children, letting out a sigh of disbelief. “Have you two seriously forgotten what day it is?” You asked them as you crossed your arms against your chest.

They both looked at each other for a moment before their eyes grew wide in realization of what day it was.

“Oh shit-” Portia quickly covered her mouth. “Sorry, mom! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to forget, I... I’ll text my friend right now and cancel our study session. I promise, I’m not leaving the house for the whole day.”

“Sorry, mom...” Grant frowned as he pulled out his phone from his pocket. “I’m calling the coach and telling him that I can’t make it. Family comes first.”

“As much as I’m a little disappointed that the two of you forgot your father’s birthday, I’m glad that you two are at least fighting about study sessions and football practice.” You admitted, chuckling softly. “Help me finish up with dinner and set the table? Dad will be home soon and it’s been a while since we’ve had a family meal with all four of us.”

“Of course.” Your daughter smiled as she walked around the kitchen counter to wash her hands. “I’ll roast the vegetables.”

“I’ll drain the pasta.”

“And I’ll finish up the sauce!” You announced and the three of you worked together to finish cooking before your husband got home.

Dr. James Barnes was a lucky man. At sixty years of age, he was happily married to his wife of twenty-two years. With a successful private practice and a part-time position teaching anatomy at Columbia Medical School, he had learned to keep himself busy with work while still managing to have a family of his own. He had two wonderful children who loved him dearly and were well onto becoming responsible adults. He was not worried about their future; they were good kids.

His goddaughter on the other hand though, he was worried about her for sure. “Sarah, I’m telling you. Being my little niece does not mean that you’re going to get special treatment in my class.” With an eye roll, Bucky made his way upstairs right after he entered his home.

“But that doesn’t give you any reason to be twice as hard on me, Dr. Barnes.” She told him sternly as she watched him ascend up the stairs. She walked into the dining room, her expression a little softer as she greeted you. “Hey, Aunty Y/N.”

“Hey, sweetheart... will you be joining us for dinner this evening?” You asked your beloved niece as you finished setting the table. Just as you had been a regular visitor of the Rogers-Carter household when you had first started working with Steve and Peggy, Sarah was a frequent dinner guest as your house as well.

“Do I have a choice? I have an anatomy quiz after the break that I’m supposed to study for and my professor’s a jerk. Uncle Bucky... offered to help me study tonight.” Sarah Rogers, in the way she carried herself and spoke her mind, was her mother’s daughter. But when it came to her constant banter with Bucky, she was all Steve. “I’m telling you. If I end up dropping out of med school, it was your husband’s fault.”

“This... is exactly why I went off to Harvard.” Portia pointed out as she walked over to Sarah and pulled her into a hug. “Cheer up, Rogers.”

“Wait, I thought Uncle Bucky is your professor...”

The girls turned around to give Grant a look of disbelief.

You gave him a pat on the back. “Let’s finish setting the table, baby.”

Your husband made his way downstairs after freshening up, having changed into a pair of sweatpants and a Henley. Even after years, he still liked to separate his personal and professional lives with how he dressed. When the two of you were home, you rarely spoke of work. Your children had always been your priorities.

James’ hair had a hint of grey now. But that only made him look much more attractive to you. The years had been kind to the two of you, despite a few wrinkles here and there. Your physical appearance did not matter much to you though, for your hearts were still the same? You loved each other just as much as you did that night in your hospital room and that was never going to change.

After a long-awaited family meal, the children got busy with doing the dishes while you found yourself heading up to your room for a quick shower. By the time you had changed into a pair of pyjamas and made your way downstairs, you found Sarah and Portia huddled on the living room floor with their textbooks laying wide open around them. Grant had followed their example and grabbed himself a book to read while he laid on the couch – The Merchant of Venice, which was apparently now being taught in his high school English class. He really was his father’s son.

Bucky sat in his study, reading through his emails. As you knocked on the door and poked your head through, he looked up at you with a smile. “I wasn’t expecting any visitors at this time, doll. But I’ll take it.”

You walked into the room, making sure to close the door around you. “So, this is where you spend all of your free time after... a hard day’s work and a good family meal.” You told him with a wink.

He chuckled softly as he stood up from his seat. “Well, I do think that there’s a lot more value to my time if it’s spent in the presence of my wife.” There was a teasing tone in his voice and you knew that he had caught on.

“Hm... flattery will get you everywhere, Dr. Barnes.” You giggled as you walked up to him, leaving up to quickly peck his lips. You were cautious, for you did not want the children to see you like this. “A wise man once told me that I was capable of being so much better than what life had to offer me. Happy birthday to him, I guess.”

“I think there’s still a few hours until midnight.” He said, his eyes darting to the wall clock behind you.

You reached into the pockets of your robe and pulled out an envelope. “I just thought I might give you your present a little earlier...”

“What’s this?” Bucky asked you as he took the envelope, his eyebrow raised at you as he stepped back to retrieve the letter opener from his desk. He carefully tore through the envelope before retrieving the tickets to your romantic vacation destination.

You watched as he looked down at the tickets. “A wise man also told me that if I really wanted to live like I’m in the Merchant of Venice, all I had to do was hop on a plane.”

He turned around to give you a cheeky grin. “A romantic getaway to Venice? Really, doll?”

“I think we both need one, don’t you think? Now that Portia’s out of the house and Grant will be moving out soon.” You shrugged. “We can just travel the world like free birds, just you and me.”

“I think I’d like that.” He agreed as he walked back to you and kissed you softly.

You giggled as you kissed him back, wrapping your arms tightly around him as you took in his scent. “We did good, James...” You admitted, laying your head against his shoulder and shutting you eyes for a moment. You wanted to savor this, for every single intimate the two of you shared was precious. You still saw it as a blessing, having a wonderful husband like him and beautiful children.

“No, I think we did better, Y/N.”

[afni-fics]

Elder Scrolls DC - A Reluctant Dragonborn: Chapter 27: Dragon Rising (aftermath)

Elder Scrolls DC - A Reluctant Dragonborn: Chapter 27: Dragon Rising (aftermath) (35298 words) by C_R_Scott Chapters: 27/? Fandom: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Red Robin (Comics), DCU (Comics), Batman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Tim Drake, Lucien Flavius Additional Tags: Crossover, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Skyrim/DCU crossover, Reluctant Dovahkiin | Dragonborn, Not Beta Read, Alternate Universe - Skyrim Fusion, Modded Skyrim, Skyrim Spoilers, Tim Drake is Dragonborn | Dovahkiin, Tim Drake-centric, Trope: It sucks to be the chosen one, Trope: Trapped in another world, Trope: Kidnapped by the Call

Previous Chapter | Masterlist | >Next Chapter

Summary:

The immediate aftermath of the recent events at at Dragonsreach. Tim, Lucien, and Irileth go to have a private conversation at the local Whiterun tavern, The Bannered Mare.

It was almost funny. 

Even when he was constantly suffering from his burns shortly after Helgen, Tim had been reluctant to indulge in any of the local meads, ales, or wines offered at the taverns both in Riverwood and Whiterun. He knew he was just barely eighteen and not the legal age of consumption back home. When he drank any of the alcoholic beverages, it was due to the fact that the taverns had practically nothing else to drink and he honestly questioned the quality of some of the water he was offered. 

Now, about two weeks since Helgen and after that "meeting" with the Jarl, there was no hesitation as Tim took the first goblet of wine the waitress Saadia offered when he, Lucien, and Irileth entered The Bannered Mare. He snagged the goblet and accompanying bottle so smoothly that Saadia almost didn't notice it was gone until the clink of Septims replaced their spots on her metal serving tray. By the time she'd realized the exchange had been made, Tim was already halfway across the room, had poured out his first glass, and was tipping it to his mouth.. 

"Hey--" the dark skinned Redguard woman started to protest, but Lucien stepped in her way and offered a pained smile. 

"Sorry about my friend," he said as he took the other two empty goblets and dropped a few more coins on her tray. "But we really need that bottle right now." 

"Hulda," Irileth addressed the woman behind the bar. "I'm renting the room upstairs for them tonight. Any more food and drink they consume can go on my personal tab. We're not to be disturbed."

Hulda, the tavern's owner, nodded respectfully. "As you wish, Housecarl."

Irileth motioned for Timothy and Lucien to head up the stairs ahead of her before following behind. Once they were in the room, the Dunmer woman sighed with exasperation. "Well that all happened."

Tim had just finished filling Lucien's goblet and offered to pour one for Irileth. She looked like she wanted to decline initially, but then relented and accepted. 

Lucien swirled the dark red liquid in his goblet. "So... I suppose a toast to our new Thane is in order," he said sardonically as he raised the goblet in Tim's general direction. 

Tim rolled his eyes. "Don't you start," he complained irritably. "I still don't know what that means."

"It means the Jarl of Whiterun has given you, a perfect stranger and rumored mythical figure, a honorary noble title, along with all the power and influence behind it, with the same amount of impulse and foresight as those earlier assignments that nearly took your life," Irileth grumbled.

"The amounts of which were entirely too much of the former and not enough of the latter?" Lucien added with a sarcastic lilt to this voice

Irileth sighed at the scholar, but didn't dispute his claims.

"Why did Jarl Balgruuf give me this title in the first place?" Tim asked wearily. "I didn't do anything to deserve a reward this valuable. I feel like it's put me in the Jarl's debt!"

Irileth took a sip from her goblet and sighed. "He made you Thane not because of what you did, but who you are. Rest assured you are not in debt to him or Whiterun."

She leaned against the wall and continued her explanation. "The Jarl, Proventus, and I had spoken at length about appropriate compensation for your work and the pain and suffering you endured because of what you had been asked to do while you were healing at the Temple." She pointed at the cloak-wrapped bundle. "That along with a generous purse of Septims and a choice of a new weapon from the finest pieces Warmaiden's has to offer was to be the original compensation." 

Curiously, Tim set down his goblet so he could unwrap the parcel. His eyes lit up at the new full suit of leather armor folded neatly in front of him. He unfolded just the jacket and studied it appreciatively, leaving the pants, boots, and gloves on the table. The leather was dark brown, high quality from the feel of it, and was reinforced in strategic areas both for added protection and warmth without sacrificing range of movement. It sported a high double-folded collar that would better protect his neck and metal spaulders that would do the same for his upper arms and shoulder joints. 

"This, with the gold and the new weapon, would've been just fine with me," Tim agreed as he set the jacket down on the back of the nearby chair. "Why did the Jarl change everything at the last minute?"

"Is it because of the Greybeards and their 'summons' today?" Lucien asked.

The Dunmer nodded. "Place yourselves on the Jarl's throne. The first Dragonborn acknowledged and summoned by the Greybeards since Tiber Septim during the Second Era is witnessed in Whiterun Hold. This should have been an event of great distinction for the Jarl and his city. Unfortunately. because of his impulsive decisions earlier, that first new Dragonborn to be acknowledged in over one thousand years nearly died before he could fulfill whatever destiny the gods have in store for him." 

Tim didn't know who this Tiber Septim was, but based on the way Irileth spoke of him and the way Lucien seemed to sit up and take notice made it seem like he had another important historic figure to research as soon as he could. 

Irileth looked at Tim. "After the Watchtower battle and you were sequestered at the Temple for healing, the rumors of you being Dragonborn spread like wildfire throughout the city. Some believed immediately while others were quite skeptical. However, I was in the Plains District today when the Greybeards sent their summons." She shook her head. "As soon as that summons went out, those Nords who had been skeptical turned to believers.

"So" Lucien murmured. "Basically this whole overblown escalation of Timothy's compensation by the Jarl was essentially damage control because his actions nearly killed this Era's potential new Dragonborn. Balgruuf felt the need to immediately acknowledge and elevate Timothy's standing to show his appreciation, both to stay in good favor with his citizens and with the Divines."

"I think I can understand the need to appease is citizens, but why the Divines?" Tim asked curiously.

Lucien continued. "Well, the only way a new Dragonborn can exist in this Era at all at this point is if they were chosen and blessed by the Divines themselves. The Septim Dragonborn dynasty was extinguished in the Third Era. Some might interpret this to mean the Dragonborn themselves is a rare gift from the Divines to the world. To even inadvertently cause grave injury to the Dragonborn without adequate recompense could be seen as rejecting their gift and insulting the Gods."

Tim sighed. The more he heard about this title "Dragonborn" in connection to him, the more it felt like a heavy albatross slung around his neck. The idea that some "god" had kidnapped him from Earth just to be a "divine gift" for an alien world made his skin crawl. 

It made him feel less than human.

He shook his head to shove those thoughts back into a dark corner of his mind to be nightmare fuel for another night. "Well, what's done is done," Tim muttered.  "I don't know if I'm this Dragonborn thing everyone says I am. However, I do know I'm now a Thane, for whatever it's worth, and I've been 'summoned' by someone powerful enough to trigger small earthquakes by yelling for me, so I probably shouldn't keep them waiting." In an effort to turn the page on this day's events, he went to his backpack and pulled out his map of Skyrim before looking to Irileth. "Since I don't seem to have much of a choice in the matter, can you show us the best way to High Hrothgar?"

After getting all the information they can to prepare from Irileth, the Dunmer returns to Dragonsreach. Lucien leaves to start purchasing supplies, and Tim changes into his new gifted armor from the Jarl before heading down into the tavern for food and to write in his journal.

Note:

Author Note: Going to add a journal entry soon, then going to start the journey to High Hrothgar. I need to test a new mod, though, to add to the immersion and potentially fun screenshots. If it works, then YAY! If it doesn't, then oh well. The story will continue. If it works, I will share the name and link to the mod itself.

#elder scrolls dc#fanfiction#tim drake#skyrim fanfiction#red robin#batfam#crossover#lucien flavius#wip#afewnovelideas

[ghostmartyr]

SnK 124 Thoughts

Have some faith, Reiner.

As if we’d ever forget Han Solo.

The only nice thing about what’s happening now is that it’s forced the right priorities on people. Despite Eren saying, way back in Trost, that people all uniting to face one enemy is too rosy an idea to have a place in reality, for this one island, in these final, traumatic moments, no one wants all these people to die.

With various faces painted on it, most of our main cast on either side has always been focused on one thing: survival. Now Eren rejects that entire concept for the protection of one group. In the barest of bones, that is what every single villain of this manga has always done. Of course the only option is to reject him.

And of course Gabi, who has always been compared to Eren, who has had the most traumatic series of experiences of her young life, stands up and starts fighting.

(One in shadows, one in light. Winning all the high school book reports here.)

This is the best of Eren, in a child who has been ruined by this world just as thoroughly. Gabi will bring back her friends.

Eren chases after slavers to save a girl he doesn’t know.

Gabi runs into streets full of monsters and saves someone who hates her.

I’ve always enjoyed Eren as a protagonist (his dip into antagonist, not so much). In Trost, he takes on the burden of being a symbol of humanity’s hope, but I’ve always felt that his true symbolic nature is that he’s the one who lays claim to humanity’s outrage.

There are things in this world that are simply wrong. Righteous fury without limits is a satisfying reaction to that, and at the start of the manga, it’s something that all of Paradis has basically lost. They’ve grown complacent with their lot in life. Even when the titans invade, they don’t dream beyond reclaiming the territory that they’ve always known.

Eren’s status as a rage monster is very much a meme, and he’s very much more than that, but it has always been fitting that the main character is a bonfire that lights the sparks of the rest of the cast. Eren inspires motion. Before he has any touch of competence and plot magic, he talks and his comrades find themselves listening.

Gabi takes up that torch here.

Reiner is done (again. sorry, Reiner). The world is probably done. Gabi has spent this whole arc being some kind of done.

Gabi gets up, and goes to look for her friend. Falco follows her onto an airship; she follows him into hell.

Gabi gets up, and protects the girl who wants her dead. She faces down a titan with a weapon not meant for the job, and she wins.

Just like the young woman she murdered.

Sasha joins the Survey Corps after Trost. She comes face to face with a titan, and she falters. She fails to kill it, and it comes after her, and she’s scared. She wants to leave. She considers leaving.

Dot Pixis’ speech reignites her will.

Sasha stays, and a month later she saves her little sister.

Her little sister protects a pair of enemy child soldiers.

One of those child soldiers saves her life.

Paradis begins without a spark. Even the people who are signing up to be soldiers are mostly doing it so they won’t be seen as cowards, or so they can go further into the walls as Military Police. People who want to go outside and kill the titans are nuts. The Survey Corps is nuts. They’re a waste of taxes, and anyone who wants to join them is a suicidal idiot.

Enter Eren. Enter enough fury and impact that the fire can’t be contained in one person, and the sparks start spreading. The people who have been left to tend their own fires for years are given kindling. The people who don’t know what it’s like to not be freezing cold are given a taste of warmth.

For a series that begins in stagnation, a protagonist devoted to movement is going to inspire the most change.

Then he decides to commit genocide and ruin everything, but hey, look at how much that’s inspiring people to get along!

Eren, you’re a fucking disaster.

Niccolo basically hands us the series’ thesis on a silver platter, so I’ll refrain from trying to fit his quotes into anything resembling a paragraph.

Niccolo is not Eldian.

Eldians are the one with the ability to literally transform into monsters. A physical manifestation of the horrors all humans are capable of if you take away their reason. That’s why the world calls them devils. They’re all a bunch of ticking time bombs just waiting to go off; why wouldn’t the world condemn, hate, and fear that?

Those ticking time bombs always take at least one more person willing to start the timer for them.

In the current era, Marley has been the force happily strapping bombs to children’s chests.

Niccolo hits on the truest point. From someone who is not Eldian, who cannot physically manifest the horrors all around them that could not exist without certain genetics--

Niccolo has a devil inside of him, too. He’s given in to it. He has been a monster, so lost in his despair that he’s willing to kill children.

The true enemy of this world is not titans. It’s falling prey to the demons every human carries inside. That is the universal human experience, and everywhere people fall in that fight, evil follows.

Titans exist because a man rapes a slave and has her children eat her.

That evil is a fault of human nature, not blood.

Niccolo and Gabi have been the monsters.

Unlike most titans, they have the option of coming back. They’ve had the fortune to live long enough that they can come back. Hell, it might be because she hits the bargaining phase, but even this chapter Gabi goes from suggesting killing Eren to talking to him and using his power for something actually useful.

-pats Gabi on the head-

Not bad, kiddo.

To the left, we have Jean and Connie.

Hell.

Connie’s simplest (as well as the most exciting, because he’s running off to Wall Rose territory with Falco, who has Ymir’s memories), and rather devastating. For four years, his mother has been a titan. Unable to move. She’s his only remaining family. Everyone else in his village, Connie spent their last night alive praying that they would die. He’s one of the three people left who remember Utgard.

Being trapped on a tower in the middle of the night, being hunted for sport by people he’s known all his life.

On Zeke’s command.

The man Paradis is forced to consider an ally. The man Connie is not allowed to touch. The man who is still, years later, turning people into titans. The man one of his closest friends ostensibly betrays them for.

After all that, his friends have someone who can save his mom, and they try to tell him no. Because that might hurt the feelings of their enemies. People like Reiner, for instance. The guy Connie still cries for in Return to Shiganshina.

Don’t worry about your mother, Connie. Worry about the feelings of everyone else.

Also Sasha is dead and this kid’s bestie pulled the trigger.

But seriously Connie, chill.

[chill not found]

Connie has, frankly, done a fantastic job holding everything together. The fact that he’s only snapping now speaks greatly to his character, and leaves me not too concerned about Falco. Connie ranks as one of the lowest on who’s left of people who would be willing to kill a child. Even if it’s for his mother, if Falco’s awake, I don’t think Connie can do it.

...If he can, the manga will have actually found a way to get even darker, which, if we’re being honest, I sort of thought we were beyond at this point, so flip a coin I guess.

Jean likewise has some of my favorite material in this chapter. He’s grown into a far better commander than he was at Trost, and having the terrain duplicated so well only emphasizes it.

But as ever, the true entertainment comes from Marco.

Who is also dead.

Yes, still.

“You’re not a strong person... so you can really understand how weak people feel.”

Jean is not wrong that destroying the rest of the world sort of fixes Paradis’ main problems. The issue is that it’s horrifically immoral, not that it wouldn’t be effective (until a civil war breaks out).

Because everyone spent all their time hating them, their only protection was murdering them all. And it’s all on one person’s decisions. They’re hardly involved, aren’t they? If they sit back and do nothing, it’s just karma, right? What could they possibly do at this point?

“But you’re also good at recognizing what’s going on at any given moment. You know exactly what needs to be done. I mean... most humans are weak, including me... But if I got an order from someone who saw things like I do... no matter how tough it was, I’d do my damnedest to carry it out.”

Jean’s right. They do reap the benefits of this horrible choice. No more complicated politics. Just a blank slate to do better on. Everyone on Paradis gets to live. Without putting too fine a point on it, that’s an argument we’re probably all familiar with, and here a character is, pointing it all out.

This fixes all their problems. Good, right?

No.

Because standing back and doing nothing while genocide is committed is fucking wrong.

That’s a question this series has grappled with from the beginning; which is more important, survival or doing what’s right?

In the start, we have a protagonist who is fully comfortable throwing his own life away in the name of doing what’s right. At the moment, he’s giving every appearance of being fully comfortable throwing away everyone else’s life in the name of keeping the people he cares about alive.

This chapter, we have Connie arguing for his mom’s life over someone more politically relevant’s.

Bringing back another fandom favorite, Serum Bowl pretty much locks these arguments in a cage and pokes them gently with an assault rifle.

Survival says Erwin. Armin doesn’t matter, except to Eren and Mikasa. Erwin matters to Levi in a way he doesn’t to them. What’s right falls to the floor except to be brandished like a machete against the other side’s wants. Hange has to swoop in and pick it up, and by then Floch’s involved and clubbing everyone over the head with his newfound fanaticism.

Once it’s gotten to that point, humanity’s continued survival still says Erwin.

It’s still saving a man’s life.

A man who will die without this intervention.

For the reason of bringing him back to life to suffer in everyone’s place.

It’s pragmatic, and it truly is best for humanity’s survival beyond the walls.

It is also deeply unkind.

Send these thousands of people to their deaths so  the rest can live. Eat each other. Die, die, and die until someone can live. Anything that promotes survival is, in fact, the right choice.

In the Female Titan arc, when Armin and Jean are watching the full extent of Erwin’s plan in front of their eyes, Armin says that Erwin might very well be evil for it, but given where they are, that’s a good thing. That someone strong enough to be that measured with their few remaining lives is in control--even if he’s committing a moral evil, he’s protecting something more important.

It is the preliminary version of Floch’s eventual conclusion.

They need a devil to ensure their survival.

Levi ultimately rejects that.

He doesn’t bring a man back to life so that he can bear their burdens.

It’s one of the smaller goods of the series. After a life of suffering through what is necessary, Levi chooses to release Erwin from it, even though he’s still tactically essential. Again and again people have discussed how much it would help if one more strategist was out Paradis’ table in these times. Levi’s decision is what prevents the most experienced from taking a seat.

Levi picks to be kind over making the choice that more properly secures survival.

Because the survival of what? More choices leading down the exact same road? The endless cycle of sacrifice that’s turned human bodies into resources instead of recognizing them as people?

Titanization at its core?

In the Serum Bowl, Levi doesn’t choose who he wants to survive. He chooses what. He chooses to recognize a man as human instead of a commodity. Something the two brats screaming at him couldn’t let go of. Something he couldn’t let go of.

Do you want to survive, or create a world worth surviving in?

Eren’s actions will destroy the world beyond the walls he always wanted to see. Indiscriminately. Some of it deserves destruction and worse. The parts that don’t will be swept away all the same.

This plan creates the world the First King told them they all lived in; there is Paradis, and nothing beyond it. The rest of humanity is dead.

Thanks to forfeiting all humanity.

And I guess if anyone on the island has a problem with it, kill them too. Also anyone who encourages anyone to have a problem with it. Just set up your secret task force, give the names, and keep those named living in terror for a century until one of them becoming a serial killer in response seems perfectly reasonable.

For those in need of the reminder, Karl is a douche.

Karl thought genocide was such a bad thing that he committed genocide over it, but it’s okay because his genocide was smaller.

Eren thinks genocide is such a bad thing he’s set up to commit genocide over it, but it’s okay because his genocide is going to be so big it’s going to end all genocides. Until Floch remembers he has a gun, probably. Which seems to be always. In which case this genocide will lead to a series of smaller genocides, eventually leading to not enough people being alive for genocide to be committed.

Curing the world of genocide once and for all.

Yay.

.

What I’m saying is that genocide is bad.

Full stop.

Genocide is bad.

-draws underlines-

-draws angry grrr face-

Bad.

Perhaps maybe these people should stop doing it.

For all the moral reasons, sure, but since we’re clearly beyond that point, maybe someone could just quietly suggest with the force of the world ending that maybe imitating the exact behavior that led to literally all of our cast’s problems is not the best move.

Also, Floch shouldn’t get to point a gun at Yelena’s head. Only Yelena gets to hold guns to people’s heads. She makes it cool. Floch makes everyone wonder why Floch still hasn’t died, only to remember that ah, yes, of course people like Floch don’t die.

BUT HEY, AT LEAST THEY KILLED ALL THE TITANS THAT USED TO BE THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS. I’M SURE THAT’S NOT RELATED TO FLOCH’S GOOD MOOD AT ALL.

You know, it’s not that things are continuing to get worse. They are simply following the roadmap of horror we were handed in the brochure for this arc. None of this is new, it’s just now in play. So it’s not getting worse, it always was worse.

...Yelena, just take the gun and shoot Floch before you die. I feel like that’s the fastest path to something good happening.

Let’s see... points to all our kidlets being a dominant force against titans now. Them Trost Redux feels. Points to Jean realizing that Eren has power of friendshipped himself into villain status (allegedly). Points to Armin remembering how Pixis gave the humans of Paradis their first victory. Points to all of Sasha’s family because I like them.

Then that’s the chapter.

HOW YOU FEELING, ANNIE FANS?

[hungryflowers]

Let Me Fall in Love With You

RadioHusk Week Prompt Day 2: To Love a Dumbass

Chapter 2: I’d Fumble For You

Parties, different versions of entertainment, highly crowded venues with loud, obnoxious music was not Husk’s scene. The only silver lining that would come from being in public with a bunch of lowlives, worst of the worsts and generally unpleasant assholes would have to be the free tab on booze. 

So when Alastor invited Husk out for a night on the town, the old man thought it was going to be the same abhorrent experience of debauchery, raucousness, and vileness he grew to expect whenever he went out. In contrast what he was going to go and experience was something he never knew he wanted to feel in his time in this hovel of Hell. 

When he saw this ‘Radio Demon’ next, his eyes were stuck on the swanky suit he sported as he opened the door to his ratty ass apartment. 

“Darling you are not going to my party like this are you?” The grinning idiot gestured to his body, making the cat look himself over. 

“What party? And also, why the fuck do you care about how I look? I don’t even like being around you, so seeing me is already enough.” Husk snapped as his tail swished to showcase his physical agitation. 

“I care enough because you are my guest! I told every Sinner in my territory about you and me, so it is a given that if you’re my beau for the night, you must look the part.” He stepped inside the house, dark red velvet coat tails tipped in gold trailed behind him as he went into the male’s living space without any actual consent. 

“Beau?! I ain’t your fuckin’ beau. I ain’t nobody’s bottom boy! So get the fuck out of my house!”

“Please, Husker...”

“What the fuck did you just call me? Name’s Husk fuckface! Not Husker, not Husky, or some stupid shit like that! Husk!” He snarled at the pet name.

Alastor kept his gaze fixed on the cat the whole tangent. He became increasingly aware of the affect this feline was having on him. Golly, he wanted to get in it with the male for a great while, he wanted Husk to vent to him, or merely yell at him. What a way to thrive on his companionship. 

“Deeply sorry about that Husk, my dear. Now that you have concluded, may we get you all set for the special get together?” Alastor leant over the huffing, puffed up male. Husk was about to snarl again when something flickered up his wall. He screamed, body hiking high as a shadow swirled around his feet. 

“What the fuck is that?! What is it doing?!” The male hopped on the closest thing to get away from the black ick on the floor.

“My assistant. Don’t mind him, he just likes being in business that he has no involvement in.” Alastor tipped his head, waving his hand to dismiss the shadowy being. The thing shared the cutout physical form of the one it was conjured from, it lingering on his shoulder like a living attachment. Blue eyes squinted at the feline while skinny arms jutted out to grab at him with willow long fingers. The deer demon swatted the hands away, “Shame on you! Did I not just try to will you away? Off it now! Shoo. Leave this beauty alone.”

The thing frowned, even as Alastor held his grin. The puppy eyes not changing his mind in the slightest. An unsound huff left the creature as it faded out somewhere in the room. 

Husk went about pointing at the spot where it had been, a wobbly gargle of questions would have fallen from his frozen mouth but Alastor was already grabbing the cat up to have him prepared for the unknown event tonight.

After nearly snarling at the bastard to piss off for nearly an hour and a half, Husk was resigned to his fate. The demon made it hard for him to say no, let alone give him a physical out. He, maybe, could be able to endure a night with this grinning loon. What was the worst that could happen? 

“Ready, my beau?” Alastor bowed as he opened the door to his swanky looking car; a deep, cherry wine red mobile that kept to his aesthetic and intrigue. 

Husk’s chest rose in annoyance, otherwise not correcting the demon. He sat down on the posh, plump looking white leather seats. He didn’t feel like sitting in front with Alastor; not sure what he could possibly try. 

“You still haven’t told me about this party you have for me. Where the hell is it?”

“Oh! You’ll enjoy it! It’s quite a good time. And it’s a special surprise for you. I’m not going to just open up and tell you everything,” His claws went around Husk’s, raising it to his cheek to rub the fur there. The cat was fighting for his paw back when Alastor stated, “There is also unlimited alcohol, if that’s something you are into. What am I saying? Of course you are!!” He laughed as they pulled out of the driveway. 

Two words caused Husk to stop fighting for his paw: Unlimited. Alcohol. Maybe this Radio Demon character wasn’t as weird as he thought.

“You got wine?” Husk asked, short and simple. A faint smile coming to his face when Alastor nodded at him without looking, “Beer?”, Another nod. “Whiskey.” 

“Yes my dear. Everything and all types you can have and want! I never entertain guests with a dry party.” He snuggled deeper in the relaxed paw. 

There wasn’t much to be said after that, the cat demon sitting through the car ride, blood buzzing, chest at a rattle, fur feeling a little staticky. Perhaps this would be different.

Their arrival was around eleven at night, the allure of the blood moon added appeal to the not at all shabby joint they were at. Husk rolled down the window to listen to the sounds of an era that thrive on the songs of their time. Jazz music blew from trumpets and saxophones, scat man swayed to the beats they made on the fly. Each corner of the building glowed, more bathed in iridescent green lighting. Some came from lightbulbs in sconces, another light source were firelights in lanterns at the entrances. A black, intimidating oak door held all the liveliness on the inside. Neon words flitted in the cat’s vision; the words in bold cursive, the lettering swirling and winding over on another. He could make out the first word before Alastor put his hand on his shoulder, somewhat jostling him. 

“Let’s make our grand entrance shall we?” He hopped out the car, that Husk never knew had stopped, and opened the older man’s door to escort him out. 

“What the hell is this place?” Husk adjusted the oversized coat the deer demon gave him to cover up his outfit underneath, he felt like a dame on her first night out.

“Husker... this is my establishment for the most cultured, most affluent of us Sinners. A cabaret of illicit senses that must be sated by only the most delicious delights and decadences of the afterlife! Welcome to Lé VooDoo Parlóur. Isn’t it magnificent?!” He brought Husk in for a side hug that didn’t feel comfortable. 

“This rat house is your joint? Ha! I’ve seen better hole in the walls in the red light district.”

“Yes, but are they as ceaselessly classy as this?” He asked as he pulled up Husk’s chin to look better into his eyes, made softly golden by the effects of the lights.

Husk grumbled but thought of no other place that could be like this. He had only been to a jazz bar in Hell once, and the music was below shit quality. The booze was the only thing that kept him there, if not for the winking dandy damsel and drunk jack offs that tried to pull him from the music for a cheap thrill. He fancied himself a fella of cheap tastes and vulgar etiquette. 

“Fine, I’ll let you embarrass yourself by dragging me into this fancy hole. Lead the way.” Husk pulled on his coat as Alastor pulled on his arm to guide them to the imposing looking oak doors. On the french doors were weaved intricate spiraling patterns and odd runes that didn’t spell out anything in the cat’s language. 

Alastor knocked on both doors with a racking pattern. They waited for a moment when one came open. Husk could have imagined it came open on its own, but a graveling voice came from behind the door. 

“Password.” Very simple, too threatening.

“William. We’ve been over this. You know my knock. When you hear me knock, I enter. I don’t need a password for my own Parlóur.” The grin stayed in spite of the agitation fogging his tone. 

“Al? You’re more than forty-five minutes late. I should make you say the password just for that.” The grizzle soften a touch as a reptile demon, most likely a crocodile, pushed back the door. 

“I was getting my plus one ready. I did tell you I was having a guest,” His grin could not possibly get wider as he shuffled Husk closer, “William, this is my beau, Husk. Husk, William!” 

Husk did not want to shake the croc’s hand. It was only from reluctance he did anyways. 

“Nice. Get your ass in here. And you better apologize to your guest for waiting, Al.”

“My dear William. I owe them no such thing. The fact that showed up at all is the compensation they pay for entering my bar.” Alastor dropped his lighter over jacket to reveal his choice of wardrobe for the evening. He sported his dark red, much darker than blood, overcoat with golden stenciling over the chest, arms and shoulders. On his shoulders were long strings gold tassels, a black and red top hat on the top of his head, covering up the stubs he had as antlers. His bottoms were pinstriped and straight legged waist high pants that were tucked by a formal black undershirt. The top of his neck had been covered, showing off the black, red and gold bowtie that rest right atop it. 

A microphone stand was his choice in what Husk believed to be a cane of some sort. He looked over the gold laced coat tails of the demon’s long coat, the fabric dripping over his red and black pants. 

“Let me have your poncho, dear.” The words getting Husk out whatever weird trance he was swept in. He pulled it off to hand to Alastor. Very little adjusting had to be made for Husk’s wears for the night. From top to bottom, he was dressed in a dazzling, eye-catching red and white. Sitting atop his head, a top hat, red dominated with a silk white band laced around the felt, sat in between his ears. His suit jacket was of crimson everywhere except the lapels, a white waistcoat held him in snug yet loose, the fabric a sturdy satin. His lower half has pinstriped red, flowing pants that covered his feet, his tail swishing out in leisure. 

As they moved through the long halls the music became a touch louder. As did the conversations and laughter of a get together. He wasn’t sure what he would expect as the double doors opened.

The party was like nothing Husk had ever seen before. Let alone experienced since his time here. He half expected all kinds of raunchy, wild and vulgar manners to be presented here. What he got was a semi loud, not at all wild, flavorous swing of delights to all senses. Sinners were dancing, singing, laughing and playing on instruments all around. There was enough food and cocktails to go about to everyone. On a grand stage was a female, locks of silver, and a voice like sweet wine as he caressed the microphone like a lover at night. Her slim form was dripping from head to toe in rose red, the flowing material barely showing her ankles as she serenaded the crowd. 

They arrived as her song ended, the sinners extending her a roaring applause along with bouquets of cut flowers. She tipped in a humbled bow as she exited the stage behind a burgundy carpet. 

“Let’s get you to your seat. I have a special, private area just for the both of us.” He pulled him along as the announcer struck up a jazz band. The band was softer but played strongly. The song was more than enough for some Sinners to move out their seats with their partners for the evening. Husk barely resisted the urge to follow a fox demon in a green, short dress. 

Alastor took them behind a purple curtain to reveal a more private sector of the parlor. There had to have been at least a dozen velvet booths here. And Alastor sat him down at the one closest to a smaller stage. 

“Order what you want. It’s all on me dear. I’m going to let our guests know you have arrived.” Alastor didn’t sit as he moved away from the slightly nervous cat demon. The lights in the room were blossoming ripples of green and purple. He tapped at the marble table as he awaited a server to bring him some booze for the night. He made it a point to try and get plastered on a much free booze he could wrap his paws on. 

“S’cuse me. Ya’ll have any absinthe in here?” Husk asked over the light piano. 

The sever, a winged bat demon nodded, a smile coming to his features, “Sure. Do you want a cup or a bottle?”

“I can get a bottle?!” Husk couldn’t believe this was true. He’s always wanted to try that shit, but no lower tier liquor stores carried it, so he drowned on other things, “Then shit, I’ll have the whole bottle then.” He laughed. 

“Perfect, I’ll have that right out for you.” And then he was gone. Quite the night this would be.

The next time he saw Alastor again, the grinning shithead was on the stage. Why? Husk could not deduce. Or was just tipsy enough to not ask. But his ears perked up the demon addressed the small, private crowd.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, whether you be a Saint or a Sinner, please give me your attention,” Alastor spoke as he removed his velvet jacket to show off his red and black waistcoat. The spare creatures in the room acknowledged him, Husk being amongst them, “I have opened my long retired Parlor up for a very special occasion. And that is for a very special significant of mine that I have recently taken up as my own.” 

Oh! Oh Fuck! Oh shit! Wait, what the fuck?!

“Please listen to this very dedication that I proposed. He’s quite shy, but will come around. This is for you...”, ‘Don’t you fucking say it’. Husk’s brain roared in dread, “Husker.” ‘Motherfucker!’ Husk wanted to physically shuck the husky bottle of absinthe at the Radio Demon for just mentioning him. The feline put his paws over his head as the crowd awed and clapped for Alastor. He was going to fucking kill him! Once this was over, he was going to die. Again!

The band awaited for Alastor’s cue, a side glance and a nod, before beginning. The music came softly... fleeting in feeling as Alastor closed his eyes and began, 

‘A summer romance

Hasn't a ghost of a chance

I know But a summer romance Should have a chance To grow

Septembers nearly over

The weather will be here There won't be time to live and laugh and love again This yearIf you and I could linger Until that early snow

Perhaps this romance might find time to grow’

“Oh shit, oh fuck!” Husk gasped out in exasperation, wings going over his head as he listened to the lyrics. He locked eyes with Alastor a couple of times, the younger man’s smile going fond as he continued,’

‘A love that is happy and meaning Because uncertain and heeding When weather brings its promise of Spring and a brand new year to love him

I wish you would remember

I know you won't recall We have discarded This romance at all’

This bastard wasn’t being eccentric. Not going off like a madman about an apparent love confession. He was singing, not only singing... He was straight up serenading him. He continued the whole way through until the music and lyrics came to an end, and a loud applause and whistles followed. Husk drank from the bottle, a hard ass double, triple as it went down his throat. He couldn’t care to discern the taste; he just had to get piss drunk as fast as he could. 

“I hope you had a fantastic night! I know I sure did!” Alastor looked over at Husk, who was so drunk he ended up falling asleep on the ride home. It was well past one in the morning, so Alastor suspected that that was enough partying for one night. Alastor was so high on his new found feeling for this feline that he didn’t care about how the male cat cursed, swung and swore at him in his drunken haze. It would wear off soon anyways and then they’d make more memories. What a thrill!

The car came to a stop in front of the old male’s home, the slobbering cat too inebriated, and sleepy to move himself out of the car. Alastor tutted as he opened the male’s door and dragged into his home. He had to fish for the right key, but once inside it was smooth enough from there. And the cat demon still hadn’t awoke. He pulled him up so that he could try to make him walk up the stairs, which proved to be a bad idea. He ended up levitating the large, heavy beast into his filthy room; content to lay him atop the blankets.

“Goodnight beloved.” He pressed his face into the cat’s cheek before walking out of the room, rounding the staircase and left the home of his newfound romance. Or was it infatuation? Huh, he could feel stupid for things like these.

Husk woke up sick as fuck, some god forsaken gurgling coming up from his throat as he rushed into his bathroom, tripping over his own tail as he slumped against the toilet. He couldn’t recall he felt this kind of miserable but the absinthe being drained from his guts did make the dream of Alastor singing to him sound less real. He flushed his nasty contents before getting up. He burped, the smell foul as he headed into his kitchen. While he scampered for a meal, he found a paper letter on the coffee table by a wrapped box. He examined the parchment, sealed by red wax, then opened it. Inside the contents it read’

‘That song was the best, if not stupidest thing I offered up to you.

I intend to give you more than serenades at the blood moon, my Husker.

P.S I have a special treat for you. More to come,

   Alastor.

Husk looked over the letter a couple times before throwing it, going to the box to see what this idiot had in store. What he got was exactly what he was thinking of: A full course meal, breakfast wrapped up well, still steaming. ‘What the fuck?’ He mouthed out the though, but did not much else as he went to devour the food.

Was there coming back from this dumbass show of affection? Husk thought no. There was no way he could ever think differently of an idiot in love. He was beginning to assume he’d soon be one.

[middleearth2asgard]

Halloween with the Avengers

“Here you go, sweet cheeks,” Tony said with a wink and a smile as he handed you an envelope over your breakfast.

“What is this?” You asked once you’d finished chewing.

“Open it and find out,” he replied simply before turning and heading back out the door, humming a happy tune as he did so.

With a shrug, you tore open the envelope to find a party invitation inside. It was for an Avengers-only (What was that about? That was very unlike Tony), costumes-required Halloween party that was to be held at the training facility on the evening of October 31st.

You were in the middle of reading all of the costume rules (which clearly stated that wearing your superhero uniform did NOT count) when Natasha entered the kitchen holding her invitation in the air.

“Well, do you have any idea what this is about?” She asked.

“You mean why is Tony throwing a party here at the facility and not inviting anyone but us? No idea. He rushed out of here before I even got the thing open.”

“I’m not the only one who thinks it’s odd, right?”

“No, he’s probably up to something. At least that’s my guess.”

“You going to go? Well, it’s here, but you know what I mean.”

“Don’t know of any reason not to. It’ll be fun. As long as no one kills each other, that is.”

——————

 

“I’m not going,” was Clint’s answer to your question about what he was going to wear to the party.

“What do you mean you’re not going?” You asked.

“I mean I’m not going. I’ve got better things to do,” he replied, plopping down on the couch across from you.

“Like what?”

“Like not go to the party of the guy that put me in jail.”

“Clint, come on, you know he wasn’t responsible for that. Not really.”

“He’s got a point, y/n,” Bucky said. “He gave me an invitation too, and considering our history, it was awkward. I just said ‘thanks’ and decided I was definitely not going.”

“Guys,” You began, “I talked to him. He wants all of us to have a fresh start. Try to become a team and all that. The least you can do is show up and give it a go. Please?”

You gave them your best puppy dog eyes and Clint was the first one to cave.

“Fine, I’ll go,” he said with a sigh.

“Me too,” Bucky added.

“Good! So, do either of you have any ideas for your costume?”

“Are you talking about Tony’s party?” Steve asked as he entered the room.

“Yeah, I was asking them what they’re going to wear. What about you, Steve?”

“I don’t have a clue. Neither does Sam. I thought about some kind of soldier’s uniform, but that seems sort of predictable.”

“I could help you guys out, if you want?”

“Did I hear you say you were going to assist them with their party attire?” Thor asked from where he had just appeared in the doorway. Without giving you time to answer, he continued, “Would you mind helping me as well?”

“Of course not, Thor. I’d be happy to.”

“Too bad you decided not to go, Loki. Y/n is going to help me dress for the evening,” Thor said over his shoulder.

“Well, I never actually said I wasn’t going,” Loki said as he slid past his brother to give you a large smile. “I am putting myself into your very capable hands.”

Clint let out an annoyed groan from where he was lying on the couch.

“What about you, Hawk? Do you also require my assistance?”

“I appreciate the offer, baby, but I’ve already got something in mind.”

——————

You only had a few days to figure out six different costumes, including your own. Why did you ever offer to help any of them? This was going to be a disaster.

By the time the evening of October 29th rolled around, you still hadn’t come up with a single idea. You were lying in bed, trying to decide what to watch, when you suddenly had an epiphany. You hopped up and ran out of your room to find that Bucky, Sam, and Steve were thankfully still up.

“Ok, I have three questions for you guys. Steve, do you have a good suit?”

“Yeah.”

“Great! Do you and Bucky mind shaving?”

They looked at each and shrugged before saying “no.”

“Awesome! Sam, are your ears pierced by any chance?”

“No.”

“Okay, I’ll have to find clip-ons then. Thanks!”

Then you ran back to your bedroom as quickly as you had left it, leaving three confused men in your wake.

Smiling happily, you said to yourself, “Four down and only two to go.”

——————

On the night of the party, you spread each of their outfits out on their beds, complete with written instructions on how to perfect the look. Your own costume was relatively simple. The only difficulty was the hair, but you managed to get the overall effect close enough that it shouldn’t matter.

As you looked over yourself in the mirror, you were interrupted by a knock on your door. You opened it to find a clean-shaven Bucky standing there.

“Well, how do I look?” he asked.

“The hair is all wrong. Come here,” you said, pulling him over to your vanity and pushing him down on the seat.

“You told me to pull it up,” he said defensively.

You snatched the ball cap off his head and pulled the tie out of his hair, ruining his ponytail.

“I meant pull it up in a way that the cap would hide how long it is,” you said as you ran your fingers through his dark hair.

He sighed softly and leaned his head back until it was resting against your body.

“This is nice,” he whispered, smiling up at you.

Returning the smile, you replied, “I can’t fix your hair like this.”

He let out a playful huff and sat up straight so you could finish styling his hair. When you were satisfied, you put the cap back on his head and nodded your approval. He stood up and you studied him from head to toe. From the blue cap all the way down to the black and white Converse, he looked perfect.

“You look great,” you said.

“Just great? I was hoping for drop dead gorgeous,” he said, earning a laugh from you.

“That compliment is reserved for me,” Steve interjected from where he now leaned against your bedroom door.

His assessment wasn’t far off. He wore a dark suit and blue tie that was a spot on match for his eyes. He made for a truly stunning sight.

As you stared at him, you actually found yourself at a loss for words. Luckily, you were saved by Sam coming into view. Honestly, if you hadn’t been so distracted by Steve, you probably would have heard his pounds of gold chains jingling long before he reached your room.

Steve’s eyebrows shot up when he saw him, and Bucky snorted before breaking down into laughter.

“Shut up,” Sam growled.

Walking towards him, you placed your hands on his arms and said, “I think for tonight, ‘Shut up, fool’ would be the more appropriate response.”

“I hate you,” he muttered.

“No, you don’t,” you said, reaching up and thumping his large feather earring with one finger.

Pulling a cigar out of your breast pocket, you put it between your teeth and said with a grin, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

—————

“Oh my god, you came as the A-Team,” Clint said when he saw the four of you. Directing his next comment to you, he added, “And I didn’t think I could be any crazier about you.”

“Oh, shut up, Clint,” you said with a laugh while giving him a hug. “Or do I have to call you Indiana Jones tonight? That costume is spot on. You even have the whip.”

“I was hoping you’d notice that part,” he said in a low voice that made your cheeks feel hot.

Before you could think of a response, Natasha and Bruce walked over to join you.

“Hey, your costumes turned out great!” Bruce said. “Can you guess who we are?”

You stared blankly at the pair of them. Bruce was wearing a suit and Natasha had on a 90’s era pantsuit, neither of which gave you any idea who they were dressed as. You noticed Bruce’s hopeful expression and quickly turned to look at Natasha, hoping she’d give you some kind of hint. She silently mouthed something that you didn’t catch, then crossed her two index fingers over each other to form an “X”.

“Mulder and Scully, of course!” You blurted out as if it was completely obvious.

“Yeah! See, I told you people would get it, Natasha. She thought it looked too ordinary.”

“Not at all,” you lied.

“Oh, excuse me,” Bruce said. “I’ll be right back.”

After he was out of hearing range, Natasha said, “You didn’t have a clue, did you?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Good evening, ladies,” Tony said as he slid up next to you with a pipe hanging out of his mouth.

“Sherlock Holmes?” You asked.

“Mmhm, What do you think?” he asked, holding his arms out and doing a little spin.

Glancing over his shoulder, you said, “I think I see two of you.”

He turned quickly towards the entrance and swore under his breath when he saw Stephen Strange wearing the exact same outfit.

“What the hell?!” Tony called out.

Even from that distance, you saw Stephen’s face drop as his features took on a disappointed and annoyed expression.

“Seriously?” Stephen asked once he had joined you. “We look ridiculous. People are going to think we matched on purpose.”

“Uh, they’re definitely not going to think that about me. You maybe, but not me,” Tony said. “And, by the way, that’s the worst attempt at a British accent I’ve ever heard.”

“So, What did you pick out for Thor and Loki?” Natasha asked, changing the subject.

“They were actually really tough to come up with good ideas for, so if you say their costumes suck it won’t hurt my feelings. Well, you can see for yourself. There they are.”

Thor was still sporting a large grin in spite of the fact that you made him wear his eyepatch to go along with his pirate costume. Beside him, Loki seemed to be having a hard time adjusting to his fake vampire fangs. He kept pushing them back up like a child with an oversized retainer. Thor waved to you above his head before the two of them crossed the room to join you.

“Don’t you two...I’m sorry, you three...look handsome tonight,” you said, petting the fake parrot that sat on Thor’s shoulder.

“It is all thanks to you, y/n. You did a truly excellent job!” Thor said. He reached over, took your hand in his, and gave it a playful kiss which made you giggle.

After shooting his brother an angry glare, Loki grabbed your other hand and said, “Yes, you did wonderfully. Thank you, darling.”

He pulled the hand he was holding up to his mouth, but before his lips made contact with your skin, his fangs fell out enough to bump you. He sighed in annoyance, pushed them back in, then planted a soft kiss on your hand that lasted much longer than his brother’s had.

You tried not to show your embarrassment at their attention and muttered a quiet, “You’re welcome.”

“So, What am I supposed to be exactly?” Loki asked you.

“A vampire. You bite people on the neck and drink their blood. And by people I mean young, attractive women usually.”

“Oh, really?” he asked with a heightened level of interest to his voice as he eyed your neck with a fanged smile.

“Down, Boy,” Tony said. “Or I’ll have Mulder and Scully here drive a wooden stake through your heart.”

“Uh, Tony?” Bruce said as he rejoined the group almost on cue. “If this is a party, where’s the food and everything?”

“I’ll explain that once everybody is here.”

“Hey, guys!” Scott yelled as he jogged over from the entrance. Everyone stared at the red, white, and blue clad man who was carrying a painted cardboard shield.

“Oh, so I’m the only one who thought it’d be cool to dress up as one of my teammates, huh?” he asked as he looked over the other costumes in the group. Pointing to Tony and Stephen, he added, “You two match. That’s...cute.”

——————

After the rest of the team had dragged in, Tony gathered everyone around and said, “Okay, since this is Halloween, I’ve got some activities planned before the actual party begins. First, the entire facility, except for this room and the living areas, has been turned into a haunted house. Don’t go crazy and assault any of the actors. I don’t want a lawsuit. The goal is to make your way to the main exit on the backside of the building. There, I’ve had a giant, enclosed outdoor maze constructed. It’s completely dark inside, no cell phones or flashlights are allowed, and each of us enters alone. I didn’t design the actual path so I don’t know the way, either. Once you make it out...if you make it out, that is....you’ll find the party waiting for you on the other side. So, let’s get started.”

Although not as cool as being one yourself would have been, having a billionaire as a friend was pretty awesome. The haunted house was absolutely spectacular. The special effects and attention to detail were amazing. And even though it wasn’t that scary (you were an Avenger after all), it was still a lot of fun. There was only one part in the whole thing that made you jump. It was when a man in full body paint came crawling out on all fours from around the corner. He startled you, and he would have gotten an instinctual kick in the face if not for someone wrapping their arms around you from behind.

“Remember what I said about a lawsuit, honey,” Tony whispered in your ear.

“Of course. Sorry, Tony,” you said with a nervous chuckle, still jumpy from the scare.

It wasn’t until you had all reached the entrance to the maze that an uneasiness settled over the group. Looking into the dark, quiet tunnel seemed to have a sobering effect on everybody.

“Tony?” Clint began. “This is just a maze, right? You didn’t set any rats or snakes or anything loose in there?”

“Just a maze, Barton. Who’s going in first?”

His question was met with several moments of silence.

“I’ll go,” Peter said at last.

“Way to go, kid. You’re making all of us look bad.”

Every few minutes, another Avenger would enter the maze until it was your turn. You wandered through the darkness with your hands outstretched, feeling along the walls as you went. The first thing you noticed was how eerily quiet it was. You should have been able to hear someone else walking around, right?

“Tony?” You called out.

No answer.

“Steve?”

Nothing.

“Anybody?”

Still more silence.

You kept moving, running into one dead end after another. After awhile, you began to lose track of time and started getting fed up with the whole thing. You were tempted to sink down to the ground and wait for someone else to come along, but how long might that take?

As you contemplated your options, you ran into something hard. But unlike the metal walls that surrounded you, this one apologized for getting in your way.

“Steve?”

“Y/n?”

“Oh my god, I’m so glad I found you! I was so sick of wandering around this place by myself. Do you have any idea where we are?”

“No, I was headed that way,” he said, pointing in the dark even though you couldn’t see him, “but I ran into a dead end.”

“Here,” You said, reaching down and feeling until you found his hand, “I’m going to hold onto you so that neither one of us gets lost. It’ll be so much nicer than being alone.”

“Yes, it will be.” If it hadn’t been so dark, you would have noticed the sweet smile and warm blush on his handsome face.

You pulled him along behind you through the many twists and turns. Having Steve around for company boosted your confidence, and you were walking at a much faster pace than you had been previously, which turned out to be a bad decision. In your rush, you ran nose first into something very solid.

“Son of a bitch!” You cried out, rubbing your nose while your eyes welled up with tears.

“Are you alright?” a concerned Steve asked.

“Yeah, I ran into the wall.”

“Sorry, doll, but that wasn’t the wall. It was me,” Bucky said.

You reached out and rested your hand on what had to be Bucky’s metal arm.

“It’s alright, Buck.”

“How are we going to get out of here?” He asked. “I’m about ready to punch my way through the walls.”

“Bucky, we don’t know how many walls there are,” Steve said calmly. “Not to mention we don’t know what direction to go in. We might just get in deeper.”

“So we keep tearing up the place until we get out.”

“This is supposed to be fun. We aren’t punching our way out,” you said. “Now, let’s go.”

You grabbed Bucky’s arm and let Steve lead the way, with you in the middle, and Bucky taking up the rear. After a few minutes, you stopped dead in your tracks, let go of both of them, and said, “Shhh! Listen!”

Somewhere in the distance, you heard the faint sound of bickering. As it drew closer, you recognized Thor’s deep voice. If anyone could pierce the soundproof nature of this place of course it would be him.

“Thor!” You yelled as loudly as possible.

“Y/n!!” he bellowed in reply.

Once your group met up with him, you asked, “Who’s with you?”

“It’s just me and my brother, darling,” Loki purred beside your ear. You jumped in response, surprised at how silently he could move in the darkness.

“Well, our little group is growing” Steve said. “Of course, that doesn’t seem to be helping us get out any faster.”

“I still say we punch our way out,” Bucky muttered.

“That’s not a bad idea!” Thor said.

“Yes, it is. We already threw out that suggestion.”

Before Bucky could respond, a high-pitched, girlish scream pierced the air.

“Wanda?! Is that you?”

“Uh...no that was me,” You heard Scott say from a few yards away. “Something brushed against my leg.”

He walked forward with his hands out until he felt something with his right palm.

“That’s my face, Lang,” Loki hissed.

“Sorry, man.”

“Ok,” You began, “I vote that we all stick together and keep moving. We have to be close to the exit by now. We should all hold onto each other so no one gets separated from the group.”

Your statement was met with a few moments of silence before Bucky said, “I’m not holding hands with anyone unless it’s you.”

“I second that.”

“Definitely.”

You sighed and rolled your eyes while the rest of the guys murmured in agreement.

“Fine, do whatever makes you happy.”

You grabbed onto Loki and Scott, who led the way, and once again started walking. Not more than ten minutes later, you were outside and felt the chilly fall breeze hit you in the face. You were pleasantly surprised to find a big campfire surrounded by tables of food and a full bar.

“You guys finally made it. Took long enough.”

You looked to find Clint perched on top of a picnic table working on a candy apple.

“We can’t be the last ones?” you asked as you glanced around, not seeing anyone else.

“Nah, it was just me before you guys showed up.”

“How long we were in there?”

“It took me about ten minutes. You were in there...about forty five,” he said, squinting at his watch.

“Only forty five minutes? I thought it was at least an hour and a half.”

“It felt like an eternity,” Scott said.

As you looked around, you noticed that your little group was one person short.

“Shit! Where is Bucky?”

“I thought he was behind me,” Steve said.

All of a sudden, the loud sound of metal hitting metal rang through the air. About eight feet down from the exit, the wall of the maze warped outward. On the third hit, his fist broke through. Everyone stared as he ripped the metal until there was a hole large enough for him to climb through.

Amazed by what you had just witnessed, you simply shook your head and climbed up beside Clint who passed you a candy apple. The rest of the team eventually found their way out in groups of two and three. After that, there was plenty of drinking and laughter. You witnessed civilized conversations between people who normally wouldn’t even take the time to tell each other to go to hell.

As you sat next to the fire watching your friends, Tony came up beside you and handed you another drink.

“You can go ahead and say it,” he said.

You responded by giving him a questioning look.

“You’re a genius, Tony. You’re absolutely brilliant, Tony. You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever met and I need you, Tony.”

You cut your eyes at him before breaking out into laughter.

“Okay, maybe I’m stretching it,” he said with a chuckle. “But, you’ve got to admit, this thing seems like a success.”

“You did good,” you said. With a soft smile, you added, “And you are brilliant, Tony.”

Wrapping an arm around your shoulder, he said, “This feels like a toast-worthy kind of moment. To new beginnings? Nah, that sounds pretty cheesy.”

Looking out over your team, you clinked your plastic cup against his and said, “To the Avengers.”

“To the Avengers.”

————Epilogue————

“Okay, even with the fire, it’s getting pretty cold out here. I vote we go to the screening room and watch some scary movies,” Tony announced to the group.

While the other Avengers murmured in agreement, you studied the group with furrowed brows and a frown and asked, “Hey, where’s the kid?”

“What?” Tony asked.

“Where’s Peter? Has anyone seen him lately?”

No one spoke up.

“Is he still in the maze?” You asked.

“That’s been like three hours now,” Clint spoke up.

“Tony, are there emergency exits or lights installed that we don’t know about?” Steve asked.

“Uhh...no.”

When his response was met with a disapproving glare, he continued defensively, “How was I supposed to know someone would get stuck in there?”

“Ugh, I guess there’s nothing else to do but go in and find him,” you said, rubbing your hand across your face. “I take back what I said earlier, Tony. This party really stinks.”

“I can’t be blamed for this!” he cried out as he followed you into the maze.

****Elsewhere****

“Wait, where is everybody?” Peter said out loud. “Am I—how did I get back to the entrance?”

With an exasperated sigh, he headed back inside the facility, grabbed the giant bowl of Halloween candy out of the kitchen, and set himself up in the screening room.

“I guess there’s nothing else to do but have my own party. Happy Halloween, Peter.”

[i-am-beyoutiful]

Family Over Story: Asking Permission

HEY YOU GUYS!!! Sorry its been so long. I was watching an episode of NXT and my muse struck me like a brick! So I pumped this out. I hope you like it!. This story takes place before Kyle and Cecily get together officially. 

Read on AO3

Joe and Cecily were enjoying a nice night in at Cece’s chi-town apartment. The two had live shows coming up in the Midwest so it made sense to post up in Chicago and head out early to the venue. They had been in the house all day, vegging out and catching up on the shows they had missed. 

Joe had noticed his sister’s attention was on her cell phone almost every 2 minutes and he knew exactly why. Colby had brought this unusual attachment to her phone to his attention last week after the two had lunch. His younger brother brought up a plan to figure out who was texting their sister nonstop. Joe had tried to stop his younger brother from snooping but being across the country didn’t help the delivery of his threat. 

Kyle O’Reilly. The Marital Artist. One fourth of the Undisputed Era. Apparently, Kyle had his eye on Cece since she walked through the doors at the PC. That information is according to dad. Hunter had mentioned someone having Cece’s undivided attention and her not knowing in the slightest. The person with the real scoop was Jon. Cece always confided in Jon about everything but when it came to boys Jon and his brothers had a pact. Any information about guys that are on their sisters radar was traded in a private three-way group chat. 

Kyle and Cece had meet when she came to the PC to be a guest coach with the female trainees. The girls were learning a lot from her but Cecily was able to catch up with some old friends. One of those friends was Adam Cole. Adam and Cecily had met backstage at a ROH show and hit it off. Cece was pretty stoked when Adam came to NXT along with Kyle and Bobby. The four were regularly seen hanging out with the other talent in the PC. 

Jon didn’t know how or when the relationship between Cece and Kyle changed but Renee seems to think it was the night of Halloween. The two were apart of a whole crew of wrestlers going to Horror nights to celebrate the holiday. The two split off from the group when they all wanted to go into a house that Cece wasn’t feeling. She was gonna check out the Academy of Villains show by herself but Kyle offered to go with her. When they met up with the group again, the air between the two changed. 

As Cecily’s phones went off again, Joe shook his head at how fast she grabbed it. After sending a response back, Cecily turned to her brother, smile almost permanently etched on her face.

“We should probably eat some real food.” Cecily got up and walked towards the kitchen. 

“That’s probably a good idea.” Joe stood and stretched, loosening muscles after sitting for so long. Joe made a move to follow Cecily but the door bell ringing stopped him. 

“Could You Get That!!!” Cece hollered from the kitchen. 

“Sure!” Joe yelled back. He approached the door and before opening he heard the voices of multiple men standing on the other side. Joe looked thru the peephole and the sight on the other side made him smirk. As he opened the door, he was greeted by the Undisputed Era. Joe went to welcome them in but was silenced by Roderick Strong. Joe nodded in acknowledgement of their plans and let them in. All five boys brought in their bags of luggage as quietly as they possibly could. Somehow, Cecily didn’t come over to see who was at the door. This gave the boys of the undisputed era a chance to sneak behind her and give her a surprise. 

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

“Joe! Who was at the door?” Cecily rummaged thru her refrigerator, looking for ingredients to make some type of food for them both. The house went quiet when Joe answered the door and Cece was a bit worried. 

“I may have the things we need to make some tacos tonight if that’s what yo--- OH MY GOD!!!!!” Cecily turned away from the fridge to the sight of unexpected guests. There, in her kitchen, stood Adam, Roddy, Bobby and Kyle. The undisputed era of NXT. Cecily was so stunned, the means to make words weren’t connecting in her brain. Adam smirks at the sight of his friend absolutely speechless. 

“Well boys, we’ve done the impossible! We managed to shock Cecily into speechlessness.” All the boys begin to laugh and Cecily finally regains her composure. She rushes over and wraps Adam in a huge hug. 

“What are you guys doing here!!! Kyle told me you guys were headed to your next live show.” Cecily pulled the other three boys into hugs of their own, staying in Kyle’s arms longer than the others. 

“We are. We just never told you the city. The live show is here the day after tomorrow. We just flew out early to surprise you.” Bobby explained. 

Cecily shook her head, “Well I guess I have to order some food now cause I have five wrestlers to feed. While I order, you guys can take your bags to the other guest room. Joe, could you bring out my air mattress and just set it out in the living room.” It was like a switch flicked because suddenly Cecily was in house guest mode. Taking care of everyone and making sure everyone was comfortable. Cecily spent almost fifty dollars on tacos and side dishes for everyone to enjoy from her favorite Mexican spot. The conversation at the dinner table flowed easily. From stories about their first times hitting the mat, to favorite old PPV’s, to whose the best competitions. After dinner, the six settled down to watch The Fast and The Furious on Netflix. For Joe, it was strange how well they all got along together but then again being a wrestler gives you a strange camaraderie with anyone else who has stepped thru the ropes and taken a bump. 

As the movie wrapped up, Cecily went upstairs to take a shower and change into her pajamas and the boys were left in silence. Joe could tell the other three members of UDE giving urging looks to Kyle. Joe noticed the levels of panic crossing Kyle’s face as he glanced between his brothers in arms and Joe. Joe smirked and decided the push the conversation along. 

“Is there something you need to ask me?” Joe, purposely making his voice sound deeper, took a sip of his corona before setting the bottle on the table. Kyle looked spooked while his friends all tried to contain their laughter. And how could they, Their friend was entering the lions den in front of their faces. Joe stood and took a seat in the arm chair facing Kyle. 

“I--Well, I w-was wondering-” Kyle started but Joe interrupted. 

“Let me stop you right there, boy, cause I got questions for you.” Joe leaned back and crossed his arms. Kyle took a visible deep breath. He should have known this wasn’t gonna be easy. He was trying to date a girl with three huge older brothers, Two parents who both happen to own the business he works for, and a roster full of men ready to defend her at any time. If Kyle made one wrong move and upset Cecily, he was a goner. Kyle braced himself for the verbal lashing he was gonna receive. 

“What is the best outfit you have ever seen her in?” Joe asked. 

wait....what?

“Wait, That’s your question?” Kyle was officially baffled. 

“Naw man, that’s not my question. Its Colby’s. During the movie I texted them and the three of us came up with three questions that will prove if you are good enough for our sister. Since they can’t be here in person, it was decided that I’ll as for them. So, Kyle, What is the best outfit you have ever seen my sister in?” Joe asked once again, waiting patiently the answer. 

Kyle sat dumbfounded on the couch. He couldn’t believe that was the question Colby chose to ask. His brain automatically ran through the outfits Cecily had worn around him, the boys or her friends. His brain settled on a memory that still brings a small smile to his face. 

Kyle faced Joe and spoke up, “One night, Cece showed up at an NXT taping and she was helping out her dad. I think we all know, when it comes to a show day, Cecily is showing up as comfortable as she can unlike some of the other women. She was wearing the leggings with Joker laugh printed on them, a purple sports bra and a off the shoulder sweater.” Kyle let out a little laugh as the memory replayed in his head, “It was the first time I’ve ever seen a girl and instantly stopped everything I was doing to take in how beautiful she looked.” Kyle glanced back at Joe to see his jaw clenching before taking a look at his phone. Joe sent a message out then looked at Kyle again. 

“Next question, How would you react should Cecily want to leave WWE to pursue acting full time?” Joe stared at Kyle without blinking. The stare was freaking Kyle out. 

Not more so than the thought of not seeing Cecily around the WWE again. He knew how important acting, singing and dancing was to Cece. It was her bread and butter. He knew all about Jon bringing her into the family business and training his sister personally to catch her up. The turn around for her training to being in ring ready was remarkable. Picturing a time where he was watching Raw and not seeing her was disconcerting. 

Kyle took a deep breath before answering, “I won’t lie. I don’t want her to leave. I wanna go out to the ring, know she’s watching me and for her to know that I do the same every time she’s out there. But Cece is her own women and I know Hollywood was her first love. I guess I’ll have to get used to being on flights more often in order to see her on my days off.” Kyle nodded his head, agreeing with his answer. Joe nodded back, trying to hold off on looking impressed until the end. 

Joe cracked his knuckles and spoke, “Last question, Tell me five things you know about her that I might not know about my sister.” Joe leaned forward once again putting Kyle in the spotlight. Kyle looked incredibly shaken. How could he know anything that Cecily’s own older brother didn’t know. His head told him it was time to throw in the towel but his heart told him to give the question a shot. He looked at his friends. They all shared amused looks at what was unfolding in front of them. Kyle cracked his neck before answering. 

“She doesn’t drink coffee, she’s just naturally that energized in the morning. Once she’s up, she’s up for the day. She carries a fidget cube around with her because she’s always had a problem with fidgeting since she was a kid. She loves the smell of coconut but not the taste. She won’t touch anything with baked fruit.” Kyle took a pause before his last point. 

Kyle had one more but he didn’t know if it should be said. Cecily told him this during one of her rare low moments, remembering the past. Kyle wrestled back and forth before finally speaking, “Sometimes, she wonders why Colby and not herself. Why wasn’t she chosen to be the bad guy. Was it because of her size or did her parents not want her around. I always try to tell her that all that happened for a reason. Without it, Dean and Damage wouldn’t have been the standard bearers on Smackdown during the brand split.” Kyle didn’t want to look up at Joe after that but he did. Kyle glanced at Joe’s eyes and saw disbelief. Joe was stunned. All was quiet for a moment as Joe took the information in. 

“S-she told you that?” Joe demanded an answer without saying. Kyle nodded not wanting to make any sudden moves. Joe shook his head, typed something on his phone and stood up. He approached Kyle and the latter stood up, hoping to defend himself a little, but all that was held out to him was a hand. Kyle did a double take between the hand and Joe face before finally returning the gesture. 

Joe gave a genuine smile, “You’re the only one we’ve met whose given the answers we’re looking for. Myself and my brothers can’t guarantee how our dad will react but you got our approval. Just don’t hurt my sister.” Kyle shook his head quickly. 

“I would never.” Joe smiled again. He grabbed his half empty beer and walked toward the stairs, “I’m gonna head to bed. If you need anything just come get me. Cecily can’t stay awake after a shower no matter how hard she tries. See you in the morning boys.” Joe walked up the stairs leaving the UDE alone. Adam was the first to clap a hand on Kyle’s shoulder and shake him. 

“Congrats you passed the big brother test! How do you feel, O’Reilly?” Adam jokingly asked. 

“Man I don’t know how I’m gonna make it thru her dad. Like, if Jon and Colby were here too, I would have passed out no joke.” The other three boys laugh at Kyle’s response. The sound fading as Joe went upstairs.

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

Joe went to check on his sister to see if she was sleep. Cecily was half laying under the covers and the other half completely exposed to the cold air. Joe adjusted her and tucked her in. Before leaving, Joe placed a kiss on her forehead. Joe was almost out the door when his name was called. He turned to see Cece blearily looking in his direction. Cecily was smiling at him. 

“I love you tuagane*.” Joe smiled, an understanding passing thru the siblings. 

“Love you too tuafafine**. Get some sleep.” Joe winked and closed the door behind him. 

If the next day he noticed Kyle sitting a little closer to his sister than yesterday, well the brothers only promised to keep their mouths shut until they became official. As soon as Cece got the girlfriend title, all bets were off and may the heckling begin. 

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

* - Samoan for brother. Used when a female is referring to her brother

** - Samoan for sister. Used when a male is referring to his sister. 

[smitten-miqitten]

The Begrudging Misadventures of Era Hess and an Arrogant Ascian Ghost, Chapter 2: Reprise

Ao3 link here

……………………………………………….

“You think I haven’t tried? That I’ve been wandering this city to sightsee?! I cannot even remember the majority of my current life, as you well know. If I’m to do this myself, might you have a suggestion or two as to how, if you’re insistent on dogging my footsteps?!” He was right, it was her problem to solve, not his. But Era had already done all she could think of. She had nothing to go off of, no place to start. It was infuriating, to put it mildly.

Hades made to start at her, clearly about to say something unkind, if the look on his face was anything to go by, but was interrupted by the arrival of another

[Perhaps I may be of help?], Said a kindly shade, speaking the Amaurotine tongue.

“Hythlodaeus”, Era said softly, more surprised than anything else. “I thought you’d vanished for good. I’d been looking for you”.

[Alas, dear friend, my capacity to assist you is as limited as my existence. However, with your companion present I can extert myself far more]. He chuckled in his odd Amaurotine way at both hers and Hades’ shock.

[Yes, I can see your current ghostly companion. Mayhap he is stronger than the last, or perhaps it is due to his having created this iteration of me] Hythlodaeus turned to address Hades. [I see you’ve not lost your barbed tongue, friend. You truly needn’t berate her so. It’s always been an unbecoming habit of yours, I must say]

“Bah, I will not be scolded by a shade of my own creation”, Hades muttered in an almost petulant manner, which forced Era to hold back a snicker.

[Might I suggest immersion, as a means to spark her memory?] Hythlodaeus  held out a small bundle, a mask and a robe identical to his own but fitted to one of Era’s stature.

“The robe! The one the attendant at the hall of creation told me to make, before realizing I had no capacity for it.”, she exclaimed, reaching for the bundle. She had actually been a bit dismayed that she wasn’t able to make it, not because it looked particularly fashionable, but because the odd looks her normal attire garnered were becoming tiresome. “Thank you”.

“How odd they even bothered to have you make it at all. You were never actually meant to wear them, the Lightwarden you were supposed to be would have no need of them, though you stubbornly mucked up that plan didn’t you?” Hades said, foul mood starting to lighten somewhat.

It seemed to Era that his moods shifted with little rhyme or reason, and lingered for longer than they ought to. It was nostalgic, somehow.  Find a way to shift the topic without being overt, and his mood will change accordingly, she thought, feeling as if she had employed this tactic many a time before.

[Perhaps you had more faith in her than you realized] Hythlodaeus said sagely. Looking back down at Era, he continued, [I propose that you wear these items as you make your way through the city. Emet-Selch and I will accompany you, and solely speak our tongue. Try and locate your favorite spot. Do not consider it overmuch, but rather let your feet guide you].

“No need for that, I think. We’re already there”, Hades murmured, returning his gaze to the garden before him. It was full of just about every kind of flower one could imagine; his eyes locked on a particular kind of light purple flower.

The garden itself was not overly large, and was hidden from view of the street by surrounding buildings. They had followed a cobblestone path to reach it, unusual in its own right. The garden was on a balcony of sorts, and so overlooked the vast dark depths the various skyscrapers descended into. Several benches were scattered throughout, but there were no statues like were in the Academy. It was being tended to by none other than a shadowy Nu Mou.

Era had finished putting the outfit on, finding the mask uncomfortable. The robe had no place for her ears or tail, and so sat oddly on her frame. Hythlodaeus started to apologize and offered to fix it, but Era declined. The purpose of the garment was to not stand out and distract others from their creations. Ears and a tail would certainly do so.

Era followed Hades’ gaze, and found she could not look away from the Nu Mou that was watering the purple flowers.

[… isn’t it simply adorable?!], a distant voice called out in her mind, causing her head to ache.

She shook her head of the voice and turned her attention to the flowers the Nu Mou was watering. “Lavender”.

[Your favorite, yes? It always is], Hades began, forgetting for a moment his declaration that he would tell her nothing of herself. [Each and every iteration I have encountered has professed the same affection for the color].

“Each iteration?”

Hades paused, realizing now that he had broken his own word but, after a second or two decided to humor the question. [Yes. I have met many, many reincarnations of you, most from the source. Quite a few have been warriors such as yourself, ignorantly opposing us at every turn. Others were unremarkable, leading perfectly ordinary dull lives doing nothing of note. One in particular….oh, I’d say from the first or second astral era… was a noblewoman who was insistent that her clothing be lavender or lilac. Frugal in all other respects, she was adamant on this one point. She was the first fragment of you I can remember meeting]

His words were harsh, but he spoke of this fragment with an odd fondness that did not match. [She cannot have been rejoined but once or twice by then. She posessed many of your traits, the stubbornness, the insatiable will to help others, the great love she bore for those around her… all qualities lessened in comparison to to the original, of course. Well, except for the love. When she was with the children it was almost as if she were whole again]. Hades’ eyes were distant, shrouded in nostalgia. But there was something in the way he said this that rubbed Era the wrong way…

“The children?” She asked, dreading the response.

He sported a devious grin. [ She was a noblewoman after all, most useful for getting a foothold with which to start an empire. Not to mention she was a fragment of you; I very much wanted to see if my presence would serve to jog her memory. So I took her as my wife.]

That was not the response Era had wanted in the slightest. In fact, she felt rather nauseous. While she bore a great deal of affection not entirely her own for the man, it most certainly did not extend to the romantic. If the original had felt that way for him, it was a quality Era did not share.

This much must have shown on what little of her face was visible, as Hades frowned, annoyed. “No need to be rude”, he chastised, accidentally slipping back into Common tongue. “Twas an experiment, nothing more. One which did not bear fruit, mind. She remembered nothing. Absolutely nothing. What’s more, she lost her affection for me quickly  after the children came, seeing that I bore no love for them. Called me heartless, and a liar, and would not suffer my company a moment longer than necessary. Fitting then, that she outlived the majority, stuck with me til the end”. His tone had turned spiteful, but there was a note of hurt underneath.

It was a reoccurring pattern, Era had come to notice. Whenever he spoke of her original,  there was always a conflicting mixture of adoration and loathing she couldn’t quite wrap her head around. How can you both love and despise someone? Shouldn’t it be one or the other?

“I’m sorry she treated you that way. Though I imagine your own behavior played no small part.” Era scolded, doubting very much that he was the sole victim of the arrangement. How must that iteration have felt, to see behind the mask someone entirely different from who she thought she married? To realize that, if he could not love their children, that he likely did not truly love her either?

“Tell me, while you’re so chatty, why there is a Nu Mou here? I didn’t think them as old as Amaurot”. Walking over to it, she reached out to touch the creature, freezing as pain lanced through her skull.

…………………………….

[This is the concept you’ve been holed up in this room perfecting? With all the responsibilities you have as a member of the convocation, I would have thought your time too precious to spend creating helpers], The voice of Hades spoke, coming from a tall figure cloaked in the same robes Era saw on the Amaurotines of the illusory city. He wore the same red mask as the eldritch form she had bested in the Dying Gasp, some locks of white and brown peeking over the top. [Have you even seen sunlight in these past days?]

[Why of course! There are windows here, are there not]? Era, but not Era, replied in a tongue she did not speak. Looking at the window in question, she saw a reflection of an Amarotine woman. She wore a plain white mask no different from the others Era had seen, with tanned skin the same shade as her own and a mess of disheveled white hair peeking out over the mask. Her hood was down, perhaps because there was no one to distract save Hades in the room, and he had only just entered. [Lest you forget, my specialty, in which I gained the recognition that earned me my seat, is creating beings to fill unoccupied niches. What better, for a member of an organization devoted to bettering our society, to create than a being who’s sole purpose is to help people? This is not to be some soulless automata, to answer its master’s every beck and call. No, this being will posses the ability of discernment, and the knowledge of fairness. It will instinctively demand equal payment for services rendered, with the ability to refuse services and the power to leave any situation in which it receives inequitable treatment!] Era but not Era exclaimed, excited at the prospect beyond reason.

The figure of Hades smiled fondly at this display of enthusiasm. [And in what way is your concept better than a ‘soulless automata’? Would a being that can do only as it is told not be of far greater use?] he asked, his only interest being to prompt more of her raving. He already knew he was bound to agree with whatever answer she gave.

[Ah, but that is the problem! All these concepts the others have been submitting are of perfect unquestioning beings, like to us in image. No will of their own by design. But what, do you suppose, will come of that? Those helpers, never argumentative, never troublesome, would become the apple of their masters’ eye. Their owner’s fondness would grow, and they would inevitably begin to project, imagining positive traits in these automata that they do not actually possess. With our magics being as they are, this projection would eventually make itself manifest, imbuing the automata with a personality of its own. And thoughts. All of which it was never designed to have nor handle. Inevitably these enlightened few would realize the unfairness of their lot, and rise against their masters. And so we would regrettably be forced to put them down]. She paused for breath, having said her piece in a rather manic manner. Smirking, she continued, [My concept would have no such issues, equipped from the start to deal with such things. Driven by an innate desire to help, they would offer their services, and by a selfsame desire to be fairly compensated demand payment. No request would be so outlandish or cruel as to drive them to uprising!]

[How then, does this drive to help manifest itself? Duty? A desire for honor, perhaps?] Hades proposed, sensing she had not defined that part clearly enough. Of the two, he was the more pragmatic, far better at understanding what makes people tick. Something so vaguely defined as a ‘desire to help’ would not suffice. A concept such as duty or honor, however, had driven many a person.

[Honor…yes, that would be just the thing, wouldn’t it?! You always know how to fill in the gaps in my thinking, Hades. Whatever would I do without you?] She grasped his arm, drawing him to where she had the notes for her concept laid out. [Come, help me create it. You know the concept well enough].

[But it is your concept. It will not be exactly as you intend if I create it with you, even if I am familiar with the idea.] Hades protested, knowing she would not accept his refusal.

[Isn’t that half the fun? I find perfect beings to be terribly dull.]

She closed her eyes and began to focus her aether, already knowing he would follow suit. Together they channeled their combined energies into the creation of one, singular idea. As their power burst forth, a small being came into existence.

[It’s far smaller than it ought to be. You tried to make it cute, didn’t you?] Hades teased. The doglike creature was far, far too small to be of much use to the comparatively giant Amaurotines.

[Yes, well, I don’t recall the original concept having my skintone, nor a mess of hair] She shot back, grinning. A great member of the convocation, neigh unparalleled in skill, had been distracted by her lack of a hood.

[I suppose if these are to be our great assistants, we will need to try again] Hades muttered, inspecting the creature that was staring back at him with curiosity in its eyes.

[I think I shall keep this one for myself. Perhaps he would like to help me water my garden when I inevitably forget] Era but not Era said, patting its tiny head. [What shall we call them?]

…………………………….

“Nu Mou”, groaned Era, emerging from the memory. “I…We made the Nu Mou”. She choked out, before collapsing to her knees. Looking over at Hades with her blurred vision, she saw on his face a look she had never thought to see the man wear.

Joy.

………………………………………………………….

*sometime midway through the 2nd astral era*

They were holed up in a small, stone cottage, huddled near the fireplace as snow and wind buffeted the walls outside. His wife, as she was begrudgingly called, was sitting in the armchair nearest the fire, bundled in blankets. She had been unwell for some time, susceptible as she was to illness in her advanced age. He had considered using these illnesses as an excuse to be rid of her, flawed, spiteful insult to his friend’s memory that she was. A wife passing at a carefully planned moment could garner pity and support when such things could prove beneficial to his cause. He could never bring himself to do it, however. It was still Her, even as a shallow echo. He listened to yet another one of her coughing fits from across the room, for they rarely could tolerate one another enough to be closer. When it had ceased, she spoke, the first time in ages she had words for him.

“Darling”, she said, no affection behind the word.

“Hm”? He took a seat opposite her, the process taking some time due to his own aged body. Hopefully he would not need to use it too terribly much longer.

Looking at her now, properly in what seemed like months, he saw with some surprise that her time was incredibly short.

“I have borne your secrecy for as long as we have known one another, and kept my peace. Might I ask… *cough cough* …might I ask that you indulge me one question?”

When he did not protest, she continued, “Who is it you were hoping to see whenever you beheld me? Tis apparent that you did not find them.”

He did not respond right away, mulling over the risks, but ultimately deciding there was no harm now, at death’s door as she was.

“I had hoped to see the person you’re meant to be. Alas, you have fallen quite short, though tis through no fault of your own”.

“How lofty your expectations then, of a woman who has done naught but stay dutifully at your side all these years.” She let out a small mirthless chuckle, ending in yet another fit of coughs.“We two never could seem to do right by one another. I pray in the next life we will do better”. With that, she started to stand, straining her body quite beyond its limits.

“Whatever are you doing? You should not be up, ill as you are”, he said with a note of concern that surprised them both.

“I am at my last, and I will not suffer your mockery of my weakness in these final moments”. Standing fully, she made to leave the room but her legs failed her. He caught her as she collapsed, her frail body featherlight.

Disunited though they were and disappointment though she was, he felt a sudden panic at his oncoming loss. Though he could not stand the shadowed existence she led, with her gone he would truly be alone in this world of echoes.

Drawing her close, holding her as gently as he could, he said in a voice so low only she could hear, “There is nothing to mock, my friend”.

She let out a ragged sigh, clutching at his coat as she expired, her soul being torn from him, drawn into the cold clutches of the aetherial sea.

[catsafarithewriter]

Haru Yoshioka, Monsterhunter

A/N: Belated Secret Santa (or not-so-secret, since you asked for this, but who knows? maybe you forgot asking for it) for the ever-lovely @tcrmommabear, Shelby, my dear. You asked for Haru the Monster Hunter, so Merry Christmas!

(To my official Secret Santa: your present is coming! Sorry!)

The idea of Haru walking away from the Bureau after her Cat Kingdom adventure, aged 16 and with a whole world ahead of her, was to give her the chance for an ordinary life. 

Haru knew that and respected that. 

She just didn’t necessarily agree with it.

The thing about discovering that the world is made up with magic and mystery, hidden just behind the mundane veneer of ordinary life, is that it suddenly gets very difficult to unsee it. Suddenly, she could no longer ignore the shapes in the shadows, the shifting forms in the smoke, the people who - if looked at for just a moment too long - didn’t seem quite real. And, upon realising what she was seeing, she couldn’t just pass it by anymore. 

Most supernatural creatures weren’t inherently malicious, she discovered. Petty, maybe. Fickle, definitely. But as long as people respected them - or, at least - kept their distance, and most people instinctively did even if they didn’t realise it, then there was no problem. Usually. As long as she figured out what the problem was, it was no big deal. 

However, there were always the exceptions. 

A month after the Cat Kingdom adventure, she discovered an oni had taken up residence in the school sports shed. 

One heavy research session, several missteps, and a soybean-and-holly rite later, it wasn’t anymore. 

And, after that, things had just kind of... spiralled. Snowballed. That was the word she was looking for: snowballed. Things had snowballed and so, here she was, nearly a decade later, breaking and entering into her local museum at half two in the morning. 

Not the most logical of career steps, she had to admit, but it had made sense at the time. Things usually did. It was only later, when Haru was trying to explain why all the generators at the carnival had simultaneously blown and she was standing over the main one with a wrench and a fire extinguisher, that it all fell apart. 

Oh, sure, the carnival loved ghosts as far as the Haunted House ride went, but the moment she started trying to explain a spirit had been living in the electricity and was the reason for two near-electrocutions in the past week, it was like they didn’t want to know. 

Hypocritical, much?

She hopped over the low rope fence that marked the museum grounds, and started for the back entrance with lockpicks at the ready. A sign hung above the handle.

This door is alarmed, it said.

It wasn’t. 

They never were. 

Well. Nearly never. 

Inside, the museum was dark. Quiet. Her footsteps echoed along the tiled floor, long shadows cast from the heavy-duty torch she held in one hand. Just what someone might expect from a museum in the small hours of the morning, if that same museum hadn’t also been the location for six missing people in two weeks. 

She stopped by the Asuka exhibit and fished out a printed map marked with six dots.

Six dots for six missing people. 

Three kids on two different school trips. One young artist. An accountant. And a museum curator. 

There had been some difficulty tracking down their last known locations. For starters, the museum had never invested in security cameras - something they were now reconsidering - and, while this was working to her advantage right now, it did mean she only had eyewitness accounts to guesstimate how these people had vanished. 

For the artist, there was only the vague account of employees seeing her briefly on the second floor. The accountant had been with his family, detoured to the bathroom and never returned. The curator was the vaguest; she never arrived home and no one saw her leave at the end of her shift. 

The schoolchildren though... that was where things got interesting. 

Sure, she could understand something snatching away an errant visitor or employee who strayed into an otherwise empty room or stayed too late after hours. (Didn’t mean she was about to let the creature get away with it, but she had encountered enough monsters to know that was their usual modus operandi.) But three kids disappearing in a crowded room, surrounded by their peers and teachers? That took some doing. 

That was where she would find her answers. 

The room in question was the temporary exhibit space, recently renovated as a local history piece. She remembered it being announced in the newspaper - history from your town, it had declared. Artefacts from the people who had lived here! She supposed, with a call like that, it was unavoidable that something brought in would have been haunted. Still, that was why she did what she did. To stop supernatural happenings like this. 

She gently eased the door open. It squeaked. But nothing came at her, nothing moved. It was... just an empty exhibit. 

She lowered the torch she had raised above her head, gingerly flicking its beam across the room. Illuminated were mostly items she recognised from her grandmother’s era. Musty clothes, traditional wooden toys, and old collections of make-up and dressing table items. Schoolbooks from nearly a century back were resting in glass cages, carefully selected pages open for the public’s perusal. 

And... bingo. 

She came to a halt before a wide, low display, sheltering an old dollhouse. 

Not that she had any evidence yet that this was the cause. But, come on. It was an old dollhouse. It practically screamed haunted. 

Haru hunkered down, bringing her eyes to the same level as the house’s first-floor windows. It was closed, which seemed strange for a museum piece. She would have expected it open, so the visitors - and the occasional monsterhunter - could see all the little details that made up the interior. As things stood, she could only see a glimmer of white paint and tiny fabric cushions through the wooden windows. 

Something moved inside. 

Nope. 

Noooooooope.

She could walk away now. No one would blame her. Not least because no one knew she was here in the first place. Of course, that would still leave whatever monster was causing this at large, but even so... 

Haru groaned and knelt back down before the dollhouse. 

“Dammit,” she muttered. “Sometimes being the good guy sucks.” She flicked her torchlight over the exhibit, the glow catching on windows and doors and what little details lay inside, but no more movement. “Hello?” she whispered. And then, because she felt a little foolish whispering in an empty room and she had generally found that sounding scared in such cases was a bad idea, she tried again, louder. “Hello? Is anyone there? I’ve come to talk to you about the people you’ve been taking.” 

Her torch tapped against the glass barrier and then

She wasn’t in the museum anymore. 

She was in a traditional bedroom, with futon bedding and sliding panel doors to a living room. A lantern hung overhead, but no light came from it. A lone circular window revealed a giant world beyond. 

The dollhouse. 

She was in the dollhouse. 

And tiny. 

Haru barely resisted the urge to groan again. As things went, she merely dropped her forehead against her wrists and rubbed at her eyes. When she opened them, she was still in the dollhouse, but now there was a new shadow falling over the wooden floor. 

She whirled and slammed the torch into the - side? Into the side of whatever had approached her. (Her mistake. She had assumed it would be a child ghost. Creatures that haunted dolls and dollhouses tended to take on younger forms, and that smack should have landed its head.) The thing - she caught a glimpse of grey material in her hurried state - staggered, and she swung her free hand into her backpack. She found her pouch of herbs and beans, a concoction she had discovered (through a fair bit of trial and error) to be effective with oni or Japanese-based ghosts. She threw down a handful at the creature. Smoke and sparks sizzled off. 

That was partly her own invention. It didn’t do much with ghosts, but it sure looked intimidating. Any moment now, the ghost should be receding, giving her some time to find its source of power within the house and--

It coughed. 

The creature - ghost, monster, oni - coughed. 

A gloved hand appeared through the smoke and waved away the fog.

So. Probably not a ghost then. 

Haru shifted her grip on her torch, ready for another swing, when the creature staggered out of the smoke and she could finally see the cause of all this trouble--

“Baron?”

The feline Creation coughed again, politely into a handkerchief, she could now see, and met Haru’s gaze. "Haru?”

She grinned. “Long time no see, huh?”

His gaze travelled over her - to the slightly-dented torch (she had used it as a blunt instrument more than once and, frankly, it was a miracle it still worked), to her still-dusty hands, to what Haru liked to consider her ‘monsterhunting gear’ (which was practical clothing, with the luxury of a long coat and a smidgen of leather) - before finally putting all the context clues together. 

“Haru... what are you doing here?”

Okay, so maybe he hadn’t pieced the clues together. 

“Same reason as you, I’m guessing,” she said. “Haunted dollhouse, people vanishing without trace, possible monster activity...” She ticked off the points on her fingers. “All in a day’s work.”

“You do this regularly?”

“Sneaking into museums or getting trapped in haunted dollhouses? Because the latter is definitely a first for me.”

“Seeking out the supernatural,” Baron said. 

“The official term is monsterhunter,” Haru corrected. “And I’m pretty good at it.”

Baron glanced down at his jacket and picked off a remnant of the anti-oni concoction. “Is this... a soybean?”

“Roasted,” Haru confirmed. “It helps drive oni away. As do sardine heads, apparently, but that gets a little smelly to keep in a bag.” She couldn’t help it: she beamed. “I know these aren’t the best circumstances, but I’ve gotta admit it: it’s good to see you again. Sorry for throwing soybeans at you. And hitting you with my torch.” 

He smiled back, and Haru’s stomach did a funny little flip. 

(After all these years, really? Couldn’t a woman grow out of her schoolgirl crush, she lamented?)

“It’s good to see you again, Miss Haru.” 

There was a roar from deep within the house.

“And I believe that is our cue,” Baron said. He extended a hand to Haru. “Are you coming?”

Haru hefted her torch in her spare hand. “Always.”

[swanqueeneverafter]

After The Sunset, Pt.21

Camelot. Present. (Regina and Emma walk through the castle grounds talking animatedly.) Emma: "How could you just forget?" Regina: (Innocently:) "It must've slipped my mind." Emma: "Uh huh. All right so what exactly are we here for?" Regina: "Queen Guinevere asked me at our wedding reception whether I'd be happy to judge Camelot's annual tournament for the knights of the round table and beyond. Apparently you have to be of noble birth to compete." Emma: "And why wasn't I invited?" Regina: (Defensively:) "You were... sort of. (At Emma's look:) Oh come on, Emma. You're my wife, of course you were invited." Emma: "Hmm." Regina: "All right, fine. There may be those in Camelot who still believe you're the Dark One." Emma: "What?!" Regina: "These are simple people, Emma. While the realms may be joined, news still takes time to travel. There is no WiFi or telephone poles out here." Emma: (Folds her arms:) "Okay, I'll give you that. So what are your duties as judge?" Regina: "Well, I'm told there are many events, from sword fighting to jousting." Guinevere: (Approaching:) "But the most prestigious event is the horse race. (Smiles as she joins them:) It takes place across the length and breadth of the gardens." Emma: "So that's what the hay bales are for?" Guinevere: (Nods:) "Yes, to be used as hurdles for the race." Regina: "So what does the winner of the race receive?" Guinevere: "The tournament's highest honour. The winner is declared tournament champion, is presented with a trophy and gets to dance and have dinner with our guest judge." Emma: "Woah, wait a minute. (To Regina:) Did you know about this?" Regina: (Wide-eyed:) "I had no idea." Guinevere: (Stepping in:) "It's true, Emma, she did not. I'm afraid this is a recent development. You see, I usually dance with the winner myself but, everyone was too intimidated by Lancelot to enter." Emma: "So you promised them a date with my wife? (Emma and Regina exchange glances:) Well there's only way out of this." Regina: (Nodding:) "Absolutely, I'll-" Emma: "I'm entering the race." Regina: "...Step down. (Upon realising what Emma has just said:) You're what?" Guinevere: "I-I don't think that's possible. We already have a full field of twelve entrants." Emma: "Then that makes me lucky thirteen. Look, the rules are that you have to be of noble birth to compete, right? My parents are Prince Charming and Snow White, so I'm god-damn royalty. Sign me up." Guinevere: (Nods:) "I'll inform the attendants." (She turns and leaves.) Emma: (To Regina:) "There's only one person who's dancing with you tonight, and that's me." Regina: (Beams:) "My hero."

Wonderland. Past. After The First Curse. (Tiana stands at her window looking out at the night's sky when her mother approaches.) Eudora: "So, are you ready to don your crown and meet your subjects as their queen?” Tiana: “Yes. (Eudora reaches up and places the crown on her daughter’s head:) But on one condition. You come out to meet them with me. You’ve served these people so well in these dark times, I can't think of anyone I’d rather have at my side to continue to protect them.” (Mother and daughter leave arm in arm to face their subjects.) Courtyard. (Tiana smiles and motions for the crowd to quieten their applause.) Tiana: “Thank you all for coming to celebrate the beginning of a new era for Wonderland, and to remember how lucky we are to live in a time of peace and prosperity.” (Suddenly, lightning splits the sky and Gothel appears beside the stone statue that used to be Drizella.) Gothel: “Look at all this. Did you really think this would be a day of celebration?” (Thunder cracks and the rest of Gothel’s coven appear behind her. Raising their arms, they use their combined powers to free Drizella from her confinement.) Tiana: “That's impossible. Blood magic can't be broken.” Gothel: “Not by any single person, but together, this family can do anything. (Kneels beside her protege:) Come, Drizella. Soon the prophecy shall be fulfilled. The suffering shall begin.” (Drizella manages to give a wicked smile before disappearing with Gothel and her coven of witches.)

Camelot. Present. (Queen Guinevere and Lancelot stand applauding at the judges table while the last few riderless horses cross the finish line. Even those who managed to remain mounted upon their horses show signs of foul play. Carrying the trophy towards the victor, Regina smiles sweetly at the runners up, many of whom sport black eyes, bloodied lips and bruised egos.) Regina: (Reaching her wife:) "You brute." Emma: (Smiling down:) "Hey, if they couldn't handle a little friendly competition they shouldn't have entered." Regina: "I'd hardly call some of those kicks friendly, Emma." Emma: (Shrugs:) "I won, didn't I?" Regina: (Grins, holding up the trophy:) "Yes, you did." Guinevere: (Calling from the dais:) "Ladies and Gentlemen, your tournament champion: Lady Emma!" (There is a mixed response from the crowd, some cheering and applauding as others boo Emma's tactics.) Regina: (Dryly:) "I see you've made some more friends." Emma: (Disregarding the trophy:) "Leave it here, I've already got the prize I want, and I intend to collect." (Taking her wife's outstretched hand, Regina allows herself to be pulled up into the saddle behind Emma, leaving the trophy on the ground.) Regina: (Chuckles:) "Emma, the castle's that way." Emma: "Oh, we're not staying here." Regina: (Confused:) "Then where are we going?" Emma: "There." (Regina looks to where Emma is pointing and smiles, wrapping her arms tightly around Emma's waist as they head towards the Dark Palace.)

Storybrooke. Present. Mayor's Office. (Hook explains to David and Zelena what's happened.) Hook: "I was transformed into an ogre, I couldn't get anyone to understand or help me." Zelena: "An ogre? (Looks him up and down:) Okay, I can see that. But how did that happen?" Hook: (Hesitates:) "That doesn't matter right now. The point is, just before I was transformed, I got a message from Henry. He was calling for help." David: "What did the message say exactly?" Hook: "Just that he was in trouble and he asked for me and his mothers to come save him." Zelena: "That's it? He didn't give any indication as to where he was?" Hook: "No, and it wouldn't matter anyway. I received the message weeks ago. There's no telling where he could be by now." David: "Well, what about a locator spell?" Zelena: (Shakes her head:) "Locator spells are best used over a limited area like a town or small city. With the realms united, you could be walking for days trying to find him." Hook: "She's right mate, besides, Rumplestiltskin was headed back to his shop to fetch that globe of his. With that, we'll be able to pinpoint exactly where Henry is." (Snow White enters.) Snow White: "Oh, Hook, thank goodness. We've been trying to reach you." Hook: "Reach me? For what?" Snow White: (To David:) "You haven't told him?" Hook: "Told me what?" David: "It's Lily. She was injured while trying to track down a murder suspect." Hook: "Track down a- What the blood hell's been going on?! I’ve got to go see her." (Before Snow can stop him, Hook leaves the room to go check on his daughter.) David: “Was there any change in Lily’s condition?” Snow White: (Nods:) "Yeah, she’s completely fine.” David: “Oh, so Maleficent cured her?" Snow White: “She may have, but I didn’t see her. David, you’ll never guess who I saw Lily leave the hospital with." Arendelle. Night. Queen's Chambers. (Having successfully avoided being seen by any of the palace guards, Lily and Elsa make it safely to the queen's chambers.) Elsa: (As Lily kisses her neck and backs her towards the bed:) "I really should heal your wounds more often. (Thinks:) Not that I ever want to see you injured again." Lily: (When they reach the bed:) "Shh. (Lowering them onto it:) Just consider this my way of saying thank you." (Elsa smiles and kisses Lily, pulling her down on top of her, before reaching up and running her fingers through Lily's hair. Breaking their kiss to remove her top, Lily surges forward to claim the queen's lips once more when the double doors burst open.) Anna: "Ah-ha!" Elsa: "Anna!" Anna: (Shocked:) "Elsa?" Lily: (Reaching for a blanket to cover them both:) "Get out of here!" (Shaking herself from her stupor, Anna quickly turns and runs from the room. Sitting back on her haunches, Lily looks to Elsa.) Elsa: (Grimacing:) "Well, I guess that was one way for you two to meet."

Storybrooke. Mayor's Office. Continued. (Zelena and the Charmings discuss Henry.) Zelena: "Enough with the dragon drama, what are we going to do about Henry?" David: "Well we have to tell Emma and Regina." Snow White: "But we don't know where they are either." David: (Calling:) "No, it's no good. It's going straight to voice-mail." Zelena: (Rolls her eyes:) "If only you hadn't shamed them into taking a vacation, they'd be here and I'd be at home. If they're off traveling the realms, it could be weeks until they get your message. There aren't too many cell phone towers lining the yellow brick road, you know." Snow White: "Oh, David, she's right. What are we going to do?" David: "Our priority has to be Henry. He's the one we know is in trouble, so we have to save him." Robin: (Enters the office, followed closely by Will, and slams Alice's letter on the desk:) "Alice left on some secret mission by herself and didn’t tell us where she's going." Zelena: "Ugh, there's a lot of that going around lately. I'm sorry, darling, but I can only handle one missing person at a time." Robin: "I'm not asking you to handle it. The only reason I'm here now is because Will begged me to tell you first." Zelena: "Tell me what?" Robin: "That I'm going after her." Zelena: (Stands:) "Oh no you're not young lady." Robin: (Groans:) "We can't keep having this same argument. I'm going after Alice and that's all there is to it. (Robin turns to leave but Zelena grabs her by the arm. Taking a pin from her hat, Zelena pricks Robin's finger with it then her own:) Ow! Mom, what the hell?" Zelena: "I'm sorry about this, sweetie, but I just can't cope with the idea of you traveling across realms without a clue as to where you're going." (Zelena holds up the pin and it begins to glow green before fading away.) Robin: "What the hell was that?" Zelena: "Blood magic. Now, you're free to search every last nook and cranny of Storybrooke for Alice, but that's all. If you try to cross into another realm, the blood magic will keep you here." Robin "I don't believe you. This is so unfair!" (Robin furiously storms from the room.) Zelena: (As he turns to follow:) "Oh, Will? (Will turns to face her:) Thank you. (Mutely, Will nods, then follows after Robin:) So, now that's settled, how do we go about finding my nephew?" David: (Thinks:) "Actually, Alice’s secret mission just reminded me of something. I may have a way to find exactly where Henry is." Enchanted Forest. Past. (Anna is walking to a farmhouse. She knocks on the door and David opens.) David: “Can I help you?” Anna: “I hope so. Are you David?” David: “Yes. Yes, I am.” Anna: “Great! So, I got your name from an old friend of yours... From Arendelle.” David: “Arendelle? You know Kristoff?” Anna: “What makes you think it's Kristoff?” David: “He's the only person from Arendelle I know.” Anna: “Okay. He didn't tell me that. Hard to be on a secret mission when you don't have all the facts.” David: “What's the mission?” Anna: “I just told you it's secret. But he told me I could trust you... Just not with the mission.” David: “Okay. What's your name?” Anna: “Joan.” David: (Suspiciously:) “Your name's not Joan.” Anna: “You're smart, too. That's good. See, I have to give a false name for your safety.” David: “You're wanted?”

Anna: “Look, I don't know if I can be more clear... Secret mission, your safety. Let me start over. I'm Joan. Can I sleep in your barn?” David: “Sure, Joan. Anything for Kristoff's fiancée. (At Anna’s look:) The ring. Congratulations.” Anna: “Thanks.” David: “Well, I guess I'll find out your name at the wedding. Uh, the barn's out back. You can stay the night. (Notices somebody is coming:) You should hurry and get inside. This is a bad time.” Anna: “Who's that?” David: “That is someone you don't want to mess with. They call her Bo Peep.” (Bo Peep steps out of her carriage and approaches while Ruth joins David and Anna outside.) Bo Peep: (Walking with swagger:) "Do you want a glass of tea, Bo Peep? How about a cookie, Bo Peep?" David: “You're not here for tea.” Bo Peep: “Well, the boy's got that right. Who's that?” Anna: “My name is Joan.” Bo Peep: “Adorable. You know me, Ruth. You know what I want. My payment.” David: “Your extortion.” Bo Peep: “Call it what you like, but you and your flock are safe as long as you pay me what's due.” David: “It's... It's been a slow month.” Bo Peep: “How about this... You just figure out how to pay me what you owe me by tomorrow at noon.” David: “We... You've got to give us more time.” Bo Peep: “I don't give anything. But perhaps if you hand over your steed, I'll allow another day.” David: “No. No deal. That... That horse never leaves my side.” Bo Peep: “Then tomorrow, when I come back, if there's no payment, you keep the horse, and I take your farm. (Slamming her crook into the ground:) And you can work off your debts as my slaves.” David: “Mother, we don't need this. Let's go. We can leave this place and start over...” (Bo Peep uses her magic on David and Ruth, sending them crashing to the ground.) Bo Peep: “You can't go anywhere. You're branded now. This stick is how I find my flock, and you're now one of my sheep. And if you don't like it, pay me what you owe me, or this farm and your lives are mine.” Enchanted Forest. Present. The Dark Palace. (Regina looks at herself in the mirror and chuckles at her full length ball gown.) Regina: (Turning to her wife:) "Emma, what are we doing?" Emma: (Approaches, wearing her own matching gown:) "I... kinda have a confession to make. When I told you that 'Rapunzel' was my favourite fairy tale, I wasn't being totally honest." Regina: "Oh?" Emma: "Well I mean, it's partly true. Growing up I did feel as though I was trapped, waiting for someone to come rescue me from the group home. A-and you were right, I did enjoy climbing that tower. But if I'm being honest, I kinda related more to... Cinderella." Regina: "Ashley?" Emma: (Smiles:) "Well no, not her specifically, but her story, I guess. When I saw all the other kids getting chosen and adopted over me, I felt just like Cinderella never getting to go to the ball."

Regina: "Oh, Emma, I'm so sorry." (She turns away.) Emma: "Hey, wait, what are you sorry about?" Regina: (Turns back:) "All your life you've dreamed about going to your ball, and here I am with two left feet. Even at our wedding, I kept stepping on your toes." Emma: (Soothingly:) "That was because you were nervous. All the realms of story were gathered to watch our first dance, there was way too much pressure to-" Regina: "But I'm a Queen-" Emma: (Putting her finger to Regina's lips:) "You forget that I know you, too. The night we married, it wasn't about the Savior and the Queen. It wasn't even about Madam Mayor and the Sheriff. It was about us, Emma and Regina, and that's all that mattered. That's why you stumbled and stepped on my toes a few-" Regina: "Twelve. Twelve times." Emma: (Smiles:) "You were taking your first steps, not as Queen, but as my wife." Regina: (Nods:) "I never wanted power. I wanted to be free, and you gave me that." (They kiss.) Emma: (As they part:) "So, I was thinking, now that we're both getting the hang of this marriage thing, that we'd try again with our first dance?" Regina: "Oh Emma, there's nothing that would please me more but-" Emma: "Shh. (Holding her hands out:) I'll lead you through. (Regina places her hands in Emma's and allows herself to be pulled into hold:) Just breathe, relax, you've got this." Regina: "We don't even have any music." Emma: "Not a problem." (Emma clicks her fingers and, magically, the room is filled with music. They begin to dance, swaying to the music and never taking their eyes from each other.) Regina: (Frowns a moment then smiles as she recognises the melody:) "You were singing this in the Wish Realm." Emma: (Beams:) "I know. When you came and rescued me." Regina: “It’s perfect.” (They laugh and continue dancing. Spinning and swaying to the tune of 'Some Day My Prince Will Come'.)