#sorry i didn’t feel like drawing the other three mb

[pyr0frnzy]

“No Zoro please we can’t live without them” the east blue polycule says in unison

[forehead-enthusiast]

To the Moon and Never Back

Pairing: Moon!Moonbin x Reader

Genre: Fantasy, fluff, slight moment of angst

Word Count: 1.7k

Summary: You thought the moon was something to be admired from a distance, but as it turns out, he’s much more beautiful up close.

A/N: Okay I have like three things so bear with me: trigger warning for slight suicide mention; somewhat based on the purple moonbin mb poem i made ages ago; I never actually say moonbin’s name in this so tbh project whoever you want

You sat on the roof, clutching a pencil and shivering only slightly. The wind slid through your hair, whispering secrets in your ears in a language you didn’t know. Goosebumps crawled up your arms, but you didn’t mind. It was a full moon tonight.

It had been years since you had started coming up here. It began at first as an escape from real life, from whatever you didn’t have the patience to deal with. You still remembered the first night you stuck your head out the window and decided you could make it to the rooftop if you only tried. And you did. And the moment you caught your breath and confirmed you were stable, you fell in love. You had never known peace until then. The freeway was far in the distance, and only a gentle hum reached your ears. The bushes beneath you rustled at every breeze, and the silhouette of far off trees were just barely visible, practically a mirage. The streetlights drowned out the stars above, but couldn’t overpower what captured your attention most.

The moon was almost completely alone in the ocean of darkness around it, but still shone with dignity and serenity that took your breath away. On that night, years ago, you told yourself that next time, you’d bring your sketchbook. It was a different sketchbook you held now. The one you’d first used had been filled up ages ago, and it sat beneath several others, equally completed. They had sketches and doodles of all you could see from your little spot on the house, but no subject was as prolific as your precious moon. You must’ve had drawings of it at every moment of its phases and then some. You were drawing it now, the scratching of your pencil all that kept you company. Your fingers had traced this image thousands of times by this point, but you were still just as captivated. As you finished erasing a small mistake, you looked up at your model for reference, but were blocked by a young man peering at your drawing.

“What are you doing here?”

The words fell easily off your tongue. You realized their oddness a moment later, and wondered why you hadn’t asked, “Who are you?” or “Why are you on my roof?” You wondered why you hadn’t screamed, hadn’t shoved him off the roof in surprise. Nonetheless, you weren’t scared. If anything, you felt comforted by his presence, and waited for a response.

“I just thought I’d come visit for a change.”

“Oh, I see. Have we met before?”

“Not formally, but we know each other.” He smiled, his eyes scrunching into crescents, and you knew he wasn’t lying.

“Alright, just give me a hint.”

He reached out and tapped on your sketchbook. You looked down at your drawing, back at him, and it clicked. A smile of your own spread across your face. Unbelievable as it was, it somehow made sense. That didn’t make you any more eloquent, though.

“Huh… how about that?”

He giggled a bit, and you giggled back. He felt like an old friend. You supposed that he kind of was. He sat beside you, and you asked if he minded that you had drawn him so often. He laughed again at that, and shook his head. He told you about how he first noticed you, when you had only just started. How he thought you’d get bored quickly, as many do, but that he enjoyed your company despite his resignation. When you didn’t stop climbing out your window, though, he began looking forward to your nightly visits.

“So you just… decided to come on down? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m honored and all, but why? Why me?”

“No one’s ever drawn me with so much…” He paused a bit, bashful. “With so much, um, love.” Not even a second later he held his face in his hands and sputtered, “Oh God, that was so cheesy! You’re probably thinking I’m so presumptuous, I’m sorry, I-” You grabbed his wrist, and countered, “It’s fine, it’s true! Calm down.” He set his hands down, and you internally noted that the moon could blush. He turned to you and grinned shyly, the pink on his cheeks just visible in the light, which you realized, was probably coming from him.

“Could I... draw you now, like this?”

He eagerly nodded, and shifted his weight around, trying to find an acceptable pose. “I haven’t really had to think about this before, I need a second.” Once he settled in, you flipped to a new page in your sketchbook, and began drawing. Your pencil began at his forehead, slipping down to his cheekbones, his jaw. His nose was next, then his eyes, which he struggled to keep from squeezing shut with more nervous smiling. You found yourself forgetting to draw every so often, more mesmerized than ever before. A lifetime later, you finished the last strand of hair falling over his brow, and held up the finished picture. He held out his hands gingerly, then looked to you for approval. You nodded, and he took the pad from you, holding it like it might shatter if gripped too tightly.

“I never thought I’d ever really be drawn. Not like this. I- thank you. It’s wonderful.”

You looked at him as he studied the sketch, butterflies in your stomach. It was rare for you to share drawings with anyone as it was, but to share it with the model of so many pictures, the moon, no less, tickled you with anxious anticipation. Your eyes flicked from the drawing to him, just to check its accuracy. He was so engrossed in the image, with only his eyes betraying how emotional he was. After he had looked for a while though, you knew there was something he was keeping from you.

“Why did you really come visit me? It’s been years since I started, why now?”

He looked up to meet your eyes, then escaped to the drawing again. You could see the turmoil in his eyes as he looked for a satisfactory answer. Eventually, knowing that there wasn’t a fib that would placate you, he sighed, and set down the pad. “I know that you come up here when you’re troubled, or sad, or just exhausted. I loved it when you came up, but I knew that whenever you did, it was because you needed cheering up, and… recently you’ve been coming up more than ever. It’s awful to say, but I didn’t know how much longer you’d be content to sit and not, well…”

You almost answered him reflexively, that no, you’d never even think of doing something like that, but stopped yourself. It had happened before. Just once. You were sitting on the rooftop as usual, and looked down, then up. You wondered how close you would get to your favorite moon before gravity dragged you back down to harsh reality. That day, you went back inside without drawing anything, afraid of your own thoughts. Thinking of it now, you smiled at the fact that the moon you’d longed to jump to was sitting beside you, worried.

“I’m,” you searched for what would best convey your feelings. “I’m okay. I wanted to reach you, you know, and here you are. You can’t get rid of me if you wanted to. No one loves drawing you more than me, right?”

His shoulders subtly but visibly relaxed at your reassurance. A smile, softer this time, warmed his face, and you jokingly condemned him in your mind for not showing you how truly lovely he was sooner. You could’ve filled three sketchbooks just recording every millisecond of this expression. He turned to you, and your heart stopped.

He slid his hands beneath yours, and lifted them gently to his lips. He held your fingers so delicately, graphite-smeared as they were, and set them down carefully a moment later.

“I don’t want to leave you.”

The simple phrase overwhelmed you. Your hands tightened around his, and you desired nothing more than to never let go.

“Don’t. Please.”

“I can’t stay forever.”

“Then… take me with you.”

As the suggestion escaped you, both he and you were stunned by the thought. You couldn’t believe your own boldness, but your heart raced at the prospect. He blinked his way back into clarity, and asked, “Do you really- Don’t you have things you want to stay for? Here?”

You thought for a moment, but were certain in your answer. “You were the only thing that got me through things here. Please take me with you. If you can. Or want, of course, I didn’t even ask if it was okay-”

“Of course it’s okay. I- Nothing would make me happier than having you with me.” The now familiar boyish grin overtook his face again, and reminded you of the only thing you needed.

“Can I bring some sketchbooks?”

He nodded, his eyes still overcrowded by his cheeks, and once you were ready, he wrapped his arms around you. Suddenly, the rooftop was gone. The stars once erased by the city lights burned back into view one by one, until you were surrounded by an ocean of fiery pinpricks. Beautiful though they were, they couldn’t even hope to outshine the glow cast by the man whose arms were wrapped around you still.

You looked up and pushed some of his wind swept hair from his face, and lightly pressed your lips to the forehead you had uncovered. You chuckled a bit, shy at your own actions, but grew serious when you met the eyes of the man before you. He leaned in cautiously, and paused to ask softly, “Can I?” You answered him by closing the distance between you. You never imagined kissing the actual moon could feel so natural and just… right, but his arms around you felt like they belonged there. You knew they did. He pulled away, breathless, and was unable to maintain his stoic expression. He beamed as he spun you around the stars, and you practically squealed with laughter.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

[hiyo-silver]

Flower Doodles

chapter two of the dads au! part one is right here!

this one is a bit angsty but aaaa

it’s also on ao3 here!

Eddie fumbles with his keys, finally poking them into the keyhole and opening the front door, around 8 o’clock. “Is it cheesy to say ‘honey I’m home?’ even though we’ve been married for six years?” he calls out, expecting them to be in the playroom. He walks in and hangs up his coat on the hook, Bill’s was not hung.  

He walks into living room, spotting Bill on the couch, fast asleep, a tiara on his head, obviously he’d been playing some sort of game with Quinn. She, on the other hand, was kneeling in front of him on the couch, drawing flowers on his face with a washable marker.

Eddie walks over, wanting to chuckle at the situation. He kneels in front of the couch where Quinn is, “Hey sweetheart, papa’s face isn’t a canvas,” he says with a small smile, “Can you get the wet wipes so we can clean this up?”

Eddie studies Bill’s face, who looks exhausted, his nose looks a little red and raw, and it makes Eddie frown. “Hey, Billy, you up?” he says softly, tapping his face lightly to get his attention.

Bill hardly stirs, turning his back to Eddie and hiding his face in the back of the couch. Eddie frowns again, rubbing circles on Bill’s back gently. “Baby, I don’t know how long you’ve been asleep but you’ve gotta get up, honey,” he says softly. He carefully takes the tiara off Bill’s head, it looked tight enough to hurt. He notices that Bill is still in his coat, the house wasn’t too cold so he must be overheating.

Quinn comes back with the package of wet wipes, they were easy to find on the shelf in the bathroom. She hands them to Eddie, giving him the puppy-eyed expression. “I’m sorry, daddy,” she says softly, seeing Eddie’s frown and assuming he was upset with her.

“No- no sweetheart it’s fine, I think your papa is just a little sick, I think, you wanna go back to your room?” he asks, taking the package and pulling out a wipe for Bill’s face.

“Is papa okay?” she asks, staying put, if not moving even closer to Bill.

“Yeah I think he’s just got a cold, I just wanna clean this up and have him at least drink some water.”

“Mkay,” she says calmly, “When you’re done will you play with me?” she asks, offering another puppy-dog-eyed face.

“Yeah I’ll be there soon, sweetheart,” he promises, coaxing Bill into turning towards him again.

She finally leaves the two, scampering off to her room to play with her dollhouse or something. Leaving Eddie to play nurse. Even though that’s his literal career, he feels that he has to do it for his husband far too often. He really needs to take care of himself better. He frowns again.

Eddie gives up on trying to get Bill up, just gently rubbing the flowery scribbled design off his cheeks. It takes him quite a while to get them all off, “Bill, c’mon, you gotta eat dinner, did you or Quinn eat yet?” Eddie looks over at the clock, 8:26.

Bill opens his eyes blearily, putting his hand out to Eddie, who doesn’t accept it. “Mmm no ‘mb sorry,” he slurs out, putting his hands on his face out of shame, he felt like he messed up big time by forgetting to have the two of them eat.

“Hey- hey no baby it’s okay, I know you don’t cook, you obviously aren’t feeling great, I’ll be right back, mkay?” Eddie says softly but quickly, not wanting his husband to feel bad for something that wasn’t his fault, schools really are germ factories.

Bill pushes himself into a sitting position on the couch, fumbling to unzip his jacket, which Eddie does for him instead, “You too hot?” Eddie asks as he helps the disoriented man get his coat off.

Bill shakes his head, “not too bad, my jacket just makes weird noises when I move,” Bill murmurs, getting up to hang it up on his hook.

Eddie frowns at the sound of his voice, “Have you been feeling bad all day, baby?” it sounded settled in his sinuses which probably wasn’t comfortable. Bill sits back down on the couch and pulls the throw blanket over his shoulders.

“Mmm only a little,” he still speaks softly, curling up a little on the couch, looking small, which was always concerning to Eddie.

“Bill… you should call me if you aren’t feeling well, I think you have a fever, you should have come home,” Eddie said in a disappointed voice. He hates having to be like this, he is Bill’s husband, not his nurse who should be nagging him all day about his choices.

“‘Mb sorry, Eddie,” Bill tucks his head away in his knees, he’s always most emotional when he doesn’t feel his best.

Suddenly, Quinn comes back in quietly, basically sneaking behind Eddie, he jumps when she speaks. “Papa, you’re awake!” she says with a smile, clamoring to sit next to him on the couch and pushing a fuzzy pink blanket in his lap. “Daddy said you were cold so I brought you a blankie because he was taking too long to make you warm enough to play with me,” she explains, which brings a small smile to Bill’s face.

“Ndo,” Bill cringes at the sound of his own voice, “A little cold but I’m just a little sick, Like two months ago, remember, daddy made you be quiet because he wanted me to sleep,” Bill explains, he was always better at explaining things to little kids than Eddie was.

“OH, I’m sorry papa,” Quinn says, in a smaller tone, trying to be quieter since he had brought it up.

“I’m gonna make some food,” Eddie says, giving Bill a sympathetic look, he wishes Quinn wouldn’t cuddle so close to him, she was going to get his germs and then she’d be sick too- and he just didn’t want that. “Quinnie, you wanna help?” he asks, trying to pull her away.

She nods excitedly, she loves helping in the kitchen.

“We’re going to make canned soup for dinner again,” he tells her as they go to the kitchen and both thoroughly wash their hands. He gets out the cans and lets her set them in the automatic can opener. She giggles the entire time, she likes to feel like she’s helping too, and Eddie didn’t let her often. He was just desperate now.

They put the food in bowls and put them at the table with three glasses of water. Eddie walks back to the living room to find Bill wrapped in both the blankets now and made a note to grab the thermometer after they ate. He shakes Bill’s shoulder again to wake him back up, “Billy, I’m sorry you’re so exhausted but please come eat something,” he says a little desperately.

Bill easily agrees, just wanting to properly get to bed soon as possible. He keeps the knit blanket from the couch over his shoulders as he drags his feet to his spot at the kitchen table. He swirls his spoon around in his bowl a little, taking some small sips of the broth.

Eddie watches him with pity, seeing him wince at swallowing and needing to be careful so that he could breathe through his mouth when he needed to. Bill puts his spoon down when he’s finished most of it, “shower?” he asks, wanting to take another steamy one to clear his sinuses again before bed.

“Yeah, of course, I’ll do the dishes and get Quinn in bed, I’ll read her Peter Rabbit, it’s been a while, and you shower and get some warm pajamas on, I’ll get the Vicks out too.”

“I still wanna do storytime,” Bill says strongly, “Makes me happy,” he says tiredly. He cringes at the mention of the Vicks, he’s never been a fan of it, he’s too familiar with it.

“Of course, baby,” Eddie nods, surprised that he is so specific about it, although he should have known.

“Yeah, papa has to tell the story,” Quinn says surely, even as Bill gets up and shuffles to the bathroom.

Eddie agrees, finally asking Quinn about her day with the Hanscoms as he does the dishes. When she’s finally done talking about all the games they played and the stories they exchanged, Eddie suggests that she goes back to her room to wait for he and Bill to be ready.

Bill comes out of the bathroom feeling a little better and a little more awake. He has on a baggy and long sleeved shirt, one that’s relatively old and gross but it makes him comfortable. He had pulled on some navy flannel pajama pants.

Eddie studies his dark circles and angry pink looking nose, creasing his eyebrows in worry. He just doesn’t like when Bill gets so worn down. “Hey Billy, I set up some clean sheets on the couch for you so you’d be comfortable sleeping tonight,” he says softly.

Bill nods, this was standard procedure for when he was unwell, since Eddie may be able to be around germs, but he also still can’t get sick because work. At least Eddie made him feel loved by showering him with care besides physical affection.

They go to Quinn’s room, Bill didn’t write anything new that day either. So, he must wing it. “Once upon a time,” he clears his throat for his voice to come out clearer. “There was a beautiful little princess named Quinn, and one of her fathers, the king, wasn’t feeling well,” he starts with a small smile, finding himself clever.

Eddie just kept his same worried expression, wanting to just put Bill to bed already. He sounded congested still and he would do better with a good night’s rest and he’d probably call him out of work the next day, against the other man’s wishes.

“And he was taken care of by the other big and strong king who made him feel all better really soon so that he could kiss his daughter goodnight,” he finishes the story much quicker than usual, frowning when he realizes he should probably be more careful of spreading this to her.

Eddie kisses both of her cheeks, instead of Bill kissing one of them, “Night, princess,” he says, flicking on the nightlight before switching off the main lights.

Then he drags Bill out too, bringing him back to the living room couch and having him sit down, “Bill goddamn, you look like Rudolph, if I didn’t know better I’d think you didn’t have proper tissues in your classroom.

“Rand out this mornindg,” he says through the congestion, looking down at the ground.

“Mmm baby, I’m gonna get you more, I think we have some in the linen closet, I’ll be back.” Eddie gets up quickly, ruffling Bill’s hair and walking to the hall closet where he kept most of what he’d need.

He gets out the unopened box of tissues along with the thermometer, Vicks, and a cold and flu medicine before kneeling in front of Bill on the couch again. “I’m gonna fix you right up, don’t worry, baby,” he says softly, rubbing Bill’s shoulder gently.

“I know, Eddie, I trust you,” he says tiredly, leaning into the boy’s touch.

Eddie pulls the wastebasket nearer to the couch, unwrapping the tissue box and throwing the trash away, handing the box to Bill since he’d need it that night. He gestures for Bill to take off his socks, rubbing the Vicks into his feet, massaging his feet a little longer than he needed to to be more comforting once he sees Bill relaxing more as he does. He pops two pills out of the package and hands them to Bill with a glass of orange juice. “Okay one last thing, lemme take your temperature.”

He pops the thermometer in Bill’s compliant mouth, it’s gotten easier to do this over the years. Bill has slowly gotten easier on him about getting taken care of. While he waits for it to beep, Eddie swipes some more Vicks under Bill’s nose and walks behind him to rub his shoulders, grabbing it from his mouth as soon as it beeps, before Bill can even grab it himself. “100.4, not too bad, you’ll be alright, but I do want you staying home from school tomorrow,” he lets him know, although it wouldn’t be a choice.

“Mkay, as long as I can get a sub,” he says quietly. He lays down and Eddie lays the blanket over him, running his hands through his still damp hair.

“I’ll help if you need, you just sleep. You’ll be okay for the night?” Eddie asks, continuing to rub his hair carefully.

“Yeah, I just am annoyed that I can’t sneeze,” Bill mumbles, cuddling himself into the couch.

“Lemme help,” Eddie chuckles, booping Bill’s nose ever so lightly and pulling his hand back when Bill wrinkles his nose and buries his face into his elbow to sneeze. “Bless you. Mmm yikes, baby, that sounds like it hurts,” Eddie says softly.

“Only a little,” Bill replies, closing his eyes, at least he was comfortable now.

“Goodnight, I love you, I’ll be checking on you tomorrow before I leave for work, so I’m sorry that I’ll be waking you around six, I’m just paranoid, and you’d be up by then anyways if you were going to work, and I’ll get Quinn to Bev’s tomorrow morning like usually,” he rambles on, trying to calm himself by talking out loud.

“Eddie-” Bill interrupts softly, “It’s gonna be fine,” he says, looking up at Eddie assuredly.

Eddie nods and goes over to turn the lights off, “You can take more nyquil if you need it, I know the dose isn’t that many, but another capsule shouldn’t have long term damage if you really need it to be comfortable enough to sleep. Eddie turns on the t.v., putting on Cartoon Network, for some reason Bill still always watches cartoons to fall asleep when he doesn’t feel well, although Eddie does find it adorable. “Sleep well, baby, I hope you wake up feeling better tomorrow.

Bill nods and hums happily, snuggling into the couch and blowing Eddie a kiss, “I love you,” he murmurs out, although it comes out more like “I wuv you,” due to the lack of enunciation.

A few hours later Bill shoots up into a sitting position, his face wet with tears and sweat, still choking out a panicked sob even in his conscious state. He puts his face in his hands and tries to calm himself, but he’d awoken from a nightmare. He wasn’t on his PTSD medication anymore. It didn’t usually affect him anymore. Sometimes though, it came back with fever dreams. He felt himself reimagining Georgie’s death over and over in his head. He feels like he can’t breathe. Just like when Pennywise had me in a chokehold. He chokes out another sob, forcing himself to stand up and shuffle to he and Eddie’s room with the blanket still around his shoulders, a mess of coughing and hyperventilating and crying as he opens the door.

“E-Eddie,” he pauses to try to catch his breath, coughing roughly into the blanket.

“Bill?” Eddie wakes up slowly at first and then sits up quickly and is at Bill’s side in seconds. “Baby, baby, what’s wrong?” he coos softly and ushers Bill over to the bed, having him sit and rubbing his back.

“Dr-dr-druh-dreams, G-g-g-g-georgie,” Bill fumbles the words out and leans into Eddie with almost all his weight. Eddie holds him close, pulling him between his legs and rubbing his back with one hand and his hair with the other.

“Sweetheart, it’s just the fever, baby you didn’t do anything wrong,” Eddie murmurs to him softly, trying to be comforting to him because it was distressing to see him in this stage of a panic attack.

Bill coughs again, the hyperventilating wasn’t doing his clogged chest any good. He starts to regulate his breathing and calm into Eddie. “‘M s-suh-suh-suh-sorry, cuh-cuh-can you tuck muh-me in again? Buh-buh-but first cuh-can we check on Qui-Qui-Qui-Quinn, I’m sc-scuh-scuh-ared,” he breathes out.

“Billy baby, sleep here for the rest of tonight, I don’t want you alone like this,” Eddie says worriedly, pressing the back of his hand to Bill’s neck, “You’re burning up, baby,” he fingers the sweaty short hairs at the back of Bill’s neck.

“Stay here, I’m getting the ibuprofen,” Eddie says, pushing Bill onto the bed.

Eddie gets the bottle of fever reducers and rustles around for a washcloth to get damp with cool water. Quinn shuffles out of her room, her teddy bear in her grip, “Is papa alright?” she asks, having heard the chaos.

“He’s just not feeling well, he had a bad dream,” Eddie finds a soft cloth and brings it to the sink and turns the water to cold, running it over the cloth and wringing it out before deciding it’s good enough to bring back to Bill.

“Can I help?” she asks softly, rubbing her eyes.

Eddie looks down, considering it. Maybe it would help Bill calm down if she were there for at least a few minutes, and that’s all he’s about right now. He just wants Bill to feel better. “Alright honey, just for a while, you really need sleep too, so he doesn’t get you sick.”

He brings the things back to the bedroom, grabbing the tissue box and wastebasket on his way back to the bedroom. “Hey Billy, Quinn was worried,” he says as he makes Bill sit up again, putting the cool cloth on the back of Bill’s neck.

Bill shivers at the sudden coolness but finds comfort in it eventually. “Qui-qui-qui-quinnie the pooh,” he smiles, putting his arms out for a hug. She crawls into his lap, a little confused by the sound of his words.

“Papa you sound like a frog,” she giggles lightly.

“Mhm, I knuh-know,” he croaks out in his hoarser voice.

“You need sleep, papa,” she says softly. “I gotta go back to bed.” She starts to get up, and Eddie is glad to notice that he already seems a little calmer.

“I pruh-pruh-promise I’ll get some rest. Tea p-puh-party redo tomorrow?” he asks tiredly, cuddling up to Eddie.

“Mhm,” she says, already on her way back to her bed, yawning. She’s always been pretty independant, which was good in this situation.

Bill lays back on Eddie, relishing in the comfort of the cool cloth and gratefully taking the bottle of pills, swallowing three with the water on the bedside table. Eddie lays back, Bill immediately crawling on top of him. Bill was basically entirely on him, his legs straddling his hips and his head on his chest. The rise and fall of Eddie’s breathing slowly calmed him the rest of the way.

“Thank you, Eddie,” he says softly, “‘M sorry for being so needy,” he mumbles.

“No, sweetheart, you’re fine, I shouldn’t have left you out in the living room alone, I know a lot of your triggers have been around and I should have known it would be really bad soon,” Eddie says softly, running his fingers through Bill’s hair lightly.

“I can’t lose you two,” Bill murmurs as he slowly starts to drift to sleep again. Bill’s stuffed up snores fill the air again soon after and Eddie feels a twinge of guilt in his chest.

I really can’t just keep hurting him because of my own phobias. I know my mom sucked, but his parents were the opposite, I can’t help but feel like them. Eddie almost starts crying at the realization. Eddie has trouble sleeping due to the intense smell of Vicks right in his face. He falls asleep with his hands tangled in Bill’s hair, Quinn walks back in with her blanket and he teddy, cuddling up to Eddie’s side, never one to pass up sleeping in her dad’s bed.

As promised, Eddie is up by six in the morning to shower, squirming gently out from under Bill to get ready for another day of work. He showers quickly and comes back to the bedroom to get dressed and then wake Quinn. He’s mindful of the fact that Bill’s nose is still running in his sleep, which sends a shiver down his spine as he tries to clean his face up with a tissue.

He shakes the small blonde one until she wakes up fully, attached to her papa’s warm body. “Morning, Quinnie,” he says softly, picking her up to take to her room to get her in clothes for the day. He gets her dressed and makes her a quick piece of peanut butter and banana toast, at least healthier than yesterday’s meal.

“Thank you, daddy,” she says, eating her toast slowly as she grabs her coat for when they leave.

Eddie texts Beverly asking if Quinn could stay until eight that day, not wanting to leave his ailing husband with her for two hyper hours before Eddie could be home. She says it’s fine, sending Bill her well wishes.

Eddie hears a pained squeak from the bedroom, quickly walking over and peaking in, Bill had curled up under the blankets in a tight ball. He’d stifled back a sneeze in hopes he could stay silent and not have Eddie worry about him at all before work.

“Billy, you know that can burst your eardrums,” he hums in a tone of disappointment.

Bill peeks just his eyes out from under the covers, embarrassed to have been caught. “‘M sorry, didn’t wanna bother you too much before work,” he says, sitting up and rubbing his eyes to alleviate some pressure in his sinuses that had ignited a headache.

“It’s fine, Bill, as long as you’re up I’m gonna have you take some medicine, alright?” he says, although Bill can tell the question isn’t really a question. “Mike is coming over later, wanted to make you something to eat, since you don’t seem to do that much when I’m not here but food is important for healing.”

Bill just nods, “I’ll be fine today, Eddie, no more panic attacks, I promise.”

Eddie frowns a little, “I just feel guilty leaving you again,” he sighs, walking over and kissing Bill’s temple. “You’re still warm, what if your fever spikes again?” Eddie asks softly, about two seconds away from calling into work sick. He never missed work, he never got sick himself, he decides that he may as well use it for Bill.

Bill turns to the side opposite of Eddie to cough into his elbow, sighing and laying back.

“That’s it- I’m calling in to work to take care of you,” Eddie says, pulling out his phone and leaving no room for argument. Bill whines and looks over at him.

“Babe, I don’t want you missing work because my students are actually germ factories,” he mumbles, turning to lay on his stomach and cuddle his pillow.

“No, I wanna stay and make sure you’re alright,” Eddie says, gaining more confidence every time he repeats himself.

Eddie was in his sweatpants and a tee-shirt already, seeing as he had to change into scrubs when he got to work anyways. He crawls back into bed next to his husband and cuddling up to him, “I’m staying right here.”

Then, Quinn pulls off her coat and climbs in next to them again, “Me too?” she asks softly.

“Oh shit, yeah I gotta text Bev,” Eddie says in a hushed voice, pulling out his phone to let her know.

“Eddie, language,” Bill says softly, curling up with his face in Eddie’s chest.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Eddie says distractedly, typing away on his phone. She responds quickly, only a little frustrated with the sudden change in plans, but she understands.

“How about I fill you with medicine again and then you take a nap, how does that sound?” Eddie asks softly, playing with Bill’s hair gently.

Bill cuddles closer to the other for a moment before releasing his tight grip on Eddie’s waist. “Mkay, as long as you come back,” he says softly, letting Eddie wriggle out of his place in bed again.

Quinn pulls herself closer to her dad, snuggling into his chest, “I miss you when you go to work, papa,” She says softly.

Bill feels guilty when he hears this, although he knows he can’t help it. “I’m sorry, I’m home now,” he replies softly.

They lay quietly until Eddie comes back with a small bottle of cough syrup and some Dayquil pills. “Here, sit up and take these, I’ve got tea for you too,” he says softly, pulling Quinn off of him gently and pulling him into a sitting position.

“You’re the best,” Bill hums, taking the small cup of red liquid and knocking it back, and then swallowing the pills easily. Eddie hands him the mug of tea, which he sips carefully before laying back down. “I’m still sorry, but hold me?” he asks softly, putting his arms out, beckoning Eddie to lay beside him.

[fluffyllamas-23]

ALTERNATIVELY my situation yesterday: Jenna's daughter is graduating preschool and Cassie pushes through nightmarish cramps for the whole lil ceremony and school party afterward until she's sitting on their couch lightheaded and faint and kind of doing that "fighting to stay awake" thing (for me that was because i was too nauseated to eat all day and then was on my feet for three hours and my blood sugie dropped, oops)

Okay this wasn’t exactly the prompt and I’m so sorry lmao.  I would have tried to make this better, but I’ve been writing this for days and alcohol has been consumed and I’m tired so here whoops

Cassie is on the couch, curled around a heating pad with her face pressed into a pillow. Keegan is sitting next to her, hand on her back as he rubs it soothingly.

“How’re you doing?”

She groans into the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut as another wave of pain hits her. She’s had the worst cramps all day - they’re so bad, that even the meds she took earlier haven’t done anything to touch the pain.

She was supposed to have had class and work all day, but she bailed after an hour and a half, unable to power through any longer, came home, grabbed the heating pad and collapsed onto the couch. She hasn’t moved in over six hours, and now she definitely feels like she’s coming down with something.

“Can I get you anything?” He asks anxiously.

“No,” she all but moans, gripping the pillow tightly.

“Are you sure? Is the heating pad doing anything?”

“Ugh…barely.”

“Are you still going to Emma’s graduation tomorrow?”

“Hell yeah,” she mumbles, “baby girl’s graduating preschool - there’s no way in hell I’m missing that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Uh-huh…I’ll be fine…it doesn’t usually hurt past the first day.”

“Okay…d’you wanna play a card game?”

She shoots him a flat look, “really?”

“Oh…right…you can’t move.  Um…movie?”

“Better,” she mumbles, “yeah, sure.”

“What do you-”

“-I really don’t care, honestly.  I feel awful,” she groans.

Keegan sighs, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay…it’s not a big deal, I’ll be fine…um, could you get me a blanket?”

“Are you cold?”

“A little bit…mostly just tired…want a blanket.”

*

“You should stay home, this is a bad idea,” Keegan gripes, white-knuckling the steering wheel as he pulls up in front of Jenna’s house.

She’d gone to sleep with a slight headache, and woke up in the middle of the night with an even worse headache and a sore throat. The parts of her body that weren’t aching before definitely ache now, and she can’t shake the bleary, hazy feeling that had settled into her head. She still has awful cramps too, that feel like someone’s stabbing her in the stomach, and the pain is radiating down both legs.

“I have to go,” Cassie croaks, clearing her throat with a wince, “James had to go out of town last minute. Emma’s sad he’s missing it, I can’t bail out, too.”

“You’re sick.”

“It’s just a cold.”

“And cramps,” he frowns, “you can’t even stand up straight…or sit up straight.  You’re curled up in a fucking ball, you need to be lying down.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“But-“

“-if you’re so insistent I go home, you go inside and tell that little girl that another person isn’t going to be there,” she snaps.

He sighs, “fine.  I’ll walk you in.”

“Perfect,” she mutters as he gets out and walks around to her side.

“What time do you get off?” She asks, looking up at him sleepily.

“Seven,” he says, cupping her cheek, “you’re awfully warm.”

“Yeah, I thought I might be.”

“You look awful.”

“I’ll never get used to how much you flatter me,” she grumbles.

He chuckles, “I mean you look like you’re not feeling well.”

She rolls her eyes, “Yeah, well.”

He helps her out of the car, and puts his hand on her lower back as he leads her into to house.

“Cassie, is that you?” Jenna calls from the Kitchen.

“Auntie Cassie!” Emma shrieks, flinging herself at Cassie.  

Keegan steps between them, catching her with ease as Cassie sighs in relief. Any other day would be fine, but she’s struggling enough to stand upright today, and Emma definitely would have knocked her right on her ass.

“Emma! I heard someone is graduating today.  So got any colleges lined up? Jobs?”

She giggles, squirming out of his embrace, “no! I’m only four.”

“What?! No way, I could have sworn you were thirty two.”

“Coach KJ!” she laughs.  

Cassie walks into the kitchen and pours herself into one of the chairs at the island.  

Jenna turns around, hand resting on her protruding stomach, “hi-oh. You look miserable, are you alright?”

“I’m dying,” Cassie groans, slumping over and resting her head in her folded arms.

“What’s the matter? You sound awful. Is it just a cold?”

“Cramps, too,” she mumbles, “they’re the worst.”

“Are you sure you’re up to the ceremony? It’s really not a big deal if you stay home.”

“Yes it is,” she croaks, “I told Emma I would be there…I have to be there.”

“Want some medicine?”

“Took some already.”

“it sounds like they’re barely helping.”

Cassie sniffles, looking up at Jenna, “they are a little, but you’re mostly right.  Distract me, how are you doing? How’s the baby?”

Jenna grins, patting her belly, “he’s good.”

“He?”

“It’s a boy,” she grins.

“I was hoping it would be…I bet James is happy.”

“Oh, he’s thrilled,” Jenna says, rolling her eyes, “he won’t shut up about it.”

“Does Emma know?”

“Yeah…I’m not…exactly sure that she understands that brother means boy, but she’s happy so far? I guess we’ll find out in a couple of months, though.”

*

Cassie didn’t think that a preschool graduation ceremony would take that long, and it really doesn’t, but she feels like she’s on the verge of either passing out, throwing up, or both.  They’re in the sun, too, and she’s sitting on the edge of her chair, head nearly between her knees.  

“Honey,” Jenna says, hand on Cassie’s back, “do you want to go inside? Get out of the sun?”

“Ndo…s’finde,” she sniffles, “how mbuch longer?”

“Only about twenty minutes. Hangin’ in there?” Jenna asks, gathering Cassie’s dark brown locks up in a ponytail, pulling it out of her face and off her neck.  Cassie slurs something unintelligible, squeezing her eyes shut, “so that’s a no.  Are you going to pass out?”

“Mmmb…mmmb…mb-mbaybe,” she mumbles, black spots gathering in her peripherals.  

“Oh, shit,” Jenna hisses, pressing her free hand to the back of Cassie’s neck.  She doesn’t feel too warm, but she’s still entirely too sick to be here, “you idiot.  Why did you come?”

“Told y’already.”

“I know, but you’re a moron.  Do you need water?”

“Ndo.”

“When’s the last time you’ve had any?”

“Dunndo.”

“Sit up,” Jenna says, “come on, up.  I have water, you need to drink it.”

“I dond’t-”

“I’m not taking you to the emergency room because you’re fucking dehydrated.  Keegan told me to keep an eye on you, and he’ll have my head if you end up in the hospital.”

Cassie forces herself into a sitting position.  She grimaces - everything feels wrong, and she just wants to go lie down.  Her stomach hurts, her back hurts, her head hurts, her throat hurts, and her entire body aches. She feels heavy with exhaustion, yet also strangely like she’s floating, and it’s a feeling she really, really doesn’t like.  

She just wants Keegan.  

She drifts in and out of awareness, until, “mommy! Auntie Cassie!”

“Hi sweetheart!” Jenna greets her with a smile, crouching down so she can wrap her up in a hug, “oh, I’m so proud of you!”

*

Emma is sprinting around the house screaming God knows what, and all Cassie can do is grip her pillow and bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying.  She feels much worse than earlier, between the body aches, fever chills and the congestion that had settled itself in her head and chest.

She’s curled up on the couch, shivering beneath a blanket as she fights consciousness.  

“Emma, sweetie, you’ve gotta be a little bit quieter,” Jenna says gently, “auntie Cassie isn’t feeling very well.”

“Sorry, mommy,” Emma chirps, skipping over to where Cassie is laying.  

Cassie’s eyes open when she feels a tiny hand on her cheek.  

“Emma, no,” Jenna says sharply, “let her sleep, she’s sick.”

“But, momma!” She whimpers.  

“Jennda, it’s finde,” she sniffles, “I think mby fever is up…I feel really…weird.”

Jenna frowns, walking over to Cassie.  She presses the backs of her fingers to Cassie’s cheek, inhaling sharply, “yeah, it spiked.”

“Ugh…thought so. Emmba, I really dond’t wandt you to get sick, hondey-”

“Me neither,” Jenna says, “hey, you know how you can help Aunt Cassie feel better?”

“How?”

“By drawing her some pictures. All the pictures.”

Emma looks at Cassie, blue eyes wide, “will it?”

“Oh, yeah,” Cassie sniffles, “it’ll mbake mbe feel so mbuch better, I would love it.”

“Okay!” She says.  As soon as Emma is gone, Cassie sighs in relief, which sends her into a rough coughing fit.  

“Yikes.  You don’t have to be so dramatic about it, we all know you’re dying.”

“Very funndy,” Cassie croaks, “thank you, though…I love her, but-”

“-You feel awful. I know,” Jenna says softly, sitting on the edge of the couch and carding her hand through Cassie’s hair,  “Keegan just called, he’s on his way to come get you.”

“Oh good,” she mumbles, eyelids drooping.  

She must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she’s aware of is a hand on her cheek and a pair of lips on her burning forehead.

“Cass,” Keegan says gently, “wake up, honey…yeah, hey, there you are, honey.  Ready to go home?”

“Uh-huh,” she nods slowly, brain muddled as she tries and force herself to wake up more.  

“Then let’s go,” he says softly, kissing her forehead again.

[sportsleague365]

1) Flaky defence meets toothless attack at St James’ ParkSteve Bruce said Newcastle were too passive during Monday’s sorry defeat at Aston Villa. One thing he can actively do about that is drop Jonjo Shelvey, who was irrelevant in midfield at Villa Park. With Sean Longstaff available again after suspension, and Matty Longstaff in line for a return to the starting lineup, Shelvey should be parked on the bench. Bruce probably wishes he could also make changes up front to try to exploit City’s defensive flakiness. There is not often a good case for starting Andy Carroll but this time there are two: City’s fragility and Joelinton’s haplessness. At least Allan Saint-Maximin shows signs of menace, even if his finishing so far has been down there with that of the bewildering Miguel Almirón. Mind you, Gabriel Jesus has not been looking sharp recently for City. So even though injury deprives both clubs of their best centre-backs (Jamaal Lascelles and Aymeric Laporte respectively), this match has the potential to end in a ridiculous 0-0 if midfielders do not step up to score. PD • Newcastle United v Manchester City (12.30pm, all times GMT, Saturday) 2) Diop’s absence gives Pellegrini unwelcome defensive optionsManuel Pellegrini has spent the season vacillating between áBalbuena and Angelo Ogbonna in his search for the centre-back he dislikes the least as Issa Diop’s partner. Pellegrini picked them both five times last season – the only league matches Diop didn’t start – of which West Ham lost four and drew one. Last weekend, when Diop was taken off with just under half an hour to play, Pellegrini was so loth to play them both he brought Carlos Sánchez on and shifted Declan Rice into the back line. At Stamford Bridge, with Diop suspended, he must choose either to pair them both or start Rice in defence for the first time since the end of the 2017-18 season. With the 33-year-old David Martin expected to make his top-flight debut in goal in place of the underperforming Roberto, the fourth-worst Premier League team will head to the division’s fourth-best side with a reshaped and under-strength backline, in which not even the manager has confidence. SB • Chelsea v West Ham United (3pm, Saturday) Fabián Balbuena (left) and Angelo Ogbonna try to deal with Eden Hazard’s threat during last season’s clash at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images 3) Potter’s steady Brighton rebuild deserves rewardAccording to Graham Potter it was “a little bit strange” to be awarded a new six-year contract at Brighton because “we haven’t done anything”. Potter’s modesty is not an affectation and it is true that, six months into his tenure, Brighton have not quite stopped the world turning on its axis. But there are still times in football when slow and steady can win the race, and Potter’s reconfiguration of the Seagulls’ approach – adopting a progressive, modern style while sitting comfortably in mid-table – has gone exactly as Tony Bloom would have wanted. There have been fluctuations along the way but when Brighton lose they usually do so creditably, with Pep Guardiola making a point of praising Potter’s methods after Manchester City defeated them in August. They will undoubtedly set up to ask questions of Liverpool too. Brighton are in the middle of what, on paper, is a tough run of fixtures but their long-term commitment to the blueprint Potter has put in place gives them considerable cause for comfort. NA • Liverpool v Brighton (3pm, Saturday) 4) Time running out for Silva to recapture early swaggerEverton are not the only club that might feel shamed by the quality of work done by Brendan Rodgers within nine months of his arrival at Leicester, but a comparison with the last time these two sides met at the King Power Stadium highlights their wildly divergent directions of travel since. In October 2018, with Marco Silva still getting his feet under the table, Everton produced an exhilarating away performance, winning 2-1 and threatening more. “This is our image,” Silva said afterwards. “It will be so in the future and more.” Saturday’s rematch would be an apposite occasion for Silva to prove he can keep his promises, then, given that anything bar a rapid upturn in form and performance is likely to spell the end of his tenure. It is difficult to know what to make of Silva as a manager: there was always the sense that his talents were overhyped somewhat after he made an admittedly respectable fist of keeping Hull in the top flight two and a half years ago and he has shown little to suggest any extraordinary talent since then. Time is running out for him to change that opinion but a repeat of last season’s showing against opponents in irresistible form should buy him a little bit more. NA • Leicester City v Everton (4.30pm, Sunday) The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. 5) Intriguing duel of England’s two fastest-progressing clubsWhen Wolves thrashed Sheffield United 3-0 at Molineux in February 2018, no one was talking about Chris Wilder’s team “doing a Wolves”. And, well, they haven’t, not exactly. But here both clubs are less than two years later, meeting with each side perched just outside the Champions League qualification places. Wilder and Nuno Espírito Santo have done superb jobs in different ways and a whole raft of players have risen to heights they were not widely expected to reach. Wolves’ Matt Doherty and United’s Enda Stevens, for instance, both played in that game in 2018 and now can be classed among the best wing-backs in the Premier League. In fact, the only members of United’s likely rearguard on Sunday who did not play on their club’s last visit to Molineux are John Egan and the goalkeeper Dean Henderson. They have made huge impacts since joining the club and, assuming they play on Sunday after missing last week’s draw with Manchester United, they will be big factors in ensuring Wolves do not have it so easy this time. PD • Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United (2pm, Sunday) Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson makes a save during the Premier League win over Arsenal at Bramall Lane. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images 6) Only a miracle can save Emery nowArsenal stagger to Carrow Road to face opponents who, in some ways, present a miniature version of what they ought to be. Norwich may well be relegated this season but there is so much to admire about the uncompromising belief in high-tempo, fluid attacking football held by Daniel Farke and the club’s sporting director, Stuart Webber. In fact Webber, who is just 35 but one of the most impressive executives around and surely destined for a top job, is precisely the kind of figure Arsenal would have benefited from employing in a high position but instead they lurch on in hope more than expectation. It is getting to the point where Unai Emery needs something approaching a miracle; Arsenal may well win at Carrow Road but the cracks it would paper over are huge. • Norwich City v Arsenal (2pm, Sunday) 7) Will Mourinho stick with Winks or twist with Ndombele?The last time José Mourinho faced Eddie Howe was last November, when Bournemouth dominated the first half against Manchester United – even if the score when it ended was 1-1. “At half-time I thought I was the luckiest manager in the Premier League, to be at 1-1 in a half in which it should be 5-2 or 6-2,” Mourinho said afterwards. “We were really lucky because we were really poor.” In the second, however, United took control, even if it took until the second minute of stoppage time for Marcus Rashford to score the winner. The tactical switch that worked for Mourinho then was to exactly the system he has so far favoured at Spurs, bringing Ander Herrera on to form a double pivot with Nemanja Matic at the base of midfield, just as Harry Winks and Eric Dier have done at Tottenham, in an out-of-possession 4-2-3-1. Received wisdom seems to be that Tanguy Ndombele will replace Winks for this game, but the Englishman might be better able to replicate the deep-lying, match-turning display from Herrera that Mourinho is unlikely to have forgotten. SB • Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth (3pm, Saturday) Harry Winks has formed a double pivot with Eric Dier in José Mourinho’s first two matches in charge of Spurs. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters 8) Watford’s misfortunes continue, in fitness and formLast week Watford extended to six their run of successive matches in which they have been forced through injury to make a first-half substitution, and in all competitions there have been eight in their past 10 games. This statistic is extraordinary: no other team has made more than three first-half substitutions in this season’s Premier League, and Southampton are one of four sides (the others being Burnley, Leicester and Arsenal) not to have made any at all. The other 19 top-flight clubs have made a total of 688 substitutions so far this season, of which 3.9% have been before half-time. Watford’s figure is 16.2%. Having won only one league game so far, the Hornets’ tactics have clearly been failing this season – but so have their bodies. SB • Southampton v Watford (5.30pm, Saturday) 9) Wesley needs to enhance his game with goalsThe last time Aston Villa travelled to Old Trafford – in April 2016 – they lost 1-0 and were relegated. Hear this now: Villa are too good to go down this season, especially if Jack Grealish stays fit. Their prospects would be even brighter if Wesley started scoring regularly. The striker does plenty of admirable work but has had opportunities to score much more than four goals in 13 league games. Villa could pose United a lot of trouble in midfield on Sunday, particularly if Scott McTominay is not in top condition, but they will probably need Wesley to be clinical if they are to complete a significant victory. PD • Manchester United v Aston Villa (2pm, Sunday) 10) Burnley bear down on fifth as Dyche’s stock rises againOn recent form this would be a home banker, but these are two of the division’s streakier sides. What an opportunity this is for Burnley, though, especially given that the two sides directly above them – Wolves and Sheffield United – face each other on Sunday. They could finish the weekend in fifth spot and the way Sean Dyche has cajoled his team back to their old levels over the last 12 months cannot be understated. Burnley could have sunk but instead a largely unchanged squad looks stronger than ever. Their centre-forward pairing, Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, make an unorthodox sight in modern football at 6ft 1in and 6ft 3in respectively but, with six goals each already, perfectly embody Dyche’s ability to extract the maximum. It is no surprise that the clamour for him to be presented with an opportunity at a bigger club is getting louder and a third successive victory on Saturday would add to the noise. NA • Burnley v Crystal Palace (3pm Saturday) Source link The post Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend | Football appeared first on 10Z Soccer. #PremierLeague #NorwichCity #CrystalPalace

[tsfrbss]

Paper Moon Part 10

MB - @thecountessakasha - here! Finally, I can give you part 10! If you’ve been reading this series, I am so, so, so super sorry this has taken soooo long. Since I have a new job and come home everyday exhausted beyond measure, it’s taken me much longer to get this part together. Good news is, it’s finally here!

I’m going to tag a couple people who I’ve told about this and my really special love who keeps betaing this for me @evansscruff - thank you, darling.

A/N: Bucky and Steve end up at a venue that has a 40s night and meet an OFC, Melissa Rose, a singer in a local club. They both are smitten by her, and start to vie for her affections. They end up finding out more about themselves in the process.

This honestly started out as maybe a one shot but as I got going, I decided it’ll be chapters. How many? No frigging idea. This is my absolute first time writing a fic of any sort and yes I did base the OFC on myself. I hope y'all enjoy.

Word count: 5000+ because I am a wordy bitch.

Warnings: A little angst. DETAILED SUPER SMUT. (F/M, M/M, F/M/M) Possible fluff, depending on your view of things.

STEVE’S POV

Oh shit. I did not mean to make her cry. Especially after the ecstasy we both just brought to each other. After the way she made me feel. MAKES me feel.

Wiping her tears away, I caress and kiss any part of her I can reach, “Hey, hey, doll. I’m sorry. It’s too much, too early, I know.” I give her a soft sigh, moving in beside her to wrap her in my arms. “You just…I can’t explain it. You make me feel centered. You make me feel like I can be myself, like I can actually live my life the way I want to, the way I feel I need to. The way that feels right to me.”

Her big green eyes, still brimming with tears widen at my words as she stares at me, “This is fucking deja vu, I swear to God.” She’s trying to slip out of my hold, but I pull her in tighter.

“What are you talking about?” Then I realize that can only mean one thing. She’s had this same conversation with Bucky.

I roll to my back, flinging my arm over my eyes. I can feel her trembling under the sheet next to me and I move my arm to peer at her. She’s sitting up, arms wrapping around her shins as she’s resting her chin on her knees.

She hasn’t answered me.

Don’t scare her off, dummy. Don’t do it. Be gentle. Tread lightly. This is something you want, you just haven’t spoken your piece yet to Bucky.

“Doll.” I reach out, touching the back of her hand, “Doll, look at me. Please, Melissa. Just let me explain, alright?” I sit up and start running my fingers through her silken waves.

I hear a deep sigh from her. Turning to look at me, her eyes are still pooling with tears. She presses her cheek on her knee as she waits for me to continue.

“I’ve come to some realizations over the past few days. One of which is that I’m tired of waiting for my life to begin. I feel as if I never really got to have one. I’m sure you can understand why.” I brush the back of my fingers against her cheek softly as she’s nodding.

Moving closer, I orient my body to where I’m sitting up knees to knees with her, “I also know that due to the nature of my life as it is now, I’m not meant for a life filled with settling down and having a family. The guy who wanted all of that disappeared a long time ago. And he didn’t come out of the ice.”

She’s watching me evenly, and for the first time since we met, I’m unable to read her expression. “Melissa, you’ve shown me I cannot be afraid of what I want anymore. Of who I really am.”

“And who is that, Steve? And am I just a bridge to get you to that point?” She’s frowning, something I hope to never see mar her beautiful features again. “I mean, that’s great you’re done being afraid of what you want, but when you really start living as you wish, will you be strong enough to take the barbs? The inevitable judgement?” Her eyes close, feathery dark lashes brushing against flushed cheeks.

“Am I a stepping stone?” she continues. “Or are you wanting me to be a part of this new life? You saw how they looked at us that night in the club. And that was just me.” Lifting her head now, she says pointedly, “What happens when you add Bucky to the mix?” Her big green eyes focus on my blues.

Now it’s my turn to be surprised. “I… I don't… I don’t know what to say.” My hands reach out to cup her face, my breathing so rapid I can barely contain myself. How does she know? How could she? I’m shaking as I’m watching the tears fall down her face.

“You don’t have to say anything to me. You need to talk to him,” pressing her face to my hand, she’s nuzzling into my palm. My thumb brushes away the tears that paint her soft skin, “You said you didn’t have any right to make me choose. I don’t have that right either. All I can tell you right now is that I want you. Both of you. But I also realize that you two have far more history together.”

“You’re right. We do. But what are the odds that we have both said the same thing to you, about you, about each other, in the span of three days?” I lean forward, ghosting her lips with my own, “That can’t be coincidence, can it? Melissa, don’t you see that the common thread here is you?”

Her gaze is puzzling. I can’t tell if she’s scared or incredulous. She seems as if she’s about to say something before turning her gaze away from me. Shaking her head, I hear a soft murmur, “Why me? I have nothing to offer. I am no one. No one special at all. You both… “ and she’s trailing off.

Reaching for her, I take her chin gently in my palm, moving her gaze to mine. “We both what, Maîtresse?” My brows knit together as I’m waiting for her answer, but I see her relax slightly when I call her that.

“You both deserve someone better. Someone younger. Someone thinner. Someone who is better suited to your public life. Who am I but an old, fat, divorcee with a checkered past and…?” Shaking her head, she finishes, “I am not good enough for either of you.”

It’s killing me to hear her speak of herself this way. Tearing herself down. I hate it. I hate what her life has done to her.

She doesn’t see what she does to me, and apparently what she does to Bucky. She doesn’t understand. How can we show her? How can we break through this wall of self hatred she’s created for herself?

“Melissa, don’t you remember what I told you on our first date? You’re more than good enough. I told you I wasn’t giving up, because you’re too special. That I didn’t give a damn what people thought. Let them judge me! I welcome it! For you, for him, I would endure anything…”

“Steve, please! You’ve endured so much already. Frankly so has Bucky. Do you really want this burden, too?”

Grabbing her by the shoulders, I shake her slightly, focusing her attention fully on me. “You are NOT a burden. To me. To Bucky. To anyone.” I pull her in kissing her hard, and she returns it as I slide her onto my lap. She moans softly as my hardening cock brushes against her folds. I’m shuddering at the feel of her already.

“You are a blessing. Everything about you draws me in. Everything.” I murmur against the skin of her neck, fingers tangling in her hair. She’s melting at my touch, my words. I slide my hardness along her damp slit, bucking my hips upward. “What you do to me, no one has ever made me feel this way. I feel free, fully comfortable in my skin. I feel happier than ever, I feel whole…” I snap my hips up again, teasing her.

Her hands press into my chest, fingernails digging in as her hips start to move. She’s rubbing her soaking wet core on my throbbing cock. My hands grab her full, soft hips, pulling her tighter. I lift her up easily letting her sink down onto me, her head falling forward as I slide inside her once again.

We gasp in unison once she’s fully seated, eyes locking. “Steven…” She whispers, her arms linking around my neck to hold on. I’m gripping her hips fiercely, moving her forward then back, forward then back, making her rock on me.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she buries her face in my neck. I continue with the push pull, fingers bruising her flesh. Her breath tickles me and her teeth are pressing into my skin where my neck meets my shoulder, leaving marks. She’s groaning, shuddering, her slick smearing on me as I move inside of her, feeling it on my belly. She’s so tight and wet.

I keep her close as I work her on my cock, whispering praises of her. How beautiful she is, how good she feels, how much I want nothing more than to please her, how I hope I’m making her happy. How deserving she is of all of this and more.

Small whimpers and grunts issue forth against me where her mouth is locked to my neck. I can feel her nails digging deeper into my shoulders, walls beginning to close in. “Maîtresse, touch yourself for me, let me watch you, let me feel you. God Melissa, please… you feel so incredibly good, I want to see you come undone…”

She obliges, hand slipping between us, gripping the base of my shaft as I push her back. She gathers some of her wetness, the lewd sound of our union filling the room.

Her fingers move quickly around her pink, swollen bundle of nerves and almost instantly she tightens around me. A long low hiss comes from her lips as she sits up, still letting me move her as she gets closer and closer. Working her clit fast, I feel her squeezing even more, and she starts to cum for me.

“Oh God, Steve… fuck, you feel so… yes, keep going, just like that-” and she’s there, words frozen behind the perfect O her mouth makes in silence as she collapses atop me. Her walls flutter and tighten, making me buck up even more. She’s so tight I’m almost unable to move.

I’m thrusting up into her harder and harder, her vise like grip sending me over as I coat her walls once again. My fingertips leaving imprints behind on the tender flesh of her hips, growling out her name again and again before stilling under her.

I wrap my arms around her, unwilling to let her go. She rests there against my chest and I whisper praises, fingers carding through her hair. “It’s you, Melissa. You are the one. The one I’ve been looking for. The one he’s been looking for. And we didn’t even know we were looking.”

“We need to talk to him, Steve.” She’s nuzzling into my chest even as she reaches for my phone on the nightstand. “Get him here. Now.” Placing the phone in my hand, she pushes off me, leaving me staring after her as she heads to the shower.

BUCKY’S POV

Pacing, pacing, pacing back and forth on the roof of the tower as the minutes tick by waiting for Steve to come back. I feel like I’ve been up here for hours. I chew on the inside of my mouth, looking out over the city, peering toward the building where the club and Melissa’s place is.

I shove my hands into the pockets of my sweats when suddenly my phone vibrates. Pulling it out I see a notification from Steve.

Jerk: Hey man, you busy?

Nope. Was just hoping to talk to you tonight about some things.

Jerk: Yeah, I wanna talk to you too….. And so does Melissa. Can you come over to her place?

I stare at the phone, and I can feel my stomach drop to my feet. Fuck. Did she chose him? Did he choose her? Am I to be left in the cold?

My hands are shaking so badly as I try to type my response.

Of course I can. Anything for her. For you.

Jerk: Alright. See you shortly then. Door’s open.

I lock the phone, sliding it back into my pocket. I make a pass by my room to grab my wallet, moving as quickly as I can.

I don’t bother with the elevator, and as I rush to the stairwell I brush by Clint and Sam. They both call out to me. I’m practically a blur running down the stairs ignoring them, so Sam yells, “I see Mr. Personality has returned!” He doesn’t see me roll my eyes. Not now. Bird Boy will pay in the gym tomorrow.

Out the door in seconds flat, I’m already at the club when I discover I’m wearing only sweat pants, a thin t-shirt, and flip-flops.

Oh well. Neither of them will care.

It’s then I realize I didn’t bother to cover my arm either.

Jesus Christ, James. She really does have you fucked up. You didn’t think twice about concealing yourself.

It’s close to 7pm and I creep into the club, which is in full swing. Ducking the owner I slip backstage and up the steps to Melissa’s place. Two rapid knocks to signal my entrance before I open the door, being greeted by Steve. His skin, milky and freckled all flushed brightly as if he was just working out.

And there goes my heart again. Fuck.

He’s only wearing jeans, slung low on his hips, first couple of buttons undone. His hair is all disheveled, lips curling into a smile. He looks relaxed and at home here.

At home. In her place. Home. Like I feel when I’m here. When I’m with her. When I’m with him.

“Hey, jerk”

“Hey, punk.” he counters, smiling brightly, but looking nervous.

“So, where is Melissa?” I can smell her on him. I can smell their mingled scents and oh it’s a heady mix. So, so good.

He gestures toward the bedroom with his thumb, cheeks turning bright red, “Shower. She should be done shortly.” He moves toward the kitchen, grabbing three glasses. Dropping ice into each, he fills one with her favorite rum, one with Johnnie Walker, and one with Jack Daniel’s. Handing over the scotch, he tilts his Jack toward me in a toast which I match in silence.

We both take long pulls as we hear Melissa pad softly into the room. Our heads turn in unison, and we sigh contentedly together.

Wrapped in a silken robe of red, she’s standing with her hand on her hip, her lips painted into a half smile at the pair of us. Her hair is still wet, making her waves stand out. Fresh faced, no make-up, no anything except those adorable black framed glasses. She’s so beautiful. My angel. My curvy, soft, ethereal angel.

Steve walks her rum over and she takes it from him, wrapping her delicate fingers around the glass. Before drinking any, she runs her fingers through his hair, petting him, “Merci, Etienne.”

I feel my stomach tighten with jealousy as he preens under her touch. Her eyes move to mine and she can see it. She knows. With Steve still at her side, she runs her tongue along her lips, watching me. I’m trembling while she’s studying my reaction to this situation. “Come here, James.” she says softly, but with that authoritative tone I love so much.

As I make my way to her, she takes a deep drink, before setting the glass on the coffee table. When I reach her side, she pets my hair as well, fingers sliding through easily. She tugs with both hands, Steve and I groaning together at the feel of it, the sense of her being in charge.

“Now. We’re going to have us a little come to Jesus meeting. Y'all catch my drift?”

She looks back and forth between us and sees that we are clearly confused by her obvious Southern saying. Her head tilts, lips curling into a broad smile, “That means we’re gonna have us a serious talk. And we’re gonna resolve some shit. And it probably ain’t gonna be fun.”

With that, she moves away from us standing in front of the TV. Snapping her fingers and pointing to the sofa with both hands, she indicates for us to sit. We both immediately take our spots. “Such good boys.”

Picking up her rum, she crosses her arms. “Now. First things first. I am not choosing between the two of you. This may be selfish, it may be greedy. But I believe that by my age, and with the bullshit my life has been to this point, I’ve earned it.” Her sparkling, big green eyes slide between the two of us.

“I want you.” She’s looking directly at me. “And you.” She says to Steve. “And if that’s a problem, speak up now.”

Silence fills the air between all of us. It’s not awkward, it’s not tense. A quiet calm of sorts. I peer at Steve beside me, and he’s looking back. I give him a shake of my head, and he does the same. We both turn back to her, “I don’t think that’s a problem, my Angel.” My lips turn into a smirk, “I have a feeling Steve doesn’t either.”

“Good. That’s one issue out of the way. The least painful one.” Sipping her rum, she pauses here, taking a deep breath. “Now, the hard part. Which I suspect has something to do with me, but not in the way you’d imagine.”

She looks directly at me again. “Tell him. Because if you don’t it’s going to fester and cause issues within this dynamic and that’s something I refuse to tolerate. I want open and honest dialogue between the three of us all the time, constant communication. This simply will not work without it.”

I give her a heavy sigh, rubbing the side of my face then draining the glass of scotch in one go. I turn my body to focus on Steve, setting my empty glass on the table. “You know that I love you,” I say to him.

He nods, opening his mouth to answer and I hold up my hand, “Just let me finish. I love you. And not just in a friend way. A brotherly way.” I close my eyes, “I’m in love with you, Steve. And I think you’re in love with me, too. And I think we’ve been dancing around this issue for as long as we can remember. Since from way back, Brooklyn days.”

Opening my eyes I see his cheeks color brightly, and I can tell Melissa is watching closely. Studying. I love it when she does that.

Steve doesn’t answer. His mouth hangs open for a moment then closes. After what seems like an excruciating long time, he reaches for my hand. My metal hand. He holds it delicately in his own. Palm up. He traces his fingers along the plates, giving a soft sigh.

After several torturous minutes, he looks up into my eyes. “I’m in love with you, too, Buck. I have been for as long as I can recall. I just never knew how to tell you. Or if I could. Or should.”

We slide closer to each other on the sofa, “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.”

Reaching out to cup my cheek, his lips turn into a soft smile. “I think I do, Buck. I think I do.” He’s blushing all sorts of colors and it is knocking me breathless.

I take this moment in, just for a couple more seconds before I lunge forward pressing my lips to his. Both of us sigh in relief and adoration of the other as we kiss softly, slowly. The fluttering of my heart is matched by his own which I can easily hear, and I deepen the kiss.

I take my time, feeling each and every part of his lips, loving the soft pressure, the plumpness. “So long I’ve wanted this, too long I’ve waited,” I murmur against his mouth. He gives a small whine as I pull back, still holding him but breaking the kiss.

My eyes slide to Melissa and she’s on the verge of tears, I can see them gathering. But she’s wearing the biggest smile I’ve seen from her yet. Steve finally looks to her as well, giving a little gasp at the sight.

She looks so proud, so happy to see us this way. I want her to look at us like this forever. And to be honest, if it weren’t for her this may have never happened. “Melissa, my Angel. Thank you for this.”

“Ma Belle Maîtresse, merci.” and he gestures for her to join us on the sofa. Setting her glass back on the table, she walks over but doesn’t sit. She stands before us, taking each of our chins in her hands, smiling down upon us like the goddess she is.

“You are both very, very welcome.” She frowns a moment then replaces that with a more contemplative expression, “Please know that I expect nothing from either of you in return. If you decide that you’d be better off without me, with just each other, I will totally understand. I’ll back off and slip out of the picture to allow you to pursue your life as you see-”

She’s unable to finish that train of thought as Steve and I both grab at the lose ends of the tie holding her robe closed, undoing it, and letting the silk slide open. I look at Steve, and we’re both grinning.

“If you think we’re ever letting you go, you’re out of your mind, Angel.” and with that I press my lips to her left hip in an act of reverence.

“That’s right, Maîtresse, for as much as we belong to each other, and to you, you belong to us, with us.” Steve now pressing his lips to her right hip, mimicking my action.

Neither of us remove our lips from her soft flesh as we look up at her. The tears that were threatening to spill down her cheeks begin doing just that, and she brings her hands up into our hair, petting the both of us.

“Thank you, boys. My boys. For this. For…” she trails off sighing contentedly at the sight of us.

MELISSA’S POV

My fingers card through their hair as they look up at me. I would never, could never believe that I am deserving of what’s happening. Of these two. I still don’t believe I am and yet here they are, saying so.

I take a deep breath trying to calm my galloping heart and quell the flow of tears. Bucky sees me struggling and pulls me into his lap. He starts to wipe the tears away and Steve slides in right next to him, helping to dry my face.

I look from one to the other, feeling like I have just taken a willing step off the tallest building in New York City. That feeling of falling, floating, half sickness you get when you’ve done something huge that will change the course of your life forever.

I’m scared out of my fucking skin.

I’m having trouble with this. Already. There is no way I deserve this. To be a part of their lives like this.

“Melissa, doll. Please tell us what you’re thinking right now. Please.” Steve looks terrified, as if they’ve broken me, or scared me, or something else entirely. They’re both petting my hair, and Bucky is planting small kisses along my temple.

I can’t seem to stop shaking. I feel Bucky’s lips move against my skin as he speaks lowly, “I know you’re scared. I know you don’t believe you’re worth this. Worth us. I know.” He takes my chin in his metal hand and pulls my gaze to his, “You are worth more than this. You are worth everything and anything he or I could ever give or do. We will make you see that.”

Steve takes my hand, placing his lips against my palm, murmuring softly, “I was not lying when I said I would endure anything for you, for him. For us. This is what we want. What we need. What makes us feel whole. You are the missing piece.” he finishes with small butterfly kisses along the inside of my wrist.

This simply cannot be happening. This simply cannot be true. But, oh, oh how I want it to be.

I close my eyes, silently counting to three before reopening them, expecting to wake from this as if it’s a dream.

But it’s not. It’s real and tangible and oh god they are so warm surrounding me, holding me.

“James. Steven. Are you both sure, absolutely sure? Because this is huge. This is a big, scary step and you know how harshly we will be judged. Hell, wait until your teammates find out, oh god…” I trail off, shaking my head.

“Melissa.” I hear lowly, sternly from Bucky. “This is our choice. These are our lives. Not theirs. Not anyone else’s. That’s the end of the discussion.” He reaches up and runs his fingers through Steve’s hair at the back of his neck as he places more little kisses on my temple.

“He’s right, Melissa. And we need you. And we want you. Just as much as we need and want each other. The common thread is you, did I not just say that to you that earlier?” His fingers slide through my damp waves as he kisses Bucky’s forehead.

But I’m not. I’m not worth this. Them. Either of them. Much less them together. They’ll see. Eventually they’ll see.

We wrap our arms around each other, holding tightly to one another as I sit still perched on Bucky’s lap. My breathing has calmed, the tears have stopped. We’re all smiling at one another, and I start to laugh.

It’s a quiet laugh at first, then they join me and finally we’re all rolling with it. “This is completely insane.” I finally sigh.

“It is.” Steve pipes up, “But to be fair, our lives have really all been insane to this point. Why stop now?”

Bucky punches his shoulder, “Christ, you’re a fucking nerd sometimes.” and I collapse into giggles against his chest.

“So, we should celebrate, yeah? What should we do to commemorate this ridiculous journey we’ve just begun, y'all?” I look between them, grinning.

“I vote dinner. I’m fucking starvin’!” Bucky grabs at his belly, groaning.

It’s then I realize what he’s wearing. “Wait. What the fuck, Bucky? You…what do you have on?”

“Um. Yeah. I sort of just ran out of the tower as I was dressed.” His cheeks color brightly, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Steve is so surprised, “You didn’t even cover your arm?”

Bucky shakes his head, “I… I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t think. I didn’t care about anything except getting to the two of you.” he looks so embarrassed, Steve reaches up and cups his cheek.

“You precious thing.” I lean in and whisper against his lips before kissing him softly.

Steve looks at the two of us, eyes full of adoration. He gives a soft chuckle after a moment, “I guess that means we’re ordering in.”

Bucky and I start giggling, “Alright, I leave it to y'all, my local boys. I only have one request.” Wrinkling my nose I murmur, “No seafood.”

They mock gasp at me, eyes wide.

“I know, I know. The Gulf Rat hates seafood.” I cover my blushing face. Steve pulls my hands away and kisses my brightly colored cheeks, “You know we’re never going to let that drop.” He nods toward Bucky, who’s smirking.

I groan, “Fuck, I know.” My eyes roll as I try to stand, but they don’t let me, pulling me closer to them.

“You’re full of surprises, my Angel.” and I feel Bucky’s lips against my neck.

Steve’s hands are back in my hair as his lips claim my jaw, “She certainly is.”

I’m squirming under their kisses, “Now, now, boys. Let’s eat first, oui? We have plenty of time to all get acquainted with each other.”

They groan and let me stand finally. I move away from the sofa reclosing my robe and start clearing up the glasses while they’re arguing over what to order.

These two will be the death of me.

Tagging:

@alievans007 @buckysbackpackbuckle @justareader @anice-1 @ya-girl-evanstrash for genuinely being kick ass people who were interested in my work from day one. One more addition who asked specifically to be tagged: @hardcollectiontrashworld Thanks everyone!

[fearofaherobrine]

Roleplay Server Log #185

“Dragon Chat, The Devouring Deep”

[Endrea] Is looking for GK-

[Gk] Is at the spawn. He's laying in the grass dozing while Doc is jogging with Yaunfen and hir pokemon nearby. The goomy keeps breaking off to bother GK because it wants to battle. Finally the big dragon gives it a bit of a shove and chuckles as it rolls over and over in the grass like a gooey ball.

[Doc] Gk! Don't do that!

[Endrea] Spots them and comes over, flopping down next to GK and pressing against him-

[Gk] Whoah! Oh. Hey Endrea. - Kinda nuzzles her- Geeze you've gotten big.

[Endrea] Nuzzles back- Finally have a small break from the children, Sweet Alex is watching them

[Gk] Ah. Expect them back full of sugar and stories and toting a variety of crayon drawings.

[Endrea] - No doubt, I just needed a small break though

[Gk] It's always more fun being lazy when others are doing sweaty shit. - Gestures to Doc and the pokemon plus small dragon herd.

[Endrea] Laughs a little- How they keep up with that many I don't know...  Then again I doubt they're constantly trying to get into things they're not supposed to...

[Gk] Eh. From what I've been told the pokemon are pretty damn smart. They're pretty eagar as long as the trainer pays lots of attention to their needs. It's not like kids. But then, there is Yaunfen... who knows what that one will be like? They learned their first word the other day, and it's burp of all the fucking things.

[Endrea] Laughs some more- How interesting...- She sighs and stretches out- This sun feels so good right now

[Gk] Yeah, it's a nice day - wiggles his hooves in the grass. - Wanna make a bet on how much quiet we get before the next explosion?

-Mb has gotten close enough to see what Doc is doing and the two of them are now trading insults near the covered bridge.

[Endrea] - I doubt it will be long...

[GK] Same here... Have you met the new guy? What a basic bitch.

[Mb] Fuck you too!

[Endrea] - I sat on him

[Gk] Laughs-  Way to make an impression.

[Endrea] - Ashe is showing interest in flying

[Gk] Do you think he's strong enough?

[Endrea] - Not yet, but that doesn't mean he's not practicing

-Doc and Mb are now having a spirited slap fight-

[Gk] What are you going to do?

[Endrea] - Watch him, and have CP and you help me judge when he's ready to really start learning

[Gk] What about Willow and Oak? Any words from them yet?

[Endrea] - No, and they are taking some time to grow too...

[Gk] Do they seem sickly? It was a two for one.

[Endrea] - No, both seem perfectly healthy, and we don't know if they are capable of speech either

[Yaunfen] Bites at MB-

[Mb] FUCKER! - Hops backwards grabbing his leg-

[Gk] I like the candy ones spark.

[Endrea] - It does have it's quirks

[Doc] Is looking rather proud -

[Mb] Kicks at Yaunfen and is knocked down by Doc's Exeggcute before Doc can even react.

[Gk] Pfft.

[Endrea] Watches as one of her enders teleports around-

[Gk] Follows her gaze. - Kids....

[Endrea] - I'm rather glad they don't require as much attention as my adopted children

[Gk] Yeah, they ain't as much fun though. I like having other dragons around.

[Doc] Transforms and is now biting at Mb who's trying to punch hir in the snout-

[Gk] Even if some of them are artifical...

[Endrea] - They're happy, leave them be

[Gk] Yeah, I know. They're still afraid though...

[Endrea] - True...- She rolls onto her back

[Gk] Scratches the bigger dragons belly with his hooves-

[Endrea] Squeaks and thrashes a little- GG!

[Gk] What? Is the exposed belly a trap? You're such a cat. - grins-

[Endrea] - GG THAT TICKLES!- Tries to squirm away

*Vwoop

*Vwoop

[Gk] Goes for a more aggressive tickle now that he knows he's being annoying- Ah-hahah!

[Sky] Nope, still not right...

[Doc] Swats Mb with hir tail and accidently sends him flying towards Sky-

[Endrea] Shrieks in laughter and whips her tail around to retaliate-

[Sky] I am also! Not a target. *Vwoop,

[Gk] Gets thunked in the head - OOF!

[Doc] Sorry Sky!

[Mb] Races back towards Doc and gets zapped hard by the Galvantula. - AAAAAA

[Sky] It's fine. Glad I got out of the way, though. Anyway! Bye! *Vwoop

[Endrea] Smirks and goes in for her own tickles on GK-

[Mimikyu] -comes from behind a tree with it's leaf umbrella and pokes doc-

[Gk] Is easilly overwhemed by the larger dragon - ARGH!

[Endrea] - Hmmm, looks like I can win at these now...

[Doc] Is Braced in case Mb charges hir again and jumps at the small touch-

[Mimikyu] Mimik -pokes doc again-

[Gk] Transforms back into his human shape to get out of her grip - Enough! I'm gonna pee my damn pants! - His face is red from laughing.

[Doc] Hey Mimkyu. Are you okay?

[Endrea] Shifts to her human form as well-

[Gk] Drops to the ground with a thunk of boots. - well I wasn't gonna stay shifted. Ya didn't have to do that. Shit.... I think you got taller in this form as well.

[Mimikyu] -shakes it's fake head yes and starts to run around trying to see if they can get any of the other pokemon to join in-

[Endrea] - Well I do end up a little taller than CP...

[Goomy] is quick to follow and bounces after the Mimkyu. The Exeggcute is staying by Doc's side and the Galvantula is protecting Yaunfen.

[GK] Geeze.... I wonder why? Is everyone on your seed just super tall?

[Endrea] - Probably the false NOTCH's way of trying to make me more intimidating...

[Mimikyu] -in running in circles making sure to use the leaf to keep as much light off them as possible-

[Gk] Are you sure he wasn't planning on having you try to seduce Cp at some point?

[Endrea] - He never told me so...

[Yaunfen] Tries to get Galvantula to play with it-

[Gk] Well you look good. Speaking of such, hows Flux? I heard she had some energy work done.

[Endrea] - I'm not sure, I've been so busy with the children I haven't really seen her

[Galvantula] Is still watching Mb in case he tries to start more shit but does respond to Yaunfen's nudging.

[Gk] She ain't been around to check on Markus? Poor bastard.

[Endrea] - Maybe?  We have been spending a lot of time at the library, Ashe just can't get enough of books

[Gk] Smart little bugger. I'm glad he's on our side. How's the chess lessons with Alexsezia going for him?

[Endrea] - Decently enough, he's not quite good enough to win yet, but he's learning quickly

[Endrea] Sighs- Well, I suppose this has been a long enough break, would you like to go with me to pick up the children?

[Gk] It's okay to leave them over there for a while you know. Sweet Alex loves playing with kids and critters.

[Endrea] - Yes but she has all three by herself, and although Ashe is well behaved, Willow and Oak aren't always...

[Gk] If you're ready to face the horde again I'll go with ya.

[Endrea] - That would be much appreciated

[Gk] Steps up into the air and floats along with her at eye level. - Are you doing okay kiddo? I know it's a lot of responsibility.

[Endrea] - I'm dealing, it's more than I've ever dealt with before, but the pull of wanting to protect and raise them is so strong

[Gk] Hormones are a bitch like that... Is Ashe really still making trouble? He seems like such a smart kid.

[Endrea] - Oh no, he's no trouble at all, his questions are a bit persistent, and I don't always have the answers, but otherwise everything is fine with him

[Gk] You should fob him off on Cp sometimes. Watch out for the little flowers unless you wanna smell them all day. They're oily as fuck. -

[Endrea] Steps around the flowers- Thanks for the warning- She approaches Sweet Alex's door and knocks on it

[Sweet Alex] Hang on! - There's a bit of thumping around and the small Alex answers the door. She has paint on her clothes and huge smile on her face. The room is full of papers covered in colorful streaks and pawprints. - Hey Endrea! Hi Gk!

[Ashe] - Mama!

[Endrea] - Hello Sweet Alex, I hope they weren't too much trouble?

[willow and oak] -they are bigger then before and are covered in colors they come running into endrea-

[Sweet Alex] Oh no! Not at all. I told them it was okay to get messy.

[Endrea] Is surprised by the size of her two younger children- Oh dear, it looks like we've had some growth spurts

[willow] -trys to put some of the colors she has on endera-

[Sweet Alex] Oh yeah! That was a bit of a suprise.

[Endrea] Smiles and crouches down- Silly Willow, colors belong on paper

[Sweet Alex] They're so cute.

[Ashe] - Uncle GG!

[willow] -still trys to make a smiley face on endrea's belly-

[Gk] Hey Ashe, did you draw some good stuff today?

[Endrea] Just smiles warmly at her daughter-

[Ashe] - Uh huh!  I drew a nucleous!- Shows the picture to GK

[oak] -is bringing one of the picture he drew to endrea it's mostly scribbles-

[Endrea] - Oh Oak, that's a wonderful drawing

[Gk] Um.... That looks really cool! - He has no idea what it is.

[Ashe] - Mama, I'm hungry

[Endrea] - Do you need void energy?  Or do you want actual food?

[Ashe] - Void!

[Sweet Alex] Ah, I was just about to ask them that when you knocked, but I don't have any Void in my pantry - chuckles- I do have pie though.  

[Gk] Gimmie.

[Endrea] Summons some void energy and gives it to Ashe, it's not stable in his hands, but he eats it quickly- Willow?  Oak?  Do you want any?

[Sweet Alex] motions them inside and lays out some pie and milk on the counter -

[Gk] Scarfs some happily -

[willow and oak] -they both open their mouths showing they want some in the process oak drops is drawing-

[Endrea] Creates another orb and lets it flow into their mouths.  She also grabs Oak;s drawing-

[willow and oak] -eat happily-

[Sweet Alex] what would happen if a human touched that stuff Endrea?

[Endrea] - It would poison them

[Sweet Alex] Geeze....

[Gk] I wonder if the Nether has a local equivalent? I've never tried, but there must be something strange that keeps the Blaze's burning and the undead vigorious.

[Endrea] - Flux may know, I know her magic feels very similar to void energy too

[Sweet Alex] I  thought hers was more akin to the Overworld magick?

[Endrea] - It's all magic

[willow and oak] -they stop eating because they are now full-

[Gk] But the Overworld came first, doesn't it feel different to you?

[Endrea] Dismisses the void energy-

[Ashe] Yawns and shifts into his dragon form to curl up-

[oak] -climbs on top of his brother ash and curls up as well-

[willow] -is still running around-

[Sweet Alex] Pulls a blanket out of a trunk and covers him up before doing the same for Oak. - Endrea, they can stay here and sleep if you want. I can drag another bed down if you want to join them as well.

[Endrea] - Are you sure?  I don't wish to be an intrusion...

[Sweet Alex] Of course not! You're always welcome. Heck Gk crashes here pretty frequently.

[Gk] Grumbles-

[Endrea] - Then thank you, I think I will take you up on that offer

[Sweet Alex] - Sets up a bed for her- Here you go. Gk? Are you staying too?

[Gk] Yawns- Just for a little while. I feel restless.

[willow] -runs around gk-

[Endrea] - Willow, come settle down for a nap

[willow] -stops running around gk then runs to endrea nearly running into the bed-

[Endrea] Laughs and unfurls her wing for Willow to curl up under-

[willow] -curls up happily under endrea wing-

[Doc] Is walking to Lie's house chatting on the carrot phone. Xe closes it up as xe mounts the steps and knocks on the door. - Anybody home?

[Lie] Had been getting some food for Notch- Come on in Doc

[Doc] Hey Lie, how's Markus?

[Lie] - Getting better, I was just about to take him his lunch.  CP's currently watching him

[Doc] Yeeeah... about that... can I borrow him for a bit?

[Lie] - Sure, I can watch Notch for a bit for him

[Doc] I'd say you too, but I kinda need someone who can fly... So that would be great. Thank you.

[Lie] - Follow me- She grabs the food she had been preparing and takes it down to the workshop.  CP is working on paperwork while sitting next to Notch

[Notch] Hey Doc. - Jingles the little flowers at hir- come to check on me?

[Doc] Amongst other things, yes. How are you feeling?

[Notch] Sucks to be me. But Lie's flowers help a lot.

[CP] Grumbles and puts his paperwork in his inventory-

[Lie] - Here, I've brought you food

[Notch] Takes it gratefully. - Thank you Lie.

[Doc] Hi Cp.

[CP] - What do you want now?

[Doc] Well... I need to run a bit of an errand....

[CP] Groans-

[Doc] There will probably be bloodshed, does that sweeten the deal at least?

[CP] Doc now has his attention-

[Doc] I need something rather large removed from the real world and tossed in here. It's a favor for a friend...

[CP] - What is it?

[Doc] I don't actually know.

[CP] - Okaaaay...

[Doc] But it's for Dawn.

[CP] - Fiiiiiiiine, when do I need to go?

[Doc] Is now okay? Lie already volunteered to sit with Markus.

[CP] - Whatever, their island?

[Doc] Yes please. The tv is still there.

[CP] Flicks his hand to create an opening- Are you coming or no?

[Doc] Yes! - Xe hurries out after him.

[CP] Once through he closes the opening behind them-

[Doc] Is already fussing with hir phone - uh, huh... yeah, just give us a few minutes. - This way- Xe leads them up a well-worn path through the trees.

[CP] Is a little tempted to set some things on fire as they walk-

[Doc] Hurries along. The air is full of calling seabirds and plesant breezes. - What a lovely day.

[CP] - There's been far to many of those...

[Doc] What's that supposed to mean? You want to go somewhere with nasty weather?

[CP] - It gets dull

[Mort] Is pacing in the yard, there's a hint of greenery springing up in the sand where his bare feet have disturbed it. - Oh! Thanks for coming so quickly. Dawn is already prepping the boat, I stayed behind to lead you up the cliff. It's a bit precarious if you don't know the way.

[Doc] You know she had me intrigued from word one.

[CP] Just starts floating-

[Mort] Eyes Cp. - Nice to see you again too...

[CP] - Can we go?

[Mort] Sure. - He leads them around the ridiculously lush garden and up a set of staris on the cliff that are almost a natural formation. As they get higher the crescent shape of the island is more pronunced below them and they turn back down again on the other side of the spine that makes the back edge of the island.

[Dawn] The view up here is amazing...

[Mort] Is picking his way carefully along. - And far more pixels then you're used too huh?

[Doc] I try not to think about it too much. Makes me nauseated.

[CP] - You should see hir when xe gets in front of a mirror

[Doc] -sighs-

[Mort] Calls down as they reach the little dock. The wall is nearly vertical and there's a little wooden pier built into it where the Morgenheutengesternwelt is moored.

[Dawn] Oh good! I was hoping you'd come right away. Hi Cp. Gravity getting on your plums too much today?

[CP] Flips Dawn off- I'm only here because I was promised a fight

[Dawn] Oh you'll get it alright. You remeber the nok right?

[CP] - Yes

[Dawn] This thing is big enough to drive that one onto the damn shore. It's lucky I was feeling merciful. We had to roll it back in the water afterwards like a beached whale.

[CP] - Doc, why do we want this thing on the server?

[Doc] I don't want it. But it doesn't belong here either.

[CP] - So, sub seed?

[Doc] No, It's water based, I think Herabrine might be able to whip it into shape. Or just convince it to go elsewhere on the seed. It might come in handy as a distraction at some point too. Just dump it on a hostile seed or something.

[Mort] Anything, as long as it's not here. It's attracting too much attention to our island.

[CP] - And what if it encounters the water ender dragon when it gets bigger?

[Doc] I don't know? That's going to be a while though.

[CP] - We don't know the growth rate of that one

[Dawn] Well we don't care if it gets it's ass kicked. It's hostile.

[Doc] Is there a reason you're trying to talk me out of this Cp? I think you'd leap at the chance to fight something huge.

[Mort] Snickers- You could always give it to Slenderman to smack around-

[CP] - Oh absolutely, I just don't want Endrea to get pissed if it decides to go after any of the babies

[Doc] I guess we could just tp it far away. It's not like the map of the seed isn't functionally near infinite.

[CP] - Good point

[Dawn] Gestures for them to get on the boat, - shall we then?

[CP] - Fiiiiiiiiiiine

[Mort] Deftly unties the lines and hops aboard as the engine is cranked up. He passes Dawn as she comes down -

[Dawn] I'll hunt, you steer.

[Mort] Got it-

[CP] Sits on the steps-

[Dawn] Gets a pillow out of a box and sits crosslegged in the middle of the deck. She closes her eyes and begins a meditation. Slowly she begins to gesture small directional changes as Mort watches from above, steering the ship into the wind.

[Doc] Is watching over the rail, breathing deeply. The air is full of salt and spray. - Can you feel it?

[Dawn] Maybe... There is more then one monster down there.

[CP] - Boooooooooooored

[Mort] You don't like sailing Cp?

[CP] - Not much of a function in our game and pretty useless when you can teleport

[Dawn] Signals to stop - Two incoming!

[Doc] Runs to the side to look. - There are two v-shaped wakes heading towards them at high speed. The wakes vanish as they get close and Doc runs to the other side to see two sinious, long creatures swimming madly away in the other direction.

-There's a rather dark line of humps following the two creatures at a slower, but more deliberate speed-

[Mort] Holy shit! Look at that!

[CP] - Can I kill it?

[Dawn] Jumps up at the feel of the two passing underneath. - Not permentantly! It would rememerge into this reality somewhere else later and I'd rather it was gone entirely.

-The humps splash downward for a moment to reveal a ponderous tail like a sperm whale.

[CP] - So can I maim it?

-There's a pervading sense of doom hanging around it like a cloak-

[Doc] You might have too! I doubt it's gonna come quietly. Look at the size of that thing....

[CP] Grins and flies up into the sky-

[Beast] Feels the negative energy from the being above it and rolls in the water to snap upwards, sucking it in. It's head is like an alligator and the long jaws are full of sharp white teeth. The eyes are a firey red-

[CP] - Really?  I already have two things which feed off of me

[Dawn] Calls out to him - Red eyes are nightmare creatures! Like Slenderman! They're astral beasts, they feed on energy, it's normal!

[CP] - Well it need to knock it the fuck off!- Blasts it with fire

[Beast] Roars horribly - ducking it's head under the cold water again.

[CP] - I WILL FUCKING BOIL YOU OUT OF THE WATER!- Continues blasting with fire

[Beast] Goes deeper to get away-

[Doc] Uh Cp? We want to catch it remember?

[CP] - Well then what do you fucking suggest!?

[Doc] Looks around for any other ships, the horizon is clear so xe hops the rail, transforming as xe mounts the airblocks to look down in the water below. - I'm not sure. That's even bigger then I was expecting.

[CP] - Should I call Endrea?  She's about the same size right now, and she should be able to tolerate a few moments in the water now

[Doc] But you have me. I can probably do whatever you'd ask of her with no pain at all.

[CP] - Then get under that thing and drive it upwards you idiot!

[Doc] Poofs a little at his volume. - Humph. - Xe heads for the water with a twisting motion and slides under the surface.

-There's a moment of calm before Doc comes shooting back up with the monster snapping ferociously at hir tail- Shiiiiiitttttt!

[CP] - Oh for fucks sake...- He darts forwards to drag his sword through it's side

[Beast] Is cut but swats at Cp with a flipper easily the size of a car as it breaches.

[CP] Teleports to the other side of the flipper and stabs at it-

[Beast] Falls heavily down into the water as it's stabbed-

[Doc] Shoots low to grab at Cp before he goes under too-

[Dawn] Is yelling over the wind- You drew blood! Hurry and get it out of here before the sharks come!

[CP] - DOC LET GO AND GO DO YOUR THING!

[Doc] Let's him go - You want me to make a portal?! For something that big?!

[CP] - Just restrain it!

[Doc] Oh! - Xe rushes down and takes a breath before diving under the water. There's a tremendous commotion as xe tries to pull the huge animal partly out of the water by it's flippers.

[Beast] Is snapping it's massive jaws wildly and flinging it's head trying to get at the dragon on it's back.

[CP] Concentrates and forces open a tear into the server.  He makes the opening near where the small square of blocks leading down to the fortress is-

[Doc] Is quickly loosing hir grip on the slick black skin and shoves it at the hole

[Beast] the lobed tail flips upward to smack Doc-

[CP] Darts down and slams into the creature-

[Beast] Eye's flashing with rage it lets out a pulse of pure fear-

[Doc] Goes white with fright and nearly drops the creature.

[CP] - Weeeeeeeeeeeak, Slender's are worse

[Doc] Desperately shoves the creature towards the hole but only gets it halfway in-

[Beast] Is throwing tons of water into the portal as it thrashes-

[CP] - GO IN YOU FUCKER!

[Beast] Is nearly through and is basically beating Doc against the edge of the portal-

[CP] Flies up and slams into the creature again-

[Beast] Pops through and goes suddenly still, sinking into the pixelated water of the server as it's resolution goes down-

[Doc] Manages to land awkwardly on the small tube of stone that leads down to the fortress.

[CP] Floats in the air and closes the opening- Damn fucking thing...

[Beast] Kind of floats back up to the surface, it's moving strangely now that it's long body is more like a series of blocks on a string.

[Doc] What a monster...

[CP] - You're the one who decided to bring it here

[Doc] I'm reffering to the size more then anything. It's just an animal.

[CP] - You should probably let TLOT know about it

[Doc] I'm already on it. - Xe typing in the chat with hir fat claws.

[Lie] Is sitting with Notch and see's her mate and Doc return- Well that didn't take long...

[Beast] Rolls over sideways and fixes one beady eye on Cp. It opens it's mouth in a weak hiss.

[CP] - Oh just fuck off already!

[Beast] Wiggles a bit and paddles in the water

[Doc] I bet this water is warmer then it's used too. Plus we probably wore it out.

[CP] - Whatever, I'm heading back home

[Doc] Thanks for the help Cp.

[CP] Flips Doc off-