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wosoamazing · 9 months ago

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Injuries, Confrontations and Apologies

Summary: Your Ma gets hurt but pretends she is fine and ends up in hospital.

Warnings: Concussions, Vomiting, Hospitals, Angst I guess

A/N: This was meant to be a soft comfort fic but somehow it turned into this – I mean I’m not mad. Hopefully you like it.

Last Saturday a bee stung you, it made you feel icky and you had to go to the hospital. The doctors at the hospital gave your Mum’s these weird pen things. The doctors taught your Mum’s how to use them, as well as Steph and Sam for just encase. You were upset about your trip to the hospital, as it meant you had to miss the game but you get to go to the game this week.

You slept almost the whole bus ride, much to everyone’s delight, today was an important game, so with you sleeping it meant everyone could focus on the game. When you did wake up there was only 10 more minutes of the trip left, you decided to go walk down and sit next to Steph, once she realised you were trying to climb into the seat next to her she helped you up, you didn’t make any noise though, you just sat there as you took in the world around you.

In the locker room you sat in your Ma’s cubby as you ate your snacks, everyone kept looking over to you and whispering to your Mum’s that you looked extra cute today.

You were sitting on Leah’s lap, well more so her good leg as you watched the game from the bench, there was around 20 minutes of game time left when your Mum doubled over before she started losing her stomach contents on the pitch.

“Weah,” you said

“mmm” she hummed to let you know she was listening “Ma sick” you informed her pointing “What do you mean?” she asked clearly not looking at the pitch.

“I think if you stopped having a nap and looked at the pitch you would see what she means” Beth joked.

“Oh shit,” Leah said as she looked at the pitch before looking over to Beth and Viv, who just made funny faces you didn’t understand.

“We see Ma? See if okay?” You asked as the medics took her off the pitch.

“Sure munchkin,” Leah put you down, stood up and was reaching to pick you up, before she was interrupted by Beth “Leah, you can’t carry her yet, it's too risky,” “I’ll be fine beth,”

“No Leah, Beth is right, it isn’t safe, or good for you, we will come with you” Viv said in a sterner tone. Leah huffed as Beth picked you up, before the three women took you to see your Ma.

When you arrived in the medical room your Ma was laying on one of the beds with her eyes closed.

“What happened?” Leah asked without warning, slightly startling your Ma.

“I started feeling a little dizzy and then next thing I knew I was throwing up” she replied.

“So, what you actually mean is that when you got hit in the head and feel backwards onto the pitch hitting your head again, you actually did feel it and really should’ve gone off then, but you wanted to keep playing so you risked your own health” Viv said as though your Ma was in trouble.

You stayed with your Ma until the game finished, you kept yourself entertained with a glove that Beth blew up.

____

When you got home your Mum told you to go play in your playroom for a bit, which you did, she then came in to talk to you. “Ma isn’t feeling too well, but you can see her if you want,” “O-tay, I go now?” “Yeah, you can, but you have to make sure to keep the lights off and be very quiet, and try not to move much, okay?” “O-tay,” you toddled down the hall and into your Mum’s room to see your Ma, while your Mum put some washing on.

“Ma,” you whispered as you walked up her side of the bed, her eyes slowly opened and she did some slow blinks, before she spoke.

“No Y/N, go away,” she said harshly, you quickly spun around as tears started rolling down your cheeks and ran out of the room, crashing into your Mum’s legs as your eyes were full of water and you couldn’t see.

“What’s wrong?” “M-Ma, said go way,” “Oh baby, I’m sorry,” your Mum said as she wiped some of your tears away, but as soon as she could wipe the old ones away new ones replaced them “How bout I put you on the couch and you can watch some frozen while I speak to your Ma.” You perked up at the idea of frozen and quickly nodded your head, your Mum put you down on the sofa and turned frozen on before she quickly filled one of your sippy cups with water and gave it to you. “I’ll be back okay,” you just nodded your head not really listening to her anymore because frozen was playing.

“Why did you tell Y/N to go away, you really upset her,” your Mum questioned your Ma.

“I feel like shit Cait, and I don’t want Y/N to, I don’t know” she huffed.

“I know you feel like shit, but it’s partly your fault, and it doesn’t give you the right to push everyone away who is just trying to help you and it especially doesn’t give you the right to get mad at your daughter and tell her to go away when all she was trying to do was help, I’m going to take y/n to the park, I’ll will be back in a bit, if you need anything please call me, I will come back and help, anything at all, I promise, but Beth and Viv have offered to take her to the park so I’m going to walk her around there,” before your Ma could say anything your Mum had walked out of their bedroom door.

____

“Katie, Babe, I just came back to check everything is alright, Y/N is still at the park with Beth and Viv” Caitlin said as she walked through the door, there was no response, “Katie, Babe,” the house was oddly silent, so she walked further through the house. “Shit, Katie,” Caitlin exclaimed as she rounded the corner to find Katie passed out in the middle of the floor, “Katie, babe, wake up” she shook Katie to wake her up.

“What, oh God,” Katie said as she woke up, she quickly got up off the floor and ran to the toilet before hunching over it, emptying the remains of her stomach’s contents.

“Why didn’t you call? You shouldn’t have gotten up and walked around,” Caitlin wondered what the point in asking that question was. Of course she didn’t call, she doesn’t ask for help and constantly pushes help away when she is offered it.

“Because you were mad,” Katie replied through gags. Shit she thought to herself. Was this her fault?

Katie stopped throwing up but soon passed out again, Caitlin quickly grabbed her phone and called Leah, in which Kim answered.

“Kim, Leah, I need your help. I’ve fucked up but that can be explained later, Katie needs to go to the hospital because I found her passed out and when I woke her up, she ran to the toilet and threw up heaps before she passed out again, but she isn’t going to listen to me, please help.” Caitlin stopped talking while her captains must’ve been talking, “Okay thank-you, I’ll go unlock the door, we’re just in our bathroom. Beth and Viv have Y/N.”

____

Thankfully the girls had been directed to a private waiting room, meaning they didn’t have to worry about fans.

As Beth and Viv walked into the room Leah and Kim looked at them in confusion, “We called Steph, she called Sam, Y/N is staying at Sam and Kristie’s, we told her it’s just a last-minute sleepover type thing. Steph is on her way here now.” Kim and Leah nodded with slight relief, hoping Steph would be able to talk to Caitlin, and maybe calm her down. She had been pacing the length of the room, wiping away her tears as they fell since they arrived.

Steph arrived and looked at the four women before her gaze moved over to Caitlin, she cautiously approached her and gently put a hand on her shoulder as she softly said, “Hey Cait, can you sit down for me,” Caitlin looked up at her and just about broke, almost collapsing in the chair behind her.

“I’m so stupid, this is all my fault” she blurted out.

“This isn’t your fault, this is her fault, she is the one that played with a concussion and made it worse, she is the one that didn’t ask for help when you told her too,” Steph said as she put her arm around her shoulder and rubbed her hand up and down her arm, trying to comfort her.

“Yeah, but I left her alone, I left her alone after I got mad at her, I left the person who doesn’t take help let alone ask for it alone, with instructions to call the person who just got mad at her for help, what was I thinking she would’ve never called for help anyway let alone after I just got mad at her. I, I can’t believe I was so dumb to think that, I literally left her to fend for herself, what if she had hit her head on something on the way down, she could’ve died, I could’ve killed her, oh god, I can’t believe I just did that, I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have left her alone,” She blurted out, she leant into Steph’s side before continuing, “I was, I was,” she stammered before taking a few deep breaths as she suddenly felt sick “I’m going to be sick” Steph quickly reacted and thankfully as they were in a hospital there was just about sick bags on all the walls, in little dispensers. Steph rubbed her back as she lost some of her stomach contents, before Beth handed her a bottle of water which she took a small sip from. “Can you please lie down for me?” Steph asked, concerned for her friend, Caitlin did as she said and rested her head in Steph’s lap, falling asleep.

_____

Viv was in Katie’s room as she woke up, sitting on a chair at the side of the bed, she started to speak before Katie could. “I’m really disappointed in you, you really need to learn to let people help you, it’s not weak, Caitlin is literally out there in an absolute state, she literally made herself sick because she feels like such a crap person for getting mad at you and leaving you, when in reality she did nothing wrong, she left you with strict instructions to call for help. You do realise if she hadn’t come back when she did we could be in a very different situation. You might not even be here. In all honesty McCabe it’s hard when we try and help you and all you do is push us away, so I can’t even imagine what it is like for Caitlin, I get it you’re mad at the world in these situations, I’ve been there we all have, but you can’t push people away, especially the people in your life who love you the most, Caitlin absolutely adores you and for the most part you two have a great relationship but currently she is out there in shambles because she offers and offers when you need help and you don’t take, I don’t understand it.”

Katie couldn’t reply to that, Viv was right, there was nothing to do or say, other than to apologise to Caitlin who wasn’t there.

After quite a lot of awkward silence Katie spoke “Where’s Y/N?” “She is having a fun sleepover at Kristie’s and Sam’s, that’s all she knows.”

_____

Caitlin walked in hesitantly, her hair was a mess, her cheeks were tearstained, she had big bags under her eyes. Katie started crying, knowing it was her fault her girlfriend was looking this bad. Caitlin walked over to where the chair was sitting next to Katie’s bed, she sat down in it as she took Katie’s hands in hers before taking a deep breath.

“Katie, I’m sorry I left you alone, I didn’t know it was this bad, if I did I wouldn’t have ever left you alone, no matter how angry I was. But this is why you need to communicate with people, with me Babe. It’s dangerous when you don’t tell us how you are feeling. You could’ve died.” she sighed before continuing “I just don't understand why you won't accept help, needing help isn't a weakness it’s normal. I love you, I want to help you, try and help you feel slightly better. I’m not going to judge you or complain or tell you that you’re overreacting. I just want you to let people help you, at least let me help you, please” she kissed Katie’s hands and let them go. Katie sat up shifting forward in the bed, before she looked longingly up at Caitlin, who realised this was Katie asking for her help, even though she wasn’t using her words, it was a start. Caitlin climbed onto the bed and situated herself behind Katie, placing her legs either side of her before pulling her in towards her, Katie rested her head back to rest in the crock of Caitlin’s neck.

“I’m sorry Cait, I love you,” was all that Katie whispered in her ears before her eyes fluttered shut.

Caitlin awoke to the sound of gagging, she quickly grabbed the sick bowl and placed it in front of Katie before helping her to sit up slightly, Caitlin rubbed her back, as she dry heaved.

“Cait, help” Katie managed to say through gags, she sounded as though she was in tears, Caitlin pressed the call button, “I know babe, it’s not nice, but I’m here, I’ve got you, you’ve got this, you’re going to be okay,” Katie stopped and collapsed back into Caitlin, as they nurse walked in, she spoke to Katie, however her words were more directed too Caitlin “I’ll give you some anti-nausea medication,” she said, before she started sifting through draws, once she found it she put it into Katie’s IV and said, “hopefully that helps but if it doesn’t let us know and we will try and figure something else out.”

“Thank you,” Caitlin said as she smiled at the nurse who was walking out of the room. The pair very quickly fell asleep again, their day had been hectic to say the least, leaving the both of them exhausted.

It was the third time that night that Katie had woken up dry heaving, the second time it happened she was sent for another MRI to check she didn’t have a brain bleed or a clot, it came back clear, so they gave her antihistamines to see if they did anything, but they apparently didn’t. “Cait, please” Katie cried out.

“I know babe, I wish it would stop too, I wish I could make it stop, but I’m here and I’ll stay here, I love you, it’s okay, I’ve got you, you’re doing great babe,” Caitlin said trying to reassure her girlfriend as she continued to dry heave. Caitlin eventually pressed the Nurse’s call button again as Katie hadn’t stopped, after consulting with a few doctors and specialists they decided to give Katie more anti-nausea medicine even though she had had the maximum amount, thankfully they did the trick and Katie stopped, allowing the pair to sleep through the rest of the night.

_____

You sat on the floor of the living room in your house playing with your toys, as Steph sat on the couch, watching over you, when you heard a familiar car engine pull into the driveway, a few moments later you heard Keys in the door unlocking it as Steph said “That’s your Mum and Ma,”.

As the door opened you tensed up, not knowing what your Ma might say to you, you saw your Ma standing next to your Mum and you ran upstairs into your room.

Your Mum and Steph helped your Ma into her room and got her all sorted before Steph left, telling them to call her if they needed anything. Your Mum told your Ma she was just going to check on you quickly and then she would be back.

Your Mum opened your door and saw your sobbing body splayed out on your bed, she picked you up. You tried to fight her hold but she just tightened her grip causing you to give in.

“Ma doesn’t want me,” you sadly say.

“Oh Monkey, that’s not true, your Ma was feeling very icky and that made her mad,” she said wiping the hair out of your face.

“Like it always does?” you question, your Ma had never been so mad when she was icky that she made you go away.

“Yeah but extra mad. But we have talked and she is going to try and not get so made when she is icky. Do you want to see her? I think she would like to see you,” you nodded hesitantly and you were carried into their room. The light was very dim in there, but your Ma could still see your red tear stained cheeks and your puffy eyes, and she felt very angry with herself.

“I’m super sorry Munchkin, I shouldn't have yelled at you to go away, you were only trying to see if I was okay,” she said as your Mum put you down on the bed, you didn't reply to her, but instead crawled over to her and curled into her side, falling asleep almost immediately. Your Ma was confused by you falling asleep so quickly, and furrowed her brows at your Mum who answered her.

“Sam messaged me this morning, said she didn’t sleep very well last night, go to sleep I might too, but let me know if you need anything please.”

“I love you, Cait, thank you, for everything,” Your Ma said, before your Mum leant over to place a quick kiss on her lips. They both quickly joined you in sleep.

#woso #woso community #woso fanfics #woso x reader #woso imagine #Katie McCabe x Child!Reader #Caitlin Foord x Child!Reader

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foreverisntenough · 1 month ago

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+ another anon <3

--------- My tiny one shot short below for you 🤍

'Tiny Pink Cakes'

2.9 k words | Trent Alexander-Arnold x Reader

↳ Your daughter Teddy Alexander-Arnold comes with you to Trent's England national team game against France in Paris. Your best friend Lauren brings Teddy a sweet treat and she is desperate post match for Trent to get her more.

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The stadium lights were still glowing, the energy from the England France game was buzzing in the air. You stood in a suite tucked away in the Parc de Princes with Teddy, waiting for Trent to come up to meet you both after the final whistle. Teddy, full of excitement, couldn’t contain herself any longer. As soon as she spotted daddy, she bolted toward him, her little legs moving as fast as they could.

“Dada!” she yelled, her voice ringing out clear through the noise of the post-game crowd. Trent, spotting his little girl, crouched down, arms open, ready to catch her. He beamed at her as she practically launched herself into his arms.

“C’mere my baby bear,” he greeted warmly, his eyes sparkling with joy at seeing her after the intense match. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, her face lighting up in a huge grin.

“Dada, want tiny pink cakes, tay?” Before he could say anything else, she pulled back explaining immediately what she wanted. Trent chuckled, raising an eyebrow playfully as he stood up with her still clinging to him.

“Oh, is that all I get? No ‘Hi, Dada, good game?’” he teased. “I thought I did alright tonight, but you're just jumping right into wanting sweets, huh?” He teased. She wasn’t following the sarcasm but she liked the tone and his smile so Teddy giggled at his teasing, squeezing her arms tighter around his neck.

“Tiny pink cakes, dada!” she insisted, completely missing the joke but adamant at what she wanted. Trent let out a groan, pretending to be overly sore from the game as he shifted her weight in his arms.

“Alright, alright, tiny cakes,” he sighed, still teasing her but with a smile that said he was absolutely wrapped around her little finger. “What kind of tiny cakes are we talking about, baby?” She pulled back just enough to give him a serious look, brows furrowed like he should already know.

“Tiny. Pink. Cakes, dada.” she repeated slowly, her tone exasperated that he hadn’t understood the first time. You couldn’t help but laugh, watching this little exchange. Trent gave you a mildly confused look, not entirely understanding what Teddy was on about.

“Oh sorry, baby. So tiny pink cake, huh?” He asked not really following what was going on. You smiled sympathetically at him. Your best friend Lauren had brought some macaroons for Teddy before the game, and she had devoured them. Lauren was from Paris and knew all the best spots and new from her own experience just how much little girls loved these sweets. She did growing up and she wasn’t going to have her niece not experience the joy of French pastries.

“She means macarons, T,” you explained with a grin, stepping closer to the two of them. “Auntie Laur spoiled this greedy girl, and now she wants even more. Been asking all of daddy's game, hmm?” You teasingly cooed tickling Teddy’s tummy. She giggled, going all bashful in an adorable way. Trent nodded confirming.

“Ahhh, macarons. Now I get it,” he said, beginning to tickle Teddy with you lightly, making her squirm and giggle in his arms. “That was so nice of auntie, huh? Were they so yummy, Ted?” He asked her. Teddy’s face lit up at the memory of the pink macarons, her excitement spilling over as she began to babble, stumbling over her words, trying to explain just how incredible the tiny cakes were.

“Dada, most yummy, tay? They so um… um yummy, daddy! They pink and sweet, and—and—like clouds and yummy!” She exclaimed, waving her little hands in the air trying to really get him to properly understand the hype. Trent chuckled, amused by her enthusiasm. He couldn’t think of anything he wanted less than a sweet post match but he’d entertain the craving for her.

“Really? That good, huh?” he teased. “Well, if they were so yummy, how come you didn’t save any for daddy?” He asked her with a sly smirk. Teddy froze, her face falling as the realization hit her. Her tiny, pouty lips parted in a silent gasp, her big eyes widening with guilt. For a moment, she just stared at him, clearly crushed by the thought that she hadn’t saved him any.

“Oh… I sorry, daddy…” she whispered, her little voice barely audible. “But… they were most yummy,” she frowned, feeling disappointed with herself. Not sharing with daddy seemed wrong but the tiny pink cakes were just so good. Trent could hardly hold back his laughter at the way she was so genuinely upset. Before he could comfort her, she quickly perked up, her big eyes gleaming with a new idea. “But! But dada! We get more now?” she asked, her tone hopeful as she tugged at his sleeve. This would be mutually beneficial she got more and daddy wouldn’t be left out. “We get lots and lots! And I give some this time, I pwomise!” He couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head fondly.

“Alright, alright, I guess we’ll have to get more then,” he said, tucking a stay curl behind her ear. “You promise you'll at least give me a bite this time?” He asked her. Teddy beamed, her smile back in full force, and she hugged him tightly around the neck and nodded.

“Tanks Daddy!” she squealed. “You can have lots of bites, tay?” Trent smiled and kissed the top of her head.

“I’ll hold you to that, baby bear. Alright, tiny cakes, let’s go where we can find some more.” Teddy squealed in delight, squirming with excitement. As Trent leaned down to give you a quick kiss on the cheek. “Mummy’s coming too, right? I’ll need help with this one,” he joked, shifting Teddy on his hip as she kept babbling on about her cakes.

“Of course,” you replied with a smile. “Wouldn’t miss more tiny cakes for the world. Someone didn’t share the yummy sweets with mummy either.” You teased punching at Teddy. Trent dramatically gasped. Teddy giggled cheekily. Trent asked Teddy where she got these beloved cakes but she didn’t know. They just appeared for her from Lauren so Trent asked her if she could be a big girl and go ask her. She nodded determined to get more sweets. He watched as Teddy sprinted across the room, her little legs moving quickly with uncontainable excitement.

“Hey, Teddy girl,” he called after her, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he watched his little girl navigate by herself. She whipped her head around to look back at him impatiently. “Be a good girl and ask Lauren politely please!” He smiled but he was serious about the reminder. Teddy barely registered his words though, her eyes returning to lock onto Lauren, who was chatting with someone. She tugged on Lauren’s jeans, her tiny fingers grasping for attention, practically bouncing on her feet.

“Lawen! Lawen!” she interrupted, her voice bubbling with eagerness. Trent's reminder completely lost. “Where I get tiny pink cakes?!” She asked. Lauren paused mid-conversation, her expression shifting to one of amusement. She looked down at Teddy, who was practically vibrating with impatience.

“Erm… hello to you too sweet girl!” she laughed teasingly, bending down to scoop Teddy up into her arms. “You want more tiny pink cakes? Remember I told you they are called macarons? How about you say ‘macaron’ for me and I’ll tell you, Ted.” She asked Teddy kissing her cheek. Teddy furrowed her brow, a bit confused but excited to play whatever game Lauren was offering if it meant more cakes.

“Maca…macrooni?” Teddy asked confused what the world was.

“Macaron.” Lauren repeated, enunciating clearly, her smile encouraging. Her french accent flowing beautiful. Teddy’s little girl scouse not fully able to keep up.

“Ma-Macaron!” Teddy echoed, her little face scrunching up in concentration as she attempted to mimic the unfamiliar word. She got there.. kind of.

“Very good Ted! incroyable!” Lauren cheered, giving her a playful squeeze. “Now, can you say it again? With a little more French flair for me?” Lauren asked her just dragging this out because it was cute not because Teddy needed to.

“Macaroni!” Teddy exclaimed, her enthusiasm unwavering, though her pronunciation was still a off, maybe getting it slightly confused with the pasta but it’d do for now. She got better and then worse but it was adorable nevertheless.

“Close enough!” Lauren grinned laughing. Teddy giggled, the sound infectious, Teddy whispered under her breath another effort of the word, this time much better than her last. “Parfaite, smart girl!” Lauren said, her eyes sparkling. And so Lauren told Teddy about that little pâtisserie with all the tiny pink cakes she could dream of. Teddy nodded eagerly, her excitement renewed as she hugged Lauren with appreciation.

“Daddy I know nows!” She turned to yell to Trent, glancing back towards you two, her little heart set on getting those cakes. Trent chuckled, shaking his head in mock disbelief at her persistence. Teddy beamed, her cheeks flushed with delight. “Cakes!” she squealed, ready for more sweets disregarding her lessons in french from Lauren. As Lauren set her down, Teddy rushed back to Trent, her tiny hands tugging on his sleeve. “Daddy, we plebs go now?” She begged.

As Trent held Teddy’s small hand, he guided her carefully up the step into the cafe, making sure she felt steady on her feet. Teddy’s eyes widened as soon as she stepped inside, her little mouth falling open in sheer delight at the sight before her. The display case was filled with a vibrant rainbow of macarons—pinks, blues, greens, yellows, and purples all arranged in perfect rows, gleaming under the café lights. The smell alone was incredible.

“Daddy!” she squealed, her voice a high-pitched burst of excitement, and without thinking, she let go of Trent’s hand to dash toward the counter. He laughed, the sound light and joyful, as he quickly followed her. Her warm tiny hands pressing onto the cool glass.

“Whoa okay! Relax, baby bear,” he teased, pinching her tummy playfully as he caught up to her. “Which color should we get, beautiful girl? Pink?” He cooed gently, squatting down next to her pressing the side of his cheek to hers.

“All of them Dadddyy!” Teddy shouted, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she turned to look at him, beaming from ear to ear. Trent shook his head, a grin on his face.

“Greedy, greedy girl!” he said with a chuckle before planting a soft kiss on her cheek. She giggled, her happiness infectious, and her laughter echoing around the small cafe. In that moment, Teddy spun around and turned her big, wide eyes toward you.

“Mama! What macaroni you get?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity, her excitement still bubbling over. Even in her enthusiasm, there was that sweet thoughtfulness that you loved so much about her. She always wanted to make sure everyone was included and having fun. With a smile, you knelt down beside them, looking at the array of colors.

“Hmm, I think I might get a brown one. It matches my outfit” you replied, pretending to ponder the decision seriously but thinking your decision was sound in your tan knit jumper. “What do you think?” You asked her and her brow furrowed unimpressed, silently asking why you would want arguably the worst color there. You smirked being able to read your daughter. “Or what if I getttt.” You sang reinspecting the pastries. “Oooo what about blue, baby?” You giggled a little bit, hoping that might be a better choice for her.

“Blue? Ooooh! I wan a blue too, mama!” Teddy squealed, clapping her hands together. She leaned over the counter, her little fingers pointing eagerly at the colorful display. “Daddy, we get two blue, pleabs?”

“Alright, two blue for my girls.” Trent said, running his hand over her hair “Let’s get those for mummy and Teddy and maybe we try one of every other color too for daddy and Ted. What do you think?” Trent cooed and Teddy lit up, eyes wide with a squeal and a hug. You shook your head. She was so spoiled by him. Trent picked her up, Teddy not letting go of the greatest dad on earth. As they made their way to the counter, the excitement in the air was palpable. You watched as Trent and Teddy chat with the barista, pointing at various macarons, your heart swelling with warmth at the sight of them together. It was moments like these that made everything feel right, and you couldn’t help but smile.

And so, too many tiny cakes later you gently wiped a stray crumb from Teddy’s face, her small body leaning into yours as she dozed off, stomach full from the macaron feast. Her soft, warm breath brushed against your neck as you cradled her, your arms wrapped protectively around her. Her tiny pout was parted slightly, eyes fluttering with the drowsiness of someone in the depths of a sugar-induced nap. Trent sat across from you, watching the two of you with a tender smile, clearly savoring the peacefulness of the moment. You couldn’t resist leaning down to press a playful kiss to her chubby cheek, exaggerating the sound to make her giggle, but she barely stirred.

“Did you thank Daddy for your tiny pink cakes, baby?” you whispered, kissing her again, this time with a teasing little ‘nom’ sound like you were about to nibble her. She had inside but again wouldn't hurt. Teddy’s eyelids flickered open, her long lashes batting against her cheeks as she stared up at you in confusion, still half-asleep.

“Mama, they’re macaronis” She blinked a few times before correcting you in a tired but determined voice. You stifled a giggle, raising your eyebrows in mock surprise.

“Oh, right! Macarons. My mistake, smart girl” you said, laughing softly. Satisfied with your correction, Teddy, her little body still draped lazily in your arms, turned her sleepy gaze to Trent.

“Tanks, Daddy,” her voice a little more alert now, but still so sweet. She offered him a small but sincere thank you. Trent’s smile deepened, and he leaned forward, reaching out to stroke her cheek.

“You’re welcome, my baby bear,” he murmured, his voice filled with warmth. His eyes flicked to you, catching your gaze, and for a moment, you both shared a look of pure contentment, the kind that only comes with these rare, quiet family moments. “Ted, which one was your favorite?” he asked, his voice teasing but curious, knowing how much she had enjoyed the colorful display of macarons earlier. Teddy, still nestled comfortably in your arms, took a moment to respond, her sleepy mind working through the question.

“Pink… but too many, dada,” Finally, she answered in a soft, thoughtful voice. Her little hand splayed across her chubby tummy. Her tiny face scrunched up adorably, and you couldn’t help but smile at the honesty of her confession. Trent chuckled, shaking his head.

“Alright, no more macarons for my Teddy girl,” he teased with a tickle to her full tummy, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. But before his lips could reach her, Teddy lifted her head just slightly, her eyes opening wider in protest.

“No more… just for a tiny bit,” she corrected, her voice serious as if she was striking a very important deal. You and Trent exchanged amused glances before laughing quietly together. Trent pressed a kiss to her forehead, this time successfully, his love for her evident in every gentle touch.

“Alright, alright, just for a tiny bit,” he agreed, his voice soft and indulgent, as though he’d give her the world if she asked for it. You felt your heart swell as you watched him with her, the tenderness between them radiating like sunlight. Moments like these were golden, fleeting but unforgettable, and you never wanted to forget the warmth that filled the air, the way Trent’s eyes lit up every time Teddy giggled or how his protective hand rested on your back as you all sat together. Still smiling, you kissed Teddy’s soft cheek once more, and as you did, she turned toward you, her tiny arms wrapping around your neck.

“I love you, Mama,” she whispered sleepily, her voice muffled as she buried her face in your shoulder.

“I love you too, baby,” you whispered back, holding her close. Trent watched the two of you, his heart full, and leaned in to kiss the top of your head.

“I love both my pretty girls,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around you and Teddy, pulling you both close. As the quiet moments settled, you rested your head against Trent’s shoulder, Teddy secure in your arms. Trent reached across Teddy for one of the leftover macarons, popping it into his mouth with a grin. As he chewed, his words came out muffled, “These are actually quite good you know,” his voice a little garbled through a mouthful of dessert. You couldn’t help but giggle, amused by his indulgence .

“They live up to the hype?” you asked teasing, watching as Teddy, still half-asleep in your arms, suddenly perked up. Trent hummed. She sat up, her eyes wide as she nodded along vigorously, agreeing with Trent.

“Dada, I told!” she declared, her voice still soft with lingering sleep but filled with pride. You smoothed your hand over her hair with a smile, the sight of both of them enjoying something as simple as macarons filling your heart. Trent’s playful wink in your direction made you chuckle again, as Teddy leaned over and pointed at the pink one in the box. “Pink best,” she said seriously, as if passing down a sacred secret. Trent chuckled, grabbing the pink one. she had singled out and without hesitation popped it into his mouth. Teddy giggled, her tiny hand resting on his arm as she watched him expectantly. As Trent chewed, his eyebrows lifted in mock surprise.

“Mmm wow, so yummy, Ted. You’re right, baby. Pink is the best.” He smiled, his voice playful but full of warmth. Teddy beamed at him, her tiredness momentarily forgotten as she hugged him tightly. You watched the two of them, your heart swelling with a sense of contentment. These little sweet moments—macarons, giggles, and shared glances—were the ones that mattered most. The two loves of your life as sweet as the tiny pink cakes.

⇨ Read other ForeverIsntEnough work here!

#trent alexander arnold #trent alexander arnold x reader #trent alexander arnold imagines

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star-girl69 · 11 months ago

Text

Ultraviolence

Natalie Scatorccio x Fem!Reader

—-

a/n: i don’t have an explanation for this either. enjoy it while it lasts. i hope you all enjoy!!

side note but this is the chapter that started it all!!!!!!!!! it’s gonna be a long one. i thought of the title ultraviolence and then what happens and this chapter title is what came from it.

*if you’re curious, the title comes from the lyric “jim taught me that loving him was never enough”

warnings: reader gets punched (sorry i had to give y’all a true y/n moment), lottie gets brutally beat up by shauna, mentions of blood and such, i’m sure you all remember this scene….., swearing ofc, kissing, allusions to hot and heaviness lol, mentions of infant death, then actual described death, knives, attempted murder, like a lot of violence, cannibalism!!!!!!!, ritualistic sacrificing, ITS HERE Y’ALL, Y’ALL KNOW WHATS HAPPENING, tell me if i missed anything!!

Chapter Thirty One - Loving Her Was Never Enough

—-

1996-

The days after the birth are startling. You know what is should feel like. You should be fussing around the baby, you should be complaining when he wakes you up in the middle of the night, but it’s just not.

The cabin is silent, you think maybe for the first time since you’ve been here. Silent. Eerily silent.

Shauna lays in the same bed she gave birth in, Tai sits next to her, and it’s all shrouded in this hazy layer of grief and anger and death. Everyone is just silent.

You sit on the chair by the window, Natalie at your feet, laying her head in your lap and you run your fingers over her blonde hair. Her roots are so bad now, but there is really nothing you can do. You wonder if it bothers her. She’s always hinted that she dyed her hair for a reason. You wonder if it haunts her now.

You watch Tai mutter forget Shauna about drinking something, but she turns around, he’s still in her arms, and she’s still silent. She hasn’t spoken a word since she woke up and held his little frozen body.

“Lottie?” you hear Tai ask. You look up from Nat’s blonde hair. “Do you see something?”

Lottie stands from the chair next to Shauna. “The snow. It finally stopped.”

Everyone sits up, now slightly eager to at least get out of this cursed and death-riddled cabin.

Travis and a few other girls quickly move, grabbing onto each other and the door, pulling and pulling while you grab Nat’s hand and wait for it to finally just burst open, like a bird waiting for their cage to open. Even if the hand coming in only brings food, you will bite and bite to get out.

And it does, it cracks open with a sickening crunch, snow spilling out like a tsunami.

“Holy shit,” Nat smiles, and you squeeze her hand, someone mutters about grabbing a bucket, and God at least you’re out. At least you can flap your wings, even if they’re not strong enough to get you out of the wilderness.

—-

You spend most of the day just floating around with Natalie. It’s peaceful, as much as you can get out here, your feet crunching through the snow and her hand in yours. Shauna buries her baby. Lottie, Misty, Akilah, Mari and Tai go out to search for Crystal after Misty conjures up some speech about their duty to find her even in the wake of his death.

You can’t do it, you can’t do anything except for ignore it and be here with Natalie.

—-

Much later, you’re all gathered around the fire, the search efforts abandoned for the day. Your hand is in Nat’s lap while she stares into the fire, and you’re listening to Misty go on about Crystal.

It made you feel bad for her, her cries and her speech, no matter how many looks Tai sends you about entertaining her, you can’t stop. Can’t take this from her. Even if the rumors being spread are that Misty murdered Crystal are true… you can’t. Because you don’t know.

If the rumors are fake and she’s really hurting… it doesn’t kill you to let her talk.

“And she was always singing,” Misty coos. “Always singing.” She starts humming along to a song you don’t recognize, but it is catchy.

“I’m sorry, Misty,” you say when she done. “Crystal is so wonderful… I hope you know that we’re here for you, and I’m sure she’s out there.” Lies taste bitter on your tongue.

She presses her hand to her chest, suppressing another cry, grabbing your hand and squeezing. When she moves onto the next victim, Natalie bumps your shoulder.

“You’re so nice to everyone. It makes me sick.”

“I’m just an angel, really,” you hold your hands above your head in a circle, a faux halo.

She smiles and grabs your hands, kissing your knuckles. “My angel. My nightshade.”

You grin stupidly because this girl really is your everything, and draw her in for a sweet kiss. Her mouth against yours is the same and yet wildly different every time. The way you fit together is always the same, like puzzle pieces, like you were made for each other. But the way she makes you feel each time your kiss varies.

Some times, like this, you’re just so happy you smile against her and your heart is just warm. Other times, your clash together hot and heavy, mouths open and teeth smashing, and she makes your entire body feel hot. Sometimes she just holds you so tight you know that there will never be anyone else for you- you just feel so completely and utterly hers, and better for it.

Van makes a gagging sound on the other side of the haphazard circle. You pull away with matching smiles, Nat shooting Van an unimpressed look.

“You and Tai are just as bad.”

The two girls look at each other before dramatically grabbing each other’s faces and pretending to roughly kiss, making you laugh. You adjust to turn towards them and not just Natalie, accidentally knocking over your cup of water onto the floor.

“Oh, shit,” you murmur. There wasn’t a lot in it, but still enough for you to warrant grabbing a spare rag to soak it up.

Nat rubs your knee as you stand, the door opening as you do and Shauna filing in. She obviously doesn’t want to be talked to. You feel bad, but you won’t force her to do something she’s not ready to do.

You stand up, humming Crystal’s song to yourself, heading for the rag on the table Melissa sits at.

“Why are you singing that?”

It takes you a second to realize Shauna’s talking to you. She’s turned completely towards you, something like hate festering in her features. It scares you.

You look towards Natalie, who looks just as confused as you.

You stare at Shauna like a deer in headlights.

“Where did you hear that song?”

“Um, uh, Crystal,” you breathe. “Misty was telling me-”

She comes towards you so quick no one can do anything to stop it. Her fists connects with your cheek, hard and uncoordinated because of her anger, and God does it fucking hurt.

You yelp and curl in on yourself, pressing your hand to your face and falling against the door.

“You killed my fucking baby!”

The sentence is the most terrifying thing you have ever heard. You barely even helped. You barely even helped.

Natalie is next to you in a second, you’re crying, she’s yelling and Shauna and whispering- Stop, Shauna! She did everything she could- Y/N, Y/N, baby, are you okay? Are you okay? Where does it hurt? Where does it hurt?

She presses her hands against your face, you hear the rage in Shauna’s voice and you’re terrified, you can’t catch your breath.

“No, shut up! You all fucking ate my baby!”

Shauna is beyond rationality. You look past Nat and see the pure hatred, the insanity in Shauna’s brown eyes. Van and Akilah are trying to hold her back.

She’s making no sense.

“I saw you! You were covered in blood!”

“Shauna, stop it!” Tai screeches. “You’re acting insane!”

Van suddenly yells and pulls her arm away. “Ow! God, she fucking bit me!”

Akilah let’s go of her, but Lottie is in front of Shauna now.

There’s tense moment. The entire room breathes heavily. She stops for just a moment.

Shauna grunts and punches Lottie in the face.

You flinch on principal and Natalie presses herself closer to you.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she says, craning her neck to watch. You stare past her, entranced by the piece of rage that seems to have taken over Shauna.

Where did it start, you wonder? Her heart? Her lungs? Her liver?

Lottie brushes her hair out of her face and locks her hands behind her back.

“Travis, take Javi to the bedroom.”

You realize what’s about to happen.

“Lot?” Van asks, but she knows too.

“Shauna…” Lottie breathes, “I know there’s a lot of pain right now. Let it out.” No one moves. “Shauna, we need you, let it out.”

She swings. She meets her mark. Lottie staggers back but comes right back for more.

You breathe in.

Shauna hits her again and Lottie falls to the floor. She kicks her in the back. Again, again, again, again and again and Lottie jolts each time.

Natalie’s hands are shaking against you. Her nails dig into your sides where she now holds you. You’re breathing so much and not enough you don’t know how your lungs are still working.

Shauna climbs on top of Lottie and flips her over. She hits her. She hits her. She hits her. She screams and screams. And she hits her. She hits her. She fucking hits her until Lottie is passed out and unrecognizable, her face is bloated and bloody.

And no one does anything.

Finally, Shauna falls next to her, breathing heavily. She lays there and breathes. You’re not sure you breathe. Shauna sits up and looks at her.

“Lottie.” She doesn’t move. Of course she doesn’t. “Lottie.”

Lottie spits out blood. Then she breathes in. Laying on the floor, covered in blood, you swear you see the shape of white antlers in the fire behind her.

Shauna stands up and walks towards you. Natalie throws you behind her, but Shauna doesn’t look at you, she just walks past you and out the door.

Everybody rushes towards Lottie.

“What the fuck,” Nat breathes. “What the fuck.”

You press your burning face against her chest, cheek still imprinted with Shauna’s knuckles, and you cry. You cry.

—-

Akilah finds a mouse. She talks to it and it brings her comfort. She cries when Taissa shows her it’s not real.

—-

There’s blood everywhere. This wasn’t like Jackie. This is raw and disgusting. It tastes so bad and feels so good. You don’t stop until you’ve eaten what must be his entire arm. You’re all eating, you’re all moaning and groaning like you did that cold night with her.

There’s no smoke in the air this time to hide your sins.

Shauna runs in, there’s blood on your face and metallic in your mouth. She knows what happened. You don’t bother to wipe your face.

Shauna screams.

You wake up screaming, everyone is annoyed with you and groaning. You cry into Natalie’s arms. She says your name over and over again.

“I’m sorry, Shauna. I’m so sorry, Shauna. I’m so sorry.”

—-

You lean against Nat, the two of you sitting on the long bench against the wall, Coach Ben on the other end. The two of you have felt like a package deal lately. Sometimes you look at Shauna and you remember her rage and you feel your aching cheek- and you’re scared. You’re so scared.

Natalie looks at Shauna like she’s poison.

You don’t know why, you don’t know how, but you know the dream you had is not just what your mind conjured up. Somehow, someway, you know you saw what Shauna saw.

And that scares you so bad you don’t even tell Natalie. But she doesn’t ask, she just holds you through the nightmares, she holds you when Shauna’s near, she holds you when you remember.

You feel useless and stupid but you can’t get it out of your head. She doesn’t make you. You savor it a little longer until the next tragedy happens.

Nat squeezes your side unknowingly. You follow the sight line of her harsh glare and find Shauna picking up a blanket at Gen’s feet. Nat grabs your leg and hooks it over hers, she brings you closer.

“Sure,” Gen says sarcastically. “Go ahead.”

“You’re not using it and Lottie’s cold.”

“Now you give a shit about Lottie?” Melissa asks.

“Hey!” Van shouts, standing slowly. “Lottie took it from her to protect us. Don’t let that be for nothing.”

Shauna looks down. She looks at Gen and Melissa, and then she walks away.

Natalie’s voice is hushed when she speaks.

“Maybe Lottie dying wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

She moves her hand from your waist to the side of your head, pressing you further into her shoulder. Like she can just fold you into her, eat you up and keep you safe from this cruel wilderness. You wish you could do the same to her.

You know she’s not talking to you. You listen anyways.

“I mean, if she’s in pain, then… yeah. Maybe for the best,” is Coach Ben’s answer. The wilderness has forced you to talk about life and death like it is nothing. You wonder what special hell awaits all of you for squandering this gift.

Nat scratches your scalp. “Everyone’s just so… I don’t know. They’ve changed, because of her. It’s like she has some weird control over them or something.”

“Sounds like you’re jealous.”

“Right,” she says, and you could almost smile at the sarcasm in her voice. “Even Javi’s gone to the dark side.

“Oh, come on, Nat. He doesn’t even talk.”

Remembering Javi and everything he’s been through makes you feel sick.

“He doesn’t have to.” You feel her turn to look at Coach. “I saw him, like, bowing to a symbol tree the other day.”

“Which tree was it?”

“Hm, not far from the creek.”

You can feel Coach Ben realize something that terrifies him.

—-

Mari hears the dripping again, the dripping she’s been hearing for a while. Mari sees something. She screams. She says they’re dead. She cries when Taissa tells her nothing is there.

—-

When Natalie tells you of her plan to make Javi gloves, you say the first words you’ve said in three days that’s not panicked whispering in the middle of the night after a nightmare.

“Let me help.”

You do one glove and she does the other, managing to scrape together the materials- you’re grateful for Home-Ec classes now.

Faintly, you realize that Nat was in your class too. She sat in the back and was barely there, to be fair, but she was there. She was there before you knew to look for her. And that should seem sweet but it’s cruel, because it’s less time you could’ve spent looking at her.

You sit by Nat’s feet as she gives him the gift.

“They’re not that pretty.”

They’re beautiful because they were touched by her.

“And they don’t change color in the cold or anything.”

There’s magic in just being able to make Javi smile.

“But they might help.”

You watch him smile as he puts them on. You gesture towards him and he holds out his hands, letting you admire your handiwork on their final resting place. You smile. You smile and he smiles back. You turn his hands over before folding them up and squeezing them.

“Beautiful,” you whisper. Nat smiles.

You look up at her, but she’s not smiling anymore. She’s staring at him. At Travis.

“Need something?” she says. He leans against the doorway.

“No.”

He brushes his hair back and sits in Javi’s old place. You hate how uncomfortable Nat looks.

“You’re a good person. You’re both good people. And I’m sorry for… for ever making you feel otherwise.” Nat stares off over your head.

You stare at him. You grab his hand. Travis, Travis and Nat and you. That’s it.

It takes her a second, but she places her hand over yours and his.

—-

Not quite asleep yet, not quite awake, you lean against the wall together while you wait for someone to turn off the lantern. Nat is already asleep, her head in your lap, your hands again in her blonde hair.

Misty creaks down the ladder, Akilah scrambles from her sheets.

“Hey, how’s Lottie?”

“She’s, um…”

Your stomach drops, everyone sits up. Nat sits up, your hands fall from her hair.

“She said, um, if she dies… she wants us to make use of her. To stay alive.”

“Did she really say that? She must be really fucking sick.”

“I can’t imagine being here without her,” Van says, like it’s final. Like she won’t accept it.

“Me either,” Shauna says.

“Then let’s not.” Mari sits up. “Lottie isn’t gonna die. The wilderness won’t let her die.”

“It may not want her to, but if she’s starving… there’s no way she’s gonna live,” Travis says. He’s now sitting up next to you. You look at him.

“The same is true for all of us.” Nat says, her hand finds yours.

It’s for you, the way her fingers intertwine with her say. It’s for you, it’s for us, it’s for what we have.

Taissa sits up after a moment.

“Okay. We need to find a way to stay alive.” There is a deadly sort of focus, of a promise in her eyes. “And it can’t be her.”

—-

They set up the bone, the candle, the knife, all of it the same way they did during Shauna’s birth. That time, you were trying to save someone. This time, you’re trying to kill someone.

You watch them. You lean against the wall with Natalie.

“Nat,” you whisper, and it startles her because it’s been so hard for you to talk. “I’m scared. Why are we doing this? I… I dont want to die, Nat-”

“Shh,” she whispers, her hand on your face. “Not you. Not you, never you.”

And for some reason it comforts you.

Going into this circle means the chance to eat and the chance to die. But the hunger, hunger that you never thought a person could feel before, it hurts so bad you would do anything to stop it. It’s not you, it’s survival. It’s the primitive part of your brain your starving body reverts to, the part that would do anything to stay alive.

Most of the time that means fighting and killing animals. But there’s no animals to kill in these woods. There’s only humans. There’s only your friends.

The circle forms. Van flips through the cards before finding one. She holds it up. It’s the Queen of Hearts. The implication is silent but deadly. Whoever draws that card is the one who dies.

You watch her shuffle them. You’ve never been religious, but fear will turn you into whatever you have to be. You pray, even though some part of you thinks it’s no use, and a bigger part of you is too desperate to stop.

The circle is eerie and silent.

Some deep part of you screams to stop this. Screams for rationality, screams for any other way.

But you are beyond rationality. Nothing about this is rational or normal. This hunger is nothing short of a God-like experience- how can you want something so much that you would kill for it? How powerful could an emotion be that you would do this?

You’re staring down the jaws of death, the scent hitting your face, and you’re throwing someone else into the endlessness of its throat.

Van holds out the cards, face down, and Misty steps forward. She grabs the card at the top, her head level, eyes pointed down, she smiles and breathes in.

Misty spins around with her card, and everyone can see that she’s safe, this time, that it’s not the Queen.

Misty grabs the deck from Van and turns to Akilah. She stares at Misty, innocence in her eyes, but she grabs the card.

She doesn’t outwardly show what card she drew, not until she flips it around and places it over her heart.

Misty turns to Van. She isn’t subtle about it, she doesn’t wanna wait, she grabs the card quick and shows it to everyone. Not the Queen.

Shauna’s turn.

You can’t breathe. The hesitance is gone, everyone just wants to get it out with. You can’t breathe. You can’t breathe. You find Nat’s hand and you squeeze so hard it must hurt, but she just squeezes right back.

Shauna does not draw the Queen.

Travis’s turn. You’re scared. You’re so scared, you love Travis- but he doesn’t draw the Queen either.

Tai doesn’t.

Melissa doesn’t.

Javi doesn’t. He runs to Travis, who hugs him and says it’s okay, but it’s not okay. You all know this is no okay, this is insane, but you’re too far in it to stop.

Misty holds out the cards to you. Oh. Oh, it’s your turn.

Natalie shuffles closer to you. You take it, you take it and you pray and pray that you’re not the one who’s throat will get cut today. You want to live, you want to live so bad it’s like a fire in your bones.

You flip the card over.

Eight of Hearts.

You hold the card up to your chest, you feel Natalie let out a breath. Your lips quirk upward. You’re safe. And Natalie will be too.

Misty holds out the cards to her. You hold her hand. You know it won’t be the Queen. You know it won’t be. It can’t be, because you love her.

You love Natalie, so she can’t die.

She takes her time. She breathes in heavily. She’s slow to draw the card, like she’s pushing through something invisible in the air. But she’s not fighting to get it, something is pulling her back, rationality.

She draws the card close to her. She flips it. You can’t see it. She holds the card up to her chest.

You love her and it can’t be the Queen. You love her and it can’t.

Everyone gasps in horror but it takes a second for it to sink in for you. Time doesn’t work in the wilderness. Your lungs don’t work now.

The theory that oxygen is poison that takes a hundred years to kill a human? It must be true. And the origin of that poison must come from these woods, because you can’t breathe.

“No.” It’s the only word you can think to say. “No, no, no, no, no, no,” you repeat, frantic, you’re climbing up the walls, you press your hands to your face.

Natalie doesn’t look at anyone. She accepts it, she takes a step forward.

“NO!” you yell, you grab onto her, she grabs onto you. You thought it wouldn’t be her. You knew it wouldn’t be her. What is the point of this mess of the future being slowly revealed to you if you can’t save the girl you love?

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she’s shaking and crying, you’re sobbing against her warm body. “It’s not you, it’s not you.”

You dig your fingers into her shoulder’s, she has to keep you standing.

“It’s not you. It’s not you. It’s not you.”

“I won’t eat you,” you cry into her neck.

No one bothers you for this one moment. They let you have this.

“Yes, you will.”

“I won’t!” you shout, but it fades out and you’re just crying again.

Van and Mari grab your arms. Natalie let’s go of you. It’s the worst betrayal you have ever felt.

How can she do this to you? How can she do this?

“Please, please, please,” you cry, but their grip on you is too tight. You watch her walk forward.Shauna meets her in the middle. You can hear her breathing heavily, it’s silent for a moment, your mind hasn’t realized this is happening yet.

“Turn around,” Shauna says.

“I love her,” you cry. “I love her, I love her and you can’t do this, please don’t do this, please don’t-”

Nat turns around and looks at you. You can barely see her through your tears.

Shauna wrap’s Jackie’s gold necklace around her neck. She grabs the knife.

“I love her,” you say, almost resigned. “I love you.”

She looks at you. Shauna brings the knife to her throat.

“Wait. Wait,” she grabs the knife. She turns around. Her words are shaky. She’s scared. She’s scared too.“You’re gonna have to look me in the eye.”

Shauna presses the knife to her throat, they’re both crying, you really truly can’t breathe. Your mind catches up.

“Travis! Travis, Travis please, please, I love her you can’t- you can’t-” he stares at the floor and doesn’t look at you. You dissolve into sobs. That’s all you are. Sadness, grief, rage, insanity.

Misty walks over in front of you, you can’t tell what she’s feeling. You can’t decipher her face through the tears clouding your vision.

“I love her, I love her… please…”

Misty’s face hardens. “It’s not enough.”

Your heart breaks, you swear you can feel it break.

“We need food more than we need love.”

“You sick, twisted bitch! You fucking psycho! I know what you did, I know what you did!”

The sound of metal breaking. Misty’s labored breaths. The sound of a body hitting the ground. Screaming.

Who am I? You have no answer. Not anymore.

“You stupid fucking bitch,” you laugh, you cry, “You stupid, stupid girl. They’re gonna know, they’re gonna find out-”

“Shut up!” Misty yells, slapping you and you’re suddenly silent by the shock of it. “Shauna, go.”

You cry. You cry, because Natalie is not here to hold your cheek. She held you until the next tragedy happened, and you never expected this next tragedy to be her.

The knife is at her neck. You love her and the knife is at her neck.

Travis yells and barrels into Shauna. The next moment is a whirlwind, Van and Mari let go of you in favor of Travis, Misty takes their place.

Nat meets your eyes in the second of chaos.

“Run!” And she does.

“No! No, she’s getting away!” Misty screeches.

She runs right out the door, Travis fights and fights, but eventually the girls manage to pin him to the wall. Mari holds the knife to his throat. They all run out the door. Misty drops you and you fall to the ground.

There’s a sound.

You realize they’re howling. This is not a chase, it’s a hunt.

Travis is breathing heavily, you’re slumped against the ground, you look at Javi.

He survived. He survived for so long.

You stand up, you stagger towards him, you place your hands on his face.

“You know, Javi. You know, you know where she can hide, under- under the tree, you have- you have to-”

He looks into your eyes. He looks at Travis.

“Javi,” he breathes.

And Javi runs out the door. The girls don’t even recognize the danger. They don’t stop him.

There is an advantage to bring so young. You are never perceived as a threat. You are never really seen, not for what you are.

“Y/N, w-what’s under the tree?”

The girls holding him to the wall are frozen in time.

You stare at the floor.

“Sanctuary,” you whisper.

—-

You wait outside. You hear her footsteps. “Natalie, Natalie,” you day her name over and over again, running into her open arms.

“I knew it wouldn’t be you. I knew it wouldn’t be you.”

You press her so close against you it’s like you’re glued together. You breathe out and look towards the wilderness.

“Natalie!” Travis shouts, you here his footsteps behind you.

You watch as they carry his body like a dead animal, hanging by a stick.

Natalie presses her hands against the back of your head. “Travis. It… it’s happened so fast…”

“No,” he whispers. You can’t look at him but you can feel him.

“The wilderness chose,” she breathes.

“No. No! No!” he runs past you and towards where they have dumped his frozen body.

He was wearing the gloves you made for him.

You press your face against her neck. You can hear her breathe. You can feel her arms around you. For right now, that has to be enough.

Travis screams and cries as you and Natalie go inside.

—-

Natalie feels guilty. That’s the only emotion she can name. She feels more than that, of course, she feels this deep devotion to Y/N that’s more than love, she feels grateful but not quite that she’s still alive, and she feels scared but also knowing.

Y/N keeps saying that she knew. She knew it wasn’t Natalie. And Natalie doesn’t know why but she believes her. She’s starting to realize that too much has happened in the wilderness for there not to be something more. Something here.

She doesn’t tell Y/N, but she talks in her sleep. Little whispers, so only Nat can hear them. She talks about antlers. And you’re scared, you’re shaking, but you never quite wake up. And most of the time Nat just touches her face and wonders what she’s dreaming about.

She needed to be out here in the cold woods, gathering firewood. She needed to be out here, away from everyone in that cabin who tried to kill her.

When she offered to go and you grabbed her hand, looked up at her eyes, she suddenly realizes that she almost lost herself- and you almost lost her too. She would go crazy if you had been the one to draw the Queen card.

But she needs to think.

She tells you she loves you, because she heard you, while Shauna had that knife to her throat, she heard you. She wraps the blankets around you and leaves and says she’ll come back and she will.

She makes her way back to the cabin. The smell of blood is so strong, she wants to turn back but she doesn’t.

She hears him just as she sees him. His breathing is terrified. He turns around and starts hobbling as fast as he can, away from the cabin.

“Coach,” she breathes. “Where have you been?”

His eyes soften. “Natalie. W-what happened?”

She stares at him. She knows he sees the horror in her eyes. The memories in her eyes. She can’t say it.

“O-Okay, okay, okay, listen. I figured out where Javi was hiding, all right? I-I think that you, me and Y/N together could probably survive the winter.”

She looks him up and down.

“Hey, do you hear me?”

Her face hardens.

“You don’t have to stay here. You’re not one of them. Both of you aren’t like the rest of these girls.”

“Actually, I’m worse.”

It feels good to say it.

“How can you say that?” he says, genuinely confused, almost betrayed.

“I let him die in my place.”

There are tears in his eyes.

“It was supposed to be me.” He stares at her. She feels guilty, guilty for shattering her perfect vision of him.

“F-fine. Fine, fine. You don’t- you don’t have to go. Y/N and I-”

“She knows things, Coach. She knows things. Doomcoming, Lottie told me that soon, we’ll all see if the way she sees it. She whispers in her sleep about antlers, she gets scared when nothings there, and she… today, she told Misty that she knew what she did. And Misty was scared.”

She can see everything crash around him.

“You’re a good person, Coach. You really don’t belong in this place.”

She stares at him and he stares right back. Something breaks, the friendship they had.

Something breaks.

—-

1997-

Your hair is knotted, matted in places. You cannot remember the last time you touched a hairbrush. They made you shower but there’s still dirt under your fingernails and in between your toes.

You keep your head towards the ground, the flashing lights of cameras ringing in your eyes and ears, feeling her hand in yours and someone’s hand on your shoulder, guiding you forward, shouting for everyone to step back.

But they don’t listen. The are journalists. Paparazzi. They want this new story like you wanted meat. They are hungry, just like you.

You don’t even realize you’re climbing the steps of a plane, just like you did that day in 1996. The worst has already happened to you.

Lottie screams and you do not even flinch. Even while the cameras stop flashing, everyone falls silent. It doesn’t scare you, not anymore.

You have heard this scream a thousand times before. From a thousand different mouths.

—-

taglist:

@sweetdayme4427 @dreaming-for-an-escape @peachydoki @happysparklingshadows @zhivaxo @maraudeerrs @karsonromanoff @onlyangel-444 @subastronaut @iheartnatscatorccio @yourlocalloser-core

everything taglist:

@emilynissangtr

#natalie scatorccio #natalie scatorccio x reader #nat scatorccio #nat scatorccio x reader #yellowjackets x reader #yellowjackets x you

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lotties-ashwagandha · 1 year ago

Text

MAKE IT UP TO YOU

kinktober day two — mommy kink — taissa forgets to show for your date, but later she makes it up to you.

was specifically thinking season 1 senator tai when i wrote this bc im specific like that but ;) also this is fem!reader but the rest of the days for kinktober will be gn afab reader

You’d hardly responded to any of her messages since two o’clock. You knew it was a bit manipulative, a bit petty, but you were pissed.

Taissa had promised that she would meet you for lunch at a little before noon. You’d made special reservations at a restaurant you both liked to celebrate her campaign, and you knew that apart from some paperwork she was free to meet you. The two of you had scheduled it almost a week in advance.

You’d sat at the restaurant for an hour waiting for her to show up. You had called, texted, everything, but still she never showed up. When finally Tai had picked up the phone she’d given you a hurried apology before hanging up and slipping into a campaign meeting.

Since then you’d been at home, having said fuck it to the rest of your work day to sit at home and wallow in your ever-growing disappointment. She never missed a date you planned, and you had been looking forward to this one, and all she’d offered you was a half-assed apology.

You heard the lock to the front door click and after a moment she was revealed, a bit nonchalant. You watched silently from the couch, a book in your hands left open on a page you’d read 3 times but still couldn’t get over your anger enough to comprehend.

Taissa turned around and gave you a soft smile. You could see in her expression that she felt a bit guilty.

“I still had to pay for the reservation, you know,” you said, “even though you never showed up. And let me tell you, that table we requested was not cheap.”

“I know,” she said tiredly, making her way over to the couch to sit next to you. “I’m sorry. I got caught up in some paperwork and my phone died so the alarm I set to leave didn’t go off, and then I was packed with meetings this afternoon. I know it’s not an excuse, but I really was looking forward to our date.”

Apparently not enough, you wanted to say, but couldn’t bring yourself to. You just nodded, exhausted with all of it, exhausted with anger.

“Come here,” Tai said, patting her lap. After a moment of hesitation you straddled her thighs. You were still a big angry, but her presence soothed you, and your let yourself relax a bit at her touch. “I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too.”

“But you’re still upset.”

You didn’t respond. You let her pull you into a soft kiss, and though it didn’t last long you could feel the sincerity, and when she pulled away you could see something akin to hunger in her eyes.

“Let mommy make it up to you,” she said, one of her hands wrapping gently around your neck. “Let me show you how much I want you, angel, would you like that?”

Your breath hitched, warmth pooling between your legs as you melted into her touch. “Yes, mommy…”

Her lips twitched in a small smile, and she pushed you back onto the couch, moving to straddle your hips. She pulled her shirt off, and after a moment her bra followed, tossed mindlessly to the floor.

She brought your hands up to her tits, and you whined, rolling her nipples under your thumbs, groping at her chest. She was so beautiful above you, watching you with a heavy gaze, her red lipstick slightly smudged from when she’d kissed you.

“Such a good girl,” Taissa smirked, tracing her hand down your neck, watching you, claiming you, sitting above you like an empress. “Take your shirt off for mommy, baby.”

You took your shirt off immediately, your bra too, and you writhed under her touch as she began to kiss your chest. The marks she left were beautiful, painting you as her own work of art, all down your chest and breasts and sternum. She knew exactly where to suck, where to bite down gently to have you moaning beneath her, and the ache between your legs grew incessantly.

“Look at you, baby,” she cooed, tracing her fingers between your breasts and down to your sternum. “So gorgeous like this for mommy, covered in marks, squirming for me. I can feel how desperate you are, pretty girl, do you need me that bad? Even after how upset you were earlier?”

You nodded and Taissa slipped a hand bed between your legs, slipping past your underwear to feel the wetness accumulating beneath.

“I fucking thought so,” she said, using her other hand on your jaw and forcing you to look at her. “Because even with as mad as you can get, you’re still mine.”

“Yours,” you repeated, surrendering completely, your hips bucking into her hand.

Taissa nodded, satisfied, pressing a quick kiss to your jaw before moving down to pull off your pants and underwear. She settled between your thighs, kissing them, hands exploring your ass and hips. You melted into her touch, relaxing as she continued to kiss up your thighs, jumping slightly when she bit down on a mark she’d sucked.

“Mommy, please,” you whined, squirming a bit under her touch, aching for her. It was becoming unbearable how much you needed her to touch you.

“Do you want mommy to fuck you, princess?” She asked, her tone slightly demeaning. “Do you want me to make you cum?”

Before you could answer she spread you with her fingers and ran her tongue through your folds. Your back arched slightly, pleasure jolting through you like electric shockwaves.

Her tongue flicked at your clit and you gasped, moaning when she sucked it into her mouth. It was perfect, the way she touched you, and you were addicted to it.

She slipped two fingers into you, coming up to kiss you, your moans muffled by her lips and her tongue that you could taste yourself on.

“Good girl,” she cooed, setting a slow pace with her fingers. “You’re taking mommy’s fingers so well, pretty girl.”

You whimpered in response, lost in the feeling of her fingers inside of you as she took over everything. Her hand again found your neck, squeezing softly until you met her gaze, and her grip relaxed.

“You look so beautiful like this,” Tai said, and you could feel yourself tightening around her fingers. “All fucked out for me, mommy’s perfect girl.”

“Mommy, fuck,” you breathed, arching into her touch. “I’m so close, please…”

“Cum for me, baby. Show me how pretty you look when you cum for me.”

You gasped, white-hot pleasure coursing through your and your body stiffening as you came, a moan escaping you. You could feel nothing but her, sense and see and hear nothing but Taissa, and it was heaven.

“That’s it, baby, you’re doing so well,” she whispered, working you through your orgasm. She only pulled her fingers from you once you pushed her hand away, your senses overwhelmed with the perfection she’d evoked.

She squeezed to lay down next to you on the couch and pulled you into her arms. Your head rested on her chest, and you let her heartbeat soothe you.

“Feel better?” She teased, and you resisted a laugh. “Am I forgiven?”

“I’m not sure yet,” you said. “I think you might still owe me another round or two.”

#kinktober #taissa turner x reader #taissa turner #yellowjackets x reader

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kaledya · 4 months ago

Note

Always a pleasure to see your talent! YEAH I LIKE IT ALL !🌸 _

I like the punishment for Valentino and the fact that Angel is choosing to have revenge. I think, for redemption, Charlie would not tell to her guests to fulfill revenge but if they ask and its deserved (like Val and Angel) I think she would accept without a second thought to punish the abuser/criminal for his victim.

Angel should also learn to move forward as for now, he will be free of Val and once its done, stay ptsd, trauma and mental business but its just you and yourself alone that can pull you through it. I think Angel will be a bit lost after Val death and little by little learn to breathe by himself again.

Exactly ! Use val if necessary of forget him. Perfect ! Thank you to explaining your pov!

I think for the drawing you show, the first drawing on the left where Charlie confront Alastor could be nice after or before the mission Alastor has to do with the gangs.

Alastor : I'm will kill something like 40 Sinners. Charlie : ... What did you just say ? Alastor : 40 deaths. Charlie : what ?! Alastor : This is fine. *meme*

Episode 6 will have so much happening ! I prepared well to not forget everything ! _

I KNOW I WANT TO GIVE SPOILERS FOR YOU BUT I CAN'T!

[*take the sacrifice and whispers* I can just say that Lolicia will have so many things happening in the same time that it will be too much and have dark consequences (until Constantine)]

And of course you are a writer too ! Don't doubt it ! If I choose to follow your storyboards its because it was well made, logical, something worth to work with *crying in goodbye at the last storyboard I finished to follow*

Ahah the "cries on the floor for lolicia" so cute.

A little thing about the encounter for Constantine and Lolicia is like... trying to find a metaphor... "Huge hurricane that only one person can transform back into a wind." And harp too.

Like Daemon singing to Vermithor (dragon) in the trailer of House of the Dragon season 2.

Oh yes its called slice of life ! I forgot the therm thank you ! _

Shen, my baby.

And yes Constantine and his parent relationship is sad and powerful.

For Shifu and Tai, I'm always for Tai in this but I don't hate Shifu at all of course. Its just that if Shifu known himself better, if he took more importance in Uguei words, it would have never happened. Tai is a warrior of strength and tactics, like the Five Cyclones (and Kai).

And its obvious that Uguei is a warrior of the spirit/shi will take someone more fated to be like him. Someone chill and less *fighting sounds*.

So if Shifu had opened his spirit, he knew that he created Tai just to fail Uguei test. And he just prepared Tai to be good at one thing. One ? That is not even sure will work ? So no plan B ? Because of the arrogance "I'm sure my son Tai will be Dragon Warrior". And of course Tai, when the 'NO' happened how could he understand ? All my life is plan A and I will never have my A ? What ?

Understandable!

So I that case, I'm Constantine's side. Sorry Luci/Lilith I adore you but damn, you broke your kid.

The wip story arc is very good ! Intense !

Honestly, a luxury and quiet ticket plane for the king !

So the Lucifer design (corrupted) :

So first his body.

In the different sources, Lucifer is said to be very beautiful, feminine, bat wings, ect ect. So I mixed all that.

So he has big bat wings that sprout from his back, two little red bat wings on his shoulders and two on his halo.

His halo is corrupted, shattered, and I couldn't show it in the drawing but it moves, shattered and comes back together over and over again, trying to fix itself and failing.

He has the golden scars and Morningstar symbol on his body like in your design ! And he also have the same beige goat legs that in your design (but I didn't have enough room on the same page to draw it)

In in torso, he is marking that look like an eaten apple ! If you just look like the contours of the apple, he looks more feminine. If you look like the actual shape of his body more masculine. Its like a illusion !

Hiding his private part, there is a snake face.

He has two manacles on his wrist to show that he is emprisonned in Abaddon's bowel and link to his throne and his fate.

His arms are dark like his neck, and there is one red eye on each of his forearm!

On his right shoulder and left thigh, his skin is shattered, inside its black and corruption pieces of the skin fly from it.

He has his wedding ring of course.

• When in good mood, Luci look more like a demon-like. Smiling, playful, manipulating, not caring. Its what demon are suppose to be. Dangerous tricksters !

• But when he is in bad mood (not his ultimate form) he is more an angel. Angel are inflexible and here is harsh thinking is also led by pride. So a prideful Angel.

His halo change and becomes a broken disc. (Like Abaddon has a disk with angelic writing when he takes his casual form)

The corruption get orders and try to get closer to the 'angel part' of him showing in anger. Like a reminder that his anger/envy/pride lead him to where he is.

His tail (like in your design !) shows up and the archangels wings (but not three of them). The red little bad wings on his shoulders transforms only in extreme cases.

His clothes are not too difficult, a bit military, with a snake belt and heart symbol for his family. And heart shape opening on the back for the wings !

His hair are blond on top and red underneath! (because most people say he is redhead or blonde)

And he is still a short king.

Thats it ! Tell me what you think ! I will keep this design for AA, but of course if you want to change something or for SSAU, I will hear everything! Hope you like it !

For Constantine's hair, I don't know because I like him with hair loose, braids or men bun, ponytail 🌸

Make doodles for yourself with his face and different haircut to choose (like he is in the hair salon!)

Personally, even if I love drawing long hair, I think, loose hair is something more intimate and tied up with accessories or braided, or just tied, its more formal day-to-day life. (Except with short hair) I dont know it it help...

Thanks for the explanation of swap AU ! I was just curious !

Thats sweet Constantine like Hellhounds babies !

Thank you for liking my writing so much ! I love faithful readers.

Don't worry for the reviews, there is no obligation. AND THANK YOU AGAIN AAAH🌸🌸

Ahhah Serenity : the bigger fish...snake. Snake, i mean. Alastor : My dear I beg your pardon ? Serenity : Snake. Alastor : wth

And I'm glad you liked the overlords meeting episode ! It was great to write!

Abaddon in terms of age ?

I mean, Abaddon has two ages, as he is both a place and an angel. So when he is the place (the huge version of himself we see a little in the short story when he eat the sinner) is like created in the same time as Eden or something.

But his angel self, the Abaddon we know is born just after Azrael. So I saw in a post you said this :

Michael-11

Uriel-10

Gabriel-7

Raphael-6

Azrael-4

Abaddon is here- 3,5 !

Jophiel-3

Lucifer-2.5

Thank you again ! For everything Take care and have a great day too 🌸🌸🌸

Yes, Charlie definitely think like that , she doesn't interfere, she ask Angel to make the decision.

-And for Angel, I really think you really think well his mental state after that arc, I seriously think you approach things in a realistic way.Angel's years of trauma and ptsd will not disappear immediately, it will heal over time.Seriously can't wait to see how the arc will work

-And yes, that Charlie and Alastor doodle might be the Inspiration how Charlie will react when Alastor destroys the gang.

So, after all, Alastor is an employee of the hotel and The hotel trying to save these sinners and give them a place where they can feel safe.But this small-scale massacre he committed goes against everything Charlie stands for.And since she accepted Alastor to the hotel, the things Alastor does are, in a way, her responsibility.

And lmao Alastor is definitely turning into a This is fine meme

Charlie may be a really kind person, but at the end of the day, she's the devil's daughter.shee also has limits and he shouldn't cross them for his own good. I hope Alastor will take his cards carefully while he's talking to her in future.

I'm ready for episode 6 LETS GOOOOO!!

---

WHYYYYY ༼⁠;⁠´⁠༎ຶ⁠ ⁠۝ ⁠༎ຶ⁠༽

WHAAAAT???! My question has been answered somewhat, but now I have more questions in my mind??

So Lolicia will experience so many things in a row that there will be so many of them that there will be dark consequences.Until Constantine...

WHAT HAPPENS?!??!???

But let's be honest now, beautiful loves also begin with tragedy uwu (Sorry, the angst lover locked in the cage inside me was let out for a moment)

And I'm so glad you liked the storyboards I wrote!! I am very happy that my writing was liked by a writer like you.

*Yes, goodbye story boards you were loved*

WHATTTT???YOU MAKE ME MORE EXCITED WITH EVERY SENTENCE!!

İs their first meeting, when Lolica is almost at breaking point due to the all things happened to her,is Constsntine will be the one to lend a hand to her.The person who turns the storm into a wind, the person who turns the flames of hell into A Heat that gives comfort to the peraon??

Or perhaps, in the darkness of the deep that is a light symbolizing the hope of rising to the surface.To breathe again.

I don't know, I'm just so excited to see!!!

Yes, I saw that scene in House of Dragon, it was really effective!!

I totally agree with what you say.Tai lung's fall is entirely shifu's fault he was Blinded by his pride And cub Tai just wanting to make his master proud, he made Tai lung believe his lies (these were lies that he even fooled himself with).

If he had listened to Uguie like you said, none of this would have happened. Uguei will never want an heir like Tai lung Tai lung's immense talent can be evaluated in a different way But Shifu ignored it. And Shifu's mistake caused Tai-lung to be imprisoned for over 20 years, unable to even move.

And yes, Shifu only prepared him for one thing, he was so intimidated by the Pride that he didn't even think about what would happen if he rejected Tai lung.

There is no Plan B and as you say, naturally Tai lung's reaction to this was not good.He's been groomed his whole life to be something, and now he's been rejected against all odds.What to do now?, Shifu never prepare him for plan B.And this was the reason why Tai lung threw a tantrum.

And the tragic part is Shifu didn't SAY ANYTHİNG.Nothing...he didn't try to object to Uguei, he dindt tried to console Tai lung He didn't say anything..

I'm sorry, Shifu may be you're a good master, but you were not a good father.

I'm really glad you're on Constantine's side!!

And even if you don't really want Lilith and Lucifer YOU broke your damn kid ,but he's getting better now, thanks to others.

First of all, I absolutely LOVE your Corrupted Lucifer Design!🤌🤌🤌🛐✨

Seriously, the details I mentioned are really wonderful, you are very creative🛐🤌🤌🤌

-I really loved the bat wings on his shoulders and the Halo wings at the end are also very cool.And the detail of it having a shattering halo is seriously spot on.And it is very clever that her body looks like an eaten apple and this illusion creates a masculine and feminine effect!!

-Also, the way his halo is constantly breaking apart and constantly coming together is a really great metaphor!

-It's seriously cool that she has menacles on his wrists, a testament to his punishment. And it's nice that his arms and neck are black from corruption!!

-And I think it's a very nice detail that corruption comes out like a disease! break the skin and spread.

And I loved the way you drew Lucifer's hair!!

It's a really nice detail that he still wearing his ring!

-I'm really glad you detailed the good and bad mode! I think you chose very logically.And I loved the balance and distinction between good and bad mood.

-I also really loved the events behind the appearance of Lucifer's Angel part!!

I seriously think you think the way you make his transform is pretty cool, it's scarier.And I really like that you gave him a more military uniform.And seriously, snake belt or a heart/apple symbol Details are amazing

And yes, red hair, probably if I designed Lucifer completely independently, he would have red hair. He is generally described as having red/dark orange hair. That's why making the roots of hishair red is a really clever and beautiful detail.🤌🤌

-I really like your design, I think you did a very creative job.The story details beneath his appearance was one word, it was perfect!!! I seriously love every detail.I seriously can't wait to draw this version of Luci!!🛐🤌🤌

---

And it really helped a lot!❤️❤️ Thank you so much for your advice about Constantine's hair!!

--And yes, one day he met one of them and showed her a little trick. After that, the puppies followed him at every opportunity and asked him to show them new magictricks.

(Puppies don't know anything about hierarchy)

Of course I love your writing!! You bless me🛐

Thank you for the clarification about Abaddon's age,And it makes sense to him have two different ages.And now that I know that Abaddon is one of the youngest brothers, I can die in peace rn. Lmao

Thank you for your answers and for blessing me with your wonderful Lucifer design. Have a nice day!! 🌸🫂❤️❤️

#hazbin hotel au #HazbinHotelSSAU

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tobiasdrake · 5 months ago

Text

Digimon Adventure 01x18 - Piccolomon, the Fairy! / The Piximon Cometh

Previously on Digimon Adventure: What was supposed to be a lovely vacation cruise to get away from it all was ruined by undercooked poultry. Mimi and Sora were forced to skewer and roast it themselves. After filing a complaint with the manager, the kids returned to their journey.

The kids continue their march through the desert, though Taichi and Agumon immediately inform us that at least the heat isn't insufferably blazing this time.

Taichi: Nice weather we're having! Agumon: The wind feels great!

A cool breeze has blown in today, making for a nicer walk than usual. The dub gets this point backwards.

Tai: Okay, I admit a little breeze would be nice, but it's still a beautiful day! Don't you think? Agumon: Yeah, maybe for a scorpion!

Dub Tai is being relentlessly optimistic even though the weather sucks as much as ever. Even Agumon isn't having his bullshit.

While those two march ahead, the rest of the group hangs back behind them, deliberating Mimi's new Crest.

Mimi: I got a Crest, but.... Jou: We don't know how to use them. Sora: How do we raise our Digimon correctly? Yamato: Hang on. We haven't found all the Crests yet. Koushiro: That's true. We should shelve this conversation until everyone has their Crests. Taichi: HEY!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK THERE!? Agumon: HURRY UP!!! Taichi: YOU'RE GOING TO GET LEFT BEHIND!!! Takeru: We're holding a really important conference about the Digimon right now! We'll be right there, so just wait a minute, okay?

Man, Taichi just got told by an eight-year-old. Sorry, Tai, but when twelve people are in the back and you and Agumon are way out front, they aren't falling behind. You're running ahead.

The dub kicks this conversation off on a different tone, matching the tonal shift in the previous episode's ending.

Mimi: It's beautiful, isn't it, Joe? And every Crest we've found so far has been different! Joe: Yeah, but... We need to learn how to use them.... Sora: Or else our Digimon could Digivolve all messed up, right? Matt: Yeah, but none of that really matters until we find all the Crests. Izzy: Hmm, I think you're probably right about that one, Matt. Maybe the Crests' power comes from having them all! Tai: Hmm... What are they doing back there? HEY!!! WE GOTTA MOVE ON!!! IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE SOME DOWNTIME THEN WE NEED TO FIND SOME SHADE!!! T.K.: Oh, thanks, Tai! We were right in the middle of a serious Digi-conversation about the Crests and everything, and then YOU made me forget what I was saying! You be in charge of finding the shade; We'll catch up!

Even though the dub changed the weather, Tai won't need to find any shade because T.K. threw so much at him already. XD Tai just got told by an eight-year-old squared.

We see a couple shifts here based on previously altered context. Mimi loves her Crest and is excited to have it. Sora's line is altered to emphasize the risks while de-emphasizing the whole "proper care of your Digimon" thing, similar to last episode.

Suddenly, the sand beneath Taichi's feet opens up.

A huge Kuwagamon emerges from the ground, flinging both Taichi and Agumon.

(I guess he wasn't amused by Taichi's impatience either.)

Even though we've already encountered one of these, the narrator gives us a rundown all the same. Kuwagamon is an Adult-stage Virus-type Insect Digimon.

Narrator: Kuwagamon. When using his special attack Scissor Arms, the pincers on his head can slice through anything. He's far stronger than the one on File Island.

The dub seems to think this is actually the same Kuwagamon we met before.

Izzy: AHHHHHH!!! IS THAT THE SAME ONE FROM LAST TIME!?!? REALLY!?!? Palmon: It's Kuwagamon alright. There's no mistaking that ugly face! But he's sure bigger than he was the last time.

A week of flying over solid ocean with nowhere to land does spectacular things for your lats, I guess.

Agumon pelts him with a Baby Flame, but Kuwagamon shrugs it off.

Agumon: He's a lot stronger than the one on File Island!

In the dub:

Agumon: Uh, we have a big problem; This guy's much stronger than he used to be!

The rest of the group stands around watching like a bunch of useless chodes while Agumon's forced to fight alone. Gabumon yells at him to evolve, but Taichi and Agumon hesitate.

Taichi: If... If he evolves wrong this time.... Agumon: If I don't turn into Greymon.... Taichi: (races towards Agumon) AGUMOOOOOOON!!! Gomamon: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!? If he gets you with his Scissor Arms, that'll be the end for you!!!

Establishing a big part of the episode's plot, we see that Taichi and Agumon are still traumatized by the SkullGreymon event. They're afraid to even evolve at all without the certainty that it won't happen again.

In the dub:

Tai: Alright, rethinking our training program here. Oh man, I hope Agumon doesn't freak out. Agumon: What if something's wrong with me? What if I can't become Greymon? Tai: (racing towards Agumon) Agumon, stay away from his choppers! Gomamon: Ahh! Move, Agumon! Move! Move! Do something! Get back!

The first two lines aren't so clear about Tai and Agumon's trauma. Tai makes it sound like Agumon's the one with the problem, while Agumon seems physically unable to Digivolve rather than reluctant to.

Taichi tackles Agumon to the ground just as Kuwagamon's Scissor Arms snap shut overhead. Kuwagamon comes in for another swipe and--

A mysterious voice calls out "Pit Bomb" as this single shot erases Kuwagamon. The dub calls it "Pixie Bomb Seek and Destroy", which is a mouthful.

Shortly after, the kids meet their adorable savior.

While Taichi and Agumon unbury themselves from sand and disintegrated Kuwagamon ash, this little guy marches past and lets out an adorable "Pi!" with every step.

Sora: (to Taichi) You look okay. Jou: Where's Kuwagamon? Takeru: Who's that? He's weird. Digimon: PI! Hey, amateurs! Piyomon: WAUGH!!! You're Piccolomon! Mimi: (picks him up) Cute!

Pretty basic dialogue. The dub spices it up with gags.

Mimi: A powderpuff with wings! Sora: Just don't use it on your face. Joe: And where's Kuwagamon? T.K.: Oh man! Maybe that's him! Digimon: Ha! I am no enemy, nope-nope! If anything, you are your own enemies. Biyomon: Oh! I've heard of you! You're the famous Pixiemon, right? Mimi: (picks him up, impressed) You are!?

The dub cuts out his marching Pi's, instead having him hum a marching tune. We also see that here that's very verbose. Dub Piximon speaks very quickly and with peculiar mannerisms to make him odd and quirky but in a different way from the original adorable fluffball.

From here, we go into his rundown. Piccolomon is a Perfect-stage Data-type Fairy Digimon. Notably, his attack is actually "Bit Bomb" but he says "Pit" due to his verbal tic of uttering "Pi" all the time. His name is rooted in the italian word for "small". Dragon Ball fans may also recognize it as a musical instrument; Specifically, the piccolo flute, so named because it's a half-size flute.

His dub name is, of course, a play on "pixie".

Narrator: Piccolomon. A fairy Digimon who brandishes his favorite spear Fairy Tale and wields strange magic.

Since she's the one who recognized him, Biyomon handles the rundown in the dub.

Biyomon: Piximon is famous in the Digital World for his skills and training, but few have ever met him!

As soon as the rundown's finished, Piccolomon lays into the kids for being weak and useless.

Piyomon: It must have been Piccolomon who defeated Kuwagamon for us! Piccolomon: PI PI PI!! Impressed by the strength of my magic, aren't you? (jabs spear in the kids' direction) PI! You're all supposed to be the Chosen Children, aren't you? You're all so weak, I could barely stand to watch, pi. If you keep up like this, then the Tags and Crests will just go to waste, pi. Mimi: This Digimon isn't cute at all. Piccolomon: The same goes for you Digimon PI! You're slacking off PI! You aren't trying hard enough PI! You're gutless PI! Yamato: (grumpy whisper) Pi-pi-pi-pi. He's so noisy. Palmon: I hate exerting myself.... Gomamon: I didn't have any guts to begin with. Piccolomon: That's why all of you are coming with me for training, starting today! Sora: Training? Tentomon: What do you mean? Piccolomon: Especially you two over there! Taichi & Agumon: Me!? Piccolomon: (flies out of Mimi's hands) You and your Agumon win the grand prize. You'll receive intensive training from the Special Menu PI! Taichi: Special Menu!? Agumon: Intensive training!? Piccolomon: Now, follow me! (lands and starts marching) Pi pi pi pi pi pi pi pi....

Piccolomon is incredibly rude and calls them all wankers. It's almost like they're lost children or something. Who could have predicted this?

He doesn't so much invite them to come with him as take ownership of them. He's telling, not asking. These are supposed to be the heroes of legend but he finds them woefully unimpressive, so he's going to fix it.

In the dub, Biyomon continues on from her diegetic rundown.

Biyomon: His secret home is the training ground for all the great Digimon fighters! Piximon: And I've heard all about you two but so far I am NOT IMPRESSED!!! You seven are supposed to be the DigiDestined!? HA! You'd better be more careful or you'll end up DigiDinners yup-yup! Without my spears and my magic, Kuwagamon would be eating you with a side of DigiFries! Mimi: That's gross! Thanks a lot. Piximon: And that's not all! You Digimon there! You're supposed to protect the children, but half the time they're protecting you! I wanna see some guts! I wanna see some courage! Matt: (grumpy whisper) This guy reminds me of a gym teacher I once had. Palmon: He's right. We just don't have any guts. Gomamon: Aww... Don't we get points for enthusiasm? Piximon: But the news isn't all bad! Yep-yep, from now on you're all going to train with me! Sora: But why? Tentomon: Let's not go overboard, Piximon! Piximon: Especially you two guys! Tai & Agumon: Wha--!? Piximon: (flies out of Mimi's hands) You heard me! You two need lots of help and I have a special extreme training program just for you! Tai: Did I hear him right? Agumon: Sounds kind of extreme. Piximon: Yep! Follow me! (lands and starts marching, humming his marching cadence again)

His quickly spoken dialogue peppered with yep-yeps and nope-nopes are what replace the pi pi pis. Otherwise, this scene is mostly identical. The only difference here is Matt's barb. Since he can't make fun of the "pi pi pi", he drops a solid crack about gym teachers who think they're drill sergeants.

Gomamon's line is also different, but it's actually improved over the original line. "Points for enthusiasm" is a better line for him than "I don't have any guts" because. Like. What are you talking about, Gomamon? You're a rowdy thrill-seeker. You have guts for days. Jou wishes you had less guts. Remember that time you tried to fistfight him?

The kids huddle up to decide what to do from here.

Taichi: What should we do? Jou: Can we even trust that Digimon? Yamato: What's your take, Gabumon? Gabumon: He complains a lot, but he's not a bad Digimon. Palmon: I didn't see a Black Gear or Cable either. Sora: Why not give it a try? After all, we don't know how to raise our Digimon correctly. It'll be fun if we think of it like a training camp! Mimi: It may be more relaxing than wandering around.... Yamato: What do you think, Taichi? Taichi: Let's try it. It sounds interesting. Takeru: It's decided! Group: YEAH!!! Piccolomon: WHAT IS TAKING YOU SO LONG!?!? HURRY UP PIIIIIII!!!

Wouldn't count on intensive training being relaxing, Mimi. You're gonna eat those words in a few hours. Also, I'm amused by the implication that Palmon was cautiously inspecting Piccolomon during all that time Mimi was holding him.

In the dub:

Group: (unintelligible murmurs of suspicion from everyone) Mimi: I don't know about this. Joe: I have a question. Do we trust a ping-pong with wings? Tai: But he did save Agumon and me. Why would he do that if he was no good? Izzy: Precisely! He didn't have a Black Gear anywhere on him; I checked. Joe: What do you say, Biyomon? After all, you seem to know a lot about him. Biyomon: Well, it's an honor to be chosen for training by Piximon! Mimi: Sounds like a lot of work to me. Sora: He's right, though. We could use some help. Tai: How can you say that? Just cause we've nearly been eaten a hundred times...! Matt: Well, there are worse options? I mean, do we have a choice? All in favor, say aye. Group: AYE! Piximon: WOULD YOU ALL JUST HURRY UP!?!?

Having a still image of a huddle with no lip flaps moving gives them the flexibility to change who's talking around quite a bit. Joe seems to lead this discussion instead of Taichi and Yamato, though Matt comes in for the vote at the end.

Notably, it's Izzy who inspected Piximon instead of Palmon. He was also less thorough, only checking for a Black Gear and not, like... a cable sticking out of Piccolomon's butt or something? Honestly, not sure where Palmon expected to see a Black Cable.

Biyomon continues to fangirl over Piximon-sama.

And another line about "how to raise our Digimon properly" gets cut down into vagueness.

As the kids trudge through the desert, Mimi complains.

Mimi: Are we there yet!? Piccolomon: A little further PI! Palmon: 'A little further, a little further', that's all you've been saying! Piccolomon: (ten feet later) Here we are pi. This is the place pi. Sora: Here? But I don't see anything. Piccolomon: PI!!!

In the dub, more kids get in on the complaining so it's not just Mimi.

Mimi: Are we there yet!? Piximon: Just a little further! Joe: That's about the seventh time he's said that. Matt: I think he's lost. Tai: So what do we do, ask a cactus for directions!? Sora: ...ice cream... cold root beer-- Group: STOP THAT!!! Piximon: Halt! We have arrived! Sora: What are you talking about!? There isn't anything here.

The dub's so good at its banter. XD

PIccolomon casts a gibberish incantation to open the way, while Piximon calls out "Pixie Portal!" and then spends the rest of his lip flaps giggling like a madman. His spell unseals a hole in reality, leading to a tropical jungle.

Jou: WHAT!?!? Piccolomon: Nothing to fear pi. This is just the entrance through my barrier pi. Now follow me pi.

After a moment of hesitation, the kids cross through the barrier.

In the dub:

Mimi: It's a hole in the desert! Joe: Am I the only one who thinks this looks like trouble? Piximon: Actually, it's just my front door. Come on in now! Quickly, before it closes, yep-yep!

Mimi gets to chime in, while Jou's shocked reaction is changed to conscious whining.

As the kids enter the jungle, Takeru exclaims:

Takeru: (gasp) A jungle!

But most of it is just 13 seconds of looking around the jungle. Prime opportunity for the dub to add banter.

Tai: Cool! A jungle inside a desert! T.K.: I bet you've got LOTS of friends who want to play with ya! Piximon: You should have seen it when I first got it!

Not their best work. T.K.'s line doesn't seem to connect to anything and I'm not sure what Piximon even means by that. Is he trying to compare his jungle to a used car?

Suddenly, Sora hears something. The sound of a horn, like on a car or train, honking in the distance. Whipping around, she spots Etemon's trailer crossing the desert sands just outside the jungle's border where they'd been moments ago.

Sora: Hey! Behind us! Jou: What do we do now!? Piccolomon: That's Etemon's trailer pi. Jou: Ehhhhh!?!?!? Piccolomon: Nothing to worry about pi. He can't see through my barrier on the other side pi.

This is a fun bit because it's something we've glimpsed in past episodes. It's such a minor detail, I haven't even bothered to mention it. Etemon likes to honk his horn when his trailer's getting hauled around, for no apparent reason but shits and giggles. Because he may be Perfect-stage but he is an absolute mon-child.

Suddenly, his unnecessary honking is plot relevant.

The dub makes the inexplicable decision to cut the car horn from Etemon's trailer. So Sora, I guess, has a psychic premonition and that's why she turns around.

Sora: (reacting to nothing) Huh? (turns around) Heads up! BEHIND US, GUYS!!! Mimi: Oh no, it's Etemon and his trailer! Joe: Oh boy, this is bad! Piximon: And right outside the front door he is too! Joe: Huh? Piximon: Oh, don't worry about it. He isn't able to see through the barrier. He sees nothing but desert.

They add in Mimi to ID Etemon in case kids have forgotten. This, however, creates a second continuity error right alongside the lack of the horn.

The kids have never seen Etemon's trailer until now. That's why Jou had the big "EHHHHHH!?!?" reaction when Piccolomon ID'd it. He knee-jerk reacted to the strange vehicle by assuming they were in peril, and then Piccolomon's explanation upgraded that to THE MOST PERIL. So I guess Mimi's having psychic premonitions too today.

I can forgive Mimi's continuity flub. I don't think the dub team approached this show as a serialized story and were instead looking at it like an episodic cartoon, since that's what most cartoons in the 90's were like.

But removing the car horn is an incomprehensible choice to make.

Inside the trailer, repairs on the Dark Network remain underway, though they seem to have several sectors now online. Etemon, however, is throwing a hissy fit.

Etemon: HAVEN'T YOU FIXED IT YET!?!? Gazimon 1: It's being restored at an incredible rate! Gazimon 2: Please wait just a little longer! Etemon: (bouncing on chair) I can't wait anymore! Hurry up and REPAIR MY NETWORK ALREADY!!!

As someone who works in tech, I feel for these Gazimon.

The Gazimon are bolder in the dub.

Etemon: The stupid screen is still broken; What's taking so long!? Gazimon 1: We've almost got it fixed, Etemon. Gazimon 2: No need for a conniption fit! Etemon: (bouncing on chair) I'LL SHOW YOU CONNIPTION YOU INSOLENT LITTLE WORMS!!! Fix it right away; I have a show to get on!

The boldness to say that straight to an already agitated Etemon's face. Holy shit.

So the kids come to Piximon's home. A tall mountain with stairs spiraling up it, leading to the various structures.

How's that "more relaxing than walking" thing coming along, Mimi?

Jou: ...up there...? Mimi: What is that!? (crying) I don't believe it.... Koushiro: We have to climb that? Takeru: How many steps are there? Yamato: There's no use counting them. Sora: Wait, does this mean our training has already started? Piccolomon: That's right PI! Tentomon: (quietly, to himself) Hehehe, this is a piece of cake. I can just-- Piccolomon: By the way, flying is forbidden during training pi! Tentomon: Aww.... Piccolomon: Stop whining and start climbing pi!

Nice try, Tentomon, but no dice. Start walking, everybody.

In the dub:

Piximon: Alright, everybody, home we are! My house is just up these steps. Joe: We have to walk up there!? Mimi: But I didn't bring my stair-climbing sneakers! Tai: Uh, yeah... And I just remembered I'm afraid of heights! Izzy: Purely from a logical standpoint, it doesn't look very safe. Sora: Is this part of our training? Piximon: Exactly! Tentomon: (loudly, to everyone) Hey, no sweat! I'll just FLY up there! Then, before you know it, I'll be chilling by the pool while you guys are still-- Piximon: And oh, by the way, did I mention there will be no flying by anyone during all my training? Tentomon: Aww.... Piximon: Haven't you rookies learned that the easy way is sometimes a TRAP!? Now let's move out! Joe: I guess Piximon never heard of elevators....

Low blow on that last line. XD These kids do struggle with that. They walk into traps so easily.

Meanwhile, Dub Tentomon deserves to walk. The original was whispering to himself about his loophole; In the dub, he's openly gloating.

On the way up the mountain, Piccolomon motivates the kids to reach the very top by promising food when they get there. And by food, he means:

Gomamon: Hey. Where's the food? Piccolomon: You'll have to finish your next training first pi! Gomamon: (distraught) I knew it.... Piccolomon: (conjures up buckets and washrags) You'll be scrubbing all of these floors pi! Yamato: Scrubbing all of the floors!? Jou: All of them from top to bottom!? Mimi: (crying) No way! Piccolomon: (to Taichi and Agumon) You two have the Special Menu pi! Come with me pi! Taichi & Agumon: (groan) Special Menu....

This is the same in the dub but with all of the kids complaining at once upon hearing about the scrubbing such that it's hard to make out any one complaint.

Until we get to Tai and Agumon. Then they drop this gem.

Piximon: But not you, Agumon and Tai. Come now, I have a special chore for you. Tai: Great; We probably have to paint the place!

XD Yeah, probably.

The kids get to work on scrubbing the floors, with various grumbles arising.

Sora: There's no other choice. Let's get this over with. Mimi: I've never scrubbed a floor; Not even in my own house.... Piyomon: Is this really training!? Palmon: Maybe he's just using us to work as his maids! Gomamon: FOOD!!! Takeru: Tokomon, let's race to see who's faster! Tokomon: Okay! I won't lose to you! Yamato: (stops cleaning to watch his brother and smile) Takeru....

In the dub:

Mimi: The last time I scrubbed a floor was... Never! Izzy: It's a simple task, Mimi; Even you'll catch on. Matt: Is this really training or is this just Piximon's maid's day off and he doesn't like to vacuum!? T.K.: Tokomon, let's have a cleaning race! Ready, set, go! VROOM! VROOOOOOM!!! Matt: (stops cleaning to watch his brother and smiles) Ahaha....

Two key differences here, one I appreciate and one I hate. I like that they composited Piyomon and Palmon's lines into one for Matt. It feels a little weird that, in the original, all of the girls grouse while the boys mostly just get straight to work. Except Gomamon, of course, who's still mad about the food fakeout. This way, it's more even.

But also, they add a line that's just Izzy being mean to Mimi about her line from the original. Thanks, I hate it.

For the Special Menu, Piccolomon drops off Taichi and Agumon in a small, pitch-black cave. As they enter, they sink through the ground and are lost to places unknown. Training has begun.

Later that night, the group goes to sleep on the floor of a miserable looking waiting room with one chair and a couch. Jou-senpai takes the chair (perk of being the oldest, I guess) while Sora and Mimi share the couch, sleeping sitting up and leaning against each other. Everyone else piles on the floor.

But Koushiro can't sleep. Starting to get up, he spots Yamato sneaking out. Yamato shushes him, and the pair leave the room together. Once they're outside, they can talk.

Yamato: Taichi and Agumon haven't come back. Koushiro: Yeah. I wonder what happened to them?

Before they can follow that line of conversation further, Yamato and Koushiro's Tags suddenly begin to pulse.

Yamato: They're glowing! Koushiro: Yamato-san! Yamato: Our Crests must be nearby!

Following the pulsing of their Crests, Yamato and Koushiro descend the mountain. As they leave Piccolomon's home in the dead of night, Koushiro starts to get nervous.

Koushiro: Should we bring Tentomon and Gabumon with us? Yamato: No. We're safe inside the barrier. We should let them sleep.

Trusting his senpai to know best, Koushiro follows Yamato's lead. When their Tags begin to pulse again, they race off from the house, following the trail. As they go, we catch a glimpse of the ever inscrutable Piccolomon watching them leave.

Taichi and Agumon wake up on a boat, floating in a mysterious glowing body of water. Agumon wakes first, then rouses Taichi.

Taichi: Wh-Where are we!? Agumon: I don't know! I thought we were in a cave! Taichi: (stands up in the boat and calls out) HEY!!! PICCOLOMON!!!

No answer returns to him but he does rock the boat enough to fall out so that's a reaction, at least. Agumon grabs an oar to fish him out.

Agumon: What are you doing? Taichi: Oh, be quiet. Is this really training?

Tai doesn't get to talk in the dub; Agumon eats up the screentime for both of their lines so he can chastise Tai more.

Agumon: Don't you know not to stand up in a boat!? Here, grab this.

Unfortunately, a sudden bright light in the distance appears, distracting Agumon.

Agumon: Taichi! Something's shining over there! Taichi: H-Hey! Keep looking this way!

Too late. Agumon's so distracted, he can't pull Taichi in properly. Instead, Taichi ends up pulling him out of the boat.

Surfacing, they both end up clinging to the side of the boat and lay into each other.

Taichi: Crap, Agumon! What are you doing!? Agumon: I was just trying to help you! Taichi: That's a lie, you were staring off at something else! Agumon: But the light! Taichi: Wait a second. This boat is drifting somewhere. Come on, hang tight! Agumon: Don't change the subject! To start off, Taichi, you were--

They squabble just as hard in the dub.

Tai: Now look what you did! We're both in the water! Agumon: What I did!? You were the one standing up in the boat. I was just trying to pull- Tai: Well, if you'd been watching what you were doing instead of looking at some stupid light in the distance-- Agumon: Well, if you hadn't pulled on the oar, we wouldn't be swimming like tuna in pea soup! We'd be back in the boat warm and dry! Tai: I do not swim like a tuna fish and where do you get off blaming--

I'm not sure what swimming like a tuna means but it sounds scathing. Take that, Tai!

As their boat drifts further away, the light slowly moves in. Taichi and Agumon fade away as it passes.

The following morning, the kids remaining at the house are woken up by Piccolomon banging on a metal bucket.

Mimi: What is that racket!?!? Piccolomon: Morning! How long do you plan on sleeping, PI!? Look sharp PI! Tentomon: Has anyone seen Koushiro-han? Group: (suddenly alert) Huh!? Gabumon: And Yamato! Takeru: Piccolomon, do you know where they are? Piccolomon: Those two left to find their Crests pi! Tentomon: (grumpy) Oh. So he left me behind.

So help me, if he wasn't Perfect-stage, they would probably make him eat that bucket.

In the dub:

Mimi: ...what is it? What's going on? Piximon: Rise and shine, everybody! Everybody up! Come on, people! Tentomon: Picomon(sic), do you know where Izzy went? He's not in his bed. Group: (suddenly alert) Huh!? Gabumon: And I can't find Matt! T.K.: What!? Hey, did you send my brother somewhere? Piximon: Your brother and his pal left to look for Crests about midnight. Tentomon: Ohh, I don't believe it! Why would Izzy leave me behind!?

Got another flagrant line flub here. Tentomon's actor says "Picomon" instead of "Piximon", as if starting to say Piccolomon but then realizing and snipping it off. Yet again, they just left it in and didn't shoot another take.

Realizing that three people are now missing, the girls do the only sensible thing.

They bully Jou for absolutely no reason. XD

Sora: Taichi and Agumon haven't returned since last night, and now it's Koushiro-kun and Yamato-kun. What a mystery that they keep disappearing, one after another.... Mimi: Maybe Jou-senpai is next. Jou: H-Hey, don't say weird stuff like that! P-Piccolomon might-- Gomamon: D'aww, Jou. You get scared too easily. It's fine. We can trust Piccolomon! Jou: Are you sure...? Piccolomon: Now! Time for training PI!

Savage.

While everyone's triggering Jou's neuroses on purpose for funsies, we return to Yamato and Koushiro. They've descended all the way to the jungle in search of their Crests.

Trudging through the underbrush, they discuss their own motives for pursuing these ambiguous little macguffins.

Yamato: Hey. Why do you want your Crest, Koushiro? Koushiro: Why? I want to see what Kabuterimon evolves into next, of course! How about you, Yamato-san? Yamato: I, uh... I want to improve myself! It's not only Digimon who evolve and grow stronger. I want to mature alongside them and grab hold of a part of me that's different from before.

Yamato putting off incredible senpai energy right now.

The dub expresses the same sentiments but the way they phrase it is interesting.

Matt: Why do you want to find a Crest, Izzy? Izzy: I guess it's mostly because of Kabuterimon. I would like to see which stage he will Digivolve into after that one. Isn't that the reason why you're looking for a Crest? Matt: No. I want to use the Crest to Digivolve me! Izzy: Oh? Matt: Not into a Digimon, but to make me stronger and smarter. Maybe learn something new about myself. Y'know, to reach my next level!

Matt captures the sentiment from Yamato really well. The phrase "Digivolve me" is a bit awkward, but purposely so. It's attention-grabbing and demands explanation, which he provides immediately.

Izzy, however, tries to sound smart by asking what stage Kabuterimon's going to Digivolve into which. Uh. Isn't. Really. A question. It's Perfect/Ultimate, Izzy. He's going to Digivolve to Ultimate stage. That's how the stages work. The question here is what specific Ultimate-stage Digimon he's going to become.

(It will always be confusing that the dub calls Ultimate-stage Mega and Perfect-stage Ultimate.)

Finally, they come across their destination.

Yamato: We're at the edge of the barrier. Koushiro: We came this far only to reach a dead end. (The well in the desert begins to glow) Yamato: Hey! Koushiro: The well is glowing! Our Crests must be inside it, Yamato-san! Yamato: But it's outside the barrier!

Koushiro approaches the barrier and touches it with his hand, testing whether it's a physical obstruction or not. As he slides his hand through, Dub Izzy utters:

Izzy: Hope my hand doesn't melt....

Fortunately, his hand passes through easily.

Koushiro: We can pass through! Yamato: (nods approvingly) Okay!

Yamato descends the well first, with Koushiro following behind. Before long, they're both able to find their Crests glowing along the walls.

Their Crests activate at the same time, slotting into their Tags. Five down, two to go.

It's just too bad they left the barrier.

The Dark Network is back online and fully functional. Yamato and Koushiro appear circled on Etemon's map. They've been found.

Gazimon: There's a signal in Area K-1! Etemon: What!? HEY!!! (strangles the Gazimon) WE JUST PASSED THAT PLACE!!! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEGH!!! (Etemon goes to his console once he's done throttling his technician) Etemon: Area K-1 is Tyrannomon's territory. Alright, I'll teach them a thing or two!

The dub calls it area G-3 but the dialogue is otherwise identical.

As the boys emerge from the well, they soon realize that the enemy is onto them.

It's not subtle.

(Huh, look at that. The Dark Cables really are coming out of his butt. I owe Palmon an apology.)

Koushiro and Yamato run screaming for their lives while the narrator launches into our rundown. Tyrannomon is an Adult-stage Data-type Dinosaur Digimon. Named, of course, for tyrannosaurus rex.

Of note, some sources say Tyranomon with one 'n'. This is because, in Japanese, it's Ti-ra-no-mo-n. However, that's also how the word tyrannosaurus is spelled: Ti-ra-no-sa-u-ru-su. So the intent, to me, for it to be named Tyrannomon with two 'n's is pretty clear. It's supposed to be spelled exactly like tyrannosaurus.

(The t-rex is also called 覇王竜 haou ryuu, which translates literally to Emperor Dragon or Overlord Dragon. Compositing the kanji ha meaning conquest or domination, ou meaning king, and ryuu meaning dragon. So that's pretty badass.)

Narrator: Tyrannomon. A Dinosaur Digimon well-prepared to survive in the wild. His special attack is the scorching flame Fire Breath.

Piximon handles our diegetic rundown from... wherever he is.

Piximon: Tyranomon. A huge Digimon with fire breath strong enough to cook a couple of boys like you!

Koushiro and Yamato sprint as fast as they can for the safety of the barrier. Koushiro barely makes it inside with Yamato about to follow when Tyranomon lets off a shot of Fire Breath. Unfortunately, the barrier doesn't prevent objects from passing through, so they're both caught up and thrown into the jungle by the explosion.

It also has... other consequences....

Up the mountain, Piccolomon is leading the kids in a meditation session when he hears the explosion. Everyone races outside to see to Yamato and Koushiro.

Tyrannomon enters the jungle. The tree cover hides Yamato and Koushiro, so Tyranomon opens fire blindly. Sending off projectile shots of Fire Breath into the jungle indiscriminately.

A subtle blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment I really like: Koushiro starts falling behind and calls out in fear to Yamato to wait for him.

Koushiro: P-Please wait for me, Yamato-san! Yamato: Hurry, Koushiro!

In the next shot, Yamato is leading Koushiro by the hand so they don't get separated by the huge difference in their stride. Big Brother Yamato is such a good senpai.

The dub downplays this gesture, unfortunately. We still get the shot of Matt leading Izzy by the end, but it doesn't connect the same because the dialogue to set it up is gone. Instead, we have a quip.

Izzy: Didn't I see this guy in one of my nightmares!? Matt: I wish you'd be more careful what you dream!

This doesn't segue into the handholding as directly so it's easier to overlook.

Eventually, the rest of the group finds Yamato and Koushiro, joining them in the jungle.

Gabumon: Yamato! Yamato: (releases Koushiro's hand) Gabumon? Tentomon: This is what you get for leaving me behind! Koushiro: Tentomon! Sora: Are you guys alright!?

XD Sassy Tentomon will never not be funny.

Sadly, his sass doesn't make it into the dub.

Gabumon: Matt! Izzy! Over here! Tentomon: Oh, thank goodness you're safe! T.K.: Oh, hey bro!

There's a cacophany of voices talking at once. Matt and Izzy don't respond to the crowd shouting at them. Those three lines are the ones most audible over the crowd, though T.K. sounds like he's running into Matt at the supermarket.

Fortunately, the group's all together now. Unfortunately, the Dark Network is back up and running in full. You know what that means.

Black Cables surge up through the trees so Etemon can be heard. Etemon takes to his guitar, sending out Love Serenade through the jungle and suppressing the Partner Digimon from being able to evolve. All while Tyrannomon makes his way inward, continuing to fire blindly into the jungle.

In their cave, Taichi and Agumon continue drifting through the mysterious glowing water. They've made it back in the boat, where they lie curled up together and float through memories of human buildings and structures.

Until they come across a bridge. There, they find a visual metaphor for the uncertainty and hesitation gripping Taichi's heart.

A younger Taichi is trying to ride his bicycle, but keeps falling down.

A brief cut back to the world outside shows Piccolomon sustaining a dome barrier to block Tyranomon's Fire Breath from hitting the kids. Looks like they've been made.

Taichi watches his younger self pick the bike back up, but start to cry.

Young Taichi: I can't do it. I can't ride a bicycle. Taichi: Don't give up! You can't quit just because of one or two failures. Don't be so faint-hearted. Believe in yourself. Believe it will work out this time Agumon: Taichi....

Encouraging Taichi's younger self to get back on, Taichi and Agumon hold the bike steady for him while they start running. Then they let go, allowing the young Taichi to ride the bike all by himself.

Young Taichi: I'm pedaling on my own! I can ride a bike! Taichi: I almost forgot, Agumon. I forgot that I can't lose heart. I lost my nerve because I was afraid you'd evolve into a strange Digimon again. Agumon: I felt the same way. That's why I couldn't become Greymon. But it's just like riding a bicycle! If we combine our powers, I feel like I can evolve again!

Taichi and Agumon get back in the boat, taking up the oars and paddling their way back to the others. As they paddle through the mysterious glowing plane, they start hearing the terrified screams of their friends and realize they're needed. Agumon SHINKAAAAAA!!!

During Agumon's transformation, we briefly cut to Piccolomon for a line that, though brief, explains an important detail.

Piccolomon: I can't wait for Taichi and Agumon any longer! I'll have to take care of Tyrannomon myself....

As a Perfect-stage Digimon, Piccolomon is more than capable of shutting down Tyrannomon. He's done nothing but sustain a magic barrier to protect the kids and their drained Digimon because he wants to use this as a training exercise for Taichi and Agumon.

However, at the last second before Piccolomon takes the field, it finally happens. Greymon comically flips Tyrannomon over and charges into the jungle as if he wasn't even there. Letting off blasts of Mega Flame from a distance, Greymon destroys the speakers that were blasting Love Serenade into the jungle.

Then he turns his attention back on Tyrannomon.

Greymon hoists Tyrannomon up into the air, tearing the Black Cables attached to him out of the ground and snapping them from the tension. Then he brings him down into the jungle in a crushing suplex.

We don't see the gory details, but we do see the dust of Tyrannomon degenerating rise into the air from the jungle below, signaling the end of this battle.

To prevent kids from realizing that we just fucking killed that guy, the dub adds some dialogue here. When Greymon first starts lifting Tyrannomon, Sora shouts:

Sora: Greymon's pulling the cables out!

Then, once the degeneration dust emerges from the jungle, we get:

Tai: He did it! Greymon did it! Sora: Look at the Black Cables all shattering into pieces!

What happened to Tyrannomon? Don't think about that. What's important is that Greymon destroyed the Black Cables. That is most certainly what he did, and it's what you're seeing onscreen right now.

Cut to Etemon throwing a tantrum in his trailer.

Etemon: Those children piss me off!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEGH!!!

In the dub:

Etemon: Those rotten kids beat me again! Ugh, I gotta find something easier to beat like some cardboard boxes or something!

XD If it makes you feel better, you got to throttle a Gazimon earlier. Those are way easier to beat!

Now that everyone's back, the group decides it's time to move on from Piccolomon. Quickly.

Taichi: Really. Thank you for everything. Agumon: Thank you for taking care of us. Piccolomon: Don't think your training is over yet pi. Everything in life is training pi. Work hard and never give up pi! Taichi & Agumon: Yes, sir!

Nobody else thanks Piccolomon. I don't think the rest of the team's Yelp reviews are going to be as glowing as Taichi's.

Though they do speak up in the dub.

Matt: Thank you, Piximon! We've learned a lot from you. Joe: Yeah, like how to scrub floors and starve half to death-- Mimi: Joe! That's just Joe's stomach talking. Piximon: Far from over, your training is. Remember, life itself is a training session. Learn all you can. Everyone: RIGHT!

Tai and Agumon only speak up when the camera fixes on them for their "Yes, sir!" moment. For some reason, the dub chose to put everyone else at the forefront of this scene, even though they didn't learn shit.

We close on Piccolomon watching the kids depart his magic jungle.

Piccolomon: Only you can save this world pi. Do your best, Chosen Children PI!

In the dub:

Piximon: They truly are the DigiDestined yep-yep! No doubt have I, for though they are sometimes foolish, I have seen the love in their hearts. With a little luck, they just may succeed and save our Digital World.

Hey, Piximon? Question. What part of the preceding events hinged on "the love in their hearts"? Was it when Matt and Izzy hurt their Partners' feelings by going to the well alone or was it when Sora and Mimi bullied Joe for no reason?

I think the dub is rambling off Generic Good Guy Speech again.

Assessment: With two Crests in one episode, we are ramping towards endgame. The Etemon arc is surprisingly short, lasting only 7 episodes compared to the 13 that Devimon got.

Piccolomon's episode is kind of dull. For all the talk about offering training to everyone, we only really see it with Taichi and Agumon. It feels like he's doing the Wax On Wax Off esoteric martial arts master shtick. However, the purpose of scrubbing his floors is never explained, so it kinda feels like the sharp comments about doing maid service were right.

I'm not going to be hard on literally using "riding a bicycle" for the metaphor because it was the 90's and Japan. I don't remember when that became a tired metaphor and I certainly have no idea if it ever did in Japan. Taichi and Agumon's stuff worked for me. But a lot of the other "training" felt like space filler.

Yamato and Koushiro's segment was gold, however. Their brief discussion on the way to the well, and Yamato grabbing Koushiro's hand as they fled Tyrannomon? Loved that.

The dub nails a few moments, but it's also peppered with continuity mistakes, weird lines, and inexplicable choices. And the triumphant return of adding in dialogue just to be mean to Mimi. Overall, I'd say I'm tepid on this one.

#digimon #digimon adventure #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure

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ejzah · 1 year ago

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A/N: For @mashmaiden, who requested a kid fic with the grandmas. Sorry I’ve been so absent with my Fair shenanigans!

***

It All Comes Back Around Again

“Alright, here we are!” Deeks announced, pulling into Julia’s driveway. Roberta’s car was already parked to the right. He looked over the driver’s seat into the back where Caleb and Sofia were facing backwards, holding hands in the small space between their seats.

“You ready to see Gradma Deeks and Grandma Julia?” Kensi asked.

“Duwi!” Caleb shouted, his little legs kicking excitedly as Julia more quietly exclaimed, “Dama!”

In their mysterious twin toddler ways, Caleb and Sophia had simultaneously christened the grandmas with their own unique versions of their names. It wasn’t clear if the choices were merely based on convenience and ease of pronunciation, or some other reason adults would never be able to fathom.

“Tayeb out!” Caleb requested when Kensi opened his door, reaching for her. Sophia patiently waited while Deeks unbuckled her seat belt, helpfully lifting her arms so he could pick her up.

He didn’t set her down once she was out thought, having learned that she was a little escape artist, and would likely take off as soon as he let go.

“See doddy pease?” she asked, pointing towards the fenced in back yard.

“Yep, I bet Grandma Julia has Ginger outside,” Deeks replied. He tucked a light brown curl behind Sophia’s ear. “Remember, no sitting on the dog. Ok?”

“Tay.”

Following the sound of Roberta’s distinctive laugh, Kensi and Deeks walked to the backyard, free hands linked while they each held a kiddo in the other arm.

When they walked through the side gate, Julia and Roberta were sitting at the glass topped table with what looked like cocktails.

“Dama!” Sophia shouted excitedly, scrambling down from Deeks’ arms, and running as fast as her little legs could take her to Julia and Roberta. Caleb was a few steps behind, dragging Kensi along with him. In order to keep up, Kensi had to run at an awkward crouched jog.

“Oh, my babies!” Julia said, clasping her hands to her chest as the twins slammed into her and Roberta’s legs. Caleb hugged her legs, leaving a wet attempt at a kiss on her knee before moving.

“Get up here, kiddo,” Roberta said. Caleb bounced on his tiny sneakered feet until she picked him up.

“Me up?” Sophia asked, tugging at the hem of Julia’s cardigan.

“Of course, my beautiful Sophia. I missed you.” Sophia didn’t respond verbally, but seemed to get the gist of Julia’s words, hugging her around the neck.

Deeks watched them, heart nearly bursting at the sight of their moms so content. He saw Kensi with a similar gleam in her eyes.

“I remember when Kensi was this age,” Julia reminisced once they were all settled, fondness lighting every feature as she balanced Sophia on her thighs. “She would sneak into the kitchen where we kept little candies and treats in a drawer. I would catch her with a sucker or chocolate in her little hand and she’d put the whole thing, wrapper and all, in her mouth. Whenever it got quiet, I knew where I could find my Kensi.

“So-ee tandy!” Sophia announced, attention caught by one of her favorite things. When she didn’t see any evidence of candy or other sweets, she turned back to Julia with a little huff and started patting her cheeks.

“Ah, so not much has changed in 40 years,” Deeks teased, chin tipped up as he grinned at Kensi.

“Thanks so much, mom,” Kensk said wryly. “Alright, give me a baby Deeks story, Roberta. It’s only fair.”

Deeks made a noise of objection. “Oh, I think there are more than enough stories about me during my tender childhood years floating around.”

“Marty was a happy little baby. He loved to talk,” Roberta shared gladly. She nodded to Caleb, who was standing beside Julia’s chair now, speaking to Sophia in a mixture of English, Spanish, and baby jargon.

“You were saying,” Kensi drawled at Deeks.

“Fine, fine. I concede, we made mini-me’s.”

“When he was about a year and a half, I got a phone call that took longer then I expected. By the time I finished, I hear all this wailing coming from the bathroom,” Roberta continued, clearly relishing the story. Deeks bore it with a resigned sigh, having heard this one before.

“I think he was trying to sing. Anyway, I get in there and what do you think my little Martin’s doing? Washing the bath towels in the toilet.”

Kensi snorted and narrowly avoided spraying the table with a mouthful of seltzer. Sophia reached over to helpfully pat her on the back.

“Thanks, sweetie,” Kensi choked.

“Really, mama? You had to pick that story? You could have told about the time I made you a bouquet of dandelions or attempted to eat an entire carton of ice cream.”

“Aw, I think it was cute.” Kensi grinned up at him, rubbing his shoulder. “Now I know where your neat freak tendencies come from. Started when you were just a little baby. Though fortunately now you use the washing machine.

“You’re hilarious.”

“I love hearing all these stories,” Julia said.

***

A/N: That story about Kensi may or may not have been borrowed from my own life. Apparently I ate a lot of candy wrappers when I was a toddler.

#ncis la fanfiction #densi #marty deeks #kensi blye #Julia Feldman #roberta deeks #densi kids #densi twins #fluff #ejzah fanfiction

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howlingday · 2 years ago

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Everybody Loved Somebody At Some Time...

The crowd was excited, which was to be expected, since it was a wedding. Another beautiful wedding in Remnant after the death of Salem. Jaune was surprised it didn't happen all at once.

He looked to his team, the band of musicians and singers he met and played with for a while now. His old crush, Weiss, was going over some sort of personal details with her husband, Flynt. He was surprised about their marriage when he first heard it, but was happy for her nonetheless. It all must have happened before Atlas fell.

Speaking of Atlas, he looked past the curtains to peek at the crowd, and found the blushing brides, Ruby and Penny giggling as they continued dancing after their first, second, and probably fifth dance together. He wished Pietro were here to celebrate, but he and Maria had passed long before Salem's end. It was sad, but also sweet that they died loving each other.

"Jaune?" He turned to see Yang standing by with her guitar. Her hand clutched the neck as her beautiful amethyst wedding ring gleamed in the stage lighting. "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm good, Yang." He straightened up. "Oh, excuse me, Mrs. Belladonna."

"Har de har har." Yang rolled her eyes. "Don't think I can't be just Ruby's mom tonight. I'll bend you over my knee, if I have to."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I know, Yang. You ready to play?"

"No." Yang whined. "I'm ready to rock, to melt bones! But you have me stuck here, playing sappy love songs."

"I happen to like sappy love songs." Blake said, walking on stage. "Especially the one you sang for me. What were the words? Something about a garden of ecstasy."

"Ugh, you're lucky I love you." Yang grimaced. "But I do owe you one for helping me out, Vomit Boy."

"If it makes you feel better, you don't have to play." Jaune offered.

"Deal!" Yang beamed a smile.

"No deal." Blake said serious as the grave. "Don't abandon your friends."

"I won't." Yang then kissed her wife on the lips, and the two shared a brief, but tender embrace.

Jaune turned away, walking to his place on stage. He took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves. The microphone looked so small in front of him, but everyone assured him it was strong enough to carry his voice double over. He took a step back as the curtains opened.

In front of him, a sea of faces stared through beaming lights. Some many friends, and so many family members. Some old enemies, some new allies. Everyone hushed as he spoke.

"I... kind of wish I had a speech right now." Jaune said, his voice echoing across the now laughing room. "But I guess I don't need to make a speech when I can just sing out my heart for you guys, huh? I've known Ruby for so long that she knows almost everything about me. She was and is my best friend, and that's why I'm honored and happy she asked me to be her best man/maid of honor." He turned around. "Sorry I stole your thunder there, Weiss." The crowd laughed again. The night was late, though, and it was time to see these happy couples home. "Ruby, I'm glad you found Penny again, and I'm glad you two could truly celebrate your love like you were meant to. I guess it's true what they say."

And like that, the music began, and Jaune sang his last song for the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Everybody loves somebody sometime"

"Everybody falls in love somehow"

"Something in your kiss just told me"

"My sometime is now"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room came to life as couples dragged each other to the dance floor, or to their feet. Beating the married couple to the floor somehow were Ren and Nora, the latter of whom was swollen with motherhood. Behind them and Ruby and Penny was the bride's father, Taiyang, and his reunited love, Raven. They swayed close to Ruby, though Jaune could see Raven trying to sway Tai away from his baby girl one more time.

In the back of the room, Mercury refused to budge from his seat, much to the anger of his fiancé, Emerald. Next to them, neither wanting to move an inch, was the newly reformed Cinder and Neo, whose hatred for one another somehow bloomed into a romance. Jaune didn't question it. Love was stupid like that sometimes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Everybody finds somebody someplace"

"There's no telling where love may appear"

"Something in my heart keeps saying"

"My someplace is here"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaune watched as the happy couples danced and swayed. He turned to find, yup, the couples in the band playing close to each other. In the shadows, Blake swayed with eyes glued to Yang, who returned while playing her guitar softly. If Jaune didn't know any better, he could have sworn that half of this band was trying to sing to the rest of the band. But he did know better. There was no trying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If I had it in my power"

"I'd arrange for every girl to have your charms"

"Then every minute, every hour

"Every boy would find what I found in your arms"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the dance floor, Sun and Neptune were, well, being Sun and Neptune. Potentially bachelors for life, but living for every second of it. Unless the rumors were true, in which their partnership was much more than professional or platonic. But Jaune didn't care for rumors. Not when what was happening now was so much more important.

He just wished he learned this lesson so much sooner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Everybody loves somebody sometime"

"And although my dream was overdue"

"Your love made it well worth waiting"

"For someone like you"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It hurt. Everything hurt inside Jaune. He felt his chest tighten and his eyes sting, but he shook them off in the guise of wiping his brow. He hoped everyone fell for it. As far as he saw, no one suspected anything. His voice never cracked, never broke. Jaune Arc was a man of his word, and tonight, he gave that in confidence he would not let his grief tear away the joy of this party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If I had it in my power"

"I would arrange for every boy to have your charms"

"Then every minute, every hour"

"Every girl would find what I found in your arms"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There she was again, watching in the blinding lights. Her crimson hair pulled back in that iconic ponytail she was famous for. They said it was to keep her hair out of her eyes, as a professional, but he knew the truth. She did it so she could whip her hair like pony's tail would. Her smile almost broke him.

And in the shadows, he saw him, watching from the distance, as he always did. Jaune felt his jaw tense. Again, with his ruse, he wiped over his mouth to help relax himself. He was almost done. Then he could go home. Alone.

One last chorus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Everybody loves somebody sometime"

"And although my dream was overdue"

"Your love made it well worth waiting"

"For someone like you"

"Everybody loves somebody sometime~!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Weiss finished her lead as the backup, the crowd applauded the performance. A real standing ovation. Jaune wiped his eyes as the band drew close for a final bow. Jaune led the dip and bowed low for everyone. He then gripped the microphone one final time.

"Thank you, everyone for coming out." He beamed, tears freely falling from his face. "I love you all!" The crowd cheered, and Jaune stepped away, bowed, and swiftly made his way out the back.

Once outside, he glanced around before stepping into night and gazing past the blazing light of the streetlamp to view the stars. Why did tears have to make his eyes so shiny?

"Good evening, Jaune."

"Ozpin." Jaune said, like the name was ash in his mouth. "Enjoying your last life?"

"Yes, though I wish it were not mine." The gentleman voice admitted through much younger lips.

"You and me both." Jaune didn't spare a glance. "I actually liked Oscar. He was a good- No, he is a good guy. All the way to the very end. He deserved so much better."

"Indeed he did." Ozpin stepped closer to Jaune, and he visibly tensed. "That was an impressive performance."

"It wasn't for you."

"No, it wasn't." Ozpin sighed. "I understand your animosity, Jaune, but I don't think I deserve this hostility."

"Oh, you're right." Jaune finally turned to the shorter man. God, he was now dressing like the headmaster used to. "Maybe I should make us even. Trick your girlfriend into a shadow war, have a bunch of kids fight my battles for me, and lie to everyone about the whole thing! How does that sound?!"

"As foolish as it was when I attempted it." Ozpin shook his head.

"Fuck you, Ozpin." Jaune turned away. "You know, I actually looked up to you, before all of this. Sure, you were a weird guy who told everything like it was with a smile one your face. Because you knew everything. I respected that side of you. But the lying? The scheming? The preying Pyrrha's insecurities-!"

"I did no such thing, Jaune-"

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" Jaune screamed. "YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED THE ONLY WOMAN WHO LOVED ME FOR WHO I AM!" Tears spilled hotly from his eyes. "She was the only person who believed in me from the beginning, and you took her away from me..." Jaune sniffled.

Ozpin was quiet for a long time. For too long, the backside of the building was silent save for the sounds of weeping. Jaune hated this. He hated Ozpin. He hated himself.

"I remember a saying, when I had lost Salem for the second time." Ozpin said. "It was something that I never understood, and even today, I still find it to be lukewarm comfort at best." He turned away, looking to the stars. "Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all."

Jaune was quiet. He said nothing, but his sobs had been choked back to sniffles. He was listening. That was all he could ever do against Ozpin.

"What do you think that means?" Ozpin asked.

"Just be fucking straight with me for once." Jaune grumbled.

"I am." He replied. "I want to hear what you believe it means, before I tell you what I believe it means."

"God dammit." Jaune sighed.

"Gods." Ozpin smirked.

"Shut up." Jaune huffed. "It means... It means that being in love is the best feeling in the world, and that everybody should know what it feels like. Even if it means you lose that love forever."

"I see." Ozpin smiled. "We are very similar in our thinking then. From my understanding-"

"Is this going anywhere, Ozpin, or are you just here to be mysterious for no reason?"

"I saw you crying on stage, Jaune. You were looking at all those happy couples, thinking, 'Why couldn't that be us? Why couldn't she be here, facing me, as we dance to romantic love songs together?' I know, Jaune, because I was the exact same way. Even-" Ozpin choked. "Even to the very end, I loved Salem. Some small, stupid part of me saw the red eyes of the mother of all Grimm, and in a blink, I saw the blue-eyed princess I fell in love with all over again."

"And you don't regret it."

"No." Ozpin sighed. "Not once. She was a monster, and she had to be stopped, but," Ozpin rubbed his eyes, "God help me, I will love her to the day I die."

Again, silence fell between the two. Jaune watched Ozpin as he rubbed his red eyes, shaking his head as he bore his soul before Jaune. He pitied the cursed man before. Cursed to live forever, only now broken after Oscar's mind faded into his, and would live the rest of a life not his own regretting not being with his beloved. It was a sad sight, so Jaune did what he thought was best.

"Gods."

"Huh?" Ozpin sniffed.

"You said God, but there are two gods."

Ozpin chuckled. "You're right, and they're both assholes."

The two shared a laugh for the first time... well, ever!

"Well, I should be getting back." Jaune said, looking to the door. "Are you coming in to say hello?"

"It's a bit late for that." Ozpin shook his head. "I must attend to some personal matters," he placed a hand on his chest, "for the both of us."

"Alright." Jaune said, walking to the door. "See ya, Ozpin."

"Jaune?" He turned around, and saw Ozpin face down, prostrate with arms extended. "Nothing will ever be enough for all I have done to you, nor all you have done for me. Thank you, and... I'm sorry."

"I..." Jaune swallowed a lump in his throat, then walked over to Ozpin. He picked him up from the dirt and hugged him. "I forgive you." He stepped away. "And sorry about punching Oscar that one time."

Ozpin chuckled. "He had long forgiven you before you saw him again."

"Good night, Oz."

"Good night, Jaune."

Jaune stepped up to the door, then looked back to the new Ozpin. It may have been the light, or the time wearing on him, or the tears, but Jaune could have sworn he saw to shapes beside him. One was a tall woman with a ponytail, one eye blue and the other red.

But the other woman was shorter, but looked taller in heels. Her hair was also tied back in a ponytail, but her eyes were green. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Opening the door, he found the party was still alive, though only with but a few stragglers left behind.

Jaune lost so much, but he held on to so much more. He loved and lost, but it was better to have never loved at all.

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karebear923 · 2 months ago

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Vice Versa rewatch ep 8

ANOTHER BIG IMPORTANT EPISODE!!! LET’S FXCKING GOOO!!!!!!!

Episode 8 is cloudy gray! Gray can have many meanings such as ambiguity, neutrality, weariness, wisdom, and melancholy. It’s interesting to note that cloudy gray specifically has a pink undertone. 👀 Also the new character we meet in this episode’s name is Mek, which means gray.

Bro, they’ve been doing this for over a year now!! That’s crazy!! 🤯 of course Talay is struggling to tell the difference between himself and Tess now.

ONCE AGAIN 10/10 THE BEST FRIENDS ONE COULD ASK FOR. Honestly, real Tess doesn’t deserve them but I’m so glad Talay has them ☺️

Iconic first AouBoom moment! Vice Versa fans are the real OG AouBoom stans! 🤭

PUEN I HOPE YOU GET TO LIVE OUT YOUR EVERY FANTASY WITH TALAY WHEN YOU’RE BACK IN YOUR UNIVERSE!!! 😄😍😏😉

MY BOY PERTH!!!! This was the first show I ever saw him in and even without knowing him I got the feeling that he was some kind of special guest or something. Like people knew who this guy was. And then I watched Love By Chance but it was a year later and he was such a baby there that I didn’t recognize him 😅 but I loved his acting so much and when I saw Never Let Me Go I finally did recognize him and I got so excited to see him again!

Oh the motherly joy I felt seeing him all grown up too! 🥹 I’ll always have a soft spot for him! 🥰 Back then I didn’t know anything about different companies or production houses so I just thought it was cool to see him again. Now I understand a little bit more about how he switched companies and stuff.

I’m sorry but as a Hispanic/Latina, Alessandro is not a Spanish name 😄 sounds more Italian to me. In Spanish it’d be Alejandro, but I don’t blame the Thai writers for not knowing lol (also he’s a Spaniard or Spanish person not a Spanish but again I guess it’s not their fault lol)

(ALSO ALSO: ‘Spanish people’ ONLY refers to people from Spain, just like ‘English people’ refers to people from England. People from Central or South America are NOT Spanish. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. It’s a very important topic to me.)

Seeing this now is funny cause back then I had no idea who Tay Tawan was 😅 I knew he was some kind of special cameo like Perth was but I’d never even heard of Dark Blue Kiss or anything. I watched this show at the beginning of my BL fandom experience so I was a clueless newbie.

THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR PUEN TO HEAR!!! Cause yeah there’s the fear of Mek looking like Talay’s old crush, but more importantly as an actor Puen is used to people liking him for his looks. As a celebrity people don’t really know the real you and they judge you for what you look like or how you present yourself. But with this new body Puen is free to truly be himself with no filters and Talay doesn’t know what he really looks like. So all he knows is the real person that Puen is and that’s who he likes!!! He says “I like you even though I don’t know what you look like… I don’t know who you are.” He makes it clear that it has nothing to do with the fame that Puen has and all to do with who he truly is. And when Puen responds with “I like you too. I like everything about you” his voice is quaking with emotion and his eyes are watery with unshed tears!! 🥹❤️

AND THEN WE GET A BEAUTIFUL FIRST MUTUAL KISS!!! SINGLE TEAR ROLLING DOWN PUEN’S CHEEK!! TALAY MOVING HIS HAND TO GRAB HIM TIGHTER!! ME FLAILING AND KICKING MY FEET!! FADE TO BLACK TO END THE EPISODE!! PERFECTION!!

Fin.

Until next week at least lol

#I’m a day late but that’s cause I had to work Saturday #but it’s still the weekend and I’m proud of myself for keeping up with these posts #they really take me a while to make #kudos to all the gif makers out there #giffing is hard #the quality and coloring go down so bad from the original video #I’m pretty proud of that last gif tho #I used 3 different clips at different speeds to condense the moments I was talking about into one quick gif #Vice Versa the series #Vice Versa rerun #vvrewatch2024 #my post

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hockeylvr59 · 1 year ago

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The Perfect Match Part Nine || Taylor and Cale Makar

Summary: When Taylor Makar meets Elizabeth “Liezel” Estroff he quickly discovers how compatible she is with his older brother Cale. Despite his parents early protestation to leave well enough alone, Taylor makes it his mission to set Cale up with his perfect match.

Authors Note: So uh this chapter got a little out of hand and does not wrap up the series (minus epilogues) like I had expected it do so you're getting one more before the main story wraps. Plus it's a long one...sorry not sorry.

FC Claim: Kirrilee Berger.

Warnings: cursing, sexual content at the end // Word Count: 9,388

~~~~~~

Cale: Safe travels today Liez.

Cale: And give the baby giraffe a hug for me when you see him next.

Liezel: I will. Thanks again for everything.

Cale: Does that everything include what happened at the club? Because I can’t get it out of my mind.

Liezel: I meant what I said. I really really like you Cale.

****

Cale: So is this something you’d want to give a try?

Cale: This being us.

Liezel: Sorry, thought I could get a reply off before we took off but yeah….just got back to Amherst and I’m exhausted.

Liezel: Are you sure you’d want a long distance relationship?

****

Cale: Liez…I’m a pro hockey player. Any relationship I have is going to have an element of long distance.

Cale: And it’s not like plane ticket prices would ever be a barrier.

****

Liezel: So you’re sure?

Cale: Liez. I want to give us a shot so if that means zoom dates and late night facetimes then yeah I’m sure. But are you?

Liezel: Will those late night facetimes include hints of what could have happened if your d partner and time weren’t against us?

Cale: Yeah Liez.

Liezel: Then count me in.

Liezel: For the record, that was going to be the answer regardless.

Twenty Four. There was nothing fashionable about the age other than it was another full revolution around the sun. Outside the ground was wet with a spring rain and if she didn’t have office hours scheduled for today, Liezel was tempted to skip her singular class and just stay home curled up in bed. It was her birthday after all.

While attempting to be an adult about it and go on with her day, Liezel heard a knock at her door and when she answered it there was a flower delivery man with a bouquet of two dozen pink roses standing on the other side. Gasping softly, she nodded when he asked her name and signed for the bouquet before taking it from him and carrying it over to her coffee table.

Searching for a card, Liezel eventually found one and when she opened it all she could do was shake her head.

Happy Birthday Liez. Take some time for yourself today because you deserve it. - C.

Attached to the card was a scheduling card for a local spa with today’s date and 3:30pm listed. She had class this morning and then office hours from 1-3 so Cale had picked a time that worked within her schedule.

Shaking her head once again, Liezel grabbed her phone, shooting him a text even if she knew he’d be asleep.

Liezel: You’re too much. The roses are beautiful. And you know I love a good massage. Thank you.

Pocketing the appointment card and sniffing the roses one more time, Liezel grabbed her things and an umbrella and headed to campus to brave the day.

****

By the time she returned to her apartment, it was shortly after 5 and Liezel was a bit surprised to see Taylor waiting by her door, grocery bags sitting beside him along with a gift bag and flowers.

“Thought you were done with office hours at 3:30.” He murmured, standing up.

“I was…but then I had a massage…” Liezel replied a little confused. “How long have you been waiting here?”

Checking his watch, Taylor shrugged.

“‘Bout twenty minutes.”

Shaking her head at him, Liezel moved to open her door and was immediately pulled into a Taylor hug.

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks Tay.” She murmured letting him in and offering to take bags from him.

“Nope I got them.” He insisted. “But these are for you.” He added handing over the bouquet of flowers. “They’re beautiful Taylor. Thank you.”

“Looks like they aren’t the only flowers you got today though…” He trailed off as he stepped through the door and saw the big bouquet of roses from this morning.

“Uh yeah…” Liezel murmured, her voice going a little sheepish. After all she couldn’t exactly tell him ‘yeah your brother sent them.’

“Someone likes you.” He teased, setting everything down before murmuring for her to go change while he started dinner.

Yeah someone definitely did and she was lucky for sure. Changing, Liezel returned to find Taylor hovered over her stove, a bottle of wine and glasses behind him just waiting to be poured. Taking control of that, she popped the cork and poured them each a glass before sitting down at the small table to watch him cook.

As she sat there her phone buzzed and she looked down seeing a return message from Cale.

Cale: You deserve so much more. Wish I was there.

Sighing softly, Liezel snapped a quick picture of Taylor’s back and sent it back to Cale.

Liezel: Wish you were too but at least I have one Makar cooking me dinner.

Liezel: Facetime later?

Cale: Sounds like a plan. Have fun with T.

Closing their text thread, Liezel turned her attention back to Taylor asking how his day was.

As smells of good food filled her kitchen, Liezel inquired on whether she could open her present.

“I mean it was for after dinner but I guess so.” Taylor relented, turning to watch her. Inside was another bottle of wine and a container of tiramisu from a local bakery along with a gift card for her favorite local restaurant ‘for a night when he’s busy but she doesn’t feel like cooking.’

“Thanks Tay. This is awesome.”

“Course Liez.” Taylor murmured, reaching for her and pulling her in for a hug. “You’re my best friend and it’s your birthday.”

Resting her head on Taylor’s shoulder, Liezel just relaxed once again grateful to have him in her life. Twisting her slightly so he could continue cooking, Taylor kissed her head murmuring for her to go sit down and he’ll bring dinner over.

With their seating of choice being her couch, Liezel grabbed the glasses of wine and made her way over, getting comfortable and pulling a blanket over her lap.

Grinning as Taylor followed with the food, Liezel eagerly took the plate and dug in, thanking him for cooking. As they ate, Liezel flipped on a game show and she and Taylor took turns commenting on how stupid some of the contestants were.

When they settled in for dessert, Taylor poured her another glass of wine, and by the time he left needing to go study she was finishing off her third.

Locking up behind him, Liezel sent Cale a text that his brother had left and she was free to talk whenever.

Within five minutes Liezel’s phone was ringing with a facetime from Cale and she answered it, propping her phone up against her thigh.

“Hey handsome, how’s Cali?” Liezel greeted her boyfriend, her stomach swirling from the longing of distance as his ruddy cheeks entered her vision.

“Warm but I don’t think you want to hear me talking about the weather.” Cale replied, situating his ipad beside him, giving her a glimpse of the long lines of his body hidden under clothing.

“I mean I’d prefer other lines of conversation.” Liezel agreed, just drinking him in. It was hard starting a relationship long distance, but for Cale it was worth it. She definitely missed his body though. The brief tease in Denver just wasn’t enough.

“What did T make you for dinner?”

“Just some pasta and chicken, nothing crazy.” Liezel shrugged, again zoning in on Cale’s body and missing whatever he said next.

After repeating her name a few times Cale chuckled.

“How much did T give you to drink Liez?”

“Two…no three glasses of wine.”

“So you’re a little drunk huh? Is that why you can’t take your eyes off me?”

“Just want to see that body of yours.” Liezel murmured, pouting a bit because for some reason Cale was always wearing clothes.

“Is that right?” Cale teased. “Is this what you want?” He questioned, pulling his shirt over his head with one hand revealing what seemed like acres of pale skin. Liezel immediately licked her lips and shifted a bit on her couch because god was he hot. Broad shoulders. Abs defined but stomach still soft. There was absolutely nothing about his body that Liezel could complain about.

“I cannot wait until I get to touch you.” She practically purred, eyes heavy with the combination of alcohol and desire.

“Yeah? What would you do to me?” Cale questioned, playing into Liezel’s desire.

“Well…first I’d kiss you.” Liezel mused. “Because I certainly didn’t get to kiss you as much as I wanted to when I was in Denver.” Then she paused for a moment as if planning her next move.

“Then I’d touch every inch of you, appreciating all those muscles you work so hard for.” Her eyes flashed with want as she thought about it in detail. “I’d rub those nipples of yours that like to peek through your shirt sometimes and then I’d kiss down your body to that soft happy trail.”

Through her phone Liezel could see Cale getting just the slightest bit red and ruddy.

“And after kissing all over, I’d pull your sweats down to see what you’re packing down there. Get my hands on you properly.” Sighing, Liezel flashed Cale a wicked grin. “And if your suit pics are any indication…I’m gonna have my hands full.”

Cale’s blush deepened and Liezel’s grin grew.

“Hmm…I really want to see just how red you can get there bud…” She teased. “And whether your dick gets just as rosy as your cheeks.”

Lingering on that thought, Liezel got up and shifted to her bed where she could get more comfortable. “But you know…since I’m the birthday girl…maybe you should be telling me what you’d like to do to me….”

Though phone sex clearly wasn’t something Cale was fully comfortable with, by the time they hung up twenty minutes later, both were basking in the afterglow of orgasm having touched and talked and explored. And if the phone sex was that good, Liezel couldn’t wait until Cale could actually do all the things he’d talked about.

After Birthday phone sex, Liezel and Cale had frequently taken a few minutes out of their day to listen to and talk each other through mutual pleasure in addition to the talking they did, mostly over text, about anything and everything. And with Cale starting playoffs in just two more days, they were taking advantage of what was probably Cale’s last off day until playoffs were over.

“You like doggy style huh?” Cale groaned, imagining fucking into his girlfriend from behind.

“Can feel you so deeply that way…” Liezel replied with a moan. “Want to feel your cock buried inside me Ca….”

“Hey Liez!” Taylor’s voice called out as he made his way into her apartment much to her surprise. Frantically, Liezel pulled her fingers out from her pants where she’d been teasing at her clit and raced to hang up the facetime with Cale before his brother realized just who she’d been talking to.

Her cheeks were red as he rounded the corner and immediately Taylor froze seeing her slightly mussed state.

“Did I uh…walk in on something…?” He questioned a bit embarrassed but also teasing her heavily.

“Shut up Taylor…yes you did…” Liez whined, reaching for a tissue to wipe her fingers on and rushing to fix her rumpled state to look less like she was in the middle of phone sex.

“That the boyfriend?”

“Yes Taylor.” Liezel replied, a little annoyed even though she was the one that had given Taylor a key in the first place.

“Eh you can call him back later…there’s a new food truck I wanted to try and you’re coming with me.”

Knowing that Taylor wasn’t asking, Liezel sighed and moved to clean herself up, taking her phone with her to the bathroom.

Cale: Holy fuck Liez….was that my brother that just walked in on you?!

Liezel: Sorry C. Your brother failed to mention that he was coming over…and I’m not sure he would have been quite so teasing/chirping if he knew it was you I was in the middle of phone sex with. I’ll make it up to you tonight…promise.

Cale: He doesn’t know it was me right?

Liezel: Nope, just that it was ‘my boyfriend’

Dating a pro hockey player generally was one thing, but dating one during playoffs…it was another entirely. It wasn’t anything that Liezel couldn’t handle though. Sure Cale’s texts were more sporadic and he was more focused on the team but she had her own life and things to do.

But when word of Cale’s suspension reached her with a text from Taylor saying that it looked like he wasn’t the only hot headed Makar, Liezel’s faith in dating a hockey player was put to the test for the first time.

Liezel: T says they suspended you for the hit last night. I can’t say it’s undeserved but I’m sorry.

Cale: Why the fuck is T telling you it's not any of his fucking business

Liezel: I mean YOU could have told me but apparently that didn’t cross your mind.

Cale’s read receipts showed Liezel that he saw her reply but he didn’t send anything after that. Cale’s anger toward his brother was completely uncalled for and Liezel sighed, sinking into her couch. She’d never dealt with Cale being angry before and it wasn’t something she particularly liked.

She was on her fifth episode of Say Yes to the Dress when Taylor let himself in, calling out that he had brought food.

Liezel simply lifted a hand in acknowledgement and snuggled further into the couch, her mood having sunken when first one hour, then two, then three passed without an apology from Cale.

Abandoning the food, Taylor rounded the couch and lifted her feet, sinking to the couch before draping them back over his thighs.

“You having a bad day or something Liez?” He questioned softly.

“Something like that…” She agreed, sighing softly.

“Alright…wine and dinner coming right up then.” Taylor declared, shifting her feet again so he could stand to go retrieve the items from her kitchen. When he returned he handed her a glass and a plate of food before moving to get his own dinner.

Lifting her legs again, he settled onto her couch and pulled her feet back into his lap foregoing any comments he may have about her moping television choice.

While Taylor had no interest in the show, it was mildly entertaining watching Liezel’s reactions to the dresses. Mid episode his phone buzzed and pulling it from his pocket Taylor saw a text from his mom.

Laura: Have you talked to your brother at all today?

Taylor: Nope. Came over to have dinner with Liez and she was having a bad day so now we’re chilling and she’s binging Say Yes to the Dress.

Laura: Sure you’re just thrilled about that…

Taylor: Still don’t know why she enjoys this but she does so it’s whatever. At this rate I could probably pick out her wedding dress when she marries Cale for her.

Laura: Oh yeah?

Taylor: yeah. Slim silhouette or whatever…no ball gowns or whatever the hell mermaid is.

Taylor: She likes lace. Not crazy about massive amounts of ‘sparkle’.

Taylor: Basically something simple with a little pop to make it hers. And nothing overly sexy.

Laura: Sounds like you’re an expert. 😂

Taylor: I mean I could have done without…but it makes her happy.

After a few more hours, Taylor left and Liezel crawled into bed having still not heard anything from Cale. This was something they were going to have to have a chat about at some point. Because it wasn’t fair to her…or to Taylor who apparently hadn’t heard from Cale at all today.

Each tick of the clock on the scoreboard brought the avs closer to defeat and when the final horn sounded, Liezel sighed softly.

A first round exit in game 7. An utter disappointment after a year of struggles. No repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Liezel couldn’t even bear to keep the broadcast on because Cale just looked so sad and defeated.

Though it was late, Liezel was determined to stay up for a bit in case Cale wanted to talk. She’d never dealt with him like this before but what good was she as a girlfriend if she wasn’t there to support him.

And then she saw the photos as she doomscrolled twitter.

Cale sitting in his locker in full gear as the locker room cleared out around him.

Liezel knew Cale well enough to know that he was carrying the weight of the loss on his shoulders. Especially with the suspension.

Closing twitter, Liezel pulled up her usual travel site. There was a 7:15 am flight leaving Boston nonstop to Denver which would get her there around 10:30 am. With the semester over in less than a month anyway, most of her classes had switched to workshops for their papers and such so it wasn’t like there was any reason she couldn’t be off campus for a couple of days.

Booking the flight, Liezel climbed out of bed and quickly packed a bag with everything she would need. Then she set an alarm on her phone and crawled into bed to nap for an hour or two before getting in her car to drive to Boston.

When she arrived at the airport she checked in and then pulled out her phone to text Taylor before he showed up at her place to find her missing.

Liezel: Think I forgot to mention it but I have to go out of town for a couple days for a meeting. I’ll let you know when I’m back.

Though she felt bad about lying to him, she couldn’t exactly tell him that she was up and flying across the country to comfort her boyfriend, his brother. Taylor would have a conniption.

Thankfully her flight boarded on time and she was able to sleep a little on the flight even if she was still absolutely exhausted.

Arriving in Denver she booked an Uber to take her to Cale’s building. It wasn’t until she arrived that she sent him a text attaching a picture of his building.

Liezel: Hoping you’re awake by now….you wanna come let me in?

Cale: Wait…you’re here?

Liezel: Would I be asking you to let me in if I wasn’t…?

Cale: Holy shit Liez…calling down to the front desk now to let you in. They’ll get you to the right floor. Turn left off the elevator, end of the hall on your right.

A minute after receiving the text the building’s front door was opening and as Cale promised she was directed to the elevator and to Cale’s floor. Once on his floor, she followed his instructions and by the time she got to the end of the hall Cale was there waiting for her from his doorway.

He looked cozy in a pair of joggers and a pullover, glasses on his face which wasn’t a look that Liezel had seen all that often. He looked completely shocked to see her and quickly pulled her into a soft hug.

“What the hell are you doing here Liez?” He murmured softly in her ear.

“You looked like you could use a hug or two….dozen.” Liezel replied. “And no reason I can’t work on school work remotely for a couple days.”

“You…geez Liez…come in…” Cale declared pulling her into his condo and offering to take her bag. “I can’t believe you’re here…”

Setting her bag in the hall he hugged her again and swept her into the kitchen, immediately searching for something to make for lunch.

“Cale…you don’t have to go all hosty on me you know…” Liezel declared. “I came to check on you not to have you doting on me.”

“I could eat.” Cale said simply. “And I wouldn’t believe you if you said you weren’t hungry.”

Rolling her eyes slightly, Liezel relented and hoisted herself onto the counter closest to her to watch Cale as searched his kitchen for something to cook. She was a little hungry but she was also exhausted having slept for like two hours and then dozed on the plane.

“You know I’m sure there are plenty of places we could order from…” Liezel suggested. “And then you could let me cuddle you while we wait….”

Cale continued to stare into his mostly empty refrigerator before he turned and looked at her a moment later. “Yeah, I guess that could work.” He agreed. “Anything in particular you want?”

Shaking her head, Liezel hopped off the counter.

“Nope. Order whatever. I’m gonna use your bathroom and then I’ll meet you on the couch.”

Liezel breezed through his apartment with a familiarity that reminded Cale this wasn’t her first visit. For a moment he nearly forgot that he was supposed to be ordering an early lunch but then he pulled himself together, placing an order from one of his regular places he hoped Liezel would enjoy.

Nothing about any of this felt real. From a fucking first round exit against Seattle of all teams, to his girlfriend just showing up at his door like she lived down the street not across the entire country, Cale felt like surely he must be dreaming.

But then Liezel called for him from his couch and his body moved in her direction before he’d even given it that instruction. She looked soft in a pair of black joggers and an oversized hoodie from travel and despite the pain and shock still raging through his system he couldn’t help but smile a bit.

His girlfriend was here.

She’d flown to Denver for him.

Fuck.

That might just be the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for him.

Setting his phone on the coffee table, Cale flopped onto the couch beside her and after a moment’s hesitation, Liezel slid to press her body against his, tucking herself against his side.

“Hey.” She murmured softly, peering up at him, her gaze warm.

“Can’t believe you’re here Liez.” He mumbled.

“Thought you could use a little love…” Her words heightened that twisting feeling in his gut that Cale couldn’t seem to describe other than it wasn’t a bad feeling.

As her head rested against his shoulder, Liezel’s fingers brushed against his chest and side and Cale let out a deep breath, his body relaxing under her.

After that she didn’t say anything and neither moved until Cale’s cell was buzzing from the front desk asking if he had ordered food and should they send the guy up.

Liezel was still quiet as they delved into lunch and Cale was worried until he realized that she looked exhausted and was clearly trying not to fall asleep mid meal.

“Did you even sleep last night?” He questioned softly.

“An hour or two and then dozed on the plane…” She murmured softly, shrugging. “And you don’t look like you slept all that much more than that.”

Admittedly, Cale had tossed and turned for longer than he would have liked after he finally got out of his gear, cooled down for the final time of the season, and headed home.

Finishing her lunch, Liezel tossed her trash and then turned to him leaning against the counter until he was also finished.

“Come nap with me Cale.” She stated softly, kissing his cheek before letting him stand.

Though Cale wasn’t big on taking naps, even pregame naps were sometimes a struggle, he nodded and motioned for her to head to his room.

Cale watched as she turned down the sheets on one side of the bed, took her glasses off and then tugged her hoodie up and off her body, leaving her in just a thin layering tank over her bra. Slipping under the covers she looked at him, her eyes communicating ‘are you coming or what?’ loud and clear.

Pulling back the rest of the blankets Cale slid in beside her, feeling her shift close as he did so, her body tucking against his.

This was admittedly not how he pictured things going when he had her in his bed for the first time. At the same time though it provided him comfort that he didn’t realize until now that he needed. Playoffs had sucked. Hell this season had sucked. And the last thing he deserved was his girlfriend catching an early morning flight to come be with him. Especially not after the way he had treated her during playoffs.

“Tell your brain to pipe down Cale...it’s being too loud.” Liezel mumbled, her voice filled with the fatigue from lack of sleep. “Just close your eyes and nap with me.”

Yet here she was, soft and warm with curves he had dreamed of more than once. She was way too good for him and it amazed him that she had done this for him.

God he adored her.

With the rise and fall of her breathing while she slept, eventually Cale drifted off too. He slept steadily for a while and then started dozing in and out for a bit longer before finally tensing and causing Liezel to stir against him. When he looked at the clock it was almost 3:30 and they had been napping for a little over two hours.

She still looked tired as she stretched against him, yawning, but she rolled to face him, eyes warm.

Cale didn’t think that he had ever seen her without her glasses on but either way she was beautiful.

“Got any plans for the rest of the day?” She whispered, her voice still laced with sleep as she pressed her lips to his gently and quickly.

“Not really.” He replied, shrugging a bit. Cupping her cheek for a moment, Cale pulled her into a soft kiss just trying to communicate how much it meant to him that she was here.

“We could go for a walk…you could show me some of Denver…” Liezel murmured between kisses. “If you’re up for it…”

It took a minute, but eventually Cale nodded.

Pulling herself out of bed, Liezel put her glasses back on and then moved toward Cale’s bathroom to clean up a bit and get ready to go out.

Within fifteen minutes, Liezel was letting Cale lead her out of his apartment and down to the garage where his car was. It wasn’t long before they were nearing Ball Arena and Cale was pulling into a parking lot near the river where there was a park.

Liezel let Cale lead the way, occasionally asking questions about things she could see off in the distance or some of the art in murals along the riverway. Though he didn’t make a move to hold her hand, Liezel was okay with that, it wasn’t who Cale was and they were in public and she completely understood.

He always paused to wait for her though when she stopped to look at something and when they reached a bit more secluded portion of the trail, he pulled her into a tight hug murmuring a soft ‘thank you’ against her ear.

“Yeah well I kind of really really like you.” Liezel replied back, kissing his freshly shaven jaw before withdrawing.

Walking a while longer, Cale suggested getting dinner somewhere and Liezel agreed feeling a bit hungry herself and achy from trying to keep up with her pro athlete boyfriend. She definitely was not in as good of shape as he was.

Thankfully, Cale had a place nearby that he enjoyed and they settled into a back corner where they were most likely to go unnoticed.

During dinner Cale asked about how her papers were going and they talked about the implications of her research before finally heading back to the car and back to his apartment.

As they settled in to watch episodes of the Office so that Cale could talk her through where she was in the series, they continued sharing tidbits about anything that didn’t involve hockey.

After just a few episodes Liezel murmured that she was ready for bed given that her body was still two hours ahead and she had only gotten about four solid hours of sleep in the past day. After changing into shorts and slipping out of her bra, she settled into the same side of the bed as she had earlier knowing that Cale would join her whenever he was ready.

Though she was asleep by the time he did join her, Liezel relaxed as the weight of Cale’s body shifted the bed and he slid just a little closer.

****

By the time they woke, Cale’s body was pressed up against hers and Liezel could feel his morning wood pressing against her hip.

Though she’d slept with a few guys, this was the first time that she had actually spent the night with someone without having had sex. It held a weight that made her breath catch and the feeling of him made her stomach pool with lazy arousal, her body as into him as his clearly was into her.

Feeling his fingers flex along her hip, Liezel glanced up at him seeing those blue eyes peering down at her.

“Morning.” She whispered, holding his gaze for a moment before pressing her lips against his. What she had intended to be a light greeting morphed into deeper exploratory kisses as Cale responded. There were no complaints from Liezel though because she certainly had not gotten to kiss him enough.

After a few minutes, they pulled themselves from bed and while Liezel used the bathroom, Cale moved to make her coffee and start some breakfast.

Sitting at the counter of his island, Liezel sipped at the coffee while watching Cale move around the space making some eggs and sausage.

“So any plans today?” She questioned, watching as Cale seemed to think for a moment before his shoulders slumped.

“Locker clean out.” He mumbled.

Liezel knew that was not going to be a fun time for him but she tried not to make a big deal of it.

“Well…while you do that I can spend some time on my papers and then later we can do whatever you want.” She offered.

And that was exactly what they did. Liezel made herself comfortable on his couch with her laptop to do some writing and Cale headed to the rink to pack his stuff up for the summer.

It wasn’t long before Toewser was inviting him over for dinner to help him get out of his head.

“Appreciate that but I’m gonna have to pass.” Cale declared, trying to prevent his cheeks from giving him away.

“C’mon. You’ve had a day to mope, you shouldn’t be alone.”

“I can’t okay…” Cale insisted. “Won’t be alone.” He added in a mumble.

“Facetime date with Liez doesn’t count as not alone….” Toewser accused before his eyes quickly went wide as he spotted a strand of long dark hair sticking to the back of Cale’s shirt as he turned. “Unless it’s not just a facetime date…”

Though Cale tried to hide it, now that Devon had noticed that one thing, more pieces clicked into place one after another. Long hair on his clothes, a tinge of tinted chapstick on his lips, a slight whiff of what was decidedly feminine perfume.

“Alright. Fair enough. Spend time with your girl.” He whispered, shoving Cale gently. “I won’t interrupt this time. Just be smart and use protection unless you want to join the dad club.”

“Fuck off.” Cale mumbled. “We’ll do a Nuggets game or something before I head home for the summer.”

“Sure. Not sure how long she’s staying but dinner invitation is open for you both.”

Thankfully Toewser was the only one that seemed to catch on to the fact that Liezel had come to town to see Cale. After chatting with a few of the other guys as everyone packed up, Cale headed out to get back to his girlfriend.

Stopping for some groceries on the way home since he didn’t have much, Cale also picked up another bottle of the wine Liez had liked so much the last time she was here wanting to surprise her.

When he got home she was basically just as he had left her, though her hands sped along her keyboard as she typed whatever thoughts needed put to paper.

Moving quietly so that he didn’t disturb her, Cale put everything away and then leaned against the counter watching her. And the more he looked at her, really looked at her, the more beautiful she was. From the way she bit her lip when she was focused to her mussed hair from running her fingers through it when something didn’t come out the way she had intended it to, and every other little quirk in between Cale said his thanks that Taylor was stupid enough not to want her for himself.

Eventually Liezel looked up and immediately a smile and a blush adorned her face.

“How long have you been watching me?” She asked, blushing more when Cale could only shrug.

“Didn’t want to interrupt.” Cale stated simply. “Your brain looked like it was firing away with something important.”

Turning to the fridge, Cale pulled out a bottle of water and moved to take it to her.

“Any thoughts on lunch?” He asked. “I stopped at the store.”

“I’m not picky.” Liezel insisted, taking the bottle of water to sip at. “But let me come help.”

“Nope.” Cale assured her. “Focus on school. I’ve got it.”

Because she did still really need to make some more progress on her paper Liezel complied, only pausing to eat the salad that Cale put in front of her. After eating, Cale settled in beside her with a book of his own and the two of them sat in silence, together but doing things independently.

By three o’clock, Liezel had made good progress on her paper and closed her laptop. With her neck feeling stiff, she attempted to stretch, wincing slightly.

Without hesitation, Cale closed his book and gestured for her to come closer, his hands immediately going to her neck and shoulders.

“I get finding a zone and staying in it, but you really should try to stretch more.” He chastised softly.

“Probably not going to listen.” She declared though she knew he was right.

“Didn’t expect you would.” He assured her just continuing to massage some of her tension away.

As her muscles relaxed, Liezel tipped her head back to kiss Cale’s cheek in thanks before getting up to stretch and use the bathroom.

When she returned she stood looking out Cale’s window.

“Taylor texted me earlier asking when I was coming home…” She murmured. “Told him I was going out of town for a meeting when I left so I'm not sure how long I can stay under that cover.”

The longer they hid this from Taylor the harder it got, but Liezel certainly wasn’t going to tell him without Cale’s approval.

At first, Cale didn’t say anything but after a moment he set his phone aside and got up, coming to stand beside her.

“Tell him you’ll be back Thursday.” He murmured. “There are flights and I want you for another day.”

“Thursday.” Liezel agreed quietly. After all, it was up to him how long she was welcome since she had just dropped herself on him. She was glad though that he wanted to be greedy and keep her for another full day.

Cale was very different from Taylor in that Taylor always let her know with physical affection that her presence was wanted and that he enjoyed her company. Cale held his affections tighter to his chest and it was the little things, him declaring that she shouldn’t leave until Thursday and the way he had been looking at her while she studied that communicated that.

Still, he hadn’t made the effort to kiss her since she had arrived, only returning her kisses. It meant that Liezel couldn’t help but wonder if he really did want her even if she told herself that it was just how he was.

“I’m gonna go check in with Taylor.” She eventually stated, brushing past him to grab her phone and call her best friend before he flipped out and put out a missing person’s report on her.

By the time she finally got Taylor off the phone, Cale was in the kitchen, cutting vegetables in preparation for dinner.

“He’s worried about you.” She declared softly. “So you might want to check in with him yourself at some point.”

Cale nodded in acknowledgement, pushing the cutting board and knife in her direction as a signal for her to take over while he started on another part of whatever he had decided to make for dinner.

Taking over, Liezel quickly tired of the silence and paused, pulling out her phone to put some music on.

It didn’t take long for Cale to smile as Queen played over the speaker.

“You know when my brother told me he had met someone with the same music taste as me I didn’t think anything of it. Certainly didn’t think I’d end up really really liking them.” Cale grinned.

“You know how mad at me he was when I couldn’t go to your game in Boston with him that first year…” Liezel replied. “He really wanted me to meet you.”

A thoughtful look crossed Cale’s face and after a moment he shook his head.

“Has he been trying to set us up this whole time?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Liezel admitted. “If so he’s gonna kill us for hiding things from him.”

“Eh he’s gonna kill us for doing that regardless.” Cale teased. “We’ll tell him when he brings you home with him this summer.”

Knowing that they had just put a timeframe in place for telling Taylor took a weight off Liezel’s shoulders. Just another month or so of hiding this, that was doable.

Once dinner was ready, they settled in to eat and then cleaned up before making their way to the living room where Cale put on the Office once more.

Shifting on the couch, Cale stretched his legs out to lounge and let the arm closest to Liezel fall open. With him glancing over at her with a tired but relaxed expression, Liezel chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before scooting closer to Cale and settling into the gap beside him.

As she did, his arm tightened around her and his body relaxed. Cale had actually made the first move to cuddle her. This was definitely a first.

Focusing on trying to follow the episode, Liezel glanced over at Cale a few times to find that his eyes were always on her every time. After about the fourth time, she turned her head to face him.

“Do I have something on my face?” She questioned softly.

“No.” Cale replied quickly.

“Then why are you staring at me?”

“Why wouldn’t I want to stare at my beautiful girlfriend…”

Unconsciously, Liezel’s cheeks flushed and she turned back to the tv not sure how to take that compliment.

After a moment, Cale’s head dipped and his chin rested against the top of her head. A few minutes later, his fingers brushed lightly as he ran his hand up her arm making her shiver.

Her shiver in turn made Cale inhale sharply. Still Liezel continued to focus on the tv causing Cale to move his other hand to her jaw, brushing against the sensitive skin there for a moment before turning her head toward him.

Their eyes met until Cale shifted to bury his face against her neck, the small stubble he’d grown overnight scratching slightly as he mouthed kisses into her skin. It felt good and Liezel appreciated having her boyfriend’s attention solely on her.

When he pulled away, he kissed down her shoulder, his hand shifting to her waist.

“C’mere Liez.” He murmured subtly guiding her to straddle his hips, his hand on her waist sliding to rest at her side just under her boobs as he pulled her close.

It wasn’t until his thumb brushed against the side of her boob in a way that definitely wasn’t accidental that Liezel pulled away.

“What are you doing Cale?”

“Trying to get you in the mood.” He looked caught off guard that she had pulled back and Liezel sighed.

“Because you just want sex as an escape or because you want me?” Liezel further questioned, only making Cale look more confused. Climbing off his lap, Liezel moved to the other side of the couch.

“Okay what did I do wrong?” Cale asked, trying to take things back a notch and discuss this like adults.

“I’m not going to have sex with you because it’s a distraction from being eliminated or because it’s something you think we’re supposed to do.” Liezel replied. “I’m not going to have sex with you when you haven’t even kissed me since I got here.”

“I’ve kissed you…” Cale defended almost immediately.

“No. You’ve kissed my body and you’ve returned kisses when I’ve kissed you. You haven’t kissed me once.” Liezel clarified. “And that’s fine. I get that you aren’t overly physically affectionate. You don’t have to be. But I don’t have to have sex with you when I’m not sure you want it for the right reasons. So I’m going to get a shower.”

Letting out a breath, Liezel pushed herself off the couch and moved towards Cale’s room to gather her things for a shower from her bag. She didn’t like pushing him away or telling him no but she also didn’t want to have sex when things felt forced. As she started the water and began undressing she couldn’t help but sigh. Maybe coming out here unannounced had been a mistake.

By the time she finished, slipping into pajamas and returning to Cale’s bedroom, he was sitting at the foot of the bed waiting for her.

“Come here please?” He requested, patting the spot beside him and shifting awkwardly. Once she was seated he continued. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I didn’t go about this the right way.” Cale looked a bit like this was the last thing he wanted to be doing but then he licked his bottom lip and his tone shifted. “I just…ever since the first time you were here and maybe even before that I’ve wanted you so bad. And since we started dating I’ve only wanted you more. I’ve had dreams about your curves and the way you sound when you moan. And I assumed that you wanted it just as badly so I guess I skipped a few steps and didn’t actually ask you what you wanted.” Cale rambled.

“Can we start over? I promise I’ll kiss you properly, that I won’t skip straight to second base.”

Biting her lip, Liezel turned her head to look at Cale. Holding his stare, she could see the want for her deep in his eyes. That was ultimately all she wanted. To know that he didn’t just want sex, he wanted her. And it wasn’t like she was entirely blameless, she hadn’t communicated her needs earlier and had just assumed that he would know when clearly that wasn’t the case.

“Yeah.” She agreed. “We can start over. But maybe not right this minute. Let’s go watch tv for a bit and see where it goes.”

Though Cale’s shoulders slumped for a moment almost like he was disappointed he quickly composed himself and nodded, heading back to the living room while she finished putting everything from her shower away.

“Cute pjs.” Cale murmured from the couch as she entered the room and he saw the oversized band t-shirt she was wearing over a pair of black sleep shorts.

Liezel was about to ask if that was sarcasm but the look in Cale’s eyes assured her that it was completely genuine and he really did think she looked cute even with still wet hair and no makeup.

“Thanks.” She declared, blushing a bit while sinking into the couch about a body’s width away from him.

Within just a few minutes, Cale let his arm fall palm up into the space between them, silently signaling that Liezel could hold his hand if she wanted to but that the ball was in her court.

Lacing her fingers with his, Liezel bit back a smile and just focused on the tv, somewhat lost now that Cale had watched a couple episodes without her.

After about ten minutes or so, Cale tugged at their joined hands gently pulling them towards his body. It was a signal that he wanted her to come closer, but lacked any force to make her if she didn’t want to. Nodding her assent that she would, Cale tugged again, pulling her toward him until their hips bumped together.

“You’re amazing for coming here…” He whispered softly. “I definitely didn’t deserve it but I’m happy to have you.”

“It’s what partners do Cale.” Liezel declared. “Support and comfort each other. Be there for each other.”

His thumb brushed against her hand as he murmured his agreement and when she looked up, his gaze was warm as he watched her. That statement had given him a whole new level of appreciation for her and made the twisting feeling in his stomach return with a vengeance.

“I’m going to kiss you now.” He mumbled before dipping his head to press his lips to hers, soft but firm. Though Liezel returned the kiss happily, Cale ended it after a moment not wanting her to feel like he was ignoring her request for some time before he made a move sexually.

“You didn’t have to stop…” She murmured in assurance. “I wouldn’t mind making out with my boyfriend.”

“Well come here then…” Cale stated, a smug smile on his lips as he used his free hand to grip behind her left knee pulling her over onto his lap once more. Rolling her eyes slightly, Liezel reached up to mess up his hair knowing it would drive him slightly crazy. Then she waited, lips pouty, for him to initiate the kiss again.

When he did, it blew every previous kiss out of the water. It was deep but exploratory, as this was the first time that they could kiss without fear of any interruption or fear that they weren’t on the same page. It was sensational, it made Liezel’s toes curl and set hormones on high alert all through her body.

After dropping Cale’s hand, Liezel carded her fingers through his hair while they kissed, drawing pleased sounds from his throat as she lightly scratched his scalp. Cale’s hands in turn shifted to her waist and remained there, his fingers massaging the skin of her hips over her clothing.

After a few minutes, Liezel reached down to guide Cale’s hand up to cup the side of her breast. She had stopped him when he tried this before but now she was content that Cale really did want her and she was ready for him to touch her.

The smug smile against her lips while they kissed was expected and she scraped her nails against his scalp a bit more as a silent ‘you’re a jerk’ signal. That train of thought was killed though when Cale brushed his thumb over her nipple, separated only by the thin material of her t-shirt. It sent a flood of desire to her core and she moaned into the kiss pushing Cale to continue his teasing touches.

As things continued to get hot and heavy, Liezel shifted further into Cale’s lap, grinding her hips against his. She needed more. Cale was quick to respond, shifting from thumbing her pebbled nipple to aligning her over him in a way that pressed his hard dick right where she wanted him most. If it weren’t for their clothing he could slide home easily.

Breaking their makeout session, Liezel dropped her head to Cale’s shoulder as she ground against him, getting wetter and wetter by the minute, his occasional curse only adding to the sensations.

“Liez. Fuck. Bed now before I cum in my clothes.” Cale mumbled, hands gripping tightly at her hips to still her.

Nodding, Liezel moved to stand and then reached to pull Cale up off the couch, kissing him again before retreating toward his room with a peek over her shoulder. She could see the line of his dick pressing against his sweats and it only made her want to see and feel everything he was packing more.

As she reached the foot of his bed, Cale murmured for her to wait. In a moment his hands were sliding around her waist from behind and he was pressing kisses to her neck.

“Can I take this off you?” He questioned, fingers playing with the bottom hem of her shirt.

“Only if yours comes off too.” Liezel replied, her voice slightly sultry. Despite all the workout pictures Taylor had sent her and all the times she and Cale had facetimed each other since they started dating, she had only seen Cale shirtless a couple of times and she was eager to see his body in person.

Lifting her arms so that Cale could pull her shirt off of her, Liezel couldn’t help the pang of nervousness that hit with Cale also seeing her body in person for the first time. When he spun her, his eyes raking over her body, Liezel ducked her head, only to be stopped as his fingers brushed against her chin.

“Don’t get shy with me now.” He murmured before kissing her deeply, lifting her to lay her onto his bed. “You’re beautiful.”

Cale kissed her again before shifting back to pull his own shirt over his head. Miles of pale skin revealed to her gaze along with a spattering of chest hair that Liezel couldn’t wait to feel against her skin.

“Damn.” She breathed, licking her lips in appreciation because yeah all that is hers for the taking and she wanted nothing more. She’d been dreaming about touching him like this for so long and now she finally could.

Things continued to get hot and heavy as they continued to kiss, chests pressed against each other and hands exploring as Cale hovered over her. When Cale pulled away, his fingers drifting to the waistband of her shorts, Liezel could only lift her hips in approval, permitting him to remove them and show him all of her.

Though he didn’t comment, his eyes grew dark as they took her in and the intensity of the want in them made her shiver.

Before he could settle back onto the mattress, Liezel shifted to scoot up to the head of the bed instead of in the middle and then propped herself up to watch as Cale pushed his sweats and boxer briefs to the floor, his dick standing proudly against his stomach.

“Get over here…” She murmured, the anticipation only building having wanted this for weeks if not longer than that.

Cale quickly complied, and if Liezel thought the feeling of Cale’s chest pressed against hers was good, it was nothing compared to the feeling of him pressed against her head to toe.

“Need to be inside you…can I?” Cale mumbled after a few more minutes of lazy, heated kisses.

“Yeah…please,” Liezel replied with a whimper as the head of Cale’s dick brushed against her clit.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, Liezel felt Cale align himself before slowly pressing into her, ripples of pleasure rolling through her immediately. It was the perfect stretch as her body relaxed around him, welcoming him into her depths.

“Fuck Liez.” Cale groaned, sweat starting to gather on his skin.

“You should do that.” She gasped, nails digging into his biceps.

Cale snorted fondly and reached between their bodies to gently brush his index finger against her clit, wanting to make sure that she was fully relaxed. While lazily touching her, he pulled out slowly before pressing back inside her, spurred on by the breathy moans spilling from her throat.

“Cale….more.” Liezel pleaded softly. Slow was good but she knew that this could be so much better.

Complying with her request, Cale picked up his pace a bit, his hips moving smoothly as he thrust inside of her.

Liezel wasn’t unfamiliar with the way sex could make her feel but somehow this was different. The mechanics were the same, and Cale’s penis wasn’t all that different from men she’d been with before even if he had a bit more girth, yet the intensity of it all felt like it had been cranked up to eleven.

Honestly there were so many sensations to focus on that Liezel’s brain struggled to land on any of them. Cale must have felt her slight detachment because after a moment he pulled out of her and pulled his hand from her body, his gaze warm and concerned.

“Talk to me Liez.” He requested, kissing her nose.

“Too many things….” She mumbled. It wasn’t a good explanation but it must have been enough for Cale to gather her meaning because he shifted off of her, moving to sit with his back against the headboard, his dick still hard and standing proudly against his stomach.

“C’mere.” He requested, his fingertips stroking up her arm as her body settled enough to move. As she did, Cale reached to help pull her onto his lap, her chest facing his and his dick pressed against her stomach. After kissing her deep and slow for a few minutes one of his hands moved to her hip.

“Lift up for me just a little.” He prompted and when she did she felt him settle the head of his dick back at her entrance. “Now slide down Liez.” With his hand guiding her hips she lowered herself until he was buried fully inside her once more. For a moment all she could focus on was how full she felt with him stretching her like this. When Cale’s thumb brushed against her clit she shuddered and moaned softly, her hips jumping against his a bit.

“Just grind against me Liez.” Cale murmured as he trailed kisses along her neck. Rolling her hips in small circles provided a new layer of sensation, one very different from thrusting but more intimate at the same time. She could feel every twitch of Cale’s dick inside her, and each time she gasped out.

“Cum for me Liez.” Cale groaned after a few more minutes. “Let me see you cum on my cock.”

Crying out, Liezel’s orgasm rolled over her, causing her to clamp down tight around him as her whole body shuddered once more. It was not her usual orgasm, but instead left her drowning in much more of a haze.

“Liez…fuck…I can’t…” Cale grunted, making a half effort to pull her off of him before his release hit, causing him to fill her with pulse after pulse of his sticky semen.

The feeling of it drew a whine from her throat and she clamped around him again as aftershocks rolled over her. Cale twitched inside her again and Liezel whimpered, some sensitivity starting to create some discomfort.

Pulling out of her, Cale continued to hold her close as they both came down from their orgasms, their lower halves sticky with each other’s fluids.

It was a few minutes later that Cale went a little tense, his heart rate accelerating beneath her.

“Shit Liez we didn’t…condom..” He mumbled. Nosing against his neck, Liezel processed his words. No they definitely hadn’t used a condom, but it wasn’t the end of the world.

“IUD Cale. We’re fine.” She replied, feeling him immediately calm beneath her. That had been nothing like what she had expected her first time with Cale to be like but they got the result, and well there would be plenty of time to figure the rest of it out.

For now she was just going to enjoy being in Denver with him until Thursday.

#cale makar #cale makar imagine #colorado avalanche imagine #colorado avalanche #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #taylor makar #taylor makar imagine #cavalanche #042 #cale makar smut #cale makar nws #nws #lemon #nhl smut #hockey smut

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faofinn · 1 year ago

Text

No. 26 "Sometimes I get so tired, I don't even know myself."

Seeing Double | Working To Exhaustion | "You look awful."

Exam season was well and truly kicking Jess' arse.

On top of studying for what felt like eternity, Jess was also seven months pregnant, trying desperately to get things prepared for the baby, and trying to find a way to keep Fred's men from permanently ending up in prison. It was a lot, she knew it was, but she'd never been one to shy away from a challenge.

She stood from the toilet, groaning as everything spun sickeningly, the ringing all too loud in her ears. She gripped the counter hard, taking a few deep breaths to let everything settle. She'd just stood up too fast. Had probably gotten a bit dehydrated from the vomiting and lack of eating thanks to the pregnancy cravings, that was all.

After washing her hands, she headed back out, padding to Fred's library. She'd all but moved in there, much to Finn's disdain. Though, after a few days of complaining, he'd ended up joining her, a mix of worry and boredom keeping him by her side. While she read, laid on her back with her head in his lap, he tried mentally planning for the baby, but nine times out of ten, he only ended up more stressed, choosing instead to study her face, a smile on his own.

"You've got a stupid grin on your face. What're you thinking about?" Jess dropped the book, looking up at him.

Finn had the decency to look sheepish. "Nothing. You. The baby."

"God, you're a sap."

"Yeah, I know." He leaned down to kiss her on the nose. "But you wouldn't change me."

She hummed. "Oh, if I had the chance…"

"Jess! That's mean."

She laughed, pushing herself upright. "I know."

"You're meant to be nice to me!"

"Actually, it's the other way around. You're supposed to be nice to me."

"I'll be nice to the baby."

"I'm carrying the baby, you have to be nice to me too!"

Finn stole a kiss from her cheek. "Want something to eat?"

"What are you offering?"

"Whatever dad can make." He admitted with a laugh. "Or a takeaway."

"Ooh, I could do a takeaway."

"Yeah? Why don’t you pick something? I'll go see if anyone else wants anything."

Finn headed off to find the others, though had barely been gone a minute before he rushed back. "I'm gonna have to go out with Dad and Fao. Mum's gonna be here, and Tai's next door, but Hars is coming with. I'm sorry, we can get one when I get back?"

Jess smiled sadly. "Of course. Just be careful, okay?"

He hugged her close. "I'm always careful. Love you."

"Love you." Jess echoed, watching him go.

Alone again, Jess returned to the books, grabbing a few more and setting up at the desk. She might as well make use of the time. Midnight came and went, but there was no sign of the boys. Sheila had made tea for the pair of them, and Jess had long been in bed, but she couldn't sleep. Despite the exhaustion that had crept into her bones, she'd barely had half of a good night's sleep in a week. She tossed and turned, struggling to find a comfortable position. The baby kept kicking whenever she almost found a moment's peace, immediately waking her from the slight doze she'd managed.

After several hours, when the sun had started to peak over the horizon, she gave in. The library had become her second home over the previous few weeks, so of course that's where she headed. She made herself a cup of tea as she gathered the books, glad Fred hadn't skimped on home comforts.

Biscuits picked up too, she curled on the sofa and started her note-taking once more.

"Jess? Jess."

She startled awake, immediately on edge. A blush covered her cheeks as she focused on Finn, reaching to wrap her arms around him. "You're home."

"Of course I am." He pressed a kiss to her hair. "Have you been here all night?"

She shook her head, stretching out with a wince. "No, I went to bed."

"Did you get any sleep? You look exhausted."

"Gee, thanks Finn." She shot back.

"I could have said you look awful."

She slapped him good naturedly. "Finn!"

"I said I could have!" He protested, but quickly softened. "You do look exhausted though. Did you get any rest?"

"Maybe? I must have, I came down here earlier, you woke me up."

"You didn't look comfortable in the slightest." He admitted. "I was worried about you. I am worried about you."

#whump writing #whump prompt #oc #fic #finn daniels #jess weston #exhaustion #whumptober2023 #faolan blackwood #whump #the wolf and the ghost #crime au #jess works too hard all the time #but tbf she wouldn't have to if the boys behaved #working to exhaustion #you look awful

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levi-venn · 1 year ago

Text

My Favorite Meatbag

(Tech & TAY-0)

(w/ special appearance by Crosshair and Egg the Crow from the Cross and Crow series)

Also found on AO3 here

"We're baaaaack!" Omega's voice bounced with her steps as she bolted down the Marauder’s ramp. She was greeted by a crowd of Pabu villagers who responded to her cheer with equal excitement.

Tech was hoping no one would notice their arrival, yet it sounded like the whole island was present.

"Yeah! Woo! We made it!" Wrecker shouted, shaking the whole ship as he ran down the ramp after Omega.

Tech was still seated on his bunk as he watched Hunter and Echo follow Wrecker. They graciously accepted pats on the back and warm hugs from the villagers as they descended, expressing a level of ease and good humor that eluded Tech on even his most social days.

He wished they had arrived in the dead of night, so that he may sneak off to his assigned quarters, decompress, and then acclimate to this new life on his own schedule.

"Are you coming?"

Crosshair stood at the top of the ramp, his newly befriended crow, Egg, sitting on his shoulder.

Crosshair and Egg gave Tech an intense stare, and they both had a toothpick in their mouth and beak respectively.

"Not yet," Tech said. “I will be along shortly.”

He wasn't making an excuse, but it was a convenient last errand before he unofficially retired with his siblings.

“Suit yourself,” Crosshair shrugged. “We’re going to the beach. Less people. C’mon, Egg, let’s stretch our wings.”

Tech waited until Crosshair exited the ramp before closing the hatch. Not being interrupted by loud, friendly locals was preferable, especially during this rather delicate procedure.

Tech sat at his work bench and produced a soft cloth bundle from his munitions cache where he had stored the racer droid’s head over a year ago.

The sudden destruction of TAY-0 was jarring to say the least, and it had felt wrong to leave him behind on Safa Toma to be melted down and turned into who-knows-what.

Tech removed TAY-0’s faceplate, studying the tangled and frayed wires within and seeing a clearer path here than he did in his own future. Beyond the Marauder’s ramp there were too many variables to quantify, but here he still had some semblance of control and he wasn't going to leave the ship until TAY-0 was up and running.

It took twenty minutes longer than he anticipated, but by the time he was done the cacophonous joy outside the ship had dissipated, and was replaced with the crisp sounds of TAY-0’s circuits jolting to life.

Tech replaced the faceplate just as the three eyes and series of rectangles that shaped the droid’s mouth began to flicker.

“I…regret…nothing!” TAY-0 said, repeating his final words expelled moments after being blown to bits by a fellow riot racer’s pod.

"Hello," Tech greeted. "How are you feeling?"

“Woo! What a rush!” TAY-0’s triple eyes flashed and his face plate tried to spin, but was blocked by the workbench. He bobbled clumsily across the surface. “Safa Toma’s finest is back, baby! Can’t keep a good TAY-0 dow-…wait…what?! Why can’t I move?!”

Tech picked up the disembodied head. “I’m sorry to have brought you back in such a state, but I wanted to make sure I could restore you, before building you a body.”

TAY-0 flipped his face plate around once. Then twice. Then spun frantically. “Where is my everything, human?!”

Tech adjusted his goggles. “In a scrap pile, I imagine, to be melted down and reused for future Riot Racer repairs.”

"Well, aren't you just a meatbag full of sunshine and confetti? TAY-0's in pain here, human, how about a little sympathy?"

“You don’t have any pain receptors,” Tech said.

“Emotional pain!” TAY-0 said. “TAY-0’s heart is broken, literally and figuratively!”

“It…isn’t ideal, I admit,” Tech said. “Now that we've docked however, I can put together something more mobile for you. I again, apologize for your condition and how long it took me to revive you."

“What do you mean ‘how long’?” TAY-0 balked. “Give it to me straight, doc. How long was TAY-0 out for?”

Tech did a quick calculation, subtracting the two initial attempts to revive TAY-0. “Fourteen standard months, and thirteen days.”

“A whole year?!” TAY-0 cried. “An entire year of my life gone?! What about TAY-0's family, huh?! TAY-0's wife probably ran off with some smarmy R2 unit! Soooo typical."

Tech's eyes narrowed.

"I am not a stranger to sarcasm." Tech said, dryly. This was…partially true. He did miss sarcasm more often than not, but TAY-0’s sarcasm was as thick as Crosshair’s and easily identifiable.

"Caught on, huh? Fourteen months is nothing," TAY-0 said, cheerfully. “I'm gonna live forever.” His face plate did a 360 turn. "So, when's the next race? You better not have trashed my pod while I was out of commission."

Tech frowned. "There is no race. I don't believe this planet has racing of any kind."

Surprisingly, TAY-0 didn’t have an immediate response. In fact, he looked at Tech with what could be described as a blank expression. “Hey, not to look a gift eopie in the snoot, but why would you bring TAY-0 back if not for racing?"

"I don’t understand the question.”

"My owners bring me out for two things: Racing and Prepping for a Race. If I’ve completed those tasks, boom, TAY-0 is shut down and shoved in a locker until the next race. So what’s the play here? Why bring me out if I’m not useful?”

“I…” Tech blinked. "I was unaware of this arrangement. Did you not have a choice in the matter?"

"Hah, a droid with a choice? Cute, human, real cute. Droids get powered up to make credits for the meatbags, that's just how it is."

"It isn't like this everywhere. Certainly not here."

Again TAY-0 was quiet, tilting his face plate down as though deep in thought. "Okay…so…you still haven't answered my question, human."

"It's not a complicated reason." Tech said. “It bothered me that you were destroyed. I wanted to restore you.”

After a moment, Tech added. “You also call me ‘human’, and I find it fascinating.”

“Okay, wow…well, if calling someone by their species is all the criteria I need for a friendship I’d be much more popular.”

Tech hadn’t mentioned friendship. This was simply a gesture of good will. Nothing more. Probably.

“I am a clone of a human," Tech clarified. "and what’s more, I am a variant clone, an experimental project. As such I grew up being called all manner of things, but never 'human'. My brothers and I have owned the moniker ‘bad batch’, but I do not believe I am ‘bad’. In fact, I feel far superior to regs…regular clones and humans.”

"Huh…"

Tech waited for a snarky reply, mocking him for just the simple pleasure of being considered human.

Surprisingly, all three of TAY-0's eyes dimmed briefly, with some sort of emotion Tech couldn't immediately decipher.

“TAY-0 knows how lonely it is at the top. It's hard being this good-looking and talented, y’know? Well you probably don’t know, but trust me. Everyone is jealous of me on Safa Toma.”

Tech’s eye twitched. “I see…”

“Well anyway! So you freed TAY-0 and that’s great news and all, but I have a pretty big existential question here, human: TAY-0 is good at racing, right? And if there’s no racing then what am I good at exactly?”

The question struck Tech like clanker shrapnel to the heart. "As it happens, I have been asking that very same question of myself. I was a soldier, then a mercenary of sorts, now…I have a stable home, and no mission. The future is uncertain and it bothers me greatly."

"Same boat, huh? Well, human, you're in luck, because I have an exceptional mind and you're pretty smart, too. We're going to come up with new purposes. Between the two of us we can figure it out, yeah?"

Tech smiled faintly. "Perhaps we can."

“Sooo, where did you bring me, human? Where are TAY-0’s new stomping grounds, assuming you’re going to give me some stomping feet?"

“You may receive treads, but we’ll deal with that later,” Tech said. Holding TAY-0’s head-frame firmly, he went to the cockpit, bringing up a holomap to accompany the rather spectacular view.

To the East was an uninterrupted landscape of calm ocean, the sapphire waters wearing the golden sunlight like a shimmering cape.

To the West was home.

“This…is Pabu.”

The single mountainous island was a quiet sentinel in the dreamy sea, rich in natural history, peaceful at times, violent in others. The domestic structures built all over the island seemed to add to the beauty, not tame it, as if the island itself granted permission to let these villagers thrive.

TAY-0 gasped. “Wow…”

Tech’s smile widened, with an unexpected sense of pride.

“...this place is cuuuuuute.”

Tech’s lips thinned.

“And by cute, I mean tiiiiiny. Did you find this place at the bottom of a mantell mix box? Where are we going to live? In conch shells? Like hermit crabs?! Ahahahaha.”

Tech turned TAY-0’s head frame sharply toward him, cupping the face plate so he couldn’t move, forcing TAY-0 to look directly at Tech in his goggled eyes.

“When we leave this ship, you are going to behave yourself. You will be gracious. You will be respectful. This island is a safe haven and a carefully guarded secret. Kindness to these very generous people will go a long way if you are to make any friends here.”

“Friends?” TAY-0 asked. He looked…hurt. “But, TAY-0 thought we were friends.”

Another mention of friendship…

…Tech waited for the punchline.

There wasn’t one.

TAY-0 looked quietly at Tech as if waiting for a response.

Tech hesitated.“You…don't even know my name,” Tech reasoned.

“Sure I do, human.”

“...it isn’t-”

“It’s not human,” TAY-0 said, quickly. “I know that!”

Tech tilted his head.

“Ah ha, trick question,” TAY-0 ventured. “You don’t have a name.”

“This is not how a friendship starts,” Tech said, not knowing the first thing about cultivating an actual friendship. Though he imagined an exchange of names would be included. “My name is Tec-”

“Tech!" TAY-0 took over. "Your name is Tech. Uh yeah, of course it is, how could TAY-0 forget a name like that. It’s so…”

Tech frowned.

“...short.”

“Brevity is the spice of life."

“Uh huh, yeah, That's not something TAY-0 will crosstitch on a pillow anytime soon. TAY-0 doesn't do brevity.”

“Obviously.”

“Well, Tech, you’re in luck because it just so happens there's a vacancy for TAY-0’s best friend. You’re it! Congratulations!”

Tech considered this, pressing the edge of his finger to his chin in thought. “I’ve…never had a friend that has elevated me to a ‘best’ status before.”

“Oh yeah? How many friends you got?”

“Apart from my siblings?”

“That…sounds like the number's zero.”

“Correct. It is zero. And how many friends do you-”

“Hey, hey, we’re not talking about TAY-0 here.”

Tech didn't push the issue.

They were a pair of friendless entities, brilliant and unappreciated though Tech had far more humility regarding how superior he was to others. Naturally.

“Are you ready to go outside?”

“Wait! One more thing,” TAY-0 said.

Tech held TAY-0 up to his face again. “What is it?”

TAY-0’s eyes flickered, and while the blinking facial expressions were unknowable to Tech, he had the impression that TAY-0 was growing emotional again.

“I’m glad it was you who brought me back, human. Tech. You're my favorite meatbag.”

"Full of sunshine and confetti?"

TAY-0's eyes flashed with apparent mirth.

"Exaaaaactly!"

Tech snorted a laugh.

And with that, Tech punched the button for the ramp, relieved to find the crowd had indeed dispersed.

Tech took TAY-0 to the beach where only Crosshair sat, boots beside him as he hid his feet in the sand, watching Egg soar around his new home.

“This is an ideal stretch for Riot Racing,” TAY-0 said, eyes glowing, face plate spinning enthusiastically.

“As I said before, there is no racing here.”

‘Well, we’ll just have to change that. This island is in dire need of a little TAY-0 style.”

"This is a peaceful island, TAY-0.”

"Ugh, fine. We’ll have Quiet Racing. Quiet Riot Racing! Hey that could be your name, Texx: The Quiet Riot Racer!"

“It's Tech, and we’ll see.”

It wasn't a bad nickname. The announcer at the Safa Toma Riot Race seemed disappointed with announcing the winner as just "Tech".

"Or you can continue being the Spectacled Spectator! Your brother loved it.”

“Technically, you’re the one spectating, as that's all you can do currently.”

“Oh haha, you're hilaaaarious, y'know that, bestie?"

"Let's start with 'friend', first," Tech said, sitting on a bench just behind the beach line. He set TAY-0's head beside him so he could also enjoy the view.

In the distance, Crosshair and Egg tossed a piece of shiny shell back and forth.

"We can revisit our status when you remember my name." Tech decided.

"I haven't forgotten it, human…it's…Ted."

"Tech."

"That's what I said!"

Tech's laugh came out loud and unexpected, a short burst of mirth that was unfamiliar to his own ears. These days mild amusement was most he could conjure as it had been a hard year. A harder several years actually since the Empire took over.

And even before then…when had he felt comfortable enough to laugh?

The sound carried to Crosshair and Egg who both whipped their heads back in equal startlement.

"What's that about?" TAY-0 challenged. "Ol' toothpick over there never heard a human laugh before?"

"Not this…human." Tech felt something loosen in his chest, like an overtightened gear cog finally shaking off the rust of fear and worry and instability.

He took a deep breath of the salty, fresh air.

He felt very human.

"Tech…" TAY-0 said, his gaze fixed to the ocean. "Thanks. I mean it. You didn't have to bring me back and you did. TAY-0 doesn't forget kindness like this."

Most likely because few have shown TAY-0 kindness at all, but Tech kept this observation to himself.

He put a hand on TAY-0's head frame as the sun meandered its way towards the horizon.

"You're welcome, my friend."

***

If you enjoyed my writing, please consider checking out my queer sci-fi murder mystery novel “Error: Detective Not Found (A Cake Pop Noir)”. You can also find more info on it and my original works on my main tumblr account @blueberryhelper

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My Taglist is currently one person, but thank you for being on it @motte-the-goblin :3

#tbb #tbb tech #tbb Crosshair #tbb tay-0 #tay-0 #badbatch #badbatch tech #badbatch Crosshair #tbb egg #egg the crow #was anyone else as upset as I was when TAY-0 exploded #fixit fic no one asked for #i love him youre honor #an excuse to give egg his own toothpick #Bad Batch

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